The two political entities have existed side by side for decades, enjoying some fruits of cooperation but never fully trusting or embracing each other. Long-simmering resentments occasionally erupt into outright hostility, and no matter how many plans for détente have been put forward, they never get fulfilled.

Sure, that scenario sounds like the protracted stalemate in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians. But it could just as easily describe the Midwest co-existence of St. Louis and St. Louis County, where cooperation and even merger have been cussed and discussed but nothing much ever seems to result.

Now that the city has a new mayor, and the county executive is still relatively new on the job, the time may be ripe for a new push toward more efficient, more responsive, more sensible government.

The big split, of course, happened back in 1876, when leaders of the city of St. Louis put together a “Scheme of Separation” under which the city broke off from St. Louis County—a radical move for which the region has been paying the price ever since.

On the encouraging side, city Mayor Lyda Krewson, who took office in April, has held meetings with County Executive Steve Stenger to explore greater areas of cooperation to break through the artificial barrier at Skinker and Limit, which has sometimes been deemed the “Checkpoint Charlie” of the city-county region.  

Those who have pushed for unification, or at least far greater city-county cooperation, often point to earlier examples where the region has been able to come together — the Zoo-Museum District, the Junior College District, the Metropolitan Sewer District, Bi-State and more. Now, Stenger and Krewson have discussed moving ahead, fixing problems in those areas and looking into new ways to work together.

They have already talked about reforming and restructuring Bi-State, to deal with the continued public safety concerns on MetroLink.  If Krewson and Stenger can re-constitute Bi-State’s board to include members committed to assuring proper supervision of the light rail cars, it would be a major step forward.

Krewson has also talked about privatizing St. Louis Lambert International Airport, which has been overseen by the St. Louis Airport Authority. 

One area that could use much improvement between the city and county is public safety. The depressing increase in violent crimes locally cries out for stronger, more cooperative efforts to build more trust between police and neighborhoods and ways to come together on a sensible policy in issues such as gun possession.

The crazy-quilt of political jurisdictions in St. Louis County — some 90 independent municipalities, plus unincorporated areas, school districts, fire districts and more — needs a closer look as well. If there is ever to be meaningful cooperation on issues affecting the entire region, that jurisdictional jungle must be dealt with.

And the question of race relations should never be far from the thoughts and efforts of anyone working to improve lives in St. Louis city and county. The aftermath of the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014 still afflicts the region and its reputation nationally.

Like the rest of the area’s residents, the St. Louis Jewish community of 60,000 would enjoy benefits from increased cooperation. Most local Jews live in St. Louis County, but the vibrancy of Central Reform Congregation shows a substantial and dynamic presence in the city as well.

Krewson and Stenger should be encouraged to continue and expand the baby steps they have taken so far, perhaps even beyond the city-county borders to St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin counties as well.  Problems don’t stop at artificial political borders; solutions shouldn’t stop there either. Peace in the Middle West need not remain an unreachable goal any longer.