Open letter to next St. Louis mayor on crime – St. Louis American

On March 30, St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay invited community stakeholders to join area law enforcement to hear the Department of Justice present the Diagnostic Analysis for the City of St. Louis, Missouri. I heard information well known to all and a few new things. At the end of the presentation, recommendations were made comprised of evidence-based outcomes (successful in other communities) and a call for leadership and coordination.

As the DOJ analysis was flashed on the screens, the poorest neighborhoods were the sites for the vast majorities of murder. In the past, the luxury of affluence facilitated the lack of concern for the conditions in other neighborhoods. But individuals are no longer containing their actions to just those neighborhoods. Social media and new attitudes find the gun battles and criminal behavior common to underserved areas now spreading to Busch Stadium, downtown, and on or around our university campuses.

Our city leaders reactions to the consistent reporting of Americas most dangerous city is to whine or deny. Now it is time to say to the nation, Yes, we have a problem, and heres what we are doing about.

If the city does address the crime problem in a holistic way, as laid out by the Department of Justice, potential investors will pick other cities and the businesses we have will leave. Lost investment means lost jobs, lost taxes, lost status and decline for everyone.

St. Louis is the economic engine for our state, a regional giant, but an injured behemoth. Our injuries like most large cities are a combination of globalism, long-standing racial divisions and crime. The fallout of Ferguson put a spotlight on our city and metropolitan area and the perception that our crime problem is growing out of control.

For too long, stable, thriving neighborhoods have felt comfortable in ignoring and thereby enabling other neighbors to become failed states. Current history has clearly demonstrated in Somali, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq and now Syria that failed states affect the security and economy of a region.

As the DOJs report pointed out, the elements to reduce our violent crime are present. We need strong, honest leadership that utilizes smart strategic policing; coordinated surges of social services to underserved communities with a focus on being trauma-informed; intentional aesthetic improvements; intentional smart reintegration of ex-offenders to the communities; and presence in those communities.

What I mean by presence is if the mayor shows up in distressed communities, as well as thriving neighborhoods, it shows the residents they care. Many youths interviewed for the DOJ Analysis expressed that no one cares. It is time to prove to all citizens that St. Louis cares that all should do well.

Rev. Rodrick Burton is the pastor of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, vice president of the Ecumenical Leadership Council, member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, and board member of the St. Louis Initiative to Reduce Violence.

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Open letter to next St. Louis mayor on crime - St. Louis American