Readers: City Better Than A Decade Ago

In the poll last week readers could pick up to three answers, the top answer shows many felt the city has gotten better in the last decade, despite a loss in population.

Q:Reaction to the 2010 Census showing a loss of 29k residents? (pick up to 3 answers)

1. Fewer residents but the quality of the city has improved in the last decade 111 [33.74%]
2. Previous estimates showing a slight increase gave me false hope 67 [20.36%]
3. Very disappointing 61 [18.54%]
4. Happy the losses are getting smaller each decade 26 [7.9%]
5. Partly the outcome of low density housing policy 22 [6.69%]
6. The numbers must be wrong 16 [4.86%]
7. Surprised the loss wasn’t greater 13 [3.95%]
8. Other answer… 11 [3.34%]
9. No opinion 2 [0.61%]

The “other” answers were:

1. St Louis to Jennings
2. Our schools need to be improved if we are ever going to retain our population
3. i am very curious to know how the ave resident/house and income/house changed
4. so many people were not counted.
5. many people didn’t bother to send in cenus forms
6. The numbers Might be wrong
7. Note we gained amongst 18 , MUST fix schools
8. My pride is hurt, but as long development doesn’t slow; it’ll heal.
9. Obviously better with fewer low income African Americans
10. Mixture of some areas (n. St. Louis) and emptyin and fewer large families.

Much work remains but for me the total number of residents is less important than the quality of life of those of us who didn’t leave.

– Steve Patterson

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

91 Municipalities in St. Louis County Too Many, Too Few or Just Right?

Two interesting stories this week, one saying 91 municipalities in St. Louis County is a strength.  The other from an alderman in one of those municipalities, wanting to unincorporate.

Mayors of some of St. Louis County’s 91 municipalities say they’re tired of being portrayed as one of the county’s biggest problems — and they hope to spend 2011 setting the record straight.

“There’s a wrong perception that the number of munipalities [sic] makes (St. Louis County) less competitive,” said Glendale Mayor Rich Magee, president of the St. Louis County Municipal League. “We’re the solution, not the problem.” (The more, the better: Municipal League says county’s many cities are its strength)

Here is the long list:

In contrast is St. George:

Alderman Carmen Wilkerson wants to erase the city she represents from the map.

St. George covers just 0.2 square miles and has a population of about 1,400. Wilkerson says there’s no reason to keep a city so small. She wants it to revert to unincorporated south St. Louis County. (St. George official backs end to city)

The poll question this week asks “91 Municipalities in St. Louis County Too Many, Too Few or Just Right?“  The poll is located in the upper right of the site.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: Thoughts on Local Control of the St. Louis Police?

The controversial idea of returning control of the St. Louis Police to local officials rather than with the state in Jefferson City is again a hot issue. A recent editorial in the St. Louis American got me thinking this would make a good poll question:

Given our determined opposition to the proposed elimination of the city earnings tax and of the state income tax, both promulgated by billionaire ideologue Rex Sinquefield, and the many times we have questioned the leadership and motives of Mayor Francis G. Slay, we can understand why it raises suspicions to see Sinquefield helping to fund the latest effort to put St. Louis city government in control of its own police force, with Slay stumping for it heartily. Sinquefield has ponied up $300,000 to fund a ballot initiative for local police control in St. Louis and Kansas City, and Slay – so often silent when needed – has been very outspoken in favor of passing local control this session.

We certainly agree with critics of Sinquefield and Slay that they may have ulterior, and even sinister, motives for supporting local control, which for years has been a rallying cry for the African-American and progressive communities in St. Louis. Furthermore, we have a long-standing criticism against the form of local control currently provided for in the St. Louis City Charter, which would become the governing document should the state Legislature pass new legislation that ends the current system of administration by a police board appointed by the governor. The City Charter provides for a single police commissioner who reports to the director of Public Safety (a mayoral appointee) and who could be fired by this mayoral appointee – or the governor – “with or without cause.” Plainly, this would make the police commissioner helplessly vulnerable to both city and state politics. (full editorial – recommended!)

State Representative Jamilah Nasheed (D-60) has introduced House Bill 71 which “Allows the City of St. Louis to establish and maintain a municipal police force completely under the city’s authority.” There are no shortage of opinions on this issue, here’s mine.

If I were to organize city government from scratch I would do many things differently.  Local control of police is logical.  We don’t live in the Civil War era anymore.  That said, there are many officers who have risked their lives for years that have earned their pensions, soimething they fear they might lose under local control.

I’m no expert on union contracts & pensions but hopefully those that are experts can find a way to make this happen, it is time.

As always the poll this week is located in the upper right corner of the blog.

– Steve Patterson

Readers: City Meets Snow Removal Expectations

Last week readers weighed in on the topic of snow removal:

Q: How good of a job does the City of St. Louis do at snow removal?

1. About what I expect 68 37.57%
2. I expect better 60 33.15%
3. Better than I’d expect 31 17.13%
4. Other answer… 18 9.94%
5. No opinion 4 2.21%

A close second was the expectation of a better job. The other answers were numerous:

1. We specifically bought an AWD drive car because we live IN the city.
2. I am betting that “I expect better” wins.
3. Snow removal is an unecessary expense.
4. what about sidewalks
5. I would like better, but realize it is not realistic due to budget realities.
6. It’s sporadic, sometimes good, sometimes bad. unpredictable.
7. pathetic, northern states do much, much better
8. Worst ever for a city with annual snow.
9. They do a great Job!
10. Great!
11. Snow in STL is so infrequent; the city spends to much time and energy on it.
12. the lack of plowing side streets is a reason to live in inner suburb.
13. I’d LIKE better
14. Depends how good your Alderperson is
15. About what I expect, but I expect a terrible job.
16. Embarrasingly awful
17. If you want side streets plowed, you need to pay more in taxes.
18. Laughable

Clearly readers have different expectations causing a wide variety of answers. Wondering if the ice & sleet this week has changed any opinions?

– Steve Patterson