Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe
MT Schneider is funnelling his lawyer fees through his campaign committee. In the June 30 report, he shows two payments dated 6/8 and 6/22 totalling $2405.50. On the 8-day-before report, he shows a payment of $5262.66 on 7/26. The total comes to $7668.05.
Are his campaign donors aware that they are not contributing to the campaign but paying for his legal woes?
Is it even legal to run these fees through his campaign committee?
Let's go to the Missouri Ethics Commission for their opinion.Here's some legal opinions from their webiste:
95.01.101 -- 1 CAMPAIGN FUNDS CANNOT BE USED FOR PERSONAL USE. IT MUST BE SHOWN THAT PAYMENTS FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION WERE USED IN THE HOLDING OF A POLITICAL OFFICE.
Or this may be shown as related. Although this isn't a recall petition, it was a petition to have someone removed from ballot (as opposed to a recall having them removed from office).
97.11.107 -- 5 DEFENSE COSTS IN RECALL PETITION NOT "ORDINARY AND NECESSARY EXPENSE" AND, THEREFORE, NOT PERMITTED USE OF CONTRIBUTION.
97.11.107 -- 5 DEFENSE COSTS IN RECALL PETITION NOT "ORDINARY AND NECESSARY EXPENSE" AND, THEREFORE, NOT PERMITTED USE OF CONTRIBUTION.
posted by suzyjax at 6:19 PM
11 Comments:
How will the COGG members rationalize individually giving campaign funds to Mike Schneider in order for Mike Schneider to defend himself against the consequences of dodging his property taxes?
I would demand my money back upon learning that Mike Schneider used my contribution to hire an attorney for a personal lawsuit. No laundry required.
It would have been better if he would have illegally diverted his campaign largess to paying his property taxes rather than hiring lawyer to defend against his personal misdeeds.
When Schneider says he knows business I am afraid he is referring to ENRON type of business.
Oh yeah, and then there is that thing that COGG/Schneider was so keen on last year but so ambivalent towards this year........ what is it called again......yes yes...that is it.......THE LAW!
Hang your head in shame COGG, hang your head in shame. Your interest group is an embarrassment to yourselves and the community.
Not to change the subject, but for those who believe that Overland's future lies in retailers such as Costco or Lowes, ie..Mike Schneider/COGG supporters, please read the following.
I hope some of this is familiar to readers of the Blog....Multi-Use development not diversifies the tax base and draws people to live in your community. Lowes and Costco create parking-lots that do not diversify risk or maximize tax receipts. Better never than late Mike.
The view from the Interstate 170 overpass at Olive Boulevard is a familiar one: University City stretches east and Olivette to the west, with shopping centers, apartments, churches, lively ethnic restaurants and family businesses that have been around since the 1950s and 1960s.
In a few years, all that could be gone.
University City and Olivette are each pursuing plans to demolish much of the existing landscape and replace it with development that will give a fresh appearance to Olive and bring in more tax money and residents. A new interchange and bridge now under construction at I-170 and Olive will help ease access to both sides.
The suburbs share some common goals: Both would like a hotel on their sites and attractive, landscaped developments with shops, residences and offices.
he prospective developers in both cities are seeking at least two types of public tax subsidies, including tax-increment financing.
About a year ago, municipal officials in University City and Olivette discussed a joint plan. But now, each city has gone its own way — though officials say they stay in touch.
"We've looked at each other's strategic plans," said Carlos Trejo, planning and zoning administrator for Olivette. "We've both discussed we don't want strip mall development. We virtually have the same goals — the need to update the boulevard — and we both want the urban, mixed type of development."
Lehman Walker, director of Community Development for University City, said both developments can succeed.
"There are opportunities along Olive Boulevard for both cities to thrive," he said.
The plans have drawn a range of reactions from business owners and residents.
George Kidera, who works in his family business at Nobu's Japanese restaurant at Jeffrey Plaza in University City, said he'd like to see the restaurant become part of the new development.
"It would be good for University City to make the area nicer and more attractive, like West County or Ladue or Clayton — more updated," he said.
But in Olivette, Christine Bierman, who lives near the proposed development area, isn't convinced.
"Don't we have enough places to shop already?" Bierman, a resident of Stoneleigh Towers, asked at a recent public meeting. "We can't even fill up the malls we have now."
A similar plan for the same intersection fell apart in 2000 when voters rejected a tax-increment financing plan for the project, and developers dropped their plan for an 80-acre shopping plaza.
U. CITY'S PLAN
In University City, Hutkin Properties Group proposes rebuilding 32 acres straddling both the north and south sides of Olive. Woodson and McKnight roads border the area on the east.
Walker said the Hutkin proposal, called Greenway Commons, had all the components the city wants: a grocery store as an anchor, with two restaurants, other retail, a bank, offices and townhouses.
"University City has targeted Olive Boulevard as our No. 1 opportunity for redevelopment," Walker said.
The city plans to hold public hearings, and different city boards would have to review the plans, before the council takes a vote.
The project would flatten Jeffrey Plaza and the shopping center across the street, anchored by a designer shoe outlet and a store operated by the National Council of Jewish Women. The nearby Briscoe Apartments also would be torn down.
Business owners in the area are wondering whether they will be forced to move or if they'll be included in the new plans.
Kidera, of Nobu's restaurant, said people would be disappointed if the development didn't keep the diverse ethnic flavor of Jeffrey Plaza. That flavor has already taken some losses.
In recent months, Jeffrey Plaza has lost some fixtures: Pratzel's, a Jewish bakery, moved to Creve Coeur, and Clothes Quarters, known for its fine church suits and hats, closed after the death of one of the owners.
Also, Nusach Hari B'nai Zion synagogue, with a century-old congregation, plans to move to Olivette.
Bart Beyers' great-grandfather started Beyers Lumber and Hardware, which has been along Olive for about 60 years.
Beyers said he is "in limbo waiting to see what the proposal is. Then we'll weigh our options. We haven't ruled out anything."
The operators of Bob's Seafood don't want to move from their location along Olive, which has been good for business since they relocated there two years ago.
"The growth has been phenomenal at this location," said Phil Nekic, the restaurant's wholesale manager.
OLIVETTE'S PLANS
Olivette is studying two competing plans — one by Sansone Group and the other by Saaman Development, Rothschild Development and the Lawrence Group — for 15 acres in the southwest quadrant of the I-170-Olive interchange.
A Target store would be the anchor in Sansone's Greenway Pointe, which would include an upscale retirement community and a two-story building with restaurants, shops and offices.
The other proposal, Centennial Plaza, would mainly include smaller boutiques and offices "designed to emulate the charm of an established town center."
Centennial's shops, offices and restaurants would line Olive, and a two-story building in back would have retail with housing or offices on the second floor. The second phase, which is still under discussion, would include a hotel, office or upscale housing.
Much of the land is vacant now, but there's an OfficeMax, a small office building and handful of homes on Locust Lane and Price Road.
At a recent public meeting featuring the city's consultant on the project, local residents turned out to make clear they don't want to be bought out and forced to move.
"My grandfather helped build three houses that we live in, that our families were raised and born in," said Locust Lane resident Gene Tabaka. "I've seen Olivette grow from farmland and pond into what it is today. We have a nice private street, and I don't want to see it put into development."
Other residents are worried about noise, traffic and the effect on their property values.
"We do not in Olivette deserve the back end of a" big box store, said Stoneleigh Towers resident Frank Proctor. "We need something that lasts more than 15 years."
Olivette Mayor Ruth Springer said the city will tread carefully as it considers the development plans. The City Council is holding a public meeting 7 p.m. Monday at the Olivette Community Center to get feedback.
On the news about Eric Tolen, only one of the kids changed their mind and said they made up the molestation story. There are other kids involved. This is not uncommon for children that have been molested to say they made it up, because of fear of the perpetrator or being made fun of by their peers. Tolen is out and about on bond, I would be scared if I was a kid. The trial is not over yet Sweetpickles, so don’t do a happy dance for Tolen yet.
It wouldn't surprise me if it was Schneider supporters that are the ones knocking down his signs, just to get attention and have people feel sorry for Schneider. Free advertising for Schneider. Good sales gimmick.
Sweaty Pickle is an odd person for sure. Why does she revel in the misdeeds of others? Does she run around Overland causing bs and spreading falsehoods simply for the joy of it? I think so. She is the number one shill for the lawless Ann Purzner. Now that her partner in slime has been run from Overland politics, Sweaty Pickle starts her same old game chumming-up with Schneider people. She will move to whatever group that gives her special brand of bullshit a hearing.
I understand Sweaty Pickle is a carpetbagging ass counting coward that should take her lame act back to wherever she hails.
Who gives a rat's arse if someone tipped-over a Schneidly sign? This guy is a congenital liar that exaggerates every part of his life and is now paying his personal family expenses from his campaign funds.
I understand the pool Schneidly promised you is actually going to be built in his backyard at City expense.
Hey Fido, I don't want to steal Sweaty's thunder but I already know the five reasons why Sweaty Pickle will not vote for MBC.
The first really overwhelms the remaining four but the number one reason Sweaty won't for Schneider, she doesn't live in Overland thus is not a registered voter in Overland and therefore cannot vote in Overland.
The rest are stupid bullshit rumors, falsehoods or left-over campaign smears from the Purzner era.
What is real weird about COGG is the same person that holds the purse strings for COGG holds them for Schneider too. Why aren't you COGG members questioning this? Why are these COGG members willing to be fooled or are they in on the sham?
Numerous problems with COGG the money and such. Wonder why COGG has so many donations that aren't recorded. CASH cold hard Cash.
No matter who wins the COGG will never be the group it was intended to be. They will never be able to organize like they did before. The steam in that train has been derailed. Oh and I don't know if there was ever an African American member. It's the same Old Guard same old same old.
Purse strings yes it's true.
Gravy the COGG isn't rational.
After months of trying to provide information about the Mayoral candidates, devoid of my personal opinion, to the readers of The Overland Examiner I felt it was time to explain my own point of view on this election.
You can find this editorial, which is clearly marked as my own opinion, on the site now.
A word of warning. I seemed to have fallen off the "short and sweet wagon" again so this is a long one so you might want to prepare a drink, a snack and maybe even make a head call before you start it. :-)
Guess who was riding shotgun in the Fetsch-mobile tonight?!
Ol' Yeller himself--MT Schneider!
Post a Comment
<< Home