QUALITIES OF LIFE: POSITIVE SNAPSHOT OF CAPE

What is Cape Girardeau's quality of life? A study released by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce provides an overall positive picture with room for some improvement.

This marks the second time the chamber has released such a detailed report. It is a good exercise that not only provides data to target local improvement projects, but it also represents a powerful sales tool for the city in attracting business and industry.

Not all the statistics are positive, but many reflect similar trends across the state and nation. And identifying problems is a necessary step to making any situation better. Here's a snapshot of Cape Girardeau's quality of life:

-- Cape Girardeau's elected boards lack diversity. One black and one woman serve on Cape Girardeau's Board of Education. All members of the City Council are white males. Voter apathy is apparent in city elections, despite the introduction of a ward system five years ago. Proponents had promoted the ward system as a way to increase both voter participation and minority representation on boards. Low voter turnouts are the rule despite the fact the number of registered voters has climbed from 15,240 to 23,526 between 1990 and 1998.

-- Cape Girardeau could be in the midst of one of its greatest periods of economic growths thanks to continued low unemployment and booming manufacturing and industry. Plant expansions and new major retail outlets have advanced an already booming economy. The city benefits from a diverse economy. Construction is also booming with such projects under way as a new Mississippi River bridge and major sewer, water and street improvements.

-- Most Cape Girardeau students are earning their high school diplomas. The 90 percent graduation rate has remained stable. But for those students unable to remain in the classroom, the local alternative school program is providing additional opportunities.

-- Cape Girardeau and its residents are doing their part to help the environment. The city has consistently reduced waste and increased recycling since 1991. The program has exceeded statewide goals and earned a statewide outstanding achievement award in 1998. Better-than-expected response to a household hazardous waste program created a traffic jam. The city's water meets or surpasses all federal and state drinking water standards.

-- On the social side, teen-age pregnancy is again on the rise. But local programs aimed at promoting abstinence may help reverse this trend. While juvenile crime has leveled off, the city has experienced a marked increase in violent activity by young people. But the problem extends beyond the city limits. In 1998, there were 300 violent referrals of juveniles in the judicial circuit that includes Cape Girardeau, Perry and Bollinger counties. That number is nearly double what it was in 1991.

-- Financial support for the arts has increased substantially during the 1990s. Parks and recreation opportunities have also developed. Cape Girardeau has underscored its standing as the cultural hub of the region. Development of the River Campus as a visual and performing arts campus could cement Cape Girardeau's cultural influence.

-- For the most part, the health of Cape Girardeau residents continues to improve. Two reasons to celebrate are the fact that child immunizations have dramatically improved and the number of sexually transmitted diseases has declined. On the down side, the number of deaths due to heart disease, respiratory illnesses and cancer have increased slightly along with the infant mortality rates.

-- The number of fires in Cape Girardeau continues to decline, which allows firefighters to step up fire safety and emergency response services. The number of fires has fallen from a decade high of 266 fires in 1994 to 160 last year. The overall crime rate continues to fall in Cape Girardeau.

All in all, the chamber study documents what most residents already know: Cape Girardeau is a great place to work and live. The report provides a concrete tool for business and industry recruitment and for those looking to move to the city.