We are stronger when we foster open dialogue. The marchers were angry at Mayor Lyda Krewson for reading aloud the names and addresses of several residents who wrote letters calling for defunding the police department. Aldermanic President Lewis E. Reed told reporters that he supported additional funding for the program. [21] The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri released a statement condemning her actions, saying "[i]t serves no apparent purpose beyond intimidation. [1] She is St. Louis's first female mayor, elected in 2017. [23] 500 Black Lives Matter protesters marched to Krewson's home to demand her resignation, the closure of St. Louis Workhouse, and defunding of the Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis. More than 14,000 people have signed a petition demanding the resignation of St. Louis mayor Lyda Krewson after she divulged the personal information of people pushing for … While this is public information, I did not intend to cause distress or harm to anyone. Their home, which was featured in the local St. Louis Magazine after undergoing a renovation, is appraised at $1.15 million. A social media video showed Mark McCloskey and his 61-year-old wife standing outside their Renaissance palazzo-style home in the city's well-to-do Central West End neighborhood. The group of at least 500 people chanted, “Resign, Lyda! Period." Louis mayor [Lyda Krewson] just went live telling the full names [and] addresses of people wanting to defund the police [and] where they want the money to go,” Ashe wrote. Daily. Krewson, a longtime alderwoman, was elected St. Louis' first female mayor in 2017 by pledging to work to reduce crime and improve poor neighborhoods. [8] In 1998, Krewson married local news anchor Mike Owens. She gave first and last names and what streets people lived on – in some cases, she gave exact addresses – along with how they want the budget to be spent. We take you behind the headlines and help you understand the biggest stories driving politics and policy. [19], In a public briefing broadcast live on Facebook on June 26, 2020, Krewson read aloud the names and addresses of multiple constituents, including a minor, who had signed a petition in favor of budgetary changes that involved redirecting all the money spent on the police department to social services, affordable housing and Cure Violence. The unidentified couple shouted at protesters, while people in the march moved the crowd forward. The apology came after two St. Louis Board of Aldermen members and commenters online criticized the mayor for what many people called "doxxing" the protesters. [9] Krewson served as the Chairman of the Board of Aldermen's Transportation & Commerce Committee. Armed homeowners standing in front their house confront protesters marching to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's house. “St. We were told that we would be killed, our home burned and our dog killed. ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson is facing backlash on social media Friday night for reading the names and street addresses of protesters who are calling on the city to … [10], With the retirement of four-term mayor Francis Slay, Krewson entered a crowded seven-way 2017 Democratic primary, the real contest in this heavily Democratic city (St. Louis has not elected a Republican mayor since 1949). The video was removed and Krewson apologized the same day, saying she didn't intend to cause distress. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP. It serves no apparent purpose beyond intimidation. Some people online are even calling for her to resign, including thousands of people who have already signed a Change.org petition. As a point of transparency, 5 On Your Side shared the stream live as it happened on our website and app, which is not archived. She won the March 7 primary against Tishaura Jones, Lewis E. Reed, Antonio French, and others with 32% of the vote, just 879 votes ahead of Jones. In 2011, she led the city's successful effort to pass a smoking ban. Take the cops with you!” news outlets reported. In the now-deleted Facebook video, Mayor Lyda Krewson read the first and last names of protesters who are calling on the city to defund the police department, Missouri health department says report of 5,066 new COVID-19 cases Saturday was due to 'data extract error', Sunday update delayed, 10 people shot, 3 fatally, within 6 hours in St. Louis over the weekend, No tropical threats for Louisiana for the next week, Another Patriots positive COVID-19 test sends NFL schedule into upheaval, Blues add veteran Kyle Clifford for backend depth at forward, Byers' Beat: Behind St. Louis Mayor's move to take money away from The Workhouse, 'We shouldn't be distracted' | St. Louis mayor addresses call to rename city, remove Forest Park statue. There are no public sidewalks or public streets. “As a leader, you don’t do stuff like that. ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson is facing backlash on social media Friday night for reading the names and street addresses of protesters who are calling on the city to defund the police department. Krewon has faced demands for her resignation after a Facebook Live briefing on Friday where the white mayor read the names of those wanting to defund the police force. Louis. [5], In 1988 she married Jeff Krewson, an architect. #DoBetter," wrote Alderwoman Megan Green who represents Ward 15 in south city. Many of them suggested a budget of $0 for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. His wife stood next to him with a handgun. Previously she served as the chairman of the Ways & Means, Convention & Tourism, and Parks & Environment committees. Floyd was pronounced dead May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes. No charges were brought against them. To be clear, it is shocking and misguided for Mayor Lyda Krewson of St. Louis, to broadcast the addresses of those who dare to express a different viewpoint on an issue of public concern. It was unclear when it was damaged. The ACLU of Missouri issued the following statement Friday evening regarding Mayor Krewson’s reading of names and addresses: “Today adds to the list of things we never thought we would have to say. In the general election on April 4, she defeated Republican candidate Andrew Jones with 67% of the vote,[11] becoming the first female chief executive in the city's history. [16], In August 2019, Krewson agreed to sponsor a one-year contract with Cure Violence in response to community pressure and an increased city murder rate. Police said the man and woman told the marchers to leave because they were on a private street. [18] Advocates and activists have campaigned for the Workhouse's closure, citing inhumane conditions and criminalization of poverty. The man and woman said they saw people who were armed, so they armed themselves and called police, according to authorities. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Protesters nationwide have been pushing to “ defund the police ” following the death of George Floyd and other Black people at the hands of police. The full statement is below: "In an effort to be transparent and accessible to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic, for more than three months now I have been doing tri-weekly community updates on Facebook. During the 2017 mayoral campaign, The St. Louis American criticized the program, arguing that Krewson did not understand the factors behind poverty and homelessness. Police said the couple had heard a loud commotion in the street and saw a large group of people break an iron gate marked with “No Trespassing” and “Private Street” signs. We have chosen not to share the video due to the mayor reading the names and addresses during the briefing. Tonight, I would like to apologize for identifying individuals who presented letters to me at City Hall as I was answering a routine question during one of my updates earlier today. St. Louis mayor won’t quit, office says, after ‘RESIGN LYDA RESIGN’ painted near City Hall Lyda Krewson has been under fire since ID'ing protesters during a Facebook Live briefing last month Police said people in the crowd yelled threats at the couple. [citation needed], Krewson worked to reduce panhandling in the Central West End (CWE) neighborhood by introducing the REAL Change Program, which encourages social services for those in need. tweeted Alderwoman Cara Spencer, who represents Ward 20 in south city. Police said they were still investigating but labeled it a case of trespassing and assault by intimidation against the couple by protesters in the racially diverse crowd. [3], While alderman of St. Louis's 28th ward, Krewson took out a home equity loan in 2003 to help fund an unsuccessful campaign against Missouri's concealed carry law, which passed. Mayor Krewson’s briefing Friday was never shared on 5 On Your Side’s social media pages. [6] He was murdered by a criminal on parole in an attempted carjacking in front of their Central West End house in 1995; she and their two young children were also in the car. In 1974 she earned a degree in psychology and a special education minor from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State). ... It’s only right that we visit her at her home,” said state Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, a St. Louis Democrat, speaking into a megaphone at the march. From 1997 to 2017, Krewson served as the alderman of St. Louis's 28th ward. On the way to her home, the protesters traveled through the Central West End neighborhood and took a shortcut through a private gated community, Portland Place. "Hey @LydaKrewson. Calls are mounting for the mayor of St. Louis to resign after she read out the names and addresses of protesters demanding the closure of an 'inhumane' city jail during a Facebook Live briefing. Homicides have spiked in recent years in St. Louis, which annually ranks among the most violent cities in the nation. Friday night, Mayor Krewson issued a statement apologizing for her actions. Video on social media showed protesters walking through the gate. "No leader should resort to intimidation of the residents they were elected to represent. Although the Facebook Live video can no longer be viewed on Mayor Krewson’s Facebook page, 5 On Your Side has a copy of the video, which was used for purposes of reporting this story. It’s a move designed to silence dissent, and it’s dangerous. In the days since the topic of defunding police has come up, the mayor has said several times during her Facebook Live briefings she is against removing funding from the St. Louis police department. [13] The program was attached to an ordinance to criminalize panhandling. "[22], After the Facebook Live incident, local activist and drag performer Maxi Glamour created a petition calling for Krewson's resignation that collected more than 30,000 signatures in two days. Short. [3] She worked for Deloitte for 7 years,[5] then served as the Chief Financial Officer of PGAV, an international design and planning firm. The post has been removed.". Mayor Krewson then began reading the suggestions. Mark McCloskey, 63, told a TV station that he and wife, Patricia, both personal injury lawyers, were facing an “angry mob” on their private street and feared for their lives Sunday night. President Donald Trump retweeted an ABC News account of the confrontation without comment. [7][6] The killer was later sentenced to life without parole. A person watching on Facebook wrote in to ask the mayor about the meeting she held with demonstrators outside of City Hall earlier in the day. With the retirement of four-term mayor Francis Slay, Krewson entered a crowded seven-way 2017 Democratic primary, the real contest in this heavily Democratic city (St. Louis has not elected a Republican mayor since 1949).She won the March 7 primary against Tishaura Jones, Lewis E. Reed, Antonio French, and others with 32% of the vote, just 879 votes ahead of Jones. The city-owned Biddle House shelter expanded to provide beds for 50 more people. When protesters entered the private street through a gate, there was a confrontation between them and the residents of the adjacent house, the residents of which brandished a rifle and handgun. Lyda Krewson (born November 14, 1953) is an American Democratic politician who is the 46th and current mayor of St. Louis, Missouri. | Laurie Skrivan/St. “This is all private property.