BUILDING EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY IN DOWNTOWN The COVID-19 pandemic has had catastrophic impacts, but it is a temporary phenomenon. The racial injustices that galvanized the protests against systemic racism are, in contrast, both historic and ongoing. Unintentional and intentional racial bias and persistent racial gaps in employment, income, education, and other opportunities too often limit the ability of African Americans and other people of color to thrive in our City and region. These gross discrepancies undermine our values of equity and justice, they hold families back generation after generation, and they also weaken our economy. In St. Louis, the racial wage gap is dramatic. According to the Equitable Economic Development Framework for St. Louis, Black/African Americans working in the City earn just 48% of what their White counterparts earn. The costs of inequity will only grow without intentional
I 6
action. Falling wages, decreased workforce skill, and reduced purchasing power to support local businesses represent just a few indicators that will worsen without intentional action. Conventional economic recovery and growth is not sufficient to solve these persistent racial and ethnic inequities in our community. Toward this necessary end, Design Downtown STL recommends a series of strategies to simultaneously promote growth, equity of opportunity, and a Downtown that is safe and welcoming for all. These recommendations reflect what we heard from thousands of citizens and stakeholders who participated in Design Downtown STL’s extensive engagement process.