Retail Politics is a new weekly column that will supplement Political EYE. The column will be reported by local activist and political junkie Patricia Bynes.
“They don’t care, they never get involved” is an example of the statements I often hear about neighborhoods in the north and west sides of the city from others who don’t live in these neighborhoods. I know differently.
The number of people attending ward meetings in these neighborhoods is larger than many would expect and growing.
On a Saturday morning on June 19, almost 50 residents gathered for the 27th Ward meeting in the basement of Greater Pentecostal Church on West Florissant. Meeting participants ranged in age from young adults to senior citizens. State Representative and 27th Ward Committeeman Chris Carter told me he noticed several new faces at the meeting.
They discussed the City’s budget cuts, local control, hidden cameras in the ward, crime, block units, and – one of the hot-button topics discussed throughout all neighborhoods in the city – trash.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, if you want to pick a topic that will garner more input and bring more reaction in a ward meeting, bring up the topic of trash. From the proposed new costs, to pick-up frequency, to education for the recycling program and illegal dumping, trash is a hot topic.
“I’m tired of these County folks dumping their trash in our Dumpsters” is a commonly made remake by city residents.
Despite Alderman Greg Carter’s best continued efforts to reassure the residents that they are finding the dumping is coming from other city residents (people are going through the trash to find addresses to identify dumpers), this point fell on deaf ears.
Alderman Carter asked every resident at the meeting to agree to join or start a block unit. He wanted everyone involved and almost all agreed.
The 21st Ward meeting on June 24 at the Wesley House garnered the same rigorous conversation from over 40 residents about trash. Resident also discussed suing the City for passing what many feel is an illegal tax that they didn’t vote for. When it came to illegal dumping in the 21st Ward, Alderman Antonio D. French said he remained committed to stopping “County residents” from dumping in his ward.
The other popular topic at the 21st Ward meeting was Chink Washington’s announcement to retire as committeeman of the ward. “I got started in 1962 in the 21st Ward because my wife slid into a hole in the middle of the street,” Washington said. Chink won’t be far from St. Louis politics, though. He said he will be working on a few campaigns going on in the City.
With the large turnout of residents at the ward meeting, with new faces, new projects and a range of age groups showing up, I can only wonder who might be interested in being the next committeeman of the 21st Ward. These residents certainly look engaged and involved to me.
What is going on in your local politics? Make sure Patricia Bynes knows. Email her at pbynes@yahoo.com.
