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2016 Gold Cup Newspaper Missouri Press Association
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited JAN. 26 – FEB. 1, 2017
Vol. 88 No. 42 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Krewson is no-show at forum organized for youth French: she ‘is the TIF queen – that’s why she’s not here’ By Clark Randall For The St. Louis American On Thursday, January 19, eight candidates for mayor of St. Louis faced off at Harris-Stowe State University. This group did not include Lyda Krewson, the only major
candidate who is white and who is leading by a wide margin in all polls released to date. Krewson said she had already committed to be at four other events that evening and let the organizers know in advance that she could not make it.
“Krewson is the TIF queen – that’s why she’s not here,” said candidate Antonio D. French, currently alderman of the 21st Ward in North St. Louis. TIF is an acronym for tax increment financing, a development incentive which has been disproportionately used in the Central Corridor, which includes the 28th Ward, where Krewson currently is alderman. The forum was organized to highlight the questions and concerns of young people in St. Louis. The Alpha Omega City-Wide Chapter
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and 78th District state Representative Bruce Franks Jr. facilitated the event. Young people in the crowd were encouraged to come forward with questions for the candidates. Tishaura O. Jones, currently St. Louis treasurer, was asked to respond to the recent murder of a 15-year-old girl and to give her solutions to crime. There were 188 homicides in St. Louis in both of the last two years. “Young men and young women picking up a paycheck every two
weeks won’t be picking up a gun,” Jones said. “For a long time, we’ve been tough on crime; we need to be smart on crime.” Jones went on to say she would place social workers within the police department and stop criminalizing the poor, substance abusers and mentally ill people. Several themes persisted in the questioning: the Delmar Divide, policing, homelessness and crime. On See FORUM, A6
‘Our voices will be heard’ Women march in St. Louis, Washington and all over the world to protest Trump By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Thousands marched through downtown St. Louis on Saturday, January 20 to protest President Donald Trump’s inauguration. One of the march organizers, Valerie Brinkman, said that experts who looked at aerial shots said between 20,000 and 30,000 people attended.
Mapping out environmental racism Expert links landfills, incinerators, refineries to minority neighborhoods at MLK lecture By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American There were two standing ovations for the man who spoke about the nation’s environmental injustices against the poor and minorities on the day the nation honored the man who fought for civil rights for all Americans. Texas Southern University professor and environmental sociologist Robert D. Bullard shared some of his work revealing Dr. Robert Bullard
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Thousands marched through downtown St. Louis on Saturday, January 20 to protest President Donald Trump’s administration, in tandem with the Women’s March on Washington and more than 600 “sister marches” throughout the world. “We are here today because we want to communicate – not only to our state, not only to our city, but to this country and this world – that we are not invisible and our voices will be heard,” said State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal. “The reason why I march is because every young girl has the right to dream and get an education so she can thrive and challenge some of the people in Washington, D.C. who are taking her rights away.” An ocean of women, men and children gathered at 9 a.m. by Union Station and marched down Market Street to the newly renovated Luther Ely Smith Square, across the street from the Old Courthouse. One of the march organizers, Valerie Brinkman, said that experts See WOMEN, A7
Neighbors vow to patrol for children’s safety Abduction of Kameill Taylor stirs North City to action By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Kameill Taylor, 12, was walking to the school bus stop around 6 a.m. on January 11 when she was abducted and abused by an unknown person. Two days later, police found her barely alive in an abandoned building at 5325 Terry Ave., near St. Louis Avenue and Kingshighway Boulevard. On Friday, January 20, a group of about 15 residents stood on the steps of that abandoned building and vowed to hold neighborhood patrols every morning to ensure children get safely to their bus stops and schools.
n “There is no better thing we can to do than to mobilize and ensure the safety of our children.” – Azim Aziz
“There is no better thing we can to do than to mobilize and ensure the safety of our children,” said Azim Aziz, a resident who lives nearby. “If
we cannot protect our children, then we are worthless.” While he does not know personally Taylor and her family, Aziz said he and other neighbors felt compelled to do something. The group calls themselves “Neighbors Against Violence to Children.” Their patrol will include the entire First Ward. “This morning while we were doing our street patrol, we were further outraged to find numerous vacant buildings that were unsecured and open,” Aziz said. “We are making a See SAFETY, A6
SPORTS
LIVING IT
NEWS
Prep Basketball Notebook Tremendous talent
Jazz drummer Charles ‘Bobo’ Shaw passes
Harvard class tackles segregation in St. Louis
Bank of O’Fallon Shootout Saturday, February 4
Avant-garde jazz drummer and Black Artists Group (BAG) remembered
Graduate School of Design studies neighborhoods to make more impactful designs
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