My Star Tribune Survey

Q: How do you describe your ideological affiliation?

A: Independent, Budgetary Economic Stability (BEST), Social Liberal, Fiscal Conservative

1. Why are you running?

I’m a 50-year resident of Ward 11 but I love the whole city. I’m running as an independent budget reformer and business booster because too many elected leaders lack focus on rising taxes and falling revenue amid stagflation risks, tech disruptions (advances?), and slashed fed funding. Rebuilding downtown and nurturing futuristic work sites requires a shrewd pro-growth council and a focused city enterprise. Ward 11 is an open seat. The endorsed candidate focused on social supports, but we need a strong economy to ever fulfill that or we'll stress the budget even more, not less. I retrained as a nurse in my 40s. Targeted workforce redevelopment is a crying need, crucial for individuals and communities. Voters complain of more taxes for less service. That can change with needed budget cuts or eliminations, better prioritization and intergovernmental coordination.

2. What's your plan for reviving downtown?

Two needs are immediate. The mayor and council must signal they’re open for business, and downtown must be a safe place – real and imagined -- to work, live, explore and enjoy. Without that, all else is futile. When I was on the city’s Racial Equity Advisory in 2018, I attended a city priority retreat; Downtown was dead last and we’ve seen the lasting effects. I agree with Council President Payne and others that innovation in evolving neighborhoods is also essential. Demographic and entrepreneurial diversification is the future, but vitality and revenue growth downtown can power it all. Downtown Council, Minneapolis Foundation and Meet Minneapolis have all published long-range plans. Other civic and business leaders are begging for council leadership and support. It’s way past time.

3. Is the city taking the right approach to public safety, and do you support retaining Chief O'Hara?

The movement to fire Chief O’Hara is unimpressive. Amanda Harrington, Director of Neighborhood Safety, brings broad work experience and has been very public-facing. Bravo! But I fear our public-safety ecosystem is too diffuse. Right approach? Are we stopping and solving nuisance and property crime or assault? Busting big rings, gangs, removing modified guns and rifles, drugs, traffickers, killers and other toxins that hit central city hardest? Lately we’ve had successes (north more than south), but we need to keep the pressure on criminality. Today’s crime game is way beyond cops and robbers. It’s a sprawling, military-grade challenge, with wayward kids needing direct, serious intervention. I also worry the massive decrees are overly complex, ill-informed about practical realities about the work few of us would do.

4. What should be done differently to address homelessness and public drug use?

First, let’s agree large camps exploding and trash spreading over our neighbors – who are threatened by desperate folks around these -- is unacceptable. It’s unsafe for inhabitants. Public drug use is criminal because it’s self-destructive and dangerously influential. We have to curtail the next generation of addicts. The homeless may need careful division for the help needed, even licensure for tracking interventions and results. Basically, we need to bolster the ongoing intergovernmental collaboration. There have been successes: Veteran homelessness has flattened; Sprawling camps have dwindled. We have vacancies, and sadly, safe-use spots may be a temporary answer. I have enormous respect for the hundreds who do this heartbreaking groundwork. I’m open to learning and strategizing collaboratively, but clearly and forcefully toward a common goal.

5. Should MPD assist with crowd control at operations where ICE is present? Please explain. [This was a confusing question as it asked specifically about ‘crowd control,’ but that can have many meanings. But I did think the idea that MPD should have no role at all was absurd.]

Of course! The Bloomington/Lake raid was a test and some of the council failed badly. MPD was largely exonerated in the city's audit (of itself). Even the separation agreement allows MPD to assist in genuine criminal sweeps. I also think it’s fair to ask for true ID of mysterious actors; Defenders in community aren’t comforted if `crowd control’ stops us from turning back ruthless bounty hunters. I thought the citizen response was impressive in many ways. Chief O’Hara says – and many of us understand – MPD, community and all agencies must work together on these provocations, but the Democratic Socialist bloc is so fixated on MPD they will not ease their police-abolition stance. They leveraged Trump to drag Chief O’Hara. So backward. Untrustworthy.

6. How would you improve collaboration between the mayor's office and the City Council?

No candidate can promise this until we know if the new council is serious, so let’s elect a balanced, professionally communicative, collaborative council. Please, no supermajority in either direction; Our two recent experiences have been dreadful. Who can forget Powderhorn Park, or the veto/override volleyball this term. How about a local version of UK Question Time? Spokespersons from our main policy blocs should stand for questions regularly, taking time to explain their stance, provide supportive evidence, and give strong counters to others’ critiques. In the process, we might even find common ground! Social media and podcasts do elevate some great thoughts, but it’s insular. We can rise above that muck. Maybe Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) or Communications could produce it.

7. Who are you supporting for mayor? Please explain.

I nearly filed for mayor as I’m concerned for the whole city, not just south edge. I greatly respect anyone who enters at this level. Nobody’s perfect, but the mayor’s top challengers DQ’d over laughable downgrades of MPD Chief O’Hara. Nonetheless, Jazz Hampton has great talent and passion. The challenger coalition rankings seem upside down or worse. I’m interested in what an experienced Mayor Frey can do in a final term and we have no time for long transitions. If the winner has a hostile council, it’s a long four years. Some think that’s reason to dump the mayor, but it's a better reason to re-balance the council. Among the longshots, Brenda Short and Laverne Turner share my deep economic concerns. Xavier Pauke (Protecting Tomorrow’s Dreams) has strong vision.