County Executive Charlie Dooley Could Solve Ferguson's Problems With Corporate Thinking


It should come as no surprise that since the 1980’s there has been a steady decrease in population and a steady increase in unemployment in Ferguson.  The city is the victim of white flight, pure and simple.   The unemployment has risen from 5% in 2000 to 13% in 2012.  Inflation adjusted earnings have fallen by 1/3.  The main industrial employers in Ferguson, Emerson Electric, Boeing and Express Scripts have been around for a very long time, but they don’t employ marginally educated people, nor should they.

What do the numbers tell us about Ferguson, Missouri? 

            Median household income:  $36,121 vs. Missouri average of $45,321

            Population

Black 64.9%

White 30.6%

            Education: 

Less than High School degree 11%

High school degree 29%,

Associates degree 8.1%

Bachelor’s degree 14.5%,

                        Graduate or professional degree 8.1%

Those who have never been married is 41.3%

Crime rate for every year from 2000-2012

The crime rate in Ferguson ranged from 35%-50% higher than the national average.   Number given are per 100,000 population.

Thefts 3291

Burglaries 1163

            Auto thefts 447

Rape 178

Assault 174

            Murder 9

People living in poverty:  22% (11% White vs 26% Black)

The average police officer’s salary is $34,210, which is below the median

            income for the city.

The city votes consistently Democratic.

            There is both, “…a perception and a reality of police aggression toward African-Americans.” [Fortune]   No person should be stopped by police officers because they are black without any other intervening concern.  No person should have lethal forced used on them without due provocation.  Neither should police be treated with contempt for doing their job.  The prevailing attitude of the black community in Ferguson to vilify any facts that don’t paint Michael Brown as an angel are wrong,  disingenuous and damaging to their cause.  Any media person or activist who tries to downplay, soften or excuse the looting and vandalizing of shops in the Ferguson area is simply enabling violence and making themselves a hypocrite.

            So what do we do with these numbers and these realities?  I think we should take a cue from corporate America.  When companies need to make hard choices (budget, productivity, personnel...) they get their leaders together and ask one question: What are you going to do in your department to help this situation?  Here is the conversation that needs to be conducted by all of the community leaders in Ferguson:

            Parents: What are you going to do to make sure your child stays in school and actually learns as much as he can?

            Schools: What are you going to do to assure competitive education?

            Mothers: What are you going to do to make sure your child is raised in a two parent home (which is the best indicator of child success)?

            Fathers: What job are you ready to take and keep, no matter what?

            Employers:  What are you going to do to employ more local citizens?

            Government: What are you going to do to help companies whose employment closely matches the racial make-up of the community?

            Civic Leaders:  What are you going to do to aid police in reducing crime?

            Police:  What are you going to do to stop racial profiling and increase safety in the community?

            None of this can be predicated on, “When we get money…”  Money should only follow substantive change and positive results.

            I suggest that this conversation be conducted by and in the offices of County Executive Charlie Dooley—a smart man, a good leader, and a black man who has been elected and reelected by white majorities of years. 

            Solve the problem, don’t excuse it, and keep the faith.          

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