St. Louis, in our view, is an emergent region with vast unrealized potential that has been held back by a lack of leadership, a fragmented political structure, racism and segregation, a growing black underclass that is costly in human and economic terms – we all know the litany of reasons why we are lagging as a region, and unfortunately many of us are more practiced at reciting this dreary list than focusing on our substantial but under-utilized resources.
The city at the center of this bi-state, multi-county region, the city of St. Louis, is about to elect its chief executive for the next four years. As there is no Republican opponent, the March 5 Democratic primary will determine the next mayor. A city with a declining population and tax base, but a central location in the U.S. and many compelling attributes, deserves a mayoral campaign where the candidates provide their visions for leading the city and region. We are not getting it.
The incumbent, Mayor Francis G. Slay, is relying on African-American surrogates to dilute the black vote from the base of his strongest challenger, aldermanic President Lewis Reed. This is pure politics, devoid of policy. Reed is singling Slay out for his lack of leadership on crime, when he knows that under the current form of police governance Slay has limited ability to direct the police department and that our problems with crime are multi-faceted, long-standing and deeply rooted.
Last year, the St. Louis Regional Chamber selected its new leader, Joe Reagan, who took over from long-time president and CEO Dick Fleming. In an interview on this week’s Business page, Reagan strikes the notes we think should be heard from Slay and/or Reed, connected to an action plan.
“Those who have greater educational attainment take greater part in the economic benefits of this country and place themselves in positions to drive better policy,” Reagan tells us. Exactly. What should the next mayor of St. Louis do to achieve greater educational attainment of our citizens?
“To the extent that we are able to welcome and include people from all over the world and every neighborhood in our region – if we do that, we will be a success,” Reagan tells us. Exactly. What should the next mayor of St. Louis do to achieve greater inclusion of minorities and immigrants?
“We need to embrace new startups and corporate innovators – that’s how we will be able to replace the major employers today who are going through cycles of change as businesses are sold,” Reagan tells us. Exactly. What should the next mayor of St. Louis do to achieve greater innovation and entrepreneurship?
“We compete as a metropolitan region in a global economy,” Reagan tells us. Exactly. What should the next mayor of St. Louis do to help foster greater, more effective cooperation between the city and its neighboring counties on both sides of the river?
We challenge Slay and Reed to set aside their emphases on largely trivial political posturing and slick, divisive maneuvering and tell us what they propose to do with the Mayor’s Office to improve the city’s performance in educational attainment, economic inclusion, innovation and entrepreneurship, and bi-state regionalism. We are waiting for a serious discussion about better addressing the many issues facing the city. March 5 is less than three weeks away.
