Mayor Landwehr's Blog

Surgeon with a Paintbrush: Dyke @ New Tribune

When you get past fifty and you're losing your hair and your waistline keeps expanding, it's a scary thing to be the subject of a political cartoon. Aside from making First Lady Peggy and me look a little frumpy, Jim Dyke's latest excursion into pictorial editorialism is pretty darned insightful. 

On the very day when the Mayor's Christmas Tree was ceremoniously lit at Rotary Park on Bolivar Street, Dyke provided this fun cartoon about a few things on the Mayor's agenda -- and he recognized that they won't happen without some "sparks."

 

LU's Mahoney Launches "The President's Podium"

There are lots of good things going on at Lincoln University, and President Carolyn Mahoney has found another way to spread the word. The inaugural edition of The President's Podium gives a broad look at Jefferson City's four year Land Grant university. Dr. Mahoney received the Ralph S. Brown Award for Shared Governance from the American Association of University Professors. They know that governance begins with letting people know what the heck is going on. To subscribe call Rose Ann Ortmeyer 573-681-5042.

 

Sarah & Mildred Have Bonded

My Mom is 94. Lives at home. Bakes bread every Saturday and goes to the Healthplex for strength training. She's halfway through Sarah Palin's new book and she's buying copies for family members. She says "You wouldn't believe what that girl went through, and how she's managed to overcome obstacles."

Mildred and Frank were Cole County dairy farmers, raised five kids and overcame a few obstacles themselves. They were loyal Democrats. These days if you drop by the house Mildred will tell you what she thinks about where this country is heading. Then she'll give you a half loaf of bread and say some prayers for you after you leave - regardless of your party affiliation.

November JCHS Character Trait is "Ethical"

Webster says it means "conforming to accepted, especially professional, standards of conduct." The root word, ethics, means "a set of moral principles or values."

Unlike most other character traits, we have government agencies to enforce ethical standards -- like campaign finance laws and lobbying, e.g. The Missouri Ethics Commission. Every professional can lose his or her certification or license for ethics violations even if their behavior is not illegal. 

Interesting that high school students (who are not yet in any professions) would pick "ethical" as one of eight traits to highlight this year. Maybe they're sending a message to adults. 

To Tweet, or Not To Tweet

Our office is 100' from the Governor Hotel, site of the possible hostage event that looked very real this morning, but later turned out to be a non-event. The SWAT team was getting dressed out and armed right outside our window. Very tempting to Twitter a photo of all the armament. Good idea? What if the bad guy is on the Internet and sees what the good guys are up to? I decided to upload just a bland shot of a police car blocking traffic, and not the shot shown below.

Here in "Mayberry," it was a mini-lesson in how, and how fast, news is getting pushed out. It's also a time to consider thniking twice about what, and when, we post information for the world to see.

St. Louis Arch: The Best Dumb Investment Ever

Recently the St. Louis Post Dispatch carried an article reminding us that on today's date in 1965, hydraulic jacks 630 feet in the air pried the two legs of the St. Louis Arch apart six feet to allow the last section to be inserted. Fire hoses cooled the legs to keep them from expanding.

Some public projects like this are duds. But the Arch has proven to be worth the investment many times over, creating a breathtaking, positive image in an urban core -- a trademark known all over the world. 

In Jefferson City when we talk about the ped/bike walkway across the bridge, or Adrian's Island, or MSP Redevelopment, or a conference center, we should look beyond the dashboard of one fiscal year and think about the impact of the St. Louis Arch -- it probably seemed pretty dumb to a lot of people at the time. 

Bob Priddy is Hoppin' Mad at Dean, Gingrich & SEMO

Bob Priddy is a smart, professional, journalist. Sometimes he gets his dander up. Today on Missourinet's unofficial blog, Priddy unloads on Howard Dean and Newt Gingrich appearing at Southeast Missouri State to "debate" the healthcare bill in closed venue . . . and a for a tidy fee. It's a rant worth reading.

October Virtue: Honesty

The students at Jefferson City High are celebrating one virtue a month through the school year in the CharacterPlus Program. They voted on which virtues to talk about. Honesty is on the plate for October. 

Good choice. Honesty is how good things get started and keep going.

USS Jefferson City Deploys for Six Month Mission

San Diego TV Station KUSI covered the deployment of the USS Jefferson City for another six month mission under the sea protecting our butts while we fret over less troubling matters. The sub's website has the link. 

City Award Winner Takes Hard Work For Granted

Herb Huhman has worked for Jefferson City 33 years. He was the recipient of this year's Outstanding Service Award. He works on large equipment and possesses skills we often take for granted. He is a quiet person and leads by example. He was a significant component of the city's response to the 2008 ice storm when he manned the burn site on West Edgewood for all the storm debris - a huge project that had to be managed without any precedent to learn from.

Mr. Huhman exemplifies what is best about public service. I would want him on my team whenever anything tough and complicated had to get done and we did not have time to form a committee.