SLAY: 25th Ward Dead Last in Bricks & Mortar Investment

Mayor Slay’s website is bragging about over $2 Billion Dollars in bricks & mortar investment from July 2001 through November 2004. Pretty impressive.

However, when you start to look at the detail ward by ward you get a much different picture of the disparity between the wards. Not surprising to many of us that live in the 25th Ward – we came in last with a total of $4.9 million. Next to last was the 13th Ward of Fred Wessels with a total of $6.4 million – 30% more than the 25th.

Comparing the 25th Ward to downtown or West end wards would an unfair comparison. However, I think looking at the wards adjacent to the 25th Ward is fair. Here are the other wards adjacent to the 25th:

• 25th Ward (Kirner): $4.9 million (28th overall)
• 13th Ward (Wessels): $6.4 million (27th overall)
• 20th Ward (Schmid): $17.3 million (21st overall)
• 11th Ward (Villa): $21.1 million (19th overall)
• 14th Ward (Gregali): $22.2 million (18th overall)
• 15th Ward (Florida): $32.3 million (12th overall)
• 9th Ward (Ortman): $78.2 million (7th overall)

Here is how the numbers break down for the 25th Ward:
• Residential Investment: $2.9 million
• Business/Retail: $800K
• Schools/Daycare: $100K
• Board of Public Service Contracts: $1 million
• City Demolition: $100K

Below are some observations/notes from these figures:
• Over half the residential investment is for “misc. residential repairs.”
• The residential figures included a total of 12 housing units – 10 substantial rehab and 2 new construction.
• Due to redistricting, some of the work is outside the current 25th ward boundaries. For example, the business section includes Ackerman Toyota, King Dodge, McMahon Lincoln Mercury and Bimmers R Us.
• No detail is supplied on the section for Elementary/Secondary/Daycare investment. In other wards this includes both public & private investment.
• The Board of Public Service Contract total of $1 million lists three things – Mt. Pleasant Park improvements, Amberg Park Playground and Roller Hockey Rink in Mt. Pleasant Park. The 14th Ward to the West had the same $1 million in BPS contracts but they listed alley repairs and work on Delor.
• The city spent $100K demolishing 7 structures.
• Slay’s website indicates the figures were rounded to the nearest 100,000.

While I understand one of the wards must be last it would at least be nice to see investment spread around a bit more. The 25th Ward’s measly $4.9 million investment is less than three tenths of one percent of the total investment over the last four years. We couldn’t even muster a full one percent!

I invite you to take a look at the above figures and use the links provided to see the numbers from each ward.

– Steve

SLAY: 25th Ward Dead Last in Bricks & Mortar Investment

Mayor Slay’s website is bragging about over $2 Billion Dollars in bricks & mortar investment from July 2001 through November 2004. Pretty impressive.

However, when you start to look at the detail ward by ward you get a much different picture of the disparity between the wards. Not surprising to many of us that live in the 25th Ward – we came in last with a total of $4.9 million. Next to last was the 13th Ward of Fred Wessels with a total of $6.4 million – 30% more than the 25th.

Comparing the 25th Ward to downtown or West end wards would an unfair comparison. However, I think looking at the wards adjacent to the 25th Ward is fair. Here are the other wards adjacent to the 25th:

• 25th Ward (Kirner): $4.9 million (28th overall)
• 13th Ward (Wessels): $6.4 million (27th overall)
• 20th Ward (Schmid): $17.3 million (21st overall)
• 11th Ward (Villa): $21.1 million (19th overall)
• 14th Ward (Gregali): $22.2 million (18th overall)
• 15th Ward (Florida): $32.3 million (12th overall)
• 9th Ward (Ortman): $78.2 million (7th overall)

Here is how the numbers break down for the 25th Ward:
• Residential Investment: $2.9 million
• Business/Retail: $800K
• Schools/Daycare: $100K
• Board of Public Service Contracts: $1 million
• City Demolition: $100K

Below are some observations/notes from these figures:
• Over half the residential investment is for “misc. residential repairs.”
• The residential figures included a total of 12 housing units – 10 substantial rehab and 2 new construction.
• Due to redistricting, some of the work is outside the current 25th ward boundaries. For example, the business section includes Ackerman Toyota, King Dodge, McMahon Lincoln Mercury and Bimmers R Us.
• No detail is supplied on the section for Elementary/Secondary/Daycare investment. In other wards this includes both public & private investment.
• The Board of Public Service Contract total of $1 million lists three things – Mt. Pleasant Park improvements, Amberg Park Playground and Roller Hockey Rink in Mt. Pleasant Park. The 14th Ward to the West had the same $1 million in BPS contracts but they listed alley repairs and work on Delor.
• The city spent $100K demolishing 7 structures.
• Slay’s website indicates the figures were rounded to the nearest 100,000.

While I understand one of the wards must be last it would at least be nice to see investment spread around a bit more. The 25th Ward’s measly $4.9 million investment is less than three tenths of one percent of the total investment over the last four years. We couldn’t even muster a full one percent!

I invite you to take a look at the above figures and use the links provided to see the numbers from each ward.

– Steve

“Subscribe” to Receive Notices of Updates

In the interest of keeping everyone informed before and after the election I have set up this “blog.” But how many of us forget to check sites for new information?

Well, now I can let you know when new information has been posted. If you subscribe with the 25th Ward you’ll get email notices anytime a new post has been added. Even if you don’t live in the ward but want to know what is going on just add your email to the list.

To receive a notification simply send a blank email to subscribe@25thward.com.

– Steve

State Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford Endorses Patterson for Alderman!

Missouri State Representative from the 59th District, Jeanette Mott Oxford, has endorsed my candidacy for the St. Louis Board of Alderman:

From Oxford’s biography:

I am honored to have my state representative, a very distinguished individual, endorse me in this race.

– Steve

State Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford Endorses Patterson for Alderman!

Missouri State Representative from the 59th District, Jeanette Mott Oxford, has endorsed my candidacy for the St. Louis Board of Alderman:

From Oxford’s biography:

I am honored to have my state representative, a very distinguished individual, endorse me in this race.

– Steve