The Problems Facing Granite City

and the Need for a New Image.

Granite City is in dire need of a new narrative. And this can only happen with new elected leaders, a new agenda and new reforms. In the last mayoral election for the city in 2021 only 3,519 people voted. According to the U.S. Census Data Bureau, 21,376 people were eligible to vote. That means only 16% of eligible voters participated in the mayoral election in 2021. 86%, 17,856, of eligible voters did not participate in the last mayoral election for the city because the local government has continually let them down. They do not see their government as representing them or their needs. There is a large disconnect between the people of Granite City and its local government. Politics as usual has created a disillusioned population.

The need for a fresh direction for Granite City has become urgent. If Granite City is going to turn the page on its reputation nationally it must start locally. Instead of declining, this city should be prospering. The residents of Granite City have small town values but the local government has big city values. The people of Granite City deserve a local government that will represent and aid them. The focus of the local government should not be helping the few and special interests, but instead the many. Instead of spending over $7,100,000 to revitalize downtown on a Cinema and music venue at the Mill, we should be investing in our history, infrastructure and affordable housing.

The residents of Granite City have small town values but the local government has big city values. 

But this can only happen with new leaders, implementing brand new policies that will aid everyone and not a small group. Instead of destroying our historical homes, we need to renovate them, creating both pride and integrity in our community. In 2020, the YMCA downtown shut down and the city has yet to replace it. We must invest in the children and teenagers of Granite City by having at least one Community Center. The people of Granite City need a unifying voice that will end division and empower everyone. Because only together can Granite City prosper and grow.

Instead of destroying our historical homes, we need to renovate them…We must invest in the children and teenagers of Granite City by having at least one Community Center.

Politics as usual in Granite City will not be solved by career politicians who have been in charge. Their lack of transparency, while ignoring and refusing to acknowledge their failures has only created division. Granite City needs leadership not connected to the local leaders or special interests. The city needs someone who will represent the many, listen to their needs, and whose goal is prosperity for everyone.

 The city needs someone who will represent the many, listen to their needs, and whose goal is prosperity for everyone.

First, creating a new narrative and image for the city by electing new leaders who will implement reforms. Second, addressing the crime that continues to define Granite City by drastically altering the Crime Free Housing Ordinance and revising policing methods that will create substantial instead of minimal results. Third, ending the connection to special interests whose sole goal is squeezing as much money from the population as possible. The local government can no longer continue to line the pockets of special interests while the majority suffer. Fourth, a complete lack of transparency with the population. Without transparency there will never be any accountability in the local government.

Addressing Crime & The City's Answer: the Crime Free Housing Ordinance

The Crime Free Housing Ordinance in Granite City has been controversial since being adopted by the city. The idea with the ordinance is to reduce crime by labeling renters, which make up 30% of the Granite City population, as criminals. Under the Granite City's web page for Crime Free Multi Housing Ordnance there are 9 parts to the New Landlord Training Course. In section 3 Crime in Rental Property, page 9 and 10, the city compares criminals to weeds that will "CHOKE OUT the good plants!" Page 10 states that "To understand crime...You need to understand the 'criminal mindset.' Criminals are PREDATORS! They look for the easy prey, and then stalk their victims, waiting for the perfect time to strike." 

 "..The city compares criminals to weeds that will 'CHOKE OUT the good plants!'"

"To understand crime...You need to understand the 'criminal mindset.' Criminals are PREDATORS! They look for the easy prey, and then stalk their victims, waiting for the perfect time to strike." 

Granite City New Landlord Training Course [Pages 9 and 10]

  2023 Crime Rates and Comparison to U.S. National Average

[In the interest of transparency we suggest looking at the UCR and Crime Data Explorer website from the FBI. FBI Crime Data Explorer Just click the link, then on Illinois and under agency search Granite City Police Department.]

Granite City is unfortunately seen as a crime city. The newest statistics released continue this trend.

Crime is organized into two main categories on the website, violent crimes and property crimes. The violent crime totals are four categories combined: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. The property crime totals are three categories combined: burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft.

Twenty one categories of crime are compiled below. 

The rates are at 100,000 people per, with Granite City’s numbers first per 100,000 people first, followed by the U.S. average rate per 100,000 people and a percentage difference between the two.

Out of 21 crime categories, Granite City is only below the national average in two, larceny theft, by 2%, and Robbery, by 8%.

From highest to lowest the percentage higher than the U.S. average rate per 100,000 :

- Wire fraud 863% Higher

- Animal cruelty 827% Higher

- Arson 736% Higher

- Sodomy 537% Higher

- Weapon law violation 466% Higher

- Rape - 416% Higher

- Pornography / Obscene material - 204% Higher

- Identity Theft - 192% Higher

- Drug Narcotic Violation - 186% Higher

- Counterfeiting / Forgery 158% Higher

- Kidnapping - 158% Higher

- Burglary 156% Higher

- Fondling - 149% Higher

- Simple Assault - 143% Higher

- Shoplifting - 137% Higher

- Motor vehicle theft - 133% Higher

- All other larceny - 133% Higher

- Violent Crime 131% Higher

- Destruction Damage Vandalism of Property - 118% Higher

- Property Crime - 115% Higher

- Larceny Theft - 2% Lower

- Robbery - 8% Lower

There are also several categories with zero cleared cases and extremely low clearance rates.

• Sodomy

  • There were 0 cases cleared by Granite City police for the year. 

  • U.S. average clearance percentage per 100,000 was 23%.

  • Granite City has never cleared a Sodomy case in its history.

• Fondling

      -  0 cleared in Granite City for the city

  • U.S. average clearance percentage per 100,000 people was 23%.

  • Granite City has never cleared a Fondling case in its history.

• Arson

  • Granite City clearance percentage rate per 100,000 people was 8.6%. 

  • U.S. average clearance percentage rate per 100,000 people was 27%.

  • Granite City Arson numbers have continued to rise and have not been this high since a peak in 1993, 31 years ago.

• Rape 

              -   Granite City clearance percentage rate per 100,000 was 8%

              -    U.S. average clearance percentage rate for 100,000 was 27%

Unfortunately, Even after a decade of the Crime Free Housing Ordinance, the crime narrative continues to dominate Granite City’s image in 2024. When looking for places in America to raise a family or have a business, the comparison to the rest of the United States is that of crime. Drastic reforms are urgently needed resulting in major results to change this narrative.

All illustrated above, one of the major obstacles for the city is addressing its crime. Many reputable sites have graded Granite City as an unsafe place to live. The fact is that these websites use the FBI's Crime Data Explorer as their source of crime statistics. 

Neighborhood Scout labeled Granite City as one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. to live in. Neighborhood Scout Granite City Crime

Niche.com gave Granite City a C- in crime and safety. Niche Granite City Crime and Safety

Areavibes graded Granite City with an F in crime. Areavibes Granite City Crime Grade

Crimegrade.org graded Granite City with a D+ in overall crime. Crime Grade Granite City Crime Grade

More sites could be listed but the point is clear. Granite City is seen nationally as a crime city because that is what the facts and statistics show. But how did Granite City reach this state? Granite City's solution to this has been the Crime Free Housing Ordinance. But it has not drastically decreased overall crime and has even made the situation for those less fortunate and struggling in the city worse. 

* For more information on the Crime Free Housing, click on the tab on the top.  Learn how it was amended in 2020 because it denied basic civil liberties, or how despite being amended, now forces landlords to evict or not rent to, at the landlord’s expense for evictions, anyone who is convicted of even a minor offense, for the last three years in Granite City. Hundreds of innocent people were evicted under the ordinance during its founding to 2020 when it was amended. The current mayor was even the head of the ordinance from 2016-2021. He personally delivered threatening voicemails in enforcing it to landlords. The ordinance even gives the mayor unilateral power in its enforcement, overriding Building and Zoning Administration.

Lack Of Transparency

These facts do not align with the city's rhetoric. “Granite City Police Lt. Mike Parkinson… described it [the Crime-Free Ordinance] as beneficial to the community in a 2019 news release” STLPR.org "Granite City Crime-Free Housing Rules Displace Hundreds — Even Those Not Accused Of Crimes"

That was not the only time leadership publicly stated how useful the crime-free ordinance has been. “Granite City Lieutenant Mike Parkinson…[stated that] ‘The crime-free housing program in Granite City has benefited our community,’”STLPR.org "Federal Lawsuit Claims Granite City’s Crime-Free Housing Rules Are Unconstitutional"

But it was not beneficial to those who are struggling the most in our city. These statements do not show the complete truth and were used to push a false narrative of how the Crime Free Ordinance lowers crime rate and is ‘beneficial for the community.’ A strong and thriving city demands transparency and accountability with its population. 

Mike Parkinson was the appointed leader of the Crime Free Ordinance from 2016-2021 before becoming the current mayor of Granite City. In 2024, Granite City finalized its deal to sell the wastewater treatment plant and all of its assets for $86 million. Why was it sold? Mayor Parkinson was stated as saying:

“We support this agreement with Illinois American Water because it is in the best interests of the Granite City community, today and tomorrow…Mayor Parkinson added that proceeds from the sale would allow the city to invest in other critical, community needs.” American Water Statement "Illinois American Water Completes Acquisition Of Granite City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility"

But this was just another example of a false narrative. Mayor Parkinson contradicted himself by also stating that:

“The driving force behind it was (that) the city has $100 million in pension liabilities that have to be covered and we’re at a crossroads…the significant amount of money that we could sell the plant for—that we’ll be able to position ourselves to pay that debt off without raising taxes on our citizens.’ Fox2now.com You Paid For It. "Sale of Granite City treatment plant has residents paying double in bills"

With a $100 million debt to pay for pensions due to the negligent government and $86 million in revenue in the sale of the wastewater treatment plant, there is obviously no proceeds available to “allow the city to invest in other critical, community needs.” This is just one of many examples of a lack of transparency in local government. Sewer bills have doubled under the current leadership. Would that actually be in the “best interests of the Granite City community, today and tomorrow?” Meanwhile nearly every person downtown received pay raises. What will be the next asset to be sold increasing people's bills while the administration give themselves raises.

Special Interests

No more special interests. The Granite City’s Art & Entertainment district located in the heart of downtown is an example. It is a vanity project that does not help our community. It has not empowered the population. Businesses in this location had signs stating that no one wants to work posted on their front doors.  Local leadership has stated in newspaper articles that they cannot find people to work. Metroeastsun.com "Granite City restaurant owner says she can't get people to work"

To have this on public record in a city with such high poverty is divisive, and only better illustrates the need for transparency and accountability. We need more people working within the city and that means working with local businesses to guarantee that they are working with the community first and foremost, and not focused on the bottom dollar. Making money is not a crime, but doing so at the expense of the population has only increased the city’s problems. We cannot have the local government invest and give away property to special interests who have shown their lack of commitment to the community and their lack of business success. The current leadership has rebranded downtown as The District, meant to bring pride to the community. But it makes no sense to have The District be owned by government officials who are those with direct ties to the local government and also have these businesses closed. This has only alienated the community more. There is no vibrant nightlife or increased traffic downtown.

Granite City has seen an increase in both liquor licenses and VGT (Video Gaming Terminals). Granite City currently has 83 Liquor License's. If divided by the current population of 26,705, it comes to 1 liquor license for every 321.7 Illinois Liquor License Database. Video game terminals have increased to 178 by 2024 and from August 2020 to August 2024 the population of Granite City lost $25,536,150.27. During this time period the city of Granite City made only 5% of that number at $1,278,778.25. Illinois Video Gaming Revenue Reports. Granite City should not be investing into liquor licenses and video gaming terminals. We need to invest into business's that do not prey on our population and instead impower them.   

Summary and Conclusion

The only way to change our city for the better is together. Not by alienating large portions of the population, such as renters. Not by criminalizing poverty with the crime free ordinance. The overwhelming crime statistics have shown growth because the desperate have only become more desperate under the current leadership. Renters are not criminals and by treating them as such we have created a hostile and dire environment for them. The local government is disconnected from the needs of the population and it shows through the rise in crime, poverty, loss of population and extremely low voter turnout in local elections. We need to empower the people so that they believe the local government cares about them and not financial greed.

By electing new leadership with a fresh direction for Granite City we will have a new image both locally and nationally. With the end of the Crime Free Multi-Housing Ordinance, landlords and renters will no longer fear being evicted by the police. That role should never have been forced on them and only created division. Police are an essential element in a thriving community. And by creating reforms in policing methods that will result in the much needed drop in crime Granite City can finally move beyond the label of being a crime city. Removing special interests that have used our city as their personal piggy banks will free up funds to be used for everyone's benefit and regain the trust and connection to the people. Transparency in all areas will create accountability and strengthen the bond of the people to the local government. Trust and pride can never be attained while local leadership continues a narrative counter to the facts.