One of the things I have noticed as I travel around the country is that cities which keep their waterfronts and coastal areas open for public use fair well. Once blighted areas are brought to life by planning for public use as opposed to man-made structures like buildings, hotels or stadiums.
Right now, St. Louis is contemplating whether or not it needs to build a brand new stadium for its privately owned football team. The City wants to erect it on the banks of the Mississippi.
All sorts of fancy juggling of public and private money investors, taxes and bonds and commercial
reasons, not to speak of football fans are pushing to "prove" the soundness of the undertaking. Yet, I hear no discussion nor do I see any planning to keep the great Mississippi Riverfront easily accessible
for public use and enjoyment.
When I questioned an urban planner about this omission I was told, "we do have a walkway and bicycle path planned around the structure," and then was told of the "do ability" of raising the money and the dollar benefits of a new stadium..
Whether or not the move to build a new stadium makes sense at time when the City has such great need in other areas of daily life is yet another question seemingly not taken too seriously.
But I do know that the benefits of public, year around access to the Country's, if not the world's, great River should at least be a part of the decision making process in determining whether or not to build
a football stadium on the banks of the Mississippi.
Yet, I hear no discussion nor do I see any alternative plan to keep the great Mississippi Riverfront
easily, and invitingly accessible to visitors and the public alike.
Are we asking the right question in our soliloquy "to build or not to build a Football Stadium?"
Monday, January 19, 2015
Monday, December 29, 2014
WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP FOR 2015?
The disrespect shown by the New York City Police to the City's elected Mayor was disquieting to people around the country. It was a visual pantomime of how we view personal and professional responsibility toward each other, the nation, and the communities in which we live.
When the police, attending the funeral for Officer Rafael Ramos turned their back on their Mayor, it took the quiet, sober, experienced voice of the New York police Commissioner William J. Bratton to say, "it was very inappropriate."
Referring to how African Americans perceive the police,
Mr. Bratton said, " their perception is the reality we have to deal with, " and saying, "the issues go far beyond race relations in this City."
Would that this kind of strong, honest leadership prevail in every American City in 2015.
When the police, attending the funeral for Officer Rafael Ramos turned their back on their Mayor, it took the quiet, sober, experienced voice of the New York police Commissioner William J. Bratton to say, "it was very inappropriate."
Referring to how African Americans perceive the police,
Mr. Bratton said, " their perception is the reality we have to deal with, " and saying, "the issues go far beyond race relations in this City."
Would that this kind of strong, honest leadership prevail in every American City in 2015.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
NO MR. CHENEY, 9/11 WAS NOT TORTURE!
In a recent interview, Dick Cheney said, "Torture is what the Al Qaeda terrorists did to 3000 Americans on nine-eleven."
No Mr. Cheney, nine eleven was not torture! On that awful day in September, 3000 innocent men and women were killed, and an untold number of people were disabled for life. It was an act by a group of murderers who wanted to terrorize this country.
The murderers hoped they could change our way of life and our values. Unfortunately Mr. Cheney, they did! At the time, we were over whelmed by horror and fear. Newspapers and citizens around the world proclaimed, "We Are Americans too!" They and citizens here looked to you and other& officials to give us a sense of how to express our anger, our collective grief and to still maintain the sense of who we are.
Unfortunately Mr. Cheney, we learn now that you believed, and may still believe, we as Americans can become like our murderers and still maintain our value for all human life and law. Even after so many young lives were lost, misdirected at the hands of profiteers and questionable policies, still you seem ready to discount and deny the truth.
Mr. Cheney, when a powerful nation like America fails to admit that it has made mistakes or erred in judgment, it weakens our resolve as citizens to uphold our laws and respect our government.
Mr. Cheney, history has proven the strength of ordinary men and women to defend this land in time of war and adversity but history also warns us against political cover up and misplaced trust in those who would deceive us.
Please Mr. Cheney, no more excuses! Let's move forward knowing we must vow never to forget what happened when we became less than the Americans we are.
Have a good holiday and Happy New Year, Mr. Cheney.
No Mr. Cheney, nine eleven was not torture! On that awful day in September, 3000 innocent men and women were killed, and an untold number of people were disabled for life. It was an act by a group of murderers who wanted to terrorize this country.
The murderers hoped they could change our way of life and our values. Unfortunately Mr. Cheney, they did! At the time, we were over whelmed by horror and fear. Newspapers and citizens around the world proclaimed, "We Are Americans too!" They and citizens here looked to you and other& officials to give us a sense of how to express our anger, our collective grief and to still maintain the sense of who we are.
Unfortunately Mr. Cheney, we learn now that you believed, and may still believe, we as Americans can become like our murderers and still maintain our value for all human life and law. Even after so many young lives were lost, misdirected at the hands of profiteers and questionable policies, still you seem ready to discount and deny the truth.
Mr. Cheney, when a powerful nation like America fails to admit that it has made mistakes or erred in judgment, it weakens our resolve as citizens to uphold our laws and respect our government.
Mr. Cheney, history has proven the strength of ordinary men and women to defend this land in time of war and adversity but history also warns us against political cover up and misplaced trust in those who would deceive us.
Please Mr. Cheney, no more excuses! Let's move forward knowing we must vow never to forget what happened when we became less than the Americans we are.
Have a good holiday and Happy New Year, Mr. Cheney.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
THANKSGIVING 2014
THANKSGIVING 2014
THANKSGIVING IS WHO WE ARE AS A NATION.
GATHERED AROUND OUR NATIONAL TABLE ARE FACES OF MANY COLORS
OF MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES, FAITHS AND STORIES.
YET, AS ONE WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THIS OUR LAND
LET US SO REMEMBER, AS WE REMEMBER THOSE NOT HERE.
BEVERLY D. REHFELD
Monday, October 27, 2014
DOROTHY, WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Dorothy, auntie Em, uncle Henry and all of America are glad that you and Toto survived the tornado.
We know that with the help of Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion you found and followed the yellow brick road to bring you back home.
We know too that while you made your way on the yellow brick road you encountered many fast-talking pundits, and brightly colored signs known as commercials that were rigged to scream the wrong directions as you tried to figure which way to go.
There were even signs that called safe roads unsafe and ones that said the opposite. Yet, you did not let lies or wild monkeys or witches deter you from getting back to Auntie Em.
It was a long journey during which you heard and saw things that made no sense. You pushed on looking for a right way to get out of the strange mess you were in and hoping to find the City of Oz.
And boy, when you saw the City of Oz it was glistening, and sparkling. It was way up high on a hill that looked like a mountain. You were sure you would find the Wizard who had all true answers.
As pretty as it all was and as excited as you were, you were still scared but forged ahead.
When you entered the great City of Oz, Toto leapt from your arms and ran in the direction of the sound of a voice that boomed and ricocheted off billowing clouds of smoke.
Then Toto grabbed hold of the curtain, pulled it back and revealed an old man pulling lots of levers behind all the smoke and mirrors. When you saw all this, you remembered all that Auntie Em and Uncle Henry had done to try to keep you safe.
They told you to always stay out of the way of storms and to always use your good sense even as the tornado upended all that you loved.
So Dorothy we celebrate the safe return of you and Toto but now we need your help.
We are about to have a mid-term election. In it we need to have people vote for candidates who tell us the truth as did your Auntie Em and Uncle Henry.
We know we are at a disadvantage. We do not have red slippers to click and take us to more equitable places.
Some of the candidates running for office will not do right by all the people and are as weak kneed as was Lion before he found his courage.
Some of the candidates tell us that gun control, registration and regulation are bad. We know that is not so. What they have to say sounds like it is coming from Scarecrow before he got his brain.
Other candidates tell us that health plans intended to help all of us in time of turmoil are not possible. Or that fair wages that go to people like Auntie Em and Uncle Henry are unfeasible. We know that even Tin Man's new heart would fail him with such lies.
So Dorothy we need your help to get people to recognize the importance of the 2014 mid-term election.
We need people to come out and vote. We need people to use their heads and figure out that neither government, nor unions, nor education, nor science, are witches. They are there to help us.
Dorothy, can we count on you to help us? We need to get people to vote for level headed candidates with the newly found courage of Lion, the newly discovered brain of Scare Crow and the brand new heart of Tin Man.
You see Dorothy, we need you to show us the real road to the future!
We know that with the help of Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion you found and followed the yellow brick road to bring you back home.
We know too that while you made your way on the yellow brick road you encountered many fast-talking pundits, and brightly colored signs known as commercials that were rigged to scream the wrong directions as you tried to figure which way to go.
There were even signs that called safe roads unsafe and ones that said the opposite. Yet, you did not let lies or wild monkeys or witches deter you from getting back to Auntie Em.
It was a long journey during which you heard and saw things that made no sense. You pushed on looking for a right way to get out of the strange mess you were in and hoping to find the City of Oz.
And boy, when you saw the City of Oz it was glistening, and sparkling. It was way up high on a hill that looked like a mountain. You were sure you would find the Wizard who had all true answers.
As pretty as it all was and as excited as you were, you were still scared but forged ahead.
When you entered the great City of Oz, Toto leapt from your arms and ran in the direction of the sound of a voice that boomed and ricocheted off billowing clouds of smoke.
Then Toto grabbed hold of the curtain, pulled it back and revealed an old man pulling lots of levers behind all the smoke and mirrors. When you saw all this, you remembered all that Auntie Em and Uncle Henry had done to try to keep you safe.
They told you to always stay out of the way of storms and to always use your good sense even as the tornado upended all that you loved.
So Dorothy we celebrate the safe return of you and Toto but now we need your help.
We are about to have a mid-term election. In it we need to have people vote for candidates who tell us the truth as did your Auntie Em and Uncle Henry.
We know we are at a disadvantage. We do not have red slippers to click and take us to more equitable places.
Some of the candidates running for office will not do right by all the people and are as weak kneed as was Lion before he found his courage.
Some of the candidates tell us that gun control, registration and regulation are bad. We know that is not so. What they have to say sounds like it is coming from Scarecrow before he got his brain.
Other candidates tell us that health plans intended to help all of us in time of turmoil are not possible. Or that fair wages that go to people like Auntie Em and Uncle Henry are unfeasible. We know that even Tin Man's new heart would fail him with such lies.
So Dorothy we need your help to get people to recognize the importance of the 2014 mid-term election.
We need people to come out and vote. We need people to use their heads and figure out that neither government, nor unions, nor education, nor science, are witches. They are there to help us.
Dorothy, can we count on you to help us? We need to get people to vote for level headed candidates with the newly found courage of Lion, the newly discovered brain of Scare Crow and the brand new heart of Tin Man.
You see Dorothy, we need you to show us the real road to the future!
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
WHAT DO THE PEOPLE OF FERGUSON WANT?
All across this Country in places like Chicago, in San Francisco, Philadelphia, in Atlanta and along the Bayou people will no longer be denied this Country's promise of equal opportunity under law.
As we now know, neither state mottos, nor public relations campaigns, nor apologies which come too late, will quiet the outrage of people who have been denied their humanity.
Nor will people turn the other cheek when Federal Laws are disregarded for some while other citizens are held accountable for their actions or penalized for contrived offenses.
In the Fergusons across this great Nation, self-interest has been revealed for the corruption it nourishes.
No longer is it acceptable to offer less than worthy education in one public school while others thrive.
No longer is it acceptable to look the other way when sensibl gun control laws are killed as killings go on daily in schools, on our streets and in all public places.
No longer is it acceptable to allow great disparity between wages earned for a day's work and wages,
calculated on sophisticated, often little understood formulas for financial gain.
The people of Ferguson seek recognition of their humanity by the police, by the courts and by Law.
They are along with others marching across this nation for the justice we all speak about and now wish to claim.
No longer is it acceptable to obstruct the right to vote with political manipulation of wards, districts, zip codes or with arbitrary borders.
They and we will reclaim fair and just representation by voting for those who do and those who will represent us honestly and fairly to improve the quality of our lives and the lives of those who follow.
This then, is what people across this country will vote to do in midterm elections.
As we now know, neither state mottos, nor public relations campaigns, nor apologies which come too late, will quiet the outrage of people who have been denied their humanity.
Nor will people turn the other cheek when Federal Laws are disregarded for some while other citizens are held accountable for their actions or penalized for contrived offenses.
In the Fergusons across this great Nation, self-interest has been revealed for the corruption it nourishes.
No longer is it acceptable to offer less than worthy education in one public school while others thrive.
No longer is it acceptable to look the other way when sensibl gun control laws are killed as killings go on daily in schools, on our streets and in all public places.
No longer is it acceptable to allow great disparity between wages earned for a day's work and wages,
calculated on sophisticated, often little understood formulas for financial gain.
The people of Ferguson seek recognition of their humanity by the police, by the courts and by Law.
They are along with others marching across this nation for the justice we all speak about and now wish to claim.
No longer is it acceptable to obstruct the right to vote with political manipulation of wards, districts, zip codes or with arbitrary borders.
They and we will reclaim fair and just representation by voting for those who do and those who will represent us honestly and fairly to improve the quality of our lives and the lives of those who follow.
This then, is what people across this country will vote to do in midterm elections.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
WELCOME TO MISS0URI ERIC HOLDER!
Welcome to Missouri Eric Holder! I write as a citizen of the United States of America and a resident of Missouri.
When you came here a few weeks ago I was impressed with your bravery in the face of disorder and in the way you listened to our concerns. Now, I am gratified with the direction you have taken to sort out the events here and in other Fergusons throughout the country.
Here in Missouri, our legislature will reconvene in just a few days. At this meting our elected representatives will attempt to overturn the Governor's vetoes of questionable Bills passed by the legislature that appeared to be unconstitutional.
I know that as a voter, my responsibility is to contact my legislators to uphold the Governor's vetoes which I have done. But in light of what we have witnessed in the Fergusons throughout our country, I wondered how we can so easily explain away the disregard for Federal Law by our legislators?
I know that the task in front of you and us is not an easy one. It is not easy to realize that each of us, voters, elected officials communities, and nations alike make mistakes or have prejudices, much less to try to overcome and correct them fairly.
I still believe in the vast majority of the people in this country and in the state of Missouri. I believe in the pride and quest for opportunity that each of us have even as we are embarrassed by revelations that we are less than we would like to be. I believe in you, Eric Holder and Justice.
I wish you and the men and women who represent you here and around the country well. May we come to know each other in better times.
When you came here a few weeks ago I was impressed with your bravery in the face of disorder and in the way you listened to our concerns. Now, I am gratified with the direction you have taken to sort out the events here and in other Fergusons throughout the country.
Here in Missouri, our legislature will reconvene in just a few days. At this meting our elected representatives will attempt to overturn the Governor's vetoes of questionable Bills passed by the legislature that appeared to be unconstitutional.
I know that as a voter, my responsibility is to contact my legislators to uphold the Governor's vetoes which I have done. But in light of what we have witnessed in the Fergusons throughout our country, I wondered how we can so easily explain away the disregard for Federal Law by our legislators?
I know that the task in front of you and us is not an easy one. It is not easy to realize that each of us, voters, elected officials communities, and nations alike make mistakes or have prejudices, much less to try to overcome and correct them fairly.
I still believe in the vast majority of the people in this country and in the state of Missouri. I believe in the pride and quest for opportunity that each of us have even as we are embarrassed by revelations that we are less than we would like to be. I believe in you, Eric Holder and Justice.
I wish you and the men and women who represent you here and around the country well. May we come to know each other in better times.
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