terence d wrote:^
Seems we have a lot in common. Me: Two years in Shaw and more recently nearly six years downtown. I love the city too. I mean it's in my blood - don't know how to better describe it in words. I'm constantly following St. Louis news, blogs, etc - anything and everything for years now and root for the city passionately.
You mention exactly what I think every time one of these stories comes up: By and large a person raised in a healthy environment, one with opportunities, support and healthy role models that genuinely care about them - one that does not have the combined stresses of poverty, food insecurity and/or lack of caring and nurturing and even threats to their physical safety - does not resort to violence and criminal behavior. Compare any "disadvantaged" area in STL with an "advantaged" area. Stark differences. Its like this institutionalized dysfunction in this city. Leaders simply pay it lip service and nothing more. People not directly affected see these news stories and say "that's awful" and then go back to their first world problems.
I know there are no easy answers but in all my time of following this city's progress I don't see anything real being done by the leaders to change the disparity. It's dysfunctional. To speak to downtown specifically, what needs to be done is the big economic leaders in the STL region should realize what a statement a healthy downtown makes economically *for the region* and put some real action into that. Realize that the whole is worth more than the sum of the parts ever could be. I could be wrong but I don't think downtown will evolve to the next step until this happens. ...End of rant.
^I love your commentary.
One thing I will add is that there are a lot -
A LOT - of local programs that seek to empower and uplift those who are seemingly in a perpetual state of poverty and dysfunction. St. Louis often leads the country in volunteering and charitable donations. Unfortunately, however, the need is so great in the region that the numerous programs - many that are nationally recognized - do not seem to be able to keep up with the social and economic challenges of St. Louis - not just in the city - but the region.
On a different note, there is no reason an unsupervised 17-year should be downtown at 12am. When I was 17, I had to be in the house at 8pm or earlier on school nights. His ass should have been at home. Perhaps he fired in self-defense, but still, where were the police? If you are a minor who is downtown or anywhere in the city past curfew and unsupervised - off to juvenile detention or the city jail you go - until your legal representative picks you up. If you have a gun and shoots someone - jail and no bail. Get Jennifer Joyce on them.
Although there are some serious social and economic barriers in St. Louis, I am sick of the excuses.
I am in favor of the following:
1.
A no quotas "Stop and Frisk" policy within the WHOLE city - especially downtown - and especially high crime areas. The S&F policy should seek the input of the ACLU. The program would have "built in" protections to prevent police abuses and would include regular evaluations by the ACLU to determine effectiveness and potential legal ramifications. Something has to be done about all of the guns on the streets of St. Louis.
2.
There should be a downtown police force or designated unit with no less than 30 officers - 10 or more per shift. Despite the fact shootings happen in every major city downtown, idiots, lowlifes and gang-bangers are going to ruin downtown STL's progress. The minute law enforcement shows any withdrawn or light presence, the negative elements will rear their ugly heads. Law enforcement must demonstrate a heavy presence at all times - no excuses. Swarm the crooks and troublemakers like bees. Stop putting out fires. Prevent them.
3.
Downtown and The Loop need more cameras. More is never enough. The cameras should be pointed EVERYWHERE. Take a cue from Antonio French's Ward and the CWE.
4.
Gang and drug abatement programs. Offenders participate in MANDATED conflict resolution intervention. Program partners with potential employers willing to hire them and schools willing to train them for trades and jobs. St. Louis Community College, if not already doing so, should do this..........after all it is a "community college".
5.
If all else fails, call in the Missouri National Guard. Yeah, it would be tantamount to giving up. Yeah, it wouldn't help an already negative image of St. Louis, but it could go a long way to clean up the criminal element.
