Arch City Chronicle endorsement
In the March issue Editor Dave Drebes made the following remarks in his endorsement of my candidacy for alderman:
"...it is Christian Saller's experience - at the St. Louis Development Corporation, in the commercial development committee of the Tower Grove East neighborhood, and in grass-roots opposition to demolition of historic structures from single homes to landmark buildings like the South Side National Bank - which makes him the most qualified candidate. By vowing to work full-time, the residents of the ward would benefit greatly from his experience and expertise."
The above quotation neatly contains much of what I have attempted to convey throughout the campaign. In terms of "day to day operations" of the ward, I have the most germane and valuable experience. My ten-year employment at St. Louis Development Corporation was virtually a ringside seat for viewing how development occurs, how it should occur and how it can, if there is not careful oversight, fall short of all expectations. Working closely with all the aldermen, numerous city departments and agencies, aldermanic committees and public boards has given me fluency with the details of securing the highest quality economic development for the citizens of the 6th Ward and the City of St. Louis at large. As Mr. Drebes mentioned, I have been active in the cause of historic preservation and would make this issue a priority as alderman. As a private citizen, I have also been involved in addressing problem properties, not only in my own neighborhood but in other parts of the city as well. The problem blocks and individual problem properties in the 6th Ward are located in neighborhoods that are steadily improving and that have organized residents directly involved in helping secure that improvement. The City offers ample resources to counter the negative impact of slumlords and their properties. What is needed is an elected official who will personally and aggressively lead the way in addressing unacceptable nuisance activity and crime that stem from poorly managed buildings. If I am elected alderman, I will personally communicate with the owner of every single drug house, nuisance property, overcrowded apartment building and abandoned board-up in the ward. I will confer daily with residents and neighborhood leaders on locations of all such properties and will personally track their process through the courts. I view the elimination of problem properties throughout the ward as as much of a priority as economic development and job creation within the neighborhoods. These are in fact all closely related. Economic development and job creation help to stabilize residential communities. That stabilization will occur quickly and thoroughly if slumlords are made to feel unwelcome in the 6th ward. That is an important goal. I pledge to bring full-time urgency to personally addressing property owners who do not respect our communities. They are the ones with the most immediate means of improving their properties and they are the ones with the immediate responsibility for the negative impact created by their negligence. It is also in their interest, financial and otherwise, to have well maintained and managed properties that do not impair progress in our neighborhoods.
[Posted under Campaign Diary by Christian Saller on Fri., Mar 2, 2007 at 10:39 AM]