By Antonio D. French
Filed Saturday, October 06, 2007 at 10:20 AM
Friday's unseasonal upper-80-degree temperatures weren't the only reason things were hot in the Board of Aldermen meeting yesterday. Racial tensions are high in the City of St. Louis following Mayor Francis Slay's removal of the city's first black fire chief and the subsequent promoting of 25 fire fighters to the rank of captain, 88% of whom are white. Labels: Board_of_Aldermen, Race
Third Ward Alderman Freeman Bosley, Sr. (3rd Ward), whose son was the city's first black mayor, took the opportunity during the announcements period at the end of the meeting to ask for a moment of quiet reflection and prayer to help heal the racial divide. Ironically, it was at that moment that the divide showed itself clearly to the citizens in the chamber and watching on television.
Alderman Steve Conway, who along with fellow southside aldermen Jennifer Florida and Steve Gregali have been at the center of much of the racial division at the Board, interrupted Bosley. Upset at Conway's interruption at a call for prayer, Bosley snapped back: "Oh, shut your mouth!"
Board President Lewis Reed asked Conway to back down from his point-of-order objection in the interest of keeping things civil. Conway eventually agreed and moved on.
46 Comments:
the only racial tension in the city is from guys like antonio and the st. louis american trying to create it when there is very little
10/06/2007 10:41 AM
10:41 AM Anonymous must live on the Hill where there are no black people and a cop lives on every block. Yep, no tension there!
10/06/2007 10:55 AM
Conway is a little Nazi. Florida's got him and Gregali's noses so open you can drive a truck through them. But in just 17 months, Florida's going to get her pretty little ass kicked out of office. Then who are those horny boys going to lust after? Kacie Triplett isn't giving them no play. LOL!
10/06/2007 11:12 AM
Lewis Reed is a class act. He did a nice job in handling a difficult situation.
10/06/2007 12:03 PM
Since Bosley and Conway have never liked each other, is this really a good example of racial tension?
10/06/2007 12:31 PM
More and more---Lewis Reed seems to be emerging as the heart and soul of the city.
Time will tell.
10/06/2007 12:38 PM
What can the BOA do to address issues between the Mayor and former Fire Chief?
10/06/2007 1:06 PM
What is the deal with this guy?
I thought it was an interesting article---it has a couple of phrases which i do not believe are appropriate for me to post---so i will just tell you where the article is---this weeks' rft--you have to do a search---he is not important enough to have his own link on their website.
Pants on Fire
Prince Joe dissects the firestorm surrounding Sherman George.
Published: October 3, 2007
Hey Joe: What do you think about the rift between former fire chief Sherman George and Mayor Francis Slay?
10/06/2007 1:58 PM
This city is full of racial tension, more than any place I've ever lived, but I don't see how Reed's woof tickets are helping the problem.
"I'd like to have a moment of prayer to the Almighty to help heal... oh SHUT YO MOUTH!"
That is sanctimonious drivel, and it sounds like you're all lapping it up. *That* looks more like a good ol' political power struggle than a gauge of racial tension to me.
Reed is making his move for mayor, so he's going to play up this issue as much as he can to mobilize black voters. The irony is that instead of helping to heal the divide, in this case, he has actually worsened it.
10/06/2007 2:59 PM
That last comment makes more sense if you replace the name "Reed" with "Bosley".
10/06/2007 5:42 PM
Antonio, what is up with dropping a bomb like "Conway, ... along with .. Jennifer Florida and Steve Gregali [have] been at the center of much of the racial division at the board", and not providing any background on that? What are you talking about!?
I went back through the PUBDEF archives for all things tagged "Board of Alderman", but I couldn't find anything that provides a foundation for your accusation of racism against those three alderman... which means the accusation is baseless, unless I'm just not finding the right posts...
You have an great talent for tracking city politics, and obviously great energy, but your reporting is really lacking objectivity and background. Please start shoring up these stories with more facts.
10/06/2007 5:55 PM
This city needs help. good for Bosley.
Just look at the black people they take whatever is handed to them.
You have racist white man running the school district that says in his haste he fired 30 black people for no reason. Gaines yells but like most black men he backs down.
Wake up people.
10/06/2007 6:37 PM
Anonymous wrote: "Antonio, what is up with dropping a bomb like "Conway, ... along with .. Jennifer Florida and Steve Gregali [have] been at the center of much of the racial division at the board", and not providing any background on that? What are you talking about!?"
Anony, look for more on this soon.
10/06/2007 7:30 PM
Ald, Steven Conway.. you should know by now that dammit you can't just disrespect all black folks and interrupt them while they are speaking..this is not the deep south whereas you would rather for black folks to just keep their mouth shut and don't say anything..It is ironic that white folks in this political arena (board of alderman) don't give a dayum about chief George's 40 years of service..I haven't heard not one white alderman stand in defense of him...so do it mean that the aldermanic black causus is wrong for supporting the chief or is all the white folks on the board of alderman are right for not supporting the chief..white folks know when its time to keep their mouth shut when it comes to supporting a brother that has almost full support of the black community...So Conway..next time you will keep your mouth shut..Right on Quincy Troupe for backing up the brother....
10/06/2007 10:53 PM
Gee, another prayer controversy with the BOA. Anyone with any sense would eliminate the call for prayer, it assumes much about the attendees.
Conway was an a$$ for sure.
Florida is in a race with him for first place though.
Her temper tantrums, moodiness and rudeness will be burned to a crisp in 17 months. There's a serious plan underway in TGH to oust her.
10/06/2007 11:52 PM
A question for both sides do we really want to fix the racial divide or perptuate it? Because from my perspective both sides on this blog only seem to further entrench themselves. Anotnio included.
Personally I am for getting along and making St. Louis a better place for all.
Tim
10/07/2007 12:43 AM
Tim, for you, does "getting along" mean people should shut up and sit down in the face of injustice. Or should we fight?
10/07/2007 2:18 AM
Come on, Antonio. Chief George's firing had nothing to do with his race and was not an injustice. He lost his court challenge, he ignored a direct order--he played a game of chicken and lost. Therefore, he was fired.
What did he expect to happen?
10/07/2007 7:35 AM
Racial tension here is mostly a construct of those in the racism industry (local versions of Jesse and Al). No one can demonstrate racial bias in the fire department test, as shown by the judges decision. On radio interviews with FIRE reps, the hosts and callers repeatedly asked for ONE example of a biased question on the test....no answer. The people from FIRE simply want an "affirmative action" quota to replace the merit system. Since George/FIRE can't actually say that publicly, they are limited to digging in and throwing tired old race cards.
10/07/2007 8:50 AM
Tim, you're missing the whole point of why African-Americans are so upset with Francis Slay.
It's beyond his handling of the Chief George situation. That was just the final straw. It is how he deals with this city's majority-black population.
I keep bringing this up, even though some readers seem to object, but it is essential to understand the problems we have in this city:
St. Louis is made up mostly of black citizens. These are the people that stuck it out in the tough times. These are not the reverse-migrators coming back from the suburbs. These are largely the people who ensured the city's population decline stopped at 300,000 rather than 200,000. And they deserve respect.
Because this is a majority-minority city doesn't mean that blacks and black officials should get everything they want. By no means.
But what it does mean is that the city's leaders — whether white or black — MUST be sensitive to the needs of that community.
But what we have in St. Louis is a mayor's office that is openly hostile to that community, whose policy in black relations seems to begin and end with the words "Fuck You."
That's the injustice.
Chief George's firing (which is not even as significant as the subsequent 88% white fire captain promotions) is just its latest incarnation.
This is a democracy last I checked. This is not South Africa of the 1980s. When majorities are upset with leadership in this country, they should — and MUST — fight it.
10/07/2007 9:02 AM
Antonio,
We are citizens of a republic.
The framers of our constitution went out of their way to not have a democracy.
10/07/2007 10:39 AM
That is right the city has a lot of race issues. The mayor is white. police chief is white, fire chief is white, both school boards are run by white people, the superintendent is white and on and on. Black people wake up.
10/07/2007 10:56 AM
Just because you don't get what you want does not mean you can cry wolf or should I say cry racism. And on this Aldermen thing, Bosley made a motion, and someone brought a point of order. It's interesting that Conway is a racist because of it. That's strange, I thought it was procedure. WAIT, that's right, black people in St. Louis don't have to follow procedure, or listen to their bosses.
10/07/2007 11:26 AM
CWEGuy, the City of St. Louis, with its weak-mayor form of government, IS NOT a republic.
And I see you ignored everything about why this situation has become so hot and why the mayor has made race relations worse in this city.
10/07/2007 1:58 PM
Antonio, we all see now that you are the biggest racist of them all. You create problems just to get people to look at your blog. You are a sad and sick jerk.
I hope you burn someday for your bigoted actions.
Shame on you Mr. French.
10/07/2007 6:03 PM
As my friend at the Quickie Mart says: "Thank you. Come again."
10/07/2007 7:38 PM
and on that note, have a nice night!
I will say that as a white male working in NSL for the last 7+ years, I can guarantee that Antonio is not imagining racial tension in St. Louis...whether nor not all the attention to it is helping or hurting depends (I think) on the validity of the story.
10/07/2007 9:32 PM
As a white male I am so tired of hearing people cry about how unfair things are for a black man. Maybe black people should be just as concerned about black women. Black men never seem to speak up for black women. You do so black men attacking black women.
10/07/2007 10:31 PM
Sylvester Brown of the pd had an interesting column---he went through the fire department controversy---from the perspective of making all the white people black, and vice versa.
I wonder how many black people did not like Slay from day one---compared to how many who have been disappointed by things he did, which caused them to change from positive to negative in their attitudes. I suspect it is a sizable percentage.
The schools seem to be a different case-----I have seen times where black people in authority seemed to support actions which the majority of black people did not----and vice versa.
cwe says we are a republic---so---how does that translate into coming up with a school board where the ceo is chosen by a governor who received a very small percentage of the votes of those who the ceo serves---but don't worry----he needs to be sponsored by a senator who does not live in st. louis.
10/07/2007 10:55 PM
While your underlying point is valid, your vigor in attacking the "opponent" leaves your point a bit muted to some. This should not be an all or nothing result for either the majority or the minority but rather a compromise acceptable to both, so rare in our political climate today. I think less stones need to be thrown and we need people that truly care about our City holding office, rather than those who care about protecting their profitable piece of the city at all costs.
Rambling Jack
10/07/2007 11:50 PM
Since african american's make up the majority of the population, they only have themselves to blame for not being in positions of power. I think it's down right stupid to elect someone based on their race though, so instead of counting white people in positions of power and crying about it, protest the injustices they perpetrate, not the color of their skin. If black people or white people are a voting block, this city is hopeless.
10/08/2007 8:40 AM
My issue is that these accusations of racism are not backed up by action. These leaders who cry racism have no problem going to bed with an overtly racist blockbusting white suburban pirate, Paul McKee. When they sit by allowing their neighborhoods to be plundered, to eventually be supplanted with upper middle class homogeneously white housing, I question their sincerity and also political ability.
They make a huge deal about Sherman George yet have done nothing. They rightfully complain about crime, and go so far as to push for civilian review, but vote unanimously to support Mokwa. And finally they rightfully attack Paul McKee at meetings but have not returned his money. They also allowed the situation to reach its present state by waiting too long to confront him.
If they rallied support 5 years ago then the neighborhoods wouldn't be this bad. They could have taken Paul McKee's blighted property through eminent domain and also outed him as the neighborhood destroying slumlord that he is so that people wouldn't sell. Proactive aldermen may be too much to ask. Apparently, according to Bosley Sr., it is easy to outsmart a public official who has the power of the state at their disposal.
These racial tensions exist however I wonder if what we are seeing is simply grandstanding? The most overtly racist actor in our City has been given the green light from the State of Missouri while being backed continuously by Room 200. From aldermen, we hear rhetoric but no action. Regarding the actual legislation, some of this rhetoric isn't legally correct. Perhaps securing a Walgreens for their neighborhood is the extent of their capacity as a leader and legislator.
10/08/2007 9:16 AM
How would this episode be playing here and elsewhere if, say, Conway had instead told a black colleague, say, Terry Kennedy, to "SHUT UP" on the floor of the BOA? Or maybe I should ask instead: how many StL.American and Argus editorials, ("Alderman Kennedy LYNCHED By Hateful Speech!" & "Conway Thinks He's On A Plantation!" perhaps?) City Hall rotunda protests and preacher-lead rallies would result from such a heinous, racist affront? Would Al Sharpton's limo appear at the curb in order for that worthy to lead the "Shut-Up-Conway's-Racism-March" up Market Street?
A Lucullan feast of romantic "activism" would then ensue, perhaps lasting decades, as surely the date of this outrage would be commemmorated annually, like the early-'60s Jefferson Bank protest is. Those were the days, eh?
Look away, Dixieland, indeed.
10/08/2007 10:58 AM
One solution is to pass a term limit law limiting the members of the Board of Aldermen to two terms. It will give greater chance for fresh voices to be heard instead of a locked down, closed political system that discourages creativity and allows problems to fester.
10/08/2007 4:30 PM
> One solution is to pass a term
> limit law limiting the members
> of the Board of Aldermen to two
> terms.
Proceduralism is no solution at all — its yet another way to avoid responsibility. We have the city government we deserve.
t
10/09/2007 12:00 AM
Speaking for most Southsiders when Steve Gregalii(Now divorced after well known affair with Jennifer Florida(also divorced)ran for alderman Mayor Slay sent letters asking us to vote for him Never had this happened before in 30yrs voting.
Then the guy runs for re-elction as the "Godfather". Southtown is a total tax revenue loss due to Steve and Slay..But to tell it all these 3 people including Conway need to go to AA and get off the payroll as Alderpersons. Lets term limit the Alderman or better yet cut the 28 to 14 plenty $$will be saved unless County Ex Charlie Dooley has to merge and combine efforts for a greater metro area and city..Don't we have enough theifdoms going in St Louis and surrounding area..Make this City greater and better than ever..Hate and war what is it good for???Term Limit What Alderman is willing to sponser that bill??Who will be the first to step to the plate?
10/09/2007 1:12 AM
Let's get back to it people. Bosley should be reprimanded by the board for his actions. This would never happen in Congress, nor would it be tolerated. Bosley is an Alderman of a ward with the most murders, highest number of vacant buildings, highest unemployment. Leadership has a lot to do with why these situations exist. He is total trash, and we should expect this from trash.
10/09/2007 6:32 AM
Who cares if Florida and Gregali have a personal relationship? They do their jobs and don't make blatant disrespectful comments on the floor. Bosley must go, he is a racist!
10/09/2007 6:35 AM
Antonio wrote:
"St. Louis is made up mostly of black citizens. These are the people that stuck it out in the tough times. These are not the reverse-migrators coming back from the suburbs. These are largely the people who ensured the city's population decline stopped at 300,000 rather than 200,000. And they deserve respect."
What about the white citizens who not only "stuck it out" for years by not leaving but also form the majority of voters and most substantial tax base of the City?
It is simplistic and disingenuous to imply that the white citizenry consists of interloping fair-weather city supporters. Do you deny the enormous amount of "black flight" from north St. Louis? Since you are not a fool, I doubt that you do. The city's areas of greatest population loss, especially in recent decades, are precisely those neighborhoods that have been substantially majority black for 30-50 years.
Obviously, every segment of the city's population deserves representation and equitable treatment by its government. To arbitrarily prioritize one over the others is what I thought we were trying to get away from.
10/09/2007 10:59 AM
I have to ask you there... Mr. French... Do you stand behind former chief george on what he stated about how he felt the test did not adequately measure the abilities of fire officers. OR.... Do you stick behind your statement of... "88% white fire captain promotions"?
If George didn't like the test, he never should have allowed for the testing to take place. That would have saved this multi-year standoff.
AND..... How many of those black firefighters who were just promoted refused their promotion on "principal"?
10/09/2007 11:11 AM
I blows my mind how people can be so gullible. The Mayor has been trying to get rid of Sherman since he became Mayor. He cut a deal with the White Firefighters'Union during his election. By the way, they never accepted an African American Chief.
Further, no one has mentioned that after the last election, Slay got rid of 7 black City officials and 0 whites.
So are you good white people saying that blacks didn't study, can't manage, and can't pass a test?
If you are, then you are indeed as racist as this administration!
10/09/2007 3:08 PM
From Tom Leith above "Proceduralism is no solution at all — its yet another way to avoid responsibility. We have the city government we deserve"
Yes we have the government we deserve because we don't do anything. Term limits is a solution. It works for the president doesn't it? It avoids a stranglehold from entrenched interests, it avoids dictatorial governance similar to kingships. The whole process is screwed up. And in the end instead of opportunities for new, young thinking that will move away from entrenched racism, there is only little fiefdoms of aldermen.
Term limits is another tool of the people, not the only one, but after 50 years of presiding over a declining city you would think someone besides democrats would have been elected. Is that a fault of the residents?, yes partially, but it is also shows how the system is set up to work against new ideas, new people and a new way of doing things.
Term limits changes the system, the same way fewer wards change the system. Term limits represent a simple fix that could actually be accomplished.
But racism is not going anywhere until the society, especially the political society, becomes more fluid.
10/09/2007 4:54 PM
St. Louis has a two party system. Democrats and those in power now---the republicrats.
10/09/2007 5:49 PM
This is the $28.00 question. When Harmon ran against Bosley who did the Fire Union 73 support? Harmon..right. Who did the mostly white South Side support? Harmon..right. When Francine ran against Harmony who did the Fire Union support? Francine..right. Who did the mostly white South Side support? Francine..right. You can't legislate hate. We can't coexist because that is the way God planned. Take care of your own! When Bosley was in office the media gave him hell..we're doomed! man will burn in hell.
10/12/2007 7:23 PM
Still waiting Antonio....
Anonymous wrote: "Antonio, what is up with dropping a bomb like "Conway, ... along with .. Jennifer Florida and Steve Gregali [have] been at the center of much of the racial division at the board", and not providing any background on that? What are you talking about!?"
Anony, look for more on this soon.
10/31/2007 11:05 PM
Still waiting Antonio.....
Still waiting Antonio....
Anonymous wrote: "Antonio, what is up with dropping a bomb like "Conway, ... along with .. Jennifer Florida and Steve Gregali [have] been at the center of much of the racial division at the board", and not providing any background on that? What are you talking about!?"
Anony, look for more on this soon.
12/31/2007 12:28 AM
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