ST. LOUIS — St. Louisans reacted swiftly to news Friday that the nonprofit Better Together will seek a new government entity covering the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County.
A statewide vote on a constitutional amendment could come in November 2020, and the idea that all Missourians will get a say on the consolidation issue sparked controversy. A Better Together task force is set to reveal the proposed changes in mid-January.
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John Lamping, a former state senator from St. Louis County, said on Twitter that the amendment would have "no chance" of passing locally. He predicted the "masters of the universe" will spend $20 million or more on a campaign "to convince the rest of the state that they know best." A campaign could be funded by index-fund pioneer Rex Sinquefield and others.
Lamping also called the move "a coup," and said an opposition campaign would have to be "grassroots."
St. Louis County Councilman-elect Tim Fitch, a Republican, said on Twitter he doesn't believe "it will ever happen." And in a blog post, the county's Republican party called the move an "end run on the citizens of St. Louis, the citizens of St. Louis County and the Missouri Legislature..."
Liberal officials also questioned the wisdom of the plan.
St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones said on Facebook that her concern "has nothing to do with the possibility of losing my position."
"I'm concerned that a) fire and school districts remain untouched and b) what does equity look like in all of this?" she said in a post.
For the full story from the St. Louis Business Journal, including reactions from local leaders, click here.
