Skip to content
MetroSTL.com
  • Home
  • Locations
  • The NorthSider
  • The SouthSider
  • Newsletter

Author: Antonio French

antonio@thenorthsider.com Antonio French is the publisher of MetroSTL.com, The NorthSider and SouthSider community newspapers. Born and raised in north St. Louis, he is a social entrepreneur and former two-term St. Louis City alderman. He lives in the O'Fallon Park neighborhood with his wife, son, and four rescue dogs. Follow him on Twitter at @antoniofrench.
Newspapers will be online-only during virus crisis
Opinion
Newspapers will be online-only during virus crisis
Antonio French12 months ago0

Statement from Our Publisher I lead not only a newsroom but also a business. So I have made the decision to halt the printing of our newspapers during this COVID-19…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
This Thanksgiving, say a prayer for the Leftovers
Opinion
This Thanksgiving, say a prayer for the Leftovers
Antonio French1 year ago0

It’s been five years since the night of Nov. 24, 2014, when then-St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch, with little warning, after dark and late into the evening, made that…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Time's up, Bob
Opinion Shut Down Bob Romanik
Time's up, Bob
Antonio French1 year ago4

One year ago, on Oct. 4, 2018, I published a column in The NorthSider entitled “Bob Romanik is a Racist and It’s Time to Shut Him Down.” One year later,…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
French: Police should 'step up,' clean own house before scolding the public
News Opinion Police Accountability The NorthSider
French: Police should 'step up,' clean own house before scolding the public
Antonio French2 years ago0

Last weekend, many people marked the five-year anniversary of the killing of teenager Michael Brown Jr. by Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson. That killing, of course, sparked months of protests…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
MetroSTL with Antonio French - Episode #1
News Video
MetroSTL with Antonio French - Episode #1
Antonio French2 years ago0

In this episode, host Antonio French and reporters from The NorthSider and The SouthSider newspapers take a look at Wesley Bell and Kimberly Gardner, the two reformer prosecutors elected after…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
From our publisher:  It's not just Ferguson
Featured More Than Ferguson News Opinion
From our publisher: It's not just Ferguson
Antonio French2 years ago0

The dream of “One St. Louis” has been the aspiration of civic and business leaders for decades. Ever since the negative effects of the “Great Divorce” of 1876 began to…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Art Lo-Fi Cherokee Music News The SouthSider Video
PREMIERE: Lo-Fi Cherokee presents Nick Gusman and the Coyotes - "Shortcut the Mountain"
Antonio French2 years ago0

Nick Gusman and the Coyotes performing their song “Shortcut the Mountain” at Flowers and Weeds at 3201 Cherokee Street.

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Summer is coming.
Opinion
Summer is coming.
Antonio French2 years ago0

Game of Thrones has returned. The epic HBO show began its final season last week after a two-year hiatus. Eager fans, myself included, couldn’t wait to catch up with our…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
French: To north side middle-class families, city gov’t says: ‘You’re on your own.’
Opinion
French: To north side middle-class families, city gov’t says: ‘You’re on your own.’
Antonio French2 years ago0

North St. Louis is as misunderstood as it is under-served. It is home to some of the most beautifully built houses in the region. Its proximity to downtown, the Mississippi…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Reed won. Time to make up and work.
Opinion
Reed won. Time to make up and work.
Antonio French2 years ago1

It’s been a week since Lewis Reed defeated both Jamilah Nasheed and Megan Green to win his fourth term as President of the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday, March 5.…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Progressives still divided by race, runoffs needed
Opinion
Progressives still divided by race, runoffs needed
Antonio French2 years ago3

The division between black progressives and white progressives was on full display during the divisive campaign for President of the Board of Aldermen which ended Tuesday night with the two…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Hayden, Edwards remain blind to corruption in their department
Crime Opinion Police Accountability
Hayden, Edwards remain blind to corruption in their department
Antonio French2 years ago0

Within the last 60 days, four St. Louis police officers were indicted for beating another officer who was black, on-duty and undercover; another police officer was indicted after he and…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Undercover officer: Colleagues beat him 'like Rodney King'
Crime News Police Accountability
Undercover officer: Colleagues beat him 'like Rodney King'
Antonio French2 years ago0

ST. LOUIS (AP) — An undercover St. Louis police officer reported that his colleagues beat him “like Rodney King” when they mistook him for a protester following the acquittal of…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
A Tough Week for Black Officials
Featured Opinion Politics The NorthSider
A Tough Week for Black Officials
Antonio French2 years ago0

It was a rough week for black elected officials in St. Louis. Just a few days into 2019 and local media was buzzing with controversies big and small. Bruce Franks,…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Featured News Politics Video
Congressman Clay Interview
Antonio French2 years ago0

EXCLUSIVE: Congressman Lacy Clay (D-MO), sat down for an exclusive interview this week with Antonio French, publisher of The NorthSider, live by remote from his office in Washington, D.C. In…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Who should pay for police brutality? Why not cops?
Featured Opinion
Who should pay for police brutality? Why not cops?
Antonio French2 years ago0

There is a concern in City Hall about the growing cost of police brutality. As the City of St. Louis faces nearly two dozen lawsuits stemming from the police mishandling…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
St. Louis Police Remain Out of Control, Mayor Absent
Featured Opinion Police Accountability
St. Louis Police Remain Out of Control, Mayor Absent
Antonio French2 years ago0

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department remains out of control. It took federal investigators last week—not Police Chief John Hayden or Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, the men directly in…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
With Friends Like These...
Featured Opinion Politics
With Friends Like These...
Antonio French2 years ago4

As candidates begin to file to run for election and re-election to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, African-Americans, who are the largest racial group in the city, have another…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Snow Blankets the City
News
Snow Blankets the City
Antonio French2 years ago0
Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Missouri is Red. Trump Red.
Featured Opinion
Missouri is Red. Trump Red.
Antonio French2 years ago0

Now that the dust has started to settle after Tuesday’s election, what lessons will Missouri Democrats take away from the loss of the U.S. Senate seat? Well, let’s start with…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Rollout of medical marijuana will take several months
Featured Health News Politics
Rollout of medical marijuana will take several months
Antonio French2 years ago0

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri has joined the long list of states allowing medical marijuana, but it’ll likely be late next year at the earliest before people with cancer, HIV…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
McCaskill, Weed and Wages
Featured Opinion Politics
McCaskill, Weed and Wages
Antonio French2 years ago0

Election Day is nearly here and many voters still have questions about the issues and candidates appearing on the ballot. Here’s my take: U.S. Senator The candidates in the order…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Opinion: McCaskill and the Trump Trap
Featured Opinion People Politics
Opinion: McCaskill and the Trump Trap
Antonio French2 years ago0

Last week, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill and her Republican opponent, state Attorney General Josh Hawley, met in St. Louis for a one-hour televised debate. McCaskill found herself on the defense…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Opinion: Mandatory Minimums Are a Bad Idea, Not a Solution
Crime Featured Opinion Police Accountability Politics
Opinion: Mandatory Minimums Are a Bad Idea, Not a Solution
Antonio French2 years ago0

It’s not news that crime in the city of St. Louis is high. Violent crime, especially. Most people look at the homicide rate as proof that St. Louis is a…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Politics Video
French discussing McCaskill-Hawley race on MSNBC
Antonio French2 years ago0
Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Opinion: A City Searching for Hope
Featured Opinion Politics
Opinion: A City Searching for Hope
Antonio French2 years ago0

St. Louis is a city searching for hope. After decades of decline and population loss, the St. Louis region, like a busted blackjack player eyeing the dealer while thumbing his…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Video
Bob Romanik's Racist Rant
Antonio French2 years ago0
Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Bob Romanik is a Racist and It's Time to Shut Him Down
Featured News Opinion Shut Down Bob Romanik
Bob Romanik is a Racist and It's Time to Shut Him Down
Antonio French2 years ago1

The self-proclaimed “Grim Reaper of Radio” has for years spewed his hate on the airwaves of St. Louis from across the river at his Belleville AM radio station, KQQZ. But…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Democrats and McCaskill Owe Black Voters More
Opinion Politics
Democrats and McCaskill Owe Black Voters More
Antonio French2 years ago0

It’s that time again. Black radio is filled with political advertisements featuring African-American voices urging us to vote for Missouri Democrats. Stay clear of Republicans, they warn. Republicans like Josh…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Black and ‘progressive’ agendas don’t always align
Featured Opinion Politics
Black and ‘progressive’ agendas don’t always align
Antonio French2 years ago0

It has never been an easy alliance. On the surface it would appear that black elected officials would find a natural ally in white elected officials who label themselves as…

Read more

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
© Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.