Alderman Filed Chapter 7 Bankruptcy While Serving on Ways & Means Committee
The Ways & Means Committee at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen is probably the most important of their standing committees:
[The] Ways and Means Committee is concerned with questions of finance, assessments, budget, public debt; appropriations and other bills not properly referable to other committees except monies administered by the Community Development Agency or the St. Louis Development Corporation.
The City of St. Louis needs competent leadership to address the financial problems  facing our city. Thankfully the committee chair is now Lyda Krewson (D-28). Her full-time job is as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the firm PGAV. The qualifications of the other ten current members of the committee pale compared to those of Krewson. In fact, one member of the committee shouldn’t be serving on the committee at all.
Marlene E. Davis (D-19) was elected to the Board of Aldermen in March 2007 (unchallenged) to finish the term of Michael McMillan, who became License Collector. After getting elected, this former President of the St. Louis School Board and two partners bought the legendary jazz nightclub Gene Lynn’s in July 2007, presumably from Mr. Gene Lynn himself. The partners were Kim Kyunah of O’Fallon, IL and Barry Adelstein of St. Louis.
On August 27, 2008 The Lindell Marketplace LP filed a lawsuit against the three for rent and possession totaling $100,171.92 In December 2008 the once-popular club was closed.
On March 3 2009 Davis defeated challenger Michelle Lawrence (73.44% vs 26.56%) in the democratic primary for a full 4-year term. On March 19,2009, a consent judgement for $24,000 was filed by Judge Peebles with payments of $300/month starting in April 2009.
In March 2010 Davis filed Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Davis listed assets of $10,500 and liabilities of $119,718.47. Nearly $17,000 was back taxes to the Missouri Department of Revenue ($5,000) and the Internal Revenue Service ($11,953.37).
A few of the “creditors holding unsecured non priority claims” were:
- Barry Adelstein $30,000
- Kim Kyunah $28,000
- Lindell Marketplace $25,506
Davis’ income was listed as $3108.28/month but after taxes and a tax garnishment of $1083.33 her take home pay was just $1,114.10/month. In a separate line for other monthly income Davis listed $350/month for “adjustment for expenses paid by city” bringing the total to $1,464.10/month. What’s interesting is the monthly expenses schedule — $3,003.00/month. The 2nd biggest item was an install payment of $384/month under auto. The largest was $425/month detailed on a separate sheet as:
- Mailings for ward: $175.00
- Stamps: $150.00
- Parking: $100.00
I’ve had my share of regrettable financial decisions over the years but I doubt Davis’ ability to make sound finical decisions for the City of St. Louis as a member of the Ways & Means Committee.
Tomorrow I will look at
A committee, by definition, is meant to provide multiple perspectives. I would be more concerned if she were the chair, and not just a member.  The bigger question is why do the people in her ward continue to reelect her? Because she’s actually a pretty good representative of how many of them are living?!
Bigger picture, the city relies on professional staff to craft the budget every year. Sure, the Board of Aldermen messes around with some of it, but the vast majority is approved as presented. I’d be a whole lot more concerned if the BoA could do things like arbitrarily set individual salaries, advertise and directly contract for purchases or decide which individual parks or libraries to support or close.
A committee, by definition, is meant to provide multiple perspectives. I would be more concerned if she were the chair, and not just a member. The bigger question is why do the people in her ward continue to reelect her? Because she’s actually a pretty good representative of how many of them are living?!
Bigger picture, the city relies on professional staff to craft the budget every year. Sure, the Board of Aldermen messes around with some of it, but the vast majority is approved as presented. I’d be a whole lot more concerned if the BoA could do things like arbitrarily set individual salaries, advertise and directly contract for purchases or decide which individual parks or libraries to support or close.
It certainly looks as if the BofA has no standards and does no vetting of their own before they are appointed to committees. I’m sure Ms Davis has talents better suited for committees that are better suited for her.Â
she should be removed from the ways and means committee tomorrow and there should be a review of each member of every committee to confirm they are qualified. It’s this type of situation that makes a mockery of our city government.
It certainly looks as if the BofA has no standards and does no vetting of their own before they are appointed to committees. I’m sure Ms Davis has talents better suited for committees that are better suited for her.
she should be removed from the ways and means committee tomorrow and there should be a review of each member of every committee to confirm they are qualified. It’s this type of situation that makes a mockery of our city government.