Disagreement persists among Board of Aldermen on Rams settlement funds

ST. LOUIS – The City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Megan Green shut down a discussion over the Rams settlement money during a board meeting Friday. Some members of the board were frustrated over Green’s decision to recess until Tuesday. 

“All of the sudden, things aren’t going a certain way, so they took their ball and went home. It’s very, very poor,” Alderman Joe Vollmer (Ward 5) said.

$294 million dollars of the Rams settlement fund is ready to be used, but members of the board of aldermen can’t agree on how to spend it. 

“Neither 131 nor 153, as they were written, had the votes to pass. Which meant we would have spent however many months of our city’s time debating a bill that failed—when we have crucial infrastructure that needs to get done,” Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer (Ward 1) added.

Schweitzer is ready to introduce a $40 million bill for water and infrastructure but didn’t get the chance on Friday.

“I think that, unfortunately, the goal of today was to create chaos, and like I said in the beginning, my role as president has to be to maintain order and decorum in the chamber,” Green said.

She wants to make sure the 16,000 residents who voted in a survey get their voices heard on how to spend the money.

“All of the stakeholders that have been in this process have had their voices heard as a part of that process. One stakeholder group does not get more forceful say in this process than others,” she added.

Schweitzer hopes to introduce the bill on Tuesday.

“I think we keep our coalition strong, and we make sure that the water division’s much-needed funding crosses the finish line,” she said.

Mayor Tishaura Jones released the following statement Friday:

“As a former legislator, I know that the process of passing a consequential piece of legislation like the TRANSFORM STL Act can be complex, especially when emotions are high,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “I hope the Board of Aldermen can come together and put a bill on my desk for me to sign soon, and I think the original compromise bill between Alderwomen Boyd and Sonnier would go the furthest in increasing quality of life for St. Louis City residents.”