Sustainable Community Winner: University City

St. Louis Business Journal - by Lisa R. Brown

Dating back to its pioneering newspaper recycling program in the 1960s, University City has been and remains a community trailblazer when it comes to the environment.

This year, University City staff led the way on a new purchasing agreement with a supplier of office paper with recycled content. By signing up seven other municipalities — Maryland Heights, Clayton, Richmond Heights, Olivette, Creve Coeur, Webster Groves, and Ferguson — to buy in bulk, the savings was passed on to the entire group.

University City officials also have begun work on another program they believe could be copied throughout the region. This month, city leaders tapped architectural firm Arcturis, BOA Construction and Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts to design and build five LEED Platinum homes, all priced under $200,000. The city is donating the land for the five lots and has approved eight-year tax abatement for the project, to be located in the 6600 blocks of Bartmer and Crest avenues.

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Mayor Joe Adams receives the first Gates of Opportunity Award for his 30 years of service.

By Margaret Gillerman, St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 10.07.2009

It will be a party fit for the King of Beasts.

The stone lions atop the University City's Lion Gates will be feted Saturday with a community-wide 100th birthday bash.

Six brightly colored, painted fiberglass lion sculptures by well-known artists will be auctioned, and a group from the Chinese Language School will perform the traditional Lion Dance at the event.

The 105-year old searchlight that lit up the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904 will be turned on at 9:30 p.m. and will shine across the city. The antique searchlight is lit only on special occasions. <CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY>

"University City mayor joins 14th District state Senate race"

By Phil Sutin, St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 07.03.2009

After serving more than 33 years as a council member and mayor of University City, Joe Adams is moving to a new political arena.

Adams, the city’s mayor since 1996, is running for state senator in the 14th District. He is one of what for now is a three-candidate race in the Democratic primary next August.

Joining Adams in organizing state Senate campaign committees are State Rep. Theodore “Ted” Hoskins, D-Berkeley, and former State Rep. Esther Haywood, D-Bellerive. Filing of the Aug. 3, 2010 election opens on Feb. 23 and closes March 30.

The three candidates are trying to succeed State Sen. Rita Days, D-Bel-Nor, who cannot run for reelection because of term limits.

The district in north central St. Louis County generally runs from University City north of Delmar Boulevard northwestward to Interstate 270. It includes the Normandy area and parts of Bridgeton and Hazelwood.

State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, has been mentioned as candidate for the state Senate seat. On Friday she said she is considering running for it. But now “my effort is focused on the 72nd District,” she said. That district which she represents covers northern University City, Wellston and Pagedale.

Adams served as University City council member from the 2nd Ward for 20 years before winning the mayor’s seat. Adams said he probably will endorse a candidate for mayor in next year’s election.

He recently completed a one-year term as president of the St. Louis County Municipal League.

Adams said he has particular interests in transportation and education. He said he would seek state subsidies not only for Metro in the St. Louis region, but also for transit in Kansas City and Springfield.

Adams also is looking for more money for education. “The state Constitution requires adequate funding for education,” he said. “The state hasn’t done that, not for k-through-12 education and higher education as well. I know the state has a tight budget. The state should look at its priorities, look at the priorities set by the Constitution,” he said.

Adams, 65, obtained a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in history from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He came to St. Louis to teach at St. Louis Community College. He retired from the college in 2003. He is married and has four children.

Hoskins, 70, won a fourth term in the state House of Representative last November and can’t run again because of term limits.

Hoskins had a lengthy career in city government. He served as councilman from the 3rd Ward in Berkeley from 1985 to 1996 and mayor from 1996 to 1999. Voters elected him to the House from the 80th District in 2003.

Hoskins said his campaign would stress education, economic development and health care.

He has been controversial in Jefferson City because of his support of tax credits, charter schools and home schooling that involve alternatives to public schools. But he said Friday he also supports improving the quality of education in public schools.

Hoskins, 70, retired as an auditor for Metro in 2000 after 39 years with the transit agency. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri St. Louis. He is married, has three children and one grandchild.

Haywood left the state House of Representatives in January after reaching term limits.

She said her campaign would stress help for the elderly, health care and education. She said she strongly supports public schools, saying charter schools take away money from regular public schools.

She said the state should improve education it offers to convicts. Without it inmates who leave prison may be worse than when they entered, she said.

Haywood, 69, was a school teacher for 34 years, all but three of them in the East St. Louis public schools.

She served 18 years on the Normandy School Board.

She is married and has two children and six grandchildren. She attended Lincoln University and earned a bachelor’s degree from the now-closed Mississippi Industrial College, Holly Springs, Miss.

 

"U. City Mayor files for state Senate"

By Jo Mannies
Beacon Political Reporter
06.10.2009

University City Mayor Joe Adams filed papers today to run for the Missouri state Senate next year. Adams is seeking the seat now held by state Sen. Rita Days, D-Bel Nor, who can't seek re-election because of term limits.

Adams' action complicates thing for state Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, who had been expected to make a bid for Days' seat. Chappelle-Nadal's last campaign report showed her with $18,295.99 in the bank, although her campaign committee doesn't specify what post she is seeking. She could seek re-election.

Chappelle-Nadal also took a political hit last month, with the somewhat negative coverage of her success in passing a bill that only helps a pub in her district.

Adams, 65, said in an interview late Wednesday that he is seeking the seat "sadly, because of term limits'' forcing out Days.

"Municipalities need a strong voice in the state Legislature,'' Adams said. He believes he could be that voice. Adams has been mayor of University City since 1996. Before that, he served two decades on the City Council.

The state Senate, he said, was "the natural place to go'' after so many years at City Hall.

"I'm not running because I'm looking to run for some position,'' Adams continued. "I want to do the best darn job for the residents of this city, this district, this county and the state. I want to see Missouri become a progressive leadership state."

Adams said his campaign will have a formal launch soon.