EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP/KSDK) - Sen. Dick Durbin says he never hesitates to tell people he's from East St. Louis, but he's calling out the mayor for not doing enough to curb violence in the once-thriving city that a federal prosecutor says is the deadliest in America.
With the backing of local ministers, the Democrat on Wednesday again pressed Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. to permanently order the city's open-all-night clubs to close earlier each day. Durbin believes having them close at 11 p.m. on weeknights and 1 a.m. on weekends would reduce killings and other violent crimes in the impoverished city.
Parks has resisted such a move, insisting nightclubs and liquor stores are important businesses.
Parks was not invited to Wednesday's forum between Durbin and the ministers. Some citizens at the meeting told KSDK they were upset that he wasn't included. He did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
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