South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Duncan does an end run around mayor, her fellow board members

To the editor:

Regarding the article “Alderman cautions against speaking with developers” and the corresponding editorial comments, I was surprised and feel somewhat despondent about how the city of Crestwood is going about the process of working with Centrum Properties on the proposed redevelopment of Crestwood Court.

Over the past year, there have been several missteps in the presentation of information to the public in this and other matters.

For years, we taxpayers hear nothing about the property and then all of a sudden we are being led to the table to negotiate a multi-million dollar deal that needs to be done yesterday.

I don’t know Ward 2 Alderman Tim Trueblood personally, so I have to take his “outing” of Ward 1 Alderman Mimi Duncan at face value. Hopefully his motive is true; I’d like to believe it is.

It is a slippery slope when off-the-record discussions take place. Once again, we the taxpayers are left somewhat in the dark — and potentially on the hook.

What is Mrs. Duncan referring to when she states she doesn’t feel she is getting the information she needs and doesn’t want to have to resort to the Internet?

What does she know or not know that the rest of us are not privy to? I’d like to see that demographic report of Centrum’s that shows this area can support their grand design for one. But that is where my support for her ends.

Mrs. Duncan made a bad decision in having off-the-record discussions, and basically did an end run around the mayor and her fellow aldermen.

She speaks of her integrity and I would also call into question character and ethical values. It seems from the article the other contacted alderman got it. They didn’t accept the call or did it with witnesses.

You simply shouldn’t do what Mrs. Duncan did. Her arrogance shows itself, once again, in stating that her constituents can decide whether she did the right thing.

Not knowing the particulars of the discussion, how would they do that? I wonder how many of them she actually talked to, to find out what’s on their minds?

Also Mrs. Duncan, in this particular matter, you not only represent your ward, but all of us that either live in or do business in and around Crestwood.

This is high stakes. Many government agencies will be or are involved.

You and your comments are in the public realm. You, in your position, should be held to a higher standard.

More to Discover