Public Safety
Minneapolis needs leaders that support responsible allocation of funds to Public Safety which includes Police and Violence Interrupter work. I will work closely with our Police chief to improve recruitment and retention of our officers while spending responsibly on programs that can prove that they are working. Incumbent Robin Wonsley aspires to defund the Police.
Budget Crisis and Rising Taxes
Minneapolis income per person has been declining over the last ten years. Now we have a budget crisis, with nearly 10% property tax increases planned for the next few years to cover the collapse in property values downtown. We need to rethink how we spend money and attract investment in our city. I will not increase taxes unless a serious review of all government agency spending is completed. I also will not create any new spending programs or public works projects while in our budget crisis. I will look at ways we can remove layers of bureaucracy and inefficient spending. Lastly, I will look at ways we can properly share the tax burden with the suburbs for developments such as the US Bank Stadium which lies fully on the heads of Minneapolis’s residents. Incumbent Robin Wonsley has pushed for wasteful programs such as City funded personal sidewalk plowing, potentially costing the taxpayers millions of dollars.
Cost Saving Potential-
- City libraries were moved to Hennepin County management in past saving millions. Look for other departments which are a better fit for Hennepin County Management.
- Make City Council part time and lower pay in line with other similar sized cities
- Remove corrupt spending that lacks oversight
- Look at bureaucracy within city agencies and minimize management layers
- Stop spending on wants and only spend on needs. We are spending money on a pilot program for city paid sidewalk plowing, led by Robin Wonsley.
- Delay expensive public works redevelopments. City is spending tens of millions to add bus and bike lanes in Whittier neighborhood.
