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.

A St. Louis building inspector is under scrutiny for alleged connections to construction firms awarded $2.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. The revelations have raised concerns about conflicts of interest and prompted calls to review how public contracts are awarded and monitored in the city.

Doug Burris, credited with reforming St. Louis County’s jail, has been hired as a consultant to address problems at the City Justice Center. Under Commissioner Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah’s leadership, the jail has faced ongoing criticism from oversight boards and activists who have highlighted urgent systemic issues, including riots, deaths, and healthcare complaints.

Mayor Tishaura Jones introduced the Transform STL Act, proposing to allocate Rams settlement funds to infrastructure, development, and community programs. An alternate plan, backed by Greater St. Louis and Cara Spencer, prioritizes $130 million for disinvested neighborhoods and downtown infrastructure, focusing on equitable growth and rehabilitating downtown, an important engine of city economic growth.

St. Louis' personnel director, Sonya Jenkins-Gray, has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Tishaura Jones, accusing her of political retaliation. Jenkins-Gray alleges she was targeted due to disputes over hiring policies and because her husband endorsed Wesley Bell over Cori Bush. She is seeking a judge's intervention to block pending disciplinary charges.

St. Louis property owners are raising concerns after being billed for repairs made to their properties using city funds. Many are questioning the fairness and legality of these charges, sparking calls for greater transparency and accountability from local officials regarding how repair costs are assessed and communicated.

Following an audit revealing over $1.5 million in credit card purchases by former Superintendent Keisha Scarlett and her staff, St. Louis Public Schools has temporarily halted the use of district-issued credit cards. Interim Superintendent Millicent Borishade mandated the return of all cards to the Chief Financial Officer. The audit recommended implementing monthly spending limits, defining acceptable purchases, and enhancing staff training to ensure fiscal responsibility.

Alderwoman Cara Spencer resigned from the board of the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), expressing concerns over its management. She stated, “Recent events have destroyed my confidence in SLDC as well as community trust that this organization is properly managed or is serving the best interests of the city.” Her departure follows controversies involving the agency's leadership and operations.

Scrutiny surrounds St. Louis' distribution of $33 million in federal COVID relief funds for North St. Louis businesses, with some feeling excluded. St. Louis Ward 8 Alderwoman Cara Spencer has called for more oversight, stating, “We are 2.5 years in; many of these businesses applied in the summer of 2022, and here we are still vetting them. The faith in the system is gone.”