On the corner of 15th and Locust stands the Terra Cotta Lofts, a large white condominium building from which the initial petition came declaring the New Life Evangelistic Center a nuisance. For those living in the white bubble, NLEC’s homeless clients are a nuisance. To those living in the great white bubble, the homeless disturbed their attempts to segregate from the “lower class.”
This great white bubble stands as a monument to the great divide, separating the haves and the have nots. The rehab of this building was considered by many a symbol of progress in the newfangled “Loft District.” With the poor and homeless pushed out of the neighborhood, white millennials with money took over.
Downtown West now exemplifies the two cities of St. Louis: One made up of those who have money and power, the other consisting of the powerless and poor. The great divide of our city, and country, is not only illustrated along Delmar, but downtown between 13th and 15th streets.
This white bubble of isolationism must be broken. Allowing only those who look like you onto a public street (Locust) is not only fundamentally unfair, it’s a recipe for urban unrest.
No amount of police will be able to contain the chaos resulting from the growing white bubble of isolationism. The cries for justice will only get louder, along with the cries of the despairing homeless men, women and children.
The homeless who are presently locked out of their church at 1411 Locust must be allowed re-entry. The golden rule as taught by Jesus Christ is: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This golden rule will burst the great white bubble and bring out the beloved community of diversity that is so desperately needed in our city.
Rev. Larry Rice
St. Louis
