I am giving a shout out today to a great guy, the Planning Director for the City of St. Louis, Don Roe. I have known him for years to be a great and highly competent guy. He has had to exercise enormous tact and patience working with neighborhood groups, high level city officials, and the myriad and Byzantine policies of the City of St. Louis. When I worked for HUD he was always the go to guy to get things done. Written by Paul Dribin
The Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank has recommended that the community of Pine Lawn go out of business and become part of St. Louis. This is in an effort to save inner city suburbs. This is such an obvious conclusion. I hope this study did not cost a lot of money. Written by Paul Dribin
Research clearly shows that poor people who move to a more affluent neighborhood do better in life. Unfortunately most affordable housing in St. Louis and elsewhere is constructed in lower income neighborhoods. HUD, under the Obama administration had tried to address this problem.
Up until now, Section 8 fair market rents were set for an entire metropolitan area. Therefore the rent structure in Wellston was the same as in Ladue. On an initial limited basis, HUD is changing the policy and determining fair market rent by zip code, therefore allowing higher rents in more affluent areas. Where tested, the concept has seemed to work.
To be sure, the policy has detractors. Housing authorities complain the policy is too bureaucratic. Housing practitioners are concerned that the policy if fully implemented would drain inner city neighborhoods of population and good tenants. These are both valid issues, but I believe the policy should be tried. The Trump administration unfortunately is eliminating the new rule that would implement it. Written by Paul Dribin
Sunday’s Post Dispatch posed an interesting article. The issue at hand was how funding from the proposed tax increase should be funded in the city. I need to say a little more.
The city has a population of a little over 300,000 and contains 28 geographic wards. This is the same number of wards as when the city had a population of nearly 1,000,000 people. Resources ranging from federal dollars such as Community Development Block Grants are divided evenly among the 28 wards, and for the most part the aldermen regard these funds as their personal slush funds. This has never made any sense and leads to the increased splintering of the city. It is also probably an illegal used of federal funds, which HUD has never chosen to enforce.
Now it appears that north side aldermen are pushing for a bigger share of the new proposed tax revenue due to special need. They are totally correct. Alderman can point fingers all day but the poverty of the north side has little to do with the quality of political leadership in those areas. The article pointed to disagreement about a funding formula. I believe the answer is simple; apportion the funds according to poverty indicators which are easy to find. That would make for a more efficient and equitable distribution of the funds. Written by Paul Dribin
I attended a meeting today of some good citizens who are attempting to find a solution to save the residents of a mobile home park in Chesterfield who could be facing eviction.
The park has been located in Chesterfield since before that community was incorporated. There are presently about 130 families living there, who may own or rent their mobile home and all rent their spaces. They pay $350 a month in rent.
A developer has come forth who has apparently reached agreement with the park owner to sell the property for the construction of apartments. The tenants who are on month to month leases are naturally worried.
We are working to oppose the zoning change necessary for this transaction and come up with an alternative development proposal which would leave the existing low income residents in place.
Better Together is a non profit group formed to help bring the region together and eliminate redundant units of government and has indicated the unnecessary spending levels caused by the large number of governmental units. I have a little concern with the group because the board consists of the same old moneyed interests that have guided St. Louis down the tubes. Nevertheless, I welcome every effort to improve our feudal and futile governmental system. They have recently released a report that again documents the terrible costs of a large number of small governments. Here is their vision statement:
VISION
Striving together to create a just and prosperous Saint Louis region.
MISSION
We support the St. Louis region by acting as a catalyst for the removal of governmental, economic, and racial barriers to the region’s growth and prosperity for all of our citizens by promoting unity, trust, efficiency, and accountability.
COMMITMENTS
We are committed to fact driven research to address the challenges of fragmentation in the region and to inform policy.
We are committed to open and direct dialogue with all constituencies and stakeholders for the greater good of our community.
We are committed to supporting organizations that share our mission and vision.
Here is the announcement about the report. I urge you to read this and look into what you can do to bring the region together. The St. Louis region will not prosper until these issues are addressed:
Better Together Releases Report Showing Government Spending in St. Louis Continues to Grow, Announces Task Force to Study Models and Propose Solutions
Jun 12, 2017 |
Better Together Releases Report Showing Government Spending in St. Louis Continues to Grow, Announces Task Force to Study Models and Propose Solutions
Government spending continues to grow in St. Louis—fueled by 100 tax increases during the last five years—new task force to study models and propose solutions
Introduction
Today, Better Together released an update to one of its essential studies that they performed in 2014 and revealed the next steps for the organization.
The original study—Regional Spending Comparison Overview—reported that overall spending for municipal services in St. Louis was $2.3 billion and that when compared to Indianapolis and Louisville, two cities that have consolidated their governments, St. Louis was spending between $750 million and $1 billion more per year. Researchers at Better Together were curious as to what had happened with spending over the last three years and undertook to update this report.
Spending for municipal services grew by $119 million
The overall spending for municipal services has grown to $2.5 billion annually. This is due to an increase of $119 million in just the past three years. “Our research shows that our region is spending $119 million more per year than we were just three years ago. This increased spending was paid for largely through 100 tax increases. At the same time, 2016 census estimates show that population declined in both the city and county by 8,625 persons overall. So, we are paying more to deliver the same services to fewer people,” said Dave Leipholtz, Director of Studies for Better Together. “By way of comparison, our peer cities of Indianapolis and Louisville continue to grow and thrive.”
A call to action
“The next phase of our Better Together project is to identify and report on governmental reforms that can improve the cost and effectiveness of St. Louis’ municipal services,” said Nancy Rice, Executive Director of Better Together. To that end, Better Together is forming a task force which will lead this next phase and ultimately issue reports and recommendations to the community. Leading the task force will be:
Suzanne Sitherwood, President and CEO of Spire (formerly Laclede Group), who came to St. Louis from Atlanta and has become deeply involved with her new home community. She is the incoming Chair of Civic Progress and Chair of the community-wide United Way campaign, and previously chaired the Saint Louis Regional Chamber.
Will Ross, Associate Dean for Diversity, Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Ross has a long and distinguished record of involvement in the St. Louis community and served as Chairman of the Missouri Foundation for Health.
Arindam Kar, Partner at the international law firm of Bryan Cave LLP. Kar specializes in anti-trust litigation. He, his wife and five children call south St. Louis county home. Mr. Kar is active in the community, devoting time to the International Institute, the United Way, the Regional Business Council Young Professionals Network, and the Gateway Region YMCA.
How should St. Louis government be organized?
The Task Force and Better Together staff will endeavor to issue reports and recommendations on ideal governmental structures for St. Louis. To accomplish that, they will work with other community organizations and the general public. “We want to give St. Louis residents the opportunity to choose an ideal governmental structure—one that will provide high quality services in a cost-effective manner,” said task-force member Suzanne Sitherwood. Another member, Dr. Will Ross agreed, “we aspire to create a region steeped in racial, social, and economic equity where everyone can achieve their full potential. We hope to recommend a structure that allows the St. Louis region to provide opportunities for all our citizens while celebrating the uniqueness that has made St. Louis a wonderful place to call home.”
Mayor Krewson and County Executive Stenger endorse effort
Mayor Lyda Krewson and County Executive Steve Stenger attended Better Together’s press conference and showed support for this effort.
“Over the last two years I’ve seen the limitations that our current structure places on us. It frequently prevents us from changing and adapting to the times we live in. Businesses struggle with our fragmentation,” said County Executive Stenger. “In order for us to reach our true potential, we must make some changes. I’ve heard many solutions talked about, and without a formal presentation of options and without a deep dive and a thorough analysis we will not know which path forward is the correct one. But I know it’s time for us to look hard at the alternatives, to perform the necessary analysis, and choose a path forward with respect to these issues.”
Mayor Krewson agreed. “I recognize that the city is going to have to change in order to thrive. I said that many times during my campaign and these first several weeks in office have affirmed that opinion. I’m grateful to Better Together and the task force for taking this on and I look forward to their findings.”
Stenger and Krewson pledged to work with the Task Force as needed. “The time for this effort is now,” said Stenger.
To view the updated report in full, visit: http://www.bettertogetherstl.com/regional-comparison.
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Better Together Releases Report Showing Government Spending in St. Louis Continues to G
The Community Development Block Grant is a program devised by HUD to provide flexible funds to community to meet broad based urban development needs. Cities of over 50,000 people receive the funds on a categorical basis based upon poverty etc. St. Louis is of course one of these cities receiving funds by formula. The use of the funds is to address community development, housing, economic development in a way that the local community plans. The city receives an allocation of millions of dollars a year. The amount has declined but is substantial.
The city has misused much of this funding. Instead of concentrating funding on the areas of greatest need, the funds are divided equally among the 28 wards. This of course waters down the effect and provides the aldermen a slush fund for pet projects, which may have nothing to do with broader priorities of the city. When I worked for the St.Louis Housing Authority we needed city wide targeting of block grant funds to get $28 million from HUD for the Darst-Webbe demolition and redevelopment. This commitment was tough to get. Funds have been used to over rehab houses in very poor locations, or to create non profits which accomplish little. HUD shares in the blame because they have lacked the courage to challenge the city on these policies. I intend to do some detailed reporting on this subject in the future.
The St Louis Contrarian 