AMERICAN ENDORSES LEWIS REED FOR MAYOR Also endorsed for Alderman: Charles Quincy Troupe, Michelle Hutchings-Medina, Damon A. Jones, Antonio D. French and Chris Carter.
Page A4
Vol. 84 No. 48
CAC Audited FEB. 28 – MAR. 6, 2013
COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Reed needs turnout
ANALYSIS
Towards a progressive path Slay’s old-school politics wrong for STL By Sylvester Brown Jr. For The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Last week large numbers of public sector employees rallied around mayoral candidate Lewis Reed as he revealed a change the Slay administration quietly made to a personnel form that union leaders claim forced new hires to wave guaranteed benefits and collective bargaining rights. The mayoral primary in Tuesday, March 5.
I work with diverse groups of passionate people of all races, ages and income levels who are challenging the status quo and trying to create a more just, progressive and inclusive region. We have a rare opportunity to right a great, regressive wrong and nudge this region toward a 21st Century progressive path that doesn’t cater to the already rich who are primarily bankrolling Mayor Francis G. Slay’s reelection. As a St. Louis writer for some 25 years, I am intimately familiar with the genesis of the Slay administration, a force forged in the fires of racial division Sylvester with a shameful intent to keep Brown, Jr. power locked in the manicured clutches of a mighty few. The well-connected were thrown into a tizzy back in 1993, when St. Louis elected its first black Mayor, Freeman Bosley Jr. With the support of the 20th Ward – then the largest deliverer of black votes in the city – Bosley squeaked into office. For the first time in St. Louis history, two blacks (the new Mayor and Comptroller Virvus Jones) held
See BROWN, A6
Blacks, public employees, activists form diverse coalition By Chris King Of The St. Louis American
“Part of what will determine this race is turnout, and all those downticket races that favor us will be critical.”
On Tuesday, a respected legend in black politics in St. Louis joined the diverse coalition working to elect Lewis Reed as mayor on March 5. “I am happy to endorse Lewis Reed for mayor,” Pearlie Evans said in a statement. “He is the kind of leader who shares my vision for moving this city forward.”
– Lewis Reed
Evans was longtime District director for now retired Congressman Bill Clay. She made her announcement as her longtime boss’ son, U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, was
stumping for Reed’s opponent, incumbent Mayor Francis G. Slay.
See REED, A6
Montford Point Marines strike Gold WWII veterans from St. Louis receive Congressional Medal By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American The most fitting tribute for three of St. Louis’ original Montford Point Marines was receiving the Congressional Gold Medal, our nation’s highest civilian honor, during Black History Month. World War II veterans James Wilkes, Godfrey Wilson and Yolande Latham played a vital role in the integration of the U.S. Armed Forces. Their valiant service was formally recognized at the 16th annual “Chosen Few” Banquet and Awards Ceremony recently held at the St. Louis Airport-Marriott. The event was co-hosted by the St. Louis
See MARINES, A7
MSD disparity study stirs concern NSBE says inclusion program for professional services is working By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American
U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay honors Montford Point Marine Congressional Gold Medal honorees Youlande Lathan, Godfrey Wilson and James Wilkes.
Minority participation goals do the same for the St. Louis business community as medication for a high-blood pressure patient, said Abe Adewale, cofounder and CEO of the ABNA Engineering, at the Feb. 25 public forum to discuss the Metropolitan Sewer District’s recent disparity study. If the district takes away minority hiring goals for professional services, the dollars that black engineers earn from MSD contracts will fall, Adewale said to the 200-plus MSD forum attendees at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley. “All of the sudden, the doctor recommends to the patient, ‘You’re feeling good. You don’t have to use your medication anymore,’” said Adewale, who
See MSD, A7