The city of St. Louis in Missouri has elected its first-ever black mayor. St. Louis Treasurer, Tishaura Jones, was elected following an election win against rival candidate Alderwoman Cara Spencer in a close-fought race. Jones took 51.7% of the vote while Spencer took 47.8% of the vote.
Jones is a 49-year-old former state representative and will replace incumbent Mayor Lyda Krewson, who was the city's first female mayor.
Jones has been highly critical of the policing tactics used in the city, and the US prison system, which she says unfairly discriminates against African-Americans. She was outspoken in her support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests that swept the US in 2020 following the death of George Floyd.
She said upon her election victory:
"St. Louis: This is an opportunity for us to rise. I told you when I was running that we aren't done avoiding tough conversations. We are done ignoring the racism that has held our city and our region back."
She added:
"I will not stay silent when I spot racism. I will not stay silent when I spot homophobia or transphobia. I will not stay silent when I spot xenophobia. I will not stay silent when I spot religious intolerance. I will not stay silent when I spot any injustice."
Her defeated rival said that she welcomed the fact that Jones had broken barriers by becoming Mayor, Spencer said:
"This is something we should all celebrate. Our city broke a glass ceiling tonight, a ceiling that shouldn't have been there."
Jones faces serious challenges as Mayor of St. Louis. She is faced with a crumbling economy, an economy that has been on the slide since the 1950s in relative terms. The population has fallen from over 800,000 in 1950 to around 300,000 today. This is not taking into account the economic effect of the Covid-19 lockdowns on small local businesses.
St. Louis is also plagued by gang violence and drugs, making it one of the most violent cities in the United States. 262 people were murdered in the city last year.
Jones has been criticised for overlooking the plight of white people in the city. During a debate she said:
"While I appreciate the role of white allies in this movement of progress, I don't believe that they have the lived experiences to lead a majority-minority city. [A} white person doesn't have to worry about their children getting hit by a stray bullet when he's outside."
[h/t: NBC news]
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