Historical March 1992 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
In this strange campaign year, it has become increasingly apparent that— thus far—no presidential candidates have addressed the problems of our central cities. Deindustrialization in the U.S. has led to chronic unemployment in major cities that in turn feeds significant criminal activity, broken families, and dependency. Trafficking in crack cocaine clearly correlates with soaring murder rates in areas where poverty and unemployment are not strangers.
The ills of cities such as St. Louis are part of a much larger trend that sees blue collar work exported to Mexico, Asia, and even Quatar.
There are few places here where those with a secondary school education or less can find employment sufficiently remunerative to support a family. Concomitantly, municipal revenues shrink, infrastructure decays, and it is more difficult to provide regular city services. Yet, these conditions do not evoke much comment from those seeking our nation’s highest office. Instead, we hear about middle class tax cuts or health care.
These topics are certainly of concern but so is the plight of American central cities.
There is a simple explanation for the condition I describe. John Chancellor stated it well on NBC Nightly News recently: the votes are in the suburbs.
A majority of U.S. voters now live in suburban communities. Hence, candidates slight the concerns of central cities and direct their appeals elsewhere. But, it should be clear, at least to some, that the adverse conditions affecting central cities know no artificial political boundaries. Can our nation’s longterm health tolerate so many people in so many cities who are not part of the regular economy? Certainly a middle class tax cut is appealing. Putting significant numbers of Americans to work is more appealing, for the economy in general, and for city and suburb alike.•
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, March 1992.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1992_03.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
