The city’s vacancy problem means more than just eyesores in our neighborhoods and lost property-tax income. Those buildings also become crime hubs that terrorize our families. Proposition NS (neighborhood stabilization) on the city ballot is a $40 million bond issue to stabilize vacant, city-owned residential properties and make them rehab-ready. If approved, the bond would be repaid through a property-tax increase – which would start with a one-cent annual raise the first year and eventually go up to a seven-cent increase. Too many taxpayer dollars have been used for economic development that ends up only gentrifying our neighborhoods and benefiting only the middle or upper class. Organizers have ensured us that affordable housing projects would be prioritized. They said, “Under our watch, there will be inclusion in the bidding process and an intensive focus on lifting up low-income families with every decision made.” Prop NS would eventually cost about $11 a year on a $100,000 home. We think that’s a small price to pay to finally address a problem that is killing some of our neighborhoods and discouraging newcomers to the city. We urge a vote of YES on Proposition NS.
Proposition P on St. Louis County ballots would impose a one-half of one percent sales tax to provide funds to improve police and public safety in St. Louis County and St. Louis County municipalities. We agree with critics who say that proponents of the measure have not been sufficiently clear about where and how the resulting revenues will be dedicated. “Where is the money going?” Chesterfield Mayor Bob Nation said on St. Louis Public Radio. “Has this been discussed with county government? Why hasn’t that been shared with the public? What other intentions do you have beyond police? Public safety is a general term.” Advocates of this measure have failed to do the necessary work to build more broad consensus and to justify the need for the funds and detail more specifically how they will be spent. We urge a vote of NO ON PROPOSITION P.
While the St. Louis Community College’s current board makeup may be diverse in race and professional backgrounds, what it completely lacks is diversity in age. We need some fresh, young blood on the Board of Trustees to help the college realize its goals of connecting with the community, creating a pipeline for high-school students to transition more fluidly into college and supporting innovation to meet the challenges to educate students for changing workforce needs. Both Miranda Avant-Elliott and Ciera Simril have the drive and experience to do that.
Miranda Avant-Elliott, a Subdistrict 1 candidate, is the supervisor of college and career readiness for St. Louis Public Schools, the first district to participate in STLCC’s Early College Academy pilot program. As a board trustee, Avant-Elliott could support the college in enhancing these partnerships. Being a public school educator for 15 years and now a college-pipeline specialist, she has the knowledge and experience to help STLCC achieve its goals for increasing enrollment and supporting students. We endorse Miranda Avant-Elliott for STLCC Board Trustee in Subdistrict 1.
Ciera Simril,a Subdistrict 2 candidate, is a neighborhood organization leader in North St. Louis and a member of the city’s Civilian Oversight Board, which reviews complaints of police misconduct. She is passionate about continuing to make STLCC a quality education and affordable for students. She will push for more transparency and engagement with the community. We endorse Ciera Simril for the STLCC Board Trustee in Subdistrict 2.
Ferguson voters have the first opportunity to vote out Mayor James Knowles since their town attained international infamy following the unrest after the Ferguson Police shooting of Michael Brown Jr. While Ella Jones, a new Ferguson City Council member and retired Mary Kay sales director, may not be the perfect candidate to become Ferguson’s first black mayor, she has the distinct advantage of not being Knowles, who works in a license office when not being America’s most notorious small-town mayor. We endorse ELLA JONES FOR FERGUSON MAYOR.
For years we have thought a compelling Republican or independent challenge to St. Louis’ Democratic nominee for mayor could shake up the city’s entrenched white Democratic power structure, which is set to continue its stranglehold on the city’s executive branch with the primary win by Lyda Krewson. Unfortunately, on the April 4 ballot we do not see a Republican or independent who can defeat this status quo Democrat and offer the city much-needed transparent and forward-thinking leadership.
Incumbent Comptroller Darlene Green has been a steady steward of the city’s finances and properly raised the alarm at various points when the city’s leadership suggested imprudent investments. We know how much more an activist can do with one of the three seats on the city’s chief fiscal body, and urge Green to use more of her political capital in the future to force positive change. We endorse Darlene Green for St. Louis comptroller.
