Posted by 3Dee on December 30, 2018, 2:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Can you hear it?"
I think it's sad too that Granite City falls within Madiganistan.
But let's go directly across the McKinley or Chain of Rocks bridge... That entire corridor of Highway 3 could be filled with all sorts of things to get people to flock over from St. Louis. We know how Brooklyn, Sauget, and Washington Park sought to 'entertain' guests from the West Side of the river.
Being so close to the Central City (St. Louis) should be a good thing....close to the amenities and all the city has to offer and connected to some kind of transportation network should be another asset. MCT isn't shabby, with some Metro Buses, though no rapid transit via MetroLink.
The problem is, the Central City itself is a ghost town and has nothing going for it. It would be nice to think a Wal Mart, Target, Sams and Costco at the foot of the bridges with cars from Missouri streaming over....and the Port District a hub of industrial and retail activity.
It's not just Madiganistan. It's also urban sprawl -- and St. Louis is one of the most segregated areas there are. If there was movement INWARD toward the Central City, Granite City's prospects just skyrocketed....
But it's more than just blaming every problem of the world...and every chip on the shoulder and stick in the behind of the Democrats.
Their machine hasn't been great....but even if Granite's electoral ranks were rushed with Trump minded people....it still wouldn't do any good.
Granite City only prospers when St. Louis prospers...gets too expensive and people look for alternatives.
It's what brought the Niedringhaus Brothers across the river, and until that day comes....there is little that is attractive about Granite City except that ----
1. It is home for those who are based there and love to call it home....still a few Granite Proud people out there....good for them.
2. Cost of living is reasonable and just about every local offering is cheap.
3. Vin-Hoa is located theere. (you're welcome)
4. And that's about it...unless people who work at the mill don't want to commute...still plenty of nice places to live.
If your premise were correct - that it's Madigan's fault that Granite City isn't doing well (after Trump came by to say he made it great...) then why is the city of Madigan prospering?
It is Chicago where there are still cranes in the skyline and new buildings rising each year? Everyone likes to talk about murder rates as Chicago is a favorite scapegoat for the conservative-biased mainstream media.
However, there is a reason that it's difficult or nearly impossible to find a place to rent for under a thousand a month within a 5 mile radius of the Loop. Employers are flocking there and there is action and excitement.
If Madigan were the problem.... Trump certainly didn't think so when he built Chicago's ugliest building...the Trump tower, which is the fourth tallest eyesore, err, skyscraper in the city.
Mark Levin (pissed off Kermit the Frog) and Sean Insanity want to portray that it's a war zone and it's not a perfect city.....but things are happening there, people are moving in from the suburbs and want to live in the heart of the city again...
And until the same thing happens to St. Louis (which happens to be OUTSIDE Madiganistan) --- Granite City has no prospects for any real or meaningful growth.
Until land is again coveted--- GC is in the rust belt to stay.
That doesn't mean that there isn't hope for some moderate success stories - but the idea that it's going to take off - no matter who runs it - is as far fetched as to think that the area between the McKinley and Chain of Rocks Bridge will be gentrified in the next 5 years and people are moving back in from Ballwin and Chesterfield to stay in North City.
Ergo... your scapegoating Madigan on this issue just doesn't hold water.
on December 30, 2018, 2:35 pm, in reply to "