Shalonda Webb

The partisan balance on the St. Louis County Council is likely to remain the same following November’s general election, but the results of the primaries may change the relationship between the council and County Executive Sam Page.

The protest, involving about 100 people, started during public comment on a resolution marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It included a chant that some say calls for the destruction of the state of Israel while others say it’s a rallying cry for a Palestinian homeland.

The speech at the University of Missouri-St. Louis included the unveiling of a new logo for St. Louis County.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page says the budget cuts will result in a reduction or elimination of some county services.

County Executive Sam Page said he has issues with the state law that allows for such measures but elected to not veto the property tax freeze on some seniors’ homes.

The restrictions only apply in unincorporated areas of St. Louis County. They had the backing of the police chief and the union representing police officers.

Proponents of the measure could still gather signatures to put the property tax freeze for seniors on the ballot next year.

The St. Louis County Council approved spending all but $600,000 of the American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Councilmembers are allocating federal American Rescue Plan funds to help beef up staff in St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell’s office and to tear down the abandoned north county shopping center.

The party-line vote stoked sharp differences between members of the county council and audience members who decried the COVID-19 vaccine.