ST. LOUIS — It was a packed room Monday for the last of a series of public comment sessions to get St. Louisans' thoughts on what to do with the growing pot of Rams settlement money. At City Hall, advocates pitched helping more families get access to childcare.
The city got $280 million from the Rams. The money is sitting in an investment fund unspent and has now grown to $302 million. Now, there’s a request to invest $100 million of it into getting childcare for more families.
Supporters tout it as "the greatest return on investment for St. Louis." Childcare is one of the top priorities city neighbors identified to elected leaders.
"The cost of childcare for working class families… is so enormous that it becomes a hardship that jeopardizes their very existence,” Carl Walter told city leaders.
It's a grassroots movement to help providers improve their facilities to allow more children to participate. The plan would also to step up training and education for staff and increase their pay.
The local American Federation of Teachers questions the plan and who would benefit from it.
"There is Pre-K in the St. Louis Public Schools free with certified teachers and a state approved curriculum,” said Byron Clemens.
Advocates pointed out their target is for kids 5 and younger. SLPS's early childhood program starts at age 3.
"Childcare can’t wait. Childcare can't wait,” a few people began chanting during Clemens' remarks.
"Hey, hey, we’re not going to do that while speakers are talking,” Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier chimed in.
“Welfare for billionaires,” Clemens responded.
“Hey, we’re not going to do a back and forth, please,” Sonnier continued.
The group Greater STL Inc. wants money allocated to improving downtown. Monday, the group penned a letter to Board President Megan Green, saying "you publicly criticized and dismissed our equity-driven proposal as benefiting only one neighborhood, ignoring the fact it would invest....into neighborhoods in North and Southeast St. Louis.”
City leaders made it clear Monday that they haven't made any decisions yet on how the money will be spent and that their ears were all open to the latest idea.
"I think our goal here has to be how to figure out how to solve this crisis that does exist that people in our community continue to tell us we need you to do something about this,” Green said.
The proposal comes days after Alderwoman Pam Boyd pitched her own plan to provide more than $230 million to the public works agency to improve disadvantaged neighborhoods.
City leaders say they will continue to critique proposals through February.