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A couple of weeks ago, Clark and I attended a mayoral forum for the three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor of St. Louis: Francis Slay, Denise Watson-Wesley Coleman, and Irene Smith. I got some video of Slay and Coleman, but–and this was unfortunate–none of Smith. She was the most intriguing speaker of the three. (I’ll have more to say about Coleman and Smith in later postings.)
Slay presents himself as a competent snow removal guy. I use that metaphor, though the actual question was that, considering how some have accused Slay of overemphasis on the development of downtown, what has he done or what does he plan to do to support development on the north and south sides of the city? I leave it to those of you who’ve actually lived there to decide whether his response is convincing.
Have the positive things in North St. Louis mentioned by Slay happened because of his administration or in spite of it? As I understand it, Slay has stood idly by while city properties and Blairmont properties deteriorate, and while brick rustlers damage these properties and lower everyone else’s property values. Yes, there is a movement afoot to revitalize North St. Louis, but Slay has focused more on helping big developers like Paul McKee, who want to bulldoze entire neighborhoods, than on helping the large number of citizens who have invested their own time and money into restoring historic neighborhoods. And if you don’t believe me, then go to next month’s “Drinks and Mortar,” which is composed of many of the people who are rehabilitating the neighborhoods.
I revise my statement that he’s TERRIBLE on snow removal 🙂
My neighborhood, which is basically a solid neighborhood and has been a solid neighborhood for years, has seen a lot of good things happen during the Slay administration. Lots of new housing going up in infill lots and teardowns of crappy little frame bungalows to be replaced by nice new housing. There’s a new condo development going into an old public school building. It’s a shame the economy has tanked and all that will end. Did Slay organize it? There were tax credits for some of the new housing. But mostly it happened because people started to feel comfortable moving into the city again and thought property values were going to be stable and even go up – and I do give Slay credit for that. He has created the appearance of stability and it has worked.
The north side? As far as I can tell nothing has happened on the northside worth talking about during Slay’s term. But I don’t live there so maybe there’s something I don’t know about.