My focus in Jefferson City this session is on equity. Equality is every student having a classroom where they can learn. Equity is having support systems in place, new books and a comfortable environment where they learn. The State of Missouri must demonstrate that it has provided equity to all St. Louis residents. I am delighted to continue this fight in Jefferson City on your behalf and make our state a better place.
In the interim, I held more than a dozen town halls regarding radioactive waste. People expressed sincere concern for the history of gross negligence and the mistreatment of St. Louis city and county residents. I have introduced two pieces of legislation this session to protect St. Louisans and first responders from suffering from the effects of radioactive waste contamination.
Over the summer, I marched in honor of Mike Brown and against social injustice, and the Ferguson Commission released their report. Once again, I have introduced legislation to bring the state in line with national standards on use of force, the application of body cameras on police in the field and racial profiling. I have also introduced legislation on gun control. We need to address public safety in a more robust fashion.
If you watched the State of the Union, you heard the president mention a push for a debt-free solution to colleges and universities. I am proud to have signed on to lead this fight in Missouri. We need to do more for our seniors, our parents and our children. We can start by not weighing down young adults with debt that will burden new families and prevent homeownership. Having a decent start in life should be our first concern.
I visited the students at Mizzou during their protest of the administration. Their message wasn’t just about being heard while on campus. Their fight is a message for us all on social equity in all areas, and that includes a quality education at a reasonable cost. While I was on campus I saw how different we have become, but if you were there at the end, you would have seen how students and faculty rallied to support and protect their fellow students. The indecency of the situation was in the constant refusal to listen to each other. Legislation is certainly going to be introduced from all perspectives. I will continue to pay close attention to how the University of Missouri responds and the legislation offered.
We need to keep Missouri moving. Your lives and jobs depend on it. Did you know the highway system also serves as the backbone for the internet and other utilities? St. Louis has incredible infrastructure, but if we don’t maintain the system we put many industries at risk.
The Missouri Department of Transportation has been implementing the Diversity Plan of 2013, but I want to see more out of the department in this area. You are being short-changed in many ways by a department that taxes all but does not provide opportunity for all. When I am asked to support a new tax, I will be asking what’s in it for you, other than the potential for a pile of rubble.
East West Gateway issued their newest “Where We Stand” report highlighting how African Americans are all but left out of the regional economy. St. Louis Community College issued an annual report on the regional workforce. While companies in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields value diversity, they have struggled with hiring enough minorities, especially women and African Americans.
I am happy to highlight BioSTL’s launch of a diversity program and Boeing continues to lead by providing opportunities to students, introducing them to STEM careers. This year, I have introduced legislation that requires the city and county of St. Louis to improve their minority participation programs and implement plans to level the playing field for women, minorities and economically disadvantaged business enterprises.
State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City) represents District 14 in the Missouri Senate.
