Back to the 5th Ward
We know with certainty that every ten years the boundaries of St. Louis’ 28 wards will change to reflect new population based on the most recent Census. Each decade we see small changes, more dramatic at times.
Most wards are currently in the positions they were in the 1960s. Â Sure, the exact lines have moved around but with respect to other wards they are similar. But wards 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 20, and 25 have different, in some cases dramatically different. For example the moving of the 20th ward from north to south in 2001.
I’ve been through two redistricting in St. Louis – 1991 and 2001. In 1991 I was living in Old North St. Louis in the 5th ward before in after. Mary Ross was the alderman.
In 1994 I moved south to a two-flat that was in Dutchtown. Ward boundaries didn’t mean anything to me in the early 1990s but I was in the 13th ward, represented by Fred Wessels who is still the alderman. In 2001 my house became part of the 25th ward, then represented by Dan Kirner. Four years later I ran unsuccessfully against his widow Dorothy Kirner who was elected in a special election.
In 2007 I moved to a downtown loft, which happens to be in the 6th ward represented by Kacie Starr Triplett. Â Under a proposed ward map I will again be in the 5th ward, represented by April Ford Griffin since 1997.
After the census, all legislative bodies are required to redraw the legislative districts to represent the new population figures for each district. The City of St. Louis has 28 wards as directed by the City’s Charter. Therefore, each ward must represent an average of 11, 403 residents. The task for redrawing the boundaries is assigned to the Legislation Committee.
The committee, chaired by Alderwoman Phyllis Young with Alderman Terry Kennedy acting as vice chairman, has successfully completed this process and voted the bill from the committee. It will now go onto the full Board of Aldermen for consideration; however, with 28 co-sponsors, there is little doubt of passage.
The two goals of the group were that (1) the process would be participatory and (2) that no ward would move significantly from its current area. With that in mind, President Lewis Reed and Alderwoman Young met with each alderperson to discuss each ward’s base of population, priorities for that alderperson, and current development areas. After those meetings were completed, aldermen were brought in as small groups representing adjacent wards to discuss common boundaries and to negotiate the new lines. This process continued for the past two months to lastly redefine the boundaries.
The map that you may view here represents the final product of the redistricting process. The initial goals were achieved as members of the Board of Aldermen have actively engaged with one another in accomplishing the task. (source)
What are your thoughts on redistricting?
– Steve Patterson
Yet another missed opportunity to reduce the number of wards.
Yet another missed opportunity to reduce the number of wards.
I wish there were public hearings on the proposed ward boundaries before adoption. I know it’s never been done that way, but as these lines on the map have a direct impact on the way people work in their communities, it would be nice if ciitizens had some input into the process.Â
I wish there were public hearings on the proposed ward boundaries before adoption. I know it’s never been done that way, but as these lines on the map have a direct impact on the way people work in their communities, it would be nice if ciitizens had some input into the process.
The map definitely reflects the interests of aldermen, which is important. but I with Rick–there needs to be a mandate for public input outside of after-the-fact aldermanic hearings. It could be however, that the map is a good argument for reduction of wards–because of the jangled lines of some of the wards reflects crass political considerations of redistricting in and redistricting out certain areas.
The map definitely reflects the interests of aldermen, which is important. but I with Rick–there needs to be a mandate for public input outside of after-the-fact aldermanic hearings. It could be however, that the map is a good argument for reduction of wards–because of the jangled lines of some of the wards reflects crass political considerations of redistricting in and redistricting out certain areas.
Nice that they took into consideration what the incumbents wanted, eh? That map shows how dumb 28 Aldermen is for the city. Even with 28 many neighborhoods are split and poorly represented. For example Southampton is split at Macklind while St Louis Hills/Estates get the full attention of Ms. Barringer.
Less aldermen please. They micromanage development at best and at worst are corrupt.
Nice that they took into consideration what the incumbents wanted, eh? That map shows how dumb 28 Aldermen is for the city. Even with 28 many neighborhoods are split and poorly represented. For example Southampton is split at Macklind while St Louis Hills/Estates get the full attention of Ms. Barringer.
Less aldermen please. They micromanage development at best and at worst are corrupt.
Redistricting is a only a symptom of a larger problem of political control. Trying to say fewer wards are necessary is meaningless if issues are not addressed. I’ll put it this way, Shane Cohn would probably lose out if bigger, more corporate friendly wards were in place. It is unlikely he could beat an established candidate.
With 28 aldermen it is possible to achieve diversity. Small time, determined candidates can prevail without big money backing them (as in the case with Shane Cohn)
What is the ideal number of aldermen, 15, 3 or 1? One is the most efficient number yet, no messy debates, no discussion, just pure dictatorship, and man can things get done quick and cheaply that way.
If a fair redistricting process is to occur, if many other needed changes in St. Louis are too be made, it is going to take new thinking. Thinking that is not part of the monopolistic centralization that corporations adore and ultimately screws the citizens.
Corporate policy rules St. Louis city even with 28 aldermen, it will only be worse with fewer representatives. It is also why consolidation of the city and county are a questionable pursuit. Until policy makers begin to address the welfare of citizens and not how to best increase corporate profits, consolidation in the name of efficiency only supports the current policy agenda that fails in every respect. One only as to look at the current state of decline of St. Louis and America for proof of that failure.
Redistricting is a only a symptom of a larger problem of political control. Trying to say fewer wards are necessary is meaningless if issues are not addressed. I’ll put it this way, Shane Cohn would probably lose out if bigger, more corporate friendly wards were in place. It is unlikely he could beat an established candidate.
With 28 aldermen it is possible to achieve diversity. Small time, determined candidates can prevail without big money backing them (as in the case with Shane Cohn)
What is the ideal number of aldermen, 15, 3 or 1? One is the most efficient number yet, no messy debates, no discussion, just pure dictatorship, and man can things get done quick and cheaply that way.
If a fair redistricting process is to occur, if many other needed changes in St. Louis are too be made, it is going to take new thinking. Thinking that is not part of the monopolistic centralization that corporations adore and ultimately screws the citizens.
Corporate policy rules St. Louis city even with 28 aldermen, it will only be worse with fewer representatives. It is also why consolidation of the city and county are a questionable pursuit. Until policy makers begin to address the welfare of citizens and not how to best increase corporate profits, consolidation in the name of efficiency only supports the current policy agenda that fails in every respect. One only as to look at the current state of decline of St. Louis and America for proof of that failure.
the new boundaries keep me out of Craig Schmid’s ward (not that Ortmann is a whole lot better), so that keeps me somewhat happy. but the jumbled jigsaw puzzle nonsense they have created is insane.Â
the new boundaries keep me out of Craig Schmid’s ward (not that Ortmann is a whole lot better), so that keeps me somewhat happy. but the jumbled jigsaw puzzle nonsense they have created is insane.
That’s what happens when you carve up 62 square miles into 28 pieces.
That’s what happens when you carve up 62 square miles into 28 pieces.
Now that the maps are out, the Fifth Ward definitely deserves a discerning glance. Aside from it resembling some e-data horseshoe… the area eliminated from the Ward surely is not compatible with the fact that population ROSE by 5% in the Ward. By overlaying Paul McKee’s NorthSide plan one can begin to see that some of these decisions were less about population and “natural” boundaries, and more about politics as usual in the Fifth. Add to that the “special election”, completely created by actions inside City Hall, and that the areas that housed known political adversaries are no longer “in Ward”, and there is a saucy little political intrigue crawling on its serpentine belly… just below the surface.
Now that the maps are out, the Fifth Ward definitely deserves a discerning glance. Aside from it resembling some e-data horseshoe… the area eliminated from the Ward surely is not compatible with the fact that population ROSE by 5% in the Ward. By overlaying Paul McKee’s NorthSide plan one can begin to see that some of these decisions were less about population and “natural” boundaries, and more about politics as usual in the Fifth. Add to that the “special election”, completely created by actions inside City Hall, and that the areas that housed known political adversaries are no longer “in Ward”, and there is a saucy little political intrigue crawling on its serpentine belly… just below the surface.
something else that going on in the 5th ward is a special election that will be held Dec 20th and if you live in the 5th ward you know that the past alderwoman has stepped down so a election will be on Dec 20th get out and vote and not the controlling family or the 5th ward going to have more thing to talk bout then just boundaries Â
something else that going on in the 5th ward is a special election that will be held Dec 20th and if you live in the 5th ward you know that the past alderwoman has stepped down so a election will be on Dec 20th get out and vote and not the controlling family or the 5th ward going to have more thing to talk bout then just boundaries