Ten years ago today, Michael Brown, Jr., an unarmed black male, was killed by a white officer in Ferguson, MO. This act prompted difficult conversations about racial inequities in the St. Louis region that continue to this day.
“Ten years ago today, the St. Louis region was changed forever. My heart is with the Brown family and our entire regional community as we continue to mourn this loss, ten years on,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “In the decade since Michael was killed, St. Louis has had to face hard truths about our community’s relationship to the police and their local government. Our focus after Ferguson continues to be about creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. While we have made notable progress, there is so much more work to do.”
Below is a non-exhaustive list of key improvements that the City of St. Louis has made in the areas of economic justice and racial justice in the years since the Forward Through Ferguson report was issued.
The Forward Through Ferguson report highlighted inequities in our region. One of the desired outcomes listed in the report includes enabling “new, proven, and innovative pathways for all residents to have equal access to economic opportunity by addressing critical needs through:
Family and community stability;
Institutions and organizations; and
Systemic policy and practices”
One crucial innovation in the City of St. Louis has been the Economic Justice Action Plan, developed by Mayor Jones’ administration in collaboration with the St. Louis Development Corporation. This plan is “a strategy to empower, develop, and transform the City of St. Louis through a vibrant, just and growing economy in which all people can thrive.”
The Forward Through Ferguson report also stated that “Municipal courts shall establish effective alternatives to jail time, fines, and fees for violations of municipal ordinances, including payment plans and community service.”
In an effort to meet that goal, the City partnered with the National League of Cities in January 2023 on the Cities Addressing Fines/Fees Equitably (CAFFE) Program. This program has helped establish a financial empowerment program specifically designed for those charged with not having car insurance. It allows qualified participants to attend a financial empowerment class to avoid fines associated with no insurance traffic violations. This program is run through the Office of Financial Empowerment established by Mayor Jones when she served as treasurer.
Additionally, individuals who fail to pay their fines associated with a ticket may end up in warrant status; if stopped again for even a minor offense they could be arrested and booked. In 2021 and again in 2022, Mayor Jones’ administration facilitated multiple opportunities with municipal courts for individuals to address their tickets in a one-stop shop format called Warrant Forgiveness which supported 557 defendants in 2022 alone.
