Historical February–March 2015 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Although we may be caught up with the headlines regarding terrorist actions, we must always keep our eye on what is happening in our neighborhood. Skinker DeBaliviere has a unique history.
It is one of a number of neighborhoods in St. Louis that are integrated.
It was the first that did not lose all of its white residents when blacks began to purchase homes here in 1964.
The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council was set up by neighbors and neighbor institutions to stabilize the area, fight crime, and maintain diversity. Those early years were ones of strong neighbor involvement. Threats were real and people banded together for the common good. And, by and large, they were successful.
We have achieved a good mixture of stability and diversity. Without the threats of past decades, people have become less involved–in block units, Rosedale Neighbors, and the SDCC.
There are fewer volunteers and few in the audience at SDCC meetings.
If things seem good, is it necessary to be involved? Important decisions about the funding of the SDCC are in the offing.
It is not the time to eschew neighborhood involvement.
If you are not involved, you forego representation and a voice in the decisions being made.
In addition, we must not forget that our relative stability can be a fragile thing.
We cannot be complacent.
We must bring our voices to the arena and work to keep this neighborhood the very special place that it is. Don’t forget to vote on March 3! Candidates for President of the Board of Aldermen are Democrats Lewis Reed and Jimmie Matthews, Green party Jeffrey Schaefer and Republican Erik Shelquist. Candidates for 26th Ward Alderman are Democrats Frank Williamson and Rodney Norman, Green Party Frederic Raines. Candidates for 28th Ward Alderman are Democrats Lyda Krewson and William Haas, Green Party Jerome Bauer.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2015.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2015_02.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
