The article discusses the recent St. Louis mayoral election where Cara Spencer defeated incumbent Tishaura Jones. While Spencer's victory represents a change in leadership, the author expresses skepticism regarding whether this will lead to substantive improvements in the city.
St. Louis has a long history of electing Democratic mayors, with the last Republican mayor serving 76 years ago. This has resulted in several persistent issues like high crime rates, crumbling infrastructure, and a significant number of vacant buildings. The author worries that Spencer, a progressive Democrat, will not address these issues effectively.
Voter turnout was low with only about 50,000 out of approximately 220,000 registered voters participating. While some hope for Spencer's success, the author questions whether she is truly different from Jones. Spencer's voting record as an alderwoman, marked by an absence of nay votes on various proposals, raises further concerns about her commitment to real change.
The article highlights that to succeed, Spencer needs to address critical issues like ensuring public safety, improving waste management, and efficiently utilizing funds, including American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds and the settlement money from the St. Louis Rams departure.
Overall, the author concludes that unless the Republican Party becomes a more viable alternative in St. Louis, the city is unlikely to experience significant change, regardless of who is mayor. While there's hope for improvement, the skepticism towards Spencer's potential for truly significant change remains.