ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The latest shooting this week in downtown, which left two men injured, continues a series of crimes that has some downtown businesses considering going elsewhere.
Downtown Alderman Jack Coatar says the shootings, the wild driving, the barricades and more are making some people think it's time to go.
"I've heard from some large downtown employers, I'm not going to name names, but yeah, they are concerned about when their lease is up, will they renew if these problems are continuing downtown," Coatar says.
Related
Coatar wants City Hall to go after the liquor license of bars that attract frequent problems.
A security guard for the Washington Avenue nightspot Reign and another man were shot early Wednesday morning, after a woman who had been ejected from the bar allegedly for using counterfeit money returned later with her boyfriend to confront the security guard. Both men were shot in the legs.
Coatar wants Mayor Tishaura Jones and Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner to make downtown crime more of a priority. He also is upset with the lack of transparency and information about crime stats provided by the circuit attorney.
"Downtown residents are frustrated and rightfully so with some of the ongoing nuisance behavior," Coatar says. "Under previous circuit attorneys, you could go through and filter pending cases by neighborhood, (Garnder) has taken that ability off the circuit attorney's website. We don't get any kind of updates or briefings from her on cases by neighborhood."
Related
© 2021 KMOX (Audacy). All rights reserved
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Follow KMOX
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram