Your City May Be Illegally Assessing You for Routine Infrastructure Maintenance Source: Greg Rosenke/Unsplash. Charles Marohn of Strong Towns wrote this piece after the Minnesota Supreme Court — ruling on a lawsuit by Jack Hoeschler, a member of Saint Paul STRONG’S Advisory Committee — found that the City of Saint was illegally collecting assessments on …
In The News
What we’re hearing: Ideas to improve rent control in Saint Paul
With just over a month to go until Saint Paul’s controversial rent stabilization ordinance goes into effect, the path forward seems murkier than ever. The Mayor’s 41-member advisory panel might represent some opportunity to improve the ordinance and ensure it delivers on its promises. Time is running out quickly to adhere to the May 1st …
What we’re hearing: Ideas to improve rent control in Saint Paul Read More »
What is the mayor’s rent-control group doing? How will we know?
The longer St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s ad hoc Rent Stabilization Stakeholders Group meets the more confusing its deliberations become. Saint Paul STRONG (SPS) is concerned that recommendations to clarify the city’s new rent control ordinance will neither be effective in (1) involving the public in this important discussion, nor (2) provide a road map …
What is the mayor’s rent-control group doing? How will we know? Read More »
Questions surround Mayor’s Rent Stabilization panel
Saint Paul STRONG Media Alert After observing the first two meetings of Mayor Carter’s 41-member Rent Stabilization Stakeholders Group, Saint Paul STRONG (SPS) is concerned that it will neither be effective in (1) involving the public in this important discussion, nor (2) coming up with recommendations for the City Council and the Mayor on how …
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Rental Housing Panel identifies issues and solutions – will the Mayor’s Advisory Panel consider them?
The Saint Paul STRONG rental housing panel brought together experts to explore the issues that led to the November 3rd referendum and suggest how we can move forward. With no official action in over 3 months since the rent control referendum passed on November 3rd, Saint Paul STRONG convened a panel discussion on February 8 …
What’s Next for Saint Paul’s Rent Control Ordinance?
How this plays out is important for everyone who calls Saint Paul home. On November 3, 2021, Saint Paul residents voted 53% to 47% to allow landlords to raise their rents by no more than 3% per year beginning May 1, 2022. This May 1 date is coming up fast and there are still many, …
What’s Next for Saint Paul’s Rent Control Ordinance? Read More »
Capping rent increases stems neither the city’s affordable housing or deteriorating tax-base crises
Saint Paul has allowed its property tax base to gradually erode over the years. The tax base is and always has been what pays for public safety, schools, libraries, parks and recreation, streets and now affordable housing in the city. It also pays off our public debt. For decades, the city has been increasing spending—mostly …
Formula for low-voter turnout in Saint Paul city elections: Disenfranchisement
For the 2021 elections, Minneapolis experienced a historical turn-out for an odd-year election with 56.5%, which is attributed to the policing amendment. In contrast, the Saint Paul voter turnout is around 34.4% which is 4% less than the last mayoral race in 2017. In layman terms, only 1 out of 3 registered residents voted. On …
Formula for low-voter turnout in Saint Paul city elections: Disenfranchisement Read More »
What should elections look like in a one-party town?
This November, St. Paul will vote on who will lead the Capitol City for the next 4-years. Seven candidates have thrown their hats into the ring to challenge incumbent Mayor Carter, all political outsiders who are not expected to present any threat to what should be a smooth re-election. This lack of electoral competition presents a …
What should elections look like in a one-party town? Read More »