Every Day Numbers for the 14th District
CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
Division of Child Support Enforcement
(314) 264-7700
Jewish Family and Children's Services
(314) 993-1000
NAACP - St. Louis County Branch
(314) 389-1552
St. Louis County Human Services
(314) 615-4453
Youth Emergency Services
(314) 727-6294
CONSUMER PROTECTION
Consumer Credit Counseling Services
(314) 647-9004
Consumer
Credit Reports
1-877-322-8228
Missouri Consumer Protection Hotline
1-800-392-8222
Missouri Dept. of Insurance Consumer Information
1-800-726-7390
CRISIS HOTLINES
The Women's Safe House
(314) 772-4535
Youth Emergency Service Hotline
(314) 727-6294
St. Louis Housing Resource Center
(Homeless Hotline)
(314) 802-5444
Life Crisis Services, Inc. (for Adults)
(24-Hour)
(314) 647-4357
Elderly Abuse Hotline
1-800-392-0210
Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline
(24-Hours)
1-800-392-3738
Alcohol Drug Interventions & Drug Treatment Referrals
1-888-762-3750
Trevor Lifeline
(For at-risk LGBT youth: 24-Hours)
1-866-488-7386
HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES
Alzheimer's Association
1-800-272-3900
Birth & Death Records
(314) 615-1720
HIGHER EDUCATION
Missouri School for the Blind
(314) 776-4320
Paraquad, Inc.
(314) 289-4200
HOUSING
Beyond Housing
(314) 533-0600
Housing Authority -
St. Louis County
(314) 428-3200
Home Improvement Grants (North County)
(314) 615-8232
PREGNANCY COUNSELING
Abortion Alternatives
(314) 962-5300
Planned Parenthood & Reproductive Health Services of St. Louis
(314) 531-7526
SENIOR CITIZEN SERVICES
Missouri Rx Program
1-800-375-1406
Long-Term Care Information - Ombudsman
(314) 918-8222
Older Adult Community Action Program
(314) 993-5181
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (Elderly Law Unit)
(314) 534-4200
TOUR THE CAPITAL CITY
State Capitol Tours
(573) 751-2854
TRANSPORTATION
Call-A-Ride
(314) 652-3617
VETERANS BENEFITS
American Red Cross Blood Services
(314) 658-2000
Missouri Veterans Commission
(573) 751-3779
St. Louis County Office of Veterans' Services
(314) 552-9890
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS
Big Brothers
Big Sisters
(314) 361-5900
Foster Grandparents
(314) 961-8000
ext. 370
Newsletter
April 10, 2015
Friends & Neighbors,
If you would like to learn more about the issues addressed in this newsletter or would like to discuss any matter involving state government, please contact my Capitol office.
Thank you,
Maria Chappelle-Nadal
14th District
(573) 751-4106
Congratulations are in order – on Tuesday, the people of Ferguson elected three new members to their city council, two of whom are African-Americans. The victor from Ward 1, Wesley Bell, is a community college professor and lawyer, bringing it home with two-thirds of the vote. In Ward 3, Ella Jones, who also sits on the city’s Human Rights Commission, defeated three other candidates with fifty-percent of the vote. She is the first-ever Black woman to sit on the city council.
There is so much to be proud of here. First, I was thrilled that the citizens of Ferguson came out in droves this year to make their voices heard. Even in rough weather, voters were not discouraged – turnout for this election was at thirty percent, a record high. I also admire the initiative of the candidates: One, an educator, and the other, a former cosmetics employee – these are familiar faces you run into every day, people who decided to press pause in their daily lives to step up when injustice surfaced in their community. In the troubled days since Michael Brown’s shooting, I struggled to promote civic engagement in order to help people join the dialogue, so that they could become a part of the decisions that affected them. When I came out to greet voters, I was so encouraged to see my community mobilizing to have their say in city government. We are now witnessing the growth in civic participation this city needs.
These council members have some big decisions ahead, such as addressing the findings of the Department of Justice probe, and assigning key positions such as the new city manager and police chief. At this point, we are beginning to build back confidence, and I wish the new council members all the best in the trials ahead. For now, this election represents an additional chapter to the story of Ferguson – this time one of promise, and potential.
Yesterday, my bill providing for reinforced constitutional protections (SB 567) passed out of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence. This legislation addresses the outrages witnessed in Ferguson, which included the tear-gassing of protestors, reporters and other innocent bystanders by police.
My bill allows for damages for victims of interference with civil rights by police or other agencies. The protections offered are comprehensive – officers or other agents need only to be acting under the color of statute, specific discriminatory orders or directives do not need to be shown.
The bill is now placed on the Senate Formal Perfection calendar, and I am looking forward to an open discussion of these reforms with my colleagues. I am hopeful that through our negotiation, we can put a stop to any further abuses, and safeguard the guaranteed rights of every Missouri citizen.
In the world of politics, heroes can be hard to find. Americans wonder (and rightly so) about the agendas of every official claiming to defend the common good, and whether it's really the financial giants and special interests that have their representative’s ear. While it is often difficult to tell the difference, today I want to give a shout-out to one of my political role models who passes this test any day of the week. Last Monday, Senator Elizabeth Warren reaffirmed her goals of financial reform in the face of Wall Street and big money. When banks like Citigroup and J.P. Morgan talked about withholding contributions to democrats in retaliation to their “negative” portrayal, her response was this: “Bring it on.”
You can't write talking points for that kind of fearlessness – such a reply is the product of character. Senator Warren has consistently delivered her progressive populist message without hesitation, calling out Republicans, bank CEO's, and even her own party. This Senator from Massachusetts is not afraid to interrupt a hearing to point out inconsistent and cynical behavior from legislators, and she does not shy away from telling it like it is, when she points out that the market is rigged to heavily favor big business over the pursuits of American wage-earners.
I have personal respect for these actions because they illustrate the qualities that separate real leaders from capable politicians. When you’re willing to critique your own party when their actions don’t measure up to their words, that’s when partisanship is overcome by vision, and government begins to make sense again. That is the kind of resolve our party needs – the willingness to stand by our ideals, and ask the tough questions that keep people honest. It’s the path I walk here in the Missouri Senate, especially when potential distractors threaten to pull us away from what needs to be discussed.
Institutional racism, constitutional protections and a still-crippled student transfer system – these are issues I am unwilling to let fall by the wayside. The conversation on Ferguson, for example, is far from over; my most recent legislation preventing interference with civil rights by police or other agencies was heard in committee only just last week. (SB 567) Even now, legislators rush forward to pass a budget ahead of schedule, and end that conversation — but those same appropriations include a measure that threatens to disqualify the children of illegal immigrants from college scholarships. Aside from the injustice of punishing children whose presence here was not their decision, trying to float this hateful measure along with the budget is outright dishonesty.
I am unwilling to give these problems a pass, and I will not be deterred by underhanded tactics, or any of the special interests that would like to change the subject. To those interests who are hoping I sit quietly in the weeks to come, prepare for disappointment. My commitment to resolve the issues faced by my constituents may very well provoke attempts to undermine my efforts across the board; we can safely expect this from those who are happy with the status quo. In regards to that possibility, I can only echo the words of Sen. Warren:
“Bring it on.”
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What's next for the Ferguson police department? (The St. Louis American)
Diehl proposes changes to handling state traffic fines (Rolla Daily News)
It Will Take More Than an Election to Heal Ferguson (New Republic)
Election apathy: Ferguson has registered just 608 new voters since August (Fusion)
VIDEO: Will Ferguson elections be a turning point? (MSNBC)
COALITION PARTNERS LOBBY TO END RACIALLY BIASED POLICING (ACLU of Missouri)
She’s Speaking Up for the Voiceless in Ferguson (The Root)
Diehl Proposes Changes to Handling Missouri Traffic Fines (Associated Press)
THE JACO REPORT: Still fragmented by design (The St. Louis American)
What's next for the Ferguson police department (St. Louis Public Radio)
Take Jail Off the Table (The St. Louis American)
Change Systems or People? Beyond Ferguson Debates Way Forward (Peoria Public Radio)
CNN's Carol Costello talks to MO State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal about Ferguson
State Senator: 'There is no credibility' when it comes to Ferguson (MSNBC)
Manhunt for Ferguson Police Shooter Sparks More Outrage (ABC News)
Why did the Ferguson Police chief resign now (CNN)
Ferguson Police Chief to step down after release of scathing DOJ report (MSNBC)
Chappelle-Nadal, ACLU push new law enforcement regulations (Missouri Times)
Ferguson, Mo., police chief resigns (USA Today)
St Louis American “Ferguson Police Chief Resigns (The St. Louis American)
Can the Ferguson Police Department Be Fixed? (Newsweek)
Two state Senators want Ferguson PD Disbanded (KHQA)
Ferguson police chief to net nearly $100,000 upon resignation (Mashable)
DOJ report recharges outrage in Ferguson (Hexa News)
“Thank you for all that you do” – Ron W.
“Maria…it is great to see how you conduct yourself in these tumultuous times. I am proud to know you.” – Ralph B.
“I am very impressed by your character, comprehension and integrity. Thank you for sponsoring legislation meaningful to Missouri citizens.” – Linda Y.
“I want to thank you for not forgetting my birthday. It meant so much.” – Patricia J.
“Senator, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for introducing SB 559. You know the importance of these policy changes for MO’s immigrant and refugee residents. Thank you for your ongoing leadership.” – Vanessa C.
Last Saturday I dropped into BJ’s Market in Stony Island, Chicago to enjoy a great breakfast as well the company of representatives from the Coalition of African American Leaders. As this was a “power breakfast,” our conversation was of course an active one – as guest speaker, I was happy to engage with members about how to move forward in the aftermath of Ferguson.
Happy Election Day - So glad that people made it out!
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