ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The St. Louis Board of Aldermen have kicked the can down the road after failing to allocate any of the Rams Settlement money.
Four days after a dramatic Board of Aldermen meeting which saw Aldermanic President Megan Green abruptly end the meeting, the Board of Aldermen placed all bills allocating the near $300 million dollars from the Rams Settlement on the informal calendar, leaving the debate and negotiations to resume after the upcoming election and summer break.
Despite failing to find consensus around her substitute to allocate forty million dollars for the water division, Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer wouldn't go as far as saying the board failed.
"I wouldn't call it a failure, I would call it that's the decision of today," said Alderwoman Schweitzer.
Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier says she had enough votes to allocate the money before amendments made in committee crushed the compromise.
Despite the Board not finding consensus around any of the proposals in front of them, Alderwoman Sonnier says the agreement to step back and keep talking was a positive development.
"What is most important is that we are able ensure people at home that your leaders care about you," said Sonnier. "Even though other bodies may not have the ability to work together, we do.
There was a last ditch effort to pass a $40 million allocation for the water division. However, that effort was killed when Alderman Rasheen Aldridge tied what was originally $40 million to the water division to as much as $100 million for North City.
Alderman Aldridge says the city needs to pass a bill to allocate the funds as a whole.
"If we're going to deliver results, we deliver results of what residents have asked us to do," said Aldridge.
Aldridge defended him and other alders taking a selfie after the bills were put on the informal calendar by saying it was a group of Alders coming together to stand up for North City.
Sonnier, who also was in the selfie, called criticism "racially tone deaf."
"I was excited to sit and stand next to every black member of this board," said Sonnier. "For us to take a selfie, because we all agree, it is important to invest in disinvested communities."
"Today, you saw us be able to identify that's something we all agree and share on."
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones issued a statement following the meeting, expressing hope "the Board of Aldermen will bring a bill to my desk that directs these historic funds to benefit all of St. Louis in ways that our residents can see and feel."
"In the coming weeks, my office will provide guidance on the impact of the new presidential administration and the effects that Project 2025 will have on our community and our budget," said Mayor Jones in a statement.
Greater St. Louis Inc. also released a statement on Tuesday meeting.
"St. Louis has pressing needs that require bold action and major investment," said Greater St. Louis Interim CEO Dustin Allison in a statement. "Today's lack of action by the Board of Alderman means those urgent needs continue to go unmet."