I have made it clear from day one of this campaign that my top priority as mayor will be neighborhood safety. In my last column I outlined several ways I intend to strengthen our police force by hiring more officers and providing updated equipment and training – training which will help heal the relationship between law enforcement and our communities.
But I also made clear that we will not police our way out of high crime rates and increasingly distressed neighborhoods. Making St. Louis safer will require a holistic approach with a renewed focus on preventative measures, making it easier for young people to stay engaged with their community.
I propose we double our investments in youth and recreation programs throughout the city. Providing additional revenue to community centers will allow us to expand access to sports, after school tutoring and other personal enrichment resources for young people. The widespread availability of such recreational opportunities will help kids connect with other kids in a healthy and productive way.
I believe we must also explore alternatives to prosecution and imprisonment to combat the growing problem of mass incarceration in St. Louis. In my first budget, I will recommend that the City provide up to $2 million per year for a challenge grant to city prosecutors. The funds will be available for programs that create alternatives to felony convictions for youthful, non-violent offenders. For example, expanding the use of drug-courts to provide opportunities for those individuals to avoid incarceration and find another path.
I will oppose legislation and public policy that makes it easier to criminalize students in school. “Zero tolerance” policies have done nothing to reduce the school-to-prison pipeline – and in Missouri, they have led to some of the widest racial disparities for suspensions in the country.
We have seen time and time again that exposure to the criminal justice system at an impressionable age can have tragic consequences. That’s why I will seek reforms for outdated criminal justice models such as the cash bail system, which disproportionately punishes poor people and minorities. Targeted reforms will allow us to be more strategic with our limited law enforcement resources and help strengthen the trust between law enforcement and the public.
We also know that violence begets violence. I will collaborate with city and state agencies, nonprofits, schools and law enforcement to provide mental health services and other assistance for children who have experienced some trauma.
Finally, there are very few things a good job can’t cure; we all know the best crime deterrent is economic independence. My administration will connect people with jobs by expanding access to public transportation. And I will expand access to quality education by working with our K-12 schools and higher education community to make sure we have a skilled and educated workforce ready to take on the work that’s already here.
If we stay focused on these priorities we will bring a virtuous cycle to St. Louis. A quality education, good paying jobs, stable housing and less crime are all closely linked. I believe all of these policies will make strides toward not only more racial equity in St. Louis, but safer, more stable and more integrated neighborhoods all across our city.
Lyda Krewson, alderman for the 28th Ward, is a Democratic candidate for mayor in the March 7 primary election.
