ST. LOUIS – As St. Louis continues to recover from Friday’s devastating EF-3 tornado, which killed five and damaged nearly 5,000 homes, questions remain about how recovery efforts will be funded.
One potential source of aid? The city’s share of the NFL Rams relocation settlement.
In early February, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen hit pause on plans to spend nearly $300 million in Rams settlement funds. That decision, made before the mayoral transition from Tishaura Jones to Cara Spencer, has left the future of the funds uncertain.
Now, nearly one month into Spencer’s administration, a plan for the Rams settlement funds has still not been finalized, leaving open the possibility that the city could redirect some money toward recovery in tornado-damaged areas.
During a Wednesday news conference, Alderwoman Megan Green briefly addressed the Rams settlement funds.
“I remain committed to what I’ve said from Day 1 about Rams funds,” said Green. “Residents have made clear previously that they want to see us invest in affordable housing, childcare, infrastructure, real opportunities for historically disinvested neighborhoods. And we have to recognize that all of those needs that have been brought to us from the community previously have skyrocketed since Friday.”
“Yes, we need federal support. We need state support. We need the city to make its own financial commitment to north St. Louis. I know that that will be coming, but I also want to be clear that even if we spend every dime of Rams settlement money in the northside, it is not going to be enough.”
“We need our federal government to step in. We need, hopefully we will get FEMA here. But I’m also asking our cooperate and philanthropic community to please be in this with us in the long-term because this is not something the city can shoulder on its own.”
Mayor Spencer previously estimated tornado damage at roughly $1 billion citywide. For perspective, St. Louis’ portion of the Rams settlement funds currently stands at $294 million.
Prior to the tornado, several proposed settlement bills that gained traction prioritized water infrastructure and childcare services, but progress stalled before the end of the Board of Aldermen’s February legislative session.
When discussions resume, it remains to be determined how funding or certain priorities may shift in response to urgent and long-term tornado recovery needs.
In addition to the Rams settlement money, Spencer noted Tuesday that city officials are exploring the possibility of using $10 million to $20 million in ARPA funds that could potentially be pivoted to support immediate relief efforts.
Meanwhile, crews from FEMA have also arrived in St. Louis as of Wednesday to evaluate storm damage, an essential step in the city’s pursuit of a significant federal disaster relief package.