The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is beating its breast and rending its garments that the latest, biggest public-private partnership is falling apart now that the private corporation, the St. Cardinals (holy enough to lose the Louis) has what it wants (a stadium, tax breaks) and hasn’t given the city what it wanted (a cool and trendy business/residential development called Ballpark Village. Stories:
- Dewitt: Centene deal was close, but ‘we never got to the finish line’
- Blow to city leaves cloud of doubt
- Centene deal falls apart
So, does that tell the city and other municipalities to perhaps stay out of these boondoggles? Heck, no! What kind of government would it be if it learned its lesson and will limit itself to actual government duties? It’s going to get back in the saddle and participate in bigger, more expensive boondoggles in the future.
