Local Control
At right: Senator Keaveny at a news conference regarding local control.Returning local control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) to the City is extremely important to my district, which is why I have introduced Senate Bill 23 to the General Assembly.
The citizens of St. Louis are clearly in favor of local control for the SLMPD. Proposition L asked the people if they wanted local control given back to the police department, and nearly 70 percent of 80,000 people voted in favor. Local control for the SLMPD would also save the city more than $4 million by combining services.
Under SB 23, SLMPD employees would maintain ALL their benefits, including vacation time, sick time, health insurance, life insurance, and their pensions. Employees would also keep full disability and retirement coverage. Residency requirements for officers and employees would be grandfathered in, and spouses of officers killed in the line of duty will receive buy-in rates for insurance.
When SB 23 was voted out of committee, a provision was added to the bill by committee members that would reduce the members of the Board of Alderman. The version that left committee will not be the final bill. I will work to remove the provision that reduces the number of individuals serving on the Board of Alderman. Furthermore, any adjustment to the City charter needs to be voted on by City residents. The enactment of this bill is not until Jan. 1, 2013, so the City of St. Louis has time to change its charter if it deems necessary.
If you have any questions regarding Senate Bill 23, please do not hesitate to call my office. I would be happy to address your questions or concerns.
Payday Loans
Senate Bill 295 would require communication between borrowers and the payday loan industry.One of the top concerns of my constituents is the regulation of the payday loan industry. In fact, a constituent survey showed 80 percent of people supported regulation of payday loans. Payday loans are usually provided as a way to financially help people when times are rough. However, some customers are unable to ever catch up with payments, and for this reason, I have filed Senate Bill 295. Under current law, lenders may renew payday loans upon the borrower's request. This act prohibits lenders from renewing such loans, known as roll-overs.
This bill would require lenders to disclose certain information to consumers at the loan signing, including the duration of the loan, the amount and date of payments due, and the amount of interest and fees that will be charged for the duration of the loan. This act also would establish a pilot program whereby the Division of Finance is responsible for developing a real-time, statewide compliance system for licensed payday lenders to record each payday loan transaction.
I will continue to support my constituents' voices regarding this and all legislative matters in the Missouri Senate.
Proposition B
At right: Senator Keaveny (and his dog Addie) participate in the Beggin' Pet Parade in St. Louis.I would like to thank my constituents who have written to me with regards to the proposed changes to Proposition B, relating to the "Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act." There have already been multiple bills filed to modify or repeal the proposition, none of which do I consider supporting.
I continue to work in conjunction with the Humane Society of Missouri and the Missouri Alliance for Animals to guide me on this important issue. My constituents overwhelmingly supported Proposition B, with a "yes" vote of 78.4 percent in the City of St. Louis, so I plan to represent my district as they voted and repeat their collective voice. Please feel free to contact my office if I can be of further assistance.
Family Resource Center of Missouri
The Family Resource Center assists an average of 10,000 clients a year.I recently had the honor of visiting the Family Resource Center and learning about the services the organization provides to help families in need. Every year, the organization assists an average of 10,000 parents and children in the City of St. Louis, as well as families in St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, Osage, Jefferson, and Gasconade counties.
One way the Family Resource Center assists those in need is by hosting programs that can benefit at-risk children and families, raising awareness for child abuse and neglect, and by creating partnerships with other organizations that will help Family Resource Center clients. The programs offered cater to people of all age groups, and also offer foster care services and youth services. Some of the family services offered through the organization include:
- Individual and family therapy - counseling for parents and children, with emphasis on parenting matters and advice for those who are in need of additional services.
- Intensive in-home services - this therapy includes family preservation counseling, crisis intervention, and resource coordination for families in need of foster care services.
- Parent Partners - guidance offered for parents in the social welfare system.
- Parenting Wisely - parenting classes for those who have children between the ages of three and 18, mentoring families to facilitate better communication between parent and child.
- PathBuilders - provides parenting and life-skills advice, helping people move forward with life after facing challenges.
St. Louis Police Athletic League is Recipient of YOP Tax Credits
At right: PAL currently serves more than 800 children, and does not charge them to participate in PAL activities.Congratulations to the St. Louis Police Athletic League (PAL) for receiving $40,000 in Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) tax credits. I worked directly with the Department of Economic Development and PAL to support their application for these credits, and I'm pleased they can continue their good work.
Many thanks are in order to PAL for its commitment to helping youth in our community. PAL provides troubled youth with the chance to participate in athletic and educational opportunities that will boost their self-esteem. Officers in the police department serve as volunteer coaches and role models for the kids, teaching them life skills, such as good sportsmanship. Kids also have the chance to develop a good relationship with law enforcement, building a trust with police officers that will last well into adult years.
I commend the officers for volunteering their time to improve our city neighborhoods. For more information about PAL, visit www.slmpd.org/pal.html or call (314) 444-5967.
YOURS Market in St. Louis: Providing Healthy Food at a Low Cost
YOURS Market provides locally grown fruits and vegetables, and excludes the sale of cigarettes and alcohol to promote a healthier lifestyle.In December, residents of North St. Louis celebrated the opening of YOURS Market, a grocery store with lower-priced goods to accommodate the financially troubled area. Community leaders and students from Lincoln University transformed a former gas station into a productive business.
This is an excellent business that has the welfare of the community in mind, and I look forward to seeing YOURS Market prosper and see North St. Louis become a healthier community.
YOURS Market is a branch of YOURS Inc., a community-based organization whose mission is to provide employment opportunities to the underserved members of the African American community. For more information about YOURS Inc. and YOURS Market, please visit www.yoursmarket.org or call (314) 588-7404.
The St. Louis Job Corps
The St. Louis Job Corps provides its services at NO COST for its students.In the difficult economic conditions that our state has been weathering the past few years, having a competitive edge in the job market is crucial. Job applications are primarily completed online now, meaning human interaction is diminished and an applicant needs a resume and work skills that will stand out to an employer. To help citizens with this task, the St. Louis Job Corps Center was developed by the U.S. Department of Labor. The St. Louis Job Corps offers a variety of services, including technical and academic training. The organization can help people get a GED, or a high school diploma. Also offered are:
- Career planning
- On-the-job training
- Job placement
- Residential housing options
- Food service
- Drivers' education
- Health and dental care
- Some childcare services
The Fathers' Support Center: Helping Build Stronger Families
At left: Sen. Keaveny, Halbert Sullivan, and John Haigler from 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis at the Fathers' Support Center. Mr. Sullivan received an award for his service as a Martin Luther King Drum Major for Service.In a child’s life, a father is a strong and important figure. Giving fathers the support to be the best parent they can be is the Fathers’ Support Center (FSC) in St. Louis. A one-of-a-kind organization, FSC focuses on mentoring and encouraging dads to maintain healthy relationships with their children and families.
Since its founding in 1998, FSC has assisted more than 3,000 fathers and their families, including more than 7,000 children. Often when fathers come to FSC, they are distant from their families and are seeking help. With mentoring from FSC, fathers become more involved in their children's lives, and become proactive members of society by gaining and maintaining steady employment. FSC offers many programs to help fathers, including:
- The Family Formation Program - helps improve the relationship between fathers and their children, as well as helping fathers effectively co-parent with the mother of their children.
- The Employment Development and Mentoring Program - helps prepare fathers for the workforce and helps them find steady employment.
- Male Wellness and Health - a clinic for men that provides medical screenings and wellness information.
- Employment Support - helps provide employment opportunities for fathers, so they are able to meet their child support obligations.
License Plate Stickers for Extra Security
New security tabs on license plates protect people from theft.To better protect Missourians from license plate theft, the Missouri Department of Revenue is now selling security tabs for vehicles. These tabs exactly match the alpha-numeric combination on the vehicle license plates; therefore, the tabs are less likely to be stolen, because they wouldn't match any license plate other than the one for which it was intended. To better protect yourself, please visit one of the following offices in St. Louis:
- Central West End License Office, 3917 Lindell Blvd.
- South Kingshighway, 4628 S. Kingshighway
- Downtown License Office, 1200 Market St., Rm. 111
- Northside, 1408 N. Kingshighway, Ste. 102
Veterans Ombudsman of Missouri: Providing Long-Term Care for Veterans
The Veterans Commission began as the State Federal Soldier's Home, which was deeded to the state of Missouri in 1897. Its first purpose was to provide care to aging Missouri veterans who fought in the Civil War.
As a member of the Veterans’ Affairs, Emerging Issues, Pensions and Urban Affairs Committee, I am dedicated to making sure Missouri veterans have the quality of life they deserve.
The Missouri Veterans Commission Ombudsman preserves the quality of life for long-term care residents by empowering them and their families through education, advocacy, and support. The ombudsman provides many services for Missouri veterans, with the ability to:
- Work directly with VA (Veterans' Affairs) case managers to make sure all discharged veterans are entered into the VA system, allowing them to receive all the full benefits possible.
- Ensure all veterans have quality health care, and that their medical needs are being met.
- Work with all Wounded Warrior Care units.
- Communicate with constituent services of the governor, state legislators, and other state agencies.
Gubernatorial Appointments
 Jerome Lee was confirmed to serve on the Board of Police Commissioners. |  Nicole Colbert-Botchway was confirmed to serve on the Missouri Women's Council. |
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