St. Louis Observer: November 4, 2022
St. Louis Observer: November 4, 2022
Election Day information; St. Louis County's "Shadow of Death" legacy; federal appeals court upholds violent police tactics; "Fresh Start Friday" warrant amnesty program begins this week
Editor’s Note
Next Tuesday is Election Day! There are several important issues on the ballot for St. Louis City and County voters, and new voting laws are in effect that may impact your polling place and/or ability to vote.
Find your polling place here
Check your sample ballots here:
- St. Louis City
- St. Louis County
Unsure about the issues or which candidate to elect? St. Louis Public Radio has compiled a comprehensive Voter Guide for St. Louis metropolitan voters in Missouri and in Illinois. Polls in St. Louis are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Police, prosecutorial, and judicial accountability
Kevin Johnson, a Meacham Park resident who was convicted for the murder of a Kirkwood police officer, faces a death sentence on November 29, although circumstances surrounding his conviction directly question the validity of his capital punishment. The prosecutor who helped to convict Johnson, Bob McCulloch, has been accused of prosecutorial misconduct and blatant racial discrimination, especially throughout the nearly two dozen death penalty cases he tried. [Monica Obradovic/Riverfront Times]
Former St. Louis County prosecuting attorney Bob McCulloch has left a legacy of death, overseeing the death sentences more times than any other prosecutor in the state. McCulloch obtained 23 death penalties during his time in office, and six men convicted by McCulloch remain on death row. Wesley Bell, who unseated McCulloch in the wake of the Ferguson Uprising, has been unsuccessful thus far at undoing the “Shadow of Death” left by his predecessor. [Sarah Fenske/Riverfront Times]
St. Louis County launched its “Fresh Start Friday” docket for persons with warrants for traffic and nonviolent offenses to get those warrants recalled. Participants would then be able to obtain a new court date without risking arrest. Persons with active warrants from St. Louis County Municipal Court may log in to the virtual docket every Friday at 1 p.m. to participate. [Monica Obradovic/Riverfront Times]
The KansasCity Board of Police Commissioners has agreed to pay $5 million to the family of Terrence Bridges, Jr., a Black man who was murdered by a Kansas City police officer in 2019. The KCPD officer incorrectly mistook Bridges as a suspect for a domestic violence call, forcing a foot chase that ended with the officer shooting the unarmed man. The officer faced no criminal charges for the murder. [Celisa Calacal/KCUR]
The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s “Beyond Bars” program has helped to bond incarcerated mothers with their daughters for more than 25 years, providing transportation for monthly visits and funding for bonding activities like arts & crafts and STEM projects. The Beyond Bars program charters visits from the St. Louis area to Vandalia or Chillicothe Women’s Correctional Centers. [Danielle Brown/St. Louis American]
Further reading
The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum has opened its new extension, quadrupling the amount of space for the museum to tell the story of the Holocaust, Nazi propaganda in the U.S., and how events from the past connect to today. The Museum was founded in 1995 by Holocaust survivors who relocated to St. Louis at the end of World War II. [Jeremy D. Goodwin/St. Louis Public Radio]
This week, U.S. Supreme Court heard a case that cast doubt on the legality - and the future - of affirmative action in college admissions. Two cases, filed against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, challenge the policies used by hundreds of colleges and universities that aim to boost campus diversity. The cases are also expected to impact diversity and inclusion efforts outside of college admissions, such as workplace diversity initiatives. [Allison Winter/Missouri Independent]
Beyond the Paywall
To read the below articles in full, please visit SLPL.org and access these articles through the Digital Content tab. St. Louis City & County residents can read these publications free using their library cards.
“Manchester says St. Louis County oversold police response time amid annexation fight,” by Nassim Benchaabane, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Short-staffed St. Louis County prosecutor’s office finds $130K - for two SUVs,” by Joe Holleman, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Citing increased risks, state officials want more police at Missouri Capitol,” by Kurt Erickson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Federal appeals court upholds controversial St. Louis County police arrest tactics,” by Taylor Tiamoyo Harris, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Legislative Update
St. Louis City Board of Aldermen
BB 26 and BB 29, sponsored by Ald. Megan Green (Ward 15), would put before City voters the ballot issue of enacting a surcharge on developers who reduced the number of units for housing rehabs and redevelopment. The bills were assigned to the Neighborhood Development Committee on May 13 and have made no further movement since.
BB 87, sponsored by Ald. Pamela Boyd (Ward 27) and Ald. Carol Howard (Ward 14), would add a new police district to cover Lambert International Airport, raising the number to 7 total in the City of St. Louis. The bill was assigned to the Public Safety Committee on September 16 and has had no further movement.