The filing deadline for Saint Paul mayoral candidates was August 15. Four more candidates filed on August 15 and we sent our questionnaire to the three with email addresses available on the Secretary of State’s website. The newest candidates to enter the race are Greg Copeland, Trahern Crews, and Sharon Anderson. Banabas Joshua Y’Shua is also running. We are still looking forward to responses from Tom Goldstein and Tim Holden, as well as newcomers Greg Copeland and Trahern Crews.
Here are Ms. Anderson’s responses to our joint questionnaire with the Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition and Transit for Livable Communities.
1. How do you get around in Saint Paul?
Bus, Metro Mobility
2. In your opinion, what is Saint Paul’s greatest transportation challenge? How would you plan to address it while in office?
Cost of Bicycle Lanes taking Parking Places
3. Our city streets have limited space to accommodate competing users, including people walking, people biking, people riding transit, people driving, parked cars, and delivery trucks. How do you feel these competing needs should be balanced?
Pun intended ‘Birds of Feather tend to Fly Together.” Prefer Motorcycles to Bikes.
4. Do the current mechanisms for collecting feedback on transportation projects work?
a. If yes, why? If not, how would you change the process?
b. How would you involve more people who don’t normally participate in transportation conversations–such as young people, people of color, and people with low incomes?
5. What are your priorities for transit development in Saint Paul and the East Metro?
6. Do you support implementation of the city’s Bicycle Plan?
a. If yes, what are the obstacles to realizing the Plan and how would you address them? If not, why not?
b. Ramsey County is responsible for many major streets. How can the City best partner with the County regarding safety and access for people bicycling? c. What more, if anything, should the City do to improve conditions for bicycling?
Eliminate Bike lanes on St. Peter St and other Commercial Streets.
7. In 2016, 188 pedestrians were struck by drivers in Saint Paul. More than 50 have been hit so far in 2017. What, if anything, is needed to improve pedestrian safety in the city?
8. Saint Paul’s population has increased to more than 300,000 for the first time since the 1970s. At the same time, rental vacancy rates are below 2 percent and both the rental and ownership market costs are growing at a faster pace than incomes, increasing the percentage of households who pay more than 40 percent of their income for housing. What city policies have the most impact on housing supply and cost? What can Saint Paul do to ensure safe housing at all income levels?
Get rid of Excessive Consumption based on Building Inspectors using Fraud Threats to harass homeowners, specifically Ed Smith.
9. Under what conditions or in what circumstances is use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) appropriate? What tools or approaches would you use to attract development, particularly in transit corridors?
We have overextended, burdened the Tax Payers.
10. How can transportation and/or land use policy address historic imbalances in investments and improve equity? What specific land use or transportation policies, if any, will you pursue to achieve this?
Abolish Legislative Hearing Officers, Go directly to City Council, Eliminate Deadwood Agencies.
This questionnaire was done in partnership with Transit for Livable Communities and the Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition.
