Re-Envisioning Public Safety. Re-Envisioning Public Safety. Re-Envisioning Public Safety. Re-Envisioning Public Safety. Re-Envisioning Public Safety. Re-Envisioning Public Safety.
Questions from the People.
Do you support the closure of the Workhouse and if elected Mayor will you direct the Corrections Division to close it immediately?
Treasurer
Tishaura Jones
Yes.
BOA President
Lewis Reed
I sponsored the ordinance that officially began the process of closing the workhouse, which began with a plan to close it by December 31, 2020. Due to Covid, many of the actions that could have been taken to close it by that date are not possible. Nearby facilities are not accepting anyone else, and we cannot increase capacity at the Justice Center facility without increasing the risk of exposing detainees to Covid. I will not do anything that will put detainees at increased risk of contracting a deadly virus. The answer to your question depends on the state of the Pandemic.
Alderwoman
Cara Spencer
Yes.
Candidate
Andrew Jones
No.
Questions from the People.
If "yes", how much do you expect to see in budgetary savings, and how would you reallocate these funds? If not, why not?
Treasurer
Tishaura Jones
The Workhouse must close. Period.
Since September of 2016, I have been at the forefront of demanding that the City Close the Workhouse and will continue to do so until the job is done. Because this is one of my top priorities as mayor, I will work with Comptroller Darlene Green as two of the three voting members of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to zero out the budget for the Workhouse and close it for good.
However, my work won’t stop there.
When we close the Workhouse, we will take those funds and put them towards programs that actually keep us safe. We will end our ineffective and expensive arrest-and-incarcerate model by directing resources toward job training, housing, diversion programs, and substance abuse programming. Combining these essential services with abolishing cash bail will make St. Louis a better, safer place to live.
Currently, the City budget still has $8 million allocated to the Workhouse, previously over $16 million. When we finally do our job, the job that current city leadership has failed to do, we will save well over $8 million. How? Because we will invest the money we have saved from Closing the Workhouse into services that keep people healthier and more safe which will have tangible, positive impacts on our neighborhoods and on our local economy.
BOA President
Lewis Reed
I have a bill in place that would reallocate funding to neighborhood safety plans made through a participatory process and re-entry support programs. The savings amount has yet to determined.
Alderwoman
Cara Spencer
The savings will be in the millions - an exact amount will be based on whether we continue to house federal detainees and the reimbursement of those held. Those funds would be redirected to services that prevent folks from entering our incarceration facilities to begin with such as addiction services, mental health treatment, and jobs training.
Candidate
Andrew Jones
This is a reoccurring problem that wasn’t/hasn’t been addressed. I asked for a thorough assessment be conducted and it’s hasn’t been done. It is irresponsible to make decisions without knowing the facts. This is typical, and what has the city in dire straits.
Questions from the People.
How would you more effectively address intracommunity violence and harm in the city of St. Louis?
Treasurer
Tishaura Jones
Much of the violent crime in our city is a result of the actions of just a few. We need to rebuild trust between the community and law enforcement so that we are able to start solving these violent crimes. We need to declare gun violence as a public health crisis and begin to address it as such. Additionally, we need to start immediately solving the root cause of crime -- poverty. When you’re picking up a paycheck, you’re less likely to be picking up a gun. I will implement a public safety strategy that empowers the entire community, not just law enforcement, to reduce violent crime.
BOA President
Lewis Reed
We need to expand the use of programs like Cure Violence, which works to settle disputes. We need to create more jobs to get individuals out of criminal money making activities that lead to violence. We have to solve more murders. There are too many people walking around the streets who have committed, in some cases, multiple murders. This creates retaliatory violence and also emboldens others due to a lack of legal consequences.
Alderwoman
Cara Spencer
A community supported Cure Violence Program. It concerns me that the folks involved in bringing Cure Violence to the City of St. Louis have concerns about its deployment. As Mayor I will work to address those concerns so this program and the funds allocated to it are successful in addressing intracommunity violence.
Candidate
Andrew Jones
Ensure best practices in policing are adopted and adhered to.
Questions from the People.
Do you support shifting time, money and resources towards non-police [or “unarmed”] first responders and alternative crisis response/resolution.
Treasurer
Tishaura Jones
Yes.
BOA President
Lewis Reed
Yes.
Alderwoman
Cara Spencer
Yes.
Candidate
Andrew Jones
No.
Questions from the People.
Do you support moving internal affairs and the Force Investigative Unit out of the police department?
Treasurer
Tishaura Jones
Yes.
BOA President
Lewis Reed
As mayor, all divisions of Public Safety and the Police Department ultimately report to you. My charge as mayor would be to get the divisions that are under me to operate and function as they should. I will first take personal responsibility in making sure everyone reporting to me is doing the job the way the job is supposed to be done. If I am unsuccessful and it is determined that best practice are pointing to a different approach, I will look into that.
Alderwoman
Cara Spencer
Yes.
Candidate
Andrew Jones
No.
Questions from the People.
Would you make any changes to the disciplinary process for SLMPD?
Treasurer
Tishaura Jones
A recent report produced by Teneo Strategy found that officers of all levels perceive the current SLMPD disciplinary process as unfair and without transparency. Additionally, some officers take advantage of loopholes allowing them to avoid civil service disciplinary rules. As mayor, I will make the disciplinary process transparent and consistent with civil service rules. I support moving internal affairs to the City Personnel Department to help with this process. A more equitable and fair disciplinary process is essential to restoring trust in the police department. As mayor, I will bring law enforcement leadership and my office together to realign the city’s priorities when it comes to equity in hiring, the promotions process, and in discipline.
BOA President
Lewis Reed
I have very recently sponsored and passed legislation concerning police use of force and reporting.
Alderwoman
Cara Spencer
I would like to make sure our use-of-force investigations are transparent for the public. I also want to create a position of chief equity officer to oversee all department policies and processes around recruitment, hiring, promotions, and discipline, and to make sure ongoing training and evaluation are carried out fairly, with equal opportunity for all genders, races, and ethnicities, and sexual orientations.
Candidate
Andrew Jones
No. Enforce existing policy.
Questions from the People.
Do you support moving internal affairs and the Force Investigative Unit out of the police department?
Treasurer
Tishaura Jones
Yes.
BOA President
Lewis Reed
I would continue the current process as established with collective bargaining.
Alderwoman
Cara Spencer
No.
Candidate
Andrew Jones
No.
Questions from the People.
As Mayor how will you support the efforts of community organizers and work with the Circuit Attorney to decriminalize poverty, reducing the number of people incarcerated in St Louis?
Treasurer
Tishaura Jones
Over the last eight years, my work in the Treasurer’s office has been dedicated to eradicating poverty through financial empowerment initiatives. During the pandemic, we launched a new payment plan program so people with outstanding tickets could avoid getting their cars booted and towed. To date, over 80% of the people on plans are not in default.
Also, we should end cash bail for non-violent offenses and work with the Circuit Attorney’s office on expanding diversion programs. Far too often, the current Mayor’s Office and other officials have either opposed the Circuit Attorney’s criminal justice reform efforts or failed to work collaboratively with her office. I will make sure Kim Garnder and her office are at the table on day one to help decriminalize poverty in St. Louis.
BOA President
Lewis Reed
As President of the Board of Aldermen I have worked with the Circuit Attorney by making supplemental appropriations and amended ordinances to add funds to that office’s budget for diversion and community engagement programs. As mayor I would continue working with all departments and offices so that they can be successful.
Alderwoman
Cara Spencer
As a society, we have criminalized acts that people do not deserve to be incarcerated for. We have criminalized mental health, criminalized drug addiction, and it has taken a toll on our communities, specifically communities of color. We should be putting those with drug addictions or mental health struggles into programs that will help them, not force them into a criminal justice system that is difficult to return from. We should be investing in programs to reduce recidivism. And we should never implement or enforce punitive measures towards those experiencing homelessness. I am committed to working with our elected Circuit Attorney to address these issues.
Candidate
Andrew Jones
I will work with every stakeholder to ensure public safety.
Questions from the People.
9. Do you support surveillance programs like shotspotter, real time crime center and surveillance planes?
Treasurer
Tishaura Jones
I stand squarely opposed to the proposal to bring spy planes to our City. The ACLU of Maryland is opposed to a similar program in Baltimore, and I am opposed to bringing tools of war, of any kind, to neighborhoods in our City. I do believe that we need coordination of tools like the Real Crime Center to be region-wide, and we need our focus to be on solving violent crime. The civil liberties of people in our city must be protected, and I will work with legal organizations like Arch City Defenders and the ACLU of Missouri to ensure our city meets that standard.
BOA President
Lewis Reed
Technologically advanced crime fighting tools can help reduce crime. Just like ring doorbells and alarm systems on homes, there are many forms of technology that can make us safer. Properly used, all of these things can be good tools in saving lives, solving crimes, finding abducted children, and many other things that are of public benefit.
Alderwoman
Cara Spencer
I support proven programs that are informed by data to reduce crime. However, I do not support costly programs, such as the current surveillance plane proposal, that have no proven track record of effectiveness. We should not expand the surveillance of our citizens until we have comprehensive protections for civil liberties to prevent invasions of privacy.
Candidate
Andrew Jones
I support all effective tools that will assist in public safety as long as these tools don’t violate the constitutional rights of citizens.
The People’s Plan. Building Our St. Louis. The People’s Plan. Building Our St. Louis. The People’s Plan. Building Our St. Louis.