Comments on: Of Parks and People (Part 2)

By: Jael

Jael — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:01:42 +0000

Wait ONE DARN minute…Get your facts straight…Bosley’s Ward Organization, Neighborhood Council, has a great deal of properties too. Have you seen Adelaide north and south of West Florissant…Almost three complete blocks of dilapidated, vacant empty homes once occupied. Look at the Black and white SIGNS that say, “Call NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL if you want to develop.”

They are doing a bit of land banking also…why haven’t these homes been rehabbed…they also perhaps want a little something, something under the table. Perhaps.

Wake up people…its’ not just about BLACK or WHITE. If we must attack Paul McKee, we must also attack the Roberts Brothers. Noticed how much property they’ve purchased on Dr. MLK, Aldine and oh, have you priced some of the condos at the Old Enright Middle…some go for $350,000. I am proud that there are some African Americans who can afford them. Wake up Black Folk, Wake up. This city needs developing YESTERDAY.

While we’ve been looking at some of these conditions over the past 35 years, we should have been buying property instead of the blink, blink, spinners, Escalades and the like. Heaven help us!!!

By: margie

margie — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:01:34 +0000

The police need policing. I’d like to see an in-depth analysis of SLPD manpower allocations by geography. I suspect the allegations of “de-policing” are true, based on widespread anecdotal reports I hear from around the community. But insights and proof based on quantitative facts are the next step. Is anyone doing this work? UM-St. Louis’ criminal studies experts would be one source, real investigative journalists (if there are any left in St. Louis) another.

By: subsidized

subsidized — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:06:19 +0000

I’m mainly interested in the responsibility aspect of this conversation. The government provides for thousands of St. Louis of households, (north and south). They provide section 8, food stamps, government subsidized health care, home repair, medical insurance, grant funded light bills, and free back to school supplies(funded by gov grants), free day care and headstart, and aftercare, and yet they are not doing enough? How much more does the government need to do?

By: good points

good points — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:43:41 +0000

I have a few questions, maybe someone knows the answer to: Is the number of police force different on the south side than it is on the north side? What is the difference between the condition of the LRA properties the year before they were purchased by LRA, and a year after they were purchased? In terms of local, state and federal funding, does north or south side get more money? What about entitlement programs, are south or north siders using more government public assistance programs? How many neighborhood organizations are in the north side compared to the south side? Jobs are important too, but to get a job you need transportation. Is there unequal access to transportation in different areas of the city?

By: Shawn

Shawn — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:20:50 +0000

I have to agree with the other comments here. I live in North City and I seem to be the only one in the entire neighborhood who ever calls the police. I call any time I see a person where they have no business being. I call any time I see a group of people gathered where they don’t belong. You tell me that if you called when that dealer pulled up and started selling, that no-one would respond? Give them the damn plate #, give them a description, start taking some personal responsibility instead of crying that no-one does it for you.

Because I used to call at least once or twice a day the drug related traffic in my neighborhood is way down and I don’t have to call as often now. It’s not a problem that’ll go away because we still have parasitic slum-lords doing their thing (the scourge of St. Louis). You have to take some action on your own here, the police aren’t psychic. It isn’t all Whitey.

By: John

John — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:23:52 +0000

For a police officer busting drug dealers is fun. As a former St. Louis City police officer on the north side I can say we were never told not to patrol areas. We were however undermanned at times.

We often utilized tips from narcotics hotlines to help in making these arrests.

It is going to take a joint community/police effort to change.

By: Henry

Henry — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:40:25 +0000

You lost me on this one too. Sounds like the same game you tried in the past. Why is the blame game the only route. We all get it, you don’t like city hall and we are growing tired of your tirades. City hall and the police respond to those neighborhoods’ who organize and police their streets. Blaming the cops and city hall but not taking any responsibility will continue to get us nothing.

By: Puggg

Puggg — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:06:42 +0000

Your two main contentions here seem to be:

(1) White St. Louis doesn’t seem to care about St. Louis city’s black population.

(2) The St. Louis City Police Department (mostly white) also doesn’t care about certain neighborhoods.

Yet, if this weren’t the case, I bet you would be the first person complaining about how white people are “picking on us,” and how the cops are engaging in racial profiling.

By: Northside rez

Northside rez — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:48:46 +0000

Your piece was very nice except for the Paul Mckee/Underperforming HS. Sounds like a pro-Mckee/voucher thumbs up. Paul Mckee is LRA/LRA is Paul Mckee. The Alderman of the 3rd ward, Mr Bosley, has said it many times. When the time comes that Mckee is ready to build LRA properties that are being landbanked will go to him. But the 3rd ward residents want to believe that they are safe because the big bad wolf is not huffing and puffing at their door. That’s another story. However they are fed up with the violence that is plaguing their streets and they want it to stop. I challenge them to police themselves. Begin to take back their own. When I hear people say this would not happen on the South side that is not true. The South side has violent crime as well. However, some South side neighborhoods have active neighbors that police their own. I live on the North side and we police our own. So it is possible to do it anywhere. I think comparing the NS to SS has gotten old. We are all city residents. As such we must love where we are and make the most of it. We must learn to live not just exist. I know that it is hard because the image of the Northside is always negative but we have a history in St Louis that goes beyond failing schools and crime. I encourage all to seek a community organization that appeals to your needs and join. Embrace the views of others and bring something back to your community.