At present, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones testified on the Missouri Senate Interim Committee on Rising St. Louis Regional Points on the invitation of the chair, Senator Elaine Gannon (SD-3), on the state legislature’s relationship with the Metropolis of St. Louis. Mayor Jones targeted on the methods the state legislature’s insurance policies on gun legal guidelines and abortion rights impede St. Louis’ skill to struggle violent crime in addition to entice companies and expertise to the area.
“From the enduring Gateway Arch to our landmark universities, arts venues, well being methods, sports activities amenities and extra, St. Louis is the cultural and financial hub of our area, however the State of Missouri has not all the time been an lively companion with our Metropolis,” mentioned Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “From easing commonsense gun security legal guidelines to pushing more and more strict abortion bans, one-size-fits-all insurance policies from Jefferson Metropolis inhibit St. Louis’ skill to guard and supply for our residents, and I’m able to have the onerous conversations about how these dangerous insurance policies influence our metropolis.”
Mayor Jones additionally emphasised the work her administration is doing to reverse a long time of disinvestment, handle violent crime and enhance public security. That features allocating $11.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds for neighborhood violence intervention packages, youth jobs and programming, and social staff. Mayor Jones additionally highlighted her administration’s ongoing talks with key enterprise, civic and neighborhood stakeholders to current a constructive and inclusive, not punitive, imaginative and prescient for downtown St. Louis that will likely be launched later this week. An overview of the issues Mayor Jones’ touched on can be found in her recent opinion piece for the Missouri Times.