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Residents urge city to direct Grama settlement funds and faster repairs to North St. Louis
Summary
During the committee's public-comment period, residents and community groups urged the Board to redirect Grama settlement interest funds to community-driven recovery, prioritize rapid home repairs over demolition and fund local hubs that assist residents through case management and services.
Dozens of residents and community advocates used the committee's public-comment period on March 25 to press the city to put more recovery dollars directly into North St. Louis neighborhoods and to prioritize home repairs and community-led service providers.
Jamala Rogers, a local activist and plaintiff in litigation over local police control, said she will vote to retain the earnings tax because funding is essential for recovery but expressed distrust about how recovery funds are being allocated. "I am here because I wanted to hear the recovery report, but I also heard that there may be some takeover of funds by the police department, including the Rams money," Rogers said, urging transparency and accountability on how settlement interest funds are used.
Angel Flores, a coordinator with 314 OASIS, told the committee: "We urge you to grant the Grama settlement money straight to the hands of the people of North Saint Louis who have led and continue to make the tornado recovery work they need to survive." Flores and other speakers asked that the city prioritize a housing plan that guarantees rebuilding and centers residents in decisions.
Community organizers and residents called for three main actions: (1) accelerated home repairs with funding prioritized to repair over demolition where feasible, (2) stable, dignified housing supports and case-management resources so families are safe while rebuilding, and (3) locally based resilience hubs and community organizations to lead outreach and distribution of recovery dollars. Several speakers emphasized that community organizations such as 314 OASIS and neighborhood resilience hubs are already providing services at low cost and should be resourced directly.
Recovery staff and committee members acknowledged the public's concerns and the need to balance immediate demolition for public-safety risks with repair and rebuilding. Staff described existing pilots and contract awards (including a $10 million SB1 pilot for FEMA-ineligible demolitions and $14 million in home-repair funding overseen by SLS Co) but did not commit to a wholesale reallocation of Grama interest funds during the meeting.
The public-comments underscored a gap between the city's contracting and the neighborhood-level demands for direct, resident-centered funding and faster repairs. Speakers said the timeline matters for families who remain displaced or living in hazardous conditions and called on the Board of Aldermen to consider more direct disbursement and stronger community partnerships.
