Statement by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones
These are the prepared comments delivered by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones on Wednesday, June 8, 2022:
Good morning everyone, thank you for being here today
First, I want to take a quick moment to emphasize that I am testing negative for COVID-19, I quarantined for the required period, and that I have been cleared to be back at City Hall 鈥 I feel great, and can鈥檛 wait to get my second booster shot when I can!
But to the matter at hand today 鈥 it鈥檚 been an incredibly difficult few weeks for our City and our region. We鈥檝e seen three elected leaders resign 鈥 including the former Board President Lewis Reed just yesterday 鈥 amid troubling allegations of bribery and corruption.
If proven to be true, the self-dealing and corruption outlined in these indictments is completely unacceptable, illustrating how little these three individuals thought of their colleagues, of the people they were elected to serve, and of our entire city. The pay-to-play allegations in the indictment speak for themselves. What we can鈥檛 measure are businesses, grocery stores, and homes that never came to St. Louis, particularly North St. Louis, because of issues like these .
While I wholeheartedly believe that people are innocent until proven guilty, I also recognize 鈥 and I think most of our city does too 鈥 that the disturbing federal corruption charges brought against Lewis Reed, Jeffrey Boyd, and John Collins-Muhammad prevented them from doing the job they were elected to do: to faithfully serve the residents of St. Louis. City residents will be better served by representatives who are not facing federal indictments, and all three did the right thing by resigning. Now, our city can take the first tentative steps to move forward.
Anyone who鈥檚 followed City Hall knows despite my administration鈥檚 best efforts, Lewis Reed fought me from the first day I stepped foot in this office. He refused to meet with me or my staff time and time again around the American Rescue Plan or other key issues. Jeffrey Boyd fought me since I became Treasurer in 2012
According to the indictment, John Collins-Muhammad said that I鈥檓 on his 鈥渟hit list鈥 for trying to stop him from giving out an illicit tax abatement. And that language communicates everything that needs to be said there.
But the charges outlined in the indictments go beyond any personal or political disagreements 鈥 the U.S. Attorney has pulled back the curtain on how certain politicians can exploit our City government for their own personal gain and profit
Let me be absolutely clear; no one wins in this situation. When politicians break the law to serve themselves instead of the people they were elected to serve, everyone loses
Everyone 鈥 including political opponents and the families of those indicted. I understand first-hand what it鈥檚 like to keep loving someone unconditionally, even as they face consequences for their actions. That is a feeling families across St. Louis empathize with.
Each day, I鈥檝e taken time to pray for the families of those indicted, for those who have seen their futures thrown into limbo in the past week. I know what that鈥檚 like, so to all listening, please give grace to those who are suffering through no fault of their own.
All of us in this room follow what happens in this building, this office because it鈥檚 our job to do so. But I also understand most St. Louisans don鈥檛 follow every single back-and-forth, every single City Hall tit-for-tat. While local government is important 鈥 I鈥檇 argue the most important level of government 鈥 St. Louisans are busy people, concerned about making ends meet 鈥 how they鈥檒l put food on the table, pay for childcare this month, or make rent.
And I want St. Louisans to know, that no matter the political intrigue of the day, my office remains laser-focused on delivering and improving the services that touch people鈥檚 lives on a daily basis; fixing our roads, picking up the trash and recycling, protecting communities from COVID-19, making our neighborhoods safer, and creating new opportunities for youth and their families.
St. Louis is heading into a new era 鈥 uncharted territory. None of us have a crystal ball, we cannot predict whether there are more federal charges to come.
But here鈥檚 what I do know: St. Louisans鈥 faith in their government has been shaken once again, betrayed by those who allegedly sought to use their public office for private profit.
As elected officials, we recognize the trust we often hold is fragile. In this case, that confidence has been shattered by the serious corruption charges outlined in these federal indictments against three prominent elected leaders. Some steps are already being taken to pull those pieces back together and restore integrity.
SLDC has been working to create a more transparent, accountable tax incentive system, and that work continues. Earlier this week, SLDC announced a freeze on LRA transactions from July through October as the agency looks to assess and standardize its practices and processes.
And an important point for clarity: According to SLDC, LRA did not grant an abatement for the property in question 鈥 the developer will be required to pay current taxes and any and all future incremental taxes on this project.
My administration is currently reviewing potential ethics language and legislation the city can implement to help guarantee that elected leaders work for the people who elected them, not special interests and insiders.
I also reached out to Interim President Vollmer to discuss how we can best work together to serve City residents in the coming months.
Vice President Vollmer stressed his commitment to using his time to help restore integrity to the Board. I believe that is a sentiment and a goal worthy of respect.
I look forward to working alongside him through the November election to fill the Board President position, and I鈥檓 asking the public to give him a chance to lead as he takes on a role he did not seek.
In my State of the City speech, I emphasized that the status quo has not delivered on its promises for St. Louis 鈥 all it takes is a quick drive past where my grandfather鈥檚 house used to stand before it burned down, through one of our neighborhoods left behind after decades of neglect, or past any of the vacant buildings dotting our neighborhoods.
The past week is yet another example of how the status quo has worked well for insiders and the well-connected 鈥 but not worked for everyday St. Louisans. It has not made us safer. It has not made us fairer or more prosperous. And it鈥檚 the status quo that has brought us here together today, responding to these federal indictments.
I said yesterday that this is a dispiriting 鈥 but necessary 鈥 moment of reflection for St. Louis. This is a stain on our city, but it will not prevent us from becoming a fairer, safer, and stronger St. Louis 鈥 across racial lines and ZIP codes. As elected leaders, we must think big and work together to begin the difficult work of rebuilding a fragile trust and integrity that these disturbing corruption charges have shattered.
Thank you.