About a year ago St. Louis appeared in a shocking national news story. Maplewood Police Officers had run down an African-American and beat him within an inch of his life. It was disgusting. It was revolting. It was the next Rodney King.
Here's a link to the video of the arrest.
The victim, Edmon Burns, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday claiming that his civil rights were violated by the police when they attacked him.
According to the report Burns, 34, was sitting in his car at a gas station in Maplewood around 7 a.m. on January 30, 2006 when police officers approached his van, called him a racial slur and demanded that he get out of the vehicle. Burns was filled with terror and took off towards his home. His van was stopped when a police car rammed the back of it. He then took off on foot, was chased down by four police officers and beaten.
The suit says that his fear of police officers comes from a long line of police abuse towards him and his family.
I watched the video when it first came out. I've watched it probably about a hundred times since then and it is terrible. It is the definition of excessive use of force. The officers involved deserved to be punished and they were.
There were three officers from Maplewood and one from St. Louis.
The Maplewood officers, Adam McIntyre, John DeBisschop and David Arnett, each had different punishments. One resigned, one was forced to retire and the other still works for the MPD but is no longer an officer.
Ray Knight, the St. Louis officer, was suspended, disciplined and then returned to the force and has had no other complaints to this day.
Burns is filing suit against everyone remotely involved. This list includes all four officers, Maplewood Police Chief James White, St. Louis Police Chief Joe Mokwa, Maplewood Police Department, St. Louis Police Department and the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners. He wants money for damages, punitive damages and attorney's fees.
Here's where it gets interesting.
I talked to a lot of police officers about this last summer. In the last two days I've talked to a total of 9 police officers about this lawsuit from several different counties and ethnicities. I even got a chance to talk to a sergeant and a detective.
The List includes:
Maplewood
Richmond Heights
Brentwood
Clayton
St. Louis
University City
Needless to say the officers did not speak highly of Mister Burns. I also heard a few details to the story that were left out by the news.
Apparently when Burns left the gas station he hit a parked car and then floored it into reverse and hit a parked cop car at a high speed. A police officer had to dive out of the way to avoid being run over.
Legally if a police officer is being attacked with a vehicle they have the power to shoot to kill in self defense.
The unanimous decision of the cops I talked to, both black and white, was that Burns was lucky to be alive at all. Many of them felt that if Burns was shot at the gas station it would have only been a news story for about two days.
I also found out that the reason Burns waited an entire year to file suit. He was busted for a parole violation and went back to jail for a couple months.
Alright as I said before I know a lot of cops and I still don't like the profession on the whole. Some of the ones I know are just flat out insane and are the exact kind of people that would beat the shit out of you for going five over the limit.
But in this case I have to agree with them.
Burns got the shit beat out of him.
The men that did it lost their jobs or were severely punished as they deserved to be.
However Burns is in a questionable position too. He's an ex-con who tried to run over an officer and then proceeded to start a dangerous high speed car chase through morning rush hour and it was all because he was "afraid".
Yeah right.
I know this is a stretch but I've been illegally searched by police officers. I've been a victim of a sloppy police report that cost me about $800 even after it was thrown out of court.
I didn't get any money for my damages and I didn't even do anything criminal in those cases.
Bottom line opinion, Burns shouldn't get a dime.
Given our legal system he'll probably get a lot of money but he doesn't deserve it.
What do you think?
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
PR Assignment: Highway 40 Construction
Highway 40 is being closed for improvements and anyone who has ever gotten on or off the highway at Lindbergh is happy. If not that exit try Hampton.
While the highway had a lot of character it was just time. The problem arises in the fact that Highway 40 is the main route connecting St. Louis City to St. Louis County. Thousands of people travel it everyday just to get around the Metropolitan area.
I don't know the exact dates for all of the construction but they're going to do it in sections. This year they're taking out several bridges and exit ramps from Hanley to Kingshighway. In 2008 40 will be closed from Spoede to 170. In 2009 it will be closed from 170 to Kingshighway.
Most people are concerned and scared about physically getting around with these closures which is a valid thing to worry about.
However I know the side roads here in St. Louis like the back of my hand, so I'm more concerned with the economic effects of these closures on the local communities. I don't have the data or the numbers but I think it's safe to assume that most people, specifically those that dwell in West-County along Highway 40 will frequent the city less often due to the inconvenience of getting there. In 2009 it will be even worse with practically all of the communities around 40 not having a convenient way of getting to the city.
I've been brainstorming a little and here are my predictions on what may happen because of the construction:
1. Development in the city will slow down.
Most of the consumer money put into the city comes from residents of the county. With no way of getting there businesses will take a hit and developers will be less likely to invest. Those who already have invested in projects like Ballpark Village for instance are screwed.
2. Mid-County specifically Richmond Heights will take a hit.
A lack of money coming in from the West will wreak havoc on the principalities in Mid-County like Richmond Heights, Brentwood, Maplewood, University City and Clayton. Richmond Heights will take a huge hit due to the location of the Galleria at 40 and 170. Residents west of 170 will just stop coming because it will be easier to get to the West County Mall. This happens at an extremely inopportune time because Richmond Heights just revealed plans for development around the Galleria.
3. Public Transportation starts to take off.
With all the construction some in the county may just start using the Metrolink to get downtown. After all it almost runs directly along Highway 40 and from personal experience is rather convenient.
That's just some of the things that might happen. Go ahead and share your ideas on the matter.
While the highway had a lot of character it was just time. The problem arises in the fact that Highway 40 is the main route connecting St. Louis City to St. Louis County. Thousands of people travel it everyday just to get around the Metropolitan area.
I don't know the exact dates for all of the construction but they're going to do it in sections. This year they're taking out several bridges and exit ramps from Hanley to Kingshighway. In 2008 40 will be closed from Spoede to 170. In 2009 it will be closed from 170 to Kingshighway.
Most people are concerned and scared about physically getting around with these closures which is a valid thing to worry about.
However I know the side roads here in St. Louis like the back of my hand, so I'm more concerned with the economic effects of these closures on the local communities. I don't have the data or the numbers but I think it's safe to assume that most people, specifically those that dwell in West-County along Highway 40 will frequent the city less often due to the inconvenience of getting there. In 2009 it will be even worse with practically all of the communities around 40 not having a convenient way of getting to the city.
I've been brainstorming a little and here are my predictions on what may happen because of the construction:
1. Development in the city will slow down.
Most of the consumer money put into the city comes from residents of the county. With no way of getting there businesses will take a hit and developers will be less likely to invest. Those who already have invested in projects like Ballpark Village for instance are screwed.
2. Mid-County specifically Richmond Heights will take a hit.
A lack of money coming in from the West will wreak havoc on the principalities in Mid-County like Richmond Heights, Brentwood, Maplewood, University City and Clayton. Richmond Heights will take a huge hit due to the location of the Galleria at 40 and 170. Residents west of 170 will just stop coming because it will be easier to get to the West County Mall. This happens at an extremely inopportune time because Richmond Heights just revealed plans for development around the Galleria.
3. Public Transportation starts to take off.
With all the construction some in the county may just start using the Metrolink to get downtown. After all it almost runs directly along Highway 40 and from personal experience is rather convenient.
That's just some of the things that might happen. Go ahead and share your ideas on the matter.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
What Happened?
According to the 1900 census St. Louis was the 4th largest city in the United States. It was in fact such a highly considered place that the 1904 World's Fair and Olympics were held there.
Just a little over a hundred years later St. Louis isn't even in the top 50 most populated cities in the country, it's the "most dangerous" and we still talk about that god damn World's Fair as if we had something to do with it.
Apparently something happened to get the city where it is today. Probably a lot of things happened.
I'm currently writing an article and doing some interviews about what caused the downfall of St. Louis.
I know no one is reading this yet but if anyone stumbles on this blog feel free to comment.
I'm eager to hear what you think did the city in.
Monday, January 22, 2007
PR Assignment: St. Louis in the International Media
On January 8, 2007 Ben Ownby, 13, was abducted after getting off his school bus in Franklin County. Four days later he was found in the apartment of Michael Devlin, 41, in Kirkwood, St. Louis County. Shawn Hornbeck, a boy who had gone missing in 2002, was found in the same apartment.
This is a rather simplified version of the story but it will due for the topic at hand.
The question I'm addressing is "How was St. Louis portrayed in the Media's coverage of this case?".
Given the nature of the event this immediately became an international story. Suddenly there were crews from the BBC, FOX and CNN in St. Louis and the entire city was in the spotlight.
How did we hold up?
I have a friend from New York whose image of St. Louis includes silos, pickup trucks, cows and cups to spit dip in. Now there's something to be said for that lifestyle but I don't feel it accurately reflects the city in which I live.
So needless to say I was a little upset at the initial reports. Mitchell Hults, the boy in Ownby's class that had identified Devlin's truck, was interviewed while wearing all camouflage and a hat with a Confederate Flag on it. He even added a passionate "Git R Done" at the end. I also noticed that he was two years older than his classmate. This was because he failed two grades.
The parents weren't much better.
I don't want to sound pretensious but let's face it, Franklin and Washington County aren't St. Louis and they don't reflect "well" on the city. I was afraid that the entire world would view St. Louis as the "Git R Done" city. I still don't even know what that means.
However as I continue to read articles by CNN, BBC, FOX and MSNBC I've found I have nothing to be ashamed of. The networks are all focusing on how miraculous the situation is. In fact I've found no undertones in the reports that could be considered negative.
In the end the case was so amazing and bizarre that the news media tried to paint St. Louis, specifically Kirkwood, as an everyday place. Devlin was just an everyday person who worked at a pizza shop. In creating this picture of the location the media made the story more interesting and sinister as if could have happened anywhere to anyone.
So overall I feel that St. Louis was portrayed in a neutral light.
But talk about "cruel world" syndrome...
This is a rather simplified version of the story but it will due for the topic at hand.
The question I'm addressing is "How was St. Louis portrayed in the Media's coverage of this case?".
Given the nature of the event this immediately became an international story. Suddenly there were crews from the BBC, FOX and CNN in St. Louis and the entire city was in the spotlight.
How did we hold up?
I have a friend from New York whose image of St. Louis includes silos, pickup trucks, cows and cups to spit dip in. Now there's something to be said for that lifestyle but I don't feel it accurately reflects the city in which I live.
So needless to say I was a little upset at the initial reports. Mitchell Hults, the boy in Ownby's class that had identified Devlin's truck, was interviewed while wearing all camouflage and a hat with a Confederate Flag on it. He even added a passionate "Git R Done" at the end. I also noticed that he was two years older than his classmate. This was because he failed two grades.
The parents weren't much better.
I don't want to sound pretensious but let's face it, Franklin and Washington County aren't St. Louis and they don't reflect "well" on the city. I was afraid that the entire world would view St. Louis as the "Git R Done" city. I still don't even know what that means.
However as I continue to read articles by CNN, BBC, FOX and MSNBC I've found I have nothing to be ashamed of. The networks are all focusing on how miraculous the situation is. In fact I've found no undertones in the reports that could be considered negative.
In the end the case was so amazing and bizarre that the news media tried to paint St. Louis, specifically Kirkwood, as an everyday place. Devlin was just an everyday person who worked at a pizza shop. In creating this picture of the location the media made the story more interesting and sinister as if could have happened anywhere to anyone.
So overall I feel that St. Louis was portrayed in a neutral light.
But talk about "cruel world" syndrome...
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Let's Get Things Started...
All things have to start somewhere.
This blog starts at 2:00 a.m. on a Thursday morning in a college dorm room somewhere in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri.
I'm currently taking a class called "Writing for Public Relations" and one of the assignments for the class is to create a blog and occasionally update it. I've always wanted to start a blog but have lacked the motivation until now. So here it is. My grand experiment. Hopefully it will go well.
The Why, When and Where are covered so let's get to the Who. My name is Marty and I'm a 19 year old college student. I'm double majoring in Public Relations and Marketing at a small liberal arts university in St. Louis, Missouri. I like music, the outdoors and professional baseball. I'm a talented orator. I'm arrogant. That will do for now, I'll write more on myself later.
Now on to the What. Asides from the writing which I will be doing for the PR class this blog will try to express what living in the City of St. Louis is like for me.
I've lived in St. Louis my entire life. The city has a character and atmosphere that can't be found anywhere else in the world. There's a sublte beauty to the seedy diners, dive bars, decrepit buildings and that big muddy river. I love it all but at the same time I hate it. I've seen fear and neglect destroy the city. It hurts me more than anything ever has.
But I think we're at a pivotal point. People are ready to give the city another chance and this excites me more than anything has in the past. At the same time I fear we'll let this moment slip by and continue to wallow in the mediocrity that is.
This blog is about my thoughts on the this pivotal point in time and how it affects me.
This blog starts at 2:00 a.m. on a Thursday morning in a college dorm room somewhere in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri.
I'm currently taking a class called "Writing for Public Relations" and one of the assignments for the class is to create a blog and occasionally update it. I've always wanted to start a blog but have lacked the motivation until now. So here it is. My grand experiment. Hopefully it will go well.
The Why, When and Where are covered so let's get to the Who. My name is Marty and I'm a 19 year old college student. I'm double majoring in Public Relations and Marketing at a small liberal arts university in St. Louis, Missouri. I like music, the outdoors and professional baseball. I'm a talented orator. I'm arrogant. That will do for now, I'll write more on myself later.
Now on to the What. Asides from the writing which I will be doing for the PR class this blog will try to express what living in the City of St. Louis is like for me.
I've lived in St. Louis my entire life. The city has a character and atmosphere that can't be found anywhere else in the world. There's a sublte beauty to the seedy diners, dive bars, decrepit buildings and that big muddy river. I love it all but at the same time I hate it. I've seen fear and neglect destroy the city. It hurts me more than anything ever has.
But I think we're at a pivotal point. People are ready to give the city another chance and this excites me more than anything has in the past. At the same time I fear we'll let this moment slip by and continue to wallow in the mediocrity that is.
This blog is about my thoughts on the this pivotal point in time and how it affects me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
