He added that St. Louis had a history — pre-dating any of its current leaders — of having one-sided conversations with low-income residents who don’t get a say in decisions affecting their neighborhoods.

Both Slay and Green took exception to portions of Reed’s complaints.

Slay argued that the city had an obligation to do something considering “the rest of the region has turned their backs on the homeless.”

“It’s horrific to think the rest of the region doesn’t think this is their responsibility,” he said, adding that he would take responsibility for any problems caused by Biddle House.

He added that a well-known developer was probably playing a role in some of the Biddle House opposition.

“There is no perfect place to put a homeless shelter ..,” Slay said. “This is about Paul McKee trying to get people up in arms about this.”

McKee said by email on Wednesday night that he had taken no side on the project other than to support the “community position.” But city leaders say he has weighed in against the opening of a homeless shelter close to his proposed multibillion-dollar Northside Regeneration project, which would include hundreds of housing units, a small hospital, a grocery and other shops.