Weekly Poll: Do You The St. Louis Rolling Stop?

In the news last week:

Roberta Haynes, 62, was reportedly walking her dog when she was hit. Police say the driver ran a stop sign and then fled the scene on foot. (KMOV: Woman in critical condition after hit-and-run crash near Tower Grove Park)

Which leads me to the poll question this week: When coming to a stop sign or red light I? The poll is in the upper right corner of the main page.

– Steve Patterson

Delmar Loop Lacks Proper Bike Parking

I’m a huge fan of on-street parking for automobiles, the stationary cars provide a nice barrier between passing cars and pedestrians. But in addition to providing parking for cars in the public right-of-way we should also provide parking for bicycles.  The person who cycles for transportation purposes (vs recreational rides) will find a way to secure their bikes, but often in less than ideal conditions.

A parking meter is a poor bike rack because it is too easy for a thief to lift the bike over the top.  Also meters do a lousy job of supporting the frame. Sign posts can work but often thieves will pull up the post to steal the bike.  Yesterday a friend came over to my loft and he brought his bike up rather than risk theft on the street due to a lack of bike racks.

The Delmar Loop is one of our best areas but the lack of bike parking is noticeable. It has only been 4-5 years since the stretch of Delmar East of Skinker was narrowed from four to two travel lanes to allow widened sidewalks.  There is plenty of room for bike racks, they just weren’t  a priority.

– Steve Patterson

Buildings on Locust Still Standing

The Roberts Brother had planned to raze these two structures as part of converting the building to the right to a Hotel Indigo.  I assume that project is on hold, a victim of the economy.  While I wish the windows were still in the one building, I’d rather see these two buildings remain standing & vacant than razed for an auto court.

– Steve Patterson

Corner Stores Popping Up Everywhere

Last week I was driving home on 7th when a bright store at Olive caught my eye.On Monday I was back in the area and snapped the above picture.  It wasn’t until last night I figured out this new corner store downtown is a Fred’s Cheapo Depot.  Locals will recognize Fred as the guy that has been selling “dirt cheap” alcohol & smokes for years.  I’m an avid non-smoker but I may stop in to check out their spirits. This store is certainly better than a vacant storefront.

I’m seeing what appears to be more and more small corner stores throughout the city.  What they lack in selection and parking the make up for in convenience.

– Steve Patterson

Readers: City, Not State, Should Control Police

Last week readers overwhelmingly voted to support local control of the St. Louis Police, Missouri has controlled the police since the Civil War.

Q: The issue of local control vs state control of the St. Louis Police is a hot topic, thoughts?

1. St. Louis should control the police but with changes to the local charter 47 [40.52%]
   
2. St. Louis should control the police with no changes to the local charter 23 [19.83%]
   
3. The police should stay under the control of Missouri. 18 [15.52%]
   
4. Police pensions need to be protected 10 [8.62%]
   
5. Police need to accept concessions 9 [7.76%]
   
6. Really? The Governor controls the city police? 6 [5.17%]
   
7. Other answer… 3 [2.59%]
   
8. Unsure/no opinion 0 [0%]

The three other answers were:

1. Mayor Slay should become a Police Officer
2. Not sure whether charter should change, but the city should be in control
3. all police forces should be controled at the state or county level

The last one above confuses me since St. Louis is both a city and a county.  The St. Louis Police Officers Association has this to say:

Local Control advocates say that the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Dept. (SLMPD) will be more accountable to the City. They further contend that Police, Fire, and Civil Service pension systems will bankrupt the City; therefore, Local Control will make the City more financially sound.

This Is Not True. Please consider the following 7 Facts:

• FACT #1: The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) is already accountable to the City.
• FACT #2: The City’s real problem is poor fiscal management; Local Control is a ruse.
• FACT #3: Local Control will result in unnecessary political influence over SLMPD.
• FACT #4: The St. Louis Police Pension System is a victim of the City’s poor fiscal management.
• FACT #5: Local Control will subject SLMPD to the City’s overly-burdensome bureaucracy.
• FACT #6: The St. Louis City Police operate much more efficiently without City intervention.
• FACT #7: The hidden agenda behind Local Control is an unfair money grab.

Hard to argue with their points, but I’ll give it a shot.  control of a police force belongs at the local level regardless of local incompetence.  Changes to the city’s charter are likely necessary to establish a modern structure for governance.  Frankly, I’d like to see a major restructuring of the city charter as a condition of local control of the police.

– Steve Patterson