Marvin Gaye’s 1971 hit “What’s Going On” describes my feelings as it pertains to politics and some black politicians in our region. I’m especially talking to black politicians, because the most disenfranchised group of voters elected you to address their disproportionate woes. It’s been about six years since I covered politics professionally. So, like the returning Vietnam Vet typified in Gaye’s song, I’m asking, “What’s going on?”
I’ve heard your appeals to young people imploring them to vote for you. What I haven’t seen is legislative action or detailed plans to address the factors that propelled them into the streets in the first place. It seems a new wave of progressive candidates – black and white – consider many of you out-of-touch and part of an antiquated, good-ole-boy political system. I see government resources pouring into one part of North St. Louis while crime, poverty, unemployment festers in the poorest parts of that area.
So, what’s going on?
It seems many of you are in compliance with the mayor’s outdated model of giving public dollars to rich developers, tony neighborhoods and powerful entities with the liquid hope that something, anything will trickle down to poor folk. We’re currently watching tax-subsidized gentrification in North St. Louis with the multi-million-dollar NGA and NorthSide Regeneration projects. If one part is to be cleared out in the name of “development,” shouldn’t there be a plan to preserve and restore other parts of that long-ignored landscape?
Surely you’ve read the scorching St. Louis Magazine series that has detailed how politicians “sacrificed millions” to lure people (read white people) back to the city. Between 2000 and 2014, according to the magazine, $307 million in tax incentives have been allotted to rich developers and affluent homeowners in the city. But, because of 10-to-25-year tax break exemptions, public schools are shortchanged of at least $150 million.
I understand, it’s easy get caught up in promises of job creation and tax generation. But the tax benefits are years down the road and a tiny fraction of your constituents will help build the new projects, work in the new businesses or live in the fancy, revitalized neighborhoods.
What’s going on? Where are your plans to strengthen public education, increase tax revenue, create inner-city jobs or rebuild heavily-populated sections of North St. Louis?
I’m sure current developments are complicated, with multiple layers of public/private sector collaboration and money. But aren’t there certain basic, duplicable factors that can spur grassroots development as well?
Someone drew a line around specific sections of St. Louis then went to politicians to advocate and/or write legislation that made the project(s) suitable for government assistance. What stops you, black politicians, from doing the same? Is it because of the pay-to-play system? Is it lack of vision, creativity or the fact that you don’t believe blacks can do-for-self with a little political help?
There are at least eight nonprofits, mine included, that are trying to make a positive impact from, MLK Boulevard all the way down to Vandeventer Avenue. With proper funding, access to vacant land and government resources, we can create about 70 summer youth jobs, improve housing for the poor, open a fresh food market and an industrial kitchen to package and sell produce and food products. We can build a money-generating farmer’s market, like the very successful Tower Groves Market in South St. Louis.
With your support, we can lay the foundation for neighborhood revitalization, small business growth, land ownership and develop a self-sustaining economic engine in North St. Louis.
So, how do those of us who’ve invested sweat equity into our city get the same support as the well-connected? You’ve taken risks on unknowns before. Remember when you signed off on a $1 billion football stadium bribe, even though the owner publicly stated he wanted no part of St. Louis?
What do unprivileged dreamers need to know to gain access to the free land, tax breaks and incentives you’ve endorsed for the rich and outside interests? Should we just step aside and tolerate the decades-old trend of shoving black people out of their homes and neighborhoods for the sake of “development?” Is the “system” permanently fixed against those intent on empowering the powerless or maintaining and sustaining our own neighborhoods?
Please tell us, dear black elected officials, what’s going on?
Sylvester Brown Jr. is a writer, community activist and executive director of the Sweet Potato Project, a program that seeks to empower low-income youth and adults through land-ownership and urban agriculture.
