St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department on a County Resident's Potential Move to Tower Grove South 12:32 PM

First, the potential city-dweller, from CopTalk:

Posted by Noco Popo on 1/19/2010, 9:34 pm
Single female, currenly living and working in North County. Considering moving to the Tower Grove/South City area. Wondering if I will regret this decision, and hoping my brothers and sisters in blue working this area could advise. Should I give it a chance or go with the south or west county areas??

Then, the responses from our city's police officers:

Posted by third dist po on 1/20/2010, 8:14 am, in reply to "City Living"
I work in TG South (Dist 3). I would not move to TG South...many burglaries daily...robberies on S. Grand...South Hamtpon/Princeton Heights/St. Louis Hills (if you can afford the Hills) would be my recommendation if you MUST move to the City.

Posted by Comp Stat on 1/20/2010, 8:20 am, in reply to "City Living"
Stay away for your safety.

The chief just transferred a whole squad of officers from my neighborhood in District One in South Patrol to District Six on the north side of the city.

We have also had a unusual number of murders in the South Patrol since the first of the year.

That is the way I see it. I don't even need the pie charts.

Posted by po on 1/20/2010, 9:47 pm, in reply to "Re: City Living"
I don't want to give a fellow copper the idea of moving to TG South is a good idea. Some homes may look nice but crime surrounds them, daily, day in and day out...this city is done.

The conversation continues with the predictable response from police officers saying only they truly know what goes on day in and day out in the city. While I agree that their jobs must be impossibly taxing, and that the city does grapple with a severe crime problem, urging people not to live in the city solves nothing! It actually, of course, causes all sorts of problems.

Having had friends that live in north St. Louis, I have been pulled over by St. Louis MPD cops who assume I'm there to buy drugs. One officer saw that I was white, rolled down his window when he pulled next to me, and demanded, saying nothing else, "Go South!".

While I assume this is normal protocol to curb drug-seekers, it doesn't make it any less destructive and irresponsible in my opinion. I don't expect the fine people who protect our city to harbor the most positive image of the city with respect to what they see and do everyday. But when they serve as detractors to city-living, they're making their own jobs more difficult.

Did no one tell me we're back in 1993? Homicides in city hit the 90-mark. 3:58 PM

It appears that Moore's killing is the city's 90th of the year. As of 10 a.m. on Monday, Police spokeswoman Erica Van Ross said that there have been 89 homicides in the city so far this year. At this time last year, there were 65 homicides. That’s an increase of 24.

Source

Gun buyback programs?

More police on the streets?

Announcement of a revolutionary public school reform effort?

More inducements for pedestrians to be walking the streets and keeping an eye out for such crimes?

What can we do to stop this?

Forest Park Southeast to Receive Much Needed Streetscape/Infrastructure Improvements 2:01 AM

Before I headed off to the University of New Orleans, I lived in a cozy apartment in Forest Park Southeast, a.k.a. the Grove. You might recognize it.


View Larger Map

No, I did not live inside the restaurant (the delectable Sweetie Pie's), but rather above it.

I loved living in the Grove, but coming home each day only reminded me of how much Manchester needs a makeover. Of course, as I've referred to in previous posts such as this one, I think many St. Louis streets could use the median treatment. It adds greenery, helps aid in pedestrian crossings, and beautifies a street. Of course, it requires maintenance.

That's why I was happy to hear about the creation of the Grove Community Improvement District (CID), recently approved by the Board of Alderman.


This is from the 17th Ward Website:

Neighborhood residents, business and property owners have joined together to form the Grove Community Improvement District (CID). The purpose of CID is to develop a comprehensive plan and budget to meet the needs of Manchester Avenue. After receiving feedback from various groups within the community, those involved in creating the CID aim to use funds to enhance security, plant trees and flowers along Manchester, repave and maintain new sidewalks, increase street cleaning, pursue marketing opportunities and coordinate economic development activities. The Grove Community Improvement District will allow Forest Park Southeast to compete with neighborhoods like the Central West End, South Grand and the University City Loop.

There's also an article about the CID here.

Streetscape improvements are long overdue for the Grove.

While you wait for new sidewalks and lighting on your way to Atomic Cowboy, check out the new Forest Park Southeast welcome sign/entry marker. Thanks to my good friend (and roommate at the Manchester apartment) Joe Decepida.

Horrific murder rate this year is looking more and more likely. 3:37 PM

Despite the overwhelmingly positive response to the recent Call to Oneness March, violence has continued at an unacceptable rate.

The latest P-D article tells of four slayings in one night in the city; one in Academy, one in Kingsway West, and two in Hyde Park.

I checked the Police Department's website for the most up to date crime stats. There were 63 murders between January and May 2008--only five months. We are on pace to top 150 homicides in one year. That's an unbelievably high murder rate of 50 per 100,000.

Our cities and our nation need leaders who will not shy away from bold, progressive policies that will reduce crime and reinvest in education so that our cities can be stabilized. This is a moral issue, whether or not the victims of violence we witness nearly every day are involved in gangs, are drug addicts, or any other factor that people typically use to diminish the weight of a particular crime.

We need unqualified action.

Police Department on Blairmont: "Are you meaning to accuse them of arson?" 6:52 PM

Last week, I called the St. Louis Fire Department to see if they had read any of the bloggers' coverage of the arsons in Blairmontland. I wanted to see if they were aware of what we preservationists, community developers, and concerned residents all are: that Blairmont owns a lot of property in the arson-afflicted areas, and that they have a history of illegal demolitions and otherwise severely neglected property. The arsons might, in fact, be a cheaper way of realizing the slow process of demolitions that has occurred already.

The STLFD referred me to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. A detective (remember--I don't do names. I wrote down the phonetic spelling this time, but left it at work) returned my call today while I was at work.

Essentially, the conversation in my cubicle quickly became a trial of my logic and a defense of Blairmont. Also interesting was that the detective was fully aware of who or what "Blairmont" was, sometimes referring to the company as a "he" (Paul McKee, Jr.?). Read on.

As usual, this is NOT an exact transcript, just my memory of the exchange. If that sounds altogether too shaky for you to accept, feel free to disregard the post. I was pretty fired up (pun truthfully not intended), so a lot of what was said was burnt into my otherwise wont-to-falter memory.

Me: "I was just calling to see if the Police Department was aware of the owners of the property in that string of arsons last week in north St. Louis, because the Blairmont holding companies own almost all of them."

Detective: "Blairmont doesn't own them all, but, yes, we are looking into the case. Does that settle your question?"

Me: "Well, Blairmont owned nine out of eleven. That's a significant percentage."

Detective: "Well, they own a lot of buildings in the area, so that makes sense" [he laughs]

Me: "The LRA owns even more property, and not a single one of their buildings was burnt."

Det.: "Look. This city experiences arsons quite often. Are you suggesting Blairmont is committing arson? That's a pretty bold claim."

Me: "The arsons just happened to occur in the area that Blairmont is speculating within. Plus, there were eleven. I have been tracking the Blairmont companies through several websites and blogs. They routinely empty out occupied properties. At best, they remove the boards from the windows and at worst they seem to summon illegal brick rustlers. I fully believe that the case is pretty strong against Blairmont. They have an awful track record."

Det.: "I have been on the force for 14 years. These fires are not that uncommon. We've had problems with properties being vacant for years, long before Blairmont. And we've had a problem with arsons long before Blairmont too."

Me: "Well, then, let me ask you: in your 14 years, how often have 11 buildings been put up in flames in the same neighborhood in one night?"

Det.: "It's happened at least two or three times."

Me: "Two or three times doesn't seem like a lot to me. I'd say that this is a pretty suspicious occurrence. Especially when you consider that Blairmont has to take action by June in order to collect on a tax credit act he secured for land acquisition up there in north St. Louis."

Det.: "Why would he burn the buildings? That ruins the brick. Brick rustlers wouldn't want them burned."

Me: "To my knowledge, the fire helps separate the bricks from the wood so they're ready to be stacked and carted away."

Det.: "That's not my understanding. I have to disagree with that. The bricks get charred."

Me: "Well, I'm just stating what I've read on some architecture websites and blogs. Plus, the arsons make for cheaper demolitions, do they not?"

Det.: "I don't think so. I mean, the owner still has to clear away the rubble. I think it might cost more to do it that way."

Me: "I don't have the numbers on that, but I've always thought it would be cheaper to have a fire take down a building, along with brick rustlers, than it is to hire a demolition contractor to take down 75 acres worth of buildings."

Det.: "I don't think so. I think the owner still pays for all that."

Me: "Well, even if you're ready to dismiss that Blairmont might have started the fires themselves, you have to treat Blairmont properties as especially dangerous considering how often they're subjected to brick rustling, demolition by neglect, and arson. Even if it is coincidence, you have to look at the fate of each one of his buildings. They're falling down. One blogger has taken photos for the past 70 days of Blairmont properties. Like clockwork, after Blairmont gets to them, they're turned into rubble and brick rustlers get to them. Seems a little odd to me. If I were conducting an investigation of the arsons, I'd be suspicious of Blairmont. I'm not saying that it's a clear and demonstrable fact, but there is certainly enough circumstantial evidence to warrant an investigation, I think."

Det.: "I have to prove. I can't go on that kind of evidence. So you're wanting to accuse them of arson. That's pretty bold."

Me: "Blairmont has shown such a demonstrable lack of care for its properties in north St. Louis that it's hard to ignore what's happening. I would suggest you visit the blog I'm talking about. It has pictures--before and afters and stuff."

Det.: "What is it?"

Me: "builtstlouis.blogspot.com"

Det.: "Well, I will look into this. Thanks for calling."

Me: "Yeah. Thanks for your time."

The detective's tone bordered on mockery. It sounded as if he was tasked with deflecting public criticism and scrutiny in light of the strong case one could make against Blairmont.


If the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is not outraged by the endangerment of city residents enough to further investigate (perhaps indirect) foul play by Blairmont, what hope do any grassroots groups and citizens have to fight the urban renewal scheme--or at least involve themselves in it?


Sure makes you wonder.

That's the Spirit! An impromptu and unofficial "City Walk" occurs in Tower Grove South. 11:43 AM

In response to the recent and totally random shooting of postal worker Terry Dean Marcrum in Tower Grove South, neighbors and friends marched to the site of the shooting to announce a presence of a neighborhood that cares. Read the Suburban Journals article here.

Last week, I learned of a program called "City Walks" started here in New Orleans to fight violent crime via sponsored walks through neighborhoods troubled with crime. It seemed an excellent way to unite neighbors behind the cause of securing and feeling pride in their neighborhoods. I asserted that this program would be extremely beneficial to St. Louis.

I am happy to see that one neighborhood did not need any non-profit group to introduce the concept! Congratulations go to Tower Grove South. The article is very uplifting and the fact that these residents took their concern for the neighborhood as a call to action and involvement rather than "voting with their feet" and leaving the neighborhood is commendable.


Again, good job, TGS! Efforts like these seem small, but go a long way toward making St. Louis even more safe, livable, and appreciated by others. The image is from the Suburban Journals story, linked above. And does this make me feel a bit guilty about what I said about the Post-Dispatch in the previous post? I don't know--do the Suburban Journals count as the P-D?

St. Louis needs to become a "walking city" again if it hopes to reduce crime. 9:30 AM

A brilliant presentation in my "Citizen Participation" class inspired me to write this post.

My friend and the presenter in question, Rosie, used a timeless quote from Jane Jacobs' seminal work The Death and Life of Great American Cities.

No amount of police can enforce civilization where the normal casual enforcement of it has broken down.

What Jacobs means is that, without "eyes on the street" and people that care for (rather than fear) their community, neighborhoods will inevitably decline regardless of police presence. Law enforcement officials cannot replace a social fabric that was designed to offer mutual protection by neighborhood stewardship and vigilance.

One New Orleans group named SilenceisViolence has risen up against that city's crime wave to, to use the apt cliche, "take back the streets". "City Walks" is a program they sponsor in which a group of residents take...:

...weekly evening strolls from one New Orleans neighborhood to another. These walks are intended to nurture connections among neighborhoods, to establish a positive, anti-violence presence on our streets, and to bring new faces to businesses around the city. The City Walks will be held each Sunday evening, with a 7pm departure. We will walk 1-2 miles each week and will have a small reception at our destination establishment. Transportation will be provided back to the departure establishment.

What a simple and completely doable idea this could be for St. Louis. It is positive on so many fronts.

1. It encourages walking through St. Louis neighborhoods--the very best form of transportation by which to appreciate this beautiful city is the tried-and-tested foot.
2. It takes people through stigmatized and crime ridden neighborhoods so that residents can both take in the "bad" and appeal to the "good" that the neighborhood has to offer.
3. It adds activity to neighborhoods that don't often see a wave of meandering pedestrians.
4. It potentially builds cooperation and trust between neighbors who perhaps were too afraid to leave their homes to speak to one another before.
5. It links adjacent neighborhoods and teaches residents to recognize that we shouldn't be so damn parochial!
   

In a city that reported 138 homicides last year such as St. Louis, the City Walks program could only serve to benefit the more forlorn of the city's streets.