byVince Capell, St. Joseph City Mgr.

It is public heresy and political suicide in some circles to talk about changing

St. Joseph. Some like

St. Joseph just fine the way it is and don’t see much need for changing it. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” or “If you don’t like it, leave!” are the defensive and sometimes fearful refrains one sometimes hears when the topic of change is discussed. Nevertheless, I venture to say that most residents think more constructively and optimistically about change. Most would agree, I think, that we should keep what is exceptional and good about

St. Joseph and toss the rest onto a southbound barge.    

I have been told that some people prefer the familiar, even if unpleasant, to the unfamiliar, even if promising. This human psychology might explain some of the hesitancy to embrace change even by those facing unpleasant or life-threatening circumstances. Perhaps we could lessen this reluctance by understanding that certain cherished parts of our life and community are not likely to change so long as our residents hold them dear. For example, change will never cause

St. Joseph to lose its physical beauty so evident in the Loess Hills, Missouri Riverfront and undulating terrain. Change will not cause

St. Joseph to lose its tight grip on a splendid and gritty history that is well known around the world and secured forever in library books and grandma’s stories. And change is not likely to cause St. Joseph to lose the qualities that make it a uniquely compassionate home; where charity during times of distress is offered freely to those in need. These attributes we keep; they define us.       

But what else defines us? Well, we’ve got a few serious negatives that need some attention. Some residents suggest that we need to improve our public infrastructure - safer, higher-capacity streets, newer schools, a few more fire stations and a revitalized Downtown and Midtown. Some of these same residents suggest that we need to improve our human infrastructure -

St. Joseph has too many good workers with too little training for too few jobs that bring in too little money. One measure of our human infrastructure well-being is evident in the school district’s free-and-reduced lunch statistics, currently at about 54% based on federal income qualifying guidelines – one of the highest figures in the state. I look forward to the day when we can put this 54% statistic and the misery that comes with it onto that southbound barge. Who among us would argue that we shouldn’t try to change or improve upon the underlying and unfavorable conditions that give rise to this statistic?  

We can’t just trim around the edges if we want to achieve substantial improvement in our community and in people’s lives. The change must be robust, perhaps even courageous, and at its very core it must be driven by what defines us as a community. For me, no words ring truer than “If you always do what you’ve always done, then you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” Let’s not go there.  

If this topic interests you, please read my next article focusing on how other communities defined themselves and how they brought their definitions to life.   

Posted by: admin on Friday, October 31st, 2008
Filed under: Joe City, General |