Columnist James Ingram
When East St. Louis politicians and businessmen transformed the area near 25th and State Street into State Street Center, they envisioned a safe, booming business district.
What they didn’t anticipate was that recurring violence, shootings and murder would soon turn their dream street into a “nightmare on State Street.”
Let’s just look at the past three months alone.
In April, a security guard at the ESL Schnucks store was murdered by a shoplifter following a scuffle.
In May (and only one block away), a 20-year-old man was shot to death on the lot of a Family Dollar Store during an apparent cowboy-style shootout.
Then in June, only three days after his high school graduation, a 17-year-old youth was shot to death while pumping gas at the Crown Food Mart following an altercation.
All three murders took place within the two-block State Street business district. All three were equally senseless and contribute to ESL’s lethal reputation, in general, and to the ongoing problems at 25th and State Street, specifically.
So, what to do? The problems are obvious. The intersection is overly congested and not conducive to proper traffic flow, due to the vast number of businesses (approximately 20) within the two-block span.
The “thug-to-customer ratio” is overwhelming, with packs of motorcycle riders, rowdy young adults, beggars and loiterers allowed to hang-out, at their leisure, on parking lots and in front of businesses.
This is intimidating to senior citizens and other would-be customers, particularly given the dearth of police protection, creating a dangerous (and sometimes lethal) atmosphere.
Adding to the problem is the lack of jobs, constructive outlets and venues for youth to gather for productive or recreational purposes. That is why they loiter, fight, terrorize and engage in shootings and other criminal activities.
Even privileged young ESL native (and sometimes NBA player) Darius Miles still struggles with the gravitational pull of East Boogie and continues to have run-ins with area cops due to poor decision-making and an even worse choice of associates. So then, what do we expect from those who are less privileged?
The ESL police department can’t crack down because they lack sufficient manpower. As a result, they can’t properly secure the city and those who own businesses.
Therefore, those within the State Street business district (if they hope to remain in business) may be forced to pool their resources in order hire security or off-duty police officers.
Otherwise, the murders and shootings will only intensify throughout the long, hot summer, forcing businesses to (eventually) pull up stakes and cut their losses as customers become increasingly frustrated, afraid and scarce.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.