Poll: Have You Witnessed or Experienced Racial Discrimination Within the Last Two Years?

Issues of race are nearly impossible to understand in one simple question. For a more in-depth look at race issues I find Pew’s research helpful:

Blacks are much more downbeat than whites about the pace of progress toward a color-blind society. They are also more likely to say that blacks are treated less fairly than whites by police, the courts, public schools and other key community institutions.

While these differences by race are large, significant minorities of whites agree that blacks receive unequal treatment when dealing with the criminal justice system. (King’s Dream Remains an Elusive Goal; Many Americans See Racial Disparities)

The perspectives of different races is not really surprising.

The poll question this week asks if you’ve witnessed or experienced racial discrimination within the last 2 years. I don’t expect those responding affirmative to be a huge percentage, but I’m pretty certain it’ll be greater than zero. The poll is in the right sidebar.

— Steve Patterson

New MetroBus Shelter To Be Built On 14th @ Washington Ave

It’s not everyday a new bus shelter is built, they’re expensive and permanent.

This stop serves the northbound 32 (ML King-Chouteau), 41 (Lee), and 74 (Florissant) MetroBus routes.  In the last 5 years it has been located a block north and in each of the two blocks to the south, moving every so often. This location offers the most space, but the decorative rough stone pavers have been a trip hazard.

Unfortunately the adjacent business wasn’t informed of the construction in advance. I think anyone working in the public right-of-way should attempt to give some advance notice to those impacted by construction. Metro St. Louis contracts with Wall for bus shelters.

— Steve Patterson

One Year Anniversary Of Downtown’s MX Movies

One year ago today downtown once again had a movie theater with the grand opening of MX Movies. Previously downtown had a 10-screen theater behind Union Station, under I-64/Hwy 40, but it closed years ago. MX Movies is in a much better location.

MX Movies has three theaters of varying sizes. Congrats to MX Movies on their first year in business!

— Steve Patterson

Curbs Ignored As Potholes Get Patched

With our recent weather potholes are a problem, but other road infrastructure continues to deteriorate without getting much attention.

Granted, driving past a broken curb isn’t going to damage your wheels, tires, or suspension the way a pothole might. I’d like to know when and how these two curbs will get repaired.

Are there worse curbs elsewhere in the city? Is there a list? Do these only get addressed when a major streetscape project happens?

— Steve Patterson

Readers: Slight Preference for ‘Taxi’ Over ‘Cab’

Last weeks the votes were nearly evenly split between “taxi” and “cab” as the name readers use for a vehicle for hire:

Q: What name do you use for a vehicle for hire?

1. Taxi 39 [48.15%]
2. Cab 36 [44.44%]
3. Taxicab 4 [4.94%]
4. Unsure/no answer 2 [2.47%]

I personally have a strong preference for “taxi”, perhaps because of the 1978-1983 television series.

Of the 13 on call taxicab companies licensed to operate by the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission, only two have taxi in their name.

— Steve Patterson