What I am saying, I guess, is that until East St. Louis turns itself around and changes its reputation, getting law and order back in there, getting city fathers who will be productive, we're not going to see anything. Flood said his staff is in the process of reassessing East St. Louis. All we're doing is creating a vicious circle in that people won't pay, can't pay. Crime is a major problem, Flood said. They can't give it away or don't want to give it away, and have to remain there.
Flood looks to the river, too.
As far as the tax base in East St. Louis, I don't think we are going to see a resurgence until the riverfront starts to develop, and until we get some credibility in the offices down there. Flood wears another hat as the representative of he 21st congressional District on the Democratic State Central Commitee - Democratic state central commiteeman. It also gives him considerable voice in the selection of Democratic slate candidates in St. Clair County. Finally, his voice is a important in the distribution of party funds to precinct commiteemen at election time. Flood was irritated by the charges that the Democratic Party in St. Clair County, dominated by whites, use the black vote to win elections.