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Tornado recovery advocates and downtown investors are divided on Rams settlement spending 16%
By Katie Grawitch0%
5/26/2026, 11:37:07 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 23 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Emotion, Framing Effect, and Appeal to Authority, with Negativity Bias as the most egregious example at 7.4% saturation with 67 hits. Analysis detected 469 faulty-reasoning hits from 906 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 31.7% and a BS Rank of 16% (14,261 of 16,813 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 84.80% of the article peer group.
St.
Louis residents are divided on how the Rams settlement should be spent.
The Board of Aldermen’s Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee heard public comment Tuesday on a bill that would allocate $230 million of the funds.
The bill carves out $110 million for tornado recovery efforts in north St.
Louis, $65 million for infrastructure and $55 million for downtown revitalization.
The tornado recovery allocation includes $79 million for home and infrastructure repairs as well as resident support.
Resident-built neighborhood plans would receive the other $31 million.
Tornado recovery advocates say that’s not enough to cover the cost to rebuild.
Many advocates at the meeting called for an additional $40 million of the settlement to be put toward tornado recovery.
The bill has spurred heated debate between tornado recovery advocates and those in favor of downtown revitalization.
Tornado-impacted residents have said they are frustrated with slow-moving recovery efforts, while downtown development groups said downtown deserves to be a funding priority as the economic engine of the city.
Tornado-impacted resident Michael McLemore was one of several attendees representing social services organization Action St.
Louis.
He said an extra $40 million would ensure each tornado-impacted resident gets enough assistance to make their home livable.
“None of the projects mentioned here today, downtown or infrastructure improvements, works if one-third of the city is left in ruin,” McLemore said.
Some residents were also concerned with health effects from hazardous dust while tornado-damaged buildings are being demolished.
West End resident Justin Idleburg said city officials should allocate tornado recovery money toward respiratory protection for residents.
“The 1,600 buildings that you all would be tearing down will put in the atmosphere 7 to 10 million pounds of hazardous building materials: lead, arsenic, and asbestos,” Idleburg said.
“You can’t see this stuff, (and) we don't want our mothers, children and elders to be impacted by this.”
Some people, like lifelong resident David L.
Jackson Jr., said they believe that extra $40 million should come out of the budget set aside for downtown revitalization.
“The state has just stood up and said that we want to be a partner with St.
Louis on revitalizing your downtown,” Jackson said.
“(With) as little money as we have, we have to do the best for the buck.
Why spend that little money when we don't have to?”
A large economic development bill passed this month would give cities incentives to turn vacant or unused property into new housing developments.
The legislation was targeted at downtown revitalization in St.
Louis.
Others, like downtown developer Gretchen Minges, said downtown businesses need the funding to stay afloat.
“We're not just big fat cats downtown,” Minges said.
“There's a lot of areas in St.
Louis that have been disinvested.
Not taking any heartache or fear away from anyone else, but I've lived in fight or flight for 10 years and been the angry one in the room because it sucks.”
Minges' comments were met with opposition from tornado recovery advocates.
Sarah Arnosky Ko with Greater St.
Louis Inc. said downtown investment is necessary to generate tax revenue that funds essential city infrastructure.
“When downtown struggles, every St.
Louisan feels it, not just the people that work and live there,” Arnosky Ko said.
“A more active downtown means more residents, more visitors, more sales tax, property tax, and earnings tax that flow back into the city's coffers.”
Arnosky Ko said Greater St.
Louis Inc. will match the city’s proposed $55 million in Rams settlement funds toward downtown investment.
Addressing a crumbling water system
The infrastructure money includes $30 million for “outstanding capital need” for the city’s water infrastructure.
The money would go toward a bond issuance to fund the most urgent of what city officials estimate is $700 million in water infrastructure needs.
Water Commissioner Niraj Patel directs the city’s Department of Public Utilities.
He called the water division’s proposed budget for fiscal 2027 “unsustainable” in a meeting with board members this month.
Patel said the division is expected to bring in $3 million less than what it needs to run this year and said seven years of deficit spending have depleted emergency funding reserves.
Alderman Mike Browning of the 9th Ward introduced a series of rate hikes last week aimed at stabilizing funding for the St.
Louis Water Division.
Patel told board members Tuesday that Rams settlement funds would help support upgrades to aging water mains and inefficient treatment facilities.
Comptroller Donna Baringer said the infrastructure funds would also allow the water division to reduce projected increases in rates.
“Revenues are barely covering operating expenses,” Baringer said.
“This approach would help stabilize the system, reduce the burden on residents, and improve the city's position with investors and the rating agencies.”
Baringer said the Rams settlement funds would also help the water division seek funding.
“A poor credit profile would result in higher interest rates, reducing the value of any borrowing and ultimately cost to the residents,” Baringer said.
“Before we can successfully finance major infrastructure improvements, we must first make the water division financially solvent.”
Board President Megan Green said officials aim to secure matching funds from state, federal and nonprofit sources that would multiply the amount of money available for each of the main concerns addressed in the bill.
The city is accepting residents’ comments on how the Rams settlement money should be spent until midnight Wednesday.
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