>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR NEXT UP.

WE WENDY AND I ARE GOING TO TALK TO OUR NEXT GUEST.

WHO IS LES STERMAN, FOR 30 YEARS WAS IN CHARGE OF THE EAST AND WEST.

AND HE IS THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE GREATER DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

>> LES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> ON THE FIRST HALF, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TRAGIC AUTO ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF LEGS FOR ONE YOUNG VISITOR FROM TENNESSEE.

AND OF COURSE, LEADERS ARE OUTRAGED ABOUT THAT.

YOUR ORGANIZATION TWEETED THE FOLLOWING, AND THAT IS, THIS IS TO TYPICAL OF MANY OF OUR BUSINESS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS IN ST. LOUIS.

FIGURE OUT WHERE THE PARADE IS HEADING, AND JUMP IN FRONT OF IT.

WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS AS WE HAVE BEEN BEGGING THEM TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM MORE SERIOUSLY?

AND ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT CRIME IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS?

>> GENERAL CRIME, INSECURITY DISORDER.

DISRUPTIVE ALL AROUND.

AND WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE RESPONSE AND THE BAD CONDITIONS DOWNTOWN.

I HAVE LIVED DOWNTOWN 17 YEARS NOW AND THIS IS THE WORST IT HAS EVER BEEN.

THIS STARTED WELL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SOME PEOPLE SAY IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT IT STARTED BEFORE THAT.

>> WHEN?

>> THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN CONDITIONS GET WORSE.

THE PANDEMIC ACCELERATED THINGS AND WE DIDN'T REALLY RECOVER AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

DOWNTOWN HAS NOT RECOVERED.

THE CONDITIONS, THE STREET RACING, THE GUNFIRE, THE TRAFFIC LAWLESSNESS, IT STILL CONTINUES.

>> THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN THERE WAS THAT TRAGIC AUTO ACCIDENT ABOUT ONE HUNDRED YARDS AWAY FROM YOUR HOME, IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, WHAT HAPPENED ONE HUNDRED YARDS TO THE OTHER SIDE?

>> THE TIME IS UNCERTAIN, PROBABLY A HALF HOUR OF THAT, THERE WAS A SHOOTING INVOLVING 4 VICTIMS AT A BAR THAT IS ON OTHER SIDE, THE SIDE WINDOW OF MY CONDO.

SO, YEAH, YOU TAKE EVENTS LIKE THAT AND YOU WONDER, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ARE STILL DOING HERE.

>> YOUR FAMILY WAS IN FROM OUT OF TOWN.

DID YOUR FAMILY SAY, HEY, YOU HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF HERE?

>> THEY DO.

THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO MOVE TO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT SHOOTING EACH OTHER.

DOWNTOWN IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

WE ENJOY IT THERE.

WE WALK TO ALL OF THE SPORTING EVENTS AND WE WILL WALK TO THE NEW SOCCER ARENA.

WE WALK TO THE RESTAURANTS.

IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

BUT WE HAVE TO GET CONTROL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE EFFECTING US.

>> IT USED TO BE I THINK THAT PEOPLE FELT HEARD WHEN THEY WOULD MAKE A REQUEST OF CITY HALL, WHEN THEY WOULD GO TO THE PAPER OR MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA WITH THIS CONCERN OR THAT CONCERN.

SHARE WITH OUR VIEWERS WHAT YOU HAVE COME UP AGAINST ADVICE YOU HAVE BEEN SPEAR-HEADED THIS EFFORT?

>> WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT, WHICH WE ALL AS PROPERTY OWNERS PAY INTO DOWNTOWN AND TRY TO HELP THEM CHANGE WHAT THEY DO TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT WE WERE SEEING AS RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND PROPERTY OWNERS.

THAT WAS ULTIMATELY UNSUCCESSFUL.

WE TRIED TO GET THEM REAUTHORIZED.

THAT IS ANOTHER STORY.

WE WERE ALMOST SUCCESSFUL BUT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT.

WE HAVE DRAFTED ORDINANCES TO DEAL WITH LIKE PROBLEMS ON SURFACE PARKING LOTS.

SURFACE PARKING LOTS THAT ARE INSECURE, WIDE OPEN ARE A SOURCE OF DISRUPTION.

WE DRAFTED ON ORDINANCE THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY OUR ALDERMAN TO PROVIDE FENCING AND GATES ON ALL SURFACE PARKING LOTS DOWNTOWN.

SOME OPPOSED IT AND THE HAD ALLIES AND THE CARDINALS OPPOSED IT.

SO WE WERE ULTIMATELY NOT HEARD ON THAT EITHER.

WE TRIED TO PROVIDE AN ORDINANCE TO CONTROL SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

PARTIES IN AIR B AND B TYPE UNITS ARE A PROBLEM.

GUNFIRE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

THERE HAVE BEEN KILLINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE UNITS.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A BILL INTRODUCED INTO THE BILL OF ALDERMAN.

THAT IS ONE REASON I, YOU KNOW, SO MANY OF THE ISSUES ARE NOW BEING BLAMED ON THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY DESERVING THE SCORN HEAPED UPON HER.

BUT THIS IS A SHARED PROBLEM.

THE MAYOR IS RESPONSIBLE, THE OTHERS ARE RESPONSIBLE, WHO HAVE IGNORED OR OPPOSED COMMON SENSE STEPS TO DEAL WITH SAFETY DOWNTOWN.

THEY ARE ALL GUILTY OF THIS.

IT IS NOT ALL ON THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY.

>> HAVE YOU SPOKED TO MAYOR JONES?

>> YES.

WE HAVE -- THEY HAVE BEEN AT MEETINGS AND, WE HAVE QUESTIONED THEM.

AND WHEN MAYOR JONES WAS RUNNING FOR MAYOR, SHE MET WITH THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION.

YOU KNOW, SHE SAID DOWNTOWN WAS JUST ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEEDS ATTENTION.

AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THESE PROBLEMS EXIST IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT ST. LOUIS.

DOWNTOWN HAS SIGNIFICANCE IMPORTANCE, IT GENERATES TAX REVENUE, IT IS THE SYMBOL OF THE REGION, THE SPORTS TEAMS ARE THERE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD IMAGE AND GOOD REPUTATION.

>> IT IS NOT ENHANCED THIS WEEK.

THERE WAS A TWEET FOR CHANNEL 4, JENNA RAY, SHE IS NOW IN MILWAUKEE.

SHE LEFT DOWN WITHIN THE LAST YEAR TO TAKE A JOB AS A REPORTER IN MILWAUKEE.

SHE SAID WHEN I WORKING IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, I WAS LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER TO SEE IF THERE WAS TROUBLE AND I WOULD DUCK BEHIND CARS WHEN SHE HEARD GUNFIRE.

THAT'S WHAT SHE IS SHARING ABOUT ST. LOUIS.

>> SHE IS A GREAT REPORTER.

SHE LIVED DOWNTOWN.

WE WORKED WITH HER TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THROUGH MEDIA REPORTING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO EXAGGERATE ISSUES.

MOST OF IT OCCURS LATE AT NIGHT.

WE DON'T WALK THE STREETS AT NIGHT.

WHICH IS A SHAME.

>> YOU DO NOT WALK THE STREETS AT NIGHT?

>> WE DO NOT.

>> WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT TO?

>> I SPENT PART OF MY LIFE LIVING IN MANHATTAN.

YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS.

IF YOU GO TO A BALL GAME, THAT'S FINE, YOU ARE WITH CROWDS.

YOU DON'T PARK TOO FAR.

YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE NEWS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS CONCERNING.

I MEAN, IT USED TO BE WHEN WE FIRST MOVED DOWN THERE, THERE WERE INCIDENTS TYPICALLY INVOLVING LATE AT NIGHT, 2 IN THE MORNING, USUALLY INVOLVING DRUGS.

IT WAS NOT A QUESTION OF INNOCENT PEOPLE.

LIKE THE GIRL THAT WAS INVOLVED.

SOMEONE WAS WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE TIME.

>> WHEN CHARLEY AND I WERE WORKING DOWNTOWN IN YOUNG ADULTS IN THE '80S.

IT WAS A CONSTANT HUSTLE, YOU FELT SAFE EVERYWHERE.

PEOPLE WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW VIBRANT DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS WAS BACK DURING THAT ERA.

AND I GUESS I'M AFRAID, PEOPLE DO TEND TO MINIMIZE.

PEOPLE SAY, OH, YOU KNOW I FEEL SAFE AT THE SPORTING EVENTS OR A CONCERT OR THIS PARTICULAR -- IT SEEMS TO BE A BLACK OR WHITE PROPOSITION, I FEEL LIKE WE ARE FIRMLY IN THE GRAY.

BUT LEANING A LITTLE BIT TO MORE OF A DANGEROUS LEVEL OF ACTUAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

BUT WE KEEP TRYING TO MINIMIZE IT.

IS THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM IN YOUR OPINION?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THERE'S AN ATTEMPT, BY CIVIC AND BUSINESS GROUPS WHO WANT TO PROMOTE ST. LOUIS TO MINIMIZE THE ISSUE.

THE CARDINALS AND BLUES WHO ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.

WHEN I WAS AT EAST GATEWAY, WE ARE A CORPORATION, THERE'S MARKLI MARKETING.

BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GREAT PRODUCT IF YOU ARE GOING TO SUCCEED.

WE NEED TO MARKET OUR PRODUCT.

>> I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS FOR 34 YEARS AND THE FINAL YEAR, I NOTICED, ALONG WITH OTHER COLLEAGUES, PEOPLE WERE RUNNING RED LIGHTS.

NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT SLOWING DOWN.

IT WAS QUITE SCARY.

HOW MANY PATROL CARS ARE THERE IN ST. LOUIS DOWNTOWN?

I DIDN'T SEE ANY IN MY FINAL YEARS.

I REALLY DID NOT.

>> WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE POLICE CAPTAIN DOWNTOWN LAST NIGHT.

GREAT GUY.

HONEST.

STRAIGHT WITH US.

HE TOLD US THERE IS ONE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE FOURTH DISTRICT THAT TAKES IN DOWNTOWN AND LARGE AREAS OF ST. LOUIS.

THE OTHER THING PEOPLE DON'T REALIZED WHICH THEY SAY ST. LOUIS IS OVER-POLICED.

THERE IS POLITICAL CHATTER ABOUT THAT.

THE POLICE SPENT ALMOST ALL OF THEIR TIME RESPONDING TO 911 CALLS.

THERE ARE VERY FEW POLICE THAT ARE OUT ON PATROL.

THE OLD BEAT COP.

WHAT WE SEE ON POLICE SHOWS.

>> COMMUNITY POLICING.

>> RIGHT.

>> THERE IS LITTLE PATROLLING DOWN.

THEY ARE RESPONDING TO 911 CALLS.

HE CALLED IT CHASING THE RADIO.

>> WE WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION ON THE FIRST SHOW ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE INCIDENT OVER THE WEEKEND WAS A, WAS IS IT A TRAFFIC ISSUE OR A CRIMINAL ISSUE?

I DON'T THINK TO THE FAMILY OF THE GIRL, THEY ARE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THAT DEFINITION.

BUT, IS THE TRAFFIC, I MEAN, AS YOU JUST OUTLINED, IS THE TRAFFIC SUCH AN ISSUE THAT IT IS ACTUALLY EFFECTING CRIME?

IT USED TO BE, OH, TRAFFIC.

THE ROLLING MISSOURI STOP.

NOW IT IS CRIMINAL TRAFFIC OFFENSES.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

I THINK ALL OF IT CONTRIBUTES TO A GENERAL ATMOSPHERE OF LAWLESSNESS.

WHEN THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING SMALL OFFENSES, IT LEADS TO THE KINDS OF THINGS WE ARE E- E-SEEING.

YOU CAN STAND ON THE CORNER AND SEE PEOPLE RUNNING THE LIGHTS AND YOU CAN SEE THE CAR PARTS ON THE SIDEWALKS FROM ALL OF THE ACCIDENTS.

THERE ARE OTHER HIGH-PROFILE ACCIDENTS.

A COUPLE OF YEARS, A YOUNG WOMAN WAS KILLED WHEN IT WAS HIT BY A SPEEDING DODGE CHARGER.

THERE ARE A LOT OF TRAGEDIES IN DOWNTOWN AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT.

>> AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE LITTER, WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE 11 STREET FROM 640 AND GOING DOWN TUCKER.

AND THE BRIDGE THERE.

I UNDERSTAND EXPLORE ST. LOUIS IS PLANNING A LITTER CLEAN-UP.

APPLAUD THAT.

THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO TAKE THAT ON.

ONE PROBLEM THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED IS THE 911.

MY WIFE, UNTIL HER RETIREMENT LAST YEAR, WORKED DOWNTOWN AND ONE SATURDAY AFTERNOON SHE SAW AN ASSAULT BEHIND HER BUILDING AND CALLED 911.

PUT ON HOLD FOR 30 MINUTES AND NEVER GOT THROUGH TO ANYONE.

HOW MUCH CRIME THERE IS THAT IS NOT REPORTED BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T GET THROUGH TO THE POLICE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

I DON'T TRUST THE CRIME STATISTICS.

PEOPLE CALLING 911 AND GIVING UP.

YOU HEAR THE STORIES.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF UNREPORTED CRIME.

>> HOW HAS THE POLITICS OF THE CITY, THE CHANGING POLITICS OF THE CITY, HOW HAS THAT SORT OF FED INTO WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW?

AND I'M TALKING ABOUT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND EVERY STOP IN BETWEEN.

IT IS THE SORT OF REOCCURRING THEME.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW.

I DON'T CALL IT JUST POLITICS.

IT IS IDEALOGY.

I AM AN ENGINEER BY BACKGROUND.

I'M DRIVEN BY FACTS AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE PROBLEM.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND OVER-POLICING.

BUT SHOW ME HOW?

WHEN POLICE ARE SPENDING THEIR ENTIRE TIME ON CALLS FOR SERVICE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE CALLING FOR THE POLICE.

AND THERE ARE NO OTHER POLICE OFFICERS ON PATROL.

HOW IS THAT OVER-POLICING?

THAT IS NOT RESPONDING TO FACTS.

THAT'S NOT HOW TO BE DRIVEN.

THAT IS WHAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST ABOUT THE SO-CALLED PROGRESSIVES.

SOME OF US HAVE BEEN PROGRESSIVE ALL OF OUR LIVES AND CONTINUE TO BE.

BUT, YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T BE BLINDED TO THE FACTS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU.

>> IF A CITY OF ST. LOUIS POLICE OFFICER AFTER 20 YEARS ON THE JOB CAN MAKE 66 THOUSAND, BUT THE SAME PERSON CAN START IN CLAYTON AT 68 THOUSAND.

FIRST YEAR!

DOES THAT MEAN WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GET ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS IN ST. LOUIS TO SAFELY PATROL THE STREETS?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS SOME OF WHICH ARE SALARY AND BEING A COP IS A THANKLESS JOB THESE DAYS.

I THINK THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE DIFFICULTY TO RECRUIT PARTICULARLY IN A PLACE LIKE ST. LOUIS.

IT IS NOT ONLY THANKLESS IN TERMS OF THE POLITICAL HIERARCHY, BUT DANGEROUS.

SO, I THINK CONTRIBUTES TO IT.

>> YOU HAVE A FIVE-POINT PLAN THAT CIVIC LEADERS AND POLITICIANS DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO.

OUR VIEWERS ARE READY FOR IT.

WILL YOU SHARE SOME OF THE IDEAS YOU HAVE?

YOU STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO.

YOUR PROPOSALS FOR A SAFER, BETTER DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

>> IT IS ACCUMULATION OF PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

THE FIVE-POINT PLAN WAS PUT OUT BY A GROUP OF DOWNTOWN FOLKS CALLED THE DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNSEL.

HAD A GUY BY THE NAME OF GARY WHO IS A GREAT BOOSTER OF THE CITY.

AND IT IS A PLAN WE SUPPORT.

IT INVOLVES IN DEALING WITH PROBLEM PROPERTIES WHICH ARE THE KINDS OF PLACES WHERE DISORDERLY ACTIVITY BEGINS.

>> IT IS CALLED BROKEN GLASS?

>> BROKEN WINDOWS.

>> YEAH, THAT'S APART OF IT.

>> LIKE THE SHELL STATION ON TUCKER WHERE WE HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE COMING OUT OF THERE.

AND DEALING WITH TRAFFIC ENFORCE.

MENT -- ENFORCEMENT.

>> AND GIVING LIQUOR LICENSES AND THE REIGN NIGHTCLUB THAT GOT SO MUCH EXPOSURE.

WE SPENT TWO YEARS TO GET THEM CLOSED DOWN AFTER ONE INCIDENT AFTER ANOTHER.

OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH HOMELESS IS AN ISSUE.

SO, WE HAVE OUTLINED A WHOLE VARIETY OF STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN IN EACH OF THE AREAS TO NOT JUST DO MORE ENFORCEMENTS, BUT TO REDUCE THE SOURCES OF CRIME.

>> THE CIVIC COMMUNITY THINKS THE ANSWER IS MORE COPS, OR IN THEIR CASE, MORE PRIVATE SECURITY.

WE DON'T THINK PRIVATE SECURITY IS EFFECTIVE AT ALL.

AND WE HAVE GOT TO GIVE THE COPS SOME HELP.

WE CAN'T BE PUTTING IN A SITUATION AND CREATING MORE WORK AND DANGER FOR THEM.

SOME OF THE BUSINESSES CAN'T BE THERE IN WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY DOWNTOWN IS A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS PROPERTY COURT.

I REMEMBER THE MID 1990'S, WE HAD ONE, WHO WAS HEADED UP BY DEB -- AND HER HUSBAND WAS A JUDGE.

AND THEY WOULD FIND THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHOSE PROPERTY WERE WEEDS THAT WERE TOO HIGH, TOO MUCH LITTER, BROKEN WINDOWS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT.

IT WAS EARLY 2000'S, I'M GUESSING.

>> THERE ARE PROBLEMS PROPERTY PROCESS.

IT IS VERY LONG AND VERY INVOLVED.

AND TYPICALLY, IF YOU HAVE CITIZENS, YOU HAVE TO HIRE ATTORNEYS AND PURSUE THAT PROCESS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

I ALWAYS OBJECT TO GOVERNMENT ASKING CITIZENS TO ENFORCE THE LAW.

THAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST.

NOT INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS HAVING TO BRING LAWSUITS, AND YOU KNOW, SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING LIKE THE SHELL STATION.

PEOPLE HAVE RAISED MONEY TO DEAL WITH THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE, FOR EXAMPLE.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

>> BALLPARK VILLAGE HAS BEEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT I MEAN, YOU TALK ABOUT REVENUE GENERATING FOR ST. LOUIS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE WOULD BE WITHOUT IT.

THERE ARE THOSE THAT SAY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT ONE PARTICULAR AREA HAS IN A SENSE DEPLETED THE ATTENTION THAT HAS BEEN PAID TO OTHER OTHERS OF DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

NOBODY IS COMPLAINING ABOUT BALLPARK VILLAGE.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANY TRUTH OR LOGIC THERE, LES?

>> I AM ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT AGREES WITH THAT IDEA.

WE PUT MONEY INTO REDOING WASHINGTON AVENUE AND I THINK THE CIVIC COMMUNITY AND THE CITY PUT ANOTHER 5 MILLION.

HUGE INVESTMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME, WASHINGTON AVENUE, THIS WAS EARLY 2000'S WAS THRIVING.

WHEN BALLPARK VILLAGE, PHASE 2 OPENED, OVERNIGHT WASHINGTON AVENUE CHANGED.

>> YEP.

>> AND BALLPARK VILLAGE GOT SUBSIDY TO DO THAT.

PART OF MY COMPLAINT ABOUT DOWNTOWN IS THERE IS NO PLAN.

WE DO ONE THING AND ANOTHER THING AND THEY COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER.

AND I HAVE SPENT TIME THERE.

IT IS GREAT.

BUT WE HAVE TO THINK WHAT WE DO.

I'M A PLANNING.

THAT'S WHAT I SPENT MOST OF MY CAREER DOING.

WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN DOWNTOWN.

>> THE OTHER THING, BALLPARK VILLAGE, UNION STATION AND THE SOCCER STADIUM.

THEY ARE ISLANDS AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THE PROTECT THEIR ISLANDS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND INFLUENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE WILL ALL SUFFER AND ULTIMATELY, THEY WILL SUFFER IF WE DON'T DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS DOWNTOWN.

>> AS TRAGIC AS IT IS, MAYBE THIS IS A TURNING POINT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN THE HISTORY, OKAY, THAT'S THE FINAL STRAW.

AND THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

WHEN A CARDINAL FAN WAS SHOT ON THE ARCH GROUNDS AND PHOTOS OF KIDS DANCING ON TOP OF A POLICE CRUISER AND POLICE WAS ROBBED OF HIS FIREARM.

THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE NOW.

I'M NOT SO SURE, LES, IF THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE AFTER THIS WEEKEND.

>> I AGREE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I AND -- WE ARE TRULY ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED NOW.

I THINK WE HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AND TRIED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE CIVIC INSTITUTIONS AND OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS MAY BE THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK.

AT LEAST HOW WE ARE CONCERNED.

WE WILL HAVE TO FIX IT OR WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE.

MY WIFE AND I, WE HAVE BEEN LIVING DOWN THERE FOR 17 YEARS.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE MAYHEM ON ALL SIDES OF YOUR CONDO.

IT IS ENOUGH.

>> ARE YOU ABLE TO GET THE MONEY OUT OF YOUR CONDO?

>> IN A WORD.

NO.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET WHAT WE PAID FOR IT IN 2005.

AND THERE'S NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE AREA WHERE YOU CAN SEE THAT.

>> WITH THE NEW SOCCER TEAM AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF EXCITEMENT.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO GET EXCITED ABOUT THOSE ISLANDS THAT YOU WOULD THINK WOULD DRAW RESIDENTS BACK DOWN TO THE CITY.

SO TIMING OF THE ESSENCE.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYMORE TIME TO LOSE AS CHARLEY IS SAYING AND YOU OBVIOUSLY AGREE.

>> NO, I TOTALLY AGREE.

I HAVE LISTENED OVER THE YEARS HOW, YOU KNOW, THE DOME STDIUM AND THE ENTERPRISE CENTER AND ON AND ON AND ON.

THESE INVESTMENTS ARE IMPORTANT AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEM AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SPEND THE TIME ON THEM.

BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THE LITTLE THINGS AND THERE IS NO ATTENTION GIVEN TO IT.

>> THERE IS A BOOK BY JAMES JACOBS.

IT IS THE BAKERY, IT IS THE CLEANERS, AND THE PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALK CAN WALK BY.

THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS READ THAT BOOK.

>> YOU AND I HAVE.

>> MAYBE WE SHOULD FORM A BOOK CLUB -- >> OR WALK BY BOUTIQUE.

>> FEWER AND FEWER.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, THE GREATER ST. LOUIS AND OTHERS HAVE PUT TOGETHER A PLAN CALLED DESIGN DOWNTOWN THAT TALKS ABOUT ACTIVATING THE STREET AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IT IS VERY POSITIVE.

I DON'T SEE ANYONE IMPLEMENTING IT AT THIS POINT.

>> I THINK WENDY AND I AGREE YOU AND THE OTHER PIONEERS DESERVE OUR SUPPORT.

>> WITHOUT QUESTION.

>> YOU ARE THE WELCOME MAT FOR THE REGION.

WHEN PEOPLE VISIT THEY GO TO DOWNTOWN AND FORM OPINIONS BASED ON WHAT THEY SEE DOWNTOWN.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK!