Project: Share Your Policy Ideas

Julie Vomund9 months ago St. Louis has never met a study it didn’t like. Transportation studies, development studies, traffic studies, studies of past studies…If stacked, the millions of pages gathering dust in City Hall could probably fill in our many sinkholes around town.And yet, the cycle continues: commission a report, print the report, hold meeting, solicit feedback on post-its, have a press conference, shelve the findings. Why stop there when you can also hire consultants to study how best to ignore the last study? Even this proposal may one day be printed, filed, and forgotten.Instead of pretending these studies will ever be used, let’s honor this tradition by igniting these studies in one giant inaction inferno.On November 5th, gather up every unused report, plan, bound paper, Post-it note, and glossy binder, and set them ablaze. The light from this bonfire will shine brighter than Missouri’s Sunshine Law ever has, since the City Counselor’s office rarely fulfills Sunshine requests anyway. This blaze will be a true wow moment for St. Louis.Of course, this won’t fix our sidewalks, transit, or housing but it will at least free up shelf space for the next round of studies.

1 vote out of 150

1 comment

ineligible

unknown author9 months ago

42 votes out of 150

3 comments

proposed

Kellie Choate9 months ago

4 votes out of 150

1 comment

proposed

Richard Bose9 months ago

11 votes out of 150

proposed

Jaime Gullett9 months ago City residents shouldn't have to pay the city to park their vehicles near their homes. Its often difficult to find parking due to increased commerce traffic (which is great) but often times, they park in front of residents homes instead of paying a meter. A parking ticket for 20 dollars isnt going to help the city as much as increased revenue from local business paying taxes will. My proposal: 1. ) eliminate paid parking (at least for city residents by issuing a pass) 2.) Replace derelict and abandoned/unused space to create safer parking areas. Particularly in the tower grove south neighborhood/south grand neighborhood. Thank you for your consideration

3 votes out of 150

2 comments

proposed

Nathan Lindsey9 months ago The City of St. Louis should immediately conduct a comprehensive audit of its Building Division, establish clear public performance goals, and provide adequate funding and staffing to address the department’s systemic failures that have plagued residents for over a decade. With recent corruption scandals involving building inspectors, a backlog of over vacant properties being managed by just handful of workers, and condemned buildings still standing over a decade later, the division has proven incapable of protecting residents or maintaining neighborhood stability. The department’s inability to enforce housing quality standards against negligent landlords has allowed properties to deteriorate into dangerous conditions, while weak code enforcement has enabled slumlords to profit from substandard housing that threatens tenant safety and undermines affordable housing stock. This should be addressed immediately with the full force of E&A and the Board of Aldermen.

76 votes out of 150

10 comments

proposed

Malik Moman9 months ago I live right by Compton, and as we all know 'Compton' has a terrible connotation nationwide and locally. Basically any street or area named "Compton" in the USA is going to be a rough, tough area you don't want to live. I propose we rename Compton Ave as "Charlie Kirk Way" in honor of Mr. Charlie Kirk, who honored Jesus Christ throughout his mission to encourage freedom of speech and open discussion at universities across our country. While I did not agree with hardly anything he advocated for, the one exception is the open discussion and debate of ideas - even those we disagree with. We don't have to hold up his political views as ideal, but his character was unimpeachable. The entire city, state, and country would be better off if we had more open discussion and debate with our neighbors and friends, even those with whom we disagree.Please support this proposal so that we can show the nation that even a group of urbanites can respect and honor the freedoms we cherish in this country.

1 vote out of 150

7 comments

proposed

Noah Goldman9 months ago Fund affordable housing development in St Louis by expanding the existing Prop NS program. Prop NS stabilizes vacant buildings owned by the Land Reutilization Authority and sells them to developers. St Louis Public Radio covered Prop NS in an article last year.Additionally, establish a matching fund to develop housing on LRA-owned vacant lots by partnering with existing Community Development Corporations.Thumbnail: A home rehabilitated in 2023 stands next to the North Grand Neighborhood Services headquarters. The organization is located in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood; its outreach covers a three-block radius. Caption: Lauren Harpold, Photo: Zachary Linhares

10 votes out of 150

proposed

ANGELA RICHARD2 months ago Currently, the City of St. Louis is navigating crime reduction and public perception alongside budget and public health challenges. Community parks are integral to the health, safety, and vitality of our neighborhoods. In the 7th Ward, our local parks -from Terry Park to Benton Park- offer a powerful, cost-effective solution for community well-being and stabilization when they are valued and protected as community safe havens. Studies show 93% of U.S. adults believe parks are vital for mental health, and research indicates that $1 invested in parks can yield up to $4 in public health savings and economic benefits. By investing in our park system, we aren't just maintaining lawns; we are investing in a proven, preventative healthcare tool that reduces the mental health burden on residents and builds a more resilient, thriving community. However, to realize these gains, our parks must remain accessible and safe. By investing in and protecting our community parks, we affirm our commitment to creating a safe, welcoming, and vibrant environment for residents of all ages. I propose updating signage in 7th Ward parks to provide clear guidance on comprehensive regulations, specifically addressing public alcohol and marijuana consumption, noise pollution (Ordinance 67002 and Chapter 15.50), and loitering within 50 feet of residential areas. These updates are not about prohibition; they are about ensuring that the regulation of public spaces evolves with changing societal habits so that families, seniors, and all residents can enjoy the restorative power of nature and community SAFELY.

5 votes out of 150

proposed

Paula Kyla Oudshoorn9 months ago

1 vote out of 150

2 comments

proposed

Yolanda owens 9 months ago

6 votes out of 150

proposed

Abby Thacker9 months ago St. Louis has a well known issue with problem properties owned by absentee owners who either lack the interest or funds to return them to our housing stock. By investing in training people, especially marginalized groups like the homeless, LGBT+ people, and women in trades like masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and painting, the City could restore both LRA-owned housing and problem properties to the housing stock, while creating a long-term income stream for the City by renting out the housing units at sub-market rates. This would bolster the local economy in the short term through supplies, increase the tax base by giving people who might otherwise be unemployed or have entry-level jobs the skills to obtain high-paying jobs in the private construction sector, and increase community confidence both in the City and their streets, with safe, historic housing taking the place of derelict buildings. A pilot program could be established with a class of 30 or so individuals being trained on the job to restore any given 4-family house in the LRA’s portfolio. This would account for any turnover in the program and ensure that there is an adequate number of trainees for each trade.

12 votes out of 150

4 comments

proposed

J K9 months ago Arguably the best way to attract and retain for the City's workforce is proper pay for their time and effort. It is well known that the City does not compensate its employees at the same level as the private sector--which is a travesty. The City currently has a large number of vacancies and is having difficulty filling them. The City's workforce is also aging and less and less younger folks find interest in working in the public sector. Without a robust workforce, the City cannot provide the citizenry with the services that they require, let alone thrive.Additionally, imagine working for the City only to find out that your private sector counterparts receive much more compensation for the same job. The City requires its contractors to pay their employees prevailing wage but, apart from a few union workers, the City does not pay their employees prevailing wage. The City has no problem paying its consultants much higher rates--sometimes on the order of four to five times what they pay their equivalent staff. How would you feel knowing your direct counterparts in the private sector can afford vacations, better meals, nicer automobiles, and even families? How would you feel knowing that you can run circles around your private sector counterparts while knowing that your own employer has no problem paying them what they ask for without hesitation? Don't forget that, in 2023, the Board of Aldermen increased their own pay by almost double--how do you think that resonated with civil service employees?There is a real hope that raising pay to the same level of the private sector would boost morale and provide better customer service for the citizens of the City of St. Louis. It is simply unethical to look down on the public sector as the public sector is the backbone of this City, State, and even Nation.Please vote for this idea so that the City closes the wage gap for its civil service employees. If nothing is done, then expect an even further decline in the services that your tax dollars pay for. Thank you for your time.Attachments included:Prevailing Wage Order 32 for the City of St. LouisDavid Mason and Associates Billing Rates from 2024KSDK article on the Board of Aldermen increasing their own pay

10 votes out of 150

proposed

Richard Bose8 months ago Let's help fund our new city Department of Transportation, created via a charter amendment that voters passed last year, with a local gas tax. Missouri allows cities to put on the ballot a local fuel tax. It has a high bar to pass - 66%. A higher bar than anything else in the state if I'm not mistaken. Regardless we deserve better streets, let's discuss ideas on how to fund them.Let's at least find out how much per penny would raise. I asked the MO Dept of Revenue, but they don't track fuel sales at municipal or ZIP code level. Maybe they would if asked by the city.

6 votes out of 150

1 comment

proposed

**ARThurine Harris**8 months ago It is well documented that the quality of a city's public school system determines the quality of the city at large. As a result, the City of St. Louis can never thrive if it does not adequately educate it's citizens. For as long as I can remember, the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) system has functioned largely independent of the City of St. Louis. Yet, ongoing, self-inflicted wounds to the operation and reputation of SLPS have undeniably impacted the quality of life of ALL City residents, in the form of increased insurance costs, crime, decreased population, etc. Thus, I propose that City officials create the foundation for a system that gives the City of St. Louis (and by default, it's residents) more input into SLPS operations. We are in a crisis, and as such, we can not leave the governance of our public school system to a few untrustworthy individuals who often have few toes to our city. To put things in perspective, I was recently informed that there are SLPS teachers who, despite working 11 hours days educating our youth before, during and after school hours, HAVE NOT BEEN PAID FOR HOURS THAT THEY HAVE WORKED. They are exasperated with the Board and frustrated with the teachers union -- both of whom the teachers feel routinely ignore their desires. What happens if/when these educators get fed up enough to walk out?? St. Louis will have yet *another* crisis to tend to. For this reason, I implore City officials to start the process of developing a relationship with SLPS that gives the City more control over SLPS. Either way, we all pay the price for SLPS injustice and dysfunction.✨

3 votes out of 150

proposed

Nelson Long9 months ago The city has taken road diets increasingly seriously. This is great. Many streets are overly wide, with too many lanes and parking options. One of the most common road diets is eliminating the center lane with what amounts to a sidewalk curb. See S Grand in Dutchtown, or S Kingshighway (currently under construction) and S Grand near Tower Grove Park.Rather than calm traffic by making portions of the street literally unusable, we should calm traffic by making our streets MORE usable by adding protected bike lanes instead. Imagine protected bike lanes flanking Tower Grove Park or St Mary’s High School, while also solving the road diet problem.Beyond those locations, this principle should be expanded everywhere possible in the city. Our roads are too wide with too many lanes, and biking is increasingly popular in our city with beautiful parks and architecture. We have the space for bike lanes AND the public and traffic need for them. It’s a win-win.Whenever a road diet is considered, a bike lane option should be a required study, with a strong bias in favor

84 votes out of 150

23 comments

proposed

Sara Edgar7 months ago In order to address the recycling issues in the city and reduce landfill waste, the city could work to build for profit programs (or partner with for-profit businesses) such as programs to recycle glass into sand, such as is being done in Louisiana: https://glasshalffull.co/ Landfill waste could be reduced via composting programs modeled off of what is happening in the Bay Area. A food waste-to-compost program could generate money via the sales of compost material that could be purchased residentially or for agricultural means. With city wide composting there could also be policies or incentives for area businesses to only use compostable packaging, utensils, and plastics in order to further reduce landfill waste.

6 votes out of 150

proposed

Patrick Kramer9 months ago Many parts of the city are actually very walkable, for instance I am in ward 4 and can walk to anything I would need. Grocery store, restaurants, doctor, vet, school etc…. I think one of the major issues we are facing with walkability is strategic cross walks and more inviting major intersections. For instance, Hampton and Chippewa can be a scary intersection to cross as a pedestrian and even more so with kids. Fixing major intersections to be more pedestrian friendly and adding key cross walks along major corridors we could truly begin to embrace a walkable community. This would impact wards 2,4,5 and give residents in this area a major uptick for livability.

32 votes out of 150

2 comments

proposed

Yolanda owens 9 months ago

8 votes out of 150

4 comments

proposed

Robert Kostynick8 months ago Downtown St. Louis used to have a designated Chinatown (Hop Alley) before it was demolished in 1966. Reviving Chinatown though proactive policy that favors immigration and development centered around Chinese and Asian Americans would help restore a rich cultural heritage. This would improve diversity and inclusion, focus on increasing population through immigration, and restore a community that was displaced.

3 votes out of 150

proposed

Jackson Hotaling9 months ago The St. Louis Gateway Transportation Center is downtown St. Louis' direct public transportation connection to the region and world, bringing together St. Louis' regional MetroLink and Metro Bus connections with intercity services to destinations nationwide through Greyhound and Amtrak. As Illinois considers a high-speed rail network and Missouri looks to expand intercity transit connections, we need a thriving transportation center in the heart of St. Louis.What the Transportation Center has in transportation connections, it lacks in walkable access to 'everyday destinations' that would benefit local and intercity travelers, such as grocery stores and cafes/restaurants. While there is a cafe in the transportation center, healthy food is not served, and there are minimal other options--especially for those with limited time between transportation connections. When arriving to St. Louis by public transportation, you are instead greeted with highway and rail lines that restrict walking access to points south, and otherwise there is a sea of surface parking lots within walking distance.Please replace existing surface parking lots in the vicinity of the St. Louis Gateway Transportation Center with a 'mixed-use district' of grocery stores and restaurants, plus other Transit-Oriented Development such as affordable housing, a library, other businesses, and green space.

32 votes out of 150

1 comment

proposed

Malik L9 months ago

17 votes out of 150

3 comments

proposed

Jeremy Lehmann9 months ago Gun violence continues to be a problem in the City of St. Louis. Just this week, in the span of just an hour, 9 people were shot in 4 separate shooting incidents. Gun buy back programs are an effective way to reduce the number of firearms in circulation within our communities. Simply reducing the total number of firearms that are loosely available could keep guns out of the hands of irresponsible users and could help create safer streets in our city. There would be no required changes to firearm legislation in order to institute the gun buy back program. Details, such as compensation for types of guns, amnesty or anonymity, and how the guns are disposed of will need to be debated.

23 votes out of 150

4 comments

proposed

Richard Bose9 months ago

11 votes out of 150

2 comments

proposed

Share Your Policy Ideas

Do you have a policy idea you want the city to consider? Post it!

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Examples of eligible proposals:

Are certain proposals ineligible?

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Submit your policy idea!

132 proposals

The Great St. Louis Study Bonfire

Ban big data centers

What We Can Do for Ourselves

Improve Lindell and DeBaliviere Intersection

Eliminate Metered Parking and create more safe parking lots.

Adequately Fund Building Division

Rename Compton Ave as Charlie Kirk Way

Expand Prop NS and Support Community Development Corporations

Save Our Parks - They're Crucial For Community Health

No road diets on our arterial roads

Score Card for Alderpersons

Create Affordable Housing by Training New Tradespeople

Civil Service Salaries Equivalent to the Private Sector

Local Gas Tax to Fund City DOT

Forge a Stronger Relationship with SLPS!

Require bike lanes to be evaluated for any road diet proposal

Solid waste management

Walkability

Alderperson limited terms.

Reestablish Chinatown in Downtown

Develop a Mixed-Use District around St. Louis Gateway Transportation Center

St. Louis Secession Referendum

Gun Buy Back Program

20 is Plenty, Lower Speed Limits

Filters

Share Your Policy Ideas

Do you have a policy idea you want the city to consider? Post it!

How does the proposal process work?

What proposals are eligible?

Examples of eligible proposals:

Are certain proposals ineligible?

How and when are proposals selected?

How are winning proposals evaluated?

Phases

Submit your policy idea!

132 proposals

The Great St. Louis Study Bonfire

Ban big data centers

What We Can Do for Ourselves

Improve Lindell and DeBaliviere Intersection

Eliminate Metered Parking and create more safe parking lots.

Adequately Fund Building Division

Rename Compton Ave as Charlie Kirk Way

Expand Prop NS and Support Community Development Corporations

Save Our Parks - They're Crucial For Community Health

No road diets on our arterial roads

Score Card for Alderpersons

Create Affordable Housing by Training New Tradespeople

Civil Service Salaries Equivalent to the Private Sector

Local Gas Tax to Fund City DOT

Forge a Stronger Relationship with SLPS!

Require bike lanes to be evaluated for any road diet proposal

Solid waste management

Walkability

Alderperson limited terms.

Reestablish Chinatown in Downtown

Develop a Mixed-Use District around St. Louis Gateway Transportation Center

St. Louis Secession Referendum

Gun Buy Back Program

20 is Plenty, Lower Speed Limits

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