Politics & Government
Council Members Defend Allocation for 'Super Bowl of Conventions'
A University City resident's letter to the editor drew fire from St. Louis County Council Chairman Steve Stenger.
Members of the St. Louis County Council struck back Tuesday in Clayton at criticism of county investment in a gathering aimed at drawing conventions to the St. Louis area.
In June, the council approved $250,000 for a convention for the American Society of Association Executives. Dubbed the “Super Bowl of conventions,” the gathering is aimed at attracting major conferences to the St. Louis area.
The event, however, drew criticism from Tom Sullivan, a University City resident who wrote a letter to the Call Newspapers about the council's allocation.
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“By anyone's standards, $750,000 is an exorbitant amount of money for a party—especially when it is completely funded with public money,” Sullivan wrote in his letter.
Sullivan also wrote that “numerous questions about the party and why it should cost so much were asked of County Council Chairman Steve Stenger of South County. He has refused to answer.”
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Stenger, a Democrat who represents Mehlville and Oakville on the council, struck back at Sullivan’s criticism near the conclusion of Tuesday’s council meeting. He said the $250,000 had been “mischaracterized” as going toward a “big party.”
“That was really troubling to me because it’s a complete mischaracterization of what the event was,” said Stenger, who added he was unable to attend the event. “It was a convention for conventioneers. And it was to showcase St. Louis as a destination spot for conventions, which are, as we all know, it’s (one of the) bread and butter of the region.
“That type of mischaracterization doesn’t lead to the progress of our community,” Stenger added. "It's really something that tears it down… By essentially misinforming the community and misinforming voters and misinforming the residents of our region like that, it’s that type of backward thinking that can really hold us back if it’s allowed.”
Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger, R-Town and Country, suggested Stenger write a response to Sullivan’s article. And Councilman Greg Quinn, R-Ballwin, said the money came from taxes earmarked for tourism promotion.
“These people are the people responsible for a lot of the conventions that take place around the country,” Quinn said. “Seems to me having a function for them is perfectly good use of this fund.”
