Opinion: Who wants to invest in Ferguson now?

Market Watch ^ | August 27, 2014 | David Weidner

[2ndDivisionVet]

Shellena Eskridge: ‘We need role models. We need an entire change for the better. We need economic change.’

FERGUSON, Mo. — This town is already cleaning up. The streets are litter-free. The windows are being repaired.

Now the question is, can this small community be able to draw new business, and will anyone stay?

And it’s a question not just for Ferguson but for St. Louis as a whole. Negative attention from more than two weeks of protests over the death of Michael Brown brought the region’s deep-seated racial, economic and social problems into the national spotlight. And not in a good way.

“We’ve been on the front page,” said Denny Coleman, chief executive of the St. Louis Economic Council, which seeks investment in the region. “We’ve been portrayed in the national and international press in an unfavorable light.”

Looting. Violence. Racial discord. Poverty. Is this a place where anyone would want to open a business, build a factory or warehouse or launch a startup?

“There are long-term thinkers and short-term thinkers,” said Charlie Davis, owner of the Ferguson Burger Bar & More, a restaurant at the center of the protests. To Davis, the short-term thinkers are the looters and protestors who seem willing to do anything to get immediate results. Long-term thinkers know the potential of the area.

“Do I think we’re going to lose business?” Davis said. “No. The long-term thinkers know this is a good place. People are going to spend money here.”

Others are less optimistic. Coleman believes Ferguson and St. Louis will have to first quell the violence and confrontation that marked the early protests. Then the community needs to take a hard look at the underlying issues, repair the skill gap that exists in the workforce...

[SECURE AMERICA]

The lady has a point. But she needs to take the next step and figure out who is blocking the kids path. Its not the police.Its not the businesses that were destroyed by the rioting and looting.

[tanknetter]

There’s a much bigger, more basic, issue here: what’s going to happen to the Ferguson police force?

I’m betting that a substantial number of the current force, having Bern tc that they’re the wrong color to be cops are looking for, or at least considering looking for, employment elsewhere.

When they leave, who is actually going to want to come in and replace them?

There’s another thread this morning where the writer talks about the right to raise a family in safety, slamming the cops for denying that right. Without understanding that if the cops who are tasked with protecting the peace and order, and enforcing the law walk away that “safety” will be determined by the gangs.

[madprof98]

Some businesses are apparently on the upswing in St. Louis today.

[tacticalogic]

There’s another thread this morning where the writer talks about the right to raise a family in safety, slamming the cops for denying that right. Without understanding that if the cops who are tasked with protecting the peace and order, and enforcing the law walk away that “safety” will be determined by the gangs.

They piss and moan about "illegal guns on the street", but want to crucify Wilson for doing what had to be done to keep his from becoming one.

[Stentor]

When they leave, who is actually going to want to come in and replace them?

Deputy Raineesha Williams?

[Raycpa]

Security companies, pawn shop, head shop come to mind. Always opportunity.

[bert]

——head shop——

Premade blunts for those that are not handy with tools might be a good business. All that’s needed is a kitchen table and a street corner

[dfwgator]

Paths to Successful Futures = Acting White

Aye, there's the rub.

[Stentor]

I would shut down everything - no pop stores - no cigarettes - no clothes - nothing...let them sit there in the comfort of that sewer and think about the damage they did over a thug!

It's at that point that use is made of regional transportation systems. Never live within a days ride of the farthest bus stop from a city.

[PATRIOT1876]

Gary IN became a dangerous empty husk after the riots in the ‘60’s.

I was extremely surprised to see a new building in the 90’s.

I hadn't noticed anything new being built for 3 decades.
No one wants to live with people that are prone to riot.

[Molon Labbie]

All of us have seen the flash mobs in action. This was just one big flashmob on steroids; mass burglary.

This area was seeing some economic improvement. Large state university nearby, a fortune 100 company as well and several municipal economic developments were burgeoning meant to stimulate the job growth and quality of life.

Those endeavors may very well be dead now. But you cannot reason with a subculture who has historically very low impulse control. They break it and threaten more if it is not replaced.

Insanity.

[MrB]

I’ll say it!

A culture of BASTARDITY.

That’s it.

[ndafill]

Well put

[ripley]

Thanks.

(They’re SO obnoxious.)

IMHO

[FrdmLvr]

Nobody, except the disabled, has any excuse for not working

I think we've found the root of the problem.

[FrdmLvr]

LOL! “Damn! White people is strange!”

[Tammy8]

Businesses better reopen, at least one protestor threatened if businesses didn’t reopen they would riot again. I know if I owned a business there I couldn’t close it fast enough to suit me.

[Col Freeper]

[BCW]

They are too lazy and inept to catch the bus to get a pop...let them drive out their comfort zone...profile them...tow their vehicles...arrest them..and clean through forced shopping....act like wild animals...get treated as such....

[2ndDivisionVet]

I’m creeping up on 100% V.A. yet I still work.