I’ve often pondered about what (if anything) can be done to light a fire under the citizens and voters, of East St. Louis, to inspire them to hold their leadership accountable for the abominable government that they receive as taxpaying residents of East Boogie.
Writing about it doesn’t work (take it from me). I’ve dedicated 20 years of my life to exposing ESL’s political corruption, waste, nepotism, cronyism and ineptitude; yet voters are conspicuously absent from the polls and citizens are consistently missing at city council and school board meetings.
This has given carte blanche to elected officials to sell out and deny responsible government and accountability to those who consider themselves to be citizens of East St. Louis. In short, ESL politicians consider voters to be “born-again” suckers.
Yet, I’m an eternal optimist and believe that the fate of ESL can be reversed. However, I’m not a fool. If East St. Louisians continue to take a hands-off approach in monitoring their leaders then they will continue (and deserve) to receive the horrific outcomes that they have experienced.
How many other communities would allow a school district to produce abysmal test scores year after year (as school officials engage in lavish spending and luxury travel), yet fail to attend monthly school board meetings or parent-teacher conferences in protest?
What progressive community in the St. Louis metropolitan region would accept a depleted and demoralized police department as status quo and not storm City Council meetings in outrage?
I’m often flattered by the generous feedback and kindness of those who read this column, and I appreciate the support. But if that does not translate into action by the voters (and others) within the broader ESL community, then I am wasting my time as a writer and the citizenry of ESL is abdicating their voice as taxpayers.
Some weekends, I pass by ESL’s nightclubs, lounges and casino whose lots and side streets always seem to be overflowing with cars, well into the wee hours of the night.
What if (I often wonder aloud) ESL voters packed City Hall or school board meetings with the same enthusiasm and intensity as they party, drink cognac, eat chicken wings and shake their backsides on any given weekend?
What if young voters in East Boogie surfed the internet in search of meeting schedules for ESL City Council (www.cesl.us) and school board (www.estlps189.net) meetings as intensely as they waste time on Facebook or Twitter?
And, what if all of these folks would actually attend these meetings, in droves, and challenge the foolishness and politicking that has been the downfall and disgrace of the entire community for so long?
What, then, would happen in 2011 to change the political paradigm and climate in East Boogie?
I’m challenging the citizens of ESL in 2011 to stop being lazy, trifling, apathetic and lackadaisical in their thinking and their approach to their city, the education of their children and their future.
I’ll take that over a “Good column, James,” any day of the week.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.
