“The City is falling behind. It’s embarrassing that the city is not able to match the work of the neighborhoods in doing its part in improving the City.” So Mayor Poelker explained the need for passage of the bond issue during the pre-election meeting at St. Roch’s on October 30.
The Mayor reviewed the citizen input process that had solicited a “shopping list” of projects, set priorities, and finalized the proposals.
Dr. Andrew Doyle, President of the St. Louis School Board, asked us to vote “yes” for the school tax levy to “Move St. Louis ahead”. “I’m not asking this for myself or for the school board but for our children and for our community,” he said. He stressed that if the quality of the schools declines, the city if a less attractive place for us and for families moving to our city.
Dr. Doyle fielded most of the questions from the floor, some of which concerned the school system’s efficiency, attitudes, and priorities. He restated some added costs that the school system must bear in trying to meet the problems involved.
Alderman John Roach noted that “Taxes buy civilization. We don’t each hire our own policemen or our own teachers.” He therefore urged the residents to continue to “help themselves” by supporting both issues.
The meeting was sponsored by the Washington Heights Neighbors board as we strive for cooperation between all Skinker-DeBaliveiere neighbors. Cosponsorship with RNA of the holiday social December 14 and fuller participation in the planning of Art Fair-House Tour ’75 are additional activities to further this goal.
Originally published in The Paper, December 1974.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1974_12.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
