Feudal St. Louis

Nothing to do with castles, knights, or turkey legs instead our very own system of local politics where each Alderperson treats their ward as their personal fiefdom.

Most neighborhoods would be overjoyed to have a celebration like Soulard's Oktoberfest but Phyllis Young 7th ward Alderwomen believes a celebration like this creates to many hangups including attracting drunks.

I will agree that this can be an issue if safety and security is not adequately managed but I find it ironic that a neighborhood whose name also means to be drunk is also the host of the largest exercise in debauchery in the entire metropolitan region.

More importantly her word is the final say in whether or not people in lederhosen can celebrate in the last German festival in St. Louis city.

Our Alderpeople cannot sufficiently address zoning deficiencies whose master plan has not been updated since 1947 yet find the time to play lord of the party planning committee?

My wife and I first attended this event last year and by chance we sat at a long wooden bench whose occupants we found out later were a national gathering of WWII veterans who had all served in the same radio brigade.

Normally I can't say that we would randomly chat with such strangers but a tent full of people and a few great beers leads to levity. I completely agree that there should be strict enforcement ensuring that no minors be allowed however see nothing wrong with a few grown-up celebrations from time to time allowing our citizens, neighbors, friends, and strangers all to share a toast independent of the political machinations of an antiquated few.

Prost