By Antonio D. French
Filed Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 9:40 AM
On Nov. 7, St. Louis City voters will be asked to raise their sales tax by 1/8 percent to pay for the construction and maintenance of two new state-of-the-art recreation centers -- one in north St. Louis and one in south St. Louis -- and to provide a dedicated revenue source for maintaining and upgrading the City's existing recreation facilities. Labels: Interviews, Mayor
In an interview yesterday, Mayor Francis Slay said the new tax is estimated to generate about $4.37 million annually. Should Proposition P pass, the City would almost immediately issue bonds to pay for building the new rec-plexes (which cost about $19 million each) and upgrading its existing rec centers (about $9.5 million). Expanding the number and scope of recreation programs offered by the City will cost about $700,000 per year, according to Slay.
The southside rec-plex is going to be built in Carondolet Park. The northside location has not been finalized, but O'Fallon Park is the frontrunner after receiving the endorsement of the Aldermanic Black Caucus. Should the tax increase pass, Slay said to look for doors to open on the two facilities in two to three years.
If Prop P fails next Tuesday, Slay said it will have been another "lost opportunity" for the City of St. Louis.
"This is what it's going to take," said Slay. "It's going to take something like this to really do something that makes a difference as far as recreation in the City."
11 Comments:
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10/25/2006 12:38 PM
Where are the design plans for the rec centers?
What will they look like?
Is there a demand for rec centers, especially in South St. Louis, which already has a couple of YMCA's?
How can we be sure the rec center in North St. Louis will actually be built if a location has not been chosen?
10/25/2006 12:39 PM
I dunno if a giant county-style family fun land is what this city needs when it comes to recreation...
But, does anyone know the status on the City Museum's rooftop water park? Last I checked it was completely built and awaiting city approval.
10/25/2006 1:41 PM
Good questions Doug Duckworth.
The plans have not been revealed to the public in a forum. You know how it goes, pay first-ask questions later.
There is no demand for a Recreation Center in South St. Louis, but there is a demand for more opportunities for developers to get tons of money from the City of St. Louis.
The Recreation Center in North St. Louis will never be built because Slay doesn't care if it is built or not. He will just send over one of his few staff members that are black to North St. Louis to hold some community engagement meetings that will get us as far as the School Board community meetings did to make progress in North St. Louis.
In exchange for not building the North St. Louis Recreation Center, Mayor Slay will try to offer the Northside Alderman money for existing recreation center improvements or more block grant money than usual.
Mayor Slay don't care about black people, like some other guy we know that Kanye West referred to after Hurricane Katrina.
Remember the storms that ravaged the City of St. Louis this past summer, and how North St. Louis got treated. There are still trees down in North St. Louis and they have re-rooted and started growing again.
This will end up becoming part of Mayors Slay's PROPOSITION T (for Trees), a 1/2 cent sales tax to allow trees to grow tall in North St. Louis.
Our City Hall is screwed up!
10/25/2006 3:30 PM
Anon,
That's why I was asking.
Back in the day Homer G was supposed to be built and a bond issue, I believe, was passed yet it was not built until almost ten years later.
It would be sad to see something like this occur again.
I believe that rec centers are valuable community assets, yet it would be nice to see issues like the LRA addressed first.
This would enhance the community yet I can think of better ways to allocate a sales tax.
10/25/2006 5:30 PM
To Anon 1, you are wrong on all points. First, there was a community engagement process two years ago and many people said they wanted a new recreational facility. Remember, the newest one was built in 1970. And none of them have indoor walking tracks, pools with water features and other newer amenities. Right now city residents are going to the county and paying to go to their rec-plexes with these types of amenities.
Second,former Congressman Gephardt appropiated money for the southside study. Community engagement on that plan was also several years ago and at the end did feature the design plans. It is my understanding that those plans have been approved by all parties associated with Carondelet Park, including the Aldermen in the area, the State Reps and others. Because many people in north st. louis wanted the same amenities as south st. louis, we are going to look at the same basic layout. And by the way, the YMCA will be closing the Carondelet Y when the Southside rec-plex is completed.
The reason that the decision has not been made about the northside site is because the northside neighborhood residents were looking at three potential sites, and frankly they differ to some degree with the African-American elected officials. So we need to make sure everyone,as best we can, is comfortable with the location.
As to one of your other comments, about how many staff the mayor has that are black, as one of them I can tell you the mayor has many African-Americans in his staff and his cabinet, as well as the board and commission appointments he has made.
Bottom line, as someone who has been part of the process for the past five years, playing the race card is easy. Defending what you have to (incorrectly) say is much harder.
10/25/2006 5:48 PM
hey ducky
Back in the day, then Mayor Vince "Shoot from the hip" Schoemehl" pledged to Congressman Clay that he would reopen Homer G. And Schoemehl, who was not opposed to doubling back on his pledges in the interests of political expediency, actually tried to make good on this one.
He put a big bond issue on the ballot, got the preachers involved, raised a ton of campaign money and ran a real campaign to try to pass the issue.
Guess what? Clay and a whole posse of black elected officials campaigned against the bond issue and it sank like a rock.
Why?
Because if Homer G actually got reopened, and the North Side community had good, accessible health care, what leverage would they have over the white politicians.
As usual, cynical politics in saint louis ruled the day.
Doug, you got your facts wrong again, but more distressing is that you are quickly moving into the same category as those who opposed the homer g bond issue and every other progessive move in the lou.
we want more city services. better education opportunities for our children. Get more things for them to do, keep them off the streets....all versions of your posts for months.
Now, there is a plan to do that and you cant support it because it was someone else's idea.
Get a life. I bet you dont even vote.
10/26/2006 9:56 AM
I have suggested plans for after school and summer programs which would be supervised by college students doing their student teaching or work and learn programs. This would cost nearly nothing, as college students do it for credit. I would like to see art fairs, basketball tournaments, and science contests, along with general supervision at the schools. If we can get people to watch and mentor our children after school, and during the summer, a real impact would be made.
William Ittner stressed that the focus of the school should be a community center where adults and parents can safely interact and relax. Basically some of these Rec Center aspects could be incorporated into the school for all to use.
10/26/2006 2:14 PM
Hi all,
I think we can all agree that poor decissions and lack of communition has been an issue in the past, however going forward don't allow this to derail the real issue...$$$
As far as the Mayor Slays comparison to other community centers, remember those communities were thriving, they had viable school and housing before they spent money on recreation.
As far as the 19 million price tag, what will we be getting for that low amount. The price tag for the Hights that opened in 2000 was 14.6 million and the community has already out grown that facility.
P.S.
I attended all 5 meetings for the community center in Feb/March 2003, the turn out, as intended, was slim about 100 people at the most...this does not justify spending that amount of money...there was never a vote. If anyone believes their was, remember it was a public meeting and the information should be made available to all.
ME
10/26/2006 2:53 PM
There's one big difference between the YMCA and the city pools: the city pools are free. Right now, only 3 of the city's 8 swimming pools are in South City, all clustered around the Benton Park/Cherokee area. Believe it or not, not everyone in South City can afford a YMCA membership. Do South City residents also have a right to city recreation services in their neighborhoods? Wouldn't better city facilities in South City attract more residents to the city, producing a greater tax base? Voting yes on P is a no-brainer.
11/01/2006 3:17 PM
"Last I checked it was completely built and awaiting city approval."
Uh, no. Not built, not awaiting City approval, and -- actually -- not even on the drawing board any more.
11/03/2006 10:21 AM
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