Megan has been a long-time criminal justice reform advocate, introducing legislation to bring the City of St. Louis’ use-of-force policies regarding First Amendment rights into compliance with the Ferguson Commission recommendations and two Federal Injunctions against the City. Additionally, Megan, since its inception, has been at the forefront of the campaign to Close the Workhouse.
As a Board Member with Local Progress, Megan co-facilitated a national working group of local elected officials to develop a policy tool-kit for criminal justice reform. Megan has been a long-time advocate of drug reform and the legalization of adult use of marijuana. As an employee at Shalom House, Megan has worked personally with chronically homeless individuals with mental illness and substance abuse, experiencing first-hand how our criminal justice system often does not support the most vulnerable members of our community. Megan believes that we need public safety solutions that prevent crime, build trust between police and our community, and keep people out of the criminal justice system.
As Alderwoman, Megan is committed to ending the costly and ineffective War on Drugs, to legalizing the adult use Marijuana, to expunging the records of those with past marijuana convictions, and to investing revenues from legalization in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs. Megan also commits to working with the Circuit Attorney and advocacy groups to eliminate predatory cash bail systems which keep people who are legally innocent, and too poor to afford bail, in jail while they await trial. Megan will continue to work to Close the Workhouse and reallocate cost savings into proven programs that address the root causes of crime.
Megan also believes that to create safer communities we must invest in public safety beyond policing. Safe communities can be created through investments in programs, such as Cure Violence, which seek to address the root causes of crime. Megan also supports the expansion of the Cops and Clinicians program to also address issues associated with poverty, drug addiction, and abuse.
