The St. Louis Observer: July 23, 2021
Confronting America's racist history in Missouri classrooms; Circuit Attorney accused of abusing grand jury system; Delta variant surges in outstate as state Republicans reject vaccines
Editor’s Note
Statewide political failures threaten to topple public institutions, aselected officials face a rising crisis of legitimacy. The surge of the Delta variant across Southwestern Missouri not only threatens vulnerable populations across the St. Louis region, but in turn, further impacts our leaders failing to deliver much needed state and federal relief.
As new cases balloon, Missouri Republicans, led by Governor Mike Parson, continue to undermine and underinvest in vaccination outreach, and St. Louis City establishment Democrats continue to delay distribution of federal American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) aid, including direct relief families most affected by the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Circuit Attorney‘s office repeatedly has violated defendants’ rights to speedy trials through continued misuse and abuse of the grand jury process, keeping defendants detained in the City Justice Center where employees are not required to be vaccinated and detainees frequently report exposure to COVID-positive staff and other detainees.
Largely white Missourians continue to forgo vaccination in the name of “personal freedom;” elitist public officials continue to play politics with federal aid and constitutional rights; and poor and Black Missourians continue to face the consequences alone.
In the News
Exclusive to the Observer: Surveillance Accountability as the Solution
Kennedy Moore discusses the hypocrisy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, its history in advocating for government surveillance programs “used to stifle Black voices and dissent,” and its institutional support of unconstitutional police technology that violates privacy. Moore calls for “serious discussions around this critical issue and real, constitutional, fiscally responsible solutions to crime, not reactionary, law-and-order rhetoric.” [St. Louis Observer/Kennedy Moore]
The Circuit Attorney’s office struggles with unnecessarily prolonged trials, abuses within the grand jury system
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner faced public outcry after her office dismissed and refiled charges for a murder trial during which an assistant circuit attorney was assigned to a case while on maternity leave. The dismissal and refiling will result in prolonged trials, which public defenders argue is forcing defense teams into difficult scheduling decisions and infringes upon the constitutional rights of the defendants. [St. Louis Public Radio / Sarah Fenske]
Two murder cases filed by the Circuit Attorney’s office have been dismissed in the last year. The head of the public defender’s office argued that the most recent dismissal may have been avoided if the Circuit Attorney’s office ended its notorious abuse of the grand jury process, requiring extensive delays as Gardner’s team failed to bring sufficient evidence to secure a grand jury indictment while growing the population held in pre-trial detention at the City Justice Center. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch / Messenger]
Missouri schools confront the realities of teaching America’s racist history in classrooms
State lawmakers considered measures to restrict Missouri school district teaching of “critical race theory,” including materials related to the 1619 Project, other culturally responsive curricula, and teachings about racism in the classroom. A survey is currently being distributed across school districts to assess the extent to which CRT or the 1619 Project are being taught in Missouri K-12 public schools. Black families and teachers were not invited to participate in the debate. [Missouri Independent/Tessa Weinberg]
COVID-19 Delta variant surges in outstate Missouri
The COVID-19 Delta variant is surging in outstate Missouri, as well as in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, approaching new infection rates not seen since late 2020. The Delta variant spreads more easily than other variants of COVID-19, leads to more ICU stays, and surges in places where vaccination rates and mask compliance remain low. This new stage of the pandemic, smaller regional outbreaks of variants in low-vaccination areas, is likely to continue for some time. [The Atlantic / Ed Young; Missouri Independent / Rudi Keller; St. Louis Public Radio / Eric Schmid; St. Louis Public Radio / Alex Smith]
GOP legislators in Missouri oppose further vaccination measures as the COVID-19 Delta variant surges in Southwest Missouri. Legislation is being proposed to prohibit “discrimination” against unvaccinated children, employees by employers, school districts, transportation providers, and others. [ProPublica / Jeremy Kohler]
Delays continue as Missouri cities, state fails to distribute federal COVID relief funds
Distribution of federal stimulus monies has been delayed across Missouri, as US Treasury data indicates slow progress in the state distributing federal COVID-19 rental aid authorized under ARPA. Administrators and lawmakers report inadequate local infrastructure to administer rental assistance as one cause for the delays. [Missouri Independent / Laura Olson]
A majority of spending of approximately $2.8 million in federal ARPA funds in the state of Missouri is expected to not be authorized until the next state budget in January 2022. State lawmakers cite the need for special sessions to debate appropriation bills for the highway patrol, state technology & infrastructure systems, and other potential uses, as well as budget timelines needed to demonstrate revenue loss. [Missouri Independent / Rudi Keller]
Missouri DNR under federal investigation for violating North St. Louisans’ civil rights
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is under a federal investigation, led by the EPA, following its issuance of an air pollution control permit for a fuel transportation company located near predominantly Black neighborhoods. The complaint was initiated by Great Rivers, charging that the DNR failed to involve the public in its decision-making and “adequately consider cumulative impacts on those low-income, minority residents that have been forced to shoulder an undue pollution burden.” [Missouri Independent/Allison Kite]
Further Reading
In an unprecedented move, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals will reopen the decision blocking a Missouri law criminalizing doctors who administer abortions after 8 weeks, bringing the case before a full panel of 18 judges. Previous laws have been upheld that criminalize abortions after 15 weeks, and St. Louis’s Planned Parenthood Clinic remains the only licensed abortion provider in the state. [Missouri Independent/Rudi Keller]
The U.S. Census Bureau announced it will include the number of incarcerated populations in local census numbers for cities and counties, to be released later this year. This data will improve cities’ abilities to avoid “prison gerrymandering,” the practice of using incarcerated populations in the delineation of ward/district boundaries. [St. Louis Public Radio / Eric Schmid]
Missouri is finalizing a settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturers Johnson & Johnson and Purdue Pharma, as well as distribution companies Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, and McKesson, in a lawsuit alleging the companies did not properly warn customers of the addictiveness of prescription painkillers. Approximately $450 million in settlement funds will purportedly be distributed to state agencies to fund drug treatment. [St. Louis Public Radio / Sarah Fentem]
Quote of the Week
Throwing money at ineffective programs when we could be investing in community solutions that prevent crime is an irresponsible way to spend tax dollars that is akin to a wet bandaid. It’s there, we see it, but is it even protecting the wound?
Kennedy Moore in her piece, “Surveillance Accountability as the Solution”
Legislative & Legal Update
City of St. Louis
The City’s Board of Estimate and Apportionment failed to pass an appropriation of the first $80 million in federal ARPA funds over a disagreement concerning unauthorized use of certain funds for general economic development in north St. Louis. Debate will resume September 10, assuming a special session is not called during the Board of Alderman’s summer recess. [St. Louis Public Radio / Corinne Ruff]
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen remains in summer recess with regular sessions to resume on September 10, 2021.
State of Missouri
The Missouri General Assembly reconvenes for its regular session on January 5, 2022.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously (7-0) that Amendment 2, which expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, is constitutional. The state must now fund service for people aged 19-64 making 138% of the federal poverty rate with coverage under the state’s Medicaid program [Missouri Independent / Rudi Keller]
Take Action
Recognizing the risks and warning signs of mental health problems can be lifesaving. Mental Health First Aid courses empower participants with the knowledge of how to respond if a friend or family member experiences a mental health crisis, including what to do, where to find help, and how to create an action plan for someone experiencing trauma, psychosis, addiction disorders, and other mental health concerns. Most Mental Health First Aid classes are free and virtual; this week, the Observer challenges its readership to find and enroll in a Mental Health First Aid class through Mental Health First Aid Missouri and the National Council for Mental Well Being.