Bosley’s Brick Bill Passes
On Friday the Board of Aldermen passed a bill that seeks to make it harder for brick thieves in the city.
Calling St. Louis the “Used Brick Capital of the World”, Alderman Freeman Bosley, Sr., the bill’s sponsor, said that “brick rustlers” are more than a nuisance, but also a danger to themselves and others. He told the story of man, apparently a “brick rustler”, who was recently discovered by a group of children pinned under a pile of bricks that was once one of the strong red structures St. Louis is known for.
Bosley said new homes being built across the country are often built with bricks from St. Louis. The used bricks, which Bosley said sell for as much as 50 cents each, are taken — legally and illegally — from the deteriorating housing stock in the city. These old houses are often replaced with new homes covered in vinyl siding and far inferior in quality, said the alderman.
“These new houses you can kick your foot through the walls until they put on that brick veneer,” said Bosley. “But if you kick one of these old brick homes, you better call an ambulance first.”
Board Bill 311 requires every person engaged in the sale or purchase of bricks to have a valid city business license and a permit issued by the Director of Public Safety that is not more than 90 days old.
About This Author: Antonio D. French is a writer, political consultant, and newly-elected Democratic Committeeman living in north St. Louis, Missouri. Have your own opinion about this story? Go ahead and leave a comment. But be respectful to others and show you own a pair by actually using your real name. Anonymity is cowardice. And don't forget to subscribe to our feed and get PubDef stories delivered right to your feed reader or email inbox.
Comments
Hey, call an ambulance becaus I am about to kick my house! Seriously, this is good but it is just the first rung on a long ladder.
I have been seeing this for several years driving through North St. Louis. I am glad to see that someone has taken action. I video taped a meeting regarding redevelopment around North Grand several years back and the planners emphasized that they would preserve the character of the neighborhoods. I was sad to see that this was not happening and thought someone is making a lot of money selling brick. I had no idea what to do. I am glad that city government has taken a hand in preserving the neighborhoods. I am not an expert, but it probably takes more money to rehab than build new. The next step would be to help homeowners repair and strengthen their brick homes.
Let me get this straight, Bosley wants illegal “rustlers” to register as “legitmate” thereby they can be regulated? I don’t really understand. This is not addressing the root problem that being our deteroriting housing stock. How about we attack the landlords, whether small like Joe Blow from Creve Coeur or large like Paul McKee and Blairmont. Lets not forget our inept LRA.
Bosley says these vinyl siding homes are quite inferior. Why is he allowing his tough brick stock in the 3rd Ward to deteriorate, or be demolished, for such inferior new construction like Gano Place and Bosley Heights? He admits the older homes are superior, yet is not passing legislation to preserve them and he is actively promoting newer inferior housing!
Perhaps if Bosley took steps to promote our historical housing, they wouldn’t be falling down on children. They would be occupied by tax paying residents.