More than three years after securing $250 million from a settlement over the Rams leaving for Los Angeles, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen appears on track to finally spend the money.
Lawmakers voted 12-3 Thursday to give initial approval to a plan that directs the remaining $230 million to tornado recovery, plus investments in north St. Louis, downtown and critical infrastructure like water. A final vote is expected June 26.
“Allocating these funds is a pivotal step toward addressing the unprecedented needs that are facing our city,” said Board of Aldermen President Megan Green, the bill’s sponsor. “Assembling the funds needed to fully address these issues requires a capital structure that includes the Rams settlement, state and federal funds, matching funds from philanthropic and corporate partners and other sources. Many of these funding partners have been waiting to see what the city is committed to and capable of doing so they can better understand how to fill in the gaps.”
In a rare moment at the board, Green left the dais to present her legislation from the floor. Vice President Shane Cohn presided during the debate that lasted nearly two hours.
Lawmakers had been on track to approve the framework for spending the settlement funds last year, but the deal fell apart in spectacular fashion after Green pushed through amendments that were not supported by other aldermen. A few months later, an EF3 tornado caused $1.6 billion in damage. North St. Louis was hit the worst.
The deal sets aside more than $120 million for tornado recovery, with the vast majority going toward housing repair and preservation. Activists had been pushing to spend at least $150 million – one individual yelled “Fund the northside!” from the gallery after aldermen took the vote on Thursday.
Community members gather for the Housing, Urban Development & Zoning Committee meeting to discuss Board Bill 22, which deals with the distribution of Rams settlement funds, at St. Louis City Hall on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
Charlotte Keene
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St. Louis Public Radio
Community members hold signs demanding that $150 million in Rams settlement funds be directed to tornado relief and north St. Louis during a Housing, Urban Development and Zoning committee meeting on June 9.
Downtown will receive about $55 million, including $15 million to redevelop the riverfront. The city will also invest in infrastructure, including $40 million for the beleaguered water division.
A massive hole that opened up last week just north of the Dome at America’s Center was on 8th Ward Alderwoman Jami Cox Antwi’s mind as her colleagues debated the legislation. It clearly demonstrated the need to support water, she said, but she hoped the required detours due to interstate closures would help people understand the need to invest in north St. Louis as well.
“In this time right now, where maybe for the first time you’re traveling north on Jefferson, I want you to look around, and I want you to notice what you see,” Cox Antwi said. And if you have a problem doing that for any reason, I think that problem alone should tell you why the northside investment components of the bill are so critically needed right now.”
The three aldermen who voted no generally objected to how the city had divided up the money. Alderman Bret Narayan of the 4th Ward said the city was making a huge mistake not keeping any funds back to build up interest for future emergencies. And 12th Ward Alderwoman Sharon Tyus objected to downtown receiving more of the Rams settlement funds because $30 million had already gone to the convention center as part of the original settlement agreement. Fifth Ward Alderman Matt Devoti voted against the plan without commenting.