Sure, there are some disadvantages, but they appear to be far outweighed by the "advantages." You're invited to help make up a list. Just click on COMMENTS below and list them and we will see that they're posted to the list below.
Advantages of City Merging
Increases visibility of St. Louis for its size to attract corporate business
Reduce duplication of services and save money
Better law enforcement
A newly consolidated and united St. Louis, will become the new regional power in the heartland.
St. Louis viewed as one, will be a top 10 city in the United States.
Consolidation puts a whole new face on St. Louis and the region. This action would be noticed world wide.
Improved and more efficient and smaller government.
Better overall market appeal in a world and global economy.
Less is more in this case.
Quicker decisions on issues.
Consolidation will improve overall services yet cost less.
Better overall primary and secondary education.
Improved diversification and higher community standards.
Better use of collected tax revenues.
Study Indianapolis, consolidation does work.
Disadvantages of City Merging
(Surely there are some. Following submitted by readers)
St. Louis City politicians have driven businesses from St. Louis and made that city a national laughing stock when it comes to honest elections.
The schools have a terrible reputation.
The perception of criminal activities is a major deterrent to going into the city.
City government has destroyed our airport and politicians have driven major airlines away.
(Read more at: http://urbanstl.com/forum-bridge/index.php?f=1&t=7519&rb_v=viewtopic
Here's a reader's interesting comment on this question:
"I always appreciated how unincorporated St. Louis County was run. Basic services nothing else. My dad who had lived in the city couldn't wait to move to St. Louis county when he started working. He never thought of going back. Dooley has done in the county so I'm trying to sell my house in the worst housing market. Would I go to St. Louis City? No way. Do I think a merger would be good? I think two wrongs don't make a right but I'm not sure it could be much worse. Don't use Indianapolis as an argument for consolidation. In all my travels I've spent many weeks in Indianapolis. It's really just a worthless municipality."
Another comment from a resident:
St. Louis County is almost 3x larger in population than the City of St. Louis.
When you add in all of the other incorporated municipalities in St. Louis, it almost again doubles in population. Instead of us reporting small overall population numbers, we should be reporting larger general population number. We are nearer to the 3 million population level and should be marketing that.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
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Improved and more efficient and smaller government.
ReplyDeleteBetter overall market appeal in a world and global economy.
Less is more in this case.
Quicker decissions on issues.
Consolidation will improve overall services yet cost less.
Better overall primary and secondary education.
Improved diversification and higher community standards.
Better use of collected tax revenues.
Study Indianapolis, consolidation does work.
A newly consolidated and united St. Louis, will become the new regional power in the heartland.
ReplyDeleteSt. Louis viewed as one, will be a top 10 city in the United States.
Consolidation puts a whole new face on St. Louis and the region. This action would be noticed world wide.
That's the thing. There are no Real Disadvnntages to City/County merging.
ReplyDeleteIt makes very good sense, it would save millions of dollars, it would improve local government and open doors to economic development. It would raise the St. Louis region back to its dominance in state government, it would be good all the way around. Only upside, no downside.
And, that is why it won't happen. Too many narrow minded politicals more concerned about themselves and their patch of ground.
For the People and By the People does not exist here. The St. Louis region is of the Me, Me, Me mindset.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_0e349b5b-28a1-5de0-8ec7-6e33068693f0.html
ReplyDeleteSt. Louis to start charging for trash pickup
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BY DAVID HUNN • dhunn@post-dispatch.com > 314-436-223 | Posted: Saturday, July 3, 2010 12:00 am | Loading…
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ST. LOUIS • A new city trash fee passed the Board of Aldermen on Friday and was signed into law by Mayor Francis Slay. It will cost most homeowners $11 a month, or $132 per year, and includes new, single-stream recycling bins — for cardboard, plastic, glass and more — for the first time.
Aldermen debated the issue for a few weeks, but in the end approved it 22-7. They pointed out that nearly all other area municipalities charge to pick up trash. And if it hadn't passed, aldermen said they would have had to cut another $10 million from this coming year's $450 million budget.
Still, residents have expressed concerns. On Friday, St. Louis Streets Director Todd Waelterman attempted to answer some questions:
Q: When will residents see their first bill?
A: The trash fee will be added to the next set of quarterly water bills. The first group of city residents will get their water-trash bills at the start of October.
Q: So is it a three-month bill, of around $33?
A: Almost. The city will likely pro-rate the first few days of July, because the bill wasn't passed until Friday.
Q: When will the recycling bins arrive?
A: Dumpster-style recycling bins will probably begin arriving in city alleys this fall. The city is bidding out contracts on the bins now. Bins will be citywide by year's end. A few neighborhoods — if requested by the ward's alderman, or neighbors — will not get them.
Q: If residents are paying for recycling now, what should they do?
A: There are 3,000 residents in a partnership with the city, spending $60 a year on blue-bin curb-side recycling. Those residents are paid up, and that partnership ends in November. The aim is to have the new bins in those alleys by then.
Q: How will the city stop people from putting trash in the new recycling bins?
A: Bins cost $800 and come with locking lids with slots for cardboard and holes for bottles, cans and plastic. Trash bags won't fit through the holes.
Q: Will pickup stay at twice a week?
A: Each of the three bins — yard waste, trash and recycling — will get picked up once a week.
Q: Who can I call if I'm not getting service?
A: The Citizens' Service Bureau
I always appreciated how unincorporated St. Louis County was run. Basic services nothing else. My dad who had lived in the city couldn't wait to move to St. Louis county when he started working. He never thought of going back. Dooley has done in the county so I'm trying to sell my house in the worst housing market. Would I go to St. Louis City? No way. Do I think a merger would be good? I think two wrongs don't make a right but I'm not sure it could be much worse. Don't use Indianapolis as an argument for consolidation. In all my travels I've spent many weeks in Indianapolis. It's really just a worthless municipality.
ReplyDeleteSt. Louis County is almost 3x larger in population than the City of St. Louis.
ReplyDeleteWhen you add in all of the other incorporated municipalities in St. Louis, it almost again doubles in population.
Instead of us reporting small overall population numbers, we should be reporting larger general population number. We are nearer to the 3 million population level and should be marketing that.
No disadvantages??? Are you kidding?!!! St. Louis City politicians have driven businesses from St. Louis and made that city a national laughing stock when it comes to honest elections.
ReplyDeleteThe schools have a terrible reputation. The perception of criminal activities is a major deterrent to going into the city. City government has destroyed our airport and politicians have driven major airlines away.
Review what the RCGA has to say about consolidation:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stlrcga.org/documents/mm/monday_memo_100719.html