I am running for mayor because the next eight years will be critical for the future of St. Louis. The next mayor of the city will have to be completely committed to working around the clock to provide economic opportunities and make St. Louis a stronger and more unified city. My time in office has taught me that public service is not about glitz and glamour. It is a daily grind that requires a very hands-on, people-oriented approach.
It will take strong, experienced, and dedicated leadership to reduce violent crime. The prevalence of crime in our city, both real and perceived, dominates any discussion on progress. None of us are immune to the crime in our city. We cannot arrest our way out of violent crime, but we can invest our way out of it.
We have to address crime at the root causes, which include a lack of economic opportunities and funding for social support systems, education and mental health services. That is why one of the first things I did when I became president of the Board of Aldermen was pass a law that added an extra $1 million per year for youth crime-prevention services. As mayor, I will continue to invest in youth activities and convince others to make it a priority.
Local government must provide an environment that is safe and allows residents to grow and succeed. I will make sure we provide the adequate resources, both financial and technological, to help our police department solve crimes and protect people, as well as funding for alternate paths of behavior for youth to prevent crimes before they happen. We are losing too much talent and too much of our future.
It will take strong, experienced and dedicated leadership to make St. Louis a more unified city. We have to begin to get past the racial division that holds us back. I’ve heard some say the topic of racial division and inequity will require “uncomfortable” conversations. For me, discussing and encouraging others to promote fairness and racial equity is not uncomfortable. I have lived my entire life interacting with people of various races and cultures. I am well-equipped to lead these discussions, and I know that they are necessary for St. Louis to progress.
It will take strong, experienced and dedicated leadership to increase and promote investment in parts of town that sorely need it and provide better city services for everyone. Taxpayers in all parts of town should be treated the same. I will put people in charge that will make sure city services are delivered fairly and equally. That is a standard of service that city government must meet. No one deserves to look around their neighborhood and see trash, uncut grass, and debris everywhere.
We need to use all the development tools that improved living conditions in South St. Louis and Downtown to increase development and improve living conditions in North St. Louis. Beware of anyone who wants to stop using development tools before North St. Louis has an opportunity to benefit from them. As mayor, I will increase development in North St. Louis and make sure all parts of the city receive the proper level of service and receive the same results at the end of the day.
It will take strong, experienced, and dedicated leadership to increase employment opportunities and bring new corporations to the City of St. Louis. We must begin to do a better job of selling our city and actively recruiting new corporations to St. Louis and take advantage of opportunities to put people to work.
With Republican leadership at the higher levels of government, it is critical to vote in local elections and vote for the right local leadership. As mayor, I will provide the strong, experienced, and dedicated leadership we will need to move forward as a city.
Lewis Reed, the president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, is running for mayor as a Democrat in the March 7 primary election.
