Where We Stand and How We See It:

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Where We Stand and How We See It

• Shared Values, Differing Outcomes
• in the St. Louis Region
• October 2005
• East-West Gateway Council of Governments

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The Metro Area Where We Stand

• 4th edition in 2002
• Compared St. Louis to 34 other metros
• 12-County MSA
• Peers larger than one million, similar economic
  functions
• More than 100 indicators

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Key Themes

• Slow growth in population and jobs
• Losing ground with peer metros
• Racial / economic disparities run through many
  issues

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Among metros African-Americans...

• infant mortality, three times
• unemployment, three times
• C median household income, two-thirds
• C high school grad rates similar, college degrees
  half
• C percentage in unaffordable housing, twice
• C homeownership rate, 30 points less
• ... that of whites.

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We said disparities such as these hold the
entire region back. We heard unless
something affects you directly, it doesnt really
register.
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The Core Community How We See It

• Survey by mail and telephone, June 2005
• Neighborhood, community, regional issues
• 20 questions, 1385 responses from eight counties
• 729 responses from City of St. Louis St. Louis,
  Madison, St. Clair counties
• Good response from African Americans and whites
  allows comparison

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Demographic Comparisons
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Principal Findings
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1. We all want the same things in our
communities.

• Extremely important quality of public schools,
  access to medical care, lack of crime, affordable
  housing
• In the future? Add property taxes.
• Living close to extended family extremely
  important for 36 African Americans and 26
  whites
• Belonging to a faith-based community extremely
  important to 57 African Americans and 33 whites.

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But are our communities excellent or good ...

• Places to live? 85 whites, 58 African
  Americans
• Places to raise children? 73 whites, 47
  African Americans
• Places to work? 57 whites, 36 African
  Americans
• Places to retire? 58 whites, 48 African
  Americans

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3. Economic issues loom largest among African
Americans.

• 64 said unemployment a major neighborhood
  problem, compared to17 whites
• C 53 disagreed that I have adequate income for
  needs, compared to 21 whites
• C 69 disagreed that I am able to save for the
  future, compared to 33 whites

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4. Illegal drugs top the list, overall.

• 41 all core respondents rated major issue
• C 28 whites
• C 62 African Americans
• An unhappy bond with Jefferson, Franklin counties
• Alcohol and drug abuse follows (31 all, 18
  whites, 54 African Americans)

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5. African-Americans more likely to register
strong sentiments.

• More than 50 gave three issues a major problem
  rating (unemployment, illegal drugs,
  alcohol/drugs)
• C There was no issue that even one-third of
  whites considered major
• C 50 or more of whites said four neighborhood
  issues are not a problem (homelessness, youth
  gangs, domestic violence, racial prejudice)
• C There was no issue that more than half of
  African Americans considered not a problem

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6. The top priorities for our families and
ourselves are the same.

• 1 Health insurance is extremely important (76
  whites, 84 African Americans)
• 2 Retirement / pension plan (64 whites, 77
  African Americans)
• 3 Having minimal debt (58 whites, 67 African
  Americans)

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7. Difficulty accessing services varies by race.

• Affordable housing (35 African Americans, 10
  whites)
• C Healthcare (24 African Americans, 11 whites)
• C Legal services (27 African Americans, 8
  whites)
• C Services for disabled (21 African Americans,
  14 whites)

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8. If we held a shareholders meeting about
overall value recd for taxes, fees...

• Those satisfied / very satisfied include 29
  total core sample, 34 whites, 24 African
  Americans
• Those dissatisfied / very dissatisfied include
  40 total core sample, 33 whites, 50 African
  Americans

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Next on the shareholders agenda, quality of
public services ...

• Those satisfied / very satisfied are 46 total,
  51 whites, 35 African Americans
• Those dissatisfied, very dissatisfied are 17
  total, 12 whites, 27 African Americans
• Munis where relative local expenditures
  decreased 1992 - 2002 had greater s of African
  Americans.
• (US Census of Local Govt Finance)

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9. Thinking regionally, we are satisfied with....

• Overall image of the area
• (45 whites, 43 African Americans)
• Overall quality of life
• (54 whites, 39 African Americans)
• Availability of quality jobs
• (29 whites, 17 African Americans)
• Overall feeling of safety
• (37 whites, 29 African Americans)

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How do YOU see it?