After nearly a year and 1/2 of unemployment I have found a great job with a company who's headquarters are in St Louis. They sent me there for a week and just got back and I must say North and South St Louis are far worse than South Phoenix will ever be. I went out to check out the area (my hotel was next to the Arch) and I had at least 30 kids, yes kids about age ten approach me to buy crack. I took several photos of the desolate areas and was chased once by a car full of, well, not very nice youth. When I returned my rental it had a bullet hole in it, I had no idea!! I kid you not!! Thank goodness for supplemental insurance. The hood started about at the Rams stadium north and the Cardinals stadium south. I was told that St Louis loses about 10,000 residents a year more than move there. While there are many beautiful areas around the city, I would advise anyone traveling there to avoid the areas directly North and South of the city. But the Arch is absolutely a site/ride to see. I will gladly go back anytime but wow, it was quite an awakening!