Last week, four Black aldermen released a public statement slamming Mayor Cara Spencer for suspending the city’s minority-owned and women-owned contractor business enterprise (MWBE) program due to reported threats from the Trump Administration. The city had already stopped processing minority certifications for the program in July.
The aldermen contend that the mayor’s decision lacked transparency, disrespected the Aldermanic Black Caucus and excluded community input.
The letter, signed by Aldermen Alisha Sonnier (7th Ward), Laura Keys (11th Ward), Rasheen Aldridge (14th Ward) and Pam Boyd (13th Ward) criticized the mayor for failing to consult them and publicly ending the program while they were on summer break. Those moves, they said, are indications of future dysfunction.
“Sadly, the chosen path to deliberately exclude others in the solution-making process says that we can expect more of the same history that has plagued St. Louis,” it read.
“I didn’t know anything about,” said Alderwoman Boyd (13th Ward), who also serves as chair of the Aldermanic Black Caucus. “Nobody in the caucus knew about it. We all heard about it on the news. That’s why we put the letter together, to address it.”
Boyd said they released the letter because they felt “the community needed to understand that we are still active and, regarding the MWBE issue … still support it.
“We didn’t want the community to believe that we accepted what was going to impact our minority contractors; that we have a blind eye to it when we don’t.”
The mayor’s office has repeatedly stated that the move to end the program and perhaps replace it with a “race-neutral” alternative was made after the Trump administration threatened to withhold federal funding from all programs with “DEI initiatives.”
On social media, Alderman Aldridge also expressed disappointment that he was not informed about the mayor’s decision to end the decades-long program due to perceived threats.
“The future of our city depends on our resilience and our commitment to building an equitable and empowering environment for all residents.”
Alderman Rasheen Aldridge
“While I understand the mayor’s concerns about safeguarding federal funds, especially in light of the recent tornado on the north side and the federal aid that may follow, I believe we are rushing into a decision without having all the necessary conversations or a comprehensive plan,” Aldridge posted on his Facebook page.
In the letter the aldermen argue that the minority business program is legal and should be immediately reinstated.
Contrary to the claims of the four aldermen, Spencer insisted her “staff” had communicated with them. She hasn’t, however, explained why the move to “pause” the program was done while they were on summer break. That act alone was a matter of disrespect, Boyd said, adding that she told Spencer as much in a recent meeting.
“We reminded her that she was once an alderperson and knows how important these relationships are, and still, nobody cared to pick up a phone and speak to us,” Boyd said. She added that the Aldermanic Black Caucus was responsible for originally presenting the MWBE ordinance back in the 1990s “and getting it across the floor unanimously. So how could you disrespect us like we don’t exist?”
Spencer has often stated that the decision to end the city’s MWBE program was because it had received notice from the federal government that continuing the program would jeopardize funds for the St. Louis region. The only “threat” she’s referenced so far has been a memo from the DOJ in May saying it could use a law intended to punish corruption to go after anyone else getting public money while engaging in so-called diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
In their recent meeting, Boyd said the aldermen asked the mayor “point blank,” ‘did you receive a letter saying they would do this and they said no.’ So, our question is ‘what was the urgency?’ There are cities that are suing (Trump) and others that haven’t even responded to it (the memo), so what you’re doing isn’t justified.”
King County, Washington, is involved in a lawsuit concerning federal grant conditions that restrict DEI initiatives. The county is part of a larger group of cities and counties suing the Trump administration, arguing that its actions are unconstitutional and illegally limit access to federal funding. In May, the lawsuit won a temporary injunction, stopping the administration from enforcing its new grant restrictions.
In its Aug. 8 edition, the volunteer-based, non-commercial news site, The Mound City Messenger, said it had filed a Sunshine law request requesting the mayor’s office provide the specific notice from the federal government that threatened to jeopardize funds for tornado recovery and/or other programs if it continued its MWBE program.
President of the Board of Aldermen Megan Green has taken to social media on multiple occasions denouncing the Spencer administration for sidestepping equity.
“MWBE goals exist to make sure the same white “good ol’ boys” network doesn’t keep winning all the contracts,” Green explained on her Facebook page. “We want a fair and equitable system, and that requires us to actively address disparities.”
Adding that St. Louis’ MWBE program is based on goals, not “illegal” quotas, Green challenged the legality of ambiguous threats.
“Recently, the Trump administration sent letters to thousands of cities — including ours — claiming that DEI-related programs might violate federal law. The letter cites the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023), but that case deals with college admissions — not MWBE programs or Richmond v. Croson,” Green wrote, adding, “The cases are not legally equivalent. In fact, it could be argued that having a ‘race-neutral’ program that ignores known disparities would be knowingly discriminatory, based on our own data.”
Green contends the city has the option of suing the federal government for ignoring Richmond v Croson and threatening to withhold funds.
“Let me be clear: MWBE ordinances are laws,” she continued. “They cannot be ignored unless repealed or struck down in court. If we don’t follow the law, we open the city up to lawsuits.”
Green and the four aldermen who chastised Spencer for ending (or altering) the city’s minority business program, share a common theme: Resistance.
“We cannot allow fear of federal rollback policies or political pressures to undermine the progress we’ve fought so hard for. We must stand firm, push back against rollback efforts, and continue fighting for a city that truly values diversity, inclusion, and economic justice,” Aldridge said through social media.
“The future of our city depends on our resilience and our commitment to building an equitable and empowering environment for all residents.”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.
I’m so glad we have strong leader and our community!! thank God for y’all 🙏✔️💯
Mrs.Veraline long.
Is spencer a bigoted trump republicrap, pretending be a progressive Democrat? She seems like a demoshit,who are just as bad as republicraps.
I respect your right of freedom of speech, you should note that the St. Louis American newspaper is an honorable publication and it, along with its entire readership, deserves greater respect than what you have demonstrated in your comment.
Mr. Aldridge,
The greatest characteristic of any true leader is integrity, and in this article you are misrepresenting the truth. You have read no where that the current administration has “ended” or plans to end the MBWE program. Therefore, there has never been a need for the program to be “reinstated.”
When one gives consideration to the desperate needs of so many of the storm victims, I am sure you will agree that it is wise to “pause” to conduct a careful review and analysis of our existing program to avoid jeopardizing the loss of any FEMA fundings. This “pause” may be considered similar to the “pause” exercised before releasing ARPA funds that were provided as early as 2021.
I regret your need to designate race in publishing a letter (Four Black Aldermen), that was divisive and threatened future discord, prior to knowing and reviewing the merits of any proposal presented to you and its needs for your constituents. One of the biggest problems that continues to impede progress desperately in our most impoverished neighbors is the failure to make sound business decisions void of politics. Our residents voted for you because they trusted you, and they deserve better. I want to add, that you have not read anywhere, where this administration has not embraced the same honorable goals of equal opportunity and fairness for all.