The St. Louis Board of Aldermen are debating two proposals for spending $280 million in Rams settlement funds. Alderwoman Cara Spencer, a co-sponsor of Pam Boyd's bill, supports prioritizing investment in struggling neighborhoods and downtown, contrasting with Alisha Sonnier’s Transform STL bill. “We were awarded those funds because the judge decided, rightfully so, that the city lost revenue when the Rams left,” Spencer said. “We have a revenue problem in our city right now because of the loss of population, a massive loss of population, and if we don't address that, we can put in these short-term gains on issues, but they're not going to solve the ongoing slide.”

Cara Spencer introduced Board Bill 80 to combat reckless driving and illegal street takeovers, which she describes as a “reckless driving crisis.” Highlighting the dangers, Spencer stated, “It’s terrifying to be a pedestrian, to be a cyclist, to even be a fellow driver.” Emphasizing the bill’s focus on prevention, Spencer explained, “The idea here really, the concept is not to punish people. It’s to curb the behavior. It’s to end the reckless driving.” The urgency is clear: last year, 223 pedestrians were struck by vehicles in St. Louis, with fatality rates three times the national average.

The Post-Dispatch editorial board opposes Mayor Jones' Transform STL Act, criticizing it for lacking transformative vision and ignoring public safety. Instead, they currently support Greater St. Louis Inc.'s proposal backed by Cara Spencer and other aldermen, which prioritizes Downtown revival and targeted infrastructure improvements in underserved areas, offering potential for economic growth and private investment to reshape St. Louis.