St. Louis metro continues its slow growth.... (live, law)

[MUTGR]

It's slow growing for St. Louis as region slips down list of big metro areas | Metro | stltoday.com

...at least we didn't lose population like Chicago and Detroit.

[Jjmars]

Hopefully the slow growth provides an opportunity for the law and order groups to improve.

[mjtinmemphis]

Whats being done about the slow growth? Does St Louis want to grow? I don't think so.

[PerseusVeil]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

Whats being done about the slow growth? Does St Louis want to grow? I don't think so.

I think the better question is what even can be done. St. Louis has been growing slowly for decades.

[RisingAurvandil]

Originally Posted by PerseusVeil

I think the better question is what even can be done. St. Louis has been growing slowly for decades.

There is a general consensus about how to encourage growth, but most metro politicians and residents think the trade-offs are too high. StL has always been more conservative and less aggressive than other metros. And because of this, StL has a serious and persistent perception issue, especially among outsiders. I say "perception," because StL isn't much different than other mid-size metros.

To name a few needed improvements...

- Reduce, merge, and consolidate local government (#1 issue)
- Larger police force
- Metrolink/Streetcar expansion
- Infrastructure improvements (airports, river terminals, our central freeways)
- Encourage startups (e.g. Innovate St. Louis)
- Encourage immigration (e.c. Mosaic)

[Fishtacos]

One of the biggest challenges has been a long term challenge that has not changed to this point. The overwhelming parochial, provincial mindset encourages smaller and smaller minded thinking and decision making. The fear of change, lack of anticipatory forward thinking by some. St. Louis has been slow to develop and attract new economic streams. There are way too many people that are what's in it for me type of people first as opposed to what's in it for the metro area, region, etc..first. There are way too many people that are just fine with the way things are and the. These same people whine and complain and scapegoat others when things go wrong. St. Louis as a metro isn't alone with some of these challenges but this is the St. Louis forum.

[Jjmars]

Originally Posted by Fishtacos

One of the biggest challenges has been a long term challenge that has not changed to this point. The overwhelming parochial, provincial mindset encourages smaller and smaller minded thinking and decision making. The fear of change, lack of anticipatory forward thinking by some. St. Louis has been slow to develop and attract new economic streams. There are way too many people that are what's in it for me type of people first as opposed to what's in it for the metro area, region, etc..first. There are way too many people that are just fine with the way things are and the. These same people whine and complain and scapegoat others when things go wrong. St. Louis as a metro isn't alone with some of these challenges but this is the St. Louis forum.

I agree for the most part. There appears to be a social issue in St. Louis where people don't anticipate the negative behavior they have in public has an effect on the people next to them in line at the grocery store or in traffic on the highway. A family member lived abroad for over ten years and moved back and struggles with this. Then again the world is broad with many different things occurring from region to region.