Accomplishments

Legislation

Establishing the Affordable Housing Trust Fund: In her first year as a Councilwoman, Lisa spearheaded and passed the County’s first Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The Fund’s goal is to increase the availability of safe and inexpensive housing, and was applauded by housing advocates and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Task Force.

Supporting common sense gun reform: Lisa co-sponsored common sense gun reform legislation that prohibits domestic abusers from carrying concealed firearms, addressing two big public safety priorities – gun crime and domestic violence. She also sponsored the County’s first ever resolution in support of National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend to demand a future free from gun violence once and for all.

Expanding and clarifying anti-discrimination laws: Lisa sponsored and passed legislation that, in addition to making the code’s non-discrimination language consistent, expands the County’s employment protections to non-civil service appointees, requires that a non-discrimination clause be inserted into more county contracts, and includes protections for gender expression.

Establishing the Youth Council: Everything County government does, from environmental initiatives to zoning matters, impacts our children. But too often their opinions and voices are left out of the process. Lisa introduced legislation creating a St. Louis County Youth Council that gives young people an opportunity to expand their leadership skills by representing the youth of their district, while helping the Council fully represent its constituents.

Promoting ethical government: Lisa introduced legislation that would prohibit Council members from working for County government for two years after their term. Two other Councilmembers introduced similar legislation at the same time, and Lisa was proud to stand with this bipartisan coalition to improve ethics in County government.

Keeping people in their homes: During COVID-19, keeping people housed is a matter of public health; still, we need to make sure landlords get the rent that is owed to them. Lisa firmly believes we can do both at once, and is working hard with fellow Councilmembers to make it happen. She was part of the bipartisan coalition of Councilmembers that passed Bill 111 to enact an eviction moratorium in St. Louis County. Meanwhile, Lisa sponsored and passed legislation to apply for and receive nearly $30 million of emergency housing assistance funds for St. Louis Countians (which passed unanimously); later, she led the effort to secure an additional $5 million of emergency rental assistance funds.

Ensuring wage fairness: Lisa sponsored and passed better enforcement for our prevailing wage policy to ensure that workers on County-funded construction projects get paid competitive wages. When developers ask for millions of dollars in incentives we should be making sure the community benefits from it as well, especially when too many families are financially strapped by the continued pandemic.

Promoting the humane treatment of animals: Lisa sponsored, and the Council unanimously passed, an ordinance banning cat declawing, an inhumane practice condemned by The Humane Society of the United States and The Paw Project. 

Ending marijuana screening for most County employees: Lisa sponsored and passed legislation to end pre-employment or random marijuana screening for County employees, unless they are federally mandated to do so (e.g. police officers and those working with heavy machinery). Lisa believes that people who legally use marijuana for medical purposes shouldn’t be discriminated against, and that this common-sense policy also removes barriers to hiring and retention.

Resolutions

Supporting Police Reform: Lisa sponsored a resolution supporting Senator Brian Williams’ groundbreaking state legislation banning police chokeholds and implementing several significant police reform measures.

Affirming and Protecting LGBTQ+ Rights: Lisa sponsored and passed a resolution affirming that the rights of the LGBTQ+ community are human rights, and committing the Council to pursuing inclusive policy changes like a comprehensive gender expression policy, gender neutral bathrooms, and a prohibition on conversion therapy. That resolution was the building block leading to gender neutral single-stall bathrooms and expanding protections for gender expression.

Protecting unemployment benefits: A state administrative error overpaid unemployment benefits to thousands of unemployed Missourians. Governor Parson vowed to fix the state’s mistake by demanding that unemployed Missourians repay the funds. Lisa sponsored a resolution supporting Missouri workers and calling on Governor Parson to not punish Missouri workers for the state’s mistake. The resolution passed unanimously.

Supporting local control: Lisa believes St. Louis County should be governed by St. Louis Countians – not by state legislators in Jefferson City. Missouri State Senate Bill 11 and House Bill 500 would have taken away St. Louis County’s local control to make sure skilled mechanical contractors have proper training – an issue of both local control and public safety. Lisa sponsored and unanimously passed a resolution taking a stand against those bills, and keeping St. Louis Countians safe.

Supporting vaccinations for teachers: Early in 2021, teachers were unable to get vaccinated but were teaching classes in person. Lisa sponsored and unanimously passed a resolution addressed to Governor Parson and the Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, asking them to move teachers and other school personnel up in the priority vaccination list. Soon thereafter, the vaccination tier for teachers was opened.

Requesting a Justice Center Investigation: Lisa sponsored and passed a resolution requesting an independent, comprehensive investigation into the misconduct and inefficiencies of the Justice Center/jail; that resolution passed unanimously.

Condemning privacy-violating City “Spy Plane” flyovers: When the City of St. Louis considered conducting aerial surveillance of city residents, Lisa became concerned about potential privacy violations of neighboring St. Louis Countians. She sponsored and passed a resolution condemning aerial surveillance/”spy planes” in St. Louis County. After that resolution was passed (6-1), the city of St. Louis abandoned its surveillance plans.

Supporting anti-discrimination:  Lisa sponsored and passed a resolution renewing our commitment to ending all forms of hatred and discrimination in St. Louis County, and especially calling on our community to #StopAsianHate. 

Supporting Teachers: The 2020-2021 school year was one of the most difficult in history. Our teachers deserve credit for helping our youngest community members through a pandemic, and they did so with their characteristic grace, creativity, and patience. To recognize their efforts and sacrifices over the last year, Lisa sponsored and unanimously passed a resolution to honor all teachers in St. Louis County. 

Ending illegal lockouts: In an effort to keep people housed during the COVID-19 crisis, Lisa sponsored a resolution calling for an end to “illegal lockouts.” The resolution passed 6-1 and was supported by Empower Missouri,  Metropolitan St Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.