Saint Louis
CitySide
St. Louis Front Page presents St. Louis CitySide, an overview of the City Government of Saint Louis. From time to time, we will take an indepth look at many of the projects in which the city is involved and how these projects will affect residents and visitors.
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Mayor Slay Marks Mid-Term in Office
If the Cardinals Leave Downtown St. Louis, It's Lights Out for St. Louis
Public Hearing on Proposed Mississippi River Crossing
Missouri Governor Holden Signs Bill Which Changes Property Tax Policy
Loss of Cardinals Baseball Would Create Large Hole in St. Louis Economy, Says Mayor Slay
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Former Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr. explained the concept of changing the city charter during the first city wide meeting for Advance Saint Louis held in the Student Center at Forest Park Community College. Other panelists included (L. to R.) former Mayor Vincent Schoemehl, Mike Jones, chairman of the Coveners of Advance Saint Louis, Ms. Teri Pesapani, business owner, former Mayor James Conway and Sister Marie Charles Buford.
Advance Saint Louis' First City Wide Meeting Begins the Journey to Change City Government
by Betty Magrath, SLFP.com
photos by Bob Moore, SLFP.com
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), June 28, 2003 - Several hundred people gathered Saturday morning in the Student Center at Forest Park Community College for the first city wide meeting to begin actively discussing and debating what form of government is best for the City of St. Louis.
The grassroots planning process, known as Advance Saint Louis, was launched in May following four months of discussion by an eight-person Conveners' Group, Mayor Francis Slay and four former mayors of the city, members of the board of directors of Citizens for Home Rule, representatives from the Comptroller's Office, the Board of Aldermen, and various neighborhood and community organizations.
Advance Saint Louis hopes to create a 150-person Stakeholders Assembly that will be the focal point of the ongoing planning process. Prior to the meeting, attendees were given packets with information about the process, a stakeholder volunteer form and a community questionnaire.
Interested residents and students sat attentively listening to an extensive overview of how the City is currently structured. The presentation was followed by a panel discussion, moderated by former KMOV-TV anchor Julius Hunter.
Sister Marie Charles Buford, one of six panelists, spoke about the need for better housing and a more responsive government. She related the difficulties many older people have dealing with City Hall. She noted that there was a real need to improve the procedures for residents seeking information about improving their properties.
Sister Buford explained that the Sisters of Carondelet provide services for nearly eighteen thousand senior citizens living in the Carondelet neighborhood in South St. Louis. She noted that there were many neglected buildings owned by people who lived outside of the neighborhood.
"We have the most cumbersome and archaic government structure of any city in the United States," stated former Mayor James Conway.
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"We want to keep city government as simple as possible. We need to recognize that the whole economic structure needs to be considered so that the city can't keep continuing to loose money. We need to bring it back to our own home base," stated Sister Buford.
Former Mayor James Conway expressed dismay over businesses leaving because they found it difficult dealing with the City. "I read how Schlafly Brewing's newest facility is in Maplewood because they felt it was easier to go there than deal with the hassles of getting approvals in the City."
"You can log onto the Internet and find virtually anything you are looking for. Yet you still can't go online to learn how to do whatever you want to do in the City of St. Louis," observed Conway.
"We have the most cumbersome and archaic government structure of any city in the United States," Conway pointed out. "Since 1914, we have made no significant changes to this structure, despite all the new technology and other social changes that have taken place. It's not surprising then that we are perceived by businesses large and small as a City that is hard to deal with."
"Economists will tell you that the future job growth is coming from smaller entrepreneurial operations and not the large corporations that we've seen in the past. Yet how many are choosing the City of St. Louis," questioned Conway.
Conway noted that Advance Saint Louis is a once in a lifetime opportunity to modernize the city government. "As a former mayor and business owner and city resident, I can tell you that there is nothing more important in our City's future," said Conway. "We are empowered. We must do this and do it right."
"I am concerned about the absolute power that the Mayor may have because I've seen what happened in Detroit," stated Shirley Ann Williams, a concerned citizen who attended the first city wide meeting for Advance Saint Louis.
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Shirley Ann Williams, one of the many concerned residents who attended the first city wide meeting, spoke with Saint Louis Front Page and expressed her apprehension about the ideology of Advance Saint Louis.
"The program has possibilities for improving the government and making it more efficient. But there are some aspects of the program that I find will be difficult for me to support," stated Williams. "Some of the aspects that the state controls, I think that they should control."
"I am concerned about the absolute power that the Mayor may have because I've seen what happened in Detroit. So there are some things that I want them to do and some things I don't want them to do." When asked about her reference to Detroit, Williams commented that she attended Michigan State and visits her family in Detroit every year.
Former Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr., who initiated the idea of charter reform nearly ten years ago, highlighted the need for action. He pointed out that economic development requires more effective local government. He strongly urged resident participation in the process to bring about reform.
Bosley eloquently noted that the journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step. "This is the beginning of a lot of steps to bring the City of St. Louis into the 21st century," stated Bosley.
All city residents are invited to another public meeting at Forest Park Community College, August 2, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, to continue the planning and discussion process to improve their city government.
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