Alisha Sonnier

Aldermen at Monday’s hearing mostly asked broader questions about the legislation, wanting to know more about the mechanisms for neighborhood development, provisions for city workers and new child care programs.

“Every neighborhood deserves to benefit from this investment,” St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said.

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed a bill that revises the city’s zoning code for shelters and transitional housing. Proponents say this will streamline the permitting process and give the city greater tools to address problematic shelters.

The two bills lay out access requirements for attorneys, elected officials, clergy and members of the Detention Facilities Oversight Board. Any person who inappropriately denies access could face a $500 fine.

Some Democrats are already endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign.

On Saturday at Washington University, police arrested more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters — 23 of them students.

The rules say commercial operators must have a federal pilot’s license and a business license. There are also restrictions on where they can fly. SMS Novel, a company based in the Washington, D.C., area, wanted to fly drones in the Gravois Park neighborhood to enhance public safety.

Sonnier went back to the drawing board after her Unhoused Bill of Rights faced intense criticism.

Residents of Gravois Park have opposed a Washington, D.C., film company's plan to use drones to conduct surveillance in their neighborhood. The company’s owner said he'd use the footage to prevent crime. Residents turned to the City of St. Louis to stop the plan.

Bill sponsor Alisha Sonnier says that housing is a human right and that the city has a responsibility to help people transition to permanent housing.