Updated to include comments from Lyda Krewson
On Thursday, January 20, eight candidates for mayor of St. Louis faced off at Harris-Stowe State University. This group did not include Lyda Krewson, the candidate leading by a wide margin in all polls released to date.
“Krewson is the TIF queen – that’s why she’s not here,” said candidate Antonio D. French, currently alderman of the 21st Ward in North St. Louis.
TIF is an acronym for tax increment financing, a development incentive which has been disproportionately used in the Central Corridor, which includes the 28th Ward, where Krewson currently is alderman.
The night was organized to highlight the questions and concerns of the young people in St. Louis. The Alpha Omega City-Wide Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and 78th District state Representative Bruce Franks Jr. facilitated the event.
Young people in the crowd were encouraged to come forward with questions for the candidates. Tishaura O. Jones, currently St. Louis treasurer, was asked to respond to the recent murder of a 15-year-old girl and to give her solutions to crime. There were 188 homicides in St. Louis in both of the last two years.
“Young men and young women picking up a paycheck every two weeks won’t be picking up a gun,” Jones said. “For a long time, we’ve been tough on crime; we need to be smart on crime.” Jones went on to say she would place social workers within the police department and stop criminalizing the poor, substance abusers and mentally ill people.
Several themes persisted in the questioning: the Delmar Divide, policing, homelessness and crime. On the issue of policing, several candidates – Lewis Reed, currently president of the Board of Aldermen; Jones; and French – said they did not approve of Police Chief Sam Dotson. French was the most outspoken, declaring he would replace Dotson on his first day if elected.
Reed was asked to name the two most important issues facing St. Louis today. “Public safety and economic empowerment,” he said. “If we want people to do better, we have to give them opportunities, and that’s what cities do.”
Several candidates were asked what accomplishment they were most proud of as a public servant. French cited the creation of several after-school facilities which serve children in North City. Reed mentioned the recent accreditation of Saint Louis Public schools; he appointed one of the three members of the Special Administrative Board that steered the district back to accreditation.
Each candidate was given a two-minute opportunity to speak as the debate concluded. French focused on police accountability and bridging the North-South divide in the city.
Jones said in closing, “We have to make sure the Ferguson Commission Report doesn’t just sit on a shelf and collect dust. We want to implement all of the calls to action in the Ferguson Commission report, and that happens with a strong mayor.”
Update: Lyda Krewson reached out to The American after this report was originally published. Her comments are written below:
