MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY
St. Louis City and County's Great Divorce of 1876 marks the height of civic folly in this region. It launched us down a path of parochialism with ever-fragmenting and splintering municipalities - 788 units of local government at last count. But maybe the solution to our current woes in another divorce of even greater proportions. That is exactly what Brady Baybeck, professor of political science at University of Missouri, St. Louis (UMSL), suggested to me as an interesting thought experiment: St. Louis City and County should run away together; they should secede from Missouri and join Illinois.
The idea is obviously unorthodox. Still, those trapped in abusive relationships need to think beyond the confines of the past.
The economic inequity between St. Louis and Jefferson City has never seemed so wide. State expenditures regularly short-change the St. Louis region, an economic powerhoue that generates 40% of state sales tax revenues.
But the cultural disconnect is equally frustrating.
In St. Louis, millions of dollars from private and public sources have established new institutions, created incubators to lure start-ups, venture capital, and research grants to build a new economy around life science technology. In Jefferson City, they have threatened to impose a "dark ages" mentality over this scientific research.
In St. Louis, transportation decisions emerge after consideration of future costs of maintenance and the social benefits of mass transit. In Jefferson City, "planning" means promising every piddling rest-stop and village a four-lane highway.
In St. Louis, gays and lesbians are not only tolerated, they are appreciated. They are leading citizens, opening businesses, rehabbing houses, running for office, organizing community events. They add to our economic vibrancy and quality of life. In Jefferson City, it was not enough to outlaw gay marriage. They needed a constitutional amendment.
Would St. Louis find a more understanding state legislature in Illinois? Larry Handlin, who works at the Public Policy Resource Center and follows Illinois politics closely, says we would. While agreeing that the idea is wildly improbable, he thinks St. Louis would find a major ally in the city of Chicago on urban issues across the board. Furthemore, he envisions a coherent region unifying the Mississippi riverfront. Specifically he is adamant that the proposed new bridge across the Mississippi into north St. Louis would happen a lot faster. "It would be at the top of IDOT's (Illinois Department of Transportation) list, and the money's there."
Of course it wouldn't be hard for the Illinois state legislature to exceed the kindness St. Louis has received from Jefferson City. And when we left maybe Jefferson City would realize how poorly they treated us. If St. Louis City and County left the state, Missouri's population would drop to just over 4 million, its sales tax revenues would plunge, and it would lose at least three congressmen. But Missouri would survive. Like Wyoming and Montana, it would still have plenty of acreage and two senators.
BY DAN DREBES of ARCH CITY CHRONICLE newspaper
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Is that a funny article or what? I totally agree. I'd love to be a part of St. Louis, Illinois!
St. Louis City and County's Great Divorce of 1876 marks the height of civic folly in this region. It launched us down a path of parochialism with ever-fragmenting and splintering municipalities - 788 units of local government at last count. But maybe the solution to our current woes in another divorce of even greater proportions. That is exactly what Brady Baybeck, professor of political science at University of Missouri, St. Louis (UMSL), suggested to me as an interesting thought experiment: St. Louis City and County should run away together; they should secede from Missouri and join Illinois.
The idea is obviously unorthodox. Still, those trapped in abusive relationships need to think beyond the confines of the past.
The economic inequity between St. Louis and Jefferson City has never seemed so wide. State expenditures regularly short-change the St. Louis region, an economic powerhoue that generates 40% of state sales tax revenues.
But the cultural disconnect is equally frustrating.
In St. Louis, millions of dollars from private and public sources have established new institutions, created incubators to lure start-ups, venture capital, and research grants to build a new economy around life science technology. In Jefferson City, they have threatened to impose a "dark ages" mentality over this scientific research.
In St. Louis, transportation decisions emerge after consideration of future costs of maintenance and the social benefits of mass transit. In Jefferson City, "planning" means promising every piddling rest-stop and village a four-lane highway.
In St. Louis, gays and lesbians are not only tolerated, they are appreciated. They are leading citizens, opening businesses, rehabbing houses, running for office, organizing community events. They add to our economic vibrancy and quality of life. In Jefferson City, it was not enough to outlaw gay marriage. They needed a constitutional amendment.
Would St. Louis find a more understanding state legislature in Illinois? Larry Handlin, who works at the Public Policy Resource Center and follows Illinois politics closely, says we would. While agreeing that the idea is wildly improbable, he thinks St. Louis would find a major ally in the city of Chicago on urban issues across the board. Furthemore, he envisions a coherent region unifying the Mississippi riverfront. Specifically he is adamant that the proposed new bridge across the Mississippi into north St. Louis would happen a lot faster. "It would be at the top of IDOT's (Illinois Department of Transportation) list, and the money's there."
Of course it wouldn't be hard for the Illinois state legislature to exceed the kindness St. Louis has received from Jefferson City. And when we left maybe Jefferson City would realize how poorly they treated us. If St. Louis City and County left the state, Missouri's population would drop to just over 4 million, its sales tax revenues would plunge, and it would lose at least three congressmen. But Missouri would survive. Like Wyoming and Montana, it would still have plenty of acreage and two senators.
BY DAN DREBES of ARCH CITY CHRONICLE newspaper
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is that a funny article or what? I totally agree. I'd love to be a part of St. Louis, Illinois!
