Mayor Slay wants the City of St. Louis to enter St. Louis County (Clayton: crime rate, house)

[STLCardsBlues1989]

We will have to become more effective and efficient—and government must be collaborative. The City must reform its charter. The City, the inner suburbs, and outer suburbs must combine services. And, I strongly believe, that we must begin to lay the groundwork for the City of St. Louis to enter St. Louis County.

In his inaugural address. MayorSlay.com - Latest News

I agree the city and county can work better if they join together. Thoughts?

[anr_black]

Well my first thought was the general county resident's first thought, "Oh, the horror!!" Haven't they systematically voted down any incorporation between the city and the county?

[Northwoods Voyager]

I am a St. Louis Native and lived in the city and the county over many years. I also worked at the County Court House in Clayton years ago. I firmly believe that both entities would benefit by their joining. Also, the elimination of many of the smaller communities would also be a definite advantage to the economy, educational and financial situation in the Metro area. I hope that the citizens will listen to logic and agree with Mayor Slay.

[aaronstlcards]

Hey, are crime rate would go down.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I think it would be of great benefit for the entire metro area. Better schools for the city, more taxes likely for things like the zoo and the museums. The county gets some revenue from Lambert Airport (owned by the city), as well as the Cardinals, the Rams, the Blues. Most of our attractions are located in the city.

Will reattachment be difficult? Sure. Probably about as difficult as sewing your toes back on. Will our leaders swallow their pride and make this happen? I hope so. It would be very good for the metro as a whole. I'm not sure if St. Louis County and St. Louis City residents will be too shortsighted to approve this or not.

[aragx6]

Maybe someday I'll eat my own words -- hell I even hope I do -- but I really don't see this ever happening.

[ajf131]

Never gonna happen. Slay is a great mayor, don't get me wrong, but there is a slight problem..the county has everything to lose, and the city everything to gain. St. Louis City wants St. Louis County for life support.

[arch_genesis]

I can't believe people are giving up the fight already. This is something that needed to happen a long time ago and even simply being the 91st municipality isn't enough. If the City/County were one Proposition M would've passed.

[hhillstl]

Originally Posted by ajf131

Never gonna happen. Slay is a great mayor, don't get me wrong, but there is a slight problem..the county has everything to lose, and the city everything to gain. St. Louis City wants St. Louis County for life support.

I'd have to disagree with this statement. St. Louis City has plenty of issues to deal with, but if you look at demographic trending as well as general population trending over the past decade St. Louis County is beginning to see many of the problems that have plagued the city for decades, while the city is seeing some hopeful signs of a turnaround. I'd agree that St. Louis City has more to gain from a merger right now, but it seems likely that one day things will level out to an equilibrium and in the long run all our citizens would be better served by a more centralized local government.

[Inoxkeeper]

There is one other thing no one has mentioned. Every municipality in the county has it's own little fiefdom with it's own power base. The people in the power positions will not want to give them up.

For decades the city wanted nothing to do with the country, it seems to me they missed their chance many years ago for a merger. I do not see Slay having any success in pulling this off although I do agree it would be the best thing for the area.