STL County swears in nine women corrections officers
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited JAN. 30 – FEB. 5, 2020
91 years serving, empowering and advocating equity in St. Louis
Vol. 91 No. 45 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
‘You should get an honest day’s pay’
WestbrooksHodge appointed to Mo. Board of Education Says investing in teachers is a key priority By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Janitors and allies protested in downtown St. Louis on Monday January 27in support of a $15 an hour wage for the city’s janitorial workers, who at the moment are generally receiving around $10 an hour. Seventeen people were arrested when they sat on the street at 7th and Washington and refused to move.
17 arrested protesting for St. Louis janitors’ wages By Sophie Hurwitz For The St. Louis American Around noon on Monday January 27, 17 janitors and allies were arrested at a downtown protest in support of a $15 an hour wage for the city’s janitorial workers, who at the moment are generally receiving around $10 an hour. Charles Harris, who was arrested, has been a janitor for 17 years.
“I’m here to support all the working families,” Harris said. “We’re here for $15 an hour, and if we can get that goal, I’d be very happy.” Harris said this was his first time risking arrest. “It’s not a stressful thing,” he said. “If that’s what it takes to get to the goal, I’m willing to do it.” If successful, SEIU Local 1’s campaign could raise the wages of over 2,100 workers. One of those workers is Alishea Bell, who is only able to make ends meet by working another full time job on top of her full time janitorial work cleaning the trading floor at Wells Fargo.
n “All work deserves dignity, and all work matters. We are really serious about making sure that people stop making poverty wages.”
– St. Louis City Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones
See JANITORS, A7
Mind’s Eye Radio serves the blind Mind’s Eye Radio, which broadcasts to about 13,000 listeners in the St. Louis area, has an unusual list of programs. At noon each day, a volunteer’s voice reads out the text of the most recent issue of USA Today. Next up are more magazines: Consumer News, Vintage Design, and Outdoorsman on Wednesdays, for example, or Military Times, American History, and Living at Home on Thursdays.
Mind’s Eye is a radio station designed entirely for blind and visually impaired people. Each day, trained volunteers record themselves reading dozens of publications that are then broadcast across the region. Blind and visually impaired people listen on radios distributed by Mind’s Eye, on the livestream on its website, or on apps on their phones. Jesuita Tabor has been listening to Mind’s Eye since 1986, after See MIND’S EYE, A6
See HODGE, A6
‘Basic questions’ remain unanswered New so-called Homer G. Phillips Hospital may lack financing and Medicaid coverage
Provides live sports and theatre, newspapers and magazines on radio By Sophie Hurwitz For the St. Louis American
Gov. Mike Parson has appointed Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, a board member of the Normandy Schools Collaborative, to the Missouri Board of Education. “For my entire life, I have strongly felt that education was the great equalizer,” said Westbrooks-Hodge, who heads Information Systems Audit at Edward Jones Investments. “Education has made all the difference in my n “We need personal life. Every child in our state desires to to make an live a productive life, and investment education is the way to in the do that.” people who Westbrooks-Hodge will replace board are most instrumental member Mike Jones in representing District in 1. Jones recommended determining Westbrooks-Hodge’s the appointment, he said, because he admired outcomes her leadership as of our vice president of the children’s Normandy Schools lives.” Collaborative Joint Executive Governing – Pamela Board. Westbrooks“There are three Hodge essential qualities required for leadership: intelligence, integrity and courage,” Jones stated in a letter to the governor. “Westbrooks-Hodge possesses a double portion of all three of these qualities.” Her skills in strategic planning and executive leadership development are “equally impressive,” Jones said.
By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Jason Frazier, president and CEO of Mind’s Eye, shows where the radio station for the blind has listeners. He was drawn to the station because he believes his grandmother, who was blind, could have used a resource like it.
St. Louis officials have raised questions about the financing for NorthSide Regeneration’s $20.5 million three-bed hospital with an emergency room, proposed to be built at the site of the former PruittIgoe housing project. Project leaders also have not been able to confirm that the facility will be able to accept Medicaid or Medicare — despite the hospital being located in the middle of one of the most impoverished and medicallyunderserved areas in the region. Alderwoman Cara Spencer (D-Ward 20) said that the Board of Aldermen approved a substantial See HOSPITAL, A7