Alderman Bauer is Recalled!

The precedent has been set. A South Side Alderman (read: white) can be recalled if the constituents are unhappy.

While I never cared for Bauer I did like that he was at least open to change which is more than I can say for some. But like too many Aldermen he didn’t seem to understand the reasons for the unrest.

Bland new developments and the threats of eminent domain are the crux of the issue. Other Alderman need to pay attention! One specific issue in the Bauer recall was the proposed taking of homes via eminent domain to build a new QuikTrip gas and convenience store.

QuikTrip is one of the most destructive forces currently in the City of St. Louis. But I defy you to find an Alderman (or Mayor) that is willing to say we don’t need anymore QuikTrip locations. I’ll give QT one thing — they maintain their locations well. The problem is they are huge. The small corner gas station now spans the length of an entire city block. It makes no sense to have smaller and older gas station sites sitting vacant while we build new QT locations.

QuikTrip is a major campaign donor. No QT exists in the 25th Ward where I ran for Alderman back in March yet they gave Alderman Kirner’s campaign the maximum allowed of $300 and another $300 in the general election. Perhaps they want to take homes in my ward and build one of their massive stores? To our elected officials that don’t really understand urbanity and city living they see this “investment” as a good thing. The rest of us see it as a reason to flee.

Many of our gas stations are locally owned franchise operations. But the QT stores are corporate owned so profits leave not only the city but the state. Money talks and if we continue to patronize QT they’ll continue razing our buildings and constructing behemoth gas stations. But here is the question — are we buying more gasoline or is another gas station losing business each time a new QT opens? While each year we are consuming more gasoline the overwhelming answer is another gas dealer — most likely a local owner — is losing business. Former gas station sites are one of the most costly to redevelop so does it make any sense to build more?

Bauer actually had the gaul to claim, before the recall, that the recall was motivated by greedy gas station owners that didn’t want the QT. The area in question is already awash in gas stations so it amazes me an alderman would want to take homes to build yet another. Some elected officials think progress equals razing neighborhoods and building new. Real progress is increasing the number of residents & local business in the city while remaining urban. Turning our city into suburbia is not a city in which I want to live.

I’m glad Bauer was recalled but that is only a first step. Too often we must spend our time fighting bad development rather than nurturing good development. We need new leadership throughout the city at all levels that will put an end to pushing through suburban sprawl crap development and work with citizens to bring appropriate new development to the city.

– Steve