In the News
5 On Your Side: The Record with Mark Maxwell
Cara Spencer joins 5 On Your Side to address a serious lawsuit against SLDC from a former employee.
Cara Spencer joins 5 On Your Side to address a serious lawsuit against SLDC from a former employee.
St. Louis Magazine: St. Louis aldermen weigh two plans for Rams funds—and infinite possibilities
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.”
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.”
Fox 2: Cara Spencer pushes bill targeting reckless driving
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.
Cara Spencer introduced Board Bill 80 in the Board of Aldermen 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.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Editorial): Mayor's plan for Rams money would fritter it away
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.
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.
St. Louis Magazine: St. Louis building inspector linked to $2.3M in ARPA spending resigns
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.
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.
First Alert 4: Alderwoman Cara Spencer calls for criminal investigations, audits after investigation reveals city inspector has ties to construction companies receiving millions in public funds
Not only are they demanding deeper investigations, but some area leaders also say they believe the flow of money needs to stop immediately until more transparency is brought to the program. “It’s jaw-dropping. The lack of oversight is absolutely stunning,” said St. Louis Alderwoman Cara Spencer. Spencer also supports pausing the program and conducting a thorough review.
Not only are they demanding deeper investigations, but some area leaders also say they believe the flow of money needs to stop immediately until more transparency is brought to the program.
“It’s jaw-dropping. The lack of oversight is absolutely stunning,” said St. Louis Alderwoman Cara Spencer.
Spencer also supports pausing the program and conducting a thorough review.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: St. Louis hires ex-county jail chief to fix downtown jail troubles
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.
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.
St. Louis American: Rams settlement funds touch down in Transform Act
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.
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 Post-Dispatch: St. Louis personnel chief sues mayor, says she’s target of political retaliation
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' 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.
First Alert 4: Property owners receive giant bills for repairs they didn’t agree to. Now, it’s all under investigation
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.
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.
5 On Your Side: St. Louis Public Schools putting a temporary stop to district-issued credit card spending
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.
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.
5 On Your Side: Bureaucratic blockade: SLDC charges steep fines to show public records, concealing conflicts of interest
Alderwoman Cara Spencer, who recently resigned from SLDC's board citing her frustration over a lack of transparency, did not mince words: "It's absolutely ridiculous. There's no excuse for that lack of organization in a digital age, in an organization that gets tax dollars. This is an organization charged with driving economic activity for the city."
Alderwoman Cara Spencer, who recently resigned from SLDC's board citing her frustration over a lack of transparency, did not mince words: "It's absolutely ridiculous. There's no excuse for that lack of organization in a digital age, in an organization that gets tax dollars. This is an organization charged with driving economic activity for the city."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: And they’re off! 12 file for St. Louis mayor, comptroller and alderman on first day
A dozen candidates filed paperwork Monday to run for city office this spring on the first day they could legally do so.
A dozen candidates filed paperwork Monday to run for city office this spring on the first day they could legally do so.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: St. Louis economic development agency’s top lawyer reassigned to job at airport
Cara Spencer, who is challenging Jones in the upcoming April election, was on the board of SLDC until resigning her seat Oct. 28, saying she had lost confidence in the organization’s management. When she resigned, Spencer didn’t know that Meyer had been reassigned earlier that month and actually addressed her resignation letter to him, she said Friday.
“A very trusted voice in an organization that’s under a lot of public mistrust right now was unceremoniously shipped off to the airport,” Spencer said. “And this fact wasn’t disclosed to the public nor the board of directors that’s supposed to be overseeing the organization.”
AP: St. Louis was once known as Mound City for its many Native American mounds. Just one remains
Spencer said the mounds are an important and overlooked part of St. Louis, and preserving Sugarloaf is vital. “This is a really special place to the Osage history and to our Native American heritage in this country, which has largely been erased,” Spencer said.
Spencer said the mounds are an important and overlooked part of St. Louis, and preserving Sugarloaf is vital.
“This is a really special place to the Osage history and to our Native American heritage in this country, which has largely been erased,” Spencer said.
St. Louis Public Radio: St. Louis aldermen propose investing $232M in Rams money in north city and downtown
“We were awarded these funds because of the loss of the Rams,” said Ward 8 alderwoman Cara Spencer, a co-sponsor. “It’s imperative that we invest these funds in a way that can be transformative and provide a path to having a revenue stream for our city.”
“We were awarded these funds because of the loss of the Rams,” said Ward 8 alderwoman Cara Spencer, a co-sponsor. “It’s imperative that we invest these funds in a way that can be transformative and provide a path to having a revenue stream for our city.”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Mayoral candidate Cara Spencer quits board of embattled St. Louis development agency
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.
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.
5 On Your Side: Scrutiny mounts over federal relief money for north St. Louis businesses; city denies wrongdoing
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.”
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.”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Big business wants Rams money for downtown, north St. Louis. Leaders are skeptical.
Cara Spencer applauded Greater St. Louis’s proposal to use the Rams settlement money on downtown — on street repairs, safety upgrades, beautification, and rehabilitation of older buildings, even while getting pushback from Megan Green. But Spencer did not agree with putting SLDC in charge of the money, noting that the city’s economic development arm is currently struggling to properly administer a $37 million grant program for north-side businesses.
Cara Spencer applauded Greater St. Louis’s proposal to use the Rams settlement money on downtown — on street repairs, safety upgrades, beautification, and rehabilitation of older buildings, even while getting pushback from Megan Green. But Spencer did not agree with putting SLDC in charge of the money, noting that the city’s economic development arm is currently struggling to properly administer a $37 million grant program for north-side businesses.
St. Louis Business Journal: City Justice Center commissioner on leave, status uncertain
After confirmation that jail director Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah is on leave, concerns about transparency at the City Justice Center have intensified. Spencer remarked, “It’s clear that things aren’t working over there from the staffing issues to the safety of those in our custody, and to the general public just having questions that are not answered.” She and others have called on the mayor to address the situation and its impact on jail operations.
After confirmation that jail director Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah is on leave, concerns about transparency at the City Justice Center have intensified. Spencer remarked, “It’s clear that things aren’t working over there from the staffing issues to the safety of those in our custody, and to the general public just having questions that are not answered.” She and others have called on the mayor to address the situation and its impact on jail operations.