Merv’s Vision for Our Community
“My priorities are shaped by my values and the hundreds of conversations I have had with Third Ward residents. I am committed to servant leadership and advocating for policies that will move our community forward to build a safer, more equitable Minneapolis where everyone can succeed.”
-Merv
A Renewed Commitment to Public Safety
The first responsibility of government is to ensure the safety of its citizens regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, orientation or economic status. I want Minneapolis to be a city where families can walk to their favorite restaurant at any time of day or night and feel safe. A city where parents do not have to worry when their children leave the safety of their home. A city where the MPD is widely regarded as a force for good. Currently, our police are overburdened and forced to take a reactive stance, only responding to crimes after they occur instead of working to prevent them beforehand. I support a return to a more community oriented policing where officers are given the time and resources to build relationships and trust with the neighborhoods and communities they serve. Our police are also currently tasked with handling a wide variety of problems, many of which they are not completely trained for or equipped to handle properly. We need to explore expanding co-responder programs that teams social workers or mental health professionals with the MPD to handle homeless, overdose and emotionally disturbed persons calls. We need to work together to find pragmatic solutions to reduce crime and make sure everyone feels safe in their community.
Supporting Businesses and Creating Equitable Economic Opportunity
The Third Ward is the creative and economic center of Minneapolis. Our community is the economic engine of our city and the state. The pandemic has been a severe setback for our small businesses, which are pillars of our neighborhoods, forcing many out of business and costing jobs. We need to prioritize rebuilding our small business community by removing obstacles to success and providing financial support to ensure they are able to reopen and come back stronger than ever. We also need to do more to create inclusive and equitable economic opportunity for everyone. This means having an active workforce development system where people can learn key skills and find quality living wage jobs. We also need to work with businesses to bring their employees and visitors back to Minneapolis so that the small businesses from food trucks to entertainment venues have an active customer base. I want to make the Third Ward a vibrant community where people feel safe coming to eat at their favorite restaurant, cheering on the Vikings, Twins or Timberwolves and visiting the Guthrie and other performance arts venues. I believe in building this community in an equitable way where everyone can benefit from all that they do to make our city thrive.
Fighting for Social Justice
The killing of George Floyd was a terrible tragedy and we need to work to ensure that something like that never happens again. We need to pursue and implement real reforms that will positively impact the relationship between MPD and all residents of the city. I support Chief Arradondo’s plan to reform the department by ending police brutality and holding bad actors accountable for misconduct. We must transform the arbitration system so that Chief Arradondo can remove bad cops from the streets. I believe the proposed charter amendment would dilute these lines of accountability by making the police chief answer to the 13 City Council members rather than the Mayor, which would slow down policy implementation and hamstring progress. I would create a task force inclusive of the MPD and neighborhood stakeholders to identify key issues and lay out a measurable, transparent action plan to build a safer city for everyone. We need to increase accountability within the MPD and make sure they are doing the hard work of fighting crime and keeping our communities safe for EVERYONE.
Expanding Affordable Housing Options
We need to pursue all options when it comes to creating more affordable housing from tax incentives for private developers to build new units to expanding rental assistance and protections for those who have fallen on hard times. There needs to be a direct focus on inclusion of communities of color in this conversation and prioritizing building new housing options in these communities to expand access. We also need to examine changing ordinances to allow more flexibility including more single room occupancy homes and other dwellings that can help combat homelessness by increasing the amount of available, affordable housing. I also support ensuring that all renters facing eviction have adequate legal protections. This issue is a top priority of mine and I will take an all hands on deck approach to meet this critical shortage and provide Minneapolis residents with the support they need.
Making Clean Energy a Reality
Climate change is real and we as a city need to do our part to ensure a sustainable future. Supporting and investing in clean energy infrastructure presents an excellent opportunity to both create jobs and support local businesses. We need to seize the opportunity to continue to expand our current green energy investments including electric vehicles and solar production. We can make significant strides through common sense measures like providing incentives to make buildings more energy efficient and ensuring new construction meets the highest standards of green building. I will work to partner with community environmental organizations to find sustainable pathways forward as we move to a cleaner, low-carbon future. I strongly support the effort to make Minneapolis 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 and will work to ensure our city does its part in the fight against climate change.
Transportation that works for Everyone
Bold transportation policy is a crucial way we can increase equity, reduce carbon emissions, improve health and save lives. We need to make sure our streets are safe places for all users including cars, buses, bikers and pedestrians. I am committed to the Vision Zero platform that lays out a data-driven comprehensive approach to increase safety for both drivers and pedestrians. We need our transportation policies to be cognizant of how people actually get around especially in the winter so that we are responsive to their needs. My top priorities with new streets will be functionality, safety and design focused around people’s actual needs. Better street design will also allow us to provide increased access to businesses and reduce carbon emissions through more efficient routes and increased transportation options.