By Matt Sepic/KWMU
St. Louis – In his second State of the City Address as Mayor of St. Louis, Francis Slay today focused on his administration's accomplishments from the last year, but said improvements are needed in the city's public schools.
Slay says property values are rising in the city, and the crime rate is dropping. The mayor credited the police department for the decrease.
"The homicide rate was down last year by 25%," Slay said. "That did not happen by accident. I applaud Chief Mokwa and his outstanding officers for their hard work and their bravery."
Mayor Slay also singled out the Health Department for combating the West Nile mosquito outbreak last year, and screening thousands of children for lead poisoning.
Listen to Mayor Slay's full speech in Windows Media. (46 min.)