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Ballot Questions

#1

Government Structure: Executive Mayor-Legislative Council

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to adopt a change in its form of government to an Executive Mayor-Legislative Council structure to shift certain powers to the Mayor, consolidating administrative authority over all operating departments under the Mayor, and eliminating the Executive Committee?

 

YES

I am for it and will vote yes on ballot question 1, but I am reluctant for the following two reasons:

  • The worst-case scenario would be ballot question 1 passing and specific candidates elected Mayor. Having those candidates with that kind of authority over our city would be a disaster.

  • Our current Mayor has had four years of "complete power" over the operation of our police department under our present Charter, and look where we are regarding policing - we have lost over 200. At least 48 children have been shot in our city. Do we want to give the current Mayor a lot MORE responsibility when he's failed on public safety where he already has total authority?

However, I am voting YES on question 1 because it should streamline government operations and lead to more accountability.

#2

Department of Public Safety

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to remove the Police Department and replace it with a Department of Public Safety that employs a comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions by the Department of Public Safety, with those specific functions to be determined by the Mayor and City Council by ordinance; which will not be subject to exclusive mayoral power over its establishment, maintenance, and command; and which could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety, with the general nature of the amendments being briefly indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made a part of this ballot?

 

NO

I will be voting NO on ballot question 2 because of the following:

  • There is no plan for the police department's replacement.

  • The vague "if necessary" condition would very likely be the focus of frequent political fighting and lawsuits regarding proper policing staffing levels.

  • The proposal would take power away from the Mayor, who currently has "complete power over the establishment, maintenance, and command of the police department."

  • It would also remove the chief of police from the City Charter, Chief Arradondo is the best chief of police in America for dealing with the issues we face.

Clint says:

We need our good police to keep us safe. I disagree with our current Mayor, who is in favor of removing the minimum police requirement in our Charter. Uncertainty about future numbers harms our ability to recruit and retain

#3

Authorizing City Council To Enact Rent Control Ordinance

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to authorize the City Council to regulate rents on private residential property in the City of Minneapolis, with the general nature of the amendments being indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made a part of this ballot?

 

YES, but…

This is a procedural question. It will be important for our next mayor to work with City Council, rent control experts, industry stakeholders, and Minneapolis residents at large to decide on a few different options. These options should be presented in an understandable format and provide a meaningful opportunity for input from the community before we create solid rules regarding rent control, given the impact and complexity of the issue.

I am interested in exploring a stratified rent control that would not apply at all to small landlords and pushing toward a pilot of stratified rent control limited to North Minneapolis, where the VAST majority of black residents are renters and pay way too much of their income to rent. We will study the results and the data before expanding