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Saint Louis CitySide - an overview of the City Government of Saint Louis
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 St. Louis Front Page presents St. Louis CitySide, an overview of the City Government of Saint Louis. From time to time, we will take an indepth look at many of the projects in which the city is involved and how these projects will affect residents and visitors. |
Mayor Slay, Multi-Faith Religious Leaders Encourage Religious Tolerance
by Bob Moore, SLFP.com "We may be of different ethnic groups and faiths, but we are one community," Mayor Slay emphazised. "We all grieve for our country's tragic loss and the attack on freedom and our way of life. This country will not rest until the people responsible for this terrible crime are caught and punished. But, we should not blame innocent people - people who share our outrage - for the evil acts of others. "All of us are for peace," Dr. Waheed RanaIn an informal interview following the new conference, Dr. Waheed Rana, 2nd Imam of Islamic Center of St. Louis, reiterated that "We are a rainbow of people. All of us are for peace. This is what makes a rainbow. I'm not talking about the color of the faces of the people. I'm talking about the faith of the people. Each and every faith reflects the peace and that makes a rainbow." He added that the rainbow comes after the rain and that it signifies the peace and the calm. Dr. Rana expressed his concern for the Islamic community. "We have advised our people to be in low profile. Most of us are very calm. We have built relationship in St. Louis with other individuals. Most of the calls that I have received have been very simpathetic. They are all asking, 'what can they do.' That means a lot to us." Rabbi Susan Talvi stated that "any time people are targeted, any time there is an opportunity to find a scapegoat, Jews are vulnerable because this is our history. That is why it is so important for us to stand up with the local community. We know what it is to be scapegoated and blamed for suffering and oppression. We can't let that happen to anybody," she emphasized. "We need to stand together," Rabbi Susan TalviRabbi Talvi spoke about the special book she presented to Imam Samuel Ansari during the conference. "Yesterday, when we had our Hebrew School kids gathered. As we were processing the events with the terrorists attacks, one of the things that we told them was that the Muslim children were afraid to go to school." She commented that the kids were outrage and expressed feelings of anger. "Nobody should ever feel afraid to go to school. No American should ever feel at risk," the kids said. Rabbi Talvi stated that each kid made a card to send to the children of the Muslins schools. Those cards were gathered in a book for the ocassion. "Those children would know that they are not standing alone. There were other St. Louis kids ready to stand there with them as their friends," she stated. The gathering was one of many taking place throughout the St. Louis. On Thursday evening, the Mayor joined local priests, rabbis, ministers and hundreds of people at Kiener Plaza for a candlelight vigil. The event, sponsored by St. Louis Clear Channel Radio, provided an opportunity for people to sign up for an appointment to give blood with both Gateway Community Blood Services and the American Red Cross. On Friday morning, nearly 800 students of the St. Louis Charter School held a special concert on the school grounds to sing traditional patriotic songs. "Our students wanted to come together in a special way to show support for our country during this difficult time," said music director Any Waggoner in a statement. "This will help unite us. Our children wanted to do something to show all those affected by this terrible tragedy that we care and our thoughts are with them."  Missourians Mark National Day of Prayer & Remembrance With Ringing of Bells JEFFERSON CITY, MO, (SLFP.com), Sept 13, 2001 - Missouri Gov. Bob Holden is urging Missourians to pay tribute to the thousands of Americans who died in Tuesday's terrorist attacks by participating in Friday's National Day of Prayer and Remembrance. He also called on churches across Missouri to ring their bells from 11:55 a.m. until noon as a symbol of a state united against hatred. President Bush has asked Americans to attend noontime memorial and worship services, ring bells at that hour, and hold evening candlelight remembrance vigils on Friday. Holden will speak at a nondenominational memorial service at noon Friday on the south steps of the Capitol in Jefferson City. The communitywide event is being led by the Jefferson City Area Ministerial Alliance. "I encourage Missouri employers to give their workers time off during the lunch hour Friday to attend these services and remembrances," Holden said. "Our nation has been dealt a terrible blow, and this is a time for all Americans to join together for much-needed healing." State employees will be given time off during the noon hour to attend memorial events, the governor said. Nixon Warns Against Price Gouging JEFFERSON CITY, MO, (SLFP.com), Sept 13, 2001 - Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon has warned gasoline stations and suppliers around Missouri that any attempts to take advantage of the situation created by Tuesday's terrorist attacks would be met with swift action. In a statement, Nixon said his office has received hundreds of calls and e-mails from consumers around the state in the past 24 hours concerning gasoline prices and the prospect of large price increases. "The reports to our office from consumers indicate that some stations made sudden, dramatic and unjustified hikes in their prices at the pumps," Nixon said, noting that price reports ranged from $2.49 a gallon to $4.99 a gallon. "Profiteering during a time of tragedy and crisis is both unconscionable and illegal, and we will work to put a swift end to it." Nixon said he sent teams of investigators to more than 20 stations around the state today to look into reports of the price hikes and, in several cases, demand explanations and obtain records from the stations. The investigators, armed with notices to cease and desist any illegal action, traveled as far away as McDonald County in extreme southwest Missouri to the suburbs of Kansas City and the inner city of St. Louis. Nixon said cease and desist orders are authorized by Missouri consumer protection laws and are an important tool in combating consumer fraud of this type. "Although most retailers appear to be acting responsibly by not raising prices beyond what is normal, my office has confirmed that some stations did raise prices as high as $5 a gallon," Nixon said. "In addition to the stations visited today, we are continuing to look at reports of other instances of price gouging, and we will take appropriate action in those cases as well." During the floods of 1993, the Attorney General's Office took action under Missouri consumer protection law to prevent price gouging, and Nixon said he would not hesitate to take similar action during this time of crisis. "Any person who attempts to profit from the great tragedy that has befallen our nation deserves not only our condemnation, but also a full investigation and prosecution under our consumer laws," Nixon said. Related Archived News:  Taking Stock of Our City and Our RegionMissouri Attorney General Stops Internet Auction FraudSt. Louis/East St. Louis Joint Economic Development Initiative Receives Nearly $3 Million in FundingSecond Annual Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend AnnouncedFrancis G. Slay Wins St. Louis by LandslideMike Chance, GOP Candidate for Mayor, Part IIMike Chance, GOP Candidate for Mayor, Part ICourt Order Stops Landlords from Renting Condemned PropertyMissouri Energy Task Force Formed/ Nixon to Host Ethics ConferenceSchlichter to Head Development of New Convention Hotel ProjectPresidential Race Remains Extremely TightFinal Countdown to the DebateAnatomy of a RenaissanceWash U Presidential DebateToys R Us SettlementSt. Louis 'Best Sports City'Regus Business Center OpensMississippi River CrossingEnvironmental AwardsMounted Police StableConvention Hotel Is a Go!Wake Up and Smell the IncentivesRebuilding Commumities CampaignRegional Tax BillFoundation for HealthInternet Crime BillDowntown Open for BusinessMississippi River BridgeSoulard Market's Future
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