The things that happen in broad daylight at the riverfront of Laclede’s Landing are things you read about in some dystopian novel. People who work in the businesses of this beautiful part of St. Louis are not supposed to see open-air drug use, prostitution, and violence on their lunch breaks. It’s not supposed to be this way, except it is. This scenery seems to be associated with the homeless encampments of Laclede’s Landing that don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. The encampments have been removed in the past but always come right back. And each time things seem to get worse.
Businesses complain to the city, but very little gets done. Mayor Tishaura Jones has her own problems with encampments popping up on the front lawn of her office. “Not a good look for St. Louis,” said Jones after she had the encampment removed. Encampments are not a good look near a national monument either. Some business owners have gone so far as to start paying for clean-up services and security out of their own pocket. But how long will that last before it becomes too much of a cost or liability?
