Readers Split On O’Fallon Park Controversy, Agreement Reached
When I posted last week’s poll on Sunday September 23rd it didn’t look like we were going to see progress toward getting the new $22 million O’Fallon Park Recreation Center open for business. Agreement was reached the next day, but political posturing didn’t end.
Monday September 24th – 1pm
One of the key items announced was “1300 low income kids will get $25 memberships at the O’Fallon Recreation Center.” This is $25 per year, not per month. See the fact sheet here.
Ald. French was glad more specifics were formerly outlined in the documents — that was the goal. It just needed to get through the Board of Aldermen.
Friday September 28th
David Hunn of the Post-Dispatch reported the debate on the bill lasted for over an hour, with many in support:
Aldermen were not uniformly uncritical. Some worried about costs in years to come. Others complained that their wards lacked similarly updated facilities. Alderman Joe Roddy cautioned that the city was gaining a “champagne” appetite when what it really needed was inexpensive access for residents.
But only Alderman Steve Conway spoke fervently against French. He thought the 21st Ward alderman, who has been a paid campaign consultant for mayoral hopeful and board President Lewis Reed, delayed the center’s opening to make Slay look bad. (stltoday.com)
The bill passed, including a yes from Conway. The final vote will be this Friday October 5th. The facility should open by late this year or early 2013.
Q: Thoughts On The Not Yet Open O’Fallon Park Recreation Complex
- The African-American Aldermanic Caucus is trying to make Slay look bad, helping Reed in 2013 27 [29.35%]
- What about residents on the south side that can’t afford the new Carondelet YMCA? 25 [27.17%]
- If we’re subsidizing 60% of the operating costs then the agreement with the YMCA should require at least a 60% discount for low-income residents 12 [13.04%]
- We’re going to pay the YMCA $1.2 million per year to operate a building we spent $22 million to build? 10 [10.87%]
- Unsure/no opinion 9 [9.78%]
- Just sign the 10-year $12 million dollar deal, the YMCA will make sure low-income resident memberships are affordable 7 [7.61%]
- Other: 2 [2.17%]
The two “other” answers were:
- The deal is stupid, the city should manage the rec plex.
- What kind of idiot builds something that the intended customer can’t afford?
I see validity in Ald Roddy’s comments about champagne taste. The time to question it would’ve been 8 years ago when we voted to support the sales tax. In time these two large facilities will either be viewed as a great decision or a poor decision, it’s too soon to know.
— Steve Patterson
Yes, only the future will let us know. I cannot, however agree with Alderman Conway. Alderman French has a history of fighting for his ward and this only demonstrates his commitment to the people of his ward.
Yes, but at what point does ‘fighting for one’s ward’ trumps everyone else? That isn’t just the problem here, but all over the country. But, and correct me if I”m wrong, wasn’t the Carondelet center on the books for years and the original proposal was to use the white house in Caron. park as part of it? Years past with no action until Carnahan got a good share of the money…then then North wanted one and the rest is history. In any case…..unless it is well maintained, easily accessable by car AND bus, and the neighbors support the facility….it will fail, just like the one in Caron. will fail if these things are not met.
As Reed announces his candidacy for Mayor…..this has always been about politics. North versus south. North very poor, South somewhat middle class. Had the economy not tanked, this wouldn’t be an issue. Money? bull cookies. The taxes on the ATT building or any other selected projects that have been given a pass in the past few years would have covered the difference.
While this “showdown” was all about politics, the real issue was proposing, funding and building just two “Cadillac” facilities for $40,000,000+. If the goal is truly to reach out and help poor kids, a much better solution would’ve been creating multiple (6,8,10?), smaller, city-staffed, more-neighborhood-centric centers. I live in south city, near Lindenwood Park. My wife and I can afford to use the Carondelet center, but it’s not convenient (at least a 15-20 minute drive each way), so we choose not to. And if we didn’t drive, it would be nearly impossible to reach (via Metro’s Route 30 & 70), and the new O’Fallon Center is worse! It’s in the middle of a park, blocks from the nearest bus lines (74, 42 & 18), and pedestrian and bike access from the northeast is blocked by I-70! If you’re young and poor, access is a critical part of the equation, and both centers fail for most city residents, especially if you don’t (or can’t) drive. This was more about a few politicians’ egos, photo ops, helping the Y with public funds and less about truly “helping kids” (see highly visible from adjacent freeways)! If this was truly about helping kids, the centers would have at least been more centrally located, in places like Fairground and Benton or Tower Grove Parks . . . .
Actually the O’Fallon Rec Center is very east to reach from MetroBus on Florissant Rd. A sidewalk leads you from the nearest bus stop to the front door of the facility. A post on this is coming up.
Is the YMCA running it a way to get around the wage/pension scale of city workers? I wouldn’t doubt it and am ok with that.