ST. LOUIS — The next mayor of St. Louis will face the same overwhelming challenge that has haunted the current mayor and many of her predecessors: Violent crime is rampant and efforts to address it have failed.
The city known for its gleaming Gateway Arch is filled with charming neighborhoods, great restaurants, and top-rated hospitals and universities. St. Louis lists a world-class zoo, art museum, science center, symphony orchestra and botanical garden among its many gems.
But the crime is relentless. The St. Louis homicide rate has been among the nation’s worst dating to the 1990s. The city reported 262 killings last year, 68 more than in 2019. Seventeen victims were age 17 or younger.
And the crime is taking an economic toll. Block after block of once-stately homes have been left behind in the flight to the suburbs. The city had 856,000 residents in 1950. It has about 300,000 now. Major employer Centene Corp. announced in June it would add thousands of jobs in North Carolina, rather than at its St. Louis County headquarters. CEO Michael Neidorff made it clear that crime has made the company skittish about St. Louis.
The four mayoral candidates offer differing plans to contain the violence, but agree it’s the top priority.
Democrats Tishaura Jones, Lewis Reed and Cara Spencer and Republican Andrew Jones will compete in a primary Tuesday under a new nonpartisan format. The top two vote-getters will move on to the April 6 general election. Incumbent Democrat Lyda Krewson isn’t seeking a second term.
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