Commentaries

The arts are and have always been a driving economic force in the city, not only in our city, but virtually in cities around the world.

Marilu Knode of Laumeier Sculpture Park recently gave a talk at the University of Missouri – St. Louis in their annual "What is a City" conference presented by the Center for the Humanities. The talk was entitled, "Global Impact of the Arts on the City." She gave some incredible statistics, for example, that the first Venice Biennale in Italy was founded in 1895 specifically to create an art market for contemporary art.

Every February since I was eleven years old, my thoughts turn to the Boy Scouts of America. February is the month in which Scouting celebrates its birth as a beloved American institution. But Scouting did not originate in the United States. It took shape from the vision and dedication of a highly decorated British soldier, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell.  His birthday was February 22, 1857. He is credited with founding the Scouting movement in 1908.

I’ve known professor Michael Wolff since he taught me in law school 25 years ago, so I was eager to hear his recent on-air opinion piece about Missouri’s Public Defender system.  I’m pleased to say that Professor Wolff and Missouri’s prosecutors agree on many of the points he raises in his opinion piece.  We agree that it is the role of prosecutors to pursue justice, and that that justice can only occur when there are qualified, experienced defense attorneys and prosecutors.

In 1850, Colonel John O’Fallon led a group of investors in creating the St. Louis Place subdivision just north of St. Louis’ central city. The large plat included a public park, land for housing and sites for churches and businesses. The group had just one issue: the land was outside of the city limits, which would be extended west in 1855.