Jack Hoeschler

Saint Paul City Council Shows Leadership with 4-3 Vote to Explore Sales Tax Increase

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Leadership requires tough conversations and sometimes taking unpopular votes such as when the City Council voted 4-3 in early February to explore a possible 1% sales tax increase.  The money generated from this increase might be earmarked to pay for roads, housing, and pre-K programs.  This is a tough sell for many, in great part …

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In St. Paul, taxes rise and rise and rise. Can we talk more about this?

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Late last month, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter proposed a supplemental budget in addition to the one he proposed in August, and the City Council must finalize the tax levy before Dec. 31. Do the mayor and City Council view the maximum levy of 22% as extra cash with which to pay for additional projects …

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Important 2019 St. Paul Election Issues Re: Transparency and Candor

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The 2019 city election provides a unique opportunity to raise and discuss serious issues about how the city conducts its business when working within an effective community process.  The challenge is regarding transparency and candor. For too long, the city has relied on blind and obedient endorsements by a single-party city council of questionable and …

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St. Paul City Hall Continues to Hide Behind ‘Quasi-Judicial Authority’

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The St. Paul City Council has two main roles. The first is legislative, and involves creating laws and ordinances that seek to benefit the health, safety and viability of citizens. The second is “quasi-judicial,” and requires the council to apply laws to make decide whether to allow a project to be built in the city. …

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City Hall needs to learn from and be honest about its mistakes for Saint Paul to prosper

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The St. Paul City Council meeting on August 21, 2019 highlighted a serious problem with St. Paul city government.  Why can’t it learn from its mistakes? The council has had to pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars for mistakes of city staffers (E.g., $800,000 for Black Bear Crossing; $2 million St. Paul Police Department) …

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