Carter to Cops: Address the Northside

In the wake of the city’s recent tagging as the “most dangerous” in the country, and numerous attempts by City and police officials to downplay crime in the city as affecting only “some neighborhoods,” one alderman is telling police brass that they aren’t doing enough to keep those neighborhoods safe.

In a letter sent last week to a St. Louis City police captain and copied to Chief Joe Mokwa, 27th Ward Alderman Greg Carter recounts a Nov. 11 incident that occured at a northside gas station. Carter said while purchasing gas at the Shell station on Goodfellow and Highway 70, a man approached him and attempted to sell him drugs.

“Here I am, the alderman for the community and I can only imagine how other individuals are approached when they visit our community and our city,” wrote Carter.

The alderman said this kind of problem has been going on for too long. He said he has been in contact with police and city officials as well as the corporate owners of the gas station, but nothing has changed.

“I am becoming very frustrated and I am sure that if this was in any one of your neighborhoods, it would have ended a long time ago,” wrote Carter.

“I guess this is no longer a myth there is no aggressive approach regarding the drug selling in the communities that are predominantly African-American.”

Carter sent copies of the letter, dated Nov. 14, 2006, to Police Chief Joe Mokwa, Mayor Francis Slay, State Senator Pat Dougherty, State Senator-elect Jeff Smith, State Rep. Connie Johnson, Missouri Attorney Gen. Jay Nixon, and the Council of Black Elected Officials.

Click here to download Carter’s letter.

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