East ST. LOUIS (O'Fallon, Belle, Laclede: sales, condo, credit)

[Juice13610]

I meant "AND THEY WEREN'T EVEN THE TARGET."

Initially I said "she" rather than "they." Man I look like a redneck in that last post because of that. Ignore it, please.

[GuruOfReason]

I've been to East St. Louis many times in my life, rather routinely for some event, or to visit relatives. One of them lives in a huge house in Swansea, and the other one (my great grandmother who recently passed away) lived in an undamaged portion of East St. Louis, in a house her husband built. There were blocks and blocks of decaying housing. I've never experienced a crime in the dozens of times that I've been there, but then again, I've never really walked on the street of the city either.

[M.O. Grace]

Hi, I just came across this thread while doing research for a paper on "severely distressed urban neighborhoods"; East St. Louis certainly qualifies BUT.... there has been an amazing and hopeful movement going on that is making some real difference in the area and could serve as a model for other similar neighborhoods. Check out the websites, and be encouraged!
Emerson Park Development Corporation - Home
Welcome!

[ShadowCaver]

Originally Posted by M.O. Grace

Hi, I just came across this thread while doing research for a paper on "severely distressed urban neighborhoods"; East St. Louis certainly qualifies BUT.... there has been an amazing and hopeful movement going on that is making some real difference in the area and could serve as a model for other similar neighborhoods. Check out the websites, and be encouraged!
Emerson Park Development Corporation - Home
East St Louis Action Research Project - Welcome!

Thanks for the positive news and links - such is encouraging.
Hope that it continues and actually grows!
From their weekend work, looks good: Outreach Weekends

[JCrow Nuremberg]

Originally Posted by Juice13610

East St. Louis is a "WHITES NOT ALLOWED" city

Now that's a twist.
Are there signs on the bathrooms and water fountains saying that?

I don't think you have anything to worry about. You did say the police protected you right? That's what they get paid to do - protect and serve the minorities of ESL
(you do know who the 'minorities' of ESL are... don't you?)

And it's totally not true. Whites are very welcomed in ESL. Provided you carry CASH and no weapons.

[jicle]

For you own safety don't even visit there. The city has a higher crime rate then St. Louis itself, all though it isn't on any list for most dangerous, well, thats because it has roughly 40,000 people living there and still declining because of crime. Look up pictures, I have been there, it is a horrible place, unfortunatly. ESL is crammed with closed bars and strip clubs full of drugs, killings, shootings and theft. NOT A GOOD PLACE. If this offends anyone I am sorry but esl is really, a bad place.

[Xing]

You're right Juice, in that the crime this year has gotten worse, comparatively to the years prior. Before you arrive in this area, the crime in East St. Louis was stagnant, and much less than it was in the 90's. This year it has skyrocketed, and it should be researched as to why. I still hold no fear in going to East St. Louis, based on my knowledge of the city, especially from my understanding that the majority of crimes are domestic.

[Xing]

Originally Posted by jicle

For you own safety don't even visit there. The city has a higher crime rate then St. Louis itself, all though it isn't on any list for most dangerous, well, thats because it has roughly 40,000 people living there and still declining because of crime. Look up pictures, I have been there, it is a horrible place, unfortunatly. ESL is crammed with closed bars and strip clubs full of drugs, killings, shootings and theft. NOT A GOOD PLACE. If this offends anyone I am sorry but esl is really, a bad place.

"LOOK AT PICTURES!!!" I've been there myself.
I don't live a life based on sensationalism.

[ESTLBlaqButterfly]

Ok...I am a long time citizen of East Saint Louis, say about 22 years. I moved away to several cities and always ended back home (East Saint Louis is a family-knit circle). I am tired of people always making negative statements about my city. So I am am going to clear some of these statements.
1.) There are no strip clubs in East Saint Louis. It is illegal to be nude in bars here. (There are several outlining the citiy, though).
2.) Whites are allowed. However those that come here, are going to work, junkies (they know where the supply is), or attend Faces (gay clubs). Its all about comfortability.
3.) If you are riding through the city at night and something happenS to you. Where exactly where you heading to. All the entry points and exits of the city are right next to each other. You must have been looking for something and ran into trouble (hence your bad experience).
4. Looks are deceiving. Although you see the rundown buildings from the Metrolink and highway, once you get into the heart of the city. You will notice that some of the homes are better off than your neighborhoods. (Don't ever judge a book by its cover!)
5.) Never believe what people say. (If they said the grass is purple and not green, would you believe them?) Gossip is gossip for a reason. And if you did not experience any of what you are posting and you heard it from a friend of a friend. SHUT UP!
6.) Majority of the crime in East Saint Louis is commited by those that are not citizens of the city. Plus our the percent of crime is based on population. (If you actually been to East Saint Louis than you know that the city is about 89 blocks long.)
7.) Statistic also shows that the so called murder victims, thefts, and overdoses in East Saint Louis, wasn't commited here. East Saint Louis is the ""Dump-site".
8.) And let's not get me started on how we are destroying Saint Louis. What about those from East Saint Louis, who made contributions to America's Society? (Wikapedia.com)
Josephine Baker survived the 1917 race riots in East St. Louis and ran away at age 13 to dance in vaudeville on Broadway and, most famously, with the Folies Bergère in Paris. There she became an international star. During World War II, Baker gathered intelligence for the French Resistance.
New York Yankees player Hank Bauer was born in East St. Louis in 1922. He played for the Yankees from 1949-59 and won seven World Series championships.
Homer Bush (b. November 12, 1972, in East St. Louis, Illinois) was a Major League Baseball second baseman with a career .285 batting average, who played for the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Florida Marlins.
Tennis legend Jimmy Connors was born in East St. Louis, and grew up near Frank Holten State Park.
Bryan Cox, former NFL player, is a native of East St. Louis. Cox has been a major philanthropist for East St. Louis High School and his alma mater Western Illinois University.
Jazz legend Miles Davis was born in Alton but grew up in East St. Louis.
Katherine Dunham – dancer, choreographer, anthropologist and author – introduced U.S. and European audiences to Caribbean- and African-based dance movements. She returned to East St. Louis, established an arts center and lived there to the end of her long life.
Richard Durbin – Senior U.S. Senator of Illinois, born in East St. Louis.
LaPhonso Ellis, former NBA player, is a native of East St. Louis.
Athlete and Texas Businessman Tyron K. Taylor Born in 1957; Member of the Western Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame-Track and Field
Kerry Raymond Glenn, former NFL player was born and raised in East St. Louis, Ill. He played in the NFL for the New York Jets 1985-1990 and Miami Dolphins 1990-1993.
Dana Howard- former NFL player who was born and raised in East St. Louis.
Reginald Hudlin, who wrote and directed the 1990s films House Party, was born in East St. Louis.
Track legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee was born and raised in East St. Louis.
Dawn Harper, Gold Medalist in 100 meter hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Al Joyner, track gold medalist and brother of Jackie Joyner-Kersee, was born and raised in East St. Louis.
Blues legends Albert King and B.B. King have ties to the city.
Darius Miles, current NBA player, is a native of East St. Louis.
Ike Turner met Tina Turner in 1956 at the Club Manhattan in East St. Louis. She joined his band and they later married.
·
Kellen Boswell Winslow (born 1957 in St. Louis and raised in East St. Louis) is a former professional American football tight end with the San Diego Chargers.
The poet Robert Wrigley was born in East St. Louis in 1951.
·
City Poet Laureate Eugene B. Redmond is a native of East St. Louis. He has taught across the country and locally, and established the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club in his hometown.

So in light of this, let me switch my language. Stay out if you are that scared, but to all others "WELCOME"

[JaySTLouis]

Of course I'm not here to sugarcoat anything about the city but in my 24 years of living in this city, aside from a burglary (from a neighbor, go figure) I've never been shot, stabbed, mugged, etc....I love my city and I love St. Louis. I'm longing for the day the bad goes out the window in the metro area in general but I suppose I'm being a little too optimistic and hopeful. In all honestly when looking back on everything, I am proud of growing up in this city without succumbing to the peer pressure and negativity that thrives in the city. It gave me a unique look on the rest of the world and I would not have traded the experience for anything.