We do that by advancing accessibility, safety, equity and affordability in everything that we do. For many, they are too high to provide adequate support. I have served for a time on three district council boards, where my attendance record was near perfect. I take a "yes and" approach: Fund SPPD and support policing alternatives. On Wed., Oct. 26, residents of the RM of East St. Paul will vote for mayor and council. Currently, we have a top-down approach, where the mayor sets the budget and programs. Visit the 2023 Saint Paul Elections page for more information on this years endorsement process. He finished in a distant ninth place, winning only 5% of the vote and barely registering as an electoral afterthought. A pre-gentrified neighborhood has low owner occupancy, high rental units, vacancy and crime density. Councilmember Debora Juarez. In 2018, total district enrollment had declined in seven out of the 10 prior years. I know American Rescue Plan funding is one-time money, and there are definite investments we need to make to help students recover from the detrimental impacts of the pandemic (learning loss, social-emotional needs, mental health challenges, etc.). We need to stop the School Attendance Matters partnership with the Ramsey County Attorney's Office and child protection services. Vallas said. The citizens assess the danger and appropriate staff is sent. Safe streets first! This time around, Vallas received a number of high-profile endorsements, including from the Chicago Tribune and Ald. CHICAGO - Candidate for mayor Paul Vallas is reacting after Mayor Lori Lightfoot launched an election-eve attack on him. I would continue to support and expand de-escalation training while increasing training and education when serving the mentally challenged. I am a St. Paul native, a father, community organizer, youth advocate and nonprofit program director. Every child in St. Paul should have a chance to succeed in life. Web2021 Election Endorsements. This of course is important, but we have the opportunity now to create a system where our goal is to have children fall in love with learning and education, which one could easily see an outcome being that our students will experience educational growth. They have a chance to get ahead and save a lot of money in the long run. We must communicate better: We created an interactive online space for better transparency. Officers being stressed can lead to critical errors and poor interactions with citizens. Former board member of Brotherhood Inc. Minnesota National Speakers Association. I believe it is my role to be the best steward possible of the district's resources and work to ensure our children get the world class education they deserve. When droves of families leave a single school for another district school, or a charter, we know we are not being responsive to our families. I suggest teaching curriculum that reflects their lived experiences, retaining and hiring staff that reflect the people who come from their communities, and partnering with existing programs or organizations that supplement their learning. As mayor, I will work to expand our tax base and increase jobs with everyone's input. There are good-paying careers in the trades. Sheila Nezhad Minneapolis Mayor. Governor Gary Locke (fmr.) As stated above we need equitable elementary schools, that is the starting point. School board members that are elected on Nov. 2 will be thrust into major long- and short-term decisions and policymaking around the Envision SPPS initiative, which focuses on the potential merging, combining and closing of programs and schools. As the mayor of Saint Paul, I have sought to ensure that opportunity exists for everyone in this city, with an unapologetic focus on equity. We have raised the minimum wage, eliminated library late fines, provided over $4 million to families and businesses struggling through the pandemic and prioritized housing investments. Chicago mayoral candidates, top row, from left: State Rep. Kam Buckner, U.S. Rep. Jess "Chuy" Garca, activist Ja'Mal Green. Criminal justice system involvement at such a young age hinders future success. I want to set our students up for success by giving them as many opportunities to earn college credit in high school as possible. I'd like to see us prioritize initiatives that focus on social-emotional learning, engaging parents/caregivers and connecting students to supportive relationships in school and in their neighborhoods to help them build successful pathways. Finally, we need to stop giving tax increment financing (TIF) subsidies to developers that don't need it. I am prepared to serve the people and families of St. Paul. 8, 2020, at 12:46 PM. I'm a proud St. Paul Public Schools graduate and son of two longtime public school teachers. What other issues are the most pressing in the city, and what would you do about them? I believe we should put our students at the forefront of our budgetary decisions. The Envision SPPS initiative is perhaps the most pressing issue in front of the school board that is receiving the least amount of attention in the public realm. Six takeaways from the latest Minneapolis campaign finance reports, Oct. 29, 2021. This includes seeking creative ways to bring in and retain big and small businesses and add new jobs all consistent with our community values. As a sitting board member, I strive to be present in and aware of the conversations during negotiation cycles. Tuesday 10-12-21 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Feb 27, 2023, 7:44am PST. Candidates are running to fill three four-year seats. I support both sides of the equation educating people without hyperbole and misleading campaigns on the pros and cons of rent control. Cheryl Youakim State Representative (DFL-Hopkins) (DFL-Saint Paul) Steve The American Rescue Plan for SPPS is proposing $88.2 million directed to high quality education, $66.9 million to safe schools, $11.5 million to targeted student services, $10.9 million to family services and community partnerships, $11.7 million to operational expenses, $8 million to mental health and social-emotional learning and $9.4 million to systemic equity. I am a past president of our school's parent group, I have worked with our teachers union, I have served on district committees, I have formed a group to advocate for a citywide charter school moratorium and more. Our administration inherited historic disinvestment, with streets on an over 200-year replacement cycle. While there are a number of good things in the St. Paul rent control measure, the negatives outweigh the positives. Given my economics background, I'm fairly certain it will lead to a decrease in housing supply as these conditions are unfavorable to any new developer and place restrictions on renovations, leading to increased rental market prices. Candidates are running to fill one two-year seat. In addition to Lightfoot, the candidates are U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, former schools CEO Paul Vallas, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, businessman Willie My children and I walked the picket lines and marched to 360. Candidates are listed only after theyve received at least one endorsement. The mayor has an important role in working with the private sector to assist in the development and redevelopment of the riverfront and under-utilized areas. Furthermore, more and more children are coming into contact with the criminal justice system. I'm qualified because I'm an incumbent who was elected vice chair of the school board by my colleagues. Born and raised in St. Paul, I attended Inner City Youth League and Youth Express. Outgoing mayor Shelley Hart is not seeking re-election. I wrote emails and placed calls. We are engaged directly in this work under my leadership. The cap should protect renters from excessive rent increases, which can be set at the 90% percentile of rent increase so the city can prepare appropriate staff and protect renters from extreme rent increases. Mayor Lori Lightfoot faces a wide field of challengers on Tuesday, including one front-runner who has Johnson won endorsements of Squad member Delia Ramirez and freshman US Representative Jonathan Jackson, son of Jesse Jackson. If voters choose to support the very specific ballot measure this November, our administration will stand ready to implement it. Over the course of my Administration, we raised wages, launched CollegeBound Saint Paul, eliminated library late fines, tripled free programming in our rec centers, and more. As mayor, I will support both the St. Paul Police Department and the reforms necessary to improve criminal justice outcomes. Economic development is also best achieved through a business-friendly approach from city government. My passion to help others runs deep as I am the founder and president of the Langenfeld Foundation (est. This comprehensive strategy has led to a five-year low in crime in downtown, including a 20% decrease over the past year alone. I have a master's of science in agricultural and resource economics from UC Berkeley. That reality paired with rapid population growth and the ongoing impacts of the climate crisis have left our streets in disrepair. Strategic investments must be made so that our spending is in alignment with what taxpayers expect and this includes infrastructure maintenance and bricks-and-mortar projects. It meets the needs of families who cannot or prefer not to send their students in-person, and it demonstrates that when there's a clear desire in the community, we can provide alternative options that better meet their needs. I have been involved in many volunteer projects to help others and particular causes and in civic affairs to help better St. Paul. The risk of gentrification should not stop us from making more housing, including affordable housing, for more residents. I grew up in North Minneapolis and attended high school in Mankato following school closures and budget cuts that devastated my community. These investments are expensive, but they're important if we're trying to give our students the schools they deserve. In the first year, I will restore police officer positions and implement proven technologies to help reduce crime, including financing a ShotSpotter pilot project in those areas most impacted by gun violence. But this time, after finishing well ahead of eight other candidates Tuesday in the first round of balloting, Vallas has emerged as the front-runner. The latest Chicago mayoral poll shows a tight race between candidates Lori Lightfoot, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and Paul Vallas ahead of Election Day. I have a long-time career as an architectural artist, a gallery and frame shop owner (specializing in St. Paul), and I have an attractive, intimate music/performance venue I designed and built. These often include affordable housing, homelessness, road maintenance, infrastructure, mental health and other issues. WebBoth Minneapolis and St. Paul will elect mayors in ranked choice voting and also consider ballot questions that could shape the future of both cities. This years St. Paul mayoral race will once again feature ranked voting. I am the son of a retired St. Paul police officer and a former teacher who now serves as Ramsey County Board Chair. Brandon is better for so many reasons, Hernandez said. Homicides, shots fired and violent crime is at an all-time high. Among the many strategies our city can engage in to support this vision, the prospect of developing rent stabilization for our residents is intriguing. In 2017, after 12 years in office, Chris Coleman declined to run for a fourth term as mayor of St. Paul, opting instead for a short-lived bid to become Minnesota governor. Growing our own and hiring from the colleges and universities of Minnesota is too slow. We also need to make the process easier for people speaking the languages in highest need that our ELL teachers do not speak, such as Karen, Somali, etc., to enter our schools. Sadly, closing down Boys Totem Town was a travesty, because it was an event that gravely limited our options for our young men in helping them change their lives and be productive citizens in society. While we still have work to do to realize the safer outcomes we want for all our neighborhoods, we'll continue working to build the most comprehensive, coordinated and data-driven approach to public safety our city has ever endeavored. I was out of town for the active duration (picket lines) of the strike but was an active supporter and amplifier of messages via social media and internal communications. Investing in local infrastructure is critical for our city's future. I graduated from Metropolitan State University with a bachelor's in history and a master's in liberal studies. A quarter-century ago, a Metropolitan Council staff person said there was no political will to help them address it. Any governing agreements executed between the city and the developer would have to be monitored and adhered to by the next mayor(s) for the entire term of the agreement. Former board member of Council for Black Male Success for six years. There are over 34,000 students and over 3,000 employees in SPPS. When our government gets involved, you get more of what you don't want and less of what you do want. The body of work we built together is vital to our neighbors. I suggest an increased focus on practical applications of using English such as working as a team, starting and completing large projects, and managing a budget. One of our other pressing issues is the hiring and retention of Black, Brown and Indigenous teachers. I would give college and career readiness a much higher priority. Aging infrastructure continues to remain a concern for many cities across America. For the current rent control measure on the ballot, I believe it is too restrictive. That's why it's so crucial that we utilize American Rescue Plan funding to address the massive impact of COVID-19 and to fund the services for which our students and families have advocated. As your next mayor, I will work to restore law and order in our city because our community cannot have the jobs we want and the quality of life we deserve without safe streets first. We can and must take advantage of all funding sources, including state and federal grants and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to lessen the demand on our city's taxpayers. That, along with being disappointed at our current administration, triggered me to get into the mayoral race and fight to make some changes. Needless city and county spending has been the long-standing driver of ever-higher housing costs, including rents, here. I'm a Hmong father with four children in St. Paul Public Schools from high school to early childhood family education. Author of two published books. I will engage and advise when appropriate. 2018 See also: Municipal elections in St. Paul, Minnesota (2018) The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, held a special election for the Ward 4 seat on the city council on August 14, 2018. Republish. The federal government is providing $207 million in American Rescue Plan funding to the school district, and board members now are signing off on a long and broad list of uses. I pursued a career in education because I see our schools as critically important institutions that can contribute to a more fair and equitable society. 2. He finished in a distant ninth place, winning only 5% of the vote and barely registering as an electoral afterthought. We must protect the right of our workers to strike and bargain for the most equitable possible outcomes. If crime pays (as it does today), citizens and our businesses will lose. Where do you think it is falling short, and what would you suggest as a remedy? We can use the data to address the concerns that are leading to decreased enrollment. If elected, I would like to use the $166 million from the American Rescue Plan to jumpstart the citizen economy. We need to make sure we're preparing all of our students for life after school, no matter what path they decide to take. A major concern is the safety of the social worker as these calls can escalate and additional stress of officers to handle only high priority calls. We would immediately cross-train positions that can be handled by other administrative offices, which would reduce city funding. Professionally, I serve as the executive director of the Highland Business Association. The filing deadline for this election was August 15, 2017. As much as we can, we need to focus our resources where they have the biggest direct impact on students. I like his phrasing, Investor in Chief. I am a graduate of St. Paul Public Schools, and my wife Kristin and I have two daughters that attend SPPS. 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