Constituent Services and Governance

With the stakes of the choices facing our city, expanding democracy is more important than ever in Minneapolis. I will continue to meet Ward 2 residents where they live, instead of requiring a trip downtown to City Hall, and keep bringing in voices too often left out of City decisions, from seniors to students to public housing residents.

In my first term, I have:

• Administered a survey to every resident of Ward 2, innovating a new method of municipal participatory governance.

• Blocked the Chamber of Commerce from donating in-kind consulting services to Mayor Frey. Big business lobbyists have no place in City Hall. 

• Been a leading voice for fiscal responsibility and transparency around the MN Department of Human Rights and Department of Justice consent decrees, authoring legislative action to ensure Council and the public understand the costs and how to minimize the burden on taxpayers. 

• Worked with and welcomed students, workers, and community groups into legislative work

• Successfully led on the need for a fully funded and fully staffed legislative department to protect local democracy in Minneapolis City governance.

This term, I will:

• Continue to develop the city’s new Legislative Department, including policy support clinics for residents to bring policy ideas to be workshopped into possible legislation. 

• Implement participatory budgeting so residents can better shape Minneapolis’ spending priorities.

• Expand the right to vote in municipal elections to all residents, regardless of citizenship status.

• Shift public hearings to the evening and weekend hours to allow easier participation by residents in key City decisions.