ST. LOUIS — Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and Aldermanic President Lewis Reed met for about an hour Monday to try to cut a deal on the $153 million pandemic aid bill expected to come up Tuesday at the Board of Aldermen.
Aides to the two leaders said no agreement was reached but that negotiations would continue. “It was a very professional, candid conversation,†said Reed’s legislative director, Mary Goodman.
A key issue is Jones’ continued insistence that the board add $5 million to provide $500 cash payments to about 10,000 residents hurt by the pandemic.
“He needs more information†on that idea, Goodman said after the Monday meeting, which was held in Jones’ City Hall office. She didn’t elaborate.
Reed has been critical of Jones’ proposal, complaining about “very loose guidelines†on how to distribute the money and saying only a small percentage of city residents — about 10,000 — would be helped.
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Although most of Jones’ $81.4 million in pandemic aid recommendations are in Reed’s bill, the direct payment plan is not.
“St. Louisans deserve financial security now more than ever,†the mayor said at a news conference earlier Monday to promote the idea.
Mayoral spokesman Nick Dunne didn’t comment about the substance of Jones and Reed’s discussion later in the day on the direct-payment idea. But speaking generally, Dunne said the two sides were working toward an agreement.
“Just to have these conversations in person is something the mayor finds very important,†Dunne said.
Reed’s $153 million bill also has significant additional spending tacked on by the aldermanic president, such as $33 million to jump-start development on four major north side streets and $5 million to add more money for police overtime pay.
Goodman said Jones proposed reducing the police overtime allocation to $2 million. Dunne didn’t comment on Goodman’s statement except to say “we’re open to all possibilities.â€
Reed also has proposed spending $500,000 to $1.25 million on gift cards to be used as an incentive to get people to agree to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Goodman on Monday said Reed and Alderman Shameem Clark-Hubbard, 26th Ward, are working on an amendment to offer Tuesday on that issue. As it stood Monday, Goodman said, their plan is to offer debit cards worth up to $100 that could be used as cash with no restrictions.
Meanwhile, Jones at her news conference said her administration has had “our attorneys and auditors take a look at what’s allowable and what’s not†under the federal aid bill passed by Congress. She didn’t elaborate.
Reed’s $5 million allocation for police OT pay in the pandemic bill essentially replaces $4 million in police allocations removed at Jones’ request from the regular city budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. Reed had voted against that move.
Also speaking at Jones’ news conference were Nikki Rush, a fast-food worker, and Kamille Bolden, who helps teachers with special-needs students in the city public schools. Both said the $500 payments would be a big help.
Updated at 7:15 p.m.Mark Schlinkmann • 314-340-8265 @markschlinkmann on Twitter mschlinkmann@post-dispatch.com