Readers Overwhelmingly Agree St. Louis County Has Too Many Municipalities

Despite what the St. Louis County Municipal League thinks, readers nearly unanimously feel St. Louis County’s 91 municipalities is too many.

Q: 91 Municipalities in St. Louis County Too Many, Too Few or Just Right?

1. Too many municipalities 168 [93.85%]
2. Too few municipalities 4 [2.23%]
3. Unsure/no opinion 3 [1.68%]
4. Just the right number of municipalities 2 [1.12%]
5. Other answer… 2 [1.12%]

I agree, way too many!  Some, like Uplands Park & St. George, are so tiny — too tiny to matter in the big picture.  Here are the other answers readers provided:

1. We need more government to keep black people out of St. Louis County
2. way too many municipalities

The reader who submitted the first other comment must have mistaken my blog for this site.

– Steve Patterson

6th Ward Debate Tonight: Kacie Starr Triplett and Bradford Kessler

Tonight 6th ward incumbent Kacie Starr Triplet will debate challenger Bradford Kessler at the monthly meeting to the Tower Grove East neighborhood association.

The meeting begins at 7pm at the Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee Ave.  Questions can be submitted for the moderator to ask the two candidates.

TGE will also announce the winning design for new neighborhood banners.

– Steve Patterson

Did St. Louis Attract Young Whites?

St. Louis’ low cost of living excludes us from an emerging trend of the 2010 Census:

“The number of white children is growing in several large urban centers where the cost of living is high, a trend that runs counter to the decline in white youths in much of the USA.” (USA Today: Urban areas drawing young whites)

A demographer quoted in the article says expensive urban settings are “a new magnet for white families with children.” Young white families with children used to be an assumed for new suburban areas but increasingly these families are choosing urban over suburban living.

Census figures are showing population increases for Asian and Hispanics, thus lowering the percentage of whites overall, making the trend that much more remarkable in those cities.  My own anecdotal observations over the last decade shows a similar trend in St. Louis.

The City of St.Louis has much in common with the state, the percentage of persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, for example.  A look at the U.S. Census Quick Facts, however, shows various figures.

One thing is certain, demographers will pour over the 2010 figures for years — until 2021 when the 2020 Census figures are released.

– Steve Patterson

Weekly Poll: Do You The St. Louis Rolling Stop?

In the news last week:

Roberta Haynes, 62, was reportedly walking her dog when she was hit. Police say the driver ran a stop sign and then fled the scene on foot. (KMOV: Woman in critical condition after hit-and-run crash near Tower Grove Park)

Which leads me to the poll question this week: When coming to a stop sign or red light I? The poll is in the upper right corner of the main page.

– Steve Patterson

Delmar Loop Lacks Proper Bike Parking

I’m a huge fan of on-street parking for automobiles, the stationary cars provide a nice barrier between passing cars and pedestrians. But in addition to providing parking for cars in the public right-of-way we should also provide parking for bicycles.  The person who cycles for transportation purposes (vs recreational rides) will find a way to secure their bikes, but often in less than ideal conditions.

A parking meter is a poor bike rack because it is too easy for a thief to lift the bike over the top.  Also meters do a lousy job of supporting the frame. Sign posts can work but often thieves will pull up the post to steal the bike.  Yesterday a friend came over to my loft and he brought his bike up rather than risk theft on the street due to a lack of bike racks.

The Delmar Loop is one of our best areas but the lack of bike parking is noticeable. It has only been 4-5 years since the stretch of Delmar East of Skinker was narrowed from four to two travel lanes to allow widened sidewalks.  There is plenty of room for bike racks, they just weren’t  a priority.

– Steve Patterson