While
alderman of
St. Louis's 28th ward, Krewson took out a
home equity loan in 2003 to help fund an unsuccessful campaign against Missouri's
concealed carry law, which passed. In 2011, she led the city's successful effort to pass a
smoking ban. Krewson served as the Chairman of the Board of Aldermen's Transportation & Commerce Committee. Previously she served as the chairman of the Ways & Means, Convention & Tourism, and Parks & Environment committees. With the retirement of four-term mayor
Francis Slay, Krewson entered a crowded seven-way 2017 Democratic primary, the real contest in this heavily Democratic city (St. Louis has not elected a Republican mayor since 1949). She won the March 7 primary against
Tishaura Jones,
Lewis E. Reed,
Antonio French, and others with 32% of the vote, just 879 votes ahead of Jones. In the
general election on April 4, she defeated Republican candidate Andrew Jones with 67% of the vote, becoming the first female chief executive in the city's history. She took office on April 18. {{Election box begin no change
Panhandling and homelessness Krewson worked to reduce
panhandling in the
Central West End neighborhood by introducing the REAL Change Program, which encourages social services for those in need. The program was attached to an ordinance to criminalize panhandling. During the 2017 mayoral campaign,
The St. Louis American newspaper criticized the program, arguing that Krewson did not understand the factors behind poverty and homelessness. A legal battle initiated by
Francis Slay's administration against Larry Rice's New Life Evangelistic Center homeless shelter came to a close in April 2017, early in Krewson's mayoralty, allowing the city to close the shelter, which provided temporary housing for up to 150 people. The city-owned Biddle House shelter expanded to provide beds for 50 more people. At least two people died in the streets without housing the previous winter.
Crime prevention In August 2019, Krewson agreed to sponsor a one-year contract with
Cure Violence in response to community pressure and an
increased city murder rate. Previous measures from Krewson's administration had focused on increasing policing, while Cure Violence trains civilians in
crisis intervention and community based solutions. Aldermanic President
Lewis E. Reed told reporters that he supported additional funding for the program. In April,
Comptroller Darlene Green raised the issue of the local medium-security prison known as the
St. Louis Workhouse causing violence, advocating that Krewson move to close it. Advocates and activists have campaigned for the Workhouse's closure, citing inhumane conditions and
criminalization of poverty. The city was sued in 2017 after people incarcerated in the Workhouse were heard screaming for help during a
heat wave and large protests were staged outside the fence. The city responded by installing temporary
air conditioning units.
Facebook Live incident In a public briefing broadcast live on
Facebook on June 26, 2020, Krewson read aloud the names and addresses of multiple constituents, including a minor, who had signed a petition in favor of budgetary changes that involved
redirecting all the money spent on the police department to social services, affordable housing and
Cure Violence. She apologized later that day and removed the post after protesters showed up at her house. The
American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri released a statement condemning her actions, saying "[i]t serves no apparent purpose beyond intimidation." After the Facebook Live incident, local activist and
drag performer
Maxi Glamour created a petition calling for Krewson's resignation that collected more than 30,000 signatures in two days. 500
Black Lives Matter protesters marched to Krewson's home to demand her resignation, the closure of
St. Louis Workhouse, and defunding of the
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. On the way to her home, the protesters traveled through the
Central West End neighborhood and took a shortcut through a private gated community,
Portland Place. When protesters entered the private street through a gate, there was
a confrontation between them and the residents of the adjacent house, who brandished a rifle and handgun. ==References==