Bosley seeks tougher rules on brick dealing
As scores of families have abandoned north St. Louis since the 1950s, the very bricks from the homes they’ve left behind have become symbols of decay.
Rows of vacant homes in neighborhoods such as the Ville and St. Louis Place have provided fertile ground for an underground brick market. “Brick rustlers” are known for their creativity, sometimes backing their truck into an otherwise healthy wall to unhinge potential product.
Recognizing that brick thieves also depend on being able to exchange their goods quickly for cash, Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr. has proposed tougher regulations on those who buy bricks from street dealers.
Bosley, whose wards includes areas where brick theft is most rampant, wants to require brick yards to be closed on the weekends. He also wants to mandate that the yards have video cameras to record each transaction, footage that is available for review by police.
A hearing on the bill will be in front of the Legislation Committee at 10 a.m. today in the Leisure Room at City Hall. (UPDATE: The hearing has been canceled)


Does anyone at the post know how to reduce the size of an image?