Editor’s Note: February 2, 2016
An earlier version of this piece included a quote from Charlesetta Taylor, which read, “I don’t know what the NGA does exactly, but it sounds bad.” Taylor said she spoke to a number of reporters at the time this story was published. She does not specifically recall being interviewed by our reporter, but told us the quote was not something she would say.
The inaccuracy reflects a pattern of misattributed quotes that The Intercept uncovered in stories written by Juan Thompson, a former staff reporter. We apologize to our readers.
NORTH ST. LOUIS is grappling with many problems: underperforming schools, a stubbornly high murder rate, lack of good jobs, dirty vacant lots and now the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
The NGA, a lesser-known cousin of the National Security Agency, has long had facilities in South St. Louis located a short walk from the historic Anheuser-Busch Brewery. But the NGA is now looking to move and has narrowed its list of possible new locations to four, including one in North St. Louis that would require the demolition of 47 homes.
Not surprisingly, North St. Louis residents are not welcoming the NGA with a fruit basket. On Wednesday the local organization Save North Side STL delivered a petition with nearly 100,000 signatures to the NGA asking it to remove their neighborhood from consideration.
The charge is led by 79-year-old Charlesetta Taylor, who has lived in one of the threatened homes for the past 70 years. “We were the first black family on this block,” she told me during a phone conversation. “It was in 1945. Black families couldn’t live in certain areas but my father was able to buy the house anyway.”
Many of the 46 other threatened homes also belong to elderly residents.
The city says the spy agency brings in about $2.4 million in tax revenue every year. None of the other three possible locations are located within city limits.
In February the board of alderman — St. Louis’s version of a city council — passed an ordinance that designated Taylor’s community a blighted area. With the area now considered ruined, the city may use eminent domain to seize the property. Shortly after the ordinance’s passage, the residents, including Taylor, received letters notifying them of the city’s interest in acquiring their property. If the city does take the homes, residents like Taylor would, of course, be compensated.
But they don’t want the money.
“This isn’t about money. Money can’t buy everything,” Taylor said. “Money can’t replace my memories and the three generations that grew up in this big old house.”
Photo: Save Northside STL/Facebook
NGIA does satellite mapping surveillance concerning issues including ISIS and Ebola https://thebiasedreporter.wordpress.com/2015/01/24/new-ngia-director-talks-about-mapping-isis/
https://thebiasedreporter.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/the-national-geospatial-intelligence-agency-and-us-ebola-response-in-west-africa/
July 2014 6 possible sites for NGIA in St Louis
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/national-geospatial-intelligence-agency-names-possible-sites-for-move-in/article_812ee19f-de9d-5e5d-8a34-dd70f1aeac6a.html
It came to me this morning, JT, that there’s perhaps justification for much of St. Louis County to get crossed off DOD’s list of possible locations for such things – permanently. And there might also be some local help, that residents there hadn’t really thought about, ready to jump in quickly for this.
There’s a reason most states have their own archeological associations, archeology of humans on this continent possibly extends back 20,000 to 30,000 years, and there’s also a very good reason Missouri’s the only state I know that has 2 recognized by the Central States Archeological Society (CSAS). Missouri’s other highly recognized archeological association (not named after the state) just happens to be called the Greater St. Louis Archeological Society (GSLAS).
It’s believed the areas surrounding the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers provided one of the North America’s largest ever trade centers for millennia before Europeans arrived. Having grown up rural in the west part of the county until I was 11 or so – I know it was difficult to plant vegetables or dig a hole looking for fishing worms without also finding an arrowhead or two. GSLAS may already know of protected sites right in that area – and also be only too happy to lend a hand scoping out any fields and creeks in the area, or suspicious mounds as possible burial sites. That much of that particular area’s not been greatly disturbed the last century might mean a great deal. City utilities everywhere and even the federal government conveniently and repeatedly violate known and already mapped sites designated as protected – by somehow forgetting to ever look it up when building their stuff. Any whiff of a Native American camp or burial site though and I believe they’re done – for good. It might be worth a try though – to see what turns up.
good points
This is what I do for a living. If the DoD builds, they’ll have to have what’s called Phase I archaeological survey to determine whether there is potentially an archaeological site on the area as part of what’s called a Section 106 review. If there is a site, it’s likely they’ll do data recovery at the site, recover all of the archaeological material, and then do construction. It wouldn’t halt the construction, especially if there are houses already there. A better argument might be that the houses are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, but even then, the Section 106 process only requires that impact to historic buildings be assessed, not mitigated. Unfortunately, we have very weak historic preservation laws compared to Europe.
Ah yes, the sanctity of the American home. Government’s been doing this for the last 350-400 years on this continent, I guess this one sees no good reason to stop now.
Move the NGA to Scott AFB Il. Problem solved. No tearing down of any buildings.
I know some of these people. I have have proof that is is actually a huge EXPANSION of spying, not a simple move to a new facility. I wish I had saved the ads I saw that described new IT positions to “prepare reports for consumers of geospatial intelligence”. Top secret clearance is required. On another note – why should people be allowed to live in homes that are valued at $19,000? The control system doesn’t like that idea! The price of independence is being pushed higher and higher, and this is an intention of the Potters of the world – if you remember the evil Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. The film was declared subversive by the FBI during the Reagen era, and hey, when have you last seem it? It used to be impossible to avoid, and influence the think of many people, but not so much in the 21st Century.Forgive my digression, but here’s yet another reason to fight illegal secret trade agreements and the unreasonable expansion of “intellectual property rights”. All of these issues are intertwined – in order to rob us of an affordable and independent lifestyle, they must first brainwash us with a bogus media, owned by the same bankers who will steal your house. No FDR to bail you out this time!
Loyal Americans, who have been drafted into the never-ending ‘Wars for Wall Street and Israel,’ would not complain about a tiny sacrifice to the spy agencies that are penetrating into every human orifice, looking for…something.
So salute the flag, say “Yes Sir!” and get out of the way.
Ha.
GEE, that sound STUPID… Are they spying on you?? WE the PEOPLE still have some rights – even as the are sold out by elected officials.
> WE now have ( last count ) 16 different intelligence (?????) agencies….. and they can not connect the dots
Are you a FOOL??
for get the payment for the houses , it should be based on their square footage , and the residents get to pick their new area .!!! [ And the real estate tax remains the same for 20 years as the original property !!! }
I would take central new york or long island or new Hampshire on the ocean [ heck any rich area near the ocean .]
Ha.
ha
A good example of coordinated government action. Entity A wants something, so Entity B obliges by taking action that facilitates the achievement of the goal of Entity A. Surely there are other possible locations within the city limits that would meet the requirements of Entity B without necessitating the demolition of so many homes. It would interesting to learn whether the three other identified locations are better, worse, or the same as the northside location and the present southside location. Is the federal agency Entity A or is the board of aldermen Entity A?
The idea of eminent domain itself still flummoxes me.
I read about a case in New London , Conn. The city used eminent domain to tear down a beautiful old house that was not blighted. It seemed that someone wanted a strip mall——-like that’s not blighted.
Well, maybe the spy people currently in the south part of the city don’t care about” historic. ” They will tear down an historic black area, but I guess the historic brewery stays… does anyone care about the beer people any more since they got rid of the beautiful horses for their ads?
But, it is even nore confusing to wonder how Canada could use eminent domain to run through the center of America.
Keystone Pipe?
Yes, that XL Pipe Death line is the one.
If a foreign country can have more rights than Americans, then I guess the secret and mysterious TPP already passed.
I wonder ( sigh) which corporate entity will get to be GOD?
Probably one of the SMITE industries. : (
“Blighted Area” means “Black people live there so it’s ok to take their houses, and to declare that ‘fair market value’ is a lot lower than if you didn’t call it ‘blighted’.”
Of course. Her house is only worth $19k too, but by declaring it blighted, they may be able to offer her even less.
Hi Bill –
Ye, it’s almost eerie how “blight” precede some eminent domain grabs or attempted grabs. Isn’t it eerie how poor areas (woo often belonging to folks of color) are targeted for such ‘redevelopment’? Betchya they wouldn’t consider the most upscale section of the city for such a facility.
Thanks, Juan for covering this. I hope these folks can keep their homes. Do keep us updated.
Of course I will.
“The city says the spy agency brings delivers about $2.4 million in tax revenue every year. None of the other three possible locations are located within city limits.”
So, chump change. The St. Louis budget is about $1 billion. And how much will it cost to demolish all those buildings, and make new roads/traffic lights, etc.? Is the federal government going to pay for all that? Maybe St. Louis thinks they’ll lose the Rams if the public won’t pitch in for a new stadium, so this is the second best option to satisfy development-lust?
Good point. I should have included that $2.4 million was paltry.
Ha.
What’s wrong with these people? Moving is such fun. Family members and friends get together and always lend a hand. It’s a way to thin out your closets and you always lose some stuff in the move which creates new opportunities for acquiring more stuff. I feel for these homeowners so, any ideas how to help them?
This situation has characteristics which resemble a UN Agenda 21 land grab.
Do these people have adequate legal representation?
I hope that they kept a copy of the original petition with all 100,000 signatures.
Perhaps Mr. Thompson could put them in the right ball park if they do not already have the appropriate legal representation.
According to this report, the city is treating them, their families, and their homes like garbage.
It is sad.
I will really don’t think NGA will go through with this given all the bad press.
Many thanks for your efforts juan.
Of course.