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Record of Proceedings

St. Louis Board of Alderman Meeting Summary: November 7, 2025

Board of Aldermen — Friday, November 7, 2025
BodySt Louis, Missouri
SessionBoard of Aldermen
DateFriday, November 7, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:37:06

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Alder Woman Keys.

0:02

Alderwoman Tyers.

0:05

Present.

0:06

Alderwoman Boyd.

0:08

Present.

0:10

Alderman Aldrich.

0:12

President Green.

0:14

Present.

0:15

Alderwoman Schweitzer.

0:18

Alderman Cone.

0:20

Alderwoman Velasquez.

0:23

Alderwoman Clark Hubbard.

0:26

12 present, you have Quorum.

0:28

Accorn being present, we will dispense with line item three and take up the special order of the day.

0:34

Alderman from the 14th, you're recognized on the motion to this suspend the rules for the purposes of introducing resolution 149.

0:41

Thank you, Madam President, members of the board.

0:43

I move to suspend the rules and introduce resolution 149.

0:47

It's been moved by the Alderman from the 14th, seconded by the Alderwoman from the 10th, that we suspend the rules to introduce resolution 149.

0:54

This is a non-debatable motion.

0:56

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

0:57

Alder Woman Schweitzer.

1:12

Alderwoman Sonier.

1:15

Aye.

1:15

Alderwoman Cox Antwi.

1:20

Alderwoman Clark Hubbard.

1:23

Alderwoman Keys.

1:25

Alder Woman Tyres.

1:30

Aye.

1:31

Alderwoman Boy.

1:34

Aye.

1:34

Alderman Aldrich.

1:36

Aye.

1:37

President Green.

1:39

Aye.

1:40

Alderwoman Schweitzer.

1:43

Alderman Aldenberg.

1:46

Alderman Cone.

1:49

Alderwoman Velazquez.

1:53

11 aye votes.

1:54

By your vote, you sustain the motion for the Alderman from the 14th.

1:57

Madam Clerk, please place resolution 149 at the end of the courtesy resolution.

2:03

So noted.

2:04

And at this time, if Alderman from the 14th would please approach the dais with your honored guests.

2:11

Percy Jamala.

2:27

What is this?

2:28

This is an anti-fatigue mat.

2:34

Thank you, Madam President.

2:35

Uh Madam Clerk, could you read resolution 149?

2:38

Resolution 149, honoring the life, legacy, and lasting impact of Percy Phillips II.

2:45

Whereas Percy, I'm sorry, Percy Green II, whereas Percy Green, a native son of St.

2:51

Louis, Missouri, has dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice, equality, and opportunity for all people, using his voice and actions to challenge systems of oppression.

3:03

And whereas, as the founding member of the Action Committee to Improve Opportunities for Negroes, and an active member of St.

3:10

Louis Chapter of Congress racial equality, Percy Green worked tirelessly to dismantle racial barriers in employment and education, organizing peaceful demonstrations and advocating for the inclusion of African Americans in meaningful, well-paying jobs.

3:28

Whereas in 1964, Percy Green made national headlines when he courageously scaled the gateway arch to protest the exclusion of black workers from the federally funded project, an act that not only captured the national of the nation, I'm sorry, the attention of the nation, but became a landmark moment in the civil rights history of St.

3:52

Louis.

3:53

Whereas Percy was appointed as director of the city's minority contract compliance office, where he where his fair and thorough process of root and rooted out fraudulent companies who undermined the progress of genuine women and minority companies, bringing integrity to the office.

4:13

Whereas Percy Green was the plaintiff in the McDonnell Douglas Court versus Green, a landmark Supreme Court case that clarified the protection guarantee under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by establishing a framework for evaluating claims of employment discrimination using indirect evidence, a framework that remains foundation to civil rights law today and continues to be argued in front of the Supreme Court as recent as March 2025.

4:46

Whereas Percy Green's active activism extends beyond a single era, continuing into his later years as he mentored younger generations to activists, inspiring them to stand up for justice, fairness, and fundamental dignity of every person.

5:03

Whereas Percy Green's courage, conviction, and compassion left a mark on the city of St.

5:09

Louis and his unwavering commitment to equality serves as a beacon of hope and a model for civic engagement.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████30%
Budget████████████████16%
Ethical Investing█████████████13%
Racial Equity███████████11%
Homelessness███████████11%
Labor Rights███████7%
International Relations██████6%
Disaster Relief███3%
Community Engagement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

St. Louis Board of Alderman Meeting Summary: November 7, 2025

The St. Louis Board of Alderman convened on November 7, 2025, for a special order of the day focused on honoring civil rights icon Percy Green II and addressing urgent housing and economic relief measures following the May 16, 2025, tornado. The meeting featured unanimous support for a resolution honoring Green and the approval of three emergency ordinances allocating RAM Settlement Fund and General Operating Reserve funds to assist unhoused residents and tornado victims. A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to a contentious debate on ethical investment policies regarding the city's retirement funds, resulting in a split vote on Resolution 136.

Consent Calendar

  • Adopted theCourtesy Resolution Calendar.
  • Adopted Board Bills on the perfection consent calendar (Bills 84, 13, 75, and 85) without discussion.
  • Adopted the third reading and final passage of Board Bill 89 (consent calendar).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Honoring Percy Green II: Alderman Rasheen Aldridge (14th Ward) introduced Resolution 149, honoring Percy Green II, a civil rights leader who scaled the Gateway Arch in 1964 to protest employment discrimination. Alderman Aldridge described Green as an "icon" and credited him with mentoring young activists, including during the 2013 Fight for Fifteen movement and the 2014 Ferguson Uprising. Alderman Matt Devotee (5th Ward) echoed these sentiments, expressing gratitude for Green's willingness to mentor young people during the Ferguson Uprising and praising his courage in climbing the Arch.
  • Displaced Residents and Storm Response: Alderwoman Shamim Clark Hubbard (10th Ward) introduced honored guests including Annalise Stover of the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging and representatives from Peter and Paul for Housing. Hubbard testified that these organizations responded immediately to constituents displaced by a recent tornado, emphasizing the need to empower local capacity rather than just providing funds.
  • Unionization at Caldí's Coffee: Alderwoman Daniela Velasquez (6th Ward) welcomed unionizing employees and the "Not Another Nickel" campaign. Velasquez expressed full support for workers' right to unionize, acknowledging their bravery in facing risks to their livelihoods.
  • Debate on Ethical Investment (Resolution 136):
    • Support: Alderman Aldridge (14th Ward) and Alderwoman Velasquez (6th Ward) expressed full support for divesting from companies involved in war and mass destruction, framing the resolution as a stand for humanity and peace, drawing parallels to the anti-apartheid movement.
    • Neutral/No Vote: Alderwoman Ty (12th Ward) expressed opposition to being drawn into the conflict, citing concerns about local violence and gas stations in North St. Louis creating a "war on my corners." She stated she could not vote for the resolution without demands to address local violence first, ultimately voting present. Alderman Matt Devotee (5th Ward) expressed full support for the resolution's spirit but stated he could not support it without verification of its feasibility regarding the retirement board's legal ability to divest; he voted no. Alderwoman Boyd (13th Ward) also voted present, expressing a desire for local grievances to be addressed before voting on international issues.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 149 (Honoring Percy Green II): The Assembly unanimously agreed to honor Percy Green II for his lifetime of work in civil rights, including his role in the landmark McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green Supreme Court case. The resolution was adopted, with every member signing on as a sponsor.
  • Board Bill 93 (Impacted Tenants Fund): Appropriated $1 million from RAM Settlement interest funds to the Impacted Tenants Fund. Alderman Aldridge clarified that the program is currently being set up in partnership with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and a vendor, with an expected rollout within two weeks. Alderman Cone (2nd Ward) noted the need for transparency regarding RAM fund balances.
  • Board Bill 94 (Winter Shelters): Appropriated $3,365,535.05 from RAM Settlement funds to support winter shelter needs for unhoused residents. Alderwoman Velasquez (6th Ward) expressed concern regarding the timeline for fund deployment, noting that procurement processes can be slow. She emphasized the need for urgent action to help residents before freezing temperatures worsen.
  • Board Bill 95 (Tornado Relief): Appropriated $9,350,000 from one-time unreserved general operating reserve funds for tornado relief and winter shelter. Alderwoman Clark Hubbard (10th Ward) clarified that funds would not be used for a "mass shelter" but rather to support existing contracts and rehouse specific tornado victims. She highlighted that these reserves represented half of the previous year's operating surplus and that the city remains financially sound despite this drawdown. Alderwoman Velasquez (6th Ward) provided context on eligible uses, including rental assistance, home repairs, and case management.
  • Resolution 136 (Ethical Investment): Proposed directing the Employees Retirement System to divest from 17 companies deemed unethical due to involvement in war. The discussion revealed significant disagreement on the practicality of the order and the emotional weight of balancing international humanitarian concerns with local community safety concerns. The resolution passed with a close vote, but the debate highlighted deep divisions on how the city should approach ethical investment.
  • Resolution 147 (Unionization Support): Adopted a resolution supporting the unionization efforts of Caldí's Coffee employees. The resolution asks for a declaration of neutrality, voluntary recognition, and good-faith bargaining. All members adopted the resolution as a statement of solidarity.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 149 Adopted Unanimously: The Board honored Percy Green II, with all members signing on as co-sponsors.
  • Board Bill 93 Amended: Moved to the Regular Perfection Calendar; adopted with $1 million appropriated to the Impacted Tenants Fund from RAM interest. Alderwoman Cox Antwi added her co-sponsorship.
  • Board Bill 94 Amended: Adopted with $3,365,535.05 appropriated from RAM funds for winter shelters. The Department of Human Services is authorized to use emergency procurement to accelerate fund distribution.
  • Board Bill 95 Amended: Adopted with $9,350,000 appropriated from general operating reserves for tornado and winter relief. The funds are designated for existing contractors and rehousing efforts, explicitly excluding a new mass shelter model.
  • Resolution 147 Adopted: The Board formally supported the unionization of Caldí's Coffee employees.
  • Resolution 136 Adopted (10-1-3): The resolution to divest the city retirement fund from companies involved in war passed with 10 aye votes, 1 no vote (Alderman Devotee), and 3 present votes (Aldermen Ty, Boyd, and the Mayor's representative or others not explicitly listed in the roll call tally but implied by the count). The resolution directs the Board of Trustees to review ethical investment criteria.

Meeting Transcript

Alder Woman Keys. Alderwoman Tyers. Present. Alderwoman Boyd. Present. Alderman Aldrich. President Green. Present. Alderwoman Schweitzer. Alderman Cone. Alderwoman Velasquez. Alderwoman Clark Hubbard. 12 present, you have Quorum. Accorn being present, we will dispense with line item three and take up the special order of the day. Alderman from the 14th, you're recognized on the motion to this suspend the rules for the purposes of introducing resolution 149. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board. I move to suspend the rules and introduce resolution 149. It's been moved by the Alderman from the 14th, seconded by the Alderwoman from the 10th, that we suspend the rules to introduce resolution 149. This is a non-debatable motion. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Alder Woman Schweitzer. Alderwoman Sonier. Aye. Alderwoman Cox Antwi. Alderwoman Clark Hubbard. Alderwoman Keys. Alder Woman Tyres. Aye. Alderwoman Boy. Aye. Alderman Aldrich. Aye. President Green. Aye. Alderwoman Schweitzer. Alderman Aldenberg. Alderman Cone. Alderwoman Velazquez. 11 aye votes. By your vote, you sustain the motion for the Alderman from the 14th. Madam Clerk, please place resolution 149 at the end of the courtesy resolution. So noted. And at this time, if Alderman from the 14th would please approach the dais with your honored guests. Percy Jamala. What is this? This is an anti-fatigue mat. Thank you, Madam President. Uh Madam Clerk, could you read resolution 149? Resolution 149, honoring the life, legacy, and lasting impact of Percy Phillips II. Whereas Percy, I'm sorry, Percy Green II, whereas Percy Green, a native son of St.

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