Our columnist Bob Brown, called early in April and said he’d heard something about the Job Corps Center site on Delmar and wanted to do a column on it. A far-sighted editor assured him that it was a dead issue and that even if it rose to the surface it would be stale news by May 1.
It never occurred to us that a site so resolutely opposed by the voters of the neighborhood could be seriously reconsidered. Added to which, is the so-far-undisputed fact that of all of the publicly mentioned sites, the Delmar location is in every way, sociologically, esthetically, recreationally, demographically, the most unsuitable.
It would be no good for the community and no good for the young people with problems that the programs talks about helping.
Still, Senator Eagleton is on record as favoring the training center. The Post Dispatch reports that eight state legislators and Congressman Clay all signed a telegram urging Governor Hearnes to reconsider his veto of the Delmar site. Many citizens reacted with intense concern and opposition to lifting of the veto.
There are citizens who are not only concerned but curious. Normally, savvy politicians do not publicly express such contempt for the wishes of a community. So why are they pushing for the Delmar site? They did not urge the Governor to save the Job Corps for the metropolitan area, but specifically to allow it to be placed at 5621 Delmar. No one seems to know why.
The question seems to be “Who is Making What on This Deal?” Is a real estate operator capable of exerting this kind of pressure on our elected representatives? Are there enough patronage jobs connected with the Job Corps Center to justify the risk of offended voters? What is going on behind the scenes to put pressure on the governor of the State of Missouri?
No one from the federal government has ever suggested that the reputation of the previous Job Corps Center in St. Louis was anything but a public scandal. When citizens suggested that the large amount per trainee be paid to the vocational programs of the St. Louis public school system, who could do the job and use the money, the suggestion was ignored.
Everyone in the agencies concerned seems to think that opinions of the voters who must live around this training center do not count. We are supposed to have short memories. Next year when election time comes around, our representatives will sally forth to assure us that they will take care of us and our communities. Are we supposed to forget how they took care of us on the Job Corps Site issue?
The state legislators listed in the Post-Dispatch, dateline April 7, as urging the governor to approve the Delmar site are State Senators Raymond Howard and Franklin Payne; State Representatives Fred Williams, J. B. Banks, Nathaniel Rivers, Mrs. De Verne Lee Calloway, Fred Brown and John Aikens. Also signing was U.S. Representative William L. Clay. Let us remember how these ladies and gentlemen took care of our interests the next time we see their names on a ballot. 1972 is not too long to keep these names in mind.
Meanwhile, if anyone ever figures out how this particular pressure play got started and what is in the pot at the end of the rainbow, please let us know. Even if we can’t print it, we’d surely like to know what’s going in those high and hazy places where us ordinary folks are not supposed to peek.
Originally published in The Paper, May 1971.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1971_05.pdf, printed page 6.
