Downtown St. Louis Residents Association

Many good ideas for taking back Lucas Park and our streets were discussed at the downtown forum tonight (8-13-07). Many residents wished to know what they could personally do. Three suggestions I liked were; help stop the people who are feeding the homeless (direct them to volunteer with organizations who are doing something to help the problem), organize public support for the police who are enforcing the laws and curfews (as well as reporting incidents to the police), and form an organized neighborhood watch group.

I was encouraged to hear Centenary United Methodist Church is going to provide feeding for the homeless at 16th street. They have already been intercepting some of the well meaning suburbanites feeding the people in the park. They are educating them and offering an opportunity for them to volunteer their efforts and food to organizations that offer more constructive services. Stopping the feeding station will stop a significant part of the problem. There is a plan to provide brochures within a few weeks that list available organizations and services for the homeless. Hopefully those will be available to neighbors to hand out to the people who are enabling the problem. The police have assembled a database of career criminals working the area. We can call 314-231-1212 to report public urination, aggressive panhandling, vandalism, curfew violations, drug dealing, etc. Again, the formation of a neighborhood watch was mentioned. Lastly, the police referred to the lawsuit filed by SLU several years ago when attempts were made to clean up the park. This handicapped them from taking action. They are enforcing laws and taking action now, but expect a similar backlash from those who feel the homeless should live in the park and not be disturbed. They want to know they will receive a show of support from the residents should the media portray efforts to stop the abuse of our public spaces in a negative manner. I personally will send my contact information to our alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett (http://kaciestarrtriplett.com/, http://stlcin.missouri.org/index/contactald.cfm?Ward=6)so that she has the name of at least one resident who can be contacted should the media need "the other side of the story". I urge everyone to do the same.

I am very happy with the changes in the park due to increased police presence. BUT, I find it very strange that a community that will complain about unsavory conditions does not pressure dog owners to clean up after their pets!
I have a large dog and I think some of this attitude is that small dogs leave small nuisances. When you have to clean your shoes the size of the dog does not make a difference.
How can any intelligent human being consider it acceptable to let their dog defecate next to a childrens playground and just walk away.
I think the park has problems that must be addressed but the homeless are not the only offenders. And possibly not the worst. I would like to see more fines for our self centered neighbors.
HJW

Walking my dog (which I always clean up after) on Saturday morning when I saw a pickup pull up and pull a BBQ grill off the back. They then proceeded to start grilling several pounds of burgers and distributing the food to the homeless. I confronted them and asked if they "had a permit" and they said, "we're just bbq" and "are you going to turn us in?" I just walked away, when the homeless started giving me a hard time about "hating the homeless". I ignored them and kept walking. I then called 314-231-1212 and told them there was a "public feeding" in Lucas park. The dispatcher said she would send a cruiser, when I checked about 2 hours later, they were still there. Maybe if more of us started calling when this occurs, the "well-meaning" suburbanites will get the "message" and move to the Centenary church. Ms Triplett has my name as well for the media to contact.

I see the barbequers out there frequently. I am glad you confronted them. Right now there are several cars in the lot at NLEC feeding people. I have not seen any effort at enforcement of the health codes yet. I hope the police will make good on that promise.
I liked this Urban Review post from Centenary Church's Reverend Fields. Perhaps we should print this out and hand it to the suburbanites. If they redirected their efforts there, perhaps they could be part of the solution and not part of the problem.


Downtown Reverend Speaks Up on Feeding the Homeless in Public Parks
steve September 5th, 2007

A guest editorial by Rev. Karen Fields:

Over the past year or so, I have been a part of the St. Louis Downtown Residents Association’s meetings that have focused on the safety issues that face those who have chosen to make downtown their home. Recently, I attended a similar meeting convened by Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett. As a clergyperson whose church has opened the doors to the homeless, I went to these meetings already on the defensive. I had an idea of how the residents might feel about the population that walks through our doors everyday looking for a meal, a restroom, or a phone. I knew that they didn’t know me, my motivation, our program, or even very much about the people we serve. I didn’t say much at these meetings. I wanted to assess the prevailing sentiment.

I have to admit that I did hear some of what I went expecting to hear. I heard the voices that said that the presence of the homeless in the parks and on the streets was hurting their property values. I heard the voices that said that there needed to be more security measures in place to protect residents and their investments. But I have to also admit that these voices were dwarfed by the voices of those who were looking for safety and security for all downtown residents, not just the ones sleeping in a loft. There was evidence of compassion for those with whom they share their neighborhood. It is hard, however, to hold compassion and the desire for safety and security in tension; especially when you have compassion for those whom you feel threaten your safety and security. It was obvious that it is in that tension that most of the St. Louis downtown residents live.

None of the homeless service providers created homelessness nor did they bring homelessness to downtown St. Louis. This population was downtown long before the first developer decided to invest in gentrification. They made their homes in abandoned warehouses, in tunnels under the city, in the parks, and along the riverbank, long before the warehouses were reclaimed for profit or there were pets to walk in the parks. The service providers responded to a human need that existed. They are still responding to human need.

Working with this population, I have learned a great deal about the human condition. There is no one definition of the characteristics of a homeless person. Stereotypes are as wrong for them as they are for any other minority. I have learned that they are a microcosm of the larger society from which we all come. Just like in any neighborhood across the metro area, some of the members of the homeless population are extremely intelligent. Some are intellectually challenged. Some are creative and artsy. Some are linear and analytical. Some need to be on medications to maintain a balanced temperament. Some are diabetic. Some have high blood pressure. Some have families that love them. Some are estranged from their past. Some have criminal tendencies. Some try to be model citizens. Not one wants to be a failure. Not one dreamed of someday living on the streets. Not one of them wants to be invisible. All of them want to love and be loved. Not all of them know how.

As part of the neighborhood, Centenary Church decided two years ago that we have a responsibility to step into the tension and become part of the solution. No matter how well intended a suburban group might be, it is not a safe and healthy practice to feed people in our parks. There is no control over how the food is prepared, served, or disposed of. The homeless population risks illness and the parks suffer from trash and rodents. Centenary has a large dining hall with an inspected kitchen and lots of trash cans.

No matter how much downtown residents and business owners dislike the problem of public urination, the fact remains that there are few public restrooms available for a homeless person to take care of this most basic human need. Centenary is in the process of completing the construction of new public restrooms that will be available for anyone’s use. It is the hope that in the near future, we might be able to acquire the funds necessary to also offer showers.

No matter how hospitable the library is to the homeless population, most are not using it for the purpose for which a library is intended. Centenary will be open from breakfast to dinner most days, so that the homeless have a place of respite from the elements – to get in out of the rain or snow or to escape the heat, a place to get a cold drink of water or a hot cup of coffee, a place to rest feet or wait for an appointment.

I have heard rumor that some have said that we are nothing more than a City-sponsored Methodist jail. I have been asked how I feel about the City requiring people to join Centenary in serving evening meals or they will be ticketed. Neither one of these accusations could be further from the truth. Centenary Church has opened its doors to help ease the tension and help find ways that diversity can co-exist. Nobody is required to join us “or else.” Nobody is being forced to spend their day in our building.

The re-development of downtown St. Louis is exciting. Dry bones are beginning to come to life. Downtown living offers something that can be found no place else. Centenary Church has been a downtown church since 1839. It has chosen twice in its history to remain a downtown church; even as other churches have packed up and moved west. It did not go to the suburbs and decide to move back downtown. It has always been here. Centenary knows what a great place downtown St. Louis can be and is committed to being a place of hospitality and grace to all of the residents of the neighborhood.

At the last meeting I attended, the question was asked about what people could do “right now” to address the issues that homelessness causes for the community. I said it then, and I will say it again. Come join us at Centenary. Help us build bathrooms. Help us provide a safe place to eat. Come help us serve a meal. Come have a conversation with one of your neighbors. You might find that they are more human than you thought.

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Reverend Fields is an Associate Pastor with Centenary United Methodist Church located at 1610 Olive and is the Program Director of Centenary CARES. For more information go to centenarystl.org. To volunteer time and/or money please contact Rev. Fields at 314.421.3136 ext. 106 or k.fields at centenarystl dot org