During the past month, East St. Louis has become a playground for murderers, burglars and violent offenders and a nightmare for innocent, law-abiding residents.
Two weeks ago, that violent climate culminated in a drive-by shooting in which a 5-year-old girl was caught in crossfire and may, subsequently, lose her vision.
Local law enforcement officials, in an effort to end the violence, recently convened a forum which was attended by about 200 ESL residents and a panel, including Mayor Alvin Parks Jr., U.S. Attorney A. Courtney Cox, U.S. Marshall Don Slazinik, ESL Police Chief Lenzie Stewart and St. Clair County State’s Attorney Bob Haida.
The vast majority of the panelists agreed that an earlier closing time for the city’s night clubs and liquor stores would serve as a deterrent to crime, sentiments that were met with overwhelming applause by the audience.
However, Parks insisted that “the clubs are not nearly as big an issue as some might like you to believe.” Parks went on to add that “the liquor stores, the gas stations, are not nearly as big an issue as some would like you to believe.”
This year ESL is on a record-setting pace for murders, with 27 at press time. In 2008, there were 19, and 31 murders in 2007.
In the past year, there were four murders at ESL gas stations as well as myriad shootings and murders at ESL lounges and night clubs.
On Good Friday, between the hours of 12:15 a.m. and 4:15 a.m., the U.S. Attorney, Sheriff’s deputies, Illinois state troopers and others set up checkpoints at the Poplar and Eads bridges (entering ESL).
They busted numerous would-be (intoxicated) party animals with open containers of booze, as well as others with illegal guns, drugs and outstanding warrants.
Where were they headed at the wee hours of the morning? More than likely, they were headed from St. Louis night clubs to those East Boogie night clubs that Mayor Parks seems to believe are a non-issue.
To pretend that liquor establishments and all-night party facilities don’t contribute to the climate of violence is like saying that pimps don’t contribute to prostitution.
Recently, Parks decided to cut off liquor sales at 1 a.m., and then reversed his decision in less than a week, following a meeting with liquor store and night club owners.
Parks either lacks leadership, a backbone or is more concerned with the value of liquor sales over the value of human lives. Either way, it’s insulting to the intelligence of ESL citizens and to the extended law enforcement community which Parks expects to secure his city.
Parks can’t have it both ways. When the drinking habits of an intoxicated few becomes an imposition on the sober majority and on those who are sworn to “protect and serve,” then decisive action must be taken.
The incessant dithering, indecisiveness and vacillation of Parks is costing the citizens of ESL their very lives and scaring away all who would even consider doing business with the city.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.