From KSDK.com: “Slay Says More Needs To Be Done To Address Racial Divide“
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay told Channel 5 reporter Cordell Whitlock yesterday that he thinks Firefighters Union Local 73, which is white-dominated, and F.I.R.E., the African-American firefighters organization, need to come together.
But as Slay was quick to publicly remind ex-fire chief Sherman George, the mayor’s office controls the fire department. He can, as he did with George, order both sides to the table.
Instead, he has clearly sided with Local 73.
To now say “something” needs to be done by “someone” “someday” is just skirting his responsibilities once again.
Click here to watch KSDK’s softball interview with Slay.
December 14th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Why wouldn’t KSDK jump at the chance to support their man Slay?
December 14th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Better headline:
“Antonio French Hates Slay Because He is White.”
…”and he blogs about it everyday acting like he is a news source.”
December 14th, 2007 at 10:10 am
How exactly are people who fight for equal representation being called black supremacists?
Mr. Anonymous, I think you and the people you represent should come with a better retort than that one. Race relations are fine in my house.
December 14th, 2007 at 10:58 am
KSDK and Mike Owens have a long history of being anti-Black!
December 14th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
sounded like a nice retort to everyone not named Antonio French. Sounds to me that the guy hit the nail on the head.
December 14th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
White people hate black people and it’s not gonna change.
December 14th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Only because of ignorant ass comments like that, they do.
December 14th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Don’t speak for me.
Again, I argue that there are racists and non racists… and the former can kill each other off or come into the 21st century with the latter anytime please.
December 15th, 2007 at 4:50 am
I am white and do not hate black people.
December 16th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Fight for equal representation? How is supporting and/or electing only black candidates equal representation? I continue to read this because it is a good source of news, especially news that would not otherwise be covered. So I just tolerate the intolerant views expressed by its writer.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:23 am
You’re a bit misinformed about whom I’ve supported and worked for in the past. Here are some you must be unaware of:
Campaign manager, Wayne Goode for State Senate (2000)
Campaign manager, Pat Dougherty for State Senate (2001)
Web designer, Gregg Daly for Collector of Revenue (2006)
Web designer, Chris Koster for Attorney General (2007)
I don’t oppose Mayor Slay because he’s white. I oppose Mayor Slay’s administration because it continues a long history of denying equal service, equal attention, and equal representation to the African-American community.
Since 2001, with the exception of this year’s Reed election which I was involved it, African-American political representation has declined dramatically:
* Loss of a seat in the Missouri senate,
* Disassemblage of the city’s largest black voting ward (former 20th Ward),
* Removal of the city’s only ever black fire chief and subsequent 4-to-1 promotion of whites over blacks
* Closing of more than a dozen schools (neighborhood anchors) in north St. Louis
* And lastly and most importantly, the disproportionate investing of hundreds of millions of tax dollars in downtown and white neighborhoods, while northern black neighborhoods continue to suffer.
This last one is criminal and unconscionable. And frankly, it’s fiscal irresponsibility is heading this city towards disaster. As you will hear about soon as it becomes more and more clear that this proposed sales tax increase is dead on arrival.
Without that new money to cover the Slay Administration’s irresponsible investment of tax dollars over the last 6 years, this city is going to be forced to make some very damaging cuts — to the number of cops on the street, to the number of fire houses open, etc.
My opposition to the Slay Administration is based on outcomes, not personalities.
December 16th, 2007 at 11:01 am
The only thing that keeps me going sometimes is the fact that these unjust systems put in place are unsustainable and will eventually collapse.
December 16th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Mr. French you say money is going to downtown and south city.I’m station in and around the Delmar area. That area in the last 10 to fifteen years has made a 180 degree turn around. The vacant houses and lots are know new houses. The remodeling of the existing houses is amazing. A new housing area north of DR.M.L.King will have 250 new houses.Over by King and Leonard is all new. North of the dome is new housing.There is new houses going up all over the northern parts of the city. Get out and drive around those areas and tell money isn’t being directed to the norhtern area.I have live in south city my whole life. I have new housing going up by me and that is the first in that area in my life time and I’m over 40 years old. Don’t tell me the money is going in south city.Mr Slay cares for the whole city.If you don’t have a downtown then you don’t have a city. If you think whats going on downtown looks bad then you are not for whats good for this city. Tax dollars are being spent downtown more than ever with population growing. All big cities have big downtowns. That is whats going to keep our city services going especially with the casino. Just give it time.The city is in better shape know then it was before he took office.If you can prove me wrong then show me.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:06 am
Ah, once again Mr. French is shown to look foolish.
Watch out last poster, Mr. French will acuse you of being a racist.
Mr. FRench is a sad and angry little man. Mr. Slay wouldn’t pay French a huge sum of money for his “political expertise” so Antonio hates him.
I am amazed at all of the investment through out the WHOLE city, North and South.
December 19th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
“The city is in better shape know then it was before he took office.If you can prove me wrong then show me.
“
A lot of the housing you see has two wrongs, (1) the average city dweller can’t afford to live in it and probably lost their property to iminent domain (2) the people moving to the city were given 10 year tax abatements, robbing the school district, fire department, police department, etc. of funds to pay a decent wage to those who serve the city!
And we are supposed to thank SLY for that?