urbanSTL

dweebe wrote:As a followup to this story KMOV should park some undercover vans around Lucas Park and the Main Library building. They'll get some great video of all the homeless, but sadly most might not be capable of being shown on regular TV.

That would be awesome.

I'm new to this forum and I came upon it from KMOV.com. As I was reading I didn't notice anyone say that they were a victim of a car break in. So I found that report very useful in my part. I've never had a bad experience downtown up until September 10, 2006. I paid 20 dollars to park in the garage right next to the Dome. So I figured my car would be some what safe if I'm being charged 20 dollars. But I guess I was totally wrong.



After the Rams game I come to my car and find that thieves stole my car stereo system. My stereo was well worth 2000 and more and that's not including the damage the thieves did to break in. The parking garages make a lot of money from them events downtown and you mean to tell me that the parking garage owners can't have better security?



I just know from personal experience that DT is not a bad place when you’re down there. As far your car that’s a different story, because thieves take advantage of the large events DT when you’re no where near your car. In the future I will not drive DT; I will take the metro link for now on.

I would like to see a percentage increase in crime in St. Charles over the last five years. THAT would be interesting. I would bet it has gone up dramatically over the last few years. Where's the report on that? Channel 4,5? Is there EVER a negative story about St. Charles?

I think steve is great for discussing his story on here, and I don't fault the story; granted it IS sweeps period/month. Crime, negativity sells. People do not watch "happy news stories". It's just a fact. The jucier the better. and why not feed off the recenty negative crime coverage in the city. Trashing the city and it's crime is a St. Louis (County/St. Charles County) pastime. Yes, I'll give them some credit, by doing this maybe it will improve things, but the real reason was ratings.

Hey, all.



It's great to see so much discussion on this topic.



I know some of you question my motives, but discussions like this are the real reason I do what I do.



I'm pleased -- and excited about the future of downtown -- by the number and quality of the responses last night's story created.



Be sure to see the second part, tonight at 10pm, where we zoom in on Lucas Park, the homeless issue and the problem some have with the way police have chosen to handle (or not handle) the issue. </promotion>



You can read more about the story and our methods here: http://www.beloblog.com/KMOV_Blogs/n4idailybriefing/

I/We do not question your motives personally. We question the timing and scope of the coverage by the channel.



I would like to see tonight's coverage before saying anything else.



BTW, I do get the angle about making the garage owners more accountable. That is logical.

bsharmastl wrote:AHHHHHHH......



$80k settlement. Will not pursue petty crimes?

We have made a joke of the legal system. 10 pm - 6 am curfew. ENFORCE it.

Why can't the city put cameras up in that area, arrest people who commit crimes (with irrefutable proof) and PROSECUTE? (for those who say privacy violations, against constitution, etc.... there are cameras all over Washington to protect our "leaders". Same principles apply to us)



I cannot say this "whole" thing was in a negative light, though it still casts our city as a "crime ridden" place.



I think Joe M should put some cops with ethics in there and arrest those who are known troublemakers. I do believe that cops KNOW who are potential troublemakers and as long as they have some proof (like video of crime), this problem can be resolved.

Video cameras in public areas spying on American citizens? No thanks here.



Though I do agree we should try to get out of that "we won't arrest for petty crimes" nonsense.

Hmmmmm..... thinking more about it now that my head is clear........ U R right. That may not be a "good" thing. I am amongst the biggest fans of "get the gov. out of my life" and actually wrote something stupid.



Brain far*

Steve Chamraz wrote: ...The upside is... a larger group of people are watching TV during "sweeps" so a story like this can reach a bigger audience, having a greater impact. ...

i don't know steve, i think the impact will mostly reinforce the typical negative attitudes about downtown more than anything else.

A story on this topic can help those coming downtown (and the perception of downtown) and spark change. However, that story must be done in such a way that doesn't paint downtown as a place not to come.



How about the story centered around guidelines to follow when parking your car in an urban area (park near activity, don't leave anything in sight, etc.)? People need to use common sense when parking anywhere. Instead of just showing a problem, show how people can avoid it. Otherwise, people will jump to avoiding downtown as the only way of avoiding crimes involving their cars.

Have a link to share?

http://www.mobar.org/data/judges06/stlcity.htm

Part II located here: http://www.kmov.com/localnews/4investig ... 979b8.html



Also, the homeless and Lucifer Rice's New Life Evangelical Church have been talked about in detail here: http://urbanstl.com/viewtopic.php?t=1821. The building needs to be condemned; it looks blighted.



I would really like to see an expose on Rice's practices. Others could comment more, but he seems more interested in increasing his homeless kingdom than transitioning folks to society.

JMedwick wrote:

Also, the homeless and Lucifer Rice's New Life Evangelical Church have been talked about in detail here: http://urbanstl.com/viewtopic.php?t=1821. The building needs to be condemned; it looks blighted.



I would really like to see an expose on Rice's practices. Others could comment more, but he seems more interested in increasing his homeless kingdom than transitioning folks to society.

I would second this idea. It is a great jumping off point considering the second part of your current story.

I would whole heartedly endose this too. It is time we got the city back from the hoodlums.



On the risk of sounding a little cold, I demand action on the taxes I pay to clear out Lucas park. I would like to take some of those taxes and find a solution to the homelessnesses away from Rice. He is not a solution, but a part of the problem.



U listening Steve?

Lucifer Rice. I like it. Good one, innov8ion!

bsharmastl wrote:On the risk of sounding a little cold, I demand action on the taxes I pay to clear out Lucas park. I would like to take some of those taxes and find a solution to the homelessnesses away from Rice. He is not a solution, but a part of the problem.

If you're being cold, well, that makes two of us. I don't know what can be done realistically, but I find the city's tolerance of the situation at Lucas Park to be absolutely unacceptable. I know the city is between a rock and a hard place on this one, but the status quo certainly isn't the answer. And I know some people are worried about downtown's image taking a hit just when things are looking up, but I think it's good to bring this situation to the forefront of public discussion.

The problem is that there's such a disconnect between 'the city' and the burbs that it's too easy for more than a million people to just avoid downtown and figure it's someone else's problem. I don't think this report will spur action from someone in Chesterfield. I guess that means it our problem (those of us who live in the city or go downtown for anything other than a Cards game.

I happened to see the spot from the other night about downtown car cloutings and thefts. I appreciate your efforts to point out how some garages could have better lighting, etc., but you are kidding yourself if you think that stories like that are a form of public service.



Stories on crime are cheap (in every sense of the word) pandering to the lowest popular instincts. It's the porn of network TV.



You always give the viewers lots of deliciously scary stories, but where's the context? How much crime is there really? How do the levels of crime today compare to St. Louis and comparable cities 10, 20, 30 years ago? What are the actual odds that YOU will be a victim of crime in the next year vs. the likelihood of being in a car accident or some similar misfortune? How do the odds of getting murdered compare to the odds of getting hit by a car while riding your bike, drowning in a pool, or getting food poisoning from the supermarket?



I grew up in the '70's in a relatively affluent suburb of Chicago where crime was a huge problem - in school, at the el, on the bus. I haven't checked the stats, but I would not be surprised to find that the crime rate in my 'burb at that time was comparable to the rate in St. Louis today. But there wasn't this constant obsessing, scare-mongering, hand-wringing. One took reasonable precautions and you went on with your life.



If TV news wants to engage in public service (and I wonder sometimes), then you'll find a new topic -- something "newsworthy."

phobia wrote:

publiceye wrote:PS The circuit attorney's website lets its readers track cases through the courts. How many people hand-wringing about this kind of story took the time to figure out which circuit judges up for retention on Tuesday's ballot routinely let car clouters walk out of court?

This is a great question. Is there anyone who provides analysis of judges beyond the bar association ratings I (and, I'm sure, about 5 other people) use to vote?

I used em too. tried to find a lot about the judges but instead found only these.



And to myself I said "Lawyers rating judges, and I'm believing them."

Having spent pretty much every day of my life on Wash Ave (between Tucker and 14th) from 1990-98, this report comes as no surprise. "Smash and grab" activity has been going on for close to two decades around the Lucas Park area. What has changed is the type of folks who are coming to Wash Ave. 15 years ago, the nightlife consisted of 1227 and Twist, two clubs patronized by what I would typify as urbanites.... people who know "how to live" in a city environment. In other words "leave nothing in the car within sight". The woman who had her purse stolen was just asking for it. Suburban mentality in an urban environment is likely the biggest issue with regard to the massive increase over the last four years. Can't blame the perps for figuring out where the easy hits are...

Completely asinine. We can blame the perps because they broke the f-ckin law and broke into / stole someone's car. Granted, people should be more careful but that doesn't excuse anyone breaking the law.



The previous poster's line of thinking reminds me of people who say that women who wear short skirts are just asking to be raped... Ugh!!!

marc buxton wrote:Having spent pretty much every day of my life on Wash Ave (between Tucker and 14th) from 1990-98, this report comes as no surprise. "Smash and grab" activity has been going on for close to two decades around the Lucas Park area. What has changed is the type of folks who are coming to Wash Ave. 15 years ago, the nightlife consisted of 1227 and Twist, two clubs patronized by what I would typify as urbanites.... people who know "how to live" in a city environment. In other words "leave nothing in the car within sight". The woman who had her purse stolen was just asking for it. Suburban mentality in an urban environment is likely the biggest issue with regard to the massive increase over the last four years. Can't blame the perps for figuring out where the easy hits are...

Having spent pretty much every day of my life on Wash Ave (between Tucker and 14th) from 1990-98, this report comes as no surprise. "Smash and grab" activity has been going on for close to two decades around the Lucas Park area. What has changed is the type of folks who are coming to Wash Ave. 15 years ago, the nightlife consisted of 1227 and Twist, two clubs patronized by what I would typify as urbanites.... people who know "how to live" in a city environment. In other words "leave nothing in the car within sight". The woman who had her purse stolen was just asking for it. Suburban mentality in an urban environment is likely the biggest issue with regard to the massive increase over the last four years. Can't blame the perps for figuring out where the easy hits are...

I agree - use common sense and at least help yourself out.