Most of the homes on Ashland Avenue are still standing, though some are condemned. Many are rental properties. Post-Dispatch photo by Tony Messenger
ºüÀêÊÓƵ firefighters recoup after extinguishing a fire in the 5200 block of Ashland Ave. damaged a two-family home on Friday, April 8, 2016. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
Christian Gooden •
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Mayor Francis Slay speaks at a press conference after the announcement that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is planning to stay in the city on Friday, April 1, 2016. Pictured from left, are: U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin; U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-ºüÀêÊÓƵ; Gov. Jay Nixon; and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
About the same time Mayor Francis Slay was setting the ºüÀêÊÓƵ political landscape ablaze with his announcement Friday that he would not seek another term as mayor, a fire broke out on Ashland Avenue.
The fire was in a two-story flat in the western edge of the Greater Ville neighborhood in the city’s crime-ridden Fourth Ward. Nobody was injured.
Two weeks earlier, he said he would seek a fifth term. `He changed his mind,' says spokeswoman.
About an hour earlier that morning, I was just a few blocks east on Ashland Avenue interviewing a family that is struggling with the scourge of poverty. I’ll write more about them in a future column, but theirs is a common story in this part of the city.
They recently moved because the children got lead poisoning from the paint at their old apartment, also on Ashland Avenue. Mom had a job at Dollar General, but she had to quit when the company transferred her to a location she couldn’t walk to. They have a car but no insurance for it. Dad is on disability because he suffers epileptic seizures.
They don’t want to live here, but they don’t have many choices, either. No credit. No prospects. No hope.
On the morning I visited, their electricity had just been turned back on. It had been off for three weeks.
Depending on your perspective on Slay’s legacy, these are either the people he has left behind in his 15 years as mayor, or they are the inspiration behind the hours he put in making sure that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency relocated to the North Side and that the earnings tax passed last Tuesday.
But never mind his legacy. There will be time to define that later. Probably much later.
Right now there is this one year, one very important year.
Slay didn’t resign.
“I am going to be mayor for another year,†the mayor wrote on his blog. “I am going to have a full and, likely, controversial agenda to complete.â€
So what does a lame duck mayor with a massive campaign war chest do with 365-plus days left in his historic fourth term?
Forget about legacy. Go take a walk on Ashland Avenue.
This is a neighborhood time has forgotten. Last year, when the ºüÀêÊÓƵ murder rate spiked, with at least 188 homicides in the city, the second-highest number of murders was in the Fourth Ward, in and around this neighborhood.
Even on Ashland, where most of the homes are still standing, some are gutted or vacant. Maybe because of a fire like the one Friday morning. Maybe the owner couldn’t make ends meet and walked away.
The residents want to work. “I can get a job,†Erica Marshall, 24, a mother of two, told me. But all the good jobs are in the county. She doesn’t want to drive there without insurance and risk ending up in jail.
“I’m scared to stand at the bus stop,†she said.
There is gunfire nearly every night.
For all of the promise of the NGA relocation, it goes for naught if the people in the neighborhoods to the west, the Ville, the Greater Ville, Kingsway East and West, can’t improve their lot in life. If the people who live in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods can’t cling to some hope.
In its final report, the Ferguson Commission challenged the region to see major issues through a racial lens, asking public officials to think about every decision and whether it helps the people most often left behind: African-Americans, many of them stuck in generational poverty.
This must be the calling of Mayor Francis Slay’s final year.
Does every decision, every proposal, every grand plan, controversial or not, help the young family living on Ashland Avenue? Does it feed their children, give them safe passage to school or work? Does it give them hope?
Do that, and the legacy thing will take care of itself.
ST. LOUIS •ÌýThirty minutes before Francis Slay took to the podium Friday morning to make the shocking announcement that he would not seek a fifth term as ºüÀêÊÓƵ mayor, he let longtime friend and political ally Gregory F.X. Daly know of his intentions.
Less than two hours later, Daly, who is the city’s collector of revenue, was making his own intentions known: He was strongly indicating that he would make a run to be Slay’s replacement.
But Daly will not be alone.
With no incumbent running as a formidable opponent, the list to replace Slay is expected to grow over the next few months with the Democratic primary less than a year away.Ìý
In his announcement, Slay gave no indication whom he would support to replace him.
“I have not endorsed a successor, but I might,†Slay said.ÌýSlay is sitting on nearly $877,000, which he could pour into the campaign of a candidate who wants to be his successor. If he so chooses.
Here, in alphabetical order, is an early look at some possible candidates:
Alderman Jeffrey Boyd, who has been the 22nd Ward alderman for 13 years, ran unsuccessfully against Tishaura Jones for treasurer in 2012 and then unsuccessfully for license collector in 2014.
He said running two citywide campaigns gives him a good understanding of the city’s political landscape and puts him at an advantage if he chooses to run for mayor. But, he stressed, that has not been decided.
“No, hey, I’m just blown away like everyone else,†Boyd said. “But I’m keeping options open. I’ve gotten several calls on it.â€
Gregory F.X. Daly has been a fixture at City Hall since 1980, where he began as an administrative assistant working for three board presidents, starting with Tom Zych, followed by Tom Villa then Slay. Ìý
If Daly does run, he is well ahead of all the other possible candidates, with $653,000 cash on hand, based on campaign finance forms filed with the state Ethics Commission. Reed is a distant second, with just under $136,000.
“There are a number of people talking about it right now,†Daly said. “I think it’s the nature of the political cycle that when there is an opening you are going to have individuals take a shot at it.â€ÌýThe fact that Daly was one of the few people given a heads up about the announcement is notable.
Police Chief Sam Dotson was not made available for an interview. Instead, a department spokesman provided an emailed statement:
“Chief Dotson is enjoying serving as Chief of Police for the Metropolitan Police Department. Since 2006, crime in the City of ºüÀêÊÓƵ is down nearly 50 percent and Chief Dotson will continue to focus on crime reduction and ensuring our City is a safe place to live, work and visit.â€
Alderman Antonio French is not putting forward his name just yet. “I have no plans at this time to run for mayor. I’ll be considering my options in the next few months,†he said.
“What I imagine is that now that there is an open seat, you will have several hats in the ring,†said French, a Slay critic and alderman for the 21st Ward, tucked between O’Fallon and Fairground parks in north ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
French said four victories in a row does not mean Slay was a good leader.
“I had always hoped after each election day that there would be an attempt to build bridges, an attempt to say, ‘We do indeed value you,’†French said of Slay. “This 50 percent plus 1 mentality left the city divided for many years. You still have entire groups of people that basically have not had a mayor in 15 years.â€
City Treasurer Tishaura Jones did not rule out the possibility but was careful not to say she was going to make a run.
Jones, the daughter of former city comptroller Virvus Jones, is a rising political star, winning a four-person race for treasurer in 2012. But on Friday, instead of agreeing to an interview, she released a short statement that did little to set the record straight on her political future.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Mayor Slay for his service to the City of ºüÀêÊÓƵ,†Jones’ statement reads. “At this time, I am focused on my re-election campaign for treasurer, and am taking time to consider my options.â€
Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, who has already announced she is not seeking re-election, is included with Dotson on the short list of names circulated in ºüÀêÊÓƵ political circles.
She tweeted within an hour of Slay's announcement:Ìý“#STL’s next leader should be collaborative, inclusive, experienced, smart, and completely dedicated to the public interest, not their own.â€Ìý
Lyda Krewson has been an alderman for the city’s Central West End for 18 years and made an unsuccessful run for board president 14 years ago.
Although Krewson was a Slay supporter then and remains one today, Slay did not offer an endorsement in the board president race, something that Krewson thought she would get. It also looked like she would not make another run at a citywide office. But on Friday, she indicated otherwise.
“Well, I certainly didn’t get up this morning thinking about it,†Krewson said Friday afternoon. “But I have been thinking about it the last couple of hours. I think it’s of interest to me if I can be a positive force for the city.â€
Lewis Reed, who serves as president of the Board of Aldermen and ran against Slay three years ago, said he is definitely going to run again.ÌýReed is a distant second to Daly in campaign funding, with just under $136,000 cash on hand.
Reed, like Antonio French, has accused Slay of focusing too much on developing downtown and the city’s central corridor and not enough on the safety of neighborhoods where minorities and the poor live. Until ºüÀêÊÓƵ can overcome its image as the one of the country’s most dangerous, the city’s population of 315,000 will continue to drop, Reed said.
Candidates for ºüÀêÊÓƵ mayor? Here's an early look at the possible field
With no incumbent running as a formidable opponent, the list to replace Francis Slay is expected to grow over the next few months with the Democratic primary less than a year away.
ST. LOUIS •ÌýThirty minutes before Francis Slay took to the podium Friday morning to make the shocking announcement that he would not seek a fifth term as ºüÀêÊÓƵ mayor, he let longtime friend and political ally Gregory F.X. Daly know of his intentions.
Less than two hours later, Daly, who is the city’s collector of revenue, was making his own intentions known: He was strongly indicating that he would make a run to be Slay’s replacement.
But Daly will not be alone.
With no incumbent running as a formidable opponent, the list to replace Slay is expected to grow over the next few months with the Democratic primary less than a year away.Ìý
In his announcement, Slay gave no indication whom he would support to replace him.
“I have not endorsed a successor, but I might,†Slay said.ÌýSlay is sitting on nearly $877,000, which he could pour into the campaign of a candidate who wants to be his successor. If he so chooses.
Here, in alphabetical order, is an early look at some possible candidates:
Alderman Jeffrey Boyd, who has been the 22nd Ward alderman for 13 years, ran unsuccessfully against Tishaura Jones for treasurer in 2012 and then unsuccessfully for license collector in 2014.
He said running two citywide campaigns gives him a good understanding of the city’s political landscape and puts him at an advantage if he chooses to run for mayor. But, he stressed, that has not been decided.
“No, hey, I’m just blown away like everyone else,†Boyd said. “But I’m keeping options open. I’ve gotten several calls on it.â€
Gregory F.X. Daly has been a fixture at City Hall since 1980, where he began as an administrative assistant working for three board presidents, starting with Tom Zych, followed by Tom Villa then Slay. Ìý
If Daly does run, he is well ahead of all the other possible candidates, with $653,000 cash on hand, based on campaign finance forms filed with the state Ethics Commission. Reed is a distant second, with just under $136,000.
“There are a number of people talking about it right now,†Daly said. “I think it’s the nature of the political cycle that when there is an opening you are going to have individuals take a shot at it.â€ÌýThe fact that Daly was one of the few people given a heads up about the announcement is notable.
Police Chief Sam Dotson was not made available for an interview. Instead, a department spokesman provided an emailed statement:
“Chief Dotson is enjoying serving as Chief of Police for the Metropolitan Police Department. Since 2006, crime in the City of ºüÀêÊÓƵ is down nearly 50 percent and Chief Dotson will continue to focus on crime reduction and ensuring our City is a safe place to live, work and visit.â€
Alderman Antonio French is not putting forward his name just yet. “I have no plans at this time to run for mayor. I’ll be considering my options in the next few months,†he said.
“What I imagine is that now that there is an open seat, you will have several hats in the ring,†said French, a Slay critic and alderman for the 21st Ward, tucked between O’Fallon and Fairground parks in north ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
French said four victories in a row does not mean Slay was a good leader.
“I had always hoped after each election day that there would be an attempt to build bridges, an attempt to say, ‘We do indeed value you,’†French said of Slay. “This 50 percent plus 1 mentality left the city divided for many years. You still have entire groups of people that basically have not had a mayor in 15 years.â€
City Treasurer Tishaura Jones did not rule out the possibility but was careful not to say she was going to make a run.
Jones, the daughter of former city comptroller Virvus Jones, is a rising political star, winning a four-person race for treasurer in 2012. But on Friday, instead of agreeing to an interview, she released a short statement that did little to set the record straight on her political future.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Mayor Slay for his service to the City of ºüÀêÊÓƵ,†Jones’ statement reads. “At this time, I am focused on my re-election campaign for treasurer, and am taking time to consider my options.â€
Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, who has already announced she is not seeking re-election, is included with Dotson on the short list of names circulated in ºüÀêÊÓƵ political circles.
She tweeted within an hour of Slay's announcement:Ìý“#STL’s next leader should be collaborative, inclusive, experienced, smart, and completely dedicated to the public interest, not their own.â€Ìý
Lyda Krewson has been an alderman for the city’s Central West End for 18 years and made an unsuccessful run for board president 14 years ago.
Although Krewson was a Slay supporter then and remains one today, Slay did not offer an endorsement in the board president race, something that Krewson thought she would get. It also looked like she would not make another run at a citywide office. But on Friday, she indicated otherwise.
“Well, I certainly didn’t get up this morning thinking about it,†Krewson said Friday afternoon. “But I have been thinking about it the last couple of hours. I think it’s of interest to me if I can be a positive force for the city.â€
Lewis Reed, who serves as president of the Board of Aldermen and ran against Slay three years ago, said he is definitely going to run again.ÌýReed is a distant second to Daly in campaign funding, with just under $136,000 cash on hand.
Reed, like Antonio French, has accused Slay of focusing too much on developing downtown and the city’s central corridor and not enough on the safety of neighborhoods where minorities and the poor live. Until ºüÀêÊÓƵ can overcome its image as the one of the country’s most dangerous, the city’s population of 315,000 will continue to drop, Reed said.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ firefighters recoup after extinguishing a fire in the 5200 block of Ashland Ave. damaged a two-family home on Friday, April 8, 2016. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Mayor Francis Slay speaks at a press conference after the announcement that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is planning to stay in the city on Friday, April 1, 2016. Pictured from left, are: U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin; U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-ºüÀêÊÓƵ; Gov. Jay Nixon; and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com