One small step forward in East St. Louis
Friday, Aug 12, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Dick Durbin was in East St. Louis this week to talk about violence…
The public housing complexes on the east side of the river might just be the deadliest places in the country, but efforts are underway to secure the area.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is bringing in federal law enforcement to help state and local authorities crack down on crime. Figures show that East St. Louis is nearly twice as dangerous as even the worst streets in Chicago.
* Durbin also lashed out at local leaders…
Durbin later told reporters in a news conference that city leaders have to get more involved and take a look at the number of liquor stores that are within blocks of each other and that stay open all night long and are directly related to some of the crime that’s occurring. He said the nightclub scene also is a source of the crime, often because of the outsiders who come to East St. Louis.
“Take a look at the crime because of your decision. Innocent people are dying because of your decision,” Durbin said in reference to city leaders. […]
Durbin, who was born and raised in East St. Louis, said he was happy to come home, but unhappy about the statistics relating to violent crimes in East St. Louis.
“Residents of East St. Louis suffer from one of the highest violent crime and homicide rates in the country,” said the Senate’s assistant majority leader. “It’s not a new problem, but it’s a problem that demands a new solution. The people living and raising their families in this community deserve better. As an East St. Louis native, it pains me to see my old hometown in such distress.”
* And the hectoring did get some results…
Less than 24 hours after Illinois Senator Dick Durbin made scathing remarks about East St. Louis leaders, Mayor Alvin Parks ordered sales at liquor stores to end by 1 a.m.
Mayor Parks says he’s been thinking about making the move for awhile, but last weekend was the last straw. On Saturday night, the mayor reports seeing crowds hanging out at gas stations and liquor stores as late as 6 a.m. – three hours after those stored were allowed to sell alcohol.
“Some of the gas stations have become almost like club scenes,” says Mayor Parks.
The mayor didn’t change the hours of the local nightclubs, however.
* Other stuff…
* Safe haven law for abandoned newborns expands
* Quinn gives buses OK to ride I-55 shoulders
* Illinois Warrior Assistance Program ready to help veterans cope with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries
* Black and white creates gray area in fire department mileage scandal
* Police chief accused of lying about Crestwood water
* Durbin speaks to business leaders about the economy
* Durbin touts sales-tax bill
* Kirk encouraged by makeup of budget ’super committee’
* Boehner Visits Hinsdale Friday
- Excessively Rabid - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 7:24 am:
Years ago, when things in ESL were even worse than now, a friend summed it up this way: “Bad things happen when people with no hope get to drinking.”
- Wumpus - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 9:17 am:
Yes, liquor stores are the problem. I blame the breakdown of the family.
Lack fo jobs, lack of stable homes/families, too many grandparents raising their grandchildren, no stressing of education, so on and so forth. But blame the liquor stores, not like they won’t figure out somewhere else to hang out.
- Ron - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 9:19 am:
HMMM! Durbin finally discovers there is terrible crime problem in East St. Louis?!
I guess being up for election and wanting to look concerned helps.
- Ray del Camino - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 9:21 am:
Poor East St. Louis never had a chance. It was built by and for smelly, dangerous factories, stockyards, and railyards to flourish without the pesky regulations they were experiencing in St. Louis. The people were an afterthought.
Now the factories and the dangerous jobs are, for the most part, gone; the people are left behind. There’s no good solution.
- just sayin' - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 9:33 am:
What?!? Gambling casinos haven’t solved all the problems of Illinois river towns?
- dupage dan - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 9:41 am:
Close the liquor stores? There goes the tax base.
- Justice - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 10:14 am:
Typical “I must look concerned” politician. Wait until the problem is solidly entrenched, for many years, then offer a weak solution.
How about better schools, more focus on the family unit, more jobs….yeah…more jobs. That’s novel idea. How about job training programs?
The horse is out of the barn and you Senator rush in to close the barn door. Those hanging out at the liquor store do so because there is no where else to hang out, nothing more to do, little or no hope.
So nice of you to show up at this late hour. Where have you been all these years man…where have you been all these years?
- John A Logan - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 10:49 am:
Dick Durbin also issued a press release which stated “The Attack on Fort Sumter is a sad day for America.”
- ANON - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 11:00 am:
==Durbin finally discovers there is terrible crime problem in East St. Louis?!==
I’m no fan of Durbin, by any strect whatsoever, but I believe he grew up in East St. Louis, so I won’t doubt his sincerity in this. That doesn’t mean I agree with his typical solutions, but I believe he’s sincere in wanting it to turn around.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 11:20 am:
As a Republican I’ll Dick Durbin credit for speaking out on this issue. These kinds of issues are bipartisan and should be.
- Downstate - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 11:41 am:
Don’t miss this piece of Durbin’s other press conference, in which one reporter tells another, “This is a press conference, you are not allowed to ask questions.”
Durbin looks like a deer in the headlights.
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/bill-kellys-truth-squad/2011/aug/11/media-cover-up-durbin-confrontation-reporter/
- don - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 11:52 am:
When issues as blatant as ESL become the public concern of either GOP or Dem federal politician,you can bet their poll numbers are down.Calling in Federal law enforcement is just a knee jerk media ploy.ISP came in years ago with regular patrol had immediate but no long term effect,millions of state and federal grant funds were provided,squandered and forgotten.The school district is under investigation.Again.And nothing significant will happen because of the political dynamics in Metro East.The next announcement will regarding federal grants to the City,just as in the past.What a farce.
- hawksfan - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 12:00 pm:
Senate terms are six years Ron.
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 12:50 pm:
By what measure is the U.S. Senate doing it’s job?
Sen. Durbin, your own offices customer service has gotten awful.
It seems a little galling for you to blame local leaders. What are you willing to do to be part of the solution, Sen. Durbin?
- Plutocrat03 - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 1:12 pm:
How long before there will be a crash involving a shoulder riding bus and a motorist?
Exiting traffic and vehicles stopped for breakdowns will provide for some intens conflicts.
I hope the injured will invite Pat for a photo op.
- Wensicia - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 1:15 pm:
We had the same problem in my northern suburb years ago, a downtown liquor store was the hub for late night criminal behavior. The store was bought out by the city and torn down, late night downtown crime was eliminated.
We still have nighttime minority youth and gang problems in the neighborhoods, alcohol is more often the drug of choice with young people now, but with so many unemployed and with nothing else to do, these problems aren’t going away anytime soon. It’s not just the availability of alcohol.
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 1:17 pm:
Durbinsaid,
“Take a look at the crime because of your decision. Innocent people are dying because of your decision,” Durbin said in reference to city leaders. […]”
No, Dick. Innocent people are dead because of the lawless behavior of the criminals. If the city fathers have any blame, its for not adequately funding law enforcement.
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 1:26 pm:
- Ron - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 9:19 am:
“I guess being up for election and wanting to look concerned helps.”
Durbin will not run for reelection owing to health problems, and especially if Obama loses.
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 1:35 pm:
- Durbin will not run for reelection owing to health problems, and especially if Obama loses. -
Is this some kind of inside joke or did you read it on some right wing wish list? I don’t see Durbin bowing out any time soon.
- dupage dan - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 2:10 pm:
C’mon, Cincy, STL. Sounds like the beginnings of a bet. Choose your favorite charity and wager, boys! I bet it would be easy for Rich to “hold” the pot.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 2:11 pm:
===“hold” the pot. ===
Ummm… No.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 2:53 pm:
Downstate, you’d have to believe that he’s a reporter and not an agitating activist for that story to be credible.
- BIG R. Ph - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 3:01 pm:
I’m sure if we throw more money at ESL things will get better.
The problem with ESL is that you have a whole population that is totally dependent on the government for its existence.
If the liquor stores are breaking the law, then shut them down. But for the Senator to blame the problems of ESL on the liquor stores is totally out of bounds!
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 12, 11 @ 9:56 pm:
–I’m sure if we throw more money at ESL things will get better.–
Ten years in at $10 billion a month, it’s working swell in Afghanistan.
I’m sure none of that borrowed money could have improved anything in the United States. But the Afghan dopers are safe — until they get whacked by other dopers.
Doesn’t matter. We’re bankrolling all of them. So it’s a sound investment.