Nothing's going to be great with you know who in the Oval office....
But after reading a post about gaming or something like that ---- I got another Deeistic Soapbox. Again - I can only be a visitor now.....but I am Granite proud and will never look down on it, and catch myself changing the 'we' to you... I still sometimes feel part of the 'we'.....but I correct myself when I catch myself doing it.
So here goes.......
I am staunchly against some of the things that keeps the Sauget family/community coffers full.
But remember, it's not necessarily that one industry that keeps the town going. It's the fact that they say yes to just about everything everyone else says no to....and for them, it works.
I think Granite City picked the right leader for its top post, one who has worked relentlessly for new possibilities.
I am not sure even the challenger would have been a lot different.
I am guilty of doing it -- because I am bitter about what has been built with Granite money... but people need to stop thinking that GC is ever going to be that suburb.
Like the mayor once said....we have a mill, they have a university.
I am glad he gets it.
Granite City can't work to be something it's not.
Even if everyone in town suddenly took pride in their community and got up off their lazy asses and took care of what they had (many do, I know, but I agree that too many don't) -- and if landlords cared for their rental properties (and many do, I know-- but too many don't) it still wouldn't change things radically enough. It wouldn't change the fact that some people would have still moved on.
With this inferiority complex comparing GC to other towns --- people then accuse each other of being 'trash' and 'crap'. (It's kind of the mentality of Better GC {Better Glen Carbon} and topix posters) God doesn't make trash and but for the grace of God - the people we look down on could be us...and it could even be worse than that....as the poorest person in Granite City is still by far richer than 75% of the globe.
Granite City is going to attract people looking for the best deal in property, and if some lift themselves to new heights, they are going to want better for themselves and their family.
Because GC cannot be its neighbors --- because it is industrial ---
It has to re-think who it is and what it can be -- and it can be great.
If GC doesn't look at itself in a different way - it will fail while trying to be something it cannot be and the blight will consume it south to north and west to east.
It can be a place that says yes to industry. It can be a place that still preserves a historic district and a retail district.
It can be a place that capitalizes on its generally five-figure house prizes and market itself as a place where people get a good start.
I argue that GC has some of the nicest homes still in the five figures. Move it to Missouri and those homes would be $150,000 --- move them to Chicago and in some parts would be more than a quarter million.
With the emphasis on getting a start should be the encouragement of small businesses - and placed throughout neighborhoods. Little stores, and small services throughout. Why not a restaurant in West Granite or even a place to have coffee on a corner of two moderately traveled streets?
Why does Granite need more chain retail that's not invested in the community?
Also -- while retail offerings make it attractive for home ownership --- it's not unreasonable to go elsewhere for premium and custom type merchandise. Granite City has the basics and it's still very liveable... Maybe some more will come if other things are straightened out. But how much better to have more local ventures invested in the community!
That's why making industry come to town is a priority. They pay higher property taxes and move more volume - and they offer higher paying jobs than retail as well. If there never is a steak n shake, then let there be another plant or warehouse. Those create jobs - and people can live close to those jobs.
So stop hanging your heads and being ashamed of the 'Trash' because you can't be Chesterfield, Edwardsville, or Collinsville.
Be proud that you are gritty, ready to work --- and that you stand for the opportunity that is available in this country for those willing to work for it.
Granite City is one of the BEST places for up and comers to access the American Dream at the entry level. Some can stay there and be rather comfortable on the North/East side of town --- and some may move on to 'better' -- but quit being ashamed of it.
So --- 1. Industry (number 1) 2. Starter homes 3. Neighborhoods 4. Small Businesses
You're welcome for the free community development plan...now get your asses to work making Granite City Great again!! (And keep Trump away..)
(And yes, I'll still get into the mentality that I'm soapboxing against.......because I do not like it when I visit my hometown and others from nearby communities act like they're smelling $#!+ when they go back to the community that gave them so much. I hate that as much as the next person...but that type of thinking will never help Granite City...or its surrounding environs.)
on April 12, 2017, 6:58 pm