ST. LOUIS—An aldermanic bill that would spend $232 million of the city of St. Louis’ share of the Rams settlement received something of a political stiff-arm from board leadership and the Mayor’s office within hours of its filing Tuesday.
The legislation, authored by Alderwoman Pam Boyd and co-sponsored by Alderwomen Laura Keys, Cara Spencer and Alderman Tom Oldenburg, mirrors a proposal endorsed by Greater St. Louis Inc. to invest in north and southeast St. Louis neighborhoods and the downtown corridor.
“Our citizens have heard for far too long about the promises of investment on its way. We have been hearing the same empty promise for seven decades,” Boyd said. “We have needs that have gone unmet for decades. We can no longer sit back and talk about saving this money for a rainy day. In my community, it’s been pouring for decades.”
The legislation, which Spencer described as a “starting point”, lacks specifics, but would direct funding into the following areas:
- $107.5 million for infrastructure projects – $55M to “disinvested” neighborhoods and $52.5M to downtown
- $85 million to rehabilitate “high-impact areas and buildings” – $35M in North City, $20M in southeast St. Louis, and $30M downtown
- $25 million for housing improvement – $10M downtown and $15M in disinvested neighborhoods
- $15 million for small businesses and commercial corridors – $10M for downtown and $5M to disinvested neighborhoods
“We are ready for hope. We are ready right now. The hope that our communities will finally and financially receive the basic investments in streets, housing and infrastructure that many people across other areas of our city simply take for granted,” Keys said.
The Greater St. Louis Inc. pitch was one of several that has been discussed as part of the Board of Aldermen’s public outreach process to decide how to spend the money. Boyd said the proposal took the feedback the city has received thus far.
But Board President Megan Green said the bill jumps the gun on a process that hasn’t fully played out, with a final meeting set for next week to learn about using the settlement to focus on childcare and youth support.
"Greater St. Louis Inc.’s decision to file a bill without consideration for the City’s process and without incorporating city-wide input on the top issues submitted by residents is premature and puts corporate interests over the people’s,” she said.
"In the coming weeks, legislation will be introduced that reflects what we’ve heard from residents through an extensive public engagement process. I am confident the majority of city leadership remains committed to a funding strategy that supports the long-term success of our City.”
A spokesperson for Mayor Tishaura Jones said she’d seen the proposal.
“There are several worthy uses for these funds meant to benefit the entire City of St. Louis. The Mayor’s office plans to present in front of the Committee of the Whole on suggested uses for Rams funds in the coming weeks, and are actively working with President Megan Green and members of the Board of Aldermen on a bill to appropriate these funds before the end of this year," her office said in a statement.
The release of the bill comes amid frustration from some members of the Board of Aldermen over a slow spend-down of nearly a half billion dollars in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, and troubles plaguing the St. Louis Development Corporation’s oversight of a grant program meant to send roughly $30 million to north St. Louis businesses and non-profit organizations. Those issues will weigh heavily in the race for Mayor next spring, with Spencer and Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler among the field of candidates looking to unseat Jones in 2025.