2026-10-16 - Board of Aldermen

01:59Mhm.

05:49>> Mhm.

05:56>> The board will now come to order. Mr.

05:58Clerk, please call the roll.

06:00>> Alderman Spicer

06:04Alderman Oldenburg

06:07Alderman Cappleman

06:10Alderman O'Brien

06:13Alderman Dowell Smith

06:16Alderman Velasquez

06:20Alderman Sawyer

06:23Alderman Cox Anthony

06:26Alderman Browning

06:29Alderman Clark Albert

06:33Alderman King

06:37Alderman Harris

06:40Alderman Reilly

06:42>> Present.

06:45>> Alderman Osterman

06:48Alderman Green

06:49>> Present.

06:51>> Alderman Cappleman

06:54Alderman O'Brien

06:59Alderman Velasquez

07:04Alderman Browning

07:08Alderman King

07:11Alderman Harris

07:1410 present.

07:15>> A quorum being present, we will dispense

07:18with the regular order of business to

07:19take up the courtesy resolution

07:21calendar.

07:23Alderwoman

07:25uh from the

07:2710th, could you please approach the dais

07:30with your honored guests?

07:49>> Good morning. Thank you, Madam

07:50President, members of the board. If I

07:51can have STLTV come up

07:55to the dais. Right on time. That's how

07:57it happens. Y'all catching it live and

07:59living color thanks to STLTV.

08:05STLTV just celebrated 35 years of

08:08service, immeasurable service,

08:10remarkable service uh to the city of St.

08:13Louis in a unique way

08:15that they serve. And And what I thought

08:17about this morning, Andre, was that

08:20something that you brought up at that

08:21banquet. We had a good time at that

08:22banquet, didn't we, y'all? And y'all

08:24look nice. I cannot wait till that

08:27footage comes out from that banquet.

08:29Y'all think they look nice now? Y'all

08:30should have seen them last Friday night,

08:32babe.

08:33Um but what I thought about, Andre,

08:36was what you mentioned when you talked

08:37about the different people that have

08:38come through in the last 35 years

08:41that have gone on. And what we know in

08:43our position is the fact that you all

08:46have stayed.

08:48And that commitment that you all show

08:50every day,

08:52under-resourced,

08:54most times thankless,

08:57is what makes me want to stand and

08:59continue to stand 10 toes down for you

09:01all wherever I can and whatever space

09:03I'm in because we know that you keep us

09:06You really keep us safe. Right? The

09:08transparency, that word that everybody

09:10throws around like a buzzword, we

09:11wouldn't have if it was not for you.

09:13And the way that you all would pivoted

09:16and stood in so many gaps during COVID

09:19to ensure that our residents still knew

09:21what was happening in the city of St.

09:23Louis,

09:24again, is it was immeasurable. You

09:26continue to show up and you continue to

09:29show out.

09:31The work that you all do,

09:33the new things that you all are doing,

09:35the platforms that you create, the

09:37spaces you create for truth and honesty

09:41make the difference. So, thank you all.

09:44I'm going to get out the way cuz I know

09:45you all some of you all want to speak

09:46and I know my colleagues have things

09:48that they want to say. We did in bank

09:50this and it was an honor to share last

09:52Friday night and present to you there

09:54but we presented again

09:56in a space that again you all we have

09:58you all to thank for. So, with that I

10:00guess I'm going to I'm am I calling up

10:02who am I calling up?

10:05Let me call Okay, we're calling up Joe

10:07Brown first. Some of these people are

10:08the people that you really you don't see

10:10them, right? Because they're back in the

10:11room don't see them but when you say

10:13when you hear me say we are enough that

10:16comes from Joe Brown because one time I

10:18was having a very hard day. He doesn't

10:20know it. I was having a very hard day

10:22and

10:24they were here to record something and

10:25as we were going through the process Joe

10:28had on a shirt that said enough.

10:30And so, that's our running joke. It was

10:32encouragement and and for me that day he

10:34just didn't know you never know what

10:36people are going through. Andre

10:38you are lifted in prayer beyond your

10:41understanding.

10:43Your family, we love you. We know

10:47we see but again you don't know what

10:49people are going through. So, when you

10:50hear me say we are enough to Joe that's

10:51where I get it from. So, let me bring up

10:53Joe

11:01>> thrown under

11:02Hey.

11:03But I am so glad

11:06for this proclamation and to be here

11:07this long.

11:11I've seen a lot of aldermans and a lot

11:14of the mayors and it's like family even

11:16though it's a rotation thing

11:18it's always so glad I can come to you

11:21guys when I when we have problems.

11:24You all know the problems we had. You

11:27know, and and and and and and the fear

11:29always of you know, being shut down but

11:31bam you guys were right there, you know,

11:34supporting us

11:35and

11:37that feels very comfortable.

11:38You know, it feel it feels like you

11:40know,

11:41I know a lot of you people out there

11:42know what it's like when oh, I don't

11:44know if I'm going to have a job

11:45tomorrow, you know.

11:47But

11:48yeah,

11:49you guys came through no matter what

11:51alderman was. It was there was several

11:53aldermen that did it and I've

11:55appreciated a lot, a lot. Thank you.

11:59>> [applause]

12:04>> So, the commissioner

12:07just joined us, Donna Brooks Sanders. We

12:10we just left a presentation

12:12that we had to do over in the mayor's

12:14office

12:15for the cabinet.

12:16But this morning is truly

12:20um

12:21is truly a a blessing.

12:24I will tell you that the one thing that

12:27I'm truly

12:29proud of is the fact that pretty much

12:31everyone that works at STLTV except one

12:35person

12:36um I've hired each and every one of

12:39them.

12:40A lot of them, more than half, have

12:43started as interns.

12:46But I will tell you that's because of

12:48the hard work and dedication that

12:50they've shown when they came out of

12:52college

12:54and they were interested in learning

12:55more in television but also to give back

12:59to the St. Louis community.

13:01And so I am just

13:03extremely proud of what the staff has

13:06been able to do.

13:08Each and every one of them behind me, I

13:10tell them all the time

13:12it is we're only as

13:14we're only as strong as the whole team

13:16is. There's no one individual.

13:19There's no I in team. And so every time

13:22we step up

13:24it's going to take each and every one of

13:25us to do what we need to do.

13:27And so, even within city government, I

13:30have to thank

13:32the elected officials who have supported

13:34us.

13:36Because there are a lot of government

13:37channels throughout the St. Louis area

13:39that have been shut down.

13:41Clayton, Brentwood, Maryland Heights.

13:45I think right now it's only us,

13:47Florissant, and all of the St. Louis St.

13:49Charles channels, St. Peters, O'Fallon,

13:53and St. Charles City.

13:55But I

13:56I truly believe that if the residents

14:01who wrote over 300 letters to the mayor,

14:04comptroller, and the president of Board

14:06of Aldermen at the time, and then the

14:08elected officials, the city um

14:12Board of Aldermen,

14:14but the residents made it very

14:17very clear that we want to know what's

14:20going on in city government.

14:22And we want to know what's going on in

14:24City Hall. And so, what we do is try to

14:27make sure that we do a good job of

14:29allowing them to know what's going on

14:32within city government. So, today we

14:34just thank everyone, the City of St.

14:36Louis residents,

14:38obviously all the city officials, and

14:41definitely those who stood by us during

14:44our tough times.

14:46And we truly appreciate you, and we just

14:48thank you, and ask you continue to bless

14:50us with opportunity to serve our city.

14:54So, I don't know if the commissioner

14:56wants to come up. Thank you all.

14:59>> [applause]

15:02>> Good morning.

15:03Andre is always a hard act to follow um

15:05because he's so very passionate about

15:07the work that we do. But so am I, and

15:09for all the people that are standing

15:10here behind me, and all of those who

15:12work day in and day out to bring you a

15:15quality uh production uh from this Board

15:18of Aldermen meeting to all of the

15:20mayoral press conferences that we cover,

15:23to the events that we go out and cover,

15:24as well as the original programs that we

15:26produce that tell what I consider to be

15:29the good news story about St. Louis cuz

15:31there's a lot of good news to talk about

15:33in the city of St. Louis. And so, um on

15:35today we're just thankful to each of you

15:38uh as our alderpersons uh in support uh

15:42in receipt of this proclamation

15:44resolution, correct? Uh

15:46this resolution today

15:49uh for 35 years. Uh as Andre said, a lot

15:52of uh local government access channels

15:54haven't made it that long, but I I hope

15:56and and believe that because of the

15:58quality of the work that we do, uh the

16:01fact that we have been dedicated, and we

16:03are city employees, we are also city

16:05residents. So, what we do matters to us

16:08uh as well as it matters to all of the

16:10residents and the local businesses that

16:12we serve. So, um just want to say thank

16:14you again for this opportunity uh to be

16:17recognized for 35 years. We hope we'll

16:20be here for 35 more. Thank you.

16:23>> [applause]

16:29>> Okay.

16:31Everyone want to introduce themselves

16:33real fast?

16:33>> Yes.

16:35Don't be nervous.

16:36Don't be nervous. They're behind these

16:38cameras all the time. You all hours of

16:40editing, making us look as good as they

16:43can make us look.

16:45I don't know the keys always talks about

16:46shaving off and and angles.

16:49Um but I I don't I don't want to miss

16:51the opportunity for all of you all to

16:52just say your name and how many years

16:54you've been with STLTV so we can

16:56properly thank you with

17:00>> Hello, my name is Alex Kohlberg. Uh I'm

17:03a pre-performer. I've been here since

17:062019.

17:09Thank you.

17:12>> [applause]

17:13>> Asia Miles Asia Miles supervisor, um

17:16about a little over five.

17:18>> [applause]

17:21>> I'm Tyrone Harris. I've been here a

17:23year.

17:26>> [applause]

17:26>> Hi, Andy Reziki. I've been here since

17:282011, so six years.

17:32>> [applause]

17:35>> Joe Brown, I've been here since 2016.

17:39>> [applause]

17:44>> I'm Jerry Bruen. I've been here about 36

17:47years.

17:49>> [cheering]

17:50[applause]

17:55>> Any further discussion?

17:57Any further discussion?

18:01Seeing none, well, I want to thank

18:03everybody for your service for

18:06uh making us look good.

18:09>> [laughter]

18:10>> A little bit slimmer, right? Um for

18:13bringing transparency to the Board of

18:15Alderman and to city government in

18:16general. And with that, I would like to

18:19ask us all to please join us on the

18:21steps so that we may get a picture.

20:32>> Alderman from the 10th, you're

20:33recognized on the motion to adopt the

20:34courtesy resolution and calendar.

20:43>> Thank you, Madam President. Members of

20:44the board, I move that we adopt a

20:46courtesy resolution and sent calendar.

20:49>> It's been moved by the Alderman from the

20:5010th, seconded by the Alderman from the

20:5211th that we adopt the courtesy

20:54resolution and calendar. Is there any

20:56discussion?

20:59>> I would like to be added as a co-sponsor

21:01to resolution 154, please.

21:05>> Uh, Clerk, please make note of that.

21:07>> Will do. Thank you.

21:11>> Any further discussion?

21:13Seeing none, it's been moved by the

21:15Alderwoman from the 10th second and by

21:16the Alderwoman from the 11th that we

21:18adopt the courtesy resolution and

21:20calendar. All those in favor signify by

21:22saying I.

21:23>> I.

21:24>> Opposed? Motion carries. Introduction of

21:27honored guests. Any introduction of

21:29honored guests? Alderwoman from the

21:3010th.

21:31>> Thank you, Madam President, members of

21:32the board.

21:33I honor guest Forest Relief and Missouri

21:36Conservation,

21:37our St. Louis City Forestry Department,

21:40many of the volunteers that were out

21:42yesterday in Fountain Park as they

21:44planted their 300,000th

21:47tree in the city of St. Louis. This is

21:49the 33rd year of Forest Relief. It was

21:52an amazing experience yesterday to be

21:54out there with them as that we continue

21:56to recover in the Fountain Park and

21:58Lewis Place in the entire city area. So,

22:01thank you, Forest Relief and Missouri

22:02Conservation. You are my honored guest

22:04this morning.

22:07>> Alderwoman from the 11th.

22:09>> Thank you, Madam President, members of

22:11the board.

22:12I want to

22:13acknowledge K.J. Oh, look here. So,

22:16Chris Carter Jr. just walked in on the

22:18scene.

22:20So, you know, the best people have only

22:22initials or only a single name. So, K.J.

22:25is with our Streets Department, does an

22:28amazing job, makes me look really good,

22:31and I want you to know that I appreciate

22:33you. And uh, Chris Carter, good to see

22:35you always. Stellar, stellar people. Um,

22:39but I want to have as my honored guest

22:42the

22:43all of the parishes that make up St.

22:46Josephine Bakhita. They had their annual

22:49fundraising gala last night. Thank you.

22:52And I was able to be in attendance where

22:55Father Maurice Nutt was the keynote

22:57speaker, and he just did an excellent,

23:00stupendous job. And so they are my

23:05honored guest and we wish them much more

23:08success as they grow the new parish.

23:12Thank you.

23:12>> Thank you. [applause]

23:14Any further introduction of honored

23:15guests? Alderwoman

23:17seven.

23:20>> Thank you, Madam President, members of

23:21the board. I would like to echo and have

23:24a safe Akita parish as well. I was able

23:26to be in attendance and I would also

23:27like to have the continuum of care as my

23:30honored guest. They had a homelessness

23:32town hall yesterday that both myself and

23:34Mayor Spencer and Dr. Pearson and

23:37several others got to speak at. It's the

23:40I think it's one of their first like

23:41town halls on the topic that brought

23:43brought folks out across the city. So I

23:45would just like to have all the folks

23:46who attended and who made sure that our

23:48city continues to have that conversation

23:50as my honored guest.

23:51>> Thank you.

23:53Alderwoman from the eighth.

23:55>> Thank you. As my honored guest, I would

23:56like to recognize first up in the

23:58gallery Adam with who has joined us in

24:00the gallery. How are you doing? And I

24:03would also like to have the students of

24:04Lift for Life Academy. They're going to

24:05have their annual gala this Saturday, so

24:08I'm wishing them the best of luck with

24:09their gala and the performances and

24:11engagement. And finally, I would like to

24:13have the pumpkin spice cake that is in

24:16the kitchen that the alderman from the

24:17third brought us. So getting festive

24:20with the fall season. So thank you for

24:21that cake.

24:22>> [laughter]

24:24>> Any further introduction of honored

24:26guests? Alderwoman from the 10th.

24:27>> Thank you, Madam President, members of

24:29the board. I have an additional honored

24:30guest that just

24:32hand delivered our state representative

24:35Kimberly Ann Collins who is up in the

24:36galley and Jonathan Patterson, our

24:39speaker of the house. This Missouri

24:41resolution for STLTV. So STLTV is again

24:46our honored guest down here on the

24:47floor. They continue to receive the

24:49accolades and gratitude they deserve.

24:53>> Any further introduction of honored

24:55guests?

24:56Seeing none, Alderwoman from the 10th,

24:59you are recognized on the approval of

25:01the minutes from Friday, October 9th,

25:032026.

25:04>> Thank you, Madam President. Members of

25:06the board, I move that we approve the

25:07minutes from Friday, October 9th, 2026.

25:11>> It's been moved by the Alderwoman from

25:13the 10th, seconded by the Alderwoman

25:14from the 7th, that we approve the

25:15minutes from Friday, October 9th, 2026.

25:18Is there any discussion?

25:20Seeing none, all those in favor signify

25:23by saying I.

25:25Opposed? Motion carries. Report of city

25:27officials.

25:29>> Report of the city officials can be

25:30found on A, B, C, and D of the agenda.

25:34It's been placed in the Google Drive for

25:35your review.

25:38>> Does anyone wish to take any bills or

25:41resolutions off of any of our informal

25:43calendar? Alderman from the 5th.

25:45>> Uh Madam President, I would request that

25:48Board Bill 78 be sent back to the Public

25:51Utilities and Infrastructure Committee.

25:53>> We will first have to take it off of

25:56informal, put it on perfection, and then

25:59when we get to perfection, you can

26:01request to send it back to committee.

26:03>> So, Madam President, um if we would take

26:05Board Bill 78 off of the informal

26:09calendar and put it back on the

26:10perfection regular perfection place.

26:12>> Regular perfection. Mr. Clerk, please

26:13make note of that.

26:16>> All right, thank you.

26:18>> First reading of board bills.

26:22>> Board Bill 92, sponsored by Alderman

26:24Cohn.

26:25An ordinance recommended and approved by

26:27the Airport Commission

26:29and Board of Estimate and Apportionment

26:31authorizing

26:32and directing the Director of Airports

26:34and the Comptroller of the City of St.

26:36Louis

26:37owned and operated by the St. Louis

26:38Lambert International Airport to enter

26:41into and execute the first amendment to

26:44lease agreement AL-045

26:47originally authorized by ordinance

26:49number 70547

26:52between the city and Enterprise Leasing

26:53Company of St. Louis LLC

26:56and containing a severability clause.

26:59Board Bill 93 sponsored by Alderman Cohn

27:03an ordinance recommended and approved by

27:04the Airport Commission and Board of

27:07Estimate and Apportionment authorizing

27:08directing the Director of Airports and

27:10the Comptroller of the City of St.

27:12Louis, owner and operator of the St.

27:14Louis Lambert International Airport to

27:16enter and execute the first amendment to

27:18luggage cart rental agreement AL 022

27:23originally authorized by Ordinance

27:24number 71423

27:27between the city and Enterprise Leasing

27:28Company

27:30of STL LLC and containing a severability

27:32clause.

27:34Board Bill 94 an ordinance recommended

27:36by the Board of Estimate and

27:37Apportionment and sponsored by Alderman

27:39Boyd

27:40an ordinance recommended by the Board of

27:42Estimate and Apportionment appropriating

27:44to the Department of Health

27:46funds received by the City of St. Louis

27:49pursuant to a national opioid settlement

27:51agreements authorizing the expenditure

27:53of such funds to the extent received

27:56authorizing contracts and other

27:58documents to expend such funds to the

28:00extent received and containing an

28:02emergency clause.

28:04Board Bill number 95 sponsored by

28:06Alderman Boyd

28:07an ordinance authorizing the honorary

28:09street name Bishop Terry E. Cole way

28:12pursuant to Ordinance number 68937

28:16which should begin in the intersection

28:18of West Florissant Avenue and Mermod

28:20Avenue and run south along West

28:22Florissant Avenue to the intersection of

28:24West Florissant and Pamplin Place.

28:27Board Bill 96 sponsored by Alderman

28:29Velasquez, Mayor Spencer, President

28:31Green Alderman DeVore and Alderman

28:33La'Rue Ryan

28:34an ordinance submitting to the vote to

28:36the qualified voters of the City of St.

28:38Louis

28:39the question of whether to amend the

28:41charter of the City of St. Louis by

28:43repealing and replacing Article

28:47um

28:4750

28:4913 to update the city civil service and

28:52human resources system.

28:55Board Bill 97

28:57sponsored by Alderwoman Velázquez, Mayor

28:59Spencer, President Green, Alderman

29:00DeVore, and

29:02Alderman Narayan, an ordinance amending

29:04title four of the revised code of the

29:06city of St. Louis by adding a new

29:08chapter governing the classified service

29:11to direct Chief Human Resources Office

29:13Officer to establish administrative

29:16regulations and compensation

29:18recommendations consistent with federal

29:20merit standards providing for veterans

29:22and the city residents preferences and

29:24establishing prohibitions regarding the

29:26federal grant administration and

29:28containing a severability clause and an

29:31effective date clause.

29:33Board Bill 98 sponsored by Alderman

29:35DeVore, Mayor Spencer, President Green,

29:37Alderwoman Velázquez, and Alderman

29:39Narayan.

29:41An ordinance outlining the

29:42responsibilities, requirements, and

29:43procedures for the Civil Service

29:45Commission and containing a severability

29:47and effective date clause.

29:49Board Bill 99 sponsored by Alderman

29:52Velázquez, Mayor Spencer, President

29:54Green,

29:55Alderman DeVore, and Alderman Narayan,

29:58an ordinance outlining the grievance

30:00process with civil service employees

30:03delegating administrative rule-making

30:05authority to the Chief Human Resources

30:07Officer and containing a severability

30:09clause and effective date clause.

30:12Board Bill 100 sponsored by Alderman

30:15DeVore, Mayor Spencer, President Green,

30:18Alderman Velázquez, and Alderman

30:19Narayan,

30:21an ordinance establishing the parameters

30:22of permissible political activity

30:25undertaken by the city of St. Louis,

30:27undertaken by city of St. Louis

30:28employees

30:29within the classified civil service

30:32delegating administrative rule-making

30:33authority to the Chief Human Resources

30:36Officer

30:37and containing a severability clause and

30:38an effective date clause.

30:41Board Bill 101

30:43sponsored by Aldermen Boyd, Mayor

30:45Spencer, President Green, Aldermen

30:46Velasquez, and Aldermen Narayan.

30:50An ordinance defining certain terms used

30:52in Title 4 of the Revised Code of the

30:54City of St. Louis and containing a

30:56severability clause and an effective

30:58date clause.

30:59Board Bill 102 sponsored by Aldermen Cox

31:02and Swee

31:03an ordinance recommended by the Board of

31:05Estimate and Apportionment authorizing

31:07the City of St. Louis to accept funds

31:09pursuant to an agreement with the United

31:11States Department of Housing and Urban

31:12Development

31:13for a Community Project Funding Program

31:15Grant to fund construction of a new

31:17refuse transfer station located near the

31:20South River Port

31:21appropriating such funds to the Port

31:23Development Fund, authorizing the

31:25expenditure of such funds, authorizing

31:28related contracts, agreements, and other

31:30documents and containing a severability

31:32clause.

31:33This is the extent of the first reading

31:35of Board Bills.

31:38>> Reference to Committee of Board Bills.

31:40>> To the Public Infrastructure Utilities

31:42Committee, Board Bill 95

31:44to the Housing Urban Development and

31:46Zoning Committee, Board Bill 102

31:49to the Legislative and Rules Committee,

31:50Board Bills 96, 97, 98, 99

31:54100 and 101

31:56to the Health and Human Development

31:58Committee, Board Bill 94

32:00to the Transportation and Commerce

32:01Committee, Board Bills 92 and 93.

32:04That is the extent of the reference to

32:06Committee Board Bills.

32:08>> Second Reading Report of Standing

32:09Committees.

32:11>> The following Board Bills were reported

32:12out of the Housing Urban Development and

32:14Zoning Committee with a do pass

32:15recommendation.

32:17Board Bill 47, Committee Substitute

32:20sponsored by Aldermen Swee

32:23an ordinance approving a redevelopment

32:25plan dated August 6th, 2025 for the

32:28Tiffany Scattered Sites 2 area in the

32:31City of St. Louis.

32:32>> [snorts]

32:33>> Board Bill 57, Committee Substitute

32:35sponsored by Aldermen Aldridge.

32:37An ordinance approving a redevelopment

32:39plan dated August 26, 2025

32:43for the St. Louis Place and Old North

32:45Scattered Sites area in the city of St.

32:47Louis.

32:49The following board bill was reported

32:51out of the Public Infrastructure

32:52Utilities Committee with a do pass

32:54recommendation.

32:56Board Bill 82 as amended in committee,

32:57sponsored by Alderwoman Cox-Ashly.

33:00Pursuant to the ordinance number 70333

33:04as amended by ordinance number 71394

33:07an ordinance directing the director of

33:08streets to install street speed humps to

33:11calm the flow of traffic on various

33:13blocks in the 8th Ward.

33:15This extends to the second reading and

33:16report of special standing committees.

33:19>> Report of special committees.

33:21>> We have none.

33:22>> Perfection consent calendar.

33:24>> We have none.

33:25>> We can dispense with line items 15 and

33:2716. Uh, board bills for perfection.

33:30>> Board Bill 80 as amended in committee,

33:32sponsored by Alderman Aldridge.

33:34An ordinance providing for the execution

33:36and delivery

33:37of an acknowledgement and consent to

33:39assignment of the amended

33:43Okay.

33:44Um,

33:45correction.

33:46Uh, Board Bill 80 as amended in

33:48committee, sponsored by Ald- Alderman

33:49Aldridge and President Green.

33:51An ordinance providing for the execution

33:53and delivery of an acknowledgement and

33:54consent assignment of the amended and

33:57restated lease for the multi-family

33:59apartment building commonly known as the

34:01Homer G. Phillips Senior Apartments

34:03located at 2601 Whittier Street and

34:06containing an emergency clause.

34:08>> Alderman from the 14th, you are

34:10recognized on the perfection of Board

34:11Bill 80 as amended in committee.

34:14>> Thank you, Madam President members of

34:15the board. I move that we perfect Board

34:17Bill 80 as amended in committee.

34:19>> It's been moved by the Alderman from the

34:2014th, seconded by the Alderwoman from

34:22the 7th that we perfect Board Bill 80 as

34:25amended in committee. Alderman

34:27>> Thank you, Madam President members of

34:28the board. Board Bill 80 as amended in

34:30committee, uh, is uh the transfer of the

34:34lease at Homer G. Phillips uh senior

34:37apartments. Currently, the lease owner

34:39of

34:41uh this apartment building is Eagle

34:43Point.

34:44And what we're looking to do is transfer

34:46the lease from Eagle Point to CIG

34:49Properties uh that is looking to come in

34:52and make uh roughly 509,000

34:56uh dollars worth of upgrades in this

34:57building.

34:59Uh this is a building that uh shares

35:01some responsibility that the city of St.

35:02Louis has

35:04um because we own the we own the land.

35:07Uh but the way that it's set up is the

35:10lease owners are kind of contracted out

35:13or not contracted out, done through a

35:14board bill like we're doing now to

35:16ensure that uh those individuals that

35:18individual is the one who manage the

35:20property.

35:22I want to kind of

35:24center us on why this is important. Why

35:26it's important for us to

35:29um

35:30take an important step forward today to

35:32bring in a new lease owner.

35:35So, I had the ability to uh before the

35:38hearing that we had 2 weeks ago, uh

35:40actually meet with the residents at

35:42Homer G. Phillips.

35:44Um and they explained to me a lot of the

35:46concerns that they have in their

35:47building.

35:48The lack of air in the summertime, the

35:51lack of heat in the wintertime, the lack

35:54of upgrades in the common areas, and how

35:56they're just very disappointed in Eagle

35:58Point. And they want to see something

36:00new, and they want to be able to have uh

36:02somebody come in to make upgrades to the

36:04building. And that's what this new

36:05property owner wants to do.

36:07When we actually had that hearing

36:08Tuesday, I want to shout out the Homer

36:11G. Phillips residents that came um like

36:14Sharon Williams who's the president and

36:15others that came in support of

36:17transferring the lease so that we could

36:19start to help the residents at Homer G.

36:21Phillips start to see some upgrades. One

36:24of the things that we did in the bill um

36:26that's not just trying to transfer the

36:28lease from one lessee to another is I

36:31work with the comptroller's office to

36:33create an amendment that each year

36:36from back when I believe Sam Moore did

36:38it, the city or the individuals who own

36:41the building pays the city roughly about

36:42$50,000.

36:44For the last 5 years, Eagle Point has

36:47been paying that $50,000. Those funds

36:49technically go back into general

36:51revenue. What we did is we created a

36:54special fund that would be called the

36:55Homer G. Phillips Fund where that

36:57$50,000 instead of going back into

36:59general revenue, it goes into this Homer

37:02G. Phillips Fund to be able to help with

37:03upgrades.

37:05At the same time, there has been some

37:06ongoing conversations as being a member

37:09of the capital committee and mayor of

37:11budget that we are working to also try

37:13to secure 600 some thousand dollars in

37:16the surplus capital committee to also go

37:18to Homer G. Phillips for these

37:19improvements.

37:21Uh, this is something that even just

37:23last or just this current week, um, when

37:26I was at their annual meeting where they

37:28invited me to, there's not one resident

37:30that said they are excited about this

37:32legislation. They want to see it move

37:34forward. Uh, they do have questions

37:36because there has been previous lease

37:38holders that has not, uh, done them

37:41correctly, but what they currently do

37:42know is that Eagle Point uh, isn't doing

37:45what they need to do. Uh, they've been

37:47able to meet with Mr. Jason from CIG.

37:49They want to see these upgrades. They

37:51want to see the quality of life of their

37:53building change. Um, and right now we

37:55cannot wait to continue to allow

37:58uh,

37:59the residents of Homer G. Phillips uh,

38:01with our responsibility to be able to

38:02transfer the lease not get uh, this

38:05lease transferred so that these upgrades

38:07can start to happen.

38:09At the end of the day when we leave and

38:10we go home uh, to our houses, currently

38:13right now, and I know a lot of them are

38:15watching and reached out this morning

38:16said, "Thank you for filing the bill."

38:18And they're excited to get it across the

38:19finish line. They want to see these

38:21upgrades happen. They are tired of the

38:24politics that has occurred around this

38:27legislation. They have been tired of the

38:30delay

38:32of the legislation not getting passed.

38:34The reality is once this legislation

38:36hopefully get passed,

38:37uh it will take just

38:39uh CIG at least 2 to 3 months to be able

38:43to come into the building

38:45uh and it's going to take longer to

38:46start to make those upgrades. So, it is

38:48urgent and I would say upon us um as a

38:51Board of Aldermen to

38:53get this across the finish line because

38:55again, the residents are asking for it.

38:57I've been in the building now three

38:58times and it's been overwhelming support

39:00that they want to see this new lessee

39:02come in so that they can start to see

39:04the upgrades happen.

39:06Um

39:06just a few things that they the new

39:08lessee is looking to do is $147,000

39:12of upgrades in the exterior from the

39:14roof uh from the parking lot. Right now,

39:16Homewood Phillips has four gates that

39:18does not work. Uh they are work they're

39:20looking to upgrade those uh four gates

39:22in the building. They're looking to

39:24upgrade the interior unit heating pump,

39:27which will address the AC as well as

39:29address uh

39:31the heat that they are as we were just

39:33over there uh myself and President Green

39:36and State Representative Kimberly Ann

39:37Collins. Um there's several units right

39:39now that does not have uh proper heat

39:42and they say they're going to go another

39:44year without having that. They want to

39:46have efficient heat. They do not want

39:49heaters. They do not want electric

39:50blankets. They want to be able to have

39:53a thermostat that they could turn on and

39:55be able to get heat. Um and that's

39:57probably going to be a problem again

39:59this summer uh because of or this winter

40:02because of the delay of new ownership.

40:04Uh as well as $13,000 of upgrades of

40:08amenities in the uh

40:11in the amenity area,

40:13uh $20,000 in the common area, $100,000

40:16in the interior uh interior units.

40:19They're looking to do about 40 vacant

40:21unit turnovers. That is on top of the 25

40:25vacant unit turnovers that is being done

40:27through RAM's money and $77,000

40:31in security.

40:33Again,

40:34um

40:37I think that not even think, I just want

40:40to want to thank the residents for

40:42coming out to the hearing that we had to

40:45testify and say that they wanted

40:46something different.

40:48That they actually want to see upgrades

40:50in their building.

40:51I think it's upon us again to

40:53bring in this new leasing company that

40:56is committed to doing upgrades. I have

40:57met with the residents that spent

40:59National Night Out when I was there with

41:01the residents talking about the plan.

41:04And you know, I don't I don't think we

41:06can wait any longer

41:08to continue to allow this process to

41:10delay out. As as each week that this

41:12process delays out is another week that

41:15the new leasing can't come in and start

41:17to make these upgrades and residents are

41:19in condition

41:20that honestly are just piss-poor. So to

41:23all the residents that have been

41:24emailing me, calling me, asking me to

41:26move this across the finish line,

41:28invited me to your general meeting this

41:29past Monday, invited me to your National

41:31Night Out, they came down to the hearing

41:33and testified in support of the bill. I

41:36want to say thank you and I'm committed

41:37to getting this across the finish line

41:39because the residents deserve better.

41:41They deserve a better quality of life

41:43and it is our upon us to be able to make

41:45sure that that happens. So with that,

41:47Madam President, I will open up for any

41:49questions.

41:53>> Any further discussion? Alderwoman from

41:55the 12th.

41:56>> If I could ask the people in the back to

41:58be quiet, please, because you guys are

41:59talking really loud. Thank you.

42:02Um I rise opposition this

42:05board bill.

42:06>> Alderwoman, if you could please speak

42:07into the microphone.

42:11>> I rise in opposition to this board bill,

42:13and I haven't not been to Homer G.

42:15Phillips 1 2 3 4 times, but many many

42:18times. And I have been there and spent

42:21day there. I've been there to the

42:22meetings. I've If I've not been there,

42:24my LA has been there. And even before I

42:27had an LA, I have been dealing with

42:29Homer G. Phillips since I inherited

42:32in the 12th Ward in

42:35uh 2023. From the very beginning, I got

42:39all kind of letters and emails and calls

42:41from the residents about the things

42:43going on.

42:44And so, to address these things,

42:48um being new, I went and read all of the

42:51ordinances, which I doubt any of you all

42:53have done. Every last one of them. There

42:55are four.

42:56There are four ordinances transferring

42:59um the 99-year lease from

43:03uh the city with the city to different

43:06lessees or tenants is what we call them.

43:09And each of the tenants had an agreement

43:12that they would only pay of the

43:14$4,950,000

43:17that was due, they would only have to

43:19pay $50,000

43:21each year annually at the end of the

43:25year. And the reason why they were able

43:27to do that, and I want to be very

43:28specific, is because

43:32the ordinance states in each of these

43:34places that the reason that they're only

43:36having to pay $50,000

43:39is that

43:40this was to make sure that

43:43and the need was to minimize the need

43:46for rent increase and to allow the

43:48property to cover operating costs and

43:50maintain a high level of services to its

43:53senior residents. That meant you didn't

43:56have to pay fifty a fifty thousand

43:58dollars. And just to give you an example

44:01of what fifty thousand dollars means,

44:03there are 250 units of residential

44:07property

44:08in Homer G. Phillips. There are another

44:11several commercial properties in Homer

44:14G. Phillips. $50,000 is no money. There

44:17are some people who rent downtown

44:19condominiums. If you pay $3,500,

44:23you almost pay $50,000 a year. So, if

44:26you have a unit like you have a piece of

44:30property like Homer G. Phillips and you

44:32got 250 people just paying $900,

44:37you get $225,000

44:41a month in rent.

44:43You only have to pay $50,000.

44:47There is a reason for that. That is so

44:49you can do an upkeep of the property. I

44:53am a property manager for a lot of

44:54years. I've never had any kind of deal

44:56like that. My tenants pay their rent um

45:00and we make um repairs from that. But,

45:03if you're getting $225,000

45:06a month, that comes to about $2,700,000

45:10a year. You're only paying $50,000.

45:14The city was not giving the uh tenants

45:17and I when I say tenants, I mean the

45:19people I call the tenants,

45:21which the city calls in their uh

45:22ordinances and leases, the tenant is the

45:24person who has the 99-year lease.

45:27You are not giving them $2,750,000

45:33or $2,160,000

45:36um in case you had some um vacancies.

45:39There was a reason and the city put it

45:42directly in all of our ordinances and

45:44leases, which said, "You have to use

45:47that extra money to keep the rent low

45:51first and also to make sure that you did

45:55improvements."

45:56Well, they kind of kept the rent low,

45:58but they didn't do improvements. And

46:00what each uh tenant did was after a few

46:04years they sold it to somebody else. And

46:07none of the um improvements were getting

46:09done.

46:10So, in

46:16And the tenants who live in the

46:18apartments

46:19um were very unhappy. So, in 2011 Sam

46:23Moore got very upset about what was

46:26going on. Cuz I did not have Homer G.

46:29Phillips. I was never that far east. I

46:32only I only went east to Marcus. In 2011

46:37Sam Moore passed ordinance

46:39Alderman Sam Moore, the fourth ward,

46:41passed ordinance 6

46:448 9 4 1. And he was very frustrated

46:49because he went to over to Homer G.

46:51Phillips a lot and he would see in the

46:52things and the downfall of Homer G.

46:55Phillips. What you need to know that

46:56Homer G. Phillips opened in 20

47:000 3 and 4 and was full by 0 4. And we

47:04spent millions and millions and millions

47:06of dollars on rehabbing this beautiful

47:09beautiful facility. And the history

47:11behind Homer G. Phillips is that a black

47:13man named Homer G. Phillips fought and

47:16gave his life so that there could be a

47:18hospital there.

47:19And they didn't want to build a hospital

47:21in North St. Louis. So, he fought and he

47:24was gunned down. So, he did not get to

47:27see Homer G. Phillips and this board of

47:29alderman way back then

47:32went ahead and named that facility the

47:34Homer G. Phillips Hospital. And it's

47:36been a legacy ever since I ever ever

47:39known about St. Louis. I'm not

47:40originally from here, but since 1974

47:43when I met my husband, he talked about

47:45Homer G. Phillips and the beautiful

47:46things. And the people who all lived

47:48around me were the black doctors and

47:50nurses. They all were trained there.

47:53They're very proud. If you know Senator

47:55J. B. Banks, if you know of him, his

47:57wife Anita Banks, Dr. and Mrs. Gaffney,

48:00black Dr. and Mrs. Bond. All of these

48:03people trained at Homer G. Phillips

48:05because

48:06uh

48:07they were not allowed to train at other

48:09hospitals. So, this was their very own

48:11hospital. And Homer G. Phillips died

48:14fighting to make sure that they did not

48:17have a secondary hospital, that he would

48:19make sure that we had a primary hospital

48:22that was the kind of hospital that would

48:24be proud. So, when Sam Moore saw what

48:28was happening after a few wasn't getting

48:30fixed up, he passed a new lease, but he

48:33inserted something else in there because

48:35we were not getting any kind of reports

48:37of what was being done. So, he inserted

48:40something that says

48:42the intent of deferring ground lease

48:44payments is to minimize the need for

48:46rent increase and to allow the property

48:49to cover operating costs and maintain a

48:51high level of services to its senior

48:53residents. Then he added, this part was

48:56never in here, to ensure this intent is

48:59realized, the owner agrees to forego any

49:03distribution of cash flow unless until

49:06the owner gets begins to make the full

49:08ground lease payments to the city. That

49:10is $4,950,000,

49:12which the owner of the lease never did.

49:14In order to ensure compliance with this

49:17provision of the ground lease amendment,

49:19the owner shall submit annually no later

49:22than June 30th of each year to the St.

49:25Louis City Board of

49:27Alderman and the St. Louis Development

49:29Corporation audited financial statements

49:33showing the owner has received no such

49:35distribution of cash flow and showing

49:37what the owner had done as far as

49:42making making repairs and keeping the

49:44property up in good repair.

49:46We have never got that. When I started

49:49to ask questions about that, I started

49:52when we had a different controller and a

49:54different clerk. I wrote to Darlene

49:56Green, who was the controller then, and

49:58her aides. I checked with the clerk, um

50:01Terry Kennedy. I checked over with Neil

50:03Richardson. Hey, where are these

50:05financial documents? Because if we're

50:07going to let people not pay over $2

50:10million

50:11a year, we have to make sure they're

50:14doing something. And they're not doing

50:16it because we have all of these

50:17problems. At the same time, I sent the

50:20building division, the fire department,

50:23all to do uh door-to-door inspections to

50:25see what we needed to do. This was all

50:28done. But here's the thing. With this

50:31lease, it does not require the city to

50:34take care of anything. The lease

50:36requires the owner to take care of

50:39property maintenance. They also They

50:42collect all the rent from the tenants.

50:44If you're collecting $2 million over $2

50:46million a year

50:47a year or so, and you're only paying

50:5050,000, but you're not giving any kind

50:53of

50:54accounting of what you spent the money

50:56on, that is wrong.

50:58Um and then, so I started going over

51:01there. I'm meeting with the current

51:03leaseholder, and they're making me all

51:05these promises.

51:07Oh, we're going to fix the heat and

51:08cooling. We're going to fix this. So I'm

51:10trying to work with them because I want

51:12them to fix these things. And you have

51:14already been unjustly enriched, unjustly

51:18enriched, over $2 million or so, maybe a

51:21million five, I don't know, cuz we don't

51:24have any financial documents. We're

51:26supposed to be not a person talking

51:28about what the tenants, current tenants

51:30want, cuz they won't be here. This is a

51:3299-year lease. And what the current

51:34tenants have been doing in droves is

51:36moving in and moving out. So if we start

51:39talking about the heart strings, oh, we

51:41feel And I do feel bad, but I also do

51:44not want this current leaseholder to be

51:47unjustly enriched and we don't look at

51:50financial documents and we don't require

51:52the financial documents that are

51:54required under the lease. So, we've not

51:58gotten any of them. So, I start writing

52:00to people, provide this to me. Nobody

52:02has them. So, I went to the hearing

52:062 weeks ago

52:08and I had a limited time to talk to the

52:10current owner because whenever he told

52:12me something, he didn't tell me the

52:13truth. So, I asked him when did he first

52:15purchase the lease? 2020,

52:17he says.

52:20That's correct.

52:21Who did you purchase it from? He told me

52:23who he purchased it from. How much did

52:25you pay? He paid about $5 million for

52:28it.

52:29What is he selling the lease? He's

52:31selling the lease for $5 million

52:33and he's also going to have the new

52:36owner assume the debt of over $5 million

52:39that he has. So, he's making $10

52:42million,

52:43but he has not reported anything to us

52:46and there's no financial transparency.

52:48There's no fiscal note applied that's

52:50attached to this lease. There's nothing.

52:53It was like a hurry up, we're just going

52:54to do it cuz rah-rah, the tenants want

52:57it.

52:58I want the tenants to have everything

53:00they have. I got a solution. Just put

53:02all that money that current owner is

53:04going to get into a

53:08uh uh a holding account until we can

53:12find out where the money. When I asked

53:14him about his financial statements that

53:17he audited, not just financial

53:18statement, audited financial statements

53:21that is required under our current

53:23ordinance, he said, "I don't have any."

53:26You don't get to say, "I don't have any"

53:29and then just go, "Oops, I'm just

53:31keeping this money." At least he should

53:33not. Now, I'm quite sure you probably

53:35got the votes, but I'm never going to be

53:38okay with that.

53:40You are supposed to be

53:44a body that looks at transparency. And

53:47that starts from the comptroller that's

53:49currently here and the comptroller

53:51before cuz I was holding Darlene who's

53:53been my friend for a long time foot to

53:55the fire saying, "Where is this stuff?

53:58How can this have happened? Why am I

54:00getting all of this information from the

54:03tenants about what a bad place this is

54:05and I'm seeing it myself. Then I send a

54:07building division out there. They're

54:09writing up things. They have a fire out

54:11there. The fire department couldn't get

54:13into the basements cuz the current

54:15management had the key. So, luckily the

54:18fire didn't um go all through the

54:20building. People are getting robbed in

54:22the building. Trash is everywhere. Um

54:25people are getting their cars put up on

54:27blocks and um

54:29um they're still in their tires.

54:32Um the heat is still not working. In

54:342023, the current management team said,

54:37"We're going to fix the heat." Well,

54:39sometime the heat and cooling which is

54:41um

54:41central air and heat, you have to

54:43replace the entire unit. You cannot just

54:47say I'm keep fixing them. So, they start

54:49putting in uh window air conditioners.

54:52And then it became summer and then it

54:54became really um

54:57dangerous. They start putting in space

55:00heaters. And space heaters are dangerous

55:03if just used a little bit, but they were

55:05putting it all over the buildings. The

55:07breakers were tripping. They were trying

55:08to put two in some places. The

55:11people were not getting warm. So, my LA

55:13and I, Mr. Joe Palm, we I came up with

55:15the idea and I got I want to thank Chris

55:18Carter senior if he's still here. I mean

55:20sorry, junior and Valerie

55:22um in um in the uh

55:25Department of Welfare because they

55:27worked with me and we instead of using

55:29two space heaters we able to give people

55:32um

55:33electric blankets. And the people came

55:35and said, "Auto woman, we know that came

55:37from you cuz that didn't come from the

55:39current manager cuz they're awful." And

55:42so, as I

55:43continued to press for the current

55:45manager to give me, which to this day I

55:47don't have anything from them, even

55:49though it's required under the lease, to

55:51give me financial documents, because

55:53you're you're you're you're bringing in

55:56at least $200,000

55:58a month in rent. What are you doing?

56:01What have you repaired? What is it?

56:04We're not getting anything. Then all of

56:06a sudden they said, "We decided we want

56:08to sell the building." Well, I had

56:10already Not the building, the lease, cuz

56:11it's not the building, we own that. And

56:13we won't be here to see what happens in

56:1599 years y- years from now. And it's not

56:1899 anymore. I think the end of the lease

56:21is 20 27, but we I won't be here. Most

56:24of us will not be here. And so,

56:27you're not giving us anything. I start

56:30to hear um at the hearing, Ryan Coleman,

56:32who was the person I had been working

56:34with, does not show up at the hearing.

56:36He's the assistant

56:38uh deputy comptroller at the

56:40comptroller's office. He doesn't show up

56:42cuz he knows all of what we went through

56:44and talking about what I would or would

56:46not do to pass this board bill. You all

56:48can pass it. I will not. I will not be a

56:50part of this. I will not be a part of

56:52this if this was my best best friend. It

56:55is bad practice. I talked to some other

56:58people who have these kind of leases.

57:00Guess what? They have to submit to the

57:03city and to other entities the very

57:06documents that are required in this

57:08ordinance. But all of a sudden we're

57:10saying they don't have to do it. What is

57:13going on here? Now I'm looking at a

57:14conspiracy um insider

57:17trading. What is going on? So, I asked

57:19uh management company right now, I said,

57:22um

57:23"How did we get CIG?" They said, "We did

57:26a a nationwide search and we just came

57:29up with CIG." Really?

57:31If you're such a bad management company,

57:34how do we then let somebody who's been

57:37awful

57:39decide who takes over our lease?

57:42They are in

57:44They are in violation of our lease. All

57:46the city has to do is to revoke that

57:48lease and find our own person and don't

57:51let them make a penny.

57:53Do not let them take away $5 million

57:57for payment of the lease and then that

58:00of $5 million is being taken over by the

58:03new person. So, they're making $10

58:05million and we have not asked for one

58:08scrap of paper. That is wrong. That is

58:12not good not That is not good financial

58:15oversight. That is wrong and people say,

58:18"Oops, we don't have it."

58:20Um so,

58:21um if I can find all of this stuff, they

58:24can, too. So, I don't give up with

58:26digging.

58:27If you smear my name, which I'll take

58:30it.

58:33Because in my community, I get people

58:36calling me all the time saying, "That's

58:38right. Don't you do any of that. We know

58:40you're on to something." And then people

58:42start calling me saying, "What you're

58:44saying is right cuz I lived in Homer G.

58:45Phillips and I moved out in 2 months. I

58:48couldn't take it and this this and

58:49this." And then on after National Night

58:52Out, I got a call from about 10 people

58:54saying, "They're telling us that they're

58:57going to raise the rent 7% as soon as

59:00they get in.

59:01CIG is telling us they're going to raise

59:03the rent."

59:04Okay. So, that's another thing. We still

59:06have no financial documents, but they're

59:09going to raise the rent.

59:11And the CIG person, I had met with him

59:14for 3

59:15hours or so with Ryan Coleman. That's

59:18why it's so interesting that the

59:20comptroller's office sent this lady from

59:22the comptroller's office with her leg in

59:24a cast. It was like central casting. It

59:27was like, "Oh, look at her." And she

59:29can't answer anything. And so, I asked

59:31her, "Have you and I ever met and spoke

59:33about Homer G. Phillips?" No. "Why are

59:35you sending this person and not the

59:37person who I have been dealing with for

59:40over a year?" And before that, I was

59:42dealing with Shana Morton in the

59:45comptroller's office before that. I've

59:47not not been trying to get things done.

59:50I have just been appalled at the lack of

59:54financial transparency and clarity. And

59:57the CIG man, he told me all about being

1:00:00over in the alderman from the 14th Ward

1:00:02what he had done and what he was doing

1:00:05and how he was going to clean it up.

1:00:07So,

1:00:09my question that I asked him then,

1:00:12and he said, "Oh, I'm going to let you

1:00:13come and tour it." He never asked me to

1:00:15come and tour it. Never said, "Oh, come

1:00:16on." That didn't happen.

1:00:19But, I started to question what was the

1:00:21pressure for CIG? And if I'm saying that

1:00:25the current

1:00:28owner of the 99 year lease is a bad

1:00:30person, I'm not going to pick anybody

1:00:34that he picks. So, then I start to look

1:00:37into CIG. So, the first thing I learned

1:00:40is CIG has bought a lot of property in

1:00:42the 14th Ward along the riverfront.

1:00:44Millions of dollars of property. I got

1:00:47more because people then start telling

1:00:49me things.

1:00:50Um so, then I find out CIG has not paid

1:00:54their taxes, current taxes on property

1:00:56that they have already. If you cannot

1:00:58pay your current

1:01:00real estate taxes, how are you going to

1:01:03come in here? And alderman is talking

1:01:04about $700,000 worth of improvement. If

1:01:07we just tell the current people, "Well,

1:01:10your lease is null and void and we're

1:01:13going to sell this lease." We can take

1:01:15that $5 million put in our pocket and

1:01:17put that $5 million

1:01:19into fixing up Homer G. Phillips. You do

1:01:22not go ahead and let them just walk away

1:01:25without financial accountability. But I

1:01:28also start to get bec- even more alarmed

1:01:32cuz CIG was pressing me so much. Like,

1:01:34we can work this out.

1:01:37Again, I liked the things that CIG was

1:01:40saying. What I don't like is the

1:01:42financial irresponsibility of this deal.

1:01:45So, then I started to look more into

1:01:48CIG.

1:01:54The alderman is talking about on the

1:01:5714th that CIG is going to be able to

1:01:59come in in in a few [clears throat]

1:02:01months.

1:02:03This is what I tell you about when

1:02:04people don't ask the right questions and

1:02:06don't keep digging. Because

1:02:08I was told the city council said CIG

1:02:10didn't have to submit those documents.

1:02:14But the person who's the city council

1:02:16was not the city council then, and I

1:02:18know all the city councils going back to

1:02:2020 I'm sorry, 1991, and I can reach out

1:02:24to most of them that is not true. And

1:02:26all by the way, we didn't get a written

1:02:28statement. That was a verbal statement

1:02:31going on. But what's so interesting

1:02:34about CIG

1:02:36and why I tell you it's not a long arm

1:02:38transaction

1:02:39um is that CIG has been a registered

1:02:42agent at Homer G. Phillips articles of

1:02:45incorporation right here. Cuz if you

1:02:47start to do your research, they have

1:02:49been registered at Homer G. Phillips si-

1:02:52uh since 2000 and what is this?

1:02:56Um

1:02:59What year is this? 2000

1:03:05and 20 2024.

1:03:07So, they've already been over there.

1:03:09They were registered and the address of

1:03:11Homer G. Phillips is 2601 Whittier. And

1:03:15anybody who wants to see this, it's

1:03:17easily go online, you can see it. I can

1:03:20have copies made. This is not a alarm

1:03:24alarm transaction, no arms length, I'm

1:03:26sorry, transaction. And this is

1:03:29I'm looking at to be a conflict of

1:03:30interest. There's some other things that

1:03:32are coming in to me. But the main thing

1:03:35that I have now is that they lied to me

1:03:38about they've been in there and working

1:03:40with the current people all along. You

1:03:42do not register as an agent and from for

1:03:45the current lease holders if you're not

1:03:47already working with them. So we

1:03:49basically are going to let people this

1:03:51current group of people

1:03:53make $10 million pass

1:03:55pass it off to somebody who's not paid

1:03:57their taxes. And I know the alderman

1:03:59from the seventh raised a whole bunch of

1:04:01hell with me about some people who

1:04:04didn't pay their taxes and I passed it

1:04:07out of committee and told her that I

1:04:09would not pass the bill if it was not

1:04:11taxes paid. You cannot be giving people

1:04:15these kind of deals because what they're

1:04:16getting ready to do is now get new

1:04:18market tax credit.

1:04:21And so they'll make some money and then

1:04:22they'll pass it on. The losers are going

1:04:25to be

1:04:27the residents that are currently here or

1:04:29the residents who are coming later.

1:04:33There are some people who do finances in

1:04:35here. I would say

1:04:37they know

1:04:38that this is not a good deal. It has

1:04:40nothing to do with

1:04:42if I like the people or not because it's

1:04:45On the day we had that meeting 3 weeks

1:04:47ago, I asked everybody then, do you want

1:04:51Alderman Aldrich to do the deal? Cuz I

1:04:53can step away. I'm not going to step

1:04:55away from the investigation because I I

1:04:57got too much. I'm not going to step

1:05:00away. I'm going to do more.

1:05:02And the city is bound to do due

1:05:05diligence and to make sure our all of us

1:05:08are required to make sure our ordinances

1:05:09are followed. And this is a ordinance

1:05:12that requires them to submit documents.

1:05:14And when you go by and you go past a

1:05:17ordinance that requires them to submit

1:05:19documents and let them make $10 million

1:05:22and they not submit anything to us to

1:05:25say what they're doing, that's a

1:05:27dereliction of duties. I stand opposed

1:05:30to this. I submit to you again that CIG

1:05:33has been working with the current people

1:05:35and if the current people are not

1:05:36correct, why would we let them choose

1:05:38it? Why wouldn't we just void the lease

1:05:41out and then we sell it to somebody, we

1:05:43make the $5 million

1:05:44and we put it

1:05:46in a into the building. $700,000 is

1:05:50nothing compared to $5 million. And when

1:05:52you really look at this, this has been

1:05:55going on for a long time. We don't care.

1:05:57It's been very interesting that the

1:05:59everybody the press wants to cover me

1:06:02about you threatened the alderman and I

1:06:05got the full tape. I just didn't talk to

1:06:08them about it because it's foolishness,

1:06:10okay? And that's what they do in our

1:06:12community when they want to redirect you

1:06:15of what's going on. Let's smear all the

1:06:17woman tires, but let's not talk about

1:06:20what's going on with this money. And

1:06:22it's not just the current leaseholder,

1:06:24it's the one before that and the one

1:06:25before that. Why haven't we if we're

1:06:28only letting you pay $50,000 a year

1:06:31required that you submit documents

1:06:33saying what I'm doing. Our own eyes let

1:06:36you know that. And by the way, their

1:06:37building reports that let you know that

1:06:39that they're not doing this. We're doing

1:06:41this because there's some other stuff

1:06:43going on

1:06:45all across the city with CIG and certain

1:06:48older people. It will come to light. It

1:06:50will come to light. It will come to

1:06:53light. You cannot just push them down

1:06:56here and act like they just got here

1:06:58when they're registered on paper with

1:07:00the Secretary of State since 2024.

1:07:04So they were already planning this all

1:07:07along and the more I pressed them to

1:07:10spend their money, they're getting out

1:07:12with a profit that's ridiculous. We

1:07:15should not let them do that. Um the

1:07:17alderman from the 7th talked about how

1:07:18horrible they were. So why would we let

1:07:20them have a penny? Why wouldn't we put

1:07:22this money in some type type of holding

1:07:24account and say, you get nothing until

1:07:28you provide us with what you've done and

1:07:30if you have not done what you're

1:07:32supposed to do under the lease, then

1:07:35financially we are obligated for you not

1:07:37to make any money. I don't care about

1:07:40the current people and I'm very

1:07:41concerned about CIG. If you cannot pay

1:07:44your property taxes, then you should not

1:07:47be advancing as the new holder of our

1:07:49lease. They have not paid their property

1:07:51taxes and they have a lot of property

1:07:54they've purchased with other people

1:08:02on the riverfront. $15 million, I think.

1:08:06Um

1:08:07so I'm very concerned. I do care about

1:08:09the residents. I haven't been trying to

1:08:11get to the bottom of this because I

1:08:13didn't care. So all those people who are

1:08:16sitting around what they would have

1:08:17done,

1:08:18mostly I tried to work through it. I

1:08:20tried to work with the current I'm

1:08:22sorry, the previous comptroller. I asked

1:08:25for things. Some of them I got, some of

1:08:26them they said they were searching for

1:08:28and I didn't get. But here's the thing,

1:08:31there should be nothing that I request

1:08:33about financial data that should not be

1:08:36record

1:08:37um provided.

1:08:39Um the whole thing about what Alderman

1:08:42Moore did is that he required that the

1:08:45financial data be

1:08:48um filed with the Board of Aldermen

1:08:51and SLDC.

1:08:53So I asked the clerk, Kennedy, we didn't

1:08:56have anything. I also wrote a letter to

1:08:59um

1:09:01um our current clerk. we don't have

1:09:03anything. Neil Richardson at SLDC

1:09:06couldn't get anything and Steven

1:09:08Westbrook went back and told me, "Oh, we

1:09:10we don't have that cuz there would be no

1:09:12reason." So, then I sent him ordinance

1:09:15the ordinance saying, "Well, it require

1:09:17for you to have it filed with you." Why

1:09:20is it that nobody wants to talk about

1:09:21the money? Why is it that the press in

1:09:23collusion does not want to talk about

1:09:26the money? And when I was out there at

1:09:28Homer G. Phillips,

1:09:30I and I thank the reporter from KMOX

1:09:34TV, I never can remember which one is

1:09:36the radio call station, but anyway, I

1:09:38thank him. But, one of his questions to

1:09:40me was, "Irrespective of the money." And

1:09:43I said, "Said no white male ever about

1:09:46their money. Why would you think we

1:09:48would think irrespective of the money?"

1:09:51That's why I'm doing this. That's why I

1:09:53don't care if people smear my name

1:09:55because I want every dime that belongs

1:09:58to Homer G. Phillips to go to it. I want

1:10:01them to put the money into fixing up

1:10:04Homer G. Phillips. I don't want them to

1:10:06walk away and I say, "Oops, we didn't

1:10:09get any of that." I'm telling you, they

1:10:11are required to submit to us and if they

1:10:15have not, it is not good stewardship, it

1:10:17is not good oversight, it is not

1:10:20following the law which says we're

1:10:22supposed to follow the ordinances that

1:10:23are in place at the Board of Aldermen to

1:10:25allow them to do this. And when the new

1:10:27owners cannot pay their real estate

1:10:29taxes, and then now talking about

1:10:31they're going to try to get on some kind

1:10:32of plan, we should not be advancing this

1:10:34bill. So, I rise in full opposition not

1:10:38because I don't care about the residents

1:10:39cuz I do, but I do care about making

1:10:41sure we follow ordinances and

1:10:44requirements of documentation and that

1:10:47if we're going to only let you pay

1:10:48$50,000, you have to tell us what you're

1:10:51doing with the other money. Thank you so

1:10:53much. And I'm going to request a roll

1:10:55call.

1:10:59Alderman from the fifth.

1:11:01>> Thank you, Madam President. Would the

1:11:02Alderwoman from the 12th yield to

1:11:04questions?

1:11:05>> Would the Alderwoman from the 12th yield

1:11:07to questioning from the Alderman from

1:11:08the fifth? I will, but I'm going to lean

1:11:10against my desk not out of respect

1:11:11disrespect but because I had a foot

1:11:14surgery. Okay?

1:11:15>> Fair enough. I

1:11:17I thank you, Madam President. I

1:11:19appreciate that Alderwoman.

1:11:21Um listening to you it it seems to me

1:11:23that in many ways you're talking about

1:11:25what we might call a breach of contract

1:11:28uh between the the current leaseholder

1:11:32and the city of St. Louis. Would you

1:11:34agree with that?

1:11:35>> I and a lease is a contract, yes.

1:11:37>> Ab- absolutely. Yes.

1:11:39>> And you can what

1:11:41I'm sorry. You're asking questions. I'm

1:11:43I'm just not a good witness, okay?

1:11:46>> Um but but in any event we a lease is a

1:11:49contract and what you're talking about

1:11:51is your concern essentially that there

1:11:53has been a breach or a failure of the

1:11:56current leaseholder to meet its

1:11:58obligations under the contract. Correct?

1:12:01>> More than concern, proof.

1:12:03>> Proof. Um

1:12:06With respect to this particular bill,

1:12:08there is attached to it an exhibit I

1:12:11believe part one which of course is the

1:12:14assignment. Does that assignment contain

1:12:18a hold harmless or a subrogation

1:12:21provision that satisfies you

1:12:24with respect to the city's ability to

1:12:26hold somebody responsible?

1:12:28>> seen it so I can't tell you and I never

1:12:31speak to things if I haven't read. Okay?

1:12:33I so I will look at it if we don't

1:12:35suspend the rules and pass it and if it

1:12:38does I will always tell you the truth

1:12:40about it if it does. I don't want

1:12:41anybody That's why I suggested if you

1:12:44really want to do this, put the money in

1:12:46a some kind of account and hold it while

1:12:50we get the proper documentation.

1:12:52>> Un- understood. And And I'm looking

1:12:54actually at the bill that's in the

1:12:56drive, and there is attached to it an

1:12:58exhibit

1:12:59one, I believe,

1:13:01and it's titled assignment of amended

1:13:05and restated lease.

1:13:07Um have you had an opportunity to to

1:13:10read and review exhibit one?

1:13:12>> I have not, cuz I was working on trying

1:13:15to find out all of this other stuff

1:13:17about what I've been working on all

1:13:19along. So, I have not. But what I will

1:13:21tell you is that um the minute that if

1:13:25we're going to or if we're not going to

1:13:26hold that money, I'm a landlord a long

1:13:28time. My tenants do not get to make

1:13:30financial decisions. That's me. So, the

1:13:33city is a landlord. So, that we've let

1:13:36them get away all these years is a

1:13:38travesty. And I'm not just saying this

1:13:40current My friend

1:13:42in the comptroller's office, whoever, I

1:13:46do not believe that we should be giving

1:13:48out these friendly deals. And then, you

1:13:51look at the seniors. And what And you

1:13:53haven't asked, but I want to tell you

1:13:54some more information that I got and if

1:13:55you give me a chance I'm sorry.

1:13:57>> I I just want to say I I'm on your side

1:14:00on this. Uh I am taking the information

1:14:02that you were providing at face value.

1:14:05And And I just want to make sure that

1:14:07that I am understanding your concern.

1:14:10Would the Would the alderman from the

1:14:1214th yield to questions?

1:14:17>> Would the alderman from the 14th yield

1:14:18to questioning from the alderman from

1:14:20the 5th?

1:14:21>> I will.

1:14:22>> Alderman, you may proceed.

1:14:25>> Uh thank you, alderman.

1:14:27The

1:14:28the the alderwoman from the 12th does

1:14:30make a good point to the extent that if

1:14:33there has been a breach of the current

1:14:35lease, if there has been a failure of

1:14:38the current landlord to

1:14:40to to do its side of the bargain and and

1:14:43make improvements to the property as

1:14:46promised,

1:14:47then we should hold them accountable.

1:14:48You would agree with that proposition,

1:14:50would you not?

1:14:51>> I would agree with that, and I also

1:14:53would agree that in the lease, it states

1:14:56that one of the agreements that the

1:14:58lessee, currently Eagle Point, who is a

1:15:01lease owner and also the the management,

1:15:04is their obligation and role is to make

1:15:09sure an amendment that Sam Moore passed

1:15:11before

1:15:12that he passed on the bill is that they

1:15:14pay $50,000 to the city of St. Louis on

1:15:18an annual basis. That payment has been

1:15:20made, those checks have been presented

1:15:22not only to the alderwoman, but it also

1:15:25was presented at the committee

1:15:28>> Go ahead.

1:15:28>> I understand that. And if I understand

1:15:31the alderwoman's contention, it's not so

1:15:33much about the $50,000 payment so much

1:15:36as it is about the second part of the

1:15:38bargain,

1:15:39which is to the extent that the operator

1:15:42is making money from the the the uh

1:15:47the payments it's receiving from

1:15:48tenants, that that money, under the

1:15:51terms of the current agreement, should

1:15:53be put back into the building.

1:15:55>> And if

1:15:55>> Is that your reading of the current

1:15:58agreement?

1:15:58>> It's my reading, and I will also say if

1:16:01you go back and you watch the HUDs

1:16:02committee, we actually had Eagle Point

1:16:05there. They made it very clear they have

1:16:07put money into the building. They also

1:16:09say they had to pay insurance, they have

1:16:12to pay other items that uh make sure the

1:16:15building continues to stay up. So, they

1:16:16have put money in the building. Also,

1:16:18we're talking about a building right now

1:16:20that is not making money. So, Eagle

1:16:23Point is losing money on an annual basis

1:16:27because of the lack of um how low the

1:16:30rents are, the lack of upgrades that are

1:16:32on the buildings that they have to keep

1:16:33it so low. But, Eagle Point has made it

1:16:35very clear they have made some upgrades.

1:16:37Even Sharon Williams, a resident who who

1:16:40in the building, said she has been

1:16:41working with Miss Sue, who is the

1:16:43on-site property manager, and they've

1:16:45started to make some upgrades to some

1:16:47units. They have cleaned the carpet in

1:16:49the building. So, I agree. They should

1:16:52upgrade those units. They should make

1:16:55upgrades to the building. And Alderman,

1:16:58we had the representatives there at the

1:17:00hearing that even told the Alderwoman,

1:17:02"Yes, we have been making those

1:17:03upgrades. We also pay for other items

1:17:06with this building not making money."

1:17:08But,

1:17:09>> Let's Let's assume for the sake of

1:17:11argument that the Alderwoman from the

1:17:1312th is correct. That That there have

1:17:16been rents that have been collected, and

1:17:19those funds after payment of expense

1:17:21have not been reinvested into the

1:17:24Has our City Councillor, our

1:17:26Comptroller's office, anybody associated

1:17:29with the city, to your knowledge,

1:17:31investigated, audited, otherwise

1:17:34evaluated

1:17:36the current status of the lease? That is

1:17:40Is the current leaseholder in breach? Do

1:17:42you know?

1:17:43>> So, Miss McKenzie, the young lady that

1:17:46we mentioned earlier in the cast, who

1:17:48works for the Comptroller's office, made

1:17:50it very clear that they have got a legal

1:17:52opinion from the City Councillor that we

1:17:54was able to move. It wasn't in writing,

1:17:57but they were in conversation with our

1:18:00legal counsel that we are able to move

1:18:01forward with the transfer of this lease.

1:18:04So, if you ask about an audit, that is

1:18:08uh asset. So, Homer G. Phillips is the

1:18:10asset, just like the airport. That audit

1:18:12is to be done by the Comptroller's

1:18:14office. Um and the agreement that is in

1:18:18the lease that uh is a Comptroller's

1:18:21responsibility is collecting that

1:18:2250,000.

1:18:24>> You didn't really answer my question.

1:18:26Bec- Because it's it's it's not whether

1:18:29the this particular deal is legal. I I

1:18:32don't think that's what the Alderwoman

1:18:34from the 12th is arguing about. The

1:18:36question is is there something owed by

1:18:39the current lease holder that hasn't

1:18:41been paid?

1:18:43>> And I would say

1:18:43>> Here's my concern. Go ahead. For the

1:18:45sake of argument,

1:18:47let's assume that the alderwoman from

1:18:49the 12th is correct.

1:18:51>> Okay.

1:18:51>> That something is owed that has not been

1:18:53paid.

1:18:54How is the city of St. Louis protected

1:18:57under the current assignment? If an

1:19:00audit is done, if an audit is started

1:19:02tomorrow by the comptroller,

1:19:04and that audit reveals what the

1:19:07alderwoman from the 12th suggest is

1:19:09true. That is that that there is money

1:19:12owed. What protects the ability of the

1:19:15city of St. Louis to pursue either the

1:19:18current lease holder or the holder of

1:19:20this contract should this body

1:19:23approve the this assignment?

1:19:26>> I'm not what sure in that that would

1:19:28protect us. I will say

1:19:30that what is in the lease. I know you're

1:19:33saying if the alderwoman is correct, but

1:19:35what is in the lease is what the

1:19:37payments that Eagle Point is supposed to

1:19:39make to the city. Those payments

1:19:42are the $50,000 that we have received.

1:19:45The numbers that we continue to hear

1:19:47from the alderwoman, and I don't know

1:19:49what those numbers are

1:19:51because we have not seen any documents

1:19:54of what she believe. We had Eagle Point

1:19:56there. They've made it very clear on

1:19:58record as they testified. We had this

1:20:00comptroller office there. Every payment

1:20:03that Eagle Point, not hypothetically

1:20:06speaking, but factually speaking, was

1:20:08supposed to make of that $50,000, they

1:20:11have. In December, they post to make

1:20:13another $50,000. And they have. Checks

1:20:16that have went back and bounced, or not

1:20:18bounced, the checks that they have

1:20:19canceled out have all been sent to the

1:20:22alderwoman to show that those payments

1:20:24were not accepted. So, I

1:20:27don't know if there's anything in the

1:20:28lease that would

1:20:31protect uh if they don't pay it. But,

1:20:34speaking outside of the hypothetical, I

1:20:36can speak on the factual of what is

1:20:38paid. We

1:20:39>> You're you're And And I don't want to

1:20:41argue with you, but you're not answering

1:20:42my question. Because I don't think the

1:20:44older woman from the 12th is picking at

1:20:46the payment of the 50,000 or payment of

1:20:49cash.

1:20:49>> And that's our responsibility of the

1:20:51lease.

1:20:52>> I think the concern is that the service

1:20:55part of this, the investment into the

1:20:57building, into the complex that that

1:20:59aspect hasn't been met. The

1:21:03the the the past performance that is

1:21:07suggested by what CGI Properties says

1:21:10it'll do in the future.

1:21:11>> Yes.

1:21:12>> So, let's assume again for the moment

1:21:15that the currently seller hasn't done

1:21:18what CGI Properties says that it it will

1:21:21do should we approve this assignment.

1:21:24How is the city of St. Louis protected

1:21:27should an audit happen, find that money

1:21:31was paid, it wasn't properly invested

1:21:34into the building as promised. This is

1:21:37the last time I'll ask this question.

1:21:38How is the city of St. Louis protected

1:21:41if an audit reveals

1:21:44that that hasn't been done?

1:21:46>> Again, I think what's in the lease is

1:21:49the clear amount of payment that's

1:21:50supposed to have been made. That is

1:21:52supposed to be made. I know you I I hear

1:21:54what you're saying, Alderman. If you

1:21:54could let me finish, you may not like

1:21:56it. That capital improvement listed from

1:21:59CGI is not part of the lease. So, that

1:22:01is not then agreement that those

1:22:04investments have to be made. At the

1:22:06hearing, CGI I mean, not CGI

1:22:09uh Eagle Point has made it very clear

1:22:11that they have invested in the building.

1:22:14They have made upgrades to the building.

1:22:18They also pay their insurance. They pay

1:22:20other items into the building. If an

1:22:23audit I think what you're getting to, if

1:22:24an audit happens and it shows

1:22:27that what they haven't put

1:22:29a certain amount. We don't have a

1:22:30certain amount in the lease to say Eagle

1:22:32Point or CIG

1:22:34should be making upgrades in the

1:22:36building tuned to $300,000 or 400. That

1:22:40is not in there. What is in the lease is

1:22:42that they must pay the city at least

1:22:45$50,000. There's no set number of how

1:22:48much money

1:22:49uh Eagle Point or CIG should be

1:22:51investing in a building that is not

1:22:53making any money.

1:22:54>> Yeah, as the proponent of this bill, are

1:22:57you concerned

1:23:00like the alderwoman from the 12th,

1:23:03that the building hasn't properly been

1:23:05invested in apparently for many, many

1:23:08years. Does that concern you?

1:23:10>> I'm definitely concerned that there has

1:23:12not been the necessary upgrades in that

1:23:14building going all the way back from

1:23:16Dominion before the current folks that

1:23:18are there. The residents have said

1:23:20there, "No,

1:23:21we continue to get lessees that are not

1:23:23doing enough." And I am concerned about

1:23:25that, but I'm also believe that CIG will

1:23:29come and off the bat and start to make

1:23:31some capital upgrades. What we put in

1:23:33the bill also, the money that

1:23:35technically goes back into the city,

1:23:38which is in this bill and not another

1:23:40bill, instead of it going into the city,

1:23:42it would go directly into Homer G and

1:23:44there's conversations on investing money

1:23:46from the capital committee to also go

1:23:48into Homer G. So, yes, I think I'm

1:23:50concerned and that's why we're also

1:23:52wanting a new lessee people to come in.

1:23:54That's why the residents want a new

1:23:56lessee people to come in because they

1:23:58wish Eagle Point had done more. They

1:24:00wish Dominion had done more.

1:24:02>> And and let me be clear. I think the

1:24:04amendment made in committee with respect

1:24:06to that 50,000, I think that was a very,

1:24:09very good amendment. I I like that. But

1:24:11I want to talk about your concern.

1:24:14Not just retrospectively,

1:24:16but but going to the future.

1:24:18Uh I've got this printout from CIG

1:24:20Properties.

1:24:22Uh it is it's impressive. It talks about

1:24:25a potential investment of just short of

1:24:27$600,000.

1:24:29>> Yes, sir.

1:24:30>> I I think with the the history

1:24:33of this property as I understand it, and

1:24:36I don't I profess I don't know as much

1:24:38as the older woman from the 12th. I only

1:24:40know what I've read and what has

1:24:42provided to me and the homework what

1:24:43I've done. But with the history that's

1:24:46been provided to me, why should we

1:24:49approve a an assignment

1:24:53with a prayer that nearly $600,000

1:24:57is going to be invested? This is a nice

1:25:00plan. It makes us all feel good.

1:25:04We see it.

1:25:06Wow, we're making this thing go forward.

1:25:08What is the guarantee

1:25:10that these items are going to be

1:25:13tackled? And even more than that, when

1:25:16they're going to be tackled. Because as

1:25:17I look at the assignment, cuz I have

1:25:20read the assignment. I did look at

1:25:21exhibit

1:25:23I don't see anything with the within the

1:25:25assignment that says when these items

1:25:27are going to be tackled. So, I

1:25:29appreciate the feel-good moment here,

1:25:31but what is the guarantee

1:25:34that the city of St. Louis is going to

1:25:35have those $600,000 improvements done?

1:25:39And more importantly, when they're going

1:25:41to be done?

1:25:42>> Yes.

1:25:43So, it is not in the lease that these

1:25:45capital improvement upgrades that CIG is

1:25:48doing regardless. Just like in any

1:25:50previous lease, there's not in there of

1:25:52what upgrades

1:25:54Eagle Point must do, right? I know this

1:25:57may look or sound like a feel good to

1:25:59you, and it does to the residents too,

1:26:01and they want to see this move forward.

1:26:03I think your point is how do we

1:26:05guarantee that it happens? I would say

1:26:07as an individual that has CIG of

1:26:09Sullivan Place, and this is a first time

1:26:11I know there was stuff said of

1:26:13collusion and stuff. First time that I

1:26:15learned during the committee hearing

1:26:17that CIG took over my building, Sullivan

1:26:19Place, which is actually worse than

1:26:22Homer G. Phillips and have made those

1:26:24upgrades. My guarantee is that I've seen

1:26:26the actions from this type of developer

1:26:30invest in seniors in my ward. He has

1:26:33been at the National Night Out. He has

1:26:35been in communication with residents on

1:26:36a regular basis. To your question, is it

1:26:39in the lease a guarantee? No. But, I can

1:26:41tell you this, the longer that we

1:26:43continue to sit with Eagle Point that

1:26:45won't make any promises or any

1:26:47guarantees of doing anything, at least

1:26:49there is hope for the people that live

1:26:52in that building that something is going

1:26:54to happen and they have

1:26:56Mr. Jason's number directly. The state

1:26:58representative who does the work while

1:27:01we debate it is in that building on a

1:27:04yearly basis every single month

1:27:07working to also make sure that the

1:27:08upgrades of what CIG is trying to do,

1:27:11having conversations with him to bring

1:27:13back amenities such as like the grocery

1:27:15stores that they used to have or

1:27:16bringing on the

1:27:17computer lab. I have the the

1:27:21the hope that I know there's people like

1:27:24state representative Kimberly Ann

1:27:25Collins. I know there's people like

1:27:27Sharon Williams that live in the

1:27:28building that is going to hold Mr. Jason

1:27:30accountable as well as myself. To your

1:27:32question, no, it's not in the lease.

1:27:34Something like this has never been in

1:27:36the lease even before we get to CIG.

1:27:39>> It It And if there's one thing that you

1:27:41have taught me over the last year and a

1:27:43half, it's it's that promises mean

1:27:47nothing and that if we're if we want

1:27:50something to happen because you you

1:27:52pound me on with this point nonstop on

1:27:55multiple different bills that I filed,

1:27:57including Board Bill 78,

1:28:00>> That which I still feel the same way

1:28:01about.

1:28:01>> it it it isn't enough to hope and I

1:28:05appreciate that the hope that the

1:28:06residents might have,

1:28:07but it's not enough to hope. If we want

1:28:10something to happen, you have said to

1:28:12me, we need to make sure that the

1:28:14language, the demand is within the bill.

1:28:17Now, let's talk about this particular

1:28:21assignee, and I might be mixing up the

1:28:24the party that is going to accept this

1:28:27lease, should this

1:28:28board today approve this bill or perfect

1:28:31this bill.

1:28:32Um

1:28:34something that I wasn't aware of that

1:28:36the alderwoman just mentioned was

1:28:37past-due taxes.

1:28:40What educate us because I got to admit

1:28:43when you're talking to me about

1:28:44promises, talking to me about plans, and

1:28:47talking to

1:28:48to us about this is a good organization

1:28:52we all can trust.

1:28:54I don't like the notion that that very

1:28:56same party owes the city of St. Louis a

1:28:59dime.

1:29:00So,

1:29:01educate me. I've heard what the

1:29:03alderwoman had to say with respect to

1:29:05past taxes.

1:29:07Educate me your understanding as to CGI

1:29:10CIG Properties and what it owes.

1:29:13>> Correct. And before I answer that

1:29:14question, uh I want to

1:29:16add, I think as much as we may want to

1:29:19put um

1:29:21an amount in the lease, also I'm not

1:29:23sure if we have that ability to say that

1:29:25any company must make this investment

1:29:28back into the building um outside of

1:29:30what already was passed at the 50,000.

1:29:31So, CIG owns Sullivan Place. Uh which is

1:29:34again located uh in my ward, and they

1:29:37recently took over Sullivan Place with

1:29:40this building already having prior taxes

1:29:42inherited. They currently as of

1:29:45today, Sullivan Place is two parcels. Uh

1:29:48it is broken up of 3015 like North 23rd

1:29:51Street and 30 uh 14 Northwest Street.

1:29:55One of the parcels is 30,000, another is

1:29:5832,000. That was one of the concerns

1:30:01that the alderman and committee brought

1:30:03up that they owe taxes, and if they were

1:30:06able to get on a plan. As of today,

1:30:09they've already started to pay on those

1:30:12taxes just a few minutes ago or moments

1:30:14ago or earlier today, they made a

1:30:16payment of $10,000 as they found out

1:30:18also that they own on the Southern Place

1:30:22building and has been in conversations

1:30:24with the collector revenue to get it all

1:30:25squared away.

1:30:27>> What is the total amount of past taxes

1:30:29due?

1:30:30>> As of today now, it would be 52

1:30:33>> 52,000?

1:30:35And they made a payment this morning of

1:30:3710,000?

1:30:37>> Correct.

1:30:38>> Meaning that as of today as we're

1:30:40considering perfecting this bill,

1:30:42CIG Properties owes the city of St.

1:30:44Louis $42,000 in past taxes?

1:30:47>> As of 2025, yes. But there are

1:30:51I would say that there's buildings,

1:30:52right? Yes, they do. I'll just leave it.

1:30:55>> I appreciate your courtesy. Thank you

1:30:56for answering my question.

1:30:58>> Thank you.

1:31:04>> Alderwoman from the 7th.

1:31:06>> Thank you, Madam President, members of

1:31:07the board. Would the alderman of the

1:31:0914th yield to an inquiry?

1:31:11>> Would the alderman for the 14th yield to

1:31:13question from the alderwoman from

1:31:15>> that was put into motion. Did the

1:31:16original lease require in the language,

1:31:19did it specifically require that the

1:31:22property, I guess it would have been

1:31:24Eagle Point, that they put funds back

1:31:26into the building? Is that specifically

1:31:28required?

1:31:28>> It is not required that Eagle Point puts

1:31:32funds back into the building. But as you

1:31:34know, as I was at the hearing, Eagle

1:31:36Point ran down a list of things that

1:31:38they have already

1:31:39upgrades that they have made into the

1:31:41building while they're trying to turn

1:31:42over a building that is not making

1:31:45money. So, it's hard to also upgrade a

1:31:47building if there is no funds coming

1:31:49back in outside of salaries and

1:31:51insurance and other stuff to be able to

1:31:53turn the building around as well.

1:31:55>> Well, I just want to be specific because

1:31:56I heard the specific mention of a

1:31:57contract breach mentioned. And so, a

1:31:59contract breach would mean in language

1:32:01that was in the contract has not been

1:32:02honored. And so if it's the case that

1:32:04there is no language within the specific

1:32:06agreement that requires them to be

1:32:08putting those funds back into the

1:32:09building, then that would not count as a

1:32:11contract breach, correct?

1:32:13>> Correct. Only language that was put in

1:32:15the lease that Eagle Point has been

1:32:18honoring and those funds that we as a

1:32:22city has been getting collected was a

1:32:23$50,000.

1:32:26>> My next question is around the taxes. We

1:32:28all know that I have passed the tax

1:32:30accountability and development act, so

1:32:31I'm a strong believer that folks should

1:32:32pay their taxes to the city.

1:32:35Is CGI the new proposed owner, are they

1:32:37the original debtors for the taxes on

1:32:40the property?

1:32:40>> Place, no.

1:32:41>> Correct. And so it is the case that

1:32:44although they are not responsible,

1:32:45they're not the original debtor for

1:32:46these taxes, they inherited them,

1:32:48correct?

1:32:48>> Correct. And they have, like I say,

1:32:50started to make those correct actions

1:32:52with inheriting the taxes on the

1:32:54property, yes.

1:32:55>> So it's not like I want to be clear with

1:32:56that. It's not like we're talking about

1:32:58CIG who has a history of owing taxes for

1:33:01two or three or four or five years that

1:33:04we have developers in this

1:33:06that we've approved tax abatements for

1:33:08at this board that owe taxes. This is

1:33:10something they inherited and the taxes

1:33:12are behind of 2025. Everyone should pay

1:33:14them, but this is just a recent inherit

1:33:17of the last tax year and that they are

1:33:19making on it. So no, they do not have a

1:33:22history of being bad developers. As

1:33:25somebody again

1:33:26who have seen the work that they've done

1:33:28in Sullivan Place, I'm excited for them

1:33:30to see I'm excited to see what they're

1:33:32going to be able to do for

1:33:34the work in Homer G. Phillips.

1:33:36>> Okay, so just to sum up, we are still

1:33:38able to hold Eagle Point accountable if

1:33:40we enter into new lease. That's correct.

1:33:42>> Correct.

1:33:43>> The current property that this land sits

1:33:45on is the city's and so it's actually

1:33:46the city's responsibility to have it

1:33:48exercise accountability along the way.

1:33:50>> Correct.

1:33:51>> There are taxes on the property, but

1:33:52these taxes are not the responsibility

1:33:54of the proposed lessee. And even though

1:33:57that's the case, the proposed lessee has

1:33:58made a $10,000 payment today on taxes a

1:34:01tax debt that they actually inherited.

1:34:03>> With Jess being honest and transparent

1:34:05with conversations, I know that was one

1:34:07of the thing that Alderman from 9th

1:34:08wanted. And we've been talking about um

1:34:11from even from the committee hearing of

1:34:13from Jess of earlier today of like a

1:34:15payment being made uh and a full plan to

1:34:18move forward with it. And yes, they did

1:34:20make that payment as of today.

1:34:22>> Thank you. My last question last series

1:34:23of questions are really around the most

1:34:25important thing to me. I think

1:34:26legalities matter, contract matter, but

1:34:28I think the most important things in

1:34:29this situation are the residents who are

1:34:31living in their building. Um

1:34:33>> And this isn't something new, right?

1:34:34This is something if we we talk about

1:34:36Eagle Point and concerns, since we are

1:34:38all concerned now in 2026.

1:34:41This has been ongoing issues

1:34:44um that should have been addressed a

1:34:47long time ago.

1:34:48>> Mhm.

1:34:48>> Um and I know I like only thing I can

1:34:50speak on is I know that the state

1:34:52representative have been working

1:34:54diligently with Eagle Point to start to

1:34:56address some of these issues. Again,

1:34:57we're talking about a building that is

1:34:59not turning around a profit. Uh we're

1:35:01talking about a building that needs

1:35:03because it is a responsibility of the

1:35:05city, needs to start to figure out how

1:35:07do we make sure that this building is

1:35:09starting to um make profit so that the

1:35:11residents can get the quality of life

1:35:13that they need. But this isn't something

1:35:15that uh just happened overnight. Um this

1:35:18has been a ongoing issue with this

1:35:20building.

1:35:20>> Understood. And going back to my point

1:35:22about the residents, could you describe

1:35:24some of the conditions that residents

1:35:25under the current lease management are

1:35:27living under right now and some of the

1:35:29issues that they've expressed to you?

1:35:30>> One of the biggest things uh again that

1:35:33uh the residents have made very clear

1:35:35why they want to see this move forward.

1:35:36The biggest thing is security, right?

1:35:38The it's so easy to be able to get into

1:35:41um Homer G. Phillips currently right

1:35:43now. There's four gates that does not

1:35:45operate. There's two on the front um of

1:35:48the gates and then there's two on the

1:35:49back.

1:35:50Residents have literally had their cars

1:35:52broken into and their cars put up on

1:35:55cinder blocks all wheels being gone

1:35:57because of these gates not operating.

1:36:00Uh if you walk into Homer G. Phillips,

1:36:02it's a beautiful building, but when you

1:36:04look directly to your right, you see a

1:36:05couch to the right that looks like

1:36:07somebody cat has scratched it up, right?

1:36:09They don't even have a good common

1:36:11ground area or a good uh common area to

1:36:13be able to sit in. And when you walk in,

1:36:15it almost is like a ghost town. Uh

1:36:18they've talked about when we was just

1:36:19there this past week at their annual

1:36:21meeting to talk about of the fear again

1:36:24of going into uh this winter with not

1:36:27having

1:36:29um access to quality heat, right? Heat

1:36:32because of the current AC system is not

1:36:35working the way that it should.

1:36:37Uh they've talked about uh

1:36:39there may be 200 and something units,

1:36:42but I can tell you now it's not 200

1:36:44current residents. There's a lot of

1:36:46vacant units in this

1:36:48uh building right now. A lot of vacant

1:36:49units that need to be turned over and

1:36:51upgraded. And one of the concerns that

1:36:53they had is that uh a lot of these

1:36:55vacant units are bringing on uh folks

1:36:58that

1:37:00are bringing a a negative connotation to

1:37:03uh their homes. Because there's so many

1:37:05vacant units, it's a belief that people

1:37:06do not care about the building. Uh one

1:37:08of the biggest things that uh they was

1:37:10disappointed in is is post-tornado,

1:37:12there's a lot of damage that they're

1:37:14still trying to uh get with. And the

1:37:15city has invested some money uh that we

1:37:18need to hold them accountable on of the

1:37:20vacant unit turnover some ramps. But I

1:37:22mean, the list is is never ending.

1:37:24There's so many open spaces uh in Homer

1:37:26G. Phillips that is not being utilized

1:37:28right now, which again uh we could talk

1:37:31about what's on paper, but also what I

1:37:33know is that there's commitments from

1:37:35folks like the state rep that is working

1:37:36to ensure that we bring back those

1:37:39common areas, that we bring back the

1:37:40computer lab, that we bring back uh the

1:37:42amenities that used to be in the

1:37:44building. And this is an opportunity to

1:37:46do it now, uh with bringing in a new

1:37:49lease holder, which honestly is not

1:37:51going to happen with point.

1:37:53>> Understood. Thank you.

1:37:54>> Thank you.

1:37:55>> Um

1:37:56Madam President, with the Alderman of

1:37:58the 50th to an inquiry.

1:38:02>> Is the Alderman from the 5th available?

1:38:07>> Madam President, he just went to print

1:38:10his computer went down, so went to print

1:38:12something out. He should be back in a

1:38:13minute.

1:38:14>> Okay. We want to

1:38:16go back to him and

1:38:18or here he comes.

1:38:20>> Alderman of the 50th, as you walk on the

1:38:22floor, I just asked if you would yield

1:38:23to an inquiry.

1:38:24>> Yes.

1:38:25>> Alderman from the 5th, will you yield to

1:38:28questioning from the Alderwoman from the

1:38:297th?

1:38:31>> Yes, Madam President.

1:38:32>> Alderwoman from the 7th, you may

1:38:33proceed.

1:38:34>> Thank you, Madam President. Thank you,

1:38:36Alderman.

1:38:37I found your line of questioning

1:38:39actually very helpful. I think it's

1:38:40going to help our public to have a

1:38:42contextualization and

1:38:44to be honest, I agree with you, too, and

1:38:46um

1:38:47in my mind, I I will say I think that

1:38:51when it comes to the Alderwoman of the

1:38:5212th, I do seriously understand her

1:38:54concerns for accountability of not

1:38:56wanting the city to enter into a new

1:38:58agreement without holding the previous

1:39:01lessee accountable. You know, I think

1:39:02that makes sense and I think that's

1:39:04really important. My question, the

1:39:06reason why I'm asking you to this

1:39:07inquiry is cuz one of the things that we

1:39:08talked about is what's on paper and I'm

1:39:10just curious, do you have any ideas or

1:39:14thoughts around something that could

1:39:15perhaps be added to the bill to add in

1:39:18some mechanism for inquiry, if that

1:39:20might be asking a city counselor to

1:39:24pursue any specific

1:39:26actions or, you know, is there anything

1:39:28we can do that would kind of mend that

1:39:30bridge between not leaving folks in a

1:39:32building that doesn't have heat, in a

1:39:34building that the the gates are not up,

1:39:36leaving people in unsafe and inhabitable

1:39:38conditions, while also encouraging the

1:39:41city to pursue accountability.

1:39:44>> Absolutely and and I think what

1:39:47I think what's what's important to

1:39:48understand and and I un-

1:39:51Shoot. I mean

1:39:52I can't seriously put my place in the

1:39:55current tenant's position. I haven't

1:39:57been there. My heart goes out to them. I

1:40:00think the the the biggest concern I have

1:40:03though frankly is we go from we go from

1:40:07one boiling pot into another boiling pot

1:40:11because we are we are at such a rush to

1:40:13get this done.

1:40:15And and and we're trading one bad

1:40:17situation for potentially another bad

1:40:21situation. And and so I think that's

1:40:24where where the alderwoman from the 12th

1:40:25brings up concerns with respect to back

1:40:28taxes. It becomes very very pertinent.

1:40:31Are are we making another bad trade

1:40:33here? Now with respect to what I would

1:40:35do

1:40:36uh I'd slow this down.

1:40:39Uh

1:40:39I I would not attempt to vote on this

1:40:42today.

1:40:43Uh I think this needs to go back to

1:40:45committee. Uh I think supporting the

1:40:47alderwoman from the 12th, I think that

1:40:51we need to pull back out ordinance

1:40:52number 68941.

1:40:56Uh I and I think we need to follow

1:40:59through on what that ordinance required

1:41:02as a step one.

1:41:03It ends with the statement of

1:41:07the owner shall submit annually no later

1:41:09than June 30th of each year to the Board

1:41:11of Aldermen and the SLDC

1:41:14audited financial statements showing the

1:41:16owner has received no such distributions

1:41:19of cash flow. Talking about the amounts

1:41:22in in

1:41:24greater than the the amount owed.

1:41:27I think we need to see those audited

1:41:31those audited financial statements. Uh I

1:41:34would like to see the result of what the

1:41:37comptroller put together with respect to

1:41:40that. I think that's at the very, very,

1:41:42bare minimum. I think beyond that, we

1:41:45need to be crystal clear that this

1:41:48this

1:41:50uh assignment

1:41:52protects the city from the standpoint

1:41:54that if those audited financial

1:41:56statements show that

1:41:58there was a breach of contract, which I

1:42:00don't think I've heard today, we

1:42:02definitively know

1:42:04that it protects the city's ability to

1:42:06hold somebody responsible. Whether it's

1:42:09the current leaseholder or it is the

1:42:12entity that is accepting the assignment.

1:42:15And I don't care who it is.

1:42:17But the city needs to have that ability.

1:42:19So, those are the things that come to

1:42:21the top of my head. I understand that

1:42:23these folks are in a tough spot now.

1:42:26>> And not just a tough spot, Alderman

1:42:27Reilly. They're not just in a tough

1:42:29spot. I want to be honest about my

1:42:30concern. It's winter. It's about to be

1:42:32freezing cold outside. They're saying

1:42:34they don't have heat. They're saying

1:42:35that their cars are getting stolen off

1:42:37the lot. They're saying that there are a

1:42:38number of serious safety concerns. So, I

1:42:41understand our desire to send it back to

1:42:42committee. And if they're not were

1:42:43residents hanging in the balance and

1:42:45their real safety and living conditions

1:42:46in the question, I would agree with you.

1:42:48But my question to you was actually, do

1:42:50you have any suggestions for an

1:42:51amendment that might help us to bridge

1:42:53that gap?

1:42:54>> Finally, and you know, hey, I think we

1:42:55should send this back to committee to

1:42:57figure it out. I don't have an idea for

1:42:58an amendment today. That's fine. But

1:43:00I've read through those four

1:43:02>> I understand them. I'm just asking about

1:43:04the question of is there something we

1:43:05could do today so that residents who are

1:43:07asking for and where we're on the brink

1:43:09of winter, today is October 16th, is

1:43:11there something we can do so that those

1:43:13residents are able to get hopefully a

1:43:15new property manager that will actually

1:43:17invest in the property and make the

1:43:18conditions they need? Is there something

1:43:20we could put into the legislation today

1:43:22to put in a mechanism for accountability

1:43:25that would not leave those residents in

1:43:26the cold while we work through the

1:43:28legalities?

1:43:28>> That that's a performative statement.

1:43:30And it's performative because there is

1:43:32nothing about this

1:43:34board bill that a that that can help

1:43:37those people today. The subject of this

1:43:39particular bill is merely the

1:43:42acceptance, the rubber stamp of an

1:43:44assignment. That's it. That's the

1:43:47subject. So, your want to take care of

1:43:50those folks while it is noble and it

1:43:52should be done

1:43:54falls without or outside the subject of

1:43:57this. You're mixing apples and oranges

1:44:00for the person for the purpose of trying

1:44:02to appeal to to to to heartstrings, and

1:44:05that's not right. That's not what the

1:44:07subject of this board bill is.

1:44:10>> I think Thank you for your into my

1:44:12inquiry. I think that's I disagree with

1:44:13you there. It's not performative. I

1:44:15think if you were present at the

1:44:16committee hearing um if you were present

1:44:18at other meetings, those residents feel

1:44:19greatly that this is I mean they some of

1:44:21them have even sent me emails begging

1:44:23for us to please pass this legislation

1:44:24through. The people who live there

1:44:26again, so we can say it's performative,

1:44:27but the people who are actually living

1:44:28in the building are impacted by the

1:44:30conditions feel that they want a new

1:44:31manager. They feel that the current

1:44:33property owner has been negligent even

1:44:35to the point of when there was a tornado

1:44:36left the building and left them with no

1:44:37way in there, and they feel that new

1:44:39management will help. So, I think we

1:44:41will just agree to disagree on the

1:44:42matter of performative or heartstrings.

1:44:44I'm not pulling at heartstrings. I'm

1:44:45trying to pull at heat and safety for

1:44:47people who are living in a building

1:44:48right now. Um but that wraps up my

1:44:51inquiry, so thank you.

1:44:52>> Let Let me Let me just respond to that

1:44:54because I I think for those folks who

1:44:56are watching this at home, they need who

1:44:58haven't read this board bill, they need

1:45:00to understand the subject matter of it.

1:45:02And that comment is not fair because the

1:45:05summary of this as drafted by the

1:45:07alderman from the 14th is an ordinance

1:45:09providing for the execution and delivery

1:45:12and of acknowledgement and consent to

1:45:14assignment of the amended and restated

1:45:16lease for the multi-family apartment

1:45:18building commonly known as Homer G.

1:45:21Phillips Senior Apartments.

1:45:23The subject matter of what we're talking

1:45:25about now is merely the assignment of

1:45:29the lease.

1:45:31There is nowhere, nowhere within this

1:45:34board bill any comment that addresses

1:45:37the immediate needs of the folks in that

1:45:40complex. That would be properly done as

1:45:43a separate board bill. So, let's make

1:45:47sure that we are being accurate for

1:45:49anybody who is watching this about what

1:45:51the subject is about what we're debating

1:45:53right now.

1:45:54>> And I think accuracy is important, which

1:45:55is why I think folks who are at home

1:45:57should also go back and watch the HUDs

1:45:58meeting or also talk to the residents

1:46:00who are in here, because the whole

1:46:01purpose of getting a new lessee is the

1:46:02current lessee said we don't have any

1:46:04funds. We're in a financial position we

1:46:06can't make any investment into this

1:46:08building. We have a new potential lessee

1:46:10who is in position to be able to invest

1:46:12in the building and has already kind of

1:46:13demonstrated that by their $10,000

1:46:15payment today. So, again, to members of

1:46:16the public, I think myself and the

1:46:18Alderman of the fifth simply disagree.

1:46:20If you currently have a lessee who has

1:46:22failed to invest, who has allowed,

1:46:23again, people are living in a building

1:46:25with unproper heat, unproper air, no

1:46:27safety. They said that there are people

1:46:29in and out of the building constantly,

1:46:30their cars are being stolen off the

1:46:31lots, there's no offer of security, and

1:46:33then you have a new property manager who

1:46:35is coming in and saying that we can do

1:46:37these things. I think that that is a

1:46:38real investment. Again, I'm I'm not I am

1:46:41basing this based off of I serve on the

1:46:43HUDs committee. I'm basing this off of

1:46:45what was said on the record by Eagle

1:46:46Point themselves who said that they're

1:46:47not in a position to invest in the

1:46:49building, they're not in the best

1:46:50financial position to invest immediate

1:46:52address the immediate concerns. And the

1:46:54new property manager who was at the

1:46:56committee stated that these are the

1:46:57number of things that we are prepared to

1:46:58do if we are able to take over the

1:47:00lease. And as was stated today and as

1:47:02could be confirmed by the collector of

1:47:03revenue, they just made a $10,000

1:47:05payment on taxes that they inherited.

1:47:07And I do think that is a demonstration

1:47:09of a willingness to invest in the

1:47:10property. We don't have to agree on

1:47:12that, but those are facts of what I just

1:47:14said. Thank you.

1:47:17>> Any further discussion? Alderwoman from

1:47:20the 12th.

1:47:22>> The Alderwoman from the first is real

1:47:24>> Oh, sorry. Alderwoman from the first.

1:47:30>> Thank you. Thank you, Madam President,

1:47:31members of the board. Uh would the

1:47:33Alderman from the 14th yield for

1:47:34questions?

1:47:35>> The Alderman from the 14th yields to

1:47:37questions from from the Alderwoman from

1:47:39the

1:47:40>> Yes.

1:47:41>> Alderwoman, you may proceed.

1:47:42>> Thank you, Alderman, and thank you for

1:47:43taking so many questions today.

1:47:45>> Oh, no problem.

1:47:46>> So, the board bill

1:47:49goes over the transfer of the lease, but

1:47:51it doesn't provide a copy of the lease.

1:47:54>> It's in the drive.

1:47:55>> It's in the drive. Awesome. Is there

1:47:57anything that's changing from the

1:47:58previous lease to this lease that may

1:48:00give us more confidence in the city's

1:48:02ability to hold accountable? And if so,

1:48:05what?

1:48:06>> Yes, so uh the thing that is changing

1:48:08with this would be that again, amendment

1:48:11that amendment of $50,000

1:48:13um that

1:48:15uh those funds from uh that we already

1:48:17have to provide from the city of St.

1:48:20Louis goes into the Homer G. Phillips uh

1:48:22building. Um

1:48:25that is a new add to uh the lease. Uh

1:48:28there is no additional add that they

1:48:30must make a certain uh amount of money

1:48:33of investment. Um there's no language

1:48:36that talks about anything different

1:48:38besides that amendment that was added to

1:48:39the lease.

1:48:41>> Okay. I I hear the concerns that folks

1:48:43have brought up about making sure the

1:48:46improvements are made.

1:48:48It seems like that's not

1:48:51very thorough in terms of what the

1:48:53city's expecting from them for them to

1:48:55do. Um

1:48:57can you speak to a to why or if there

1:49:00was any discussion in the comptroller's

1:49:02office of adding more

1:49:04terms in?

1:49:06>> Yeah, I mean, this is uh I know it's a

1:49:0899-year lease that we have uh

1:49:10transferred to started at Dominion and

1:49:12then Eagle Point and here we are with

1:49:13CIG and there was one right before

1:49:15Dominion. Um I'm not sure of what

1:49:18uh like force requirement that we could

1:49:20tell a um

1:49:23company to of a certain amount they must

1:49:26make of that investment. Um, we were

1:49:28able to uh before me put that amount in

1:49:31there that says they have to give money

1:49:33back to the city. And what we're trying

1:49:35to do with that is turn that around so

1:49:37that that money goes back into Homer G.

1:49:39Phillips.

1:49:41>> Okay, I think

1:49:42that

1:49:45it just doesn't feel like we're holding

1:49:46them accountable enough. I totally

1:49:48understand the concerns folks have

1:49:49raised about that.

1:49:52You know, it's a long lease. Um

1:49:55>> [snorts]

1:49:55>> and I think that's that's interesting

1:49:57and

1:49:58we talked a little bit this morning

1:49:59Alderman about the payments that they

1:50:02need to make on their taxes and they did

1:50:04make a partial payment.

1:50:05Um, can you go over a little bit more

1:50:07about their their plan to make further

1:50:09payments or any other information that

1:50:11that you know?

1:50:13>> Yes, um and uh you know, after we kind

1:50:16of had our conversation with B and

1:50:18communication with CIG to make sure that

1:50:21there is a plan set up for them to be

1:50:22able to pay this off uh completely. I

1:50:24know this is something that they

1:50:26inherited

1:50:27um and they have been committed to

1:50:29paying it off. That's why they already

1:50:30started the process after the Alderman

1:50:33from the ninth ward up in committee to

1:50:35uh make additional or make a payment as

1:50:37of today.

1:50:38Um, but Mr. Jason has committed to me

1:50:41that they yes, they are planning to pay

1:50:43that off of Sullivan Place of something

1:50:44that they did inherit.

1:50:47>> Okay, I'm

1:50:48uh still working to open up the folder

1:50:50here.

1:50:51Um, I see the

1:50:54in the drive there is the transfer of

1:50:57the lease

1:50:58document, but I don't see the actual

1:51:00lease. Just that it says it's like the

1:51:02agreement to transfer. Is that

1:51:04am I just missing it?

1:51:06>> The exhibit A should be the transfer of

1:51:08the lease.

1:51:09>> Right, and I don't see the actual lease.

1:51:12It's possible I'm missing it, so I think

1:51:14other people want to talk, so I'll just

1:51:16keep looking.

1:51:17Thank you, Alderman.

1:51:19>> Thank you.

1:51:26Any further discussion? Alderwoman from

1:51:28the 11th.

1:51:29>> Thank you,

1:51:31Mr. Vice Chair.

1:51:32Just a few statements. You know, I'm

1:51:34hearing some things that are very

1:51:35disturbing to me

1:51:37as a property owner, multiple

1:51:38properties,

1:51:40to hear that oh, they inherited

1:51:43um taxes.

1:51:45That's what businesses does. When you

1:51:47buy your property here in the city of

1:51:49St. Louis, which I have from time to

1:51:52time, purchased a property that came

1:51:55with back taxes or even a back sewer

1:51:58bill, you're going to pay that bill.

1:51:59That's yours. That's what you signed up

1:52:02for.

1:52:03I am not about to let these people off

1:52:08the hook. I keep hearing upgrades. It is

1:52:11not an upgrade to maintain the building

1:52:15that you took over.

1:52:18Our job is to look out for the people

1:52:22who put us in these positions. We should

1:52:25be advocating very strongly for them if

1:52:30the company is wrong.

1:52:32They have an obligation to keep a

1:52:36building warm in the winter,

1:52:39to keep the water on in the building,

1:52:44to not be overrun by rodents,

1:52:47or bedbugs, or any other manner of

1:52:50creature.

1:52:52This is a disturbing discussion that we

1:52:55are having.

1:52:57Our advocacy is supposed to be for the

1:53:00people of the city of St. Louis and what

1:53:04is in the interest of the business of

1:53:07the city of St. Louis. These people are

1:53:09not paying their taxes. They have an

1:53:12obligation the same as you and I.

1:53:15No, I'm not willing to allow them or

1:53:17anybody else to skate by and then

1:53:20sounding like well, they had insurance

1:53:22to pay. Well, guess what? That that's

1:53:24the cost of doing business.

1:53:27We're not talking about upgrades. We're

1:53:29talking about general maintenance.

1:53:33And if it breaks, you got to get it

1:53:35fixed. The people in this building

1:53:37regardless of what they pay for rent

1:53:40because they have a lease that specifies

1:53:44a specific amount. They are meeting

1:53:47their obligation.

1:53:49Your problem is to make sure that

1:53:52they've got heat, they've got water, and

1:53:54anything else that they're supposed to

1:53:56have. Now, let's talk about business.

1:53:58I've owned my own business for 13 years.

1:54:01You are responsible for what that lease

1:54:04says that you have to do.

1:54:07I'm not willing to allow anybody to to

1:54:10make it sound like they don't they

1:54:13shouldn't have to do that. Um and it it

1:54:16was a verbal conversation. A verbal

1:54:18conversation in some cases and the the

1:54:21lawyers, I'm sure, can possibly agree

1:54:24with me, maybe not, that a verbal

1:54:26conversation

1:54:28in most cases is not a contract.

1:54:32A lease is.

1:54:34A lease that specifies what your role

1:54:38and obligation is to the people that

1:54:41that lease serves.

1:54:43So, I don't have any questions, but I

1:54:45want to make sure that the people of

1:54:48this city are hearing this.

1:54:51Hear how you are not being advocated

1:54:54for, especially the people at Homer G.

1:54:56Phillips. My ward has a lot of senior

1:54:59buildings and a lot of senior buildings

1:55:02that are in my ward are having similar

1:55:04problems.

1:55:06But I'm not trying to hear a bunch of

1:55:07excuses. What I'm trying to hear is when

1:55:10you going to get it fixed?

1:55:12How long is it going to take?

1:55:15Let's bring in some wrap-around services

1:55:17while you get this thing together over

1:55:19the next week or so.

1:55:21That's what I want to hear. But that

1:55:23lease, if it's not in the lease, just

1:55:25like a college syllabus,

1:55:27you're responsible for what the syllabus

1:55:29says.

1:55:31So, this is unacceptable on so many

1:55:34levels and it is disappointing and very

1:55:37upsetting

1:55:39that the advocacy is not for the people.

1:55:44That business owner has a responsibility

1:55:47to take care of that building. That's

1:55:50what they signed up for. Thank you.

1:55:58>> Alderwoman from the 12th, or sorry,

1:56:0013th,

1:56:02if she still has her hand up and then

1:56:04the 12th.

1:56:05>> All right.

1:56:06Uh yes, ma'am. Thank you. I I guess what

1:56:09I'm asking is uh

1:56:12the alderman from the 14th if he would

1:56:14take a question.

1:56:16>> The alderman from the 14th yields

1:56:17questioning from the alderwoman from the

1:56:1913th.

1:56:20>> Yes, ma'am.

1:56:21>> Alderwoman, you may proceed.

1:56:23>> So, I'm referring back to the to the

1:56:26hearing when the question was asked I

1:56:30and and the the company is is that Eagle

1:56:34that had it that we're taking them out

1:56:37of it and bringing CIG in?

1:56:39>> Eagle Point to CIG, yes, ma'am.

1:56:41>> Okay. So, Eagle Point, the question was

1:56:45asked directly, have you had a audit

1:56:49done to make sure that you have your

1:56:53things checks and balance. And he said

1:56:57point-blank, "I don't have to do a

1:57:00audit."

1:57:01So, you don't see a issue with that if

1:57:04we're moving from this person who hasn't

1:57:08done anything and he feel he doesn't

1:57:10have to be accountable

1:57:12to not only to city but to the residents

1:57:15and what he did with the dollars that he

1:57:18spent?

1:57:21>> In that same hearing, he also said that

1:57:23he's willing to provide all of them both

1:57:25have asked about what upgrades. He

1:57:27didn't have that on but he said he's

1:57:29willing to provide the things that they

1:57:31have upgraded in the building. They have

1:57:33followed the lease agreement and the

1:57:36agreement between the city and Eagle

1:57:39Point of making sure the money that they

1:57:41were supposed to pay to the city was

1:57:43abided by. But,

1:57:46he did mention that there is a list of

1:57:49throughout the last 5 years of them

1:57:51being there, a list of upgrades that

1:57:53they have made to the building that they

1:57:54didn't have.

1:57:57>> So, I guess my concern is because the

1:57:59two main things that I hear that are

1:58:01health

1:58:02uh

1:58:03generated

1:58:05in regards to the residents, the

1:58:07seniors, and people need to be real

1:58:09clear.

1:58:10This is not the only property management

1:58:13company that has misused and abused the

1:58:16right of

1:58:18these senior buildings.

1:58:20>> Correct. I agree.

1:58:21>> And at the end of the day, our seniors

1:58:24are the ones that are suffering. So,

1:58:26when I hear they didn't have heat or

1:58:29they didn't have air, those are two

1:58:31critical issues.

1:58:33So, did you get a report that that was

1:58:36included to show they upgraded?

1:58:39>> No, the

1:58:40and that was brought up when we was just

1:58:42last there. They actually have from and

1:58:44this is what was said from the president

1:58:48that they had a facility that they was

1:58:49working with Miss

1:58:51uh, her name. They had a facility that

1:58:54was,

1:58:54um,

1:58:56Hold on, we had a door open.

1:59:00They had a company that was ready to

1:59:01come in to look at the repairs of the

1:59:04HVA system, but after a video that went

1:59:08out, that company decided that they

1:59:10thought it was dangerous. Uh, so now

1:59:12they're looking for a new company to try

1:59:13to come in to make sure that the HVA

1:59:16system is proper before we get to, uh,

1:59:18the wintertime. So, Eagle Point, the

1:59:20current LLC, is working to try to get a

1:59:24company to come in and they had a

1:59:26company ready to go,

1:59:27uh, but that company pulled out.

1:59:31>> Okay, so I guess my concern is, you

1:59:35know, Eagle Point keeps saying they're

1:59:37going to make these correction

1:59:39improvements and it seems like they're

1:59:41dragging their feet. And so, the two

1:59:44words that I keep saying are dangerous

1:59:46for our city is accountability and

1:59:48communication.

1:59:50You know, I appreciate the state rep,

1:59:52you know, trying to work with the people

1:59:54and uh, whatever, but I just feel the

1:59:57other person has been putting a lot of

1:59:59work in it also and I just think

2:00:02we as a board of aldermen need to hold

2:00:08not just Eagle Point, but other property

2:00:11management companies that are managing

2:00:13these, uh, senior buildings accountable

2:00:17because I'm just telling you Homewood G

2:00:20is just the tip of the iceberg. And so,

2:00:24them promising in 2 months

2:00:27that they're going to have it fixed, I'm

2:00:28just concerned about that and I kind of

2:00:31agree with the aldermen from the fifth

2:00:33and the 12th.

2:00:35If we could put something in to hold

2:00:37them accountable because I just don't

2:00:39see where, you know, they're making

2:00:42these promises and they don't follow

2:00:44through. That's the concern I have. And

2:00:47at the end of the day, as you said,

2:00:50Alderman from the 14th, we go home and

2:00:52we can turn our heat and stuff on and

2:00:55these seniors can't.

2:00:56>> Yes.

2:00:57>> So, that's my concern.

2:00:58>> And I appreciate I appreciate that and I

2:01:00add on to it. Yes, you know,

2:01:03you know, I brought up like Sullivan

2:01:04Place in my ward, which is in a worse

2:01:07state of Homagee. I probably got about

2:01:09three in my ward, too, that's owned by

2:01:11McCormack and Baron, one in City Point.

2:01:13And yes, a common thing that is being

2:01:16said in all these senior buildings is

2:01:18security.

2:01:19I think when it comes to the Homagee

2:01:21Phillips building, it's a little

2:01:23different because we do own that and we

2:01:25do have a little bit more say-so

2:01:28what can be done and I

2:01:31also believe, like you say, when it

2:01:32comes to accountability, outside of just

2:01:35the lease agreement, there are other

2:01:37ways that, you know, we can hold

2:01:40CIG accountable as being the individuals

2:01:43of the City of St. Louis who own the

2:01:45land,

2:01:46but I don't disagree with you that, you

2:01:48know, we need to make sure that, you

2:01:50know, we are protecting our seniors. For

2:01:52me, this isn't It's been a lot of words

2:01:54said, performative, but also what I

2:01:56don't want us to do is wait and wait and

2:01:59wait and drag our feet as has happened.

2:02:03And then the seniors at the end of the

2:02:05day, like you say, we go home are still

2:02:07stuck in a quagmire in a situation where

2:02:10the new leasee owner, and I just want to

2:02:12be clear, he's not coming in in 2 months

2:02:14to make the upgrades. It's going to

2:02:16take, eventually, once a board bill get

2:02:19across the finish line, 2 months for the

2:02:21new leasee owner to come in and make

2:02:23those capital upgrades that he's looking

2:02:25to do. So, before those upgrades even

2:02:27start, it's going to take him 2 to 3

2:02:29months to be able to come in, assess the

2:02:31building, and see, on top of the capital

2:02:33upgrades that he has on the list, he's

2:02:36willing to work with Miss Sharon and

2:02:37others to see what additional upgrades

2:02:39are needed. But thank you for your

2:02:40question.

2:02:41>> Oh,

2:02:41so this is my question, Alderman.

2:02:44So, Eagle can't do anything now?

2:02:48And they're still the lessee, they can't

2:02:51do anything now?

2:02:52>> They are doing some things now, but they

2:02:55are making very few minimum upgrades as

2:02:57they

2:02:58uh wanting out of the lease. Again, this

2:03:00is a bill that

2:03:01uh is not making uh any whoever become

2:03:04the new lessee holder is not making

2:03:07money from this building just because of

2:03:09the disrepair that it is and uh any

2:03:12lessee person right now is actually

2:03:13losing money. Uh Homer G. Phillips is

2:03:15losing the lessee individuals money.

2:03:19>> Okay, thank you. But I guess I'm just

2:03:21concerned because why would you take on

2:03:23a building that you know you can afford

2:03:26to fix up? That's That's my That's my

2:03:29last question.

2:03:31That's all.

2:03:32>> Yep. And thank you. And I will say they

2:03:34took it over in COVID time, so that

2:03:36definitely changed uh a lot of stuff

2:03:38when they took it on 2020. But thank

2:03:40you.

2:03:45>> Alderwoman from the 8th.

2:03:47Thank you, Madam President. Will the

2:03:48Alderman from the 14th yield for a

2:03:50question? The Alderman from the 14th

2:03:51yields questioning from the Alderwoman

2:03:53from the 8th.

2:03:55Yes. Alderwoman, you may proceed. Thank

2:03:58you, Madam President. Um Alderman,

2:04:00there's there's been a lot of

2:04:01conversation here um certainly as

2:04:03warranted about uh you know, what's

2:04:05going on with the existing property, um

2:04:07what Eagle Point has neglected to

2:04:08provide for the seniors and the

2:04:10residents living in the property, and

2:04:12the importance of making sure that we're

2:04:13getting the seniors what they need

2:04:15especially in anticipation of the

2:04:16winter. Um and so I do want to you know,

2:04:18thank the Alderman from the 11th and the

2:04:20Alderwoman from

2:04:21for bringing that up. I think that's

2:04:22really important. But I also want to

2:04:24make sure um I have an understanding

2:04:27distinction that we're talking about

2:04:28between existing lease holder and then

2:04:30CIG, the lease holder that we're working

2:04:32to transfer to. Um so can you first

2:04:35confirm is CIG at all affiliated with

2:04:37the existing leaseholder Eagle Point?

2:04:39>> Not at all. The what was said at

2:04:42committee is that uh somebody asked the

2:04:44controller office how they come up with

2:04:46CIG Eagle Point. They did a nationwide

2:04:49search

2:04:50uh and end up coming up with uh three

2:04:52top and that's how CIG got picked. So,

2:04:54there's no Eagle Point and CIG has never

2:04:57done any business in the past together,

2:04:59no.

2:05:00>> Okay, and outside of some of the the

2:05:02challenges that Eagle Point has had with

2:05:04the existing property, can you explain a

2:05:05little bit about why we're wanting to do

2:05:07the transfer to CIG?

2:05:09>> Because at this point CIG has come to

2:05:12the table uh and is willing to make

2:05:15significant upgrades, which at this

2:05:17point Eagle Point has made upgrades uh

2:05:20but is not planning to uh continue those

2:05:23levels of upgrades uh that CIG is

2:05:25willing to do. It's not in the lease to

2:05:27force anybody to uh make any upgrades to

2:05:31the building, but CIG has came in and

2:05:33committed to uh making a significant

2:05:36amount of capital upgrades uh to the

2:05:38building, which again, as Eagle Point

2:05:40has made some uh when they adopted this

2:05:42building in uh 2020

2:05:45uh COVID, they have not been able to

2:05:46make enough money on the building to

2:05:48continue to do the work.

2:05:50Or continue to make significant

2:05:51upgrades.

2:05:52>> Okay, thank you Alderman for clarifying

2:05:54that. And I And I think from my

2:05:55perspective, again, understanding that

2:05:57relationship

2:05:58also the the scale of the upgrades that

2:06:01are needed for the building is really

2:06:02important. Um of course, I agree with

2:06:04all the folks that have said here, you

2:06:05know, we we definitely don't want to let

2:06:07Eagle Point off the hook. We know

2:06:08there's been a lot of challenges and I

2:06:10appreciate hearing from you that in the

2:06:12two months that we're waiting on this

2:06:14lease transfer to process, Eagle Point

2:06:16is still willing to do work on the

2:06:18building and able to work on it so that

2:06:19we know the residents there have heat

2:06:22that we know they need in the winter. Um

2:06:23I agree that's going to be something

2:06:25that's really important and I think all

2:06:26of us should hold them to that standard

2:06:28and to that promise so that we we get

2:06:30those those temporary relief upgrades.

2:06:32at the same time, you know, looking at

2:06:34that that building. I've have family

2:06:36over the years that have lived there.

2:06:37That building needs so much more. Those

2:06:39residents deserve so much better. And so

2:06:41for me,

2:06:42I want to see a Homer G. Phillips that

2:06:45has the improvements to the scale that

2:06:46we know the residents deserve. And if

2:06:49this existing leaseholder is not able

2:06:51and willing to do that work and we have

2:06:53someone in that's standing up and saying

2:06:55they are willing to

2:06:57significant upgrades. Um I do hear, you

2:07:00know, what the residents are saying and

2:07:02I and I think we deserve to to honor

2:07:04that. So I appreciate you clarifying

2:07:05that. I think the the scale of what the

2:07:07current person is doing and the

2:07:09relationship between what this new

2:07:10entity come in and do sounds like it's

2:07:12going to be very different.

2:07:14>> And I would tell you for I know that

2:07:16there's been some concerns from Alders

2:07:18about make sure we help the residents.

2:07:21Um

2:07:22at being at these last several meetings,

2:07:24and I mean, I wish but you can't cuz you

2:07:25stay rep come down and vouch for it.

2:07:27Residents are wanting to see CIG come

2:07:31in, all right? Residents want to see

2:07:33these upgrades happen. There is also on

2:07:36top of the funds of or the amendment

2:07:38that we have for the $50,000 that we put

2:07:40back into the building, the

2:07:41conversations that we're having with the

2:07:43capital committee to also invest in C

2:07:45into the Homer G. Phillips. This will be

2:07:47an additional investment that CIG is

2:07:49trying to do just off the backs. And no,

2:07:52I think something was said if CIG come

2:07:54in they're raising rents. No, they're

2:07:55not. Their main focus right now is

2:07:57working with the residents.

2:07:59Even Michelle was like, this is the

2:08:00first time that they've had an event

2:08:02that the owner of the you know, the the

2:08:03place actually showed up. After the

2:08:06hearing, he was so committed to actually

2:08:08go to the National Night Out, talk to

2:08:09the residents, and get input on what

2:08:11additional other change

2:08:13they would like to see in the building.

2:08:14He said, yes, it's not going regardless

2:08:16if it's CIG, if it's BIG, or MWBG,

2:08:20whatever, like it's going to take time

2:08:21for these upgrades to happen.

2:08:24But there is with CIG a commitment that

2:08:26he wants to do these upgrades off the

2:08:28bat with capital improvements and the

2:08:30longer that

2:08:32I mean we wait it's like the longer that

2:08:34these improvements that can be happening

2:08:35in the building firsthand have seen it.

2:08:38You know, I know there's a lot of

2:08:39concerns. When I say the building in

2:08:41Sullivan Place was way worse than Homer

2:08:45G. Phillips and CIG came and and turned

2:08:47that building around. Like I I see the

2:08:50work that they can do and I think the

2:08:52residents

2:08:53are hopeful as they've been uh in these

2:08:55meetings with Jason and self hopeful for

2:08:57the work that can be possible for Homer

2:08:59G. Phillips.

2:09:00>> Okay. Thank Thank you, Alderman, for

2:09:02outlining how you know the the residents

2:09:04on the ground may be feeling about that.

2:09:06I think that's really helpful to hear.

2:09:07The only The only thing that I'll say is

2:09:09I do think again that distinction

2:09:10between the leaseholder that's currently

2:09:12holder we're transferring to is really

2:09:14important. And I also agree with with

2:09:17some of the accountability points that

2:09:18have been brought up by our colleagues.

2:09:19With this leaseholder that we currently

2:09:21have as you know the comptroller's

2:09:23working on these terms, I do think those

2:09:25accountability provisions for the

2:09:27improvements we know we need to see in

2:09:28the interim are going to be very

2:09:30important. And I know that those

2:09:32improvements are things as we're going

2:09:33into the winter that we we don't just

2:09:36want to take a promise. We want to see

2:09:37actually actualized. I know

2:09:39you as as you know carrying this will

2:09:42agree with me in that and I think those

2:09:43accountability of provisions are

2:09:44important. Um but again I also think

2:09:47that the second step in why we're doing

2:09:48the transfer in the first place is

2:09:50really important to hear clarified. So

2:09:52thank you.

2:09:52>> Thank you.

2:10:01>> Alderwoman from the 12th.

2:10:03>> Thank you, members of the board.

2:10:07>> If the Alderwoman from the 8th would

2:10:08yield since she was the last person

2:10:10>> The Alderwoman from the 8th yields

2:10:12questioning from the Alderwoman from the

2:10:1312th.

2:10:14>> Yes, ma'am.

2:10:15>> Alderwoman, you may proceed.

2:10:17>> You're in finances, right? Money lady.

2:10:20>> Mhm.

2:10:20>> Right.

2:10:20>> [clears throat]

2:10:21>> I'm a lawyer and I've been doing real

2:10:23estate for a very long time. I know

2:10:25leases. I also work for legal services.

2:10:28I've done a lot of things with real

2:10:29estate. That's why I went to law school.

2:10:31I can take a lease apart in a few

2:10:33minutes, okay, and a contract. But as

2:10:36I've been a elected official at the

2:10:37Board of Aldermen, I got elected in '91.

2:10:40One of the things I know is that we are

2:10:41elected officials are required to follow

2:10:43our ordinances. Those are laws, right?

2:10:46So, we have an ordinance, ordinance

2:10:4868941,

2:10:50which was passed in 2011 regarding Homer

2:10:54G. Phillips. And it required audited

2:10:57financial statements

2:10:58for the 99-year lease tenants. That

2:11:01means the current person who has the

2:11:03lease is supposed to submit 99 is

2:11:06supposed to submit audited financial

2:11:08statements. So, if that's our ordinance,

2:11:10then they should have done that, right?

2:11:13So, what I'm telling you is that

2:11:15um I've read every lease. They're

2:11:18convoluted,

2:11:20poorly written,

2:11:22um not protecting the city's interests

2:11:24at some point. But and it started in

2:11:282023

2:11:30is when the first person moved in Homer

2:11:31G. Phillips and it was beautiful. And

2:11:33I've pulled all the

2:11:34press and everything and No, I'm sorry.

2:11:3720

2:11:392012

2:11:40oh 20

2:11:4102 2003 and then they moved in in 03 and

2:11:46then 2004 they filled up. But anyway, so

2:11:50it was the first person WAT and I knew

2:11:52her. Her name is Sharon Robnett and her

2:11:54father was Bill Thomas, who was a black

2:11:56guy who did beautiful uh rehabs. He got

2:11:59in some trouble with the feds, but if

2:12:02you go down or uh Olive Street and you

2:12:03see that pink building, it's right there

2:12:05by Saint Louis University. That's one of

2:12:07his projects in the 11th Ward. So,

2:12:08another beige building. Bill Thomas did

2:12:12development all over the city of Saint

2:12:14Louis. And Sharon Robnett Robnett had

2:12:16this original lease.

2:12:18Um and the original lease was for

2:12:20$4,950,000.

2:12:23I will say that again. Then she died.

2:12:26She had cancer. She's a friend of mine.

2:12:27I went to

2:12:28I started out in dental school. I went

2:12:30to dental school with her sister,

2:12:31Andrea,

2:12:32um before I became a lawyer. So, um so

2:12:35they sold the lease. Dominion had it for

2:12:37a length of time. And then

2:12:40um while Dominion had it,

2:12:42um Sam Moore came aboard because the

2:12:45original alderman who introduced all of

2:12:47this was a guy named Mike Mitchell. And

2:12:49I had got elected with his mom in '91,

2:12:51Bertha Mitchell. She died of cancer. So,

2:12:53Mike Mitchell introduced this. I can

2:12:55tell you all of this off the top of my

2:12:56head because these people would have it

2:12:59like I wasn't doing my job. I do my job,

2:13:01okay? I do due diligence. And the more

2:13:04you smear my name, I then do more and I

2:13:07dig more. I don't go away. So, um I'm

2:13:11digging all of this before they even

2:13:13came aboard because no one who's

2:13:15propo- promoting ever came to me and

2:13:18said, "Can I talk to you about what's

2:13:20going on?" Not one of them. Not the 14,

2:13:23not the seventh. They assume they know

2:13:26more than me. There's a reason we have

2:13:28something down here called uh automatic

2:13:31courtesy because more than likely you're

2:13:33going to know more about what's going on

2:13:34in your neighborhood than me, okay?

2:13:36Especially if you put 3 years working on

2:13:38it. And you've uh you got a trail uh uh

2:13:40uh

2:13:41a trail a mile long of things that you

2:13:43have done to try to correct it. And try

2:13:45not for it to be here.

2:13:47Um but we're here now, but let's talk

2:13:50about this ordinance, 68941,

2:13:53which was passed in 2011. Sam Moore

2:13:56passed it cuz he was so upset

2:13:59because

2:14:02there was no reporting about what had

2:14:03been going on with Homer G. Phillips.

2:14:06When they sold it from WAT to Dominion,

2:14:09there was not a reporting. Now, if

2:14:10you're only paying $50,000 a year, think

2:14:14about it. Some of the people who live

2:14:15downtown may pay that for one of their

2:14:18high-priced apartments, okay? If you're

2:14:20paying $3,000 or $3,500 a month, you're

2:14:23paying $50,000. That's one apartment.

2:14:26Homage to Phillips was full. They had

2:14:28250 some odd units.

2:14:30Which means

2:14:34that they were getting any place from

2:14:36about 20 2,700 a year.

2:14:40You only pay $50,000? There's got to be

2:14:42more to it. What was more to it was they

2:14:44were supposed to be giving us a yearly

2:14:47accounting of what they had done.

2:14:50But, they hadn't done that. So, in 2011,

2:14:53so that say a more wanted to to be

2:14:55perfectly clear,

2:14:58he amended the lease.

2:15:00And in that lease, and in that

2:15:02ordinance, he says

2:15:04um

2:15:05the section six of the lease is deleted

2:15:07in its entirety and replaced with the

2:15:09following. And he went on to say again

2:15:12that the new people had to whoever had

2:15:14the lease after this had to pay $4,950,

2:15:17but they only had to pay 50. And the And

2:15:19but they he thought about that there

2:15:21should be in some increases in payment

2:15:23to the city because they had never

2:15:25increased more than $50,000. So, he put

2:15:27that in. He put it uh

2:15:29according to the US average for urban

2:15:32consumers seasonally adjusted all items.

2:15:35So, the consumer price index. He put

2:15:37that in there. I'm not going to read all

2:15:38of that. Okay, and he went on to talk

2:15:40about it. Um and any such increase in

2:15:44the annual rental installment under an

2:15:45adjusted base rent for the remainder of

2:15:47the term shall be calculated in lieu of

2:15:49the base rent provided for here under.

2:15:51In the event the total amount of base

2:15:53rent and adjusted base rent paid here on

2:15:55upon the end of the term of this lease

2:15:57shall be less than $4,950,

2:16:00the balance of the total base rent shall

2:16:02be due and owing on January 1st, 2100.

2:16:04That's when the 99-year lease is up,

2:16:07okay?

2:16:08The intent of deferring ground lease

2:16:10payment is to minimize the need for rent

2:16:14increases and to allow the property to

2:16:17cover operating cost and maintain a high

2:16:20level of services to its senior

2:16:22residents. And that's often when you're

2:16:24doing a that kind of a lease, okay? It's

2:16:27almost like a forgivable loan if you do

2:16:29right and you keep the building fixed

2:16:31up. They kind of wink and let you go

2:16:33along with it, okay? To ensure this

2:16:35intent is realized, the owner agrees to

2:16:38forego any distribution of cash flow

2:16:41unless and until the owner begins to

2:16:43make full ground lease payments to the

2:16:45city. Full ground lease payments to the

2:16:47city is the $4,950,000.

2:16:51In order to ensure compliance with the

2:16:52provision of this ground lease

2:16:54amendment, the owner shall, not maybe,

2:16:57shall submit annually, no later than

2:17:00June 30th of each year, to the St. Louis

2:17:03Board of Aldermen

2:17:05and the St. Louis Development

2:17:07Corporation audited financial

2:17:09statements. Do you know what audited

2:17:11financial statements are? I know you do.

2:17:13And the reason why they want them

2:17:14audited cuz they don't just want you as

2:17:16a landlord to say I did this, this, and

2:17:18this. They want to make sure that you're

2:17:20doing what you're supposed to do. Isn't

2:17:21that correct?

2:17:23Okay.

2:17:24Showing the owner has received no cash

2:17:26distribution of cash flow and that he,

2:17:29the owner, is supposed to show us his

2:17:30So, when you do your audited financial

2:17:32statements, and so

2:17:34some people who don't want to get in

2:17:35this, but been watching this, start

2:17:36sending me theirs. And they say, "Well,

2:17:38if you use it, just um redact my names."

2:17:41But it has everything in there. You know

2:17:44in 2.5 seconds if they've been doing

2:17:46what they're supposed to do. That's why

2:17:47I've been asking for that. Since you're

2:17:49a financial person, then that ought to

2:17:51happen, okay? So, if that is in a lease,

2:17:55and so when I came to the hearing and I

2:17:57asked him that, he said, "Oh, I don't

2:17:58have to

2:17:59do that." How does he get to not have to

2:18:01do it it's in the lease?

2:18:03Would you agree if this is in the

2:18:05ordinance that that is the

2:18:07determining document?

2:18:09>> I think this what the lease order is.

2:18:11>> I need you to speak into the mic.

2:18:12>> Oh, I'm sorry.

2:18:14Yes, ma'am. I would agree if it's in the

2:18:15ordinance then they're obligated to

2:18:16>> And I can give you the ordinance. Okay,

2:18:18I've given it to several other people

2:18:20because I have I've read every ordinance

2:18:22and went over it. I met with them

2:18:23tenants so many many times, but that is

2:18:25required and it's been one of my

2:18:27problems. Give me a document showing

2:18:30what you are going to what you spent.

2:18:33What I did ask the current lease owner

2:18:36was how much did he pay for

2:18:39the um

2:18:41lease when he bought it. Approximately

2:18:42$5 million, okay?

2:18:44How much was he going to sell the lease?

2:18:47Approximately $5 million, $4 million

2:18:49950.

2:18:51But he also said he had a debt of about

2:18:54$5 million and the new owner was going

2:18:57to

2:18:58assume that. So basically, he's going to

2:19:00make $10 million cuz he's going to come

2:19:02$5 million out of debt and then he's

2:19:04going to take the $5 million and he's

2:19:06going to keep that. That is why I have

2:19:09I'm a money person, too. I have an

2:19:10undergraduate degree in management and

2:19:12accounting. I started out in dental

2:19:14school. I like education and I ended up

2:19:16a lawyer, but I'm a money person.

2:19:18I

2:19:19have dealt with uh federal programs for

2:19:2230 years. I always do my due diligence.

2:19:25I turn in what I'm supposed to. If it's

2:19:27a required, I do it. When we had uh

2:19:30COVID, I had rental property and they

2:19:32were paying landlords. I didn't take it.

2:19:34I lost $7,000 on my rental property

2:19:37because I didn't think it was right as

2:19:38me as an older person cuz the city had

2:19:40money. So we just wrote that off, okay?

2:19:43Cuz they didn't let you um

2:19:45evict people. And then the Supreme Court

2:19:48said that was illegal. I could have sued

2:19:49the city. I did not. We swallowed that.

2:19:52But as a landlord, my responsibility is

2:19:55to follow the leases and the laws. If

2:19:58you do it with the federal government,

2:19:59>> Mhm. you have to follow those laws. Now,

2:20:02I've been also asking what other kind of

2:20:03deals did Homer G. Phillips have? And so

2:20:06people told me there's some more

2:20:07sharing. You got to look deeper because

2:20:10the feds make you turn in this stuff. If

2:20:13he had to turn it in, he should have

2:20:15turned it into the feds. But if he

2:20:16didn't, that he signed a lease with us

2:20:20in 2000 and he said he had it 5 years.

2:20:24He signed a lease with us in 2020,

2:20:27then

2:20:28he should submit the financial data.

2:20:30Don't you think? And it should be

2:20:31audited. Don't you think?

2:20:33>> Mhm. I agree.

2:20:35>> Yes, I agree. Okay, and that has not

2:20:37been done.

2:20:38>> Okay.

2:20:38>> And that is my problem. It's all this

2:20:40emotional stuff.

2:20:42You could be as emotional as you want

2:20:43to.

2:20:44But our duty under the Board of Aldermen

2:20:48is to follow the law. Not to let

2:20:50somebody get away with this. And again,

2:20:53all of this oh, that they somehow

2:20:55they've made four visits, six visits,

2:20:57that they somehow care more than I did.

2:21:01The reason why Joe was over there my my

2:21:03LA every week is because I have a big

2:21:06ward, 14 neighborhoods. So if I wasn't

2:21:08there, he was there. But I also was

2:21:10there. I was there Christmas Eve. I

2:21:12didn't have to be there. It's dangerous

2:21:14to put heaters in people's um um

2:21:17apartments, seniors. So I came up with

2:21:20the idea to buy electric blankets. Now

2:21:22people will say

2:21:24No, that's something because that could

2:21:26have saved a life. Cuz all you got to do

2:21:28is trip and fall and something happens

2:21:31and you set something on fire. And I

2:21:34I'll tell you why this was particularly

2:21:35concerning with me is cuz they had had a

2:21:37fire in Homer G. Phillips and it was on

2:21:39the weekend and the tenants

2:21:41uh the fire people couldn't get in the

2:21:43basement cuz the owners did not have

2:21:46somebody on staff to let them have a

2:21:47key.

2:21:49And then I I people saying what awful

2:21:51people the current people are. If you

2:21:54have a awful person who has a loan with

2:21:56your bank, do you let them pick their

2:21:58successor? Is that what happens? If

2:22:01you're saying they're awful, then do

2:22:03they get to say, "Well, hey, I got my

2:22:04cousin over here. What about that?" Is

2:22:06that what happens in the financial

2:22:07world?

2:22:09>> [laughter]

2:22:09>> I can't say. It depends on different

2:22:10cases.

2:22:11>> I beg your pardon. I couldn't hear you.

2:22:13>> I said I can't say. It depends on

2:22:14different cases and circumstances.

2:22:16>> Okay. But is if that person is horrible,

2:22:18why would they be picking somebody else?

2:22:20And it didn't just happen. So, when I

2:22:22went to look

2:22:23>> Could we please keep side conversations

2:22:25to a minimum or step off the floor to

2:22:27have side conversations? Thank you.

2:22:32>> If Okay, so um

2:22:35You said okay. I lost my train of

2:22:37thought there for a minute. Okay, so you

2:22:38said you couldn't say cuz that's

2:22:40different. But if that person is awful

2:22:42person, I'm not going to let them pick

2:22:44it. And then for them to say they

2:22:46finally did a a worldwide search and

2:22:48they came up with CIG. It's they didn't

2:22:51finally do it. CIG is registered from

2:22:53the home of G. Phillips' address since

2:22:552024. They did not do it. And even if

2:22:58they did, they already if they did not

2:23:01submit their documents for the last 5

2:23:03years, they have violated their lease.

2:23:05Would you agree?

2:23:08>> Yes.

2:23:08>> And so, when you violate a lease or a

2:23:10contract, you can call that lease in.

2:23:13Why doesn't the city just call it in?

2:23:15And we make the agreement with the new

2:23:16people. Then they don't make any money.

2:23:19What I did suggest, instead of doing

2:23:21that, is that they submit audited

2:23:23financial data like they supposed to.

2:23:25And then we know what they've been

2:23:26doing. And if they haven't done

2:23:28anything, we put this money aside and

2:23:30hold it. That's one of the things I I

2:23:32suggested. But I also have another idea

2:23:35because people like people got to be

2:23:37addressed now. That's all fine.

2:23:40That's not our duty, but I agree.

2:23:43So, um under the prior

2:23:46comptroller before she left, she and I

2:23:47were going back and forth with that. We

2:23:49came up, and that's Darlene Green,

2:23:52we came up with why wouldn't we maybe

2:23:54make a loan to this current company and

2:23:57put a lien on any money, don't let the

2:23:59leases go through, and why doesn't the

2:24:01city just fix it, but put a lien on

2:24:03that. So, we could fix the heating and

2:24:05cooling. We have an overreach. That

2:24:08would get the heating and cooling fixed,

2:24:10and then we could stop this rush to

2:24:13judgment and violating our own uh

2:24:16ordinances. Because the alderman from

2:24:18the 14th proposes to you, "Well, okay,

2:24:21they don't have to follow this, but we

2:24:23got a new one." If they None of the

2:24:24people have had to follow what was

2:24:26supposed to be done, why would we get a

2:24:28new lease? Why? Why would we do this?

2:24:31Why don't we stand right here, cuz I've

2:24:33been working with this for 3 years, and

2:24:35say, "Well, let the city make a loan to

2:24:38fix the heating and cooling, whatever it

2:24:39is. Now we'll know, since it's your

2:24:42responsibility, the current leaseholder,

2:24:45we're going to take any money that you

2:24:46make out of that heating and cooling."

2:24:48That gets done, and then we don't have

2:24:51to worry about it. But to just push this

2:24:53through without adequate financial

2:24:55consideration, and I don't know what

2:24:57your position is in banking, but the

2:24:59person who reviewed you, if they saw

2:25:01this, I would say to you, they would not

2:25:03be pleased. They would want the

2:25:05documents. I've dealt with bankers for

2:25:07many years, since probably before you're

2:25:08born, and they

2:25:10they have a checklist of what you're

2:25:11supposed to do.

2:25:12And if you don't do it, you don't get

2:25:15the loan. You don't get the loan to buy

2:25:17the apartments. So, my thing is that

2:25:21um when you understand about the feeling

2:25:22of the people, I do, too. But I also

2:25:25want us to follow the law.

2:25:27>> I appreciate your perspective,

2:25:28Alderwoman. Thank you.

2:25:29>> Okay.

2:25:31Um

2:25:33if the alderman from the fifth would

2:25:35yield,

2:25:37>> Would the alderman from the fifth yield

2:25:38questioning from the alderwoman from the

2:25:4012th?

2:25:42>> Yes.

2:25:42>> Alderwoman, you may proceed. Thank you,

2:25:44Alderman. Um

2:25:46So,

2:25:47um we talked about what ordinance 68,

2:25:51whatever it is, says, right? Does it say

2:25:54what I said it said? Does it mandate

2:25:56that they turn in audited financial

2:25:57statements?

2:25:58>> I I agree with your reading of the

2:26:00ordinance. Yes.

2:26:01>> Okay. So, what about my suggestion

2:26:03there? Why don't the city just lend lend

2:26:05the money? We got an overage. Let's fix

2:26:08the H.G. Phillips heating and cooling.

2:26:10And we slow this down and then we um

2:26:13put a lien against anything and doesn't

2:26:15let this go through and we put a lien

2:26:17against the property because right now,

2:26:19as a lawyer, you know we can just

2:26:21declare that they have violated the

2:26:23lease and we can take the lease back.

2:26:25And they don't have to get a penny. Is

2:26:26that correct?

2:26:27>> I I would agree with that. That one

2:26:29remedy that exists is a breach of

2:26:31contract case to hold

2:26:33the current landlord's feet to the fire.

2:26:35Yes, ma'am.

2:26:35>> So, what I hear these people who are

2:26:37talking all heartstrings, which they're

2:26:39trying to intimate care, and that's a

2:26:42lie.

2:26:43Um is that they're not understanding

2:26:45what the law does, okay? So, why don't

2:26:49we just either take the lease back

2:26:52and say you are in breach. It doesn't

2:26:53take much cuz they are cuz you either

2:26:55submitted the documents what they agreed

2:26:57they didn't. And if you watch the

2:27:00committee hearing, I asked them how much

2:27:02are you getting paid and they say 4,900

2:27:04and then they say that the uh new

2:27:06owner's going to take over a debt of

2:27:08almost five four five million. So, that

2:27:10means that they're getting $10 million

2:27:12unjustly enriched and they've not given

2:27:14us anything. Do you think that's right?

2:27:18>> I do not.

2:27:19>> And so, when I've been saying all of

2:27:21this, all everybody's been getting to

2:27:22all this uh emotional stuff and it is.

2:27:26And that's why I'm emotional, too.

2:27:27That's why on Christmas Eve, my LA's

2:27:29birthday is Christmas Eve. I forgot all

2:27:31about it cuz I'm like, Joe, we got to do

2:27:33something, okay? So, I I emotional, too,

2:27:35about them. And I I fed them since when

2:27:38I first got there, I buy them hams,

2:27:41turk- turkeys, chicken. I feed them. I

2:27:43do all of this stuff trying to let them

2:27:45know that I care about them. But at the

2:27:47end of the day, my duty as a lawyer and

2:27:50an alderman follow the law. Would you

2:27:52agree?

2:27:53>> I would agree.

2:27:54>> And do you think that I'm doing asking

2:27:56for something that's unreasonable?

2:27:58>> No, ma'am.

2:27:59>> Okay. So, I have never been over your

2:28:01ward

2:28:02trying to do anything, have I?

2:28:03>> You have not. At least at least so long

2:28:05as I've been the fifth ward alderman.

2:28:07>> And you can ask the prior one and the

2:28:09prior one all back to Robert Ruggeri,

2:28:10who's my best friend down here. I don't

2:28:13do that. So, the people who came over

2:28:15here has never spoken to me, never asked

2:28:17me anything. They got a little click

2:28:19group and all clickbait. But there's a

2:28:22difference between a click and what

2:28:25we're required to do as members of the

2:28:27board of aldermen. And do you agree it's

2:28:29our duty to follow the law and to make

2:28:31sure that the ordinances are enforced

2:28:32properly?

2:28:33>> I I would I would agree and I would I

2:28:35just want to make crystal clear that my

2:28:36heart goes out to these folks.

2:28:38>> Me, too.

2:28:39>> And and while I don't support this

2:28:41particular bill, I would like to see an

2:28:43alternative way

2:28:45promptly and efficiently happen to

2:28:47provide relief

2:28:49to the the folks that live at Homer

2:28:51Phillips. So, let me let me be crystal

2:28:53clear about that, alderman.

2:28:56>> So, why don't we just

2:28:58either take the lease, which I don't

2:29:00even necessarily want to do that. But

2:29:02why don't we just loan the money and fix

2:29:04up the things that need to be, then

2:29:06we'll have a running total, and then any

2:29:08kind of things that um

2:29:11uh are fixed, we take that out of any

2:29:13sales price. Because that What What

2:29:15about that?

2:29:17>> I

2:29:18uh I don't

2:29:20I don't want to step on your toes or the

2:29:22alderman's with respect to the next

2:29:24step. Uh but I will tell you right here

2:29:27that my ears are open and I'm willing to

2:29:30to

2:29:31potential ways to help these folks

2:29:33promptly and efficiently.

2:29:35>> stepping on the alderman's toes because

2:29:37he's stepping on my toes. Okay, he's

2:29:40stepping on my toes. And when you start

2:29:42this, the problem that happens is once

2:29:43you start getting into something cuz you

2:29:45can it's clear when he talks about

2:29:47things he has not read every piece of

2:29:49legislation.

2:29:50>> Look, let me let me let me clarify.

2:29:53Um and and you and I have talked about

2:29:55this before at least

2:29:56at least I've lost a left a voicemail

2:29:58for

2:29:59I am all ears. I am willing to work with

2:30:02you to find a prompt and efficient

2:30:04solution to provide relief to the folks

2:30:07that live at this company.

2:30:08>> I've read the legislation, all of it?

2:30:11>> I I didn't

2:30:12>> Do you believe I read the uh the

2:30:13ordinances and legislation, all of it

2:30:15that's been provided to me?

2:30:16>> There there is no doubt about that.

2:30:18>> Okay, so and I do you believe you me

2:30:21when I tell you I've been seeking to get

2:30:23financial data to try to resolve this

2:30:25quietly, not out in all of this? Okay,

2:30:28do you believe that?

2:30:29>> I do. Yes, ma'am.

2:30:30>> And so usually that's when we find out

2:30:33that an older person has been doing

2:30:34their due diligence, that they're trying

2:30:36to get something done. And the reason so

2:30:38let's get it out clear. When Ryan Cole

2:30:41me approach Coleman of the comptroller's

2:30:43office approached me, I said I would

2:30:45carry the bill. I also told him I want

2:30:48to make it very clear that I'm not from

2:30:49city of St. Louis, but I've been here

2:30:51for a long time since 1978.

2:30:54But Homer G. Phillips is kind of a

2:30:56sacred cow and I did not want to mess up

2:31:00anything. I have in fact when I was down

2:31:02here and they had the hospital named

2:31:05Homer G. Phillips and it's not a

2:31:06hospital, the three-bed unit. The

2:31:08current the former alderman was Dwinding

2:31:10and Evans. She didn't know what to do.

2:31:12So I did a resolution condemning them

2:31:14from using that name, never knowing that

2:31:17I was going to end up with it. I've

2:31:18helped with other things that people

2:31:20asked me, but I do not go into other

2:31:22people's wards because I don't feel like

2:31:24I know. When I hear this alderman

2:31:26talking, I understand not only does he

2:31:28had not read the things, he does not

2:31:30understand

2:31:31what is required of a lease. So, he's

2:31:34saying things that are false. He said,

2:31:36and you can look at it on the hearing.

2:31:38He said, "Oh, the city is responsible

2:31:39for fixing up the building." That's not

2:31:41true. If you look at the leases and the

2:31:43ordinances, it clearly says in every one

2:31:46of them that the person who has the

2:31:4899-year lease is responsible. And so,

2:31:51that is the

2:31:52the thing that you get into when you

2:31:54step into other people's wars. But, I

2:31:56don't hear let them do this. I'm not

2:31:58going to do it because it is not in the

2:31:59best interest of the tenants, and it's

2:32:01not in the best interest of the

2:32:03citizens. What the alderwoman from the

2:32:0511th said, "We represent the citizens,

2:32:07and we represent a community." Now, the

2:32:09alderman is bringing up six, seven, 10

2:32:11people who say it this, this, and that.

2:32:13I promise you I have a tape where 30

2:32:15people were there, and I asked them, 25,

2:32:1730 people, "Did anybody want him to

2:32:19carry the bill?" Nobody did. So, they go

2:32:22back and forth. But, that building has

2:32:24got 150

2:32:26to 200 tenants. So, when you say five or

2:32:28six or seven want to do it, that still

2:32:31does not represent the entire entirety

2:32:33of the uh people who are there because I

2:32:36got the same phone calls that very

2:32:37night, scared to death, "They're going

2:32:39to raise our rent. They've never done

2:32:41this. They've never done this. We don't

2:32:42want Alderman Aldridge to be doing

2:32:44that." I don't really bring that up cuz

2:32:46that is not the As we know as lawyers,

2:32:49the central theme is have the current

2:32:52tenants

2:32:54complied with the lease. And I think you

2:32:56and I both agreed they have not complied

2:32:58with the requirements of the lease. So,

2:33:00I will work with you and other people

2:33:02because I said it, Alderman um the

2:33:04former comptroller came up with let's

2:33:06fix the stuff and put a lien. We never

2:33:08said take it away because if there's

2:33:10anything to be left, they can have it.

2:33:12But, you should not be unjustly

2:33:14enriched, and that is our duty, and

2:33:16that's why I asked people not to vote

2:33:19for this. What you said is correct, and

2:33:21needs to go back to committee. Um they

2:33:22cut me off, wouldn't let me ask a lot of

2:33:25questions, which I don't understand.

2:33:27They don't know I'm going to be on this

2:33:29floor with all the things I've done. I'm

2:33:31going to bring you some um audited

2:33:32financial data, and you might already

2:33:34know what like. But all the other people

2:33:36who have a lease like that, they have to

2:33:38submit theirs. What is so special about

2:33:41the people who own property in the

2:33:43Alderman from the 14th Ward that they

2:33:45don't have to submit it? And then this

2:33:47whole thing of oh well now we're

2:33:48cleaning up the back payment of taxes.

2:33:53Again, the Alderman from the 7th had me

2:33:56hold a board bill, which I didn't pass,

2:33:58which I can show you, because she said

2:34:00she believed people had to pay their

2:34:02back rent. I'm I'm sorry, back taxes.

2:34:05And I can show you the board bill, which

2:34:07I did not pass because I asked her to

2:34:09let me take it out of committee, and

2:34:11then if they did not provide what they

2:34:13needed to, which was they paid their

2:34:14bill, I would not forward this bill, and

2:34:17I did not. I kept my promise to her. Now

2:34:19she seems to have another idea. And I

2:34:21want to say something that the Alderman

2:34:23from the 11th and 13th alluded to. Since

2:34:25this has come out, and I think the

2:34:27Alderman from the 9th knows this, I have

2:34:29gotten information from the 9th Ward

2:34:32about something in the 40s 2 or 43, 4400

2:34:36block of West Pine. I've got three or

2:34:38four uh emails from people who have um

2:34:41uh who live in senior buildings in the

2:34:437th Ward saying, "Hey, while she's so

2:34:45worried about this, why she isn't doing

2:34:47this?" I don't feel the need to go. If I

2:34:49ever get things like that, I normally

2:34:51forward it to the older person saying,

2:34:53"This is what I got, and you might want

2:34:55to look at that." Cuz I know I'm so

2:34:57busy, I don't have time to mind your

2:34:59business when I'm minding mine. And I

2:35:01got 14 neighborhoods, and I know you

2:35:03don't can't even imagine having 14

2:35:05neighborhoods, okay?

2:35:05>> No, ma'am, I can't.

2:35:06>> And I used to have four. Okay? And it's

2:35:09not my fault. I didn't lose population.

2:35:10All the people around me, and I picked

2:35:12this up. So, when I talked to you about

2:35:15wanting not for this not to pass because

2:35:18it's already been passed. It's been

2:35:20passed on for though all those years and

2:35:22that's why Sam Moore specifically put

2:35:24this in here so that we wouldn't do this

2:35:26again. If we then accept Alderman says,

2:35:29well,

2:35:30uh

2:35:31um the comptroller's office said that

2:35:34the city council has said it. We as

2:35:36lawyers know that's not good enough,

2:35:38don't we? That's not good enough and

2:35:40what the alderwoman from the 11th

2:35:42alluded to about uh contracts with real

2:35:45estate, anything that ain't in writing

2:35:47does not apply. We know that, okay?

2:35:49That's one of the first things we

2:35:50learned in real estate 101 at law

2:35:52school, okay? So, all of this

2:35:54allegations and all of this what we know

2:35:57is that this current um lessee has not

2:36:01done what they're supposed to and I am

2:36:03perfectly willing to go back and let the

2:36:06comptroller come up with this extra

2:36:07money that she had, fix the things, make

2:36:10sure that the uh and if the uh current

2:36:13lessee does not agree to it, just

2:36:15violate, you know, take the lease back

2:36:17and you get nothing and you still owe

2:36:19that $5 million that you borrowed to buy

2:36:21the property in the first place which

2:36:23indicates again, when people are already

2:36:25in financial debt, why were we letting

2:36:27him buy it? We had never done that

2:36:29before. So, you couldn't afford it, you

2:36:32get there, you don't do anything, you're

2:36:34going to take $10 million out and we the

2:36:36members of the board of alderman are

2:36:38going to put a rubber stamp on that. It

2:36:40is something wrong with that. And if you

2:36:42have a flaw in what I've said, please

2:36:43explain it to me.

2:36:46>> Madam we're of the sound mind the same

2:36:49mind of on this particular issue. So, I

2:36:52there there's nothing for me to discuss

2:36:54with you.

2:36:54>> Okay, but I I am willing to work with

2:36:56you. I mean, I will and like I said, I

2:36:58can show you where Darlene had said, why

2:37:01don't we do this? But I was trying to

2:37:02get to the end of I didn't understand

2:37:04all of that. You cannot understand maybe

2:37:06is when you get a new and I'm not a new

2:37:08alderperson, but I went from five

2:37:10neighborhoods to 14 and seven uh

2:37:13senior buildings. I'm trying to get a

2:37:14hold of all what I'm doing, okay? So, I

2:37:16could not spend all of that time. So,

2:37:18the people who allude to that I don't do

2:37:20my work need to get my emails at 4:00

2:37:22and 5:00 in the morning. I work all the

2:37:24time and I resent these people who don't

2:37:26know what they're doing unless they want

2:37:28me to come over and start criticizing

2:37:29what they're doing. I don't know other

2:37:31people's wards, but I do know the 12th

2:37:33Ward and I appreciate you. Thank you.

2:37:35>> Yes, ma'am.

2:37:36>> Um if the alderwoman from the 11th would

2:37:38yield.

2:37:42>> Would the alderwoman from the 11th yield

2:37:44to the alderwoman from the 12th? Yes, I

2:37:46will. Alderwoman, you may proceed.

2:37:49>> Alderwoman.

2:37:50Thank you for uh yielding to my

2:37:51questions. You and I we talk and work

2:37:53together often, right?

2:37:55>> Correct.

2:37:56>> So, you know my work ethic.

2:37:58>> Yes.

2:37:59>> Do you know me to be a lazy, shiftless

2:38:00person that does not work?

2:38:02>> Not that I've ever known of.

2:38:04>> Um Harmony Phillips, I talk about that

2:38:07on all occasions. I'm talking about it.

2:38:10Do you believe it is best if you can to

2:38:12work things out quietly behind the

2:38:14scenes instead of screaming and

2:38:15hollering and out in the press trying to

2:38:17make uh hay? Isn't it better to see if

2:38:19you can work things out and figure this

2:38:21thing out? Isn't that what you try to

2:38:23do?

2:38:24>> I would certainly think so.

2:38:25>> Have you ever felt the need to come over

2:38:27and meet You and I um share um Penrose

2:38:29neighborhood. Whenever somebody tries to

2:38:32get me into anything that's not part of

2:38:34my Penrose neighborhood or even the

2:38:35Vandeventer, the first thing you hear

2:38:37from me is, "Hey, these people trying to

2:38:39get me into something." And I never do

2:38:41it, do I?

2:38:41>> No, you have never. You always call me

2:38:44and say, "Hey, this going on. I'm just

2:38:46letting you know I'm not going to be

2:38:48involved."

2:38:49>> Right. You've even said, "What I don't

2:38:51mind." And I said, "No, I don't want to

2:38:52do that. I got enough to do in my own

2:38:54ward."

2:38:54>> This is true.

2:38:55>> So, I don't want to undermine other

2:38:56alderpeople. And especially when you

2:38:58have not read the lease and you don't

2:39:00have the same skills that the person who

2:39:02did it and you haven't put in the time.

2:39:04And there's all other things in the

2:39:06lease that they've said that are just

2:39:07false cuz they didn't do it. Somebody's

2:39:09telling them. When I tell you about a

2:39:12lease, I want you to know if you don't

2:39:13know, I read it myself. I dog ear it, I

2:39:16tab it. And when I tell you, I can go

2:39:19show you. I'll put it on my um on my

2:39:22iPad so I can send it to people. I'll

2:39:24pass it out. I'll stand the test of

2:39:26time. Isn't that what we're supposed to

2:39:28do as aldermen?

2:39:29>> Yes, ma'am.

2:39:30>> So, when you hear that these people who

2:39:32currently have the lease have not

2:39:33submitted financial data, does that make

2:39:35any sense to you?

2:39:36>> It makes absolutely no sense to me.

2:39:39>> And so, if they're supposed to be paying

2:39:41if they're bringing in about over $2

2:39:42million a year and only paying $50,000,

2:39:48do don't you think that there's some

2:39:49more to that deal that require them to

2:39:51do more than just pay $50,000 and then

2:39:53say I don't have to report anything to

2:39:55you?

2:39:56>> I would think that any reasonably sane

2:39:58person would say there's something wrong

2:40:01here.

2:40:02>> Okay. So, then if I tell you in one of

2:40:04our ordinances it bars them to submit

2:40:06financial audited financial not just

2:40:07financial data cuz I don't want cuz the

2:40:09alderman in 14 saying, "Oh, he's saying

2:40:11he'll get a alderwoman something."

2:40:14Uh no. The reason why it's audited is

2:40:17cuz the auditors come in and look at

2:40:19your books, right? You own the building.

2:40:21And they're going to make sure that

2:40:22they're truthful. Otherwise, we're back

2:40:24to that he say, she say stuff which is

2:40:26not good for real estate.

2:40:28>> It's not good for any business. You

2:40:30know, business people who understand

2:40:32business, they understand what's in

2:40:34writing.

2:40:35>> Right.

2:40:36>> Because that is the standard that you

2:40:38are held to. What is written.

2:40:40>> Correct. So, I know that

2:40:43the people in the

2:40:45building are frightened and scared and

2:40:47we don't want to go through this

2:40:48anymore. And that's what happens in our

2:40:50community often. And I can tell you that

2:40:52when I built Snooks, people said,

2:40:54"Alderwoman, you can't get a Snooks.

2:40:56There's no Snooks in North Saint Louis."

2:40:58But that Snooks is still there 25, 26

2:41:00later. You can't build a bank but

2:41:02Natural Bridge and King's Highway has a

2:41:04bank. You can't do this.

2:41:06I built a new school. You can't build a

2:41:08Walgreens. I did. So, because

2:41:12uh room 200 SLDC, a lot of times they

2:41:15don't give us a lot of support, it's

2:41:18really hard to get things done, okay?

2:41:20Now, I will say that um

2:41:23um

2:41:24the current mayor

2:41:26that would be Cara Spencer um did uh

2:41:30weigh in and agreed that Chris Carter

2:41:33and Valerie could buy the blankets. And

2:41:35that's why I have a piece of paper with

2:41:36all our names on it saying, "This is

2:41:38provided." But, there's a and did not

2:41:41try to stop me getting

2:41:43um

2:41:45uh the fire department to come in or the

2:41:48building division.

2:41:49But,

2:41:51the current owners of the lease just did

2:41:53nothing or did very little or said,

2:41:55"We're going to take care of it." And

2:41:58they

2:41:58um

2:42:00bought used parts. At some point, when

2:42:02you you own property, at some point,

2:42:04when you have property that doesn't

2:42:06work, don't you have to buy new things?

2:42:08>> Yes, absolutely.

2:42:09>> And air conditioning and heating are one

2:42:11of them, right?

2:42:11>> And and particularly as codes change for

2:42:15for buildings and and different

2:42:16electrical, plumbing, HVAC codes from

2:42:20time to time change, and you must now

2:42:24change it to what the new code standard

2:42:26is.

2:42:27>> And in fact, air conditioning, my

2:42:28husband was in heating, well, he was in

2:42:30green energy. So, the

2:42:32air conditioning standard changes every

2:42:34time when you try to get freon, often

2:42:36time you can't even service your old

2:42:38units because the freon has changed.

2:42:40>> Yeah, right.

2:42:40>> Okay. So, um

2:42:43everybody keeps saying I've heard the

2:42:4414th and the 7th talk about that the

2:42:46current tenants of the lease

2:42:49um

2:42:50were not good people and they didn't fix

2:42:52up the things they're supposed to. But

2:42:54yet, we are going to let them pick the

2:42:56person who replaces them. If you have a

2:42:59tenant who has not paid their rent or

2:43:01didn't do what they were supposed to,

2:43:02are you going to let them then say,

2:43:04"Hey, Ms. Keys, I got somebody else I

2:43:06want to live in your unit." Is that who

2:43:08you take as a recommend?

2:43:09>> never work.

2:43:10>> Okay. And then this thing of oh, they

2:43:13just all of a sudden found these people.

2:43:15Um no, they didn't just find them.

2:43:17They've been registered from Homer G.

2:43:19Phillips since 2024 CIG. So, that is not

2:43:23just found them. Nobody ever told us

2:43:26that they've been registered for that.

2:43:28They did not tell that. Now all of this

2:43:30sudden, oh, we can do this, we can do

2:43:32that. They didn't tell us they were

2:43:33behind on the uh

2:43:36uh taxes. If you can't pay 80, 90,000,

2:43:40100,000 in taxes, where are you going to

2:43:42get the money to fix up even the

2:43:44700,000, which by the way, won't even be

2:43:47a drop in the bucket. Where do you get

2:43:48that money?

2:43:49>> I understand. I agree.

2:43:50>> Why are you making a payment? Pay all of

2:43:53it.

2:43:53>> Pay all of it. Yeah.

2:43:54>> Why didn't you do that? Why didn't you

2:43:56uh tell me that? I met with him for 3

2:43:58hours. He never told me and that he

2:44:00didn't pay his taxes. I actually do like

2:44:03them, but like has nothing to do with

2:44:05our um duty to make sure we have a good

2:44:08sound financial

2:44:10uh way to go forward with Homer G.

2:44:12Phillips.

2:44:12>> is supposed to be business.

2:44:14>> Correct.

2:44:15>> Okay.

2:44:15>> And and again,

2:44:17love those people there, care about

2:44:19them.

2:44:20Um but if we do that, then we would

2:44:23never ever make anybody follow a lease.

2:44:27So, again, if we care about them that

2:44:28much,

2:44:30under which the autumn and from the

2:44:31fifth had just agreed, let's just take

2:44:33our lease back and say you have violated

2:44:34the lease. Then we can sell it to

2:44:37whomever we want to. In the meantime,

2:44:39while we got our own building, we can

2:44:41fix up whatever we want to and then sell

2:44:43the lease again. We don't owe the people

2:44:46who have not done a good job the ability

2:44:48to take $10 million

2:44:49out for themselves. Do you think?

2:44:52>> I definitely agree.

2:44:54>> Okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate

2:44:56it.

2:44:56>> You're welcome.

2:44:57>> Um if the alderwoman from the 13th would

2:44:59yield

2:45:03>> Would the alderwoman from the 13th yield

2:45:04to questioning from the alderwoman from

2:45:06the 12th?

2:45:09>> Yes.

2:45:09>> Alderwoman, you may proceed.

2:45:11>> Thank you, alderwoman.

2:45:13Um

2:45:14um you you saw Miss Ollie here. Ollie

2:45:16Stewart was here sitting behind me a few

2:45:18weeks ago.

2:45:20Um and you we work with her, right?

2:45:22>> Right.

2:45:22>> And she is one of the foremost senior

2:45:25advocates in the city. Is that correct?

2:45:27>> Correct.

2:45:28>> Right. So,

2:45:30Ollie Stewart has been my supporter of

2:45:32the things that I've been doing because

2:45:33she knows all the work. And you and I

2:45:35have talked about Homer G. Phillips and

2:45:37what I'm trying to be. Do you believe

2:45:39that Miss Ollie Stewart would be

2:45:40standing behind me in any way if I was

2:45:41doing something wrong?

2:45:43>> No way.

2:45:44>> And that's she's made perfectly clear.

2:45:46So, she is also the person that's

2:45:48getting me more information about this

2:45:52group CIG and some other people because

2:45:54she's very concerned and she's concerned

2:45:57about things in the 7th Ward that have

2:45:59not been done. And how is it the

2:46:01alderwoman from the 7th has so much time

2:46:03to mind the 12th Ward, which by the way,

2:46:05she doesn't live in North St. Louis. And

2:46:07all of the people who voted out the bill

2:46:09um in committee on housing, nobody who

2:46:12lives in North St. Louis

2:46:14um any except for Shemaine the

2:46:16alderwoman from the 10th, she lives four

2:46:18or five blocks from Delmar. Nobody lives

2:46:20in deep North St. Louis and has anything

2:46:23to do with this. But they all think that

2:46:25that's okay and that's a mistake. They

2:46:27don't have the time, they haven't put in

2:46:29the time, but you've heard me over and

2:46:31over again talk about

2:46:34Homer G. Phillips and what we can do to

2:46:35fix it up and get it right, haven't you?

2:46:38>> Yes.

2:46:39>> Okay. Do you think that I'm that that

2:46:41the people who have this um

2:46:44uh lease currently, if you uh believe

2:46:47half of the things, which I have

2:46:48pictures by the way, of trash, water,

2:46:52mold,

2:46:53um

2:46:54cars sitting up on blocks where they

2:46:56stole the people's tires, all of this.

2:46:59Do you think letting this tenant of this

2:47:01current lease holder get away with 5 to

2:47:0310 million dollars is in the best

2:47:05interest of the of the tenants that are

2:47:08leased from LG Phillips?

2:47:10>> No, that's why I asked about the audit

2:47:12and had they produced one because I just

2:47:15think they're just walking away and

2:47:18washing their hands and they're not

2:47:20addressing the issues that they need to

2:47:22in regards to that lease.

2:47:24>> And you you have you you are you been um

2:47:27home care and nursing for a long time,

2:47:29is that correct?

2:47:30>> Right.

2:47:31>> Okay, so

2:47:33um

2:47:34often times when older people get kind

2:47:36of scared, they're looking for a way

2:47:38out. They don't want to be in the

2:47:40So,

2:47:47Oh, well, now they're in charge of favor

2:47:49of this, but if I've been getting all

2:47:52kind of I got a whole file from Sharon

2:47:55Williams and other tenants about the

2:47:56things that have been going wrong with

2:47:58that building. Would they be doing that

2:48:00if they thought this is a great deal or

2:48:03that the current people were doing a

2:48:04great job?

2:48:06No, right?

2:48:08>> I just think that when you deal with

2:48:10seniors, they get scared and they feel

2:48:13like they just go along cuz they don't

2:48:16want any havoc or anything coming back

2:48:19at them.

2:48:20>> But, if you don't have a way to make

2:48:22sure this happens, then all you're doing

2:48:26is kicking the bucket down the line once

2:48:28again, okay? Right. So,

2:48:31um strict compliance of the lease says

2:48:34and the ordinance says, you must do

2:48:36this. And if for him to just say I don't

2:48:39have audited statements to me was

2:48:41arrogant

2:48:42and unnecessary. He should have said,

2:48:44"I'm going to get that to you right

2:48:45away." Okay? Not, "Oh, I'm going to tell

2:48:48you this and I'm going to tell you

2:48:49that." I'm going to get those audited

2:48:51statements to you right away because it

2:48:53doesn't take anything to take them to a

2:48:55bookkeeper or accountant and to get your

2:48:58statements audited, okay? And to make

2:49:00sure that what you're doing is correct.

2:49:02So, I'm hoping that you will not be

2:49:04supporting this and I'm hoping that That

2:49:06doesn't mean we don't care about the

2:49:08people. We want the people to have what

2:49:10they have want, which is a beautiful

2:49:12building to live in with all the things

2:49:14fixed, but we do not want to pass by and

2:49:17pass this without making sure that the

2:49:20people who have the current lease are

2:49:23held accountable. And as I said before,

2:49:26the alderwoman from the 7th

2:49:28got on my case and said, "Oh, no, you

2:49:30cannot do this. Um people should not be

2:49:33able to do But of course it was

2:49:34something she didn't like." And she Oh,

2:49:36you They shouldn't be able to do it. And

2:49:38I told her, "Alderwoman, they haven't

2:49:39paid their taxes,

2:49:41then I will not be going forward. If CIG

2:49:45haven't paid their taxes at some place

2:49:46else, isn't that a concern if they

2:49:48couldn't pay whatever the amount of

2:49:50taxes that they won't be able to do

2:49:53those

2:49:54many, many, many, probably millions of

2:49:56dollars worth of uh repairs that need to

2:49:59be done."

2:50:01>> And that's my concern, Alderwoman, the

2:50:03repairs. And that's why I was asking the

2:50:06alderwoman of the 14th about the

2:50:07repairs. Could they be doing those now?

2:50:11So, that's a big concern of mine,

2:50:13correct?

2:50:14>> And so, my other thing I want to point

2:50:15out that when the uh my um when Ryan

2:50:18Coleman, not the lady who appeared with

2:50:20her legs broken from the uh

2:50:23uh from the comptroller's office who

2:50:24never had anything to do with this or

2:50:26wasn't talking to us if she would did.

2:50:28When I met with Ryan Coleman and I met

2:50:31with my LA, we met for 3 hours. One of

2:50:34the first things CIG and we talked and

2:50:36we agreed with a lot of stuff.

2:50:38Cuz he had some good ideas. But then he

2:50:40said, "What about putting window air

2:50:42conditioning?" No.

2:50:44Because this building is a historic

2:50:46building with millions of dollars and we

2:50:48need central air cuz window air

2:50:50conditionings don't work any better than

2:50:52does these space heaters which are

2:50:55dangerous. Um and we went through a lot

2:50:57of things.

2:50:59But

2:51:00um that window air conditioning stuck

2:51:02out with me because that's what people

2:51:05start to That's what the other

2:51:07group was doing already, putting in

2:51:09window air conditioning. So, um he

2:51:12promised to give me a

2:51:14a uh tour of

2:51:16the place that's in the 14th Ward. I

2:51:18never got the tour, but that was a

2:51:20concern. And as I said [clears throat]

2:51:22before, when I start to find out you

2:51:24don't have enough money to pay your

2:51:25current taxes, we should not be kicking

2:51:28this down the line when we as the city

2:51:30can just say the lease is void.

2:51:33You have not

2:51:34um

2:51:35kept to your word and we are going to

2:51:37fix the things ourself and then we're

2:51:39going to put that lease back out um for

2:51:42someone who can afford to do it. And

2:51:45that they never told me that they have

2:51:47were registered at Homer G. Phillips

2:51:49since 2024. All of that makes me very

2:51:51uncomfortable because that says that

2:51:54it's not a a a business deal, but that's

2:51:57something inside. Arm's length trans- uh

2:52:00transaction is what I look for,

2:52:02especially with something like that. And

2:52:03if we're just letting friends pass it on

2:52:05to friends, pass it on to friends, and

2:52:07we don't hold anybody accountable, what

2:52:09is that saying you say about

2:52:11accountability, Alderwoman?

2:52:13>> Accountability and communication are the

2:52:15two most dangerous words in the city of

2:52:17St. Louis.

2:52:19>> And And this is a primary example when

2:52:22So.

2:52:22>> Yeah.

2:52:23>> Okay, thank you so much.

2:52:29Again,

2:52:31I want to make it clear.

2:52:33I care about the people who live in

2:52:34Homer G. Phillips. I want something to

2:52:36happen. What I do not want to happen is

2:52:38for something to pass on without getting

2:52:42things

2:52:43done and without the people being held

2:52:45accountable. And again, I will say

2:52:47again, Homer G. Phillips means way more

2:52:50than just the tenants who live in the

2:52:53building. It means all the people who

2:52:56have fought for the name Homer G.

2:52:58Phillips, who fought a billionaire to

2:53:00take that name off of that three-bedroom

2:53:02unit, who fought to have a place for

2:53:05black nurses and doctors to practice,

2:53:08who fought

2:53:10for Homer G. Phillips,

2:53:12and then the man died before he could

2:53:14see his fight come to fruition. And even

2:53:18when he was fighting, when they offered

2:53:19him something less than what it was be,

2:53:21cuz he was a an attorney, said, "Nope. I

2:53:24want it to be the top of the line." We

2:53:26cannot now punt and not hold the people

2:53:30accountable. If we do, shame on all of

2:53:33us. And again, I would requested

2:53:35everyone vote no and this be sent back

2:53:37to committee. And we ask the comptroller

2:53:40if we can just either void the lease or

2:53:42make a loan where we could fix the

2:53:45things that need to be fixed and sort

2:53:47out the finances that we should have

2:53:49from the current leaseholder. Thank you

2:53:51so much.

2:53:57>> Alderman from the 14th.

2:54:19>> Thank you, Madam President, members of

2:54:20the board.

2:54:21Um

2:54:22what a healthy debate, um and a very

2:54:24important debate. I think especially as

2:54:26we talking about uh the future of

2:54:30residents in one of our senior

2:54:32buildings. I think

2:54:33as all one from 13 said, we have a lot

2:54:35of senior buildings

2:54:37that need the same attention when we

2:54:39talk about the lack of in their

2:54:40building.

2:54:42There is no doubt that regardless if

2:54:44it's in your ward or not, we know the

2:54:46importance that Homer G is to the city

2:54:49of St. Louis. We know the importance of

2:54:52this building and what Homer G you know,

2:54:55brought as being a black doctor and all

2:54:58the the black nurses and all the amazing

2:55:01black nurses that graduated from Homer

2:55:02G. There's actually when you walk in the

2:55:04building on the wall

2:55:06a graduation class of nurses that

2:55:09graduated.

2:55:10And at the end of the day,

2:55:12you know, my mission is going to be the

2:55:14same when it comes to this building

2:55:16regardless if it's not in my ward of

2:55:18helping

2:55:19the residents. There's a lot of

2:55:20questions I'm about there about money

2:55:23this money that. I think those questions

2:55:25have been out there at least from the

2:55:26all one for the 12 for a while and and

2:55:28all these documents that are going to be

2:55:30provided and all of this and still

2:55:32waiting. And I think those are

2:55:33important. So as we move forward with

2:55:36this legislation,

2:55:38you know, the comptroller phone is

2:55:40always open.

2:55:41Talk about call the folks. My number is

2:55:43always open.

2:55:45You know, this wouldn't became I guess a

2:55:47public matter if there wasn't comments

2:55:50that was made around this. And my main

2:55:52focus at the end of the day is keeping

2:55:54it on the residents and to the older

2:55:57people that did bring up concerns that

2:55:59are generally truly wanting to see

2:56:01something and trying to work for it on

2:56:03this piece of legislation. I'll work

2:56:04with them and that's why I do think

2:56:06there are concerns on some of the things

2:56:09that was brought up and I've already

2:56:11been in contact with the new CIG

2:56:14individual.

2:56:16We have a plan moving forward

2:56:19as elected officials just to make sure

2:56:21that we are doing our due diligence and

2:56:24dotting all the i's and crossing all the

2:56:26t's to make sure that we get the

2:56:27strongest candidate and it's not so much

2:56:30on the lease agreement itself, but the

2:56:32candidate and in my opinion a candidate

2:56:34that has already shown significant work

2:56:37in Sullivan Place. So

2:56:40to the residents of Homage Phillips that

2:56:42continue to even in this moment texting

2:56:44me right now saying please don't do it.

2:56:46I'm still going to continue to fight.

2:56:48We're going to continue to get it right

2:56:50so that some of the resident or some of

2:56:52the older folks down here concerns can

2:56:53be addressed. I'm just not that they

2:56:55don't want to see this move forward of

2:56:57an action, but they also have concerns

2:57:00if they're going to be voting on this.

2:57:01So with that Madam President, this is

2:57:03just a pause

2:57:05but it is not the end that I will put

2:57:07board bill 80 on their formal calendar

2:57:10and be back with it soon.

2:57:12>> Mr. Clark, if you could please place

2:57:14board bill 80 as amended in committee on

2:57:17the formal calendar.

2:57:18>> So noted. Thank you.

2:57:26Board bill 78

2:57:29sponsored by Alderman DeVoore.

2:57:31An ordinance pertaining to the street

2:57:32improvement fund commonly known as St.

2:57:35Louis Works

2:57:37and specifying the allocation of funds

2:57:39and the creation of cost centers

2:57:41and standards governing the deployment

2:57:42of those funds

2:57:43containing definitions, an effective

2:57:46date, and a severability clause.

2:57:48>> Alderman from the fifth you recognize on

2:57:50the perfection of board bill 78.

2:57:52>> Madam President, I would request the

2:57:54clerk move board bill 78 to committee.

2:57:58>> Would you like to make a motion?

2:58:00>> I I'm I move

2:58:02>> [laughter]

2:58:02>> I I move

2:58:05to move board bill 78

2:58:09back to committee specifically public

2:58:11infrastructure and utility committee.

2:58:14>> It's been moved by the Alderman from the

2:58:17fifth and seconded by the alderwoman

2:58:19from the 12th that we move board bill 78

2:58:24back to the public infrastructure

2:58:26committee. Is [clears throat] there any

2:58:27discussion?

2:58:29Seeing none, all those in favor signify

2:58:31by saying I.

2:58:33>> I.

2:58:33>> Opposed.

2:58:35Motion carries.

2:58:36>> Ladies, the stand of the board bills for

2:58:38perfection.

2:58:38>> Report of engrossment.

2:58:40>> Board bills 64, 76, and 81.

2:58:44>> Third reading and final passage board

2:58:45bills consent.

2:58:47>> Board bills 64,

2:58:4976, and 81.

2:58:51>> Alderwoman from the 10th, you're

2:58:52recognized on the motion to adopt the

2:58:54third reading and final passage of board

2:58:56bills on the consent calendar.

2:58:57>> Thank you, Madam President. Members of

2:58:59the board, I move that we adopt the

2:59:00third reading and final passage of board

2:59:02bills on consent calendar.

2:59:03>> It's been moved by the alderwoman from

2:59:05the 10th, seconded by the alderwoman

2:59:06from the 11th that we adopt the board

2:59:09bills on the third reading and final

2:59:10passage of board bills on the consent

2:59:12calendar. Is there any discussion?

2:59:15Seeing none, Mr. Clerk, please call the

2:59:18roll.

2:59:20>> Alderwoman Switzer.

2:59:23Alderman Oldenburg.

2:59:24>> I.

2:59:26>> Alderman Cohn.

2:59:29Alderman Narayan.

2:59:30>> I.

2:59:32>> Alderman DeVooght.

2:59:33>> I.

2:59:34>> Alderwoman Velasquez.

2:59:38Alderwoman Saulsberry.

2:59:41Alderwoman Cox-Anthony.

2:59:43>> I.

2:59:44>> Alderman Browning.

2:59:45>> I.

2:59:48>> Alderwoman Clark-Hubbard.

2:59:49>> I.

2:59:51>> Alderwoman Keys.

2:59:52>> I.

2:59:54>> Alderwoman Tyus.

2:59:55>> I.

2:59:57>> Alderman Boyd.

2:59:59>> I.

3:00:00>> Alderman Aldridge.

3:00:02>> I.

3:00:03>> President Green.

3:00:04>> I.

3:00:06>> Alderman Cohn.

3:00:07>> I.

3:00:10>> Alderman Velasquez.

3:00:1314 I votes.

3:00:14>> Mayor

3:00:14>> vote you just stay in the motion from

3:00:16the Alderwoman from the 10th to third

3:00:18reading and finally pass the

3:00:19aforementioned bills. Third reading and

3:00:21final passage of board bills.

3:00:23>> We have none.

3:00:24>> We dispense with line item 20, reported

3:00:26to finally passed and signed by the

3:00:27president.

3:00:28>> Board bills 64, 76 and 81.

3:00:31>> All other business being suspended, the

3:00:33president shall in open session affix

3:00:35her signature here to the end that these

3:00:37may become law.

3:01:18First reading resolutions and reference

3:01:20to committees.

3:01:23>> We have none.

3:01:24>> We dispense with line item 22, second

3:01:26reading resolutions, committee reports

3:01:28and adoptions.

3:01:29>> Report from the Housing, Urban

3:01:31Development and Zoning Committee. The

3:01:33Mayoral appointments to the Baden Market

3:01:35Center Special Business District.

3:01:38Kimberly Jones, Teresa Myers, Tamara

3:01:41Keefe, Larry Johnson and Tiana Broadway.

3:01:45>> Alderwoman from the 12th you're

3:01:47recognized a Mayor Spencer's

3:01:48appointments to the Baden Market Central

3:01:50Special Business District.

3:01:52>> Madam President, members of the board, I

3:01:54would like to send these um

3:01:56um nominations back. I was not there

3:01:59because I had a medical appointment. I

3:02:01did not I know that they were going to

3:02:03be held and so I don't know who did my

3:02:07nominations without me there, but I'm

3:02:10waiting for is five. They're supposed to

3:02:12be seven and they're supposed to be

3:02:13staggered. And I never said to take it

3:02:16out and nobody told me that they were

3:02:18going to have that hearing and go ahead

3:02:20and and do this. So, I want my

3:02:22nominations sent back, please.

3:02:24>> Okay. Alderwoman from the 10th, did you

3:02:26have something?

3:02:27>> I move that we accept the mayor's

3:02:30appointments to the Baden Market Center

3:02:32Special Business District.

3:02:33>> Well, I think Alderwoman from the 12th

3:02:36had already made the send it back to

3:02:38committee.

3:02:40So, we would have to vote that motion

3:02:41down before

3:02:43>> Okay.

3:02:43>> And if you don't, it's my thing. I want

3:02:45them put on informal calendar.

3:02:50>> Um

3:02:52So, there was a motion made by the

3:02:54Alderwoman from the 12th. Was there a

3:02:55second on that motion?

3:02:58Um to send them back to committee. It's

3:03:00been seconded by the Alderman from the

3:03:02fourth.

3:03:03Um Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

3:03:08>> Alderwoman Switzer?

3:03:09>> No.

3:03:12>> Alderman Oldenburg?

3:03:18Alderman Cohn?

3:03:19>> No.

3:03:21>> Alderman Narayan?

3:03:22>> I.

3:03:25>> Alderman DeBord?

3:03:28Alderwoman Navarro de Alba?

3:03:33Alderwoman Saulsberry?

3:03:37Alderwoman Cox-Anthony?

3:03:40>> Yes.

3:03:48>> Alderman Browning?

3:03:54Alderman Clark-Hubbard?

3:03:56>> No.

3:03:59>> Alderman Kacie?

3:04:00>> No.

3:04:04Alderman Mathias.

3:04:06>> Hi.

3:04:08>> Alderman Boyd.

3:04:10>> Hi.

3:04:13>> Alderman Aldridge.

3:04:17President Green.

3:04:19>> No.

3:04:23>> Alderman Oldenburg.

3:04:28Alderman Velasquez.

3:04:33Alderman Sawyer.

3:04:34>> No.

3:04:39>> Alderman Browning.

3:04:40>> No.

3:04:44>> Alderman Aldridge.

3:04:49>> No, you vote the wrong way.

3:04:52>> Alderman Alderman Cox Annucci.

3:04:54>> No.

3:05:03>> [laughter]

3:05:04>> wrong way. I'm just going to put it on

3:05:06here.

3:05:24See, this is all ridiculous.

3:05:28Total.

3:05:30>> So, I've got

3:05:4912.

3:05:50Eight no's and five yes.

3:05:52Five five votes.

3:05:54>> By your vote, you failed to sustain the

3:05:55motion from the alderwoman from the

3:05:5812th.

3:05:58>> Madam President, I move to put these on

3:06:01formal calendar.

3:06:02>> Uh unfortunately, you're not able to do

3:06:04that. Um it's not a resolution or a

3:06:06board bill.

3:06:08Um and so it is up to the chair of the

3:06:10>> No, it's not up to the chair. Where does

3:06:12it say it's up to a percent to what

3:06:14rule?

3:06:15>> It is uh according to Robert's Rules.

3:06:17>> Pursuant to what Robert's Rule does it

3:06:19say it's up to the chair for me to

3:06:21sponsor something and then you hold a

3:06:23hearing and don't let me come and then

3:06:26say, "Oh, we voted it out." That's bull.

3:06:29>> You're You are not the sponsor.

3:06:32>> I am the person that they asked to

3:06:34sponsor it.

3:06:35>> The These are the mayor's appointments

3:06:37and it's the responsibility of the chair

3:06:39to make sure that they are

3:06:41>> And she asked me and

3:06:43again, she asked me to sponsor it and

3:06:44I've been working with her person who I

3:06:46asked back and forth, "Will you give me

3:06:48something cuz you're going to appoint

3:06:50them the incorrect way and it's not

3:06:52going to be right?"

3:06:54And so you do this again and you think

3:06:56you're playing a game, but what you're

3:06:58doing is playing with something again

3:07:01that is not done the right way. So if

3:07:03you're not letting me send it back to

3:07:05committee and you're not letting me put

3:07:07it on informal calendar, then I want a

3:07:10roll call vote and I want you also to

3:07:13tell me cuz I asked you pursuant to what

3:07:15rule is this done.

3:07:17>> Okay. We could stand at ease and we will

3:07:19get that rule for you.

3:07:36>> Mayor appointments to the Nuisance

3:07:37Property Review Board.

3:07:39>> I'm sorry.

3:07:46>> And they're not doing it right.

3:08:45>> I mean, this boy had no

3:08:49What?

3:08:52I don't know.

3:08:58He would be shamed.

3:08:59>> Okay.

3:08:59>> I I understand.

3:09:01But cuz they had no business doing that.

3:09:03But you want to know what I had?

3:09:08>> I know.

3:09:10But we were talking to

3:09:12the sponsor of the sponsor.

3:09:13>> That's what he did.

3:09:14That's why

3:09:17He didn't always over

3:09:19What I'm saying is that this is not

3:09:23Cuz you think you don't have to

3:09:25You don't have There's nothing in here.

3:09:27>> No, but there's people who play

3:09:29basketball.

3:09:30We're not playing

3:09:31>> I was basically It's the It's

3:09:34I am

3:09:35I'm not

3:09:38Did not know

3:09:39I did not

3:09:43>> There's not a specific

3:09:45>> So, they should

3:09:46>> a question

3:09:48>> No, you

3:09:49>> or the

3:09:50>> No.

3:09:56>> That's what I

3:15:34>> Mhm.

3:17:07>> It is pursuant to rule 47.7

3:17:10numbers four and seven of Robert's Rules

3:17:13of Order under the duties of the

3:17:15presiding officer of assembly.

3:17:18It is my duty state duty to state and to

3:17:20put to vote all questions that

3:17:22legitimately come before the

3:17:24or otherwise arise from the course of

3:17:26proceedings and to also expedite

3:17:28business in every way compatible with

3:17:30the rights of members.

3:17:32Um if you do not like my ruling as

3:17:35chair, you do have the ability under

3:17:36rule

3:17:3739 to appeal the decision.

3:17:39>> I don't need to appeal the decision

3:17:41because the vice president provided me

3:17:44something that I did not have because

3:17:46the point that we we have been going

3:17:47back and forth with is that they

3:17:49nominated people in block and they did

3:17:51not stagger them. And so you cannot have

3:17:55The ordinance does not allow you to

3:17:56appoint people who are not staggered. I

3:17:58wrote to the mayor's person, said I

3:18:01support these people. Now, what's going

3:18:03to be a little problem

3:18:04>> have a point of order still?

3:18:07>> I wanted to just reply

3:18:08the problem I had

3:18:09>> Wait. What was the point of order? I'm

3:18:12ruling.

3:18:12>> is that I don't have it anymore cuz

3:18:14they're staggered. Um

3:18:16so I I take that point of order away.

3:18:18I'm just was explaining I didn't have

3:18:20this and that's what I was looking for

3:18:22and I missed it. So I withdraw it

3:18:25and I don't need that anymore, but I

3:18:28will say the people of Baden are going

3:18:29to be irritated because I do support

3:18:31them, but the people of Baden did not.

3:18:34So I think that it is wrong to appoint

3:18:36people to a committee and you do not

3:18:39have the people who live there and

3:18:40that's going to be on the mayor's

3:18:41office.

3:18:43>> Okay. Alderwoman from the 10th, would

3:18:45you like to make a motion to adopt the

3:18:47mayor's appointments to the Baden Market

3:18:49Center Special

3:18:50District.

3:18:51>> Thank you, Madam.

3:18:53Sorry, thank you, Madam President. I was

3:18:55at the board. I move that we accept the

3:18:58mayoral appointments to the Baden Market

3:19:01Center Special Business District.

3:19:03>> Second.

3:19:03>> It's been moved by the alderwoman from

3:19:04the 10th, seconded by the alderwoman

3:19:06from the 7th that we adopt Mayor

3:19:08Spencer's appointments to the Baden

3:19:10Market Special Business District. All

3:19:12those in favor signify by saying I.

3:19:15Opposed. Motion carries.

3:19:19>> Mayor's appointment to the Nuisance

3:19:21Property Review Board

3:19:23Ed Ware, Amber Amber Cole

3:19:26Amber Cole

3:19:27Alonzo Shaw, Bernice Parley, Walter

3:19:30Bonner, and Kelsey Looper.

3:19:36>> Alderwoman from the 10th, you are

3:19:37recognized to Mayor Spencer's

3:19:38appointments to the Nuisance Property

3:19:40Review Board.

3:19:41>> Thank you, Madam President members of

3:19:42the board. I move that we approve Mayor

3:19:44Spencer's appointments to the Nuisance

3:19:47Property Review Board.

3:19:48>> moved by the Alderwoman from the 10th,

3:19:49seconded by the Alderman from the 14th

3:19:51that we approve Mayor Spencer's

3:19:53appointments to the Nuisance Property

3:19:55Review Board. Is there any discussion?

3:19:58Seeing none, all those in favor signify

3:20:00by saying I.

3:20:02Opposed, motion carries.

3:20:05Miscellaneous and unfinished business.

3:20:09>> Board bill 70 was held in

3:20:12committee.

3:20:14Vanna Shaw was not present at the House

3:20:16meeting

3:20:17and as a result was not approved for

3:20:19appointment to the Nuisance Property

3:20:21Review Board.

3:20:22>> Announcements.

3:20:25>> Tuesday, [snorts] October 20th, 2026

3:20:28House meeting, 11:00 a.m. in the Kennedy

3:20:30Room.

3:20:32Tuesday, October 20th, 2026, Legislation

3:20:35and Rules Committee meeting, 2:00 p.m.

3:20:37in the Kennedy Room.

3:20:39Thursday, October 22nd, 2026

3:20:42Personnel and Administration Committee

3:20:43meeting, 11:00 a.m. is webinar.

3:20:46And Friday, October 23rd, 2026

3:20:49Full Board meeting, 10:00 a.m. in the

3:20:51Chambers.

3:20:53>> Any further announcements? Alderman from

3:20:54the 9th.

3:20:58>> Thank you.

3:21:00I'd like to announce that we're having a

3:21:02Public Infrastructure and Utilities

3:21:03Committee meeting on Wednesday, October

3:21:0521st at 3:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Room.

3:21:08On the agenda we'll be having a

3:21:09community discussion and a presentation

3:21:11by the Mayor's office and the Streets

3:21:13Department on the transition to a

3:21:16Department of Transportation. That's set

3:21:18to happen

3:21:19July 1st, 2029 and this is a kind of

3:21:22midpoint update on what we're looking at

3:21:25as what we're aiming for and how we're

3:21:27going to get there. It's pretty exciting

3:21:29presentation and I encourage as many

3:21:31people as would like to hear about that

3:21:33to attend.

3:21:35>> Alderwoman from the 13th.

3:21:38>> Uh yes, uh

3:21:40yes, ma'am. We'll have a Health

3:21:42Committee meeting at 9:00 via uh

3:21:47I'm sorry.

3:21:48Uh via uh Zoom

3:21:51and we will have the Health Department

3:21:53Opioid bill on that on that agenda.

3:21:56>> And when is that?

3:21:59>> 9:00 a.m. on Thursday.

3:22:01>> Thursday. Okay, thank you. Alderwoman

3:22:04from the 7th.

3:22:06>> Thank you, Madam President, members of

3:22:08the board. Um I would like to announce

3:22:10that it is Ms. Aura's birthday today.

3:22:15Hey.

3:22:19>> [applause]

3:22:21>> Happy birthday.

3:22:24>> Alderwoman from the 14th.

3:22:29>> Thank you, uh

3:22:31Madam President, members of board. Um

3:22:33Wednesday, I think uh the 21st,

3:22:37well, Wednesday is, we will have a

3:22:38Budget and Public Employees Committee

3:22:39meeting

3:22:41uh at 10:00 a.m. to discuss Board Bill

3:22:4459.

3:22:45And I also just wanted to congratulate

3:22:48uh Ms. Tiana Broadway, who's a resident

3:22:50of 14th uh Ward, who's now being

3:22:52appointed to the Baden uh board. She's a

3:22:55great individual, so that's all I got.

3:22:57Thanks, Madam President.

3:22:59>> Alderwoman from the 11th.

3:23:03Is it on? There we go. Thank you, Madam

3:23:05President, members of the board. Um so,

3:23:07on Saturday, Saturday, the Podbangers

3:23:11Feed the Body Mission. This is a

3:23:14non-profit

3:23:16organization started by a 9-year-old

3:23:19girl named Bailey Rucker.

3:23:22Bailey has partnered with the official

3:23:26caterer of the Elevated 11th Ward, Dad's

3:23:30Burger, You Got to Eat Here, which is

3:23:33located

3:23:35on

3:23:363623 Page Boulevard right there in that

3:23:40>> little strip mall next to Chase Bank.

3:23:43>> So, what Bailey is doing is she is

3:23:45collecting new socks, underwear,

3:23:48t-shirts, hats, gloves, and the like

3:23:53that can be dropped off at the You Got

3:23:56to Eat Here restaurant on Page. So, we

3:24:00want to make sure that you are aware

3:24:03that this effort is going on and that

3:24:05this dynamic young lady has been very

3:24:09thoughtful and intentional

3:24:11in thinking about her community and what

3:24:13their needs are. So, I'm asking you to

3:24:16please support, please drop off hats,

3:24:19gloves, t-shirts, underwear, socks to

3:24:23You Got to Eat Here, the official

3:24:26caterer of the Elevated 11th Ward at

3:24:293623

3:24:31Page Boulevard. Additionally, tomorrow,

3:24:36Alexa and Plan Area 4 are planning a

3:24:41um

3:24:42pumpkin pumpkin

3:24:44carving event at the Bear Pit

3:24:47in in Fairground Park,

3:24:50which is of course in the Elevated 11th

3:24:52Ward. There'll be music, refreshments,

3:24:55walkway chalk art. You'll get to carve

3:24:58pumpkins and decorate and learn more

3:25:01about Fairground Park for All, which is

3:25:03a wonderful organization that is truly

3:25:07transforming Fairground Park. So, we

3:25:10look forward to seeing you there. Want

3:25:13to give a special shout out to Sullivan

3:25:16Farms and Summit All Season Farms for

3:25:19providing the pumpkins. See you there.

3:25:23>> Alderman from the 14th.

3:25:25>> Thank you, Madam President members of

3:25:26the board. Also, I want to acknowledge

3:25:27that

3:25:29today we were pink

3:25:31not just to celebrate Miss Orr's

3:25:33birthday, but also to acknowledge the

3:25:36awareness of breast cancer.

3:25:39And I know Miss Orr is actually a

3:25:41survivor of breast cancer, but it's

3:25:43important if we can give her a round of

3:25:44applause for that.

3:25:50>> [applause]

3:25:55>> It's important that that we continue to

3:25:58raise awareness around breast cancer and

3:26:00use this month and use our platform

3:26:03to elevate the importance of making sure

3:26:05that we're supporting organizations

3:26:08that's doing the work helping them raise

3:26:10money to continue to fight this horrible

3:26:12disease that have took many lives, but

3:26:15on top of it have

3:26:18allowed us to have so many survivors. I

3:26:20know Miss Orr rung the bell. My mom had

3:26:22ran the have rung the bell when she was

3:26:25here, but let's continue to think about

3:26:27those individuals and figure out what we

3:26:29could do to try to help organizations

3:26:31that's doing work around breast cancer.

3:26:33Thank you.

3:26:34>> Any further announcements? Alderwoman

3:26:36from the 10th.

3:26:37>> Thank you, Madam President members of

3:26:38the board. There are so many things

3:26:39going on this weekend. I know I talk

3:26:41about them on my lives

3:26:42right after our meetings, but I will

3:26:44mention on the floor today about Delish

3:26:46on Delmar this evening.

3:26:48This is an amazing opportunity to come

3:26:50and support the businesses that are on

3:26:51Delmar that are still going through

3:26:53recovery.

3:26:54But it's a way to infuse activity and

3:26:57fellowship into them. They block off

3:26:59Delmar. Amazing experience. And then

3:27:01tomorrow is the 6th annual domestic

3:27:04violence awareness rally and walk in the

3:27:06Grove of these set up by 9:00 and the

3:27:08walk starts at 10:00. They have over 100

3:27:11vendors this year.

3:27:12Not just bringing awareness and advocacy

3:27:14around domestic violence and our

3:27:16survivors, but also ways to be proactive

3:27:19and share and be community around

3:27:21domestic violence awareness. So, please

3:27:23if you have an opportunity to support

3:27:25both of those events and there's more I

3:27:26will share later get out in community.

3:27:29Thank you.

3:27:30>> Any further announcements? Alderwoman

3:27:31from the 8th.

3:27:33>> Adding to the long list of all the

3:27:35events going on this weekend. Weekend is

3:27:37also the Lafayette Park Fall Festival

3:27:39and Beer Garden Festival on October 18th

3:27:41from noon to 4:00 p.m. So, I invite

3:27:44everyone to come out and have a fun

3:27:46weekend celebrating and enjoying some

3:27:48family-friendly activities.

3:27:50>> Any further announcements?

3:27:52Seeing none, Alderwoman from the 10th

3:27:54you're recognized on the motion to

3:27:56excuse.

3:27:57>> Thank you, Madam President members of

3:27:58the board. I move that we excuse the

3:28:00Alderwoman from the 6th for necessary

3:28:02absence.

3:28:03>> It's been moved by the Alderwoman from

3:28:04the 10th seconded by the Alderman from

3:28:06the 14th that we excuse the Alderwoman

3:28:086th for necessary absence. Are there any

3:28:10discussion?

3:28:12Seeing none, all those in favor signify

3:28:13by saying I.

3:28:15>> I.

3:28:15>> I.

3:28:16>> Opposed?

3:28:17>> No.

3:28:17>> Motion carries. Alderwoman from the 10th

3:28:20you're recognized on the motion to

3:28:21adjourn.

3:28:22>> Thank you, Madam President members of

3:28:24the board. I move that we adjourn until

3:28:26Friday, October 23rd, 2026 in the Board

3:28:29of Alderman chambers.

3:28:29>> It's been moved by the Alderwoman from

3:28:31the 10th seconded by the Alderman from

3:28:32the 3rd that we adjourn until Friday,

3:28:34October 23rd, 2026 in the Board of

3:28:36Alderman chambers. All those in favor

3:28:38signify by saying I.

3:28:39>> I.

3:28:40>> Opposed?

3:28:41>> No.

3:28:41>> Motion carries. We are adjourned except

3:28:44for the Alderman from the 14th.

3:28:52>> Okay, can

3:28:54we

3:28:55>> Come back. Come back.