Over the last year, I have proven that I can do all this work. I take a "yes and" approach: Fund SPPD and support policing alternatives. Mayoral hopeful Paul Vallas brings complicated Chicago Public Schools legacy. In regard to housing, it's critical that we continue to leverage investments that support our residents' ability to secure stable and affordable housing, like our Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Families First Rent Supplement Program and connecting people experiencing homelessness to support, services and resources. The mayor has an obligation to ensure staffing and resources are provided to keep the city safe and support the necessary reforms. Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas takes a photo with a supporter during his election night party at Recess, located at 838 W. Kinzie St., Tuesday on Feb. 28, 2023. We now have various offices that have been deemed as a conflict of interest and we believe that transparency is not being upheld at the city and county level, by way of merged family units controlling our city. SPPS provides college credit to English language learner students who test up to standards in their non-English language. The allegations have surfaced at a high point in St. Paul's mayor's race. Our diversity is our competitive advantage for the future. Families leave the district for a number of reasons. I would give college and career readiness a much higher priority. Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, who served as the first CEO of Chicago Public Schools, faces scrutiny for his decisions to forgo payments to the pension fund and hand out harsh probations for underperforming schools. I would like to see us reduce class sizes, invest in mental health support staff, support the arts in all of our schools and work to make certain that our curriculum reflects the lived experiences of all of our students. Republish. He finished in a distant ninth place, winning only 5% of the vote and barely registering as an electoral afterthought. I am a St. Paul native, a father, community organizer, youth advocate and nonprofit program director. We are listening to what the community and families want and actively assessing all school programs to ensure each offers a well-rounded, world-class education. The safety of our businesses, the public and their neighborhoods happens to be the most important job function of a city and the most pressing issue in the city. Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Contact Us Sadly, they are becoming increasingly involved in more violent crime. Now more than ever, we need strong board members at the helm to tackle the issues facing the district. St. Pauls ranked-choice mayoral race is in full swing with eight candidates vying for the seat, including incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter. For long-term planning, we need to increase tax revenue in the city and/or get the large nonprofits to pay their share of street maintenance (will need more research on approach). I have learned in this campaign that some of these administrative offices can be combined and combined work duties. State of Minnesota for over 15 years in various positions. I am a graduate of St. Paul Public Schools, and my wife Kristin and I have two daughters that attend SPPS. After falling far short in his first run for mayor in 2019, Vallas delivered a convincing thrashing of SPPS is facing an enrollment crisis. By combining some of the current offices and duties, we would be able to reduce city funding and spending. I brought breakfast for striking workers and joined them on the picket line every morning. But most likely, this student needs routine, repetition and hands-on experience before they go on to college. White Bear Lake isnt St A new poll, conducted just days before Tuesdays election, shows former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas expanding his lead in the citys mayoral race, with three By Mauricio Pea. In St. Paul, voters will make two big decisions: Who will lead the city as mayor and will the city set a 3 percent cap on rent increases. Ongoing programmatic evaluation, examination of building capacity (also in line with a holistic review of the Facilities Master Plan and the Envision SPPS initiative) and Superintendent Gothard's strategic plan (especially tenets directly related to enrollment) must be analyzed and evaluated on an ongoing basis in order to reverse the trend of declining enrollment as soon as possible. Chicago Votes for Mayor in a Race Dominated by Crime and Policing. Election linksRegister to vote or check registration statusFind your polling placeSee what's on your ballotHow to vote earlyWhat is ranked-choice voting? Politicians here were quick to shut down hundreds of small businesses during COVID, which subsequently caused widespread economic harm while large conglomerates were allowed to have record sales at the expense of our closed small businesses in the name of they were selling "essential items." Add to this, leadership's refusal to curtail ever-rising small- and medium-sized criminal behavior, which then often escalates into serious crime. I've also run for City Council (Ward 2) and am not embarrassed by placing second four of five times. I'm a strong union supporter and believe that our workplaces are better when workers can come together to bargain. We need to create a program that recruits teachers from out-of-state colleges and universities that have significantly higher numbers of BIPOC education graduates. Our district tries to make certain translation services available to our students and we provide some amazing dual-immersion programs that provide great spaces for students to learn English as well as their own languages. The following candidates have filed to run in the St. Paul mayoral election, set for Nov. 2, 2021. 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. We need to ensure that we have enough trauma-responsive providers and care professionals in each building. Paul presents St. Paul Mayoral Candidate Forum, October 24, 2013 WebWelcome to the Saint Paul DFL 2023 Saint Paul Caucus & Convention Dates Are Official The 2023 Saint Paul DFL Caucus and Convention dates are public and official! I earned my bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of St. Thomas and have since received many awards for my public service. I'm the former education data analyst for South Washington County Schools and the founder/programmer of the St. Paul Open Data Initiative. Gentrification, when removing race, is simply development. How do you plan to use city resources and policies to manage these large-scale projects, and how do you envision them changing St. Paul? 25 N. 21st Ave. W. Upon returning to the Twin Cities, I studied and graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in psychology. Should the cap be 3% or 5%? I am the co-owner of a small residential remodeling company that operates in St. Paul and beyond. But most importantly, SPPS needs leaders who ensure that administrators are held accountable for their actions, that progress is being made toward goals in the strategic plan and proactive communication with the diverse families that make up SPPS. I can't emphasize enough how important it is that folks citywide are aware of the potential ramifications and outcomes of this initiative that is quickly moving forward with extremely limited public engagement. Kate Knuth is a former three-term state representative and sustainability scientist running for Mayor of Minneapolis in 2021. Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. We can do so through community liaisons who are members of the communities that we're trying to reach. All of this and more form a body of work in St. Paul that we achieved together over the last three years, and is vital to the success of all our residents. The argument is circular as leadership continues to believe they need ever more dominion over citizens and all aspects of housing here to correct problems they helped create. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us just how great an impact our educators, school buildings and community have on our students. This is creating a vacuum for students inadequately transitioning into college, trades or career after high school. Did you support the walkout, and if so, in what way? For projects underway, legally, they would have been vetted and negotiated by the current mayor and his administration through a publicly transparent approval process. Candidates are running to fill one two-year seat. That's why all of our work has been focused on giving all St. Paulites a shot at the prosperity our city has to offer. Campaign Finance. The amount of staff and exemption cases from landlords that the city deals with is dependent on the cap. Most citizens, particularly in high-crime areas, want this. Investing in local infrastructure is critical for our city's future. We remain committed to realizing safer outcomes for our neighborhoods through balanced investments in emergency response and proactive strategies through our community-first public safety framework designed to address the root causes of public safety challenges in our city. I am a graduate, parent of two St. Paul Public Schools graduates and a SPPS grandparent. Furthermore, I have served on the Highland District Council as vice president and as a member of the Community Engagement Committee. These often include affordable housing, homelessness, road maintenance, infrastructure, mental health and other issues. I will continue to put my knowledge and experience to work to change the district from within to better serve students and families. I've door-knocked 75% of St. Paul since beginning my campaign Feb. 25. Chicago Votes for Mayor in a Race Dominated by Crime and Policing. 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. The mayor's office has a unique opportunity to intervene in this cycle. I hope that my experience in organized labor can be an asset to the district as we work to improve our relationships with our bargaining units and avoid future walkouts. Concerns about gentrification should have been previously addressed and included within the final governing agreement with the community. 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. As mayor, I will enforce curfews for juveniles as one component of my policy to reduce crime and protect youth in our city. He finished in a distant ninth place, winning only 5% of the vote and barely registering as an electoral afterthought. 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. "Well, first of all, I really have to laugh at that!" I know what it looks like when we fall short of that goal. There are still times when it's difficult to acquire the translation services our schools need to effectively communicate with students and parents. Mutual respect is the best landing spot for all 27 bargaining units in St. Paul Public Schools. We must acknowledge that all children have their own unique set of needs and children learning a second or third language are included in that. I'm an Army veteran who served in Iraq in 2003. We also need to work more intentionally to reach out to our immigrant and English language learner communities whenever we conduct the surveys that inform our decisions. 801 N 1st St. DeKalb, IL 60115 815-753-9000. I did support the walkout and am proud to be a St. Paul Federation of Educators-endorsed candidate. Counselors and community leaders will assess and speak with the children to determine how best to help them. Their policies have been effective in serving all residents of the city. Former board member and entertainment chair of Rondo Inc. Former board member of MLK Statewide Celebration. This is what the district is doing right. I'm a former Sunday School teacher, assistant youth leader and youth pastor. I spent years running campaigns and organizing students and young people to increase voter turnout and engagement. I have personally lived in low-income areas and understand firsthand the negative impact that poverty has on quality of life. The St. Paul school district continues to face enrollment declines. After graduating in 2016, I've stayed involved and active in district-related issues and have been an advocate for initiatives ranging from increasing culturally relevant curriculum to strategies for increasing enrollment and retention. Sheila Nezhad Minneapolis Mayor. Also, SPPS must embark on participating in the use of solar energy sooner rather than later. I feel it is a board member's job to have a full understanding of the asks and limitations of both sides in contract negotiations. That reality paired with rapid population growth and the ongoing impacts of the climate crisis have left our streets in disrepair. We need to prioritize exploring measures that emphasize audio and video engagement, liaisons for language and cultural communities, and more robust English language learner programming. A pre-gentrified neighborhood has low owner occupancy, high rental units, vacancy and crime density. Many say they are. UPDATE: Mayor Carter said he planned to vote in support of the rent stabilization ballot measure after this article was published. Furthermore, more and more children are coming into contact with the criminal justice system. There are good-paying careers in the trades. The biggest tool to increase housing and development are changes in ordinance to permit multi-unit housing. This includes increasing training for police officers and expanding community outreach. SPFE was fighting for more social/emotional support for our students, which they need and I support. The public agrees, we cannot place St. Paul back onto a higher track until we get growing crime and growing lack of accountability under control and reversed. For many families, their ELL teacher is the main point person to our schools. From a lack of culturally responsive support resources to not meeting federal mandates, there's more work to be done (that must be done in collaboration with families and community) to ensure our ELL students are receiving the services they are legally entitled to. I would love to see us be proactive about reaching out to families to see why they choose charters or private schools over our public schools. 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. The family of the man, 28-year-old Kevin Donel Johnson Jr., told Texas Public Radio the officers shot him nine times. Previous administrations have neglected infrastructure maintenance to fund their personal pet projects. I renewed my leases in 2019 for 10 years. Mayoral Candidate Cook County commissioner Brandon Johnson gives a speech to his supporters during his election watch party at El Palais Bu-Sche at 4628 W. Washington Blvd. We must align the budget and resources to meet those goals and do the work of engaging the SPPS community in ongoing conversations to have positive student outcomes for all children in SPPS. I did support the walkout. I opened my first 8218 Truce Center on Lexington Parkway and Selby Avenue in St. Paul. Mayoral hopeful Paul Vallas brings complicated Chicago Public Schools legacy. There will also be clear, concise and frank discussions about how do we ensure reuse of the Ford plant site and Hillcrest and Totem Town, among other potential development sites, can proceed in the best and highest uses possible for all involved. The St. Paul Federation of Educators went on strike in the winter of 2020. All were disrupted from learning, teaching and performing their duties over the course of the last 18 months and to this day. We also need to make sure students know that college isn't the only path to success. If elected, I would like to use the $166 million from the American Rescue Plan to jumpstart the citizen economy. The filing deadline for this election was August 15, 2017. We have one of the most diverse school districts full of rich cultures and lived experiences however, our students and schools are struggling to provide them with the tools they need for success. Placing our faith in a city government to successfully control rising rent when it cannot even control rising crime requires a huge leap of faith. "In our first 90 days" will be my initiative to speak with citizens as openly as possible in public and on the city's website about: what is working and what is not working in St. Paul, and how do we fix what is not working? 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.). These practices should complement the academic rigors of reading, math and writing, not replace them. Cheryl Youakim State Representative (DFL-Hopkins) (DFL-Saint Paul) Steve Additionally, I believe the development of the SPPS Online School was a step in the right direction. I'm running Over 31 years, advanced through the ranks of the St. Paul Fire Department to the rank of district fire chief. Currently, we have a top-down approach, where the mayor sets the budget and programs. I am the son of a retired St. Paul police officer and a former teacher who now serves as Ramsey County Board Chair. Descriptions of offices that will be on voters' ballots this election cycle Giving students one-on-one attention, building relationships with students and their families, cultural celebrations, hiring teachers and staff that look like the students, having interpreters, translating flyers and phone calls. While I continue to work my way across this entire city since Feb. 25, I have occasion to ask people: If you owned a home or a building and were selling it or renting it out, would you want City Hall to tell you the prices you can charge? Because the graduation rates for students of color from those earlier times are not great, the confidence and patience these families have for SPPS in the present is minimal. If voters choose to support the very specific ballot measure this November, our administration will stand ready to implement it. Better communication and respect for families. We need to do better. Research has shown that many children are either a perpetrator or the victim of crime during the late hours of the night. At the same time, residents have expressed concerns about gentrification that could leave behind low-income communities and people of color. Outside SPPS, I have extensive experience in board governance and community engagement involving organizations and institutions of various sizes. WebCandidate Filing. ET. 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. Our ELL teachers are an example of where the district is doing a good job. From mental health and social emotional learning to investments in safe schools and targeted student services, I'm satisfied (viewing this on the outset) with the planned expenditures and the collaborative process the district underwent to develop the now-board-approved themes and expenditures. Currently, Mayor Carter is funding public safety programs by underfunding the St. Paul Police Department. In the first year, I will assemble a panel of experts, guided by community input, and put into action a plan that fosters economic development and job creation. What do you think the district is doing right in serving their needs? I graduated from Metropolitan State University with a bachelor's in history and a master's in liberal studies. I have served for a time on three district council boards, where my attendance record was near perfect. League of Women Voters/St. Tuesday 10-12-21 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm He finished in a distant ninth place, winning only 5% of the vote and barely Continuing to create a pipeline of success for staff of color is crucial. SPPS continues to have persistent inequities in our elementary schools. This could be done through the St. Paul Urban Teacher (SUTR) program, which is already operating. We are identifying and expanding our work with diverse community partners, intentionally seeking them out in areas we identify needs. We must rise to the challenge of a new level of the work in the district and identify more ways in which to engage with families. I would also reappoint Chief Todd Axtell. Elected Official Information. 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. 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. They need assistance in the immediate present. More city staff cross-training will be administered immediately so that all areas are covered. Professionally, I serve as the executive director of the Highland Business Association. Worked for the city of Phoenix for four years and the state of Arizona for four years. Minneapolis Park Board At-Large. Where do you think it is falling short, and what would you suggest as a remedy? Feb 27, 2023, 7:44am PST. In a world of COVID-19, a school board member must consider social distancing, masking, testing and vaccinations as much as enrollment, quality staffing, academic outcomes and career and college readiness. 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