Councilmember Smotherson Responds To Patch TIF Commission Article

UNIVERSITY CITY, MO — Councilmember Bwayne Smotherson, who represents University City's Third Ward, responded to a recent Patch article highlighting a racial disparity on the city's TIF commission, which will make a recommendation to the council about financing for new development in a predominantly African American community on Olive Boulevard. He took issue with the article's title, "Mostly White TIF Commission Weighs Fate of Minority Community," and said he thought it was important to address the matter officially.

"As an African American man, that's the world for us," Smotherson said, referring to the commission's racial makeup. "And so I don't really understand the point of your title, and I don't know if everybody knows what that was, but he literally listed, you know, 'This white commission is making a decision for minorities.' What I wish you had done is verify that with Rosalind Williams, as you did, but understanding that, as she said, I mean, there was no way around that. And I wish that you had looked into it more to understand that, based on what the school district did — they had appointed TIF commission members since June, early in June, when they appointed — now, that doesn't mean that they couldn't have changed it, but again, that was already set in place."

Smotherson continued: "The other thing that I wish that you'd have looked into is that the Third Ward wasn't allowed to appoint anybody. Whether that be a renter or whether that be a homeowner, we weren't allowed to appoint anybody to that commission. The other thing is that, you do know that Susan Armstrong is an African American woman out of the First Ward. And that was an appointee that I made and a suggestion that I made to Terry Crow and the mayor did, in fact, appoint her. I think the library board is actually appointing an African American woman.

"But the point is, you know, I don't see the point of your title. Because, then if you look at it that way, then everything you should write should start off that way. Because this council — look at this council. This council is mostly white. Look at the school board. The school board is mostly white. That's the world we live in."

Smotherson said reporters, including this one, should verify their opinions, and that he doesn't think color matters in relation to the TIF commission.

"Do I think that means anything? No. I don't think color means anything in reference to that TIF commission at all. Their job is just to, I guess, decide the financing for this development. And so, this council has already decided how that's going to be used, so that's not the TIF commission's job. Now, it would be different if that was part of their job, and then maybe I would have something to worry about. But, you know, what you're stating in that sense, isn't a good show for U-City, and it isn't a good show for you as a writer."

Patch did ask for comment from Rosalind Williams, the acting community development director, who was quoted in the previous article explaining that there was an African American woman — Armstrong — on the commission. Armstrong will serve as the commission's vice chair. Williams also explained that no one in the development area could legally serve on the commission, and that the city has only three appointees to the board, with the others coming from the county, school district and library board. Smotherson pointed out that another African American woman may be appointed by the library board, which would make the ratio of whites to African Americans on the commission 10 to two.

Watch the council meeting, along with Smotherson's full comments, in the video above.

Smotherson is one of two officials, along with Councilmember Paulette Carr, to bring the developer Novus to University City. Carr also serves on the TIF commission.

The TIF commission will meet again Wednesday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers. The meeting is open to the public. A public hearing is also scheduled for Wednesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at the Mandarin House on Olive Blvd. Patch will be there to cover both.

Photo and video by J. Ryne Danielson/Patch