One of Missouri's Biggest Cities Takes a Hit

An article hit the interwebs early yesterday.

These 5 Cities Have Lost Half or More of Their Populations Since 1950

And sure, I figured Buffalo, New York might be on there.

And Pittsburgh.

And Cleveland.

And very likely Detroit, and maybe it at number one.

But check out what major American city was, in fact, in the number one spot on this list and has lost half or more than half of its population since 1950

What the report had to say--

1. St. Louis

> Decline from 1950 decade peak: -64.7%
> 1950 population: 856,796
> 2018 population: 302,838

With a population of 856,796, St. Louis was the eighth largest city in the country in 1950. The city’s population has steadily declined since then to just over 300,000 in 2018, ranking as only the 64th largest city in the United States. Like other cities with long-term population declines, adverse socioeconomic conditions are prevalent in parts of St. Louis. East St. Louis, for example, is far and away the most dangerous city in Illinois and one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. Also, one in four people living in St. Louis live in poverty, well above the national poverty rate of 14.6%.

While St. Louis may not be booming, certain aspects of the city do show signs of renewed prosperity. Relatively high immigration from Asia has helped offset some of the out-migration. The city’s sports teams, the Cardinals and the Blues, do very well, which can help support population and economic growth. And, plenty of universities and large companies still operate and thrive in the city.

That’s depressing.

And sure, it's not Kansas City but hey, it's Missouri. It still hurts.

This Convention Compared to the Next

Think about next week. Think about the Democratic National Convention, just days away from now.

What a contrast.

No hating.

No calling for the opposing candidate to be hung.

No calling for the other candidate to be executed.

Far less fear, if any at all.

People of color, minorities, far as the eye can see.

The convention hall is full to capacity.

There's excitement and happy anxiousness for it all to begin and take place. 

And jokes. There will be humor mixed in, like there hasn't been at all, this week, from Cleveland.

At least one former President will be on hand to see and be seen and speak because Democrats aren't embarrassed by, nor need to be of their former Presidents.

And the sitting President gets to come out and speak and so many are looking forward to it.

And why shouldn't they? Why shouldn't we?

More people in our nation have health insurance than ever have before.

We got out of Iraq. (Well, mostly).

We've cut the deficit. Yes. Really.

Deficit shrinks by $1 trillion in Obama era

We've added more jobs, millions more jobs, since the horrible 2008 election and economic nightmare, with 248,000 added just last month.

Not one true scandal out of this White House and/or administration in these 7 years. That's pretty huge.

In fact, there's plenty for Americans to be both happy and proud of.

THE List of 371 Obama Accomplishments so far, With Citations

So yeah, bring on this Democratic National Convention.  Let's put things back in perspective.

Let's let the adults take back over the narrative.

Donald Trump's Republican National Convention, Night II

Modal Trigger

Every time a candidate for national political office promises he's going to rebuild our military, as Trump just did, I want to scream.

______________________

Suddenly, according to Mitch McConnell, they're "Clinton Democrats."

______________________

I love this.

Every time Mitch McConnell comes out to speak--twice tonight--he's booed.

I love 'em.

_____________________

Republican, just now, on Hillary Clinton, says she would be a continuation of the status quo.

Right.

The first woman president. Ever. In the history of our nation.

Got it.

____________________

Now Chris Christy tells us Hillary is for Syrians, not Americans, not America.

Yeah.

____________________

That convention hall isn't full.

Nowhere near it.

Compare, in a week, to the Democratic convention.

____________________

Trump's oldest son has made fun of Harvard and Wharton schools and students and "fancy colleges" just now.

And not just once but twice.

___________________

"Everyone can prosper, together."

--Donald Trump's oldest son, tonight at the RNC Convention.

They just need to be given a million dollars to start their career like his father.

____________________

Donald Trump's oldest son says his father wants us to have the same opportunities his own children had.

I'm hoping he has all our mailing addresses to send the checks.

___________________

What you don't know about this Republican National Convention tonight if you've only watched TV, possibly, is that there were fights in the hall, among the Republicans, by different people, fighting for their states' votes, protesting the results of the vote and how their states votes were recorded.

___________________

Donald Trump's oldest son, Donald Trump, Jr., says a President Trump (shudder) will see to it all advance, not just the "crony elites at the top of the heap."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Really. He has to stop. He's killing me.

___________________

That this evening's theme for the Republican National Convention is "Make America Work Again" is, once again, rich.

It's been the Republicans in the House of Representatives and Senate, in Washington, that have, since 2008, since President Obama was first elected, that have blocked an jobs and/or infrastructure bills for the nation. Americans need the jobs, our infrastructure, heaven knows, needs the updating and improvements and the economy, then to now has needed the boost.

But not one, not one jobs bill from this Republican Congress.

____________________

Finally, at long last, someone on TV news mentions that the convention is grossly under-attended and the convention center largely under-filled.

And the ones that are there are in deep disarray.

_____________________

People are being shot and killed in our city, our cities, our state, our region and the nation in small and large numbers, daily yet we still have candidates of all stripes, saying they're fighting for "gun rights."

Wtf?

How many more gun rights do we need?


Isn't it clear it's "gun rights" that are getting all these people killed?

And they don't see this?

Notes and Observations of a Republican National Convention, Night One

Monday, Night 1

According to one of the panelists just now on PBS, Melania Trump doesn't want Donald to be president, either.

Suddenly I like her.
___________________________

Good God. Tom Cotton.

If there's a bigger, more empty demagogue, I don't know them.
___________________________

Tom Cotton, a nearly bleached white boy from Arkansas, saying we're all born equal.

If he were any less informed someone would have to tell him how to breathe.

___________________________

"No enemy the American military can't defeat....."

Well, except Vietnam.

And Iraq.

And Afghanistan.

___________________________

For the Republicans, at this political party convention of theirs, to bemoan the shootings in our nation of late when they and their blinding support of guns and the NRA and their constant blocking of required background checks for mental stability and criminal history all got us to where we are is nearly maddening.

___________________________

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, bitching about not enough jobs in America. Not one Republican in Congress all the way back to 2008, ever wrote, proposed or tried to pass a jobs/infrastructure bill for those jobs, improved infrastructure and a rejuvenated economy.

Then he goes on to say "Donald Trump will kill Obama trade."

What?

He wants more jobs but then he wants to kill "Obama trade"?

What the hell is Obama trade?

What is that old fool rambling about?

___________________________

"Thank you to the Cleveland Police Department for protecting us!"

---Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani

But we are not honoring your request to deny open carry of weapons at our convention!

___________________________

How rich is that, for Republicans, now, to claim Hillary is a liar?

Compared to Donald Trump?

__________________________

"Donald Trump loves all people!"

--Rudy Giuliani

Yeah, just not Muslims. Or Mexicans. Or gays. Or women. Or the poor. Or the disabled or physically-challenged.

_________________________

If the Republicans didn't want the power and the White House back again, they would be embarrassed. Embarrassed by this candidate Donald Trump. And they would know they should be.

_________________________

I hope the Democratic Party doesn't miss out on the opportunity to hear from an underwear model and their opinion on this campaign for the leader of the nation for at least the next 4 years.
_________________________

Stephen Colbert is savaging The Donald on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert just now. It's pretty wonderful.

_________________________

The Republican National Convention, 2016.

The gift that keeps on giving.

Cleveland Browns Wide Receiver Andrew Hawkins' Statement

His response to his wearing a t-shirt about the Tamir Rice shooting and killing:

“I was taught that justice is a right that every American should have. Also justice should be the goal of every American. I think that’s what makes this country. To me, justice means the innocent should be found innocent. It means that those who do wrong should get their due punishment. Ultimately, it means fair treatment. So a call for justice shouldn’t offend or disrespect anybody. A call for justice shouldn’t warrant an apology.

“To clarify, I utterly respect and appreciate every police officer that protects and serves all of us with honesty, integrity and the right way. And I don’t think those kind of officers should be offended by what I did. My mom taught me my entire life to respect law enforcement. I have family, close friends that are incredible police officers and I tell them all the time how they are much braver than me for it. So my wearing a T-shirt wasn’t a stance against every police officer or every police department. My wearing the T-shirt was a stance against wrong individuals doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons to innocent people.

“Unfortunately, my mom also taught me just as there are good police officers, there are some not-so-good police officers that would assume the worst of me without knowing anything about me for reasons I can’t control. She taught me to be careful and be on the lookout for those not-so-good police officers because they could potentially do me harm and most times without consequences. Those are the police officers that should be offended.

“Being a police officer takes bravery. And I understand that they’re put in difficult positions and have to make those snap decisions. As a football player, I know a little bit about snap decisions, obviously on an extremely lesser and non-comparative scale, because when a police officer makes a snap decision, it’s literally a matter of life and death. That’s hard a situation to be in. But if the wrong decision is made, based on pre-conceived notions or the wrong motives, I believe there should be consequence. Because without consequence, naturally the magnitude of the snap decisions is lessened, whether consciously or unconsciously.

“I’m not an activist, in any way, shape or form. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred I keep my opinions to myself on most matters. I worked extremely hard to build and keep my reputation especially here in Ohio, and by most accounts I’ve done a solid job of decently building a good name. Before I made the decision to wear the T-shirt, I understood I was putting that reputation in jeopardy to some of those people who wouldn’t necessarily agree with my perspective. I understood there was going to be backlash, and that scared me, honestly. But deep down I felt like it was the right thing to do. If I was to run away from what I felt in my soul was the right thing to do, that would make me a coward, and I can’t live with that. God wouldn’t be able to put me where I am today, as far as I’ve come in life, if I was a coward.

“As you well know, and it’s well documented, I have a 2-year-old little boy. The same 2-year-old little boy that everyone said was cute when I jokingly threw him out of the house earlier this year. That little boy is my entire world. And the No. 1 reason for me wearing the T-shirt was the thought of what happened to Tamir Rice happening to my little Austin scares the living hell out of me. And my heart was broken for the parents of Tamir and John Crawford knowing they had to live that nightmare of a reality.

“So, like I said, I made the conscious decision to wear the T-shirt. I felt like my heart was in the right place. I’m at peace with it and those that disagree with me, this is America, everyone has the right to their first amendment rights. Those who support me, I appreciate your support. But at the same time, support the causes and the people and the injustices that you feel strongly about. Stand up for them. Speak up for them. No matter what it is because that’s what America’s about and that’s what this country was founded on.”

This guy was never "on my radar", so to speak but he now has my respect, for what that's worth.

Big ecnomic news today that can't be overlooked

What with all the other major world catastrophes going on right now, most especially the Japanese earthquake/tsunami/nuclear power plant meltdown, it would be easy enough to overlook a rather small but hugely important article I saw today online:

Home prices falling in most major US cities

Home prices falling in 19 major US cities, with 4 now at lowest level in 11 years 

Janna Herron and Derek Kravitz, AP Real Estate Writers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Home prices are falling in most major U.S. cities, and the average prices in four of them are at their lowest point in 11 years. Analysts expect further prices declines in most cities in the coming months.

Home values in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Detroit and Cleveland are now below January 2000 levels. A majority of the metro areas tracked by the index now have home prices at levels dating back to 2003, just as the housing boom began.

"The housing market recession is not yet over, and none of the statistics are indicating any form of sustained recovery," said David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor's.

As either an economist or just a regular old citizen of this United States, that is big.  

Not finished there, there is also this out today: 

Inflation worries push consumer confidence lower

Soaring gas prices and soured outlook on income push consumer confidence down in March 

My point?

It is not to say "the sky is falling", I can tell you that.

My point is that, as Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman is pointing out more and again, lately, is that now is decidedly not the time to try to cut $61 billion out of the government's spending.  

I'm not all about big spending and we do need to address it and our debt and deficit spending, but to repeat Mr. Krugman, now is decidedly not the time.

I'm concerned that either the Right-wing and Republicans and Conservatives aren't listening and/or don't care because a) they have to cater to the "Tea Party" and extremists in their party so they can be re-elected OR they simply want/need this president and his policies to fail so, again, they can be re-elected.

My biggest concern is that all of those are true.

Links:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Home-prices-falling-in-most-apf-2179818115.html?x=0; http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Inflation-worries-push-apf-1954887602.html?x=0; http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/contraction-is-contractionary/;  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/opinion/25krugman.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss; http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/; 

Bad day for Kansas City in Forbes Magazines

A second Forbes Magazine ranking today and it's not great for Kansas City, either:

"Worst Cities for Finding a Job in 2011"


We're 9th in the rankings here, nationwide.  We tie with Pittsburgh.

It's based on one statistic, apparently:  18 job postings per 1000 between October and December 2010.

First it's "Most Miserable Sports Cities" and now this.

Oh, well.  It could be worse.  We could be Detroit.

Or Cleveland.

Or for violence, St. Louis.

Have a great day, y'all.

Link to original post: http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/worst-cities-for-finding-a-job-in-2011.html
 http://www.forbes.com/2011/01/25/cities-jobs-employment-leadership-careers-hiring-hardest_slide_10.html

Kansas City No 9 on FBI's "most dangerous cities"

Yikes.


I was afraid of this.


When I saw this headline, I thought we'd likely be on it and there we are:


The 11 Most Dangerous Cities

City/ Crime Risk Index

1. St. Louis: 530

2. Atlanta: 484

3. Birmingham Alabama (tie): 380

3. Orlando (tie): 380

5. Detroit: 369

6. Memphis: 361

7. Miami: 346

8. Baltimore: 339

9. Kansas City, Missouri: 337

10. Minneapolis (tie): 331

10. Cleveland (tie): 331

The bad news?  We're on the list.  Worse, we're  not even in last place.

The good news?

We're not as bad as Detroit.  (Yet?)

Better yet, we're not St. Louis.

Link to original story:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/The-11-Most-Dangerous-usnews-1262959588.html?x=0

California and Florida: How the mighty have fallen

Okay, another Forbes Magazine "top" list, this one for "America's Most Miserable Cities".

Forbes does seem to go on and on with these rankings each week, don't they?  But hey, it's gets them lots and lots of viewership and re-quoting.

First, let's point out for Tony that KANSAS CITY IS NOT ON THE LIST.  Far from it.

But what's much more important and notable is who is most prominent on the list:  that is, California and Florida.

Remember back, a decade or two ago, when these 2 states were always the "best of the best" and where everyone either wanted to live or wanted to move to or to retire in, one day, if possible?

Yeah, I remember that, too.

Not anymore.

California has more cities than any other state on the list, with 5 (Stockton, CA 1, Merced 3, Modesto 4, Sacramento 5, Vallejo 9) while Florida is number two in this bad quantity with 2 cities on the list (Miami at number 2 and West Palm Beach in the number 8 slot).

Only 3 midwestern cities--Memphis, Tennessee at number 6, Chicago, Illinois, no. 7 and Cleveland, Ohio at number 10.

It used to be thought and assumed that California was heaven on Earth and that, naturally, no one would ever want to live anywhere but there.  Florida?  Pretty much the same.  It wa the "any place with palm trees" thought, you know?  If you have to live and work somewhere, why not someplace with a mild climate (and, in the case of California, mountains and beaches and desert, etc.)

It's a topsy-turvy world we live in out there, isn't it? 

Let's hope it doesn't get any more topsy or turvy than it already is.

Have a great day out there, y'all.

Link to original story:  http://www.forbes.com/2011/02/02/stockton-miami-cleveland-business-washington-miserable-cities_slide.html?partner=yahooree

Kansas City in top 10 for jobs

One reason, at least, to be glad you're here and not in Los Angeles or most anywhere in Florida, palm trees or no:

Monster.com: Kansas City ranks among hottest U.S. job markets

Kansas City Business Journal
Date: Friday, January 21, 2011, 8:15am CST.

Job-matching website Monster.com ranks Kansas City among the 10 hottest markets for job seekers in 2011.

Kansas City was No. 10 on the Monster.com list, which was led by a top three of Washington, San Francisco and Boston. The rankings are based on the relative abundance of job openings for each city’s local work force, or available jobs per job seeker, the company said in a release.

It may not feel like it, but we're "kicking butt and taking names", employment-wise, at least compared to much of the rest of the country.

Have a great weekend, y'all.
Link to original post:  http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/01/21/monstercom-kansas-city-ranks-among.html
Other, associated links:  http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/01/27/abaxis-will-set-up-testing-lab-for.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/01/05/exergonix-picks-lees-summit-for-90m.html

Monet's "Water Lilles" to be back!

I thought this was great news:  Monet's "Water Lilies", the 3 panels, 42 feet long in all, are to come back to the Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery again this Spring--early April, to be exact.

I remember seeing them when they were here the last time.  Naturally, I thought them amazing.  Such a revelation to see them in person.

Get this--the last time they were here?  The first time I saw them?

Thirty years ago.

Holy cow.

This is one of those "THAT much time has gone by??" moments.  Followed by "I CAN'T be THAT old, am I?"  (Don't answer that--it's rhetorical).

So good on the Nelson.  Another terrific show coming up.  And reasonably soon, too, what with the beginning being April 9.

It will make us think of Spring that much sooner and quicker, right?

Won't it?

Link:    http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/09/2571310/monets-water-lilies-to-reunite.html

Democrats said to have 4 top cities selected for 2012 National Convention (MO?)

From HuffPo tonight: WASHINGTON -- Recognizing that President Barack Obama faces serious challenges in the Midwest he carried not two years ago, the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday picked three heartland cities and just one in the Republican-friendly South to consider for its 2012 nominating convention. The cities are Cleveland, St. Louis, Minneapolis and Charlotte, N.C. At least they're considering St. Louis--somewhere in Missouri. Link to original post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/01/democratic-convention-201_n_632177.html