By Antonio D. French
Filed Thursday, March 30 at 11:52 AM
Mayor Francis Slay today vetoed the compromise bill recently passed by the Board of Aldermen seeking to create civilian review board in the City of St. Louis.
"Board Bill #69, recently approved by the Board of Aldermen, has legal flaws so fatal that it could never be implemented," said Slay on his blog. "As a result, I am vetoing BB #69 and will immediately begin work to implement a civilian review board that will stand up to a court challenge."
Slay said he would ask the state-controlled St. Louis Police Board to create, implement, and fund a civilian review board -- apparently to replace the one that they formed a couple of years ago which was never implemented
The Mayor also said he would issue an executive order to "establish a CRB appointment process consistent with BB #69."
"I am going to ask the Board of Aldermen to recommend individuals to me for appointment from seven sub-districts as recommended in BB #69. This will ensure diversity and community input," said Slay.
UPDATE: An Aldermanic override of Mayor Slay's veto is unlikely. That's according to Board Pres. Jim Shrewsbury.
PUB DEF caught up with Shrewbury this afternoon at an event marking the death of the notorious "AmShack" (check back later for the full story and photos). He said that he doesn't think there are enough votes for an override, but even if there were, Shrewsbury said the Mayor's executive order would probably "take the steam out of the effort to override."
Click here to read Slay's veto letter.
9 Comments:
How can the Mayor simultaneously veto yet issue an Executive Order for a CRB? Is Slay attempting a pseudo "line item" veto?
12:01 PM, March 30, 2006
No he is gonig to take credit for the creation and weaken the board at the same time.
12:26 PM, March 30, 2006
Wouldn't it be ironic (if not outright funny) if Slay's request to the Police Board for a CRB is REJECTED.
12:49 PM, March 30, 2006
Johnson, I think this mayor can and has ignored the will of the people on previous occasion and it is appears that he will again.
I think this is a perfect time for a state rep (or even a new state senator, come November) to organize the St. Louis delegation to introduce legislation to amend the State Constution to allow St. Louis the same rights as other cities.
The public should always, always have control of its police force.
4:36 PM, March 30, 2006
It just seems odd that those that supposedly want a civilian review board would rather a boad bill be tangled in legal morass than to take the real steps to have a civilian review board.
The Board bill from the Aldermen was not going anywhere, and at least now we have a chance.
7:43 PM, March 30, 2006
The Board bill from the Aldermen was not going anywhere, and at least now we have a chance.
Anony #4, there is no possible way of spinning the veto of a bill that took 4 years to pass as a good thing for its backers. Don't even try.
8:52 PM, March 30, 2006
Then backers shouldn't have put such anti-police language in their preamble. At least, any CRB now won't have elected members. I think Slay has successfully punked the Caucus.
6:59 AM, March 31, 2006
I think it's pretty sad that Slay held up the City's getting a CRB for FOUR YEARS (at least) by playing this game with citizens, the Board of Aldermen, and the Police Board. Let's face it: if Slay "supported" a CRB, why didn't he do an executive order YEARS ago, or urge to Police Board to take action YEARS AGO. Instead, he's held up any meaningful progress, penalizing THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. Now he expects to hear applause when he finally implements things now. WHAT A PUNK-ASS MOVE from a "leader"!
9:28 AM, March 31, 2006
Remeber, there was substantial community outcry when the police board approve a CRB two years ago. Slay was "told" by the black community not to appoint anyone until they set up a process to give him the names.
So for two years he did nothing.
7:52 PM, March 31, 2006
Post a Comment
<< Home