A recent article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch regarding migration from St. Louis County and the subsequent loss of “resident income” provides an excellent opportunity to put into perspective the challenges facing us. We must position St. Louis County for growth opportunities and provide all our residents with the quality of life they expect and deserve.
While the information in the Post article may be news to some, I have for some time expressed my concern about St. Louis County’s future and the need to examine fundamentally how we allocate resources and set priorities. The movement of people from city to county or from one county to another certainly presents challenges. However the real and more pressing issue is this: St. Louis County is changing. As the article states, “the elements of urban decline are creeping into the suburbs.”
We have parts of St. Louis County that are thriving, but most people would be surprised to learn that 10 percent of county residents live below the poverty line. In addition, over a third of county residents live in unincorporated St Louis County and that means they depend exclusively on St. Louis County government for municipal services. We have to live up to our responsibility to these residents just as we do those in the incorporated areas.
We have laid a strong foundation for growth with major infrastructure projects like Highway 141 extension and I-64 (Highway 40) rebuild. We’re making progress with the North Park Development, and with the evolution of the China Hub project we are able to continue our efforts to be competitive in a global economy. And we’re continuing to conservatively manage our budget to fit our everyday reality. But the reality is we are in a different place, this is a different time and it requires a different strategy.
So what does this mean for St. Louis County government? It means that our priorities – as reflected in our policies and budgets – must be aligned to our new reality. I realize this will be a difficult process – change is hard for most people to accept.
In his last public speech, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey said, “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped.” I believe in the end we will be judged by the compassion of our values and the results of our efforts.
