By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The Board of Aldermen Friday approved a bill to open an animal shelter in Arsenal-Ellendale Park.
But not before 14th Ward Alderman Stephen Gregali questioned the president of the board about why he co-sponsored the bill.
President Jim Shrewsbury opposes a move to lease a small part of Forest Park to Barnes-Jewish Hospital but supports placing the animal shelter in Arsenal-Ellendale Park.
Gregali called it "hypocrisy."
"We're looking at euthanasia of dogs and cats versus 200, 300 hospital beds for human beings in critical care units," Gregali said.
Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury says it was a case of "apples and oranges."
Shrewsbury says the Forest Park lease is really a sale.
And he says the shelter is supported by the neighborhood organization and improves Arsenal-Ellendale Park.
Shrewsbury is one of the three-member Board of Estimate that will decide the fate of the Forest Park-BJC lease deal and has said he'll vote no.
The vote for the animal shelter was 24-2. Alderman Lewis Reed, who is running for against Shrewsbury for the president's post, and Alderman Stephen Gregali vote no.