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Posted: 9/7/2008 3:45:42 PM EST
So the other thread made me laugh. Alabama, Baltimore, D.C............HA! Welcome to East St.Louis bitches. I had the pleasure of working here almost daily for three years. I had multiple car jacking and armed robbery attempts while spending time in this lovely corner of America.

First a little back story


East St. Louis has one of the highest crime rates in the United States. According to FBI's data of 2006, its murder rate hit 83.8 per population of 100,000, surpassing that of cities such as Compton, California (40.4 per pop. 100,000), Gary, Indiana (48.3 per pop. 100,000), New Orleans, Louisiana (37.6 per pop. 100,000), Richmond, Virginia (38.8), Baltimore, Maryland (43.3), Camden, New Jersey (40.0), Detroit, Michigan (47.3), and Washington, D.C. (29.1), as well as that of its neighbor St. Louis (37.2). FBI data also shows East St. Louis' high rate of rape, which exceeded 250 per population of 100,000.

East Saint Louis and Opa Locka, Florida have the highest crime rates in the United States (Opa Locka had the absolute highest crime rate in 2003 and 2004 for cities of any population.)

The following table shows East St. Louis' crime rate in 6 crimes that Morgan Quitno uses for their calculation for "America's most dangerous cities" ranking, in comparison to the national average: Year: 2006 number of crimes per 100,000.




The library for redin books n shit yo!









Anybody know what Eagle Stamps are?











My hood is so ghetto we burned down our projects!













No sanctuary here.


Just about every other home looks like this.









The finest of ghetto cuisine.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:46:41 PM EST
[#1]
Again: why no people?
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:46:54 PM EST
[#2]
Reminds me of Memphis.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:47:47 PM EST
[#3]

Quoted:
Again: why no people?


You feel free to stand out there and photograph the locals.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:47:59 PM EST
[#4]
I bet 'ThunderRoad' with 'Girls Girls Girls' rocks on a Saturday night.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:48:37 PM EST
[#5]
perfect background for an apoclolyptic film...
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:49:59 PM EST
[#6]

Quoted:
perfect background for an apoclolyptic film...


In all reality most of Arfcom would love East Saint. It is like a post apocoliptic ghost town, no LEO presence to speak of, and everybody is armed.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:50:22 PM EST
[#7]
They just need hope.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:51:11 PM EST
[#8]
My dad was raised in the polish hood of east St Louis.  My dads uncles were tough as nails and they bugged before i was born.    
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:53:26 PM EST
[#9]

Quoted:
They just need hope.


and...CHANGE...
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:53:45 PM EST
[#10]

Anybody know what Eagle Stamps are?


Trading stamps, like S&H Green Stamps
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:55:49 PM EST
[#11]

Quoted:
They just need hope.

And change

ETA:  Beat to it.  I was too busy looking at the pics
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 3:59:19 PM EST
[#12]

Quoted:
Reminds me of Memphis parts of pretty much every city I've ever been that had a population greater than 40,000 or so.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:01:00 PM EST
[#13]
Looks like one of the nicer areas of Detroit to me.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:02:13 PM EST
[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Reminds me of Memphis parts of pretty much every city I've ever been that had a population greater than 10,000 or so.


I have been to D.C, NYC, L.A, Detroit, Milwaukee, Gary, Miami, Boston, Pittsburgh, Trenton/Camden, and a few other major cities. Nothing compares to East Saint Louis.....Nothing! I propose a ARFCOM field trip one day. You have to experience it to believe it. This sqaulor covers roughly about a 30 mile radius. It has enveloped surrounding towns like Brooklyn, Madison, Venice, Granite City, etc. It is a ever growing problem like a plauge.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:05:33 PM EST
[#15]
Yeah some neighborhoods in Baltimore look like that,except with huge crowds of people. I'll try to get some pics soon.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:06:46 PM EST
[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
Reminds me of Memphis parts of pretty much every city I've ever been that had a population greater than 10,000 or so.


I have been to D.C, NYC, L.A, Detroit, Milwaukee, Gary, Miami, Boston, Pittsburgh, Trenton/Camden, and a few other major cities. Nothing compares to East Saint Louis.....Nothing! I propose a ARFCOM field trip one day. You have to experience it to believe it. This sqaulor covers roughly about a 30 mile radius.


yeah I've been through there, maybe 10 years ago.  I know the crime is a lot worse etc, but around here you can see a lot of similar buildings, the Case & IH factories that are abandoned look like a couple pictures you posted.  The rest look like West 4th in Davenport and 11th St in Rock Island...which to me really aren't all that scary as long as you keep moving/mind your own business/don't attract attention to yourself.  I'm sure East St. Louis is worse, just the pics look familiar from other places I've been...wasn't trying to be a jerk in any way.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:08:27 PM EST
[#17]
those pics remind me of soviet russia for some odd reason.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:09:10 PM EST
[#18]
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:09:17 PM EST
[#19]

Quoted:
Yeah some neighborhoods in Baltimore look like that,except with huge crowds of people. I'll try to get some pics soon.


I have no doubt but this is not a neighborhood or two this is a entire metropolitan area. Its magnatude is unreal.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:10:17 PM EST
[#20]
So what you are telling us is that basically, it would not be a good idea to walk down the streets of ESL wearing a gold Rolex watch and counting hundred dollar bills in your wallet, right?
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:11:26 PM EST
[#21]

Quoted:
So what you are telling us is that basically, it would not be a good idea to walk down the streets of ESL wearing a gold Rolex watch and counting hundred dollar bills in your wallet, right?


I would not walk down the street wearing a Casio and counting monopoly money.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:12:56 PM EST
[#22]

Quoted:
those pics remind me of soviet russia for some odd reason.


More like the Chernobyl aftermath.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:13:17 PM EST
[#23]
That Community needs an Organizer



ETA:  The "Wrong Way" sign in front of the burned out church is prophetic
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:13:54 PM EST
[#24]
WOW!!!!  You can totally film "I AM Ledgend" Part 2 in that end of the city... Without background props!  
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:14:47 PM EST
[#25]

Quoted:
Looks like one of the nicer areas of Detroit to me.


sadly I agree  
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:16:35 PM EST
[#26]

Quoted:

Quoted:
They just need hope.


and...CHANGE...



Gimmie all yo money biatch!



You did mean pocket change right.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:16:59 PM EST
[#27]
Is this what saints row is based on?  the abandoned church looks familiar
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:18:01 PM EST
[#28]

Quoted:
Anybody know what Eagle Stamps are?
Yup.

Prior to the loyalty cards that are common today at grocery stores and other retail places, like 100 years prior, there were rewards programs in place at a number of establishments. Eagle Stamps were given to customers based on the total amount of their purchase. You might get one stamp for $1.00 spent. The stamps were kept in little books, which sometimes were part of a catalog of available goods. Anyway, when you had enough stamps, you could redeem them for more goods, kind of like, "buy 10 subs, get the next one free," or something. The goal of the retailer was to keep patrons coming back to the same store to buy as much as possible, instead of going to specialty stores to buy, say, tack and hardware and dairy and fabric and shoes. If you notice the picture, the establishment was something of a burgeoning general store at one time.

This trend continued well into the 1970s, but in the hands of tobacco companies. My grandparents collected S&H Green Stamps that were in their packs of cigarettes. They'd redeem the stamps for our Christmas presents!

Some small communities and churches also use a variation of the "stamp" concept with "scrip." They will sell scrip that has the same value as cash, and is accepted by participating merchants. Depending on what sort of participation and discount program is in place, it can be an effective fundraising program.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:18:18 PM EST
[#29]
I was in ESL about 25 years ago.  It doesn't look like anything has changed.  Is it still full of scrap yards?
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:22:47 PM EST
[#30]
Damn, place is deserted. Good place for an Epic ARFCOM RISE OF THE DEAD - ZOmbies Unit movie.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:23:00 PM EST
[#31]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Anybody know what Eagle Stamps are?
Yup.

Prior to the loyalty cards that are common today at grocery stores and other retail places, like 100 years prior, there were rewards programs in place at a number of establishments. Eagle Stamps were given to customers based on the total amount of their purchase. You might get one stamp for $1.00 spent. The stamps were kept in little books, which sometimes were part of a catalog of available goods. Anyway, when you had enough stamps, you could redeem them for more goods, kind of like, "buy 10 subs, get the next one free," or something. The goal of the retailer was to keep patrons coming back to the same store to buy as much as possible, instead of going to specialty stores to buy, say, tack and hardware and dairy and fabric and shoes. If you notice the picture, the establishment was something of a burgeoning general store at one time.

This trend continued well into the 1970s, but in the hands of tobacco companies. My grandparents collected S&H Green Stamps that were in their packs of cigarettes. They'd redeem the stamps for our Christmas presents!

Some small communities and churches also use a variation of the "stamp" concept with "scrip." They will sell scrip that has the same value as cash, and is accepted by participating merchants. Depending on what sort of participation and discount program is in place, it can be an effective fundraising program.


When I was a little kid (1960s), S&H Green Stamps were still in pretty wide use.  IIRC my mother got a sewing machine with them once.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:23:30 PM EST
[#32]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Looks like one of the nicer areas of Detroit to me.


sadly I agree  


Yep. Looks like I'm going to have to do an urban safari through Detroit one of these days.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:25:37 PM EST
[#33]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Anybody know what Eagle Stamps are?
Yup.

Prior to the loyalty cards that are common today at grocery stores and other retail places, like 100 years prior, there were rewards programs in place at a number of establishments. Eagle Stamps were given to customers based on the total amount of their purchase. You might get one stamp for $1.00 spent. The stamps were kept in little books, which sometimes were part of a catalog of available goods. Anyway, when you had enough stamps, you could redeem them for more goods, kind of like, "buy 10 subs, get the next one free," or something. The goal of the retailer was to keep patrons coming back to the same store to buy as much as possible, instead of going to specialty stores to buy, say, tack and hardware and dairy and fabric and shoes. If you notice the picture, the establishment was something of a burgeoning general store at one time.

This trend continued well into the 1970s, but in the hands of tobacco companies. My grandparents collected S&H Green Stamps that were in their packs of cigarettes. They'd redeem the stamps for our Christmas presents!

Some small communities and churches also use a variation of the "stamp" concept with "scrip." They will sell scrip that has the same value as cash, and is accepted by participating merchants. Depending on what sort of participation and discount program is in place, it can be an effective fundraising program.


Ok now that it is put into light I remember my parents saving green stamps in books when I was a little kid.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:27:25 PM EST
[#34]
Arfcom should have a national meet up at a hood. charter some school buses. arm up and drive around staring at the locals....
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:27:27 PM EST
[#35]
Nice

Someone needs to tour Downtown Atlanta
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:32:56 PM EST
[#36]

Quoted:
I was in ESL about 25 years ago.  It doesn't look like anything has changed.  Is it still full of scrap yards?

The whole place looks like a scrapyard.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:35:22 PM EST
[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:
perfect background for an apoclolyptic film...


In all reality most of Arfcom would love East Saint. It is like a post apocoliptic ghost town, no LEO presence to speak of, and everybody is armed.


Zombies?
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:37:37 PM EST
[#38]
Everytime I read one of these threads I listen to this....


Too Short ~ The Ghetto


- Clint

Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:38:48 PM EST
[#39]

Quoted:
Nice

Someone needs to tour Downtown Atlanta


I spent three weeks working in the ATL. It does not come close to the horrors of ESL. The worst thing about Atlanta was the fact that you rebels named a major highway after Jimmy Carter. Sorry try again.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:40:35 PM EST
[#40]
Safari?  You huntin cans?
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:43:59 PM EST
[#41]

Quoted:
Nice

Someone needs to tour Downtown Atlanta


Zone 3 Fuh Shizzle.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:47:45 PM EST
[#42]

Quoted:
perfect background for an apoclolyptic film...


That's why they did in fact film such a movie there back in the 80's.  It was called "Escape From New York".  Escape From New York

Some of you might remember a scene from 'Family Vacation' where they get lost somehow in ESL and when they stop to ask directions someone steels the tires off the car as they are sitting in it.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:49:43 PM EST
[#43]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Nice

Someone needs to tour Downtown Atlanta


Zone 3 Fuh Shizzle.


Im not close so I cant
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:49:49 PM EST
[#44]
I live in St Charles, just over the river from St Louis...all of East St Louis is in Illinois, right?  I've not been in the area much.  Too bad...otherwise when I got a chance I'd roll through and do some filming, then post it on youtube for ARF.

-Ben  
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 4:51:00 PM EST
[#45]

Quoted:
I live in St Charles, just over the river from St Louis...all of East St Louis is in Illinois, right?  I've not been in the area much.  Too bad...otherwise when I got a chance I'd roll through and do some filming, then post it on youtube for ARF.

-Ben  


Yes, all of ESL is on the IL side of the river.

(BTW:  I live here in St. Charles County, down in Cottleville actually)
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 5:01:29 PM EST
[#46]

Quoted:
Arfcom should have a national meet up at a hood. charter some school buses. arm up and drive around staring at the locals....




Sounds like "Black Hawk Down".  

Link Posted: 9/7/2008 5:03:39 PM EST
[#47]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I live in St Charles, just over the river from St Louis...all of East St Louis is in Illinois, right?  I've not been in the area much.  Too bad...otherwise when I got a chance I'd roll through and do some filming, then post it on youtube for ARF.

-Ben  


Yes, all of ESL is on the IL side of the river.

(BTW:  I live here in St. Charles County, down in Cottleville actually)


Wanna go make a film on the MO side of the river?  I've got extra body armor.

-Ben
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 5:04:43 PM EST
[#48]

Quoted:
When I was a little kid (1960s), S&H Green Stamps were still in pretty wide use.  IIRC my mother got a sewing machine with them once.


Into the 70s as well.

In fact there was a Brady Bunch episode, IIRC, in which Alice had thousands of them in a drawer and Greg and the boys wanted to buy a boat but Marsha and the girls wanted a sewing machine....mmmm Marsha

(Hey, she was my age then -- and probably still is.)
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 5:05:54 PM EST
[#49]
The ARMY should take it over & use it for urban warfare training.
Link Posted: 9/7/2008 5:07:15 PM EST
[#50]

Quoted:

Anybody know what Eagle Stamps are?


Trading stamps, like S&H Green Stamps


+1 Beat me to it.
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