ST. LOUIS — Members of the Board of Aldermen still will be allowed to participate in videoconference meetings while driving following a lengthy debate on the issue Friday.
The board, which spent more than 2½ hours on the matter, defeated two versions of an effort to bar remote legislating while behind the wheel. That’s been an occasional practice for some since the full board and its committees halted in-person meetings in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Each measure fell several votes short of the two-thirds majority of those present needed for passage.
Alderman Anne Schweitzer of the 13th Ward, who led the effort to alter board rules, said banning the practice was a commonsense traffic safety measure.
She said such a change would “make both the members of the board safer ... and also the people we share the roads with.†She also said it would set a good example for constituents.
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Opponents said drivers multitask on a daily basis and asserted that participating in the board’s meetings via their smartphones in vehicles is no different.
“There’s a whole bunch of things that are distracting†to motorists, said Alderman Sharon Tyus, 1st Ward.
She cited as examples noisy children, barking dogs and “even a robust conversation with a person sitting next to you.â€
Tyus and other opponents also noted that state law doesn’t prohibit videoconferencing while driving.
In response, Alderman Annie Rice, 8th Ward, said “that doesn’t make it right, that doesn’t make it safe.â€
The debate and the vote fell largely along racial lines, with most white aldermen in favor of the unsuccessful rules change and most Black aldermen against.
Tyus said she and other Black members were skeptical of anything that would result in taking away an alderman’s right to vote. Backers were “tone-deaf†for bringing up the idea during Black History Month, she added.
Alderman Pam Boyd of the 27th Ward alleged that the measure targeted Black members with families who “don’t just sit at home all day.â€
Alderman Brandon Bosley of the 3rd Ward, who said he occasionally drives his son and other children or uses his vehicle on ward business during aldermanic meetings, said the proposed change “most certainly is racist in nature.†One white alderman, Joe Vaccaro of the 23rd Ward, said he agreed.
Supporters denied that the measure was targeting anyone.
“I’m a mom, I get it, it’s hard some times. ... We’re juggling a lot,†said Alderman Sarah Martin, 11th Ward. But she said “you can pull over†to the side of the road to speak or vote in the meeting if needed.
Alderman Dan Guenther, 9th Ward, cited a recent Trailnet study that pointed to an increase in pedestrian deaths in the city.
One opponent, Carol Howard of the 14th Ward, said the issue isn’t worth spending so much time on because the pandemic appears to be nearing an end. Disagreeing was Christine Ingrassia of the 6th Ward.
The board on Friday first defeated a version that would have prohibited aldermen from participating in a meeting while driving.
That got 13 positive votes and 12 negative votes but needed at least 18 for passage. Two aldermen voted present and one didn’t vote.
That was sponsored by Alderman Bret Narayan, 24th Ward, who worked with Schweitzer on the wording, which they said clarified the language in Schweitzer’s original proposal.
The board then rejected Schweitzer’s original measure, which said no board member could vote or be counted as present if driving. That lost, 11-13, with two voting present and two not voting.
Originally posted at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25.