Alderwoman Sharon Tyus (12th Ward) yells her disdain towards the progressive wing of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen on Tuesday during the board’s first day of legislative session at City Hall.
A historic day at St. Louis City Hall marking the official transition to a 14-member Board of Aldermen was overshadowed Tuesday by comments that quickly turned personal and nasty.
Four new aldermen, including the first Latina to serve, Daniela Velázquez, took their oaths of office alongside 10 returning lawmakers with promises of cooperation to serve the residents of the city.
“I plan to serve the way I ran my campaign,” said 10th Ward Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard, the new majority floor leader, “through a position of peace, through a position of inclusion, through a position of transparency and collective cooperative work with the people who supported me.”
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard (10th Ward) reacts while signing her official aldermanic documentation on Tuesday before the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
Board President Megan Green said in her inaugural remarks: "The disparities in our community have been centuries in the making, and change won’t happen overnight. We need to work together with common purpose, a shared conviction and an unyielding urgency.”
But she also alluded to potential conflicts.
“Our city is counting on you to model productive disagreement and compromise,” Green said.
Those disagreements among members exploded even before aldermen began conducting the official business of the city.
Green gave all 14 aldermen a chance to say a few words during a portion of the agenda reserved for lawmakers to introduce special guests. She and Mayor Tishaura Jones had both backed a challenger to 12th Ward Alderwoman Sharon Tyus. Tyus took that challenge personally and made her views known.
“I’m not scared of the first Black female mayor or the first white [female] president of the Board of Aldermen,” she said. “If you do not respect north St. Louis, if you come for me, I’m coming for you.”
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Aldermanic President Megan Green addresses the community on Tuesday during an inauguration ceremony for the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen's new 14-member board at City Hall.
She called Green a “tyrant” and a “dictator.” When Green interrupted, Tyus exploded.
“You are being a white Becky. Sit down,” she yelled. Green at one point threatened to have Tyus removed unless she could be civil.
Tyus was also sharply critical of new rules that emphasized internal democracy over seniority for board leadership positions. Previously, the roles of vice president, floor leader and assistant floor leader, and the selection of committee chairs, were based on seniority. Tyus is third on the list.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Newly elected Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier (7th Ward) shows off a pin featuring the late Cora Faith Walker on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
But under the new rules, those three positions are elected by their colleagues; they then work with the board president to choose committee chairs. “It’s a bunch of racist bull,” Tyus said. “Now that you have served your time, we’re going to change it, and leadership is going to decide. This is how you disenfranchise a bunch of people.”
Laura Keys, the alderwoman of the 11th Ward, was angry that conversations about who wanted to be in leadership took place before she was even sworn in.
“Either I’m part of the group, or I’m not,” she said. “If I’m part of the 14, I need to be in the loop. I fail to see the transparency here."
A multipronged agenda
Green ran for a full term unopposed, and eight candidates she endorsed won their races. Along with Jones, more progressive lawmakers have significant power to advance Green’s agenda.
She pledged to make 2023 “the year of the tenant,” with a focus on affordable housing and counsel for those facing eviction.
“If developers want a deal, they need to ensure that low- and moderate-income St. Louisans have access to housing that they can afford,” Green said.
Green also wants to tackle the rising costs of early childhood education and revamp liquor licensing, zoning codes and the minority contracting process.
More photos from the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration and first day of legislative session by staff photojournalist Brian Munoz:
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderman Rasheen Aldridge (14th Ward) and Alderwoman Cara Spencer (8th Ward) share pleasantries with Judge Michael A. Wolff on Tuesday before the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderwoman Sharon Tyus (12th Ward) affixes a rose to her lapel on Tuesday before the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
The 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen take the Oath of Office from City Register Amber Simms on Tuesday at the Kennedy Hearing Room in City Hall. From left: President Megan Green, Anne Schweitzer (1st Ward), Tom Oldenburg (2nd Ward), Shane Cohn (3rd Ward), Bret Narayan (4th Ward), Joseph Vollmer (5th Ward), Daniela Velázquez (6th Ward), Cara Spencer (8th Ward), Michael Browning (9th Ward), Shameem Clark Hubbard (10th Ward), Laura Keys (11th Ward), Pam Boyd (13th Ward), and Rasheen Aldridge (14th Ward).
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Newly elected Aldermen Cara Spencer (8th Ward), Michael Browning (9th Ward), and Shameem Clark Hubbard (10th Ward) take the Oath of Office from City Register Amber Simms on Tuesday at the Kennedy Hearing Room in City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderwoman Cara Spencer (8th Ward) reacts after taking the Oath of Office from City Register Amber Simms on Tuesday at the Kennedy Hearing Room in City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Akasha Royale, the 49th Ms. Gay Missouri America, takes a selfie with Aldermanic President Megan Green on Tuesday before the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Newly elected officials Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier (7th Ward) speaks to Alderman Michael Browning (9th Ward) on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Hundreds of supporters, community members, and media watch the swearing in of the newly reduced St. Louis Board of Aldermen on Tuesday at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderwoman Pam Boyd (13th Ward) is helped down the stairs by Sal Martinez, CEO of Employment Connection, on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderwoman Laura Keys (11th Ward) watches inauguration ceremonies for the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen on Tuesday at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Mayor Tishaura Jones, Comptroller Darlene Green, and St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Megan Green listen to a speech by Board Clerk Terry Kennedy on Tuesday during inauguration celebrations at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen take the Oath of Office by Judge Michael A. Wolff on Tuesday at City Hall. This marked the first time the board has been reduced from 28 members to 14.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
From left: Alderpeople Pam Boyd (14th Ward), Laura Keys (11th Ward), Michael Browning (9th Ward), Alisha Sonnier (7th Ward), Joe Vollmer (5th Ward), Shane Cohn (3rd Ward), and Anne Schweitzer (1st Ward), on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Newly sworn in Alderman Rasheen Aldridge (14th Ward) claps after a speech on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Newly sworn in Alderwoman Daniela Velázquez (6th Ward) hugs Moji Sidiqi, Afghan Community Development Program manager at the International Institute, on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Newly sworn in Alderman Michael Browning (9th Ward) speaks to supporters on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen inauguration at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen get settled as new board of 14, after a reduction from 28 members, on Tuesday during the legislative body’s first day of session at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderman Bret Narayan (4th Ward) writes notes on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s first day of legislative session at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier (78th Ward) shares a laugh with her 19-year-old brother Izaya Alexander on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s first day of legislative session at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderwoman Cara Spencer (8th Ward) embraces her son Cy on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s first day of legislative session at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Aldermanic President Megan Green reacts to introductions of honored guests on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s first day of legislative session at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer (1st Ward) goes to speak on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s first day of legislative session at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
Alderman Rasheen Aldridge (14th Ward) listens in to Alderwoman Sharon Tyus (12th Ward) on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s first day of legislative session at City Hall.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen on Tuesday during the 2023-24 St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s first day of legislative session at City Hall. First row aldermen: Laura Keys (11th Ward), Rasheen Aldridge (14th Ward), Daniela Velázquez (6th Ward), Cara Spencer (8th Ward), Sharon Tyus (12th Ward), and Shameem Clark Hubbard (10th Ward). Second row aldermen: Alisha Sonnier (7th Ward), Michael Browning (9th Award), Anne Schweitzer (1st Ward), and Pam Boyd (13th Ward). Third row aldermen: Tom Oldenburg (2nd Ward), Joe Vollmer (5th Ward), President Megan Green, Bret Narayan (4th Ward), and Shane Cohn (3rd Ward).
