Mother Nature’s fury has given St. Louis an opportunity to rebuild a different landscape that rises from a new common vision for the city.

I have been a part of the recovery efforts. I have attended the meetings of elected officials and their bag of promises. I drive through the Northside neighborhoods almost daily to review the incredible damage and the progress (or lack thereof) for the survivors. I have talked to many tornado survivors. This has helped me keep grounded in reality and not get caught up in a false narrative.

And yes, it’s great that a few million of the nearly $800 million in Rams settlement funds has been allocated to the disaster relief. Most of that is triage money, not so much for the rebuilding phase.

Because I haven’t seen or heard a comprehensive recovery plan, nor a comprehensive rebuilding plan, I feel compelled to publicly share my humble observations and suggestions.

By now—two months out from the tragic storm—there should be an office and personnel in place to coordinate the City’s relief plan. There are city personnel in various departments who could volunteer and be trained up to staff the office. Storm victims don’t have the time or the energy to be bounced around trying to get answers to their important questions. This frustration only exacerbates their trauma.

I have heard common questions and concerns like victims needing emergency housing as well as help with navigating claims to their insurance companies. For example, those who were renters and now find out the building was under-insured or uninsured, what is their recourse? 

By now, we should’ve also been presented with a draft proposal for rebuilding our devastated neighborhoods, not just individual structures. This unprecedented situation calls for out-of-the-box thinking of seasoned city planners with citizen input, informed by other communities who have experience with rebuilding after a natural disaster. 

And yes, it’s great that a few million of the nearly $800 million in Rams settlement funds has been allocated to the disaster relief. Most of that is triage money, not so much for the rebuilding phase. This is why having a plan (including the costs of implementing the plan) is so critical. Right now, it’s a hodgepodge plan with hodgepodge resources that will result in the Northside looking the same in 10 years as it looks now. Ok, maybe there’ll be more green space where housing used to be but definitely no viable and vibrant communities will be rebuilt.

As we approach the 20^th anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina tragedy, it is a reminder of what can happen when you have opportunist white folks with a racist, corporate agenda collide with the humble agenda of poor and working class, Black communities. The disaster was used to make New Orleans white again. The Lower Ninth Ward was never fully rebuilt and as a result, many Black residents could never return. The Charter School industry took over the public schools. The political strength of Black voters was diluted. NOLA’s cultural character, rooted in African heritage, was forever compromised.

This is absolutely our Phoenix moment to dream of a new and improved St. Louis. It is not only about bricks and mortar but reversing decades of racial inequality and divisions that have plagued our psyche and our positive progress.

If we as human beings are sincere in our sentiments of empathy and compassion, we must demand a realistic plan that enhances the futures of our most impacted citizens and the entire city.

We as taxpayers must hold accountable our elected officials on all governmental levels to work together and ensure this community gets what it needs and what it is entitled to have. Those who were able to dodge the tornado, your voices and actions are imperative in this moment. This is how we truly have the backs of the tornado victims. It’s how we will reshape and improve the geographic, political, economic and social landscape of St. Louis going forward.