To many, a proud St. Louis looks like more than $8.5 billion in projects from the Arch to Wash U with a thriving Central Corridor. For others, it’s a beautiful night to walk the dog, wife, and kids in a safe neighborhood after enjoying a locally brewed beer. But for so many St. Louisans, our pride is buried under the debris of gun violence, inequality and the decay of vacant and abandoned buildings driving down property values and possibilities.
The stigma of St. Louis throughout the nation is of violence, death and destruction. Data from the FBI reports that St. Louis has one of the highest homicides rates per capita in the United States. We hear these reports and bury our heads, retreating to the comforts of our own neighborhoods and social circles. But that doesn’t help change anything.
Contrary to popular belief St. Louis does, in fact, have a lot to be proud of, yet we aren’t talking about it. As one friend puts it, “St. Louis does not do a good job at promoting the good things about St. Louis or the proud things it already has or what’s new to the city. It’s just here.”
I believe the city should take a more strategic and proactive approach to telling the story of St. Louis. We should show a strong commitment to our struggling neighborhoods and failing zip codes by offering access to re-development in these areas and a public safety plan to ensure it is protected. Using what we know is already working in successful neighborhoods, people across our city should collaborate to build our city up together.
Yes, this means we all have to travel north of Delmar.
An effort to bring back pride to St. Louis is going to take all of us. We know the issues; we have our studies and reports. We all hear the talk of what’s working well in other places. But what holds us back? Are we too proud to admit what isn’t working? Are we too proud to accept we are all responsible?
A proud St. Louis looks like $8.5 billion in projects from I-55 to I-70. It looks like a beautiful night to walk the dog, wife, and kids in any neighborhood. It looks like a St. Louis without racial boundaries between neighborhoods. It looks like a St. Louis rising from the debris of decay, gun violence and being one St. Louis to lead the nation in growth and opportunity.
Don’t get me wrong: this is no easy task. But as the old saying goes, “Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”
St. Louis is worth the fight.
Jay Nelson is director of Community Affairs for state Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis).
