[ Update ]
Over 70 people packed the city council chambers on April 8, 1998 to voice their concerns about the St. Louis Auto Shredders request for annexation into the city of East St. Louis. Long-time Goose Hill residents explained how the Auto Shredder has negatively impacted their neighborhood. Many homeowners have suffered structural damage to their homes from the explosions caused by the Shredder whenever it leaves gasoline in the cars it crushes.
Residents are also concerned about the environmental pollutants that the Shredder may be emitting into the air and water. These concerns were heightened when citizens were made aware that the Auto Shredder was considering expanding its landfill into a large municipal landfill. The Auto Shredder could not provide confirmation during the hearing that they were going to expand its landfill, however the annexation agreement does leave them the option to do so. The annexation agreement also gives the Auto Shredder the power to de-annex at any time if they cannot come to an agreement with the city on certain issues.
A second hearing was scheduled before the city council officially voted on the annexation agreement so that all residents of Goose Hill could be informed about the proposed annexation. A second hearing was held at a church in Goose Hill. At that meeting, the council voted in favor of the annexation agreement.
Unfortunately, that is not where the story ends. The Southwestern Illinois Development Authority is also involved in this case because they are attempting to use their powers of eminent domain to quick take the Auto Shredder property and give it to Gateway International Raceway who will use the land as a parking lot. Under quick take, SWIDA can take the land for an immediate public benefit. A court can decide at a later date what is reasonable and fair compensation for the property owner.
SWIDA and the Auto Shredder went to court in late April to decide if SWIDA can exercise such powers. The court ruled that SWIDA could use the power of eminent domain to take the land and give it to the racetrack to use for a parking lot.
By: Joe Lewis
Crusader Printing Company
On Tuesday, April 14th, businesspersons became aware that the City of East St. Louis had issued a renovation permit for transient motel the former Southern Illinois Bank building at 10th and Martin Luther King Drive.
We oppose the motel for several reasons:
All of these outcomes will lead to the overall reduction of the midtown business district tax base (not an increase as some might argue).
There is another reason for opposing the establishment of a transient motel. The city of East St. Louis has adopted a three-year financial plan. According to that plan, adopted on January 24, 1998, the city’s economic development policy should be to:
A TRANSIENT MOTEL DOES NOT FURTHER THESE GOALS. IN FACT, A TRANSIENT MOTEL WOULD DIRECTLY CONTRADICT THE GOALS OF THE THREE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN.
We can make our opposition to the motel known to our elected officials. Citizen and business petitions will be circulated and presented to the city council at the East St. Louis City Council Meeting on Wednesday, April 29th at 7 p.m.
Citizen petitions can be signed at the following locations:
Kim’s Kids
1001 Gaty Ave.
East St. Louis, IL
The Crusader Printing
10th and State Streets
East St. Louis, IL
Office of State Rep. Wyvetter H. Younge
1010 Martin Luther King Drive
East St. Louis, IL
Business petitions can be signed only at the Crusader Printing (address listed above).
The East St. Louis Planning Commission made a formal presentation to the East St. Louis City Council on Wednesday April 22, 1998. The Planning Commission has spent the last six months training and learning about their roles and responsibilities as a commission. Dr. Richard Bonner, the chair, informed the Council of the Planning Commission’s progress and offered suggestions for the future activities of the Commission.
In his presentation, Dr. Bonner stressed the importance of the Commission acting in an "advise and consent role" to the Council on matters of zoning, requests for variances, re-platting of subdivisions and the creation of a comprehensive plan. The Planning Commission also requested that the Council consider hiring a full-time planning staff and a consultant to work with the Commission to complete the comprehensive plan.
The City Council responded favorably to Dr. Bonner’s presentation and expressed their gratitude for the commission’s dedication and hard work.
The members of the East St. Louis Planning Commission are:
Dr. Richard Bonner-Chair, Annette Coleman, Rocco Goins, Clarence Ellis, F.G. McGraw, Stanford Scott, Lawrence Thurston, and Leonard Long.
The East St. Louis Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month in the East St. Louis City Council chambers at 6:00 p.m.. For more information, please contact Stevie Cox at 482-6635.
Over 100 people joined together on Friday April 24th and Saturday April 25th to participate in four neighborhood improvement projects. The Fairlawn neighborhood organization sponsored a clean up of two vacant lots at 29th and Summit across from the McHenry elementary school. New Spirit Neighborhood Organizing Office mobilized volunteers to participate in Operation Bag It. The Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities utilized volunteers to help prepare the Dunham Museum grounds for a major renovation. Finally, the Winstanley Industry/Park Neighborhood Organization prepared the market for its grand opening at the end of May. Volunteers painted and set up the vendor stands and cleaned up the site.
On May 13, 1998 students and faculty from the departments of urban and regional planning, architecture and landscape architecture will host a day long presentation on projects completed by those involved in the East St. Louis Action Research Project. Presentations will start at 11:30 p.m. and will end at 4:30 p.m.. Those interested in visiting the campus and participating in these presentations should contact the NTAC. Lunch, a tour of the campus and transportation will be provided for all participants.
Since 1973, the Midwest Academy has attracted more than 23,000 grass roots activists from environmental organizations, trade unions, student advocacy groups, housing and tenant associations, church organizations, senior citizen networks, civil rights organizations and local citizen action coalitions.
The Academy teaches an organizing philosophy, methods and the skills needed to challenge the power of the special interests and defend the rights of ordinary people.
The program is based on three principles:
The Midwest Academy offers a basic five day session at locations around the country. Enrollment is limited to approximately twenty-five students with two or three instructors. Settings are residential and affordable. Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and organizations.
The training will cover the following topics: understanding power relations, criteria for choosing issues, developing strategies, building coalitions, holding public officials accountable, working with the media, and leadership development.
The 1998 schedule is as follows:
June 15-19, 1998 - California
October 5-9, 1998 - Chicago
November 16-20, 1998 - Connecticut
Tuition costs $450. Accommodations and meals $200. Group discounts and limited scholarships available. A $50 non-refundable deposit will be applied to tuition. Participants are strongly encouraged to stay on site. If you are interested in registering for the training, stop by the NTAC and pick up a registration form or call the Midwest Academy at 312-645-6010.
Under the theme of Building Learning Communities, MCDI features 38 one- to four-day interactive courses that teach skills and examine issues related to creating, developing, and maintaining the capacity of individuals, organizations, and communities.
MCDI offers training and networking to organizations and individuals engaged in community development, neighborhood revitalization, social services delivery, and social justice.
Courses are grouped in the following categories:
Limited financial assistance to help defray MCDI fees is available to organizations meeting specific criteria. Also available are work exchange contracts for individuals interested in exchanging volunteer time for the cost of courses.
For more information or an MCDI brochure and registration form write to MCDI, Lincoln Filene Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, or call (617) 627-2029, or send an e-mail message to sschnapp@tufts.edu
In the tradition of supporting the East St. Louis community, the Casino Queen Foundation has created a new mini-grant program. Up to $1,000 grants will be awarded to qualifying non-profit organizations for use within East St. Louis.
Cheryl Childress and Tom Monaghan serve as co-directors of the managing executive board of the Casino Queen Foundation and Bob Barrows serves as treasurer. A panel of community leaders serves as an advisory board and assist in reviewing applications for mini-grants.
To apply for a Casino Queen Foundation mini-grant, the non-profit organization must submit an application package including a tax exempt status letter and a board of director’s roster.
A maximum of $1,000 will be awarded in a fiscal year and non-profit organizations can reapply for funds if the organization request is not approved. Applications from the East St. Louis region will be given preference, while secondary funds will be allocated to the Metropolitan St. Louis region and Illinois based non-profit organizations.
To request application materials and guidelines, please contact Cheryl Childress at 874-5000.
May 8, 1998 Deadline
The East St. Louis Metropolitan Area Urban Resource Partnership announces the call for proposal for the 1998 Urban Resource Partnership grant/technical assistance program. The Partnership has received funds from the United States Department of Agriculture for projects that will help improve, restore, maintain, preserve and protect urban natural resources. This grant program will address urban natural resource and environmental issues in East St. Louis and metropolitan area communities of Metropolitan Community College District 541 which include: Alorton, Brooklyn, Centerville, East St. Louis, Fairmont City and Washington Park.
Applicants must be from units of state or local government and 501(c)3 pubic or private non profit organizations. Projects must focus on natural resource enhancement. Projects submitted for funding will be evaluated based on the following considerations: urban natural resource emphasis, youth involvement, type and source of non-federal match, community involvement, and the degree of empowerment of citizens to manage and protect natural resources. Projects must be implemented and completed within one year. Projects must also demonstrate partnership building, cooperation and collaboration amongst organizations.
A pre-proposal is due by May 8, 1998 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants will be mailed a response to their pre-proposals, those who meet all of the qualifications will be asked to submit a final proposal. Final proposals are due by July 10, 1998. On August 7, 1998 the final selection of grant award recipients will be announced. To request an application, please contact:
Don Johnson, URP Coordinator
Metropolitan Community College,
Room 1030C
601 James Thompson Blvd.
East St. Louis, IL 62201
618-271-9540
FAX 618-271-9737
The Emerson Park Development Corporation is working on its 1998 Comprehensive Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. EPDC is also looking for volunteers to help build four new homes this July in the neighborhood as part of the Faith Based Housing Program. If you are interested in volunteering your skills and time, please contact Vicki Forby at 874-0777.The Emerson Park Development Corporation meets on the third Thursday of every month at the Lessie Bates Neighborhood House at 1200 N. 13th Street at 6:00 p.m. For more information, please call 874-0777.
The Internal Revenue Service recently designated the Olivette Park Neighborhood Association as a 501(c) 3 tax exempt organization. This designation will allow OPNA to solicit and obtain funding to support its charitable purpose and non-profit activities. The Olivette Park Neighborhood Association meets on the second Tuesday of every month at the Salvation Army, 616 N. 16th Street at 7:00 p.m. For more information, please call 874-4496.
The Edgemont Neighborhood Association held its first annual Homeownership Seminar at St. Philips. Over 200 people attended the event that was sponsored by the Edgemont Neighborhood Association, the East St. Louis Action Research Project, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Weed and Seed program. Local banks, housing developers, municipal agencies and businesses participated in the day long event. The Edgemont Neighborhood Association meets the third Monday of every month at Aldersgate Community United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. For more information please call 397-8494.
Alta Sita Neighbors Inc. has been busy working on a campaign to recruit additional members through a committed core of block captains. The block captains have been busy going door to door talking with their neighbors to find out what their concerns are and helping people find solutions to common problems. The block captains have been successful in getting many people to join the organization. Alta Sita Neighbors. Inc. meets on the second Tuesday of every month at St. Regis Catholic Church, 3500 Market Street, at 6:00 p.m.
The East St. Louis Community Action Network is seeking youth ages 16-21 for a summer youth employment program. ESL CAN will be hiring 20 youth to help lead a clean up effort in the Olivette Park and Edgemont neighborhoods. The program will also teach youth about graffiti removal and allow for participants to learn from a trained graphic artist about alternatives to graffiti like mural painting.
If you are interested, please contact James Jones at 271-9605 for an application. The East St. Louis Community Action Network meets the third Saturday of every month at the East St. Louis Public Library at 10:00 a.m.
New Spirit Neighborhood Organizing Office Neighborhood Revitalization Campaign which involves 10 neighborhoods in East St. Louis was launched on February 5, 1998 at a Breakfast meeting of all of the city’s community leaders. This campaign is focused on providing neighborhood youth with an employment and professional skill building opportunities while also cleaning up and beautifying their neighborhoods. This project is funded by the East St. Louis Community Fund, and Community Development Block Grant Operations Corp. Anyone interested in volunteering as a supervisor for the program is encouraged to contact Toya Nash at 874-0312.
