Jeff Smith 2006

Dear Friends,

It’s been an eventful month since I last wrote. First, we had our biggest event of the year, our 3rd Annual Basketball Tournament and Community Fair at Fairground Park, attended by 2,000+ people and over 70 non-profit organizations. Second, after seven all-night police ride-alongs, I began to see crime in the City through new eyes. The two are related, even if I didn’t realize it at first.

Because of the stagnant economy, a lack of job opportunities, a stubbornly high dropout rate that leaves many unprepared for the jobs that do exist and lacking the social networks to find them, the widespread availability of handguns, and the nihilism of some who have seen far too much violence in their short lives and don’t expect to live past 30, the crime rate in some neighborhoods has risen sharply this summer. My law-abiding constituents have suffered a great deal; the ten neighborhoods home to the most murders this year all lie in my Senate district.

After marching with 50,000 other men on June 1st in a show of unity against this violence, I felt compelled to seek a better of understanding of crime in the City: how and why it happens, what we’re doing to address it, and how we can improve our efforts. So one night at a community meeting, I asked an officer if I could join him on his beat, and he accepted. We began in a relatively safe area, the 2nd Police District, covering the City’s southwest corner. It was quiet for a few hours, and I asked if we could check out a higher-crime area. We did, and soon stumbled upon a minor incident. By the end of the shift, I wanted to see what a whole night of action was like.

Photos by Kim Love

For Immediate Release Contact: Jeff Smith
July 22, 2008 (314) 323-0915

ST. LOUIS – On Saturday, July 19, 2008, approximately 2,000 people attended Senator Jeff Smith’s (D-St. Louis) 3rd annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament and community fair at Fairground Park. The event offered free school supplies, books, food and drinks, health screenings and information about a myriad of useful services.

“This year’s 3-on-3 tournament was not just a day of games and fun,” said Senator Smith. “We gave away notebooks, pencils, rulers and other school supplies to students as they prepare to go back to school.”

Over 70 non-profit organizations and community services offered information, activities, and services, including free health screenings for vision, HIV, lead testing, as well as chiropractic evaluations. Volunteers distributed information on parenting, health, housing, literacy, childcare, community-building, and much more. Adults registered to vote and people of all ages signed up for new library cards.

The 3-on-3 basketball tournament was comprised of four age divisions: 10 and under, 11-13, 14-16, and 17 and up. With a star-studded field including former NBA talent (and Vashon High alum) Anthony Bonner, the games were hotly contested but characterized by hustle and sportsmanship. Winners received prizes ranging from new bicycles to amusement park and concert tickets.

In an unusually spirited matchup, Smith’s team lost in the quarterfinals to the Fairground Legends, who went on to win the tournament. Smith said that he will be nursing his bruises until veto session.

Dear Friends –
I’d like to invite you to my 3rd annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament and Community Fair JEFF SMITH 3on 3, on July 19th at Fairground Park. Please read about the success of the event from last year 3 on 3 Recap or 2008 Legislative report page 6.

The festivities will run from 10 am-4 pm at the park’s basketball courts, and we’re planning for it to be even bigger and better than last year. The tournament and food and drinks are free for all, and players will receive free T-shirts and back-to-school supplies. A local DJ will spin music, Pappy’s Smokehouse and St. Louis Fish and Chicken will provide pulled pork, catfish filets, and wings, and Ben and Jerry’s will supply 500 scoops of ice cream.

The winners of each age division will win brand-new bikes from Big Shark Bicycles, and runners-up will receive everything from Six Flags passes to Cardinals tickets to gift certificates for clothes and CDs. Click here to sign up to play JEFF SMITH 3on 3

The other component of the event is the Community Fair, which will focus on health, literacy and job opportunities. Dozens of local organizations plan to participate:

· the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment and the Urban League, which will help people identify opportunities for job training and employment;

· several youth literacy groups will give away children’s books and promote reading programs;

· the City Health Department will educate on prevention of STDs and lead poisoning, and provide Body Mass Index assessment and blood pressure screening;

· Derrty Entertainment, operated by Nelly, will help provide books and backpacks to tournament players while they last.

· the Missouri Optometric Association will offer free vision screenings and other health screenings and information will be available.

There are volunteer opportunities for the day of the event as well as before.

Volunteer jobs:

Pick up food the morning of the event

Return borrowed items

Referee tournament- kid or adult?

Help with keeping food available

Assist with community fair booths

Set up tables the morning of event

Assist in signing in team(s)

Assist in signing in services & volunteers

Help with cleaning up grounds after event

Time slots: You do not need to work the whole block – we’ll take any help you can give.

Start- 8:00am-11:00am
Middle- 11:00am-3:00pm
End- 3:00pm-6:00pm

Please confirm the job __ and time slot _ that you prefer to Christine Brauner.

Christine Brauner
Office: 314.361.4333

The first 20 volunteers to sign up will receive “Democrats Work” T-shirts promoting a great non-profit that encourages Democrats to serve their communities – and not just when they’re running for office.

The event will be a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with an array of wonderful services that can really make a difference in our lives – and to watch some good basketball.

I want to thank the many businesses and people who are generously co-sponsoring this event. They are recognized on the event’s promotional material, located at www.jeffsmith3-on-3.com and, starting this weekend, in neighborhoods across the city.

If you’d like to help us defray the cost of the event, donations are tax-deductible and may be made out to “Jeff Smith 3 on 3“, and mailed to me at 1929 Alfred, 1N, St. Louis, MO 63110. And if you have any questions about the tournament/community fair or about anything else, just reply to this email or call my office at (314) 361-4333.

Also, on another note: if you’re interested in joining me to march in this year’s PRIDE parade this Sunday, June 29th and/or helping register new voters at the fair, just email Sarah @ (hunter.sarah.e@gmail.com).

Hope to see you soon!

Best,

Jeff

Jefferson City — Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, will visit kindergartners at the Confluence Academy, South City Campus, at 4235 Compton Ave., St. Louis, on Friday, April 11, to participate in a Reading Assembly designed to encourage students to read through adult participation.

Sen. Smith will read to kindergartners from six classes, beginning at 2 p.m. Sen. Smith and other special guests were invited to participate in the newly created program, which promotes reading for learning and pleasure. His visit was rescheduled due to inclement weather that occurred during a scheduled February visit to the school.

Jefferson City – Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, today asked residents in the 4th District to submit the names of Missourians from the private sector who have achieved, accomplished or overcome something remarkable in their lives. Some of these remarkable Missourians from throughout the state will be featured in the Missouri Senate’s 2009 Calendar.

Dear Friends,

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And sometimes, you lose really, really badly. This is a story of a bad loss (on campaign finance legislation), a great win (on early childhood education), and the roller coaster that is life in the Missouri Senate.

When I last wrote, I told you about my efforts to transform the way political campaigns are run in Missouri. I filed Senate Bill 1071, which creates a system for voluntary public financing of Missouri campaigns, thereby eroding the role of special interests.

Jefferson City — State Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, today testified before the Senate Commerce, Energy and the Environment Committee in support of Senate Bill 1117, dubbed the “green building” bill. Smith notes his legislation contains many of the environmentally-friendly ideas developed by the Missouri Energy Task Force and mentioned by the governor during his State of the State address in January; Committee Chairman Kevin Engler (R-Farmington) has expressed support for the ideas within the bill.

Jefferson City – The Senate Ways & Means Committee heard testimony this week and is considering a proposal forwarded by state Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, which would offer a state earned income tax credit to benefit lower-income Missourians by reducing their tax liability and, in some cases, providing refunds to help them keep more money in their pockets to meet everyday expenses.

The bill would provide support to full-time workers by providing a refundable state earned income tax credit (EITC), equal to five percent of a qualifying allowable federal EITC, and double the amount every two years until it reaches a cap of 20 percent in 2013.

Dear Friends,

I apologize in advance for the length of this missive, but last Wednesday was probably the most interesting day of my first session. I want to explain why, because I think it’s important for you to know why I make the decisions I make.

Near the end of session, once each chamber of the Legislature has passed numerous bills, the Senate leadership decides to hear a handful of House bills, and the House leadership decides to hear a select few Senate bills. Except for passing the budget, neither body is bound to take up legislation passed by the other.