To Daniela Velasquez and the BOA, Mayor Jones
Posted on Facebook 29 March 2025, to be emailed shortly.
Why I am against a City Manager:
First of all, what are the jobs that are going to be given to the City Manager? I want a complete list before we go and do something expensive, probably unnecessary, and especially something that requires changing the City Charter.
Second, who is responsible for those jobs now?
Third, when did the issues with these jobs begin?
Fourth, what steps have been taken to remedy these problems? Please document the whole process.
The public needs to see the answers to these questions first. This never should have been proposed.
I do not support Velasquez idea that you can “take the politics out” of any city management issue is offensive to me. City administration is all about politics. And should remain so.
Hiring people that aren’t city residents, outsourcing to private businesses and contractors, especially those that do not hire city residents and that do not voluntarily submit full financial transparency to the public (and the City itself is horrible, outrageously so, in this regard as well)
And do I want to follow IBM’s advice? NO. These corporate models that neoliberals are so fond of shoving into government are not working! Also, her statistics come from ICMA, a group formed by and for professional city managers. And the statistics are the perfect examples of Twain’s famous “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Even the way they are written is ridiculous and meant to dazzle without substance.
Just because 120 million people live in cities or municipalities doesn’t automatically mean that life is better because of that in those places. And the statistics are pretty “meh”. Half of all municipalities? And 800 out of 3142 counties? Underwhelmed. Please point to US city is well managed. Nevermind. And what are those counties like? Are their problems similar? Is anything similar?
SAINT LOUIS, I BEG OF YOU, STOP DOING THINGS LIKE EVERY OTHER SIMILAR SIZED CITY. Those places aren’t working either. And this awful big box mentality to everything. Like these developer schemes to put a pizza hut and quiznos and starbucks next to each other so that no suburbanite has to drive to far without seeing something familiar.
Saint Louis is a mess but let it be its own unique mess. Work with it.
That Velasquez chose to single out Baltimore as a reason why St. Louis should get a City manager is ridiculous. Really. I guess she isn’t familiar with what a mess that is and continues to be. Google Faith Leach and read the whole saga. It’s at least a decade of drama.
And Baltimore- roughly the same state population, about 200k more people than St. Louis, is losing population like St. Louis, and isn’t incorporated into its county, making its crime statistics appear worse than other, larger and more dangerous cities.
But Baltimore is half the size of Missouri, much more densely populated, an on a coastline- near an ocean, which about half the world’s population lives within a one-hour drive of the ocean-so much more densely situated area overall.
And it’s within about an hour of DC.
There might be a case for a Baltimore City manager, but not St. Louis. The statistics they share don’t make them similar. In fact, just the opposite given other factors.
I’ve been talking to people about building community structures here for 15 years. Creating communities based on 6 block areas, and also units of 250 residents. These would overlap, one to have larger districts composed of resident workers, in any combination needed of part-time, full-time, permanent, intermittent. These districts would decide how their budget was allocated, and as much as possible of the work would be done by city residents, and hopefully, people that lived in those communities.
That can include everything from finding housing for homeless to community policing to making sure streets and walkways are kept navigable in all weather, removing invasive species and trash, and helping legislators learn what kinds of businesses they want in their neighborhoods.
If we are going to change the Charter, let’s get rid of the current structure altogether. We could have 4 part-time community leaders per alderperson for what we are paying each one of you. Not to mention what we could do with all those salaries you are proposing for city manager and their staff!
But all of that might be in the future- maybe not as far away as 2029, when you think your city manager might start, though. But I hope that doesn’t go through, even if I can’t get my plan instituted.
These units of 250 residents and 6 block areas would immediately serve as emergency preparation and response for the whole city. Extreme weather events are increasing, and especially with the Trump administration, it seems best to be prepared for all possibilities.
The city ID card that I have been talking to people about for 7 years was meant to serve as Real ID, especially for poor people so they could vote and gain entry to federal buildings, and one for transients. That was the original idea in 2017. Then in conversation about this someone mentioned a city card from somewhere, perhaps only proposed, that linked all city services. And I added that in. And then it combined easily with emergency planning for evacuations and large-scale disasters. That ID would also show your Emergency Unit and Location numbers, which could also include any information like disabilities, allergies, medications, blood type, etc.
The police have a plan that sets up police command units to work with FEMA and other agencies, and the LEPC has some plans for various scenarios. But no one that I have talked to knows of any currently existing evacuation plan or anything this comprehensive.
My plan does not rely on the police, many of whom do not live here, or FEMA, which was defunded and stripped back in the early aughts when it was integrated into the DHS. My plan is city-wide locals and public buildings, and includes the incarcerated, incapacitated, homeless-in short, everyone.
I never get any response, and when I do it is usually indifference, or occasionally hostility or derision, as with your assistant on the Activist Hub. So hopefully I will talk to enough people, and regardless of who is in office, we the residents will begin to shape legislation and policy.
The homeless are the biggest issue facing St. Louis. And that issue includes a lack of rent control, these awful, outright evil landlords like Dara Daughterty, Cambridge Heights, and the complete lack of rent control, tenants' unions, and landlord transparency. (Not to mention way too many elected officials and lawyers and judges own rental property.) And now all of these short-term rentals. People are being evicted with 30 day notices.
The other big issue, crime, is never dealt with because the only two solutions that are offered are the two that never work: more police and more convictions. My city plan creates jobs, job training, and builds strong communities, as well as making sure everyone is prepared for an emergency.
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