To the editor:

As a Crestwood resident for nearly three years, I missed the salad days of the Crestwood mall.

I saw it begin its slow decline with the closure of Dillard’s. The current discussion on Prop S talks of the “unknowns” are due to the mystery surrounding the future development of the now Crestwood Court property. That ship has yet to pass, and we have to quit waiting for the owners and move on.

I don’t think they are currently dealing with the citizens on a level playing field and in an open manner. Crestwood, as a business region, has retracted while Fenton and Sunset Hills have grown. Why is that?

Obviously, there are issues that need to be dealt with today, not when the owners of Crestwood Court decide or pull back the curtain and let us know what we have to deal with.

In response to the article “Crestwood aldermen debate whether to extend Prop S tax,” I heartily agree with Aldermen Jerry Miguel of Ward 3 and John Foote of Ward 4. Will the Board of Aldermen go back on its word?

Aren’t we still people of our word?

And to Ward 4 Alderman Deborah Beezley, who thinks $10 to $20 a month is something the citizens can and should live with, I couldn’t agree less.

We get hit with taxes and surcharges on every one of our utility bills; my trash service just had its annual increase. Yet, my property value isn’t going up. Lindbergh Schools is tapping the drum about possible future tax increases due to growth.

What specifically would one year or more of Prop S be used for? I say the board and current mayor need to live up to past agreements, and if more money is needed today, a new tax proposal should be put before the citizens along with the specific uses of the money. Or give us line-item vetoes. Was it $11,000 or $14,000 for a year-end party, and how much for the newsletter I read about?

To Mayor Jeff Schlink, I agree Crestwood needs to reach out. Have a door-to-door survey, phone survey, whatever, or a town-hall meeting conducted by aldermen and volunteers. But I’ve been told by far-senior property owners that they did reach out and were turned away.

I’ve been told the board tends to micromanage department’s activities? Could this be why you are having difficulty in finding volunteers for various committees? Bottom line, we citizens don’t have blank checkbooks for just anyone who comes calling — they just go to Jefferson City and have it tacked on the bill. We have bills and are expected to manage our finances accordingly.

Sometimes that means saying “no” to ourselves, children and grandchildren.

That’s no fun. And remember this: It’s an election year. What if the Bush tax cuts expire in 2012 along with the payroll tax cut in 2013? That’s enough of an increase for me for one year, thank you.

Bill Schelinski

Crestwood