The editors of the St. Louis Business Journal
The current debate over the role of the mayor of St. Louis in the city schools speaks to the ambitions and accomplishments of Francis G. Slay.
Due to the limits of the city charter, the mayor’s influence is severely restricted (i.e. the police board is appointed by the governor; also the mayor shares fiscal responsibilities with the comptroller and president of the Board of Aldermen who are independently elected; so-called county offices such as that of city treasurer operate independently of the mayor). This is not a strong executive as opposed to, say, the federal system of government.
So for Mayor Slay to play the role of change agent means he has to use his bully pulpit as much, if not more, than the limited powers of his office.
Some of the mayor’s critics take aim at his determination to improve the city schools. The school board president, in particular, looks for a new superintendent who will be a “pit bull” (her words) and battle the mayor.
How can we talk about a strong work force with a school system that is failing? Would you rather have a mayor who doesn’t care about the city’s children?
We hear similar criticism about the mayor’s role in negotiating with the city’s largest employer over its lease of Forest Park space. Note, this mayor didn’t originate the lease but he has been part of a plan to improve it and provide a couple of million dollars a year in park maintenance in the mean time.
There is room to criticize Francis Slay as there is room to criticize every government official and every corporate leader. Some suggest the mayor’s staff is arrogant and unresponsive. Some say there’s cronyism and inbreeding.
But no one dares suggest that Francis Slay doesn’t care deeply about the city of St. Louis.
This is an important moment in the city’s move forward. Mayor Slay has been the engineer of the train and deserves credit for the direction and speed in which the region is heading.
Here’s a sample of what has happened on Francis Slay’s watch:
– The revitalization of downtown St. Louis, including $3.8 billion in new investment since 2001, the redevelopment of the Old Post Office and creation of Post Office Square, a new baseball stadium and construction of nearly 5,000 new lofts with another 2,500 already sold and occupied.
– More than 20,000 new or substantially rehabilitated homes in dozens of city neighborhoods. This includes creation of new subdivisions such as Botanical Heights and Gaslight Square.
– Projects that languished for years are being rebuilt, namely City Hospital, Cupples Station and the MultiModal Transportation Center. After 15 years of political posturing, a new casino complex is being built on the St. Louis riverfront.
– Cortex, the city’s life science corridor linking Saint Louis University and Washington University medical centers, strengthens the city’s central core and adds an important economic development component to the region.
– Property values in the city have risen by more than 50 percent since Mayor Slay took office.
– After 50 years of population loss, the city’s population has grown for three consecutive years.
Mayor Francis Slay doesn’t need this newspaper to polish his reputation. His record speaks more loudly than our headlines. This is just a reminder, and a thank you.
Reprinted with permission from St. Louis Business Journal, July 21, 2006.