Mayor Cara Spencer

06/02/2026

Today is a win for St. Louis, for residents who rely on city services, and for common sense.

We just received a ruling on one of the two pending lawsuits involving the City of St. Louis and the Board of Police Commissioners.

The courts have agreed with the City of St. Louis that Rams Settlement dollars and City reserve funds are not considered general revenue. This means that the City will not be forced to hand over $67.5 million dollars to the Board of Police Commissioners by June 30.

To all our City employees, I can’t thank you enough for the work you continue to do during these challenging circumstances. I promise you that we will continue to do everything we can to protect our City’s finances and our employees.

06/02/2026

Last night, the Board of Police Commissioners (BoPC) announced they are considering a $2.3 million proposal to increase salaries for staff. The proposal would provide salary increases of 16% for lieutenants, 18% for captains, 20% for majors, and 22% for lieutenant colonels effective July 1, 2026.

I have repeatedly asked the Board of Police Commissioners to attach fiscal notes to their proposals so we know what they will cost, and I had to do so again last night. This proposal would no doubt have major impacts, not only on the SLMPD budget but also on the City's overall budget, as it would necessarily trigger similar raises in the Fire Department. It is incredibly irresponsible to handle significant raises outside of a thorough and thoughtful process, which this hardly appears to be.

As a City, we have increased the SLMPD budget by nearly 50% in the past six years, and our brave officers absolutely deserve competitive wages. However, the state-controlled board's way of doing business shows utter and complete disregard for the City's budget process and the many other departments that serve our residents.

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month, St. Louis! Today, we raised the Pride flag high to celebrate the authenticity, the courage, and the joy that the LGBTQIA+ community brings to our City, and to our entire region. There is no question that we are a better city because of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies.

I’m honored to be part of a city that stands together in advocating for equality and freedom. I know there is still work to do, but I am committed to that work, my staff is committed to that work, and we will not waver.

Let’s celebrate Pride today, this month, and the entire year.

Special shoutout to Pride St. Louis’s Royalty Court for joining in the festivities at City Hall today!

05/28/2026

Exciting news for City workers! This week, I joined employees at all levels to sign Board Bill 9, ensuring a well-deserved $1,000 one-time payment to our dedicated City employees.

This bill is a heartfelt thank you to everyone who works tirelessly to keep our city safe, clean, and vibrant every day. Your commitment doesn’t go unnoticed, and this is just one way we’re showing our appreciation.

We know this is only a first step in honoring your service and making St. Louis a top choice for talented workers. In the near future, I look forward to signing another board bill to secure raises for all civil service employees and making our pay range minimums competitive. Here’s to building a stronger city, together!

05/27/2026

A few days ago, I had the privilege of joining Family Care Health Centers (FCHC) for the grand opening of their Dutchtown facility.

The City supported this effort with ARPA funding. By supporting FCHC, we are able to serve the Dutchtown community with affordable, high-quality healthcare, regardless of income, insurance status, or background.

Our region is already nationally recognized for its outstanding healthcare ecosystem, and this new facility sends a strong signal that we are advancing that narrative while caring for residents who need the most support.

05/20/2026

It was great to join Governor Mike Kehoe for HNTB’s downtown St. Louis office expansion ribbon-cutting today. Their investment shows great confidence in our city and the collective future we're building.

HNTB's philosophy states, "The key to our philosophy is that we are stronger as a team than we are as individuals." This also perfectly reflects the power of partnership between the private sector, the City of St. Louis, and the State. Thank you to the HNTB team for being with the City and contributing to our momentum!

05/16/2026

05/16/2026

Bearing witness to the tornado, and bearing responsibility for recovery is not something I take lightly. The future of tornado recovery hinges on collaborating and empowering one another. We’re all with the City.

05/15/2026

It’s surreal to think about the fact that it’s been one year since the May 16th tornado. I remember the day vividly, and know the rest of the city does too. May we honor those memories for ourselves, for our neighbors, and for the city as a whole.

Part 2 comes out tomorrow.

05/14/2026

Today marks a critical step forward for our city, as I stood with President Megan E. Green, STL Recovers, St. Louis Development Corporation - SLDC, City of Saint Louis Water Division, STL Street Department, City of St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation, & Forestry, Board of Public Service, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Greater St. Louis, Inc., and Explore St. Louis to announce the filing of a Board Bill committing $230 million from the Rams Settlement funds to common sense, visible, city-changing investments.

The bill reflects months of diligent conversation and collaboration among elected officials, community stakeholders, and regional partners, all of whom firmly believe in the worth of our city and all of our people.

Decades of systemic disinvestment and the need for long-term recovery from the May 16th tornado have left North St. Louis requiring major resources for critical home repair, housing production, and the capitalization of community-driven neighborhood plans.

Our entire city’s water infrastructure is in widespread need of critical repairs, and we need more funding for projects like street paving and sidewalk repair, and to tackle pervasive city blight from unaccountable absentee property owners.

The economic engine of Downtown St. Louis suffers from diminished vitality and reputation due to long-term vacant buildings and storefronts, an underdeveloped Riverfront, and degraded infrastructure that hinders a safer, more walkable, and economically vibrant core.

Due to these needs, we are proposing $110 million for North St. Louis, $65 million for city-wide infrastructure, and $55 million for downtown revitalization.

We know these investments do not meet all of our critical needs, but we do believe that these investments will create momentum. We welcome support from our investors, partners, and community organizations and we thank them for being with the City.