Abdullahi Abdulle
Name: Abdullahi Abdulle
Public Office Sought: New Brighton City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (612) 607-4971
Website: https://www.abdulleforcouncil.com/
Twitter handle: @abdullahi4NB
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Abdullahi4NB/
Candidate Bio
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
How would you characterize the business climate in New Brighton and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The pandemic has brought uncertainty to our business climate. New Brighton has a diversity of industries, from industrial to retail, these businesses play a role in providing a safe and healthy environment to live and work. We must have strong partnerships with community businesses.
What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, New Brighton?
We must understand the needs of local business and industries. One of the ways to retain existing businesses is to address their needs and provide assistance wherever possible. It is crucial the city attracts a variety of small businesses that will provide jobs to local residents and expand the city’s tax base.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in New Brighton (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in New Brighton and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I believe in people-centered policies that balance the needs of people to earn a living wage and the need of businesses to make a profit. While most of these policies are outside of the city’s mandate, it is important we negotiate with and find partners at the state and regional level to create human-centered policies.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
We must find a good balance between maintaining the city’s current credit and bond rating and providing essential services to our community. This will require finding efficiencies in the services we provide and creating core priorities. We must also be transparent about our budget decisions and explain major trade offs to our community members.
What will you do to expand New Brighton’s tax base?
We are able to expand our tax base through expanding business opportunities in New Brighton. We must continue to find opportunities that allow businesses and industries to find a home and thrive in New Brighton.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Mounds View Public Schools offer opportunities to obtain college credit while students are still in high school through advanced placement classes and taking classes at a local college (PSEO). We must work with our local business and education leaders to identify gaps in training and see where partnerships can be created in areas such as technical and trade programs.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I will need to thoroughly review existing city services with an eye on creating efficiencies before I designate any of them for potential cutbacks. I believe a city must live within its means. We must provide services in a cost effective and efficient manner. We must remain attentive to potential opportunities and cost-saving measures while providing essential services to the community.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in New Brighton?
We need to study current barriers to entry for minority and women-owned businesses in New Brighton. We need to eliminate these barriers then create incentives so minority and women-owned businesses can thrive and profitable businesses in our community. These businesses will add great value to our community and provide much needed services.
What further policies can New Brighton adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
We must remain attentive to the needs of community businesses in this time of uncertainty. Through modifying current city ordinances we will be able to address their current and changing needs. We will be able to help local businesses through expansion of outdoor services, providing grants, and evaluating temporary changes to city code.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
If you would like to know more information please visit my website:
www.abdulleforcouncil.com or www.facebook.com/Abdullahi4NB
Public Office Sought: New Brighton City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (612) 607-4971
Website: https://www.abdulleforcouncil.com/
Twitter handle: @abdullahi4NB
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Abdullahi4NB/
Candidate Bio
- I am a veteran of the Minnesota Army National Guard.
- I hold a B.S. in Construction Management, M.A. in Urban Planning, and a graduate certificate in Local Government Management.
- I have various experiences working for local and regional governments starting with my work at Metropolitan Council and the City of Minneapolis as an Urban Scholar.
- I have volunteer experience with Achieve Minneapolis as Graduation Coach and as a mentor with Tusaalo Mentoring Program.
- I currently work for the City of Minneapolis as an Associate Transportation Planner, managing capital projects, such as street reconstruction, mill and overlay, and pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects. In my current role at the City, I am involved in community engagement efforts that are aimed at ensuring that the projects we deliver have equitable outcomes for all members of the communities we serve.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Small business and economic development: I will work with our State elected officials to aid businesses from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and support the safe operations of local businesses. We must support the efforts to grow our commercial areas that will provide economic benefits to support our local and regional economy.
- Managing the budget: I will work with my fellow council members to address issues such as housing affordability and infrastructure while being mindful about city budget. I will work with city officials and staff to address issues in the community while maintaining our excellent city services such as our parks and water quality.
- Improvement of our streets, parks, and trails: Our parks, trails and streets play a major role in improving our well-being and quality of life. Yet like many suburban cities, most of New Brighton streets don't have sidewalks for people walking, rolling, skating, or on wheelchair to safely navigate our street systems. Our streets should accommodate people of all ages and abilities and should not only prioritize people that are driving.
How would you characterize the business climate in New Brighton and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The pandemic has brought uncertainty to our business climate. New Brighton has a diversity of industries, from industrial to retail, these businesses play a role in providing a safe and healthy environment to live and work. We must have strong partnerships with community businesses.
What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, New Brighton?
We must understand the needs of local business and industries. One of the ways to retain existing businesses is to address their needs and provide assistance wherever possible. It is crucial the city attracts a variety of small businesses that will provide jobs to local residents and expand the city’s tax base.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in New Brighton (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in New Brighton and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I believe in people-centered policies that balance the needs of people to earn a living wage and the need of businesses to make a profit. While most of these policies are outside of the city’s mandate, it is important we negotiate with and find partners at the state and regional level to create human-centered policies.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
- Public safety: Our public safety department strives to keep our community safe. We must do so by building authentic relationships with all community members in New Brighton. We must address the fear historically marginalized communities have about public safety personnel by continuing to listen and following up with concrete actions. The actions must demonstrate that we heard and understand community concerns.
- Housing: No one should suffer from housing insecurity. This starts with the diversification of housing choices. New Brighton must have single and multi-family homes, apartment complexes, and everything in between to ensure that everyone has a safe place to live.
- Transportation: We must work with Metro Transit and other stakeholders to improve our community’s access to reliable and frequent public transportation. We must keep our streets maintained while providing alternative travel options such as bike lanes.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
We must find a good balance between maintaining the city’s current credit and bond rating and providing essential services to our community. This will require finding efficiencies in the services we provide and creating core priorities. We must also be transparent about our budget decisions and explain major trade offs to our community members.
What will you do to expand New Brighton’s tax base?
We are able to expand our tax base through expanding business opportunities in New Brighton. We must continue to find opportunities that allow businesses and industries to find a home and thrive in New Brighton.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Mounds View Public Schools offer opportunities to obtain college credit while students are still in high school through advanced placement classes and taking classes at a local college (PSEO). We must work with our local business and education leaders to identify gaps in training and see where partnerships can be created in areas such as technical and trade programs.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I will need to thoroughly review existing city services with an eye on creating efficiencies before I designate any of them for potential cutbacks. I believe a city must live within its means. We must provide services in a cost effective and efficient manner. We must remain attentive to potential opportunities and cost-saving measures while providing essential services to the community.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in New Brighton?
We need to study current barriers to entry for minority and women-owned businesses in New Brighton. We need to eliminate these barriers then create incentives so minority and women-owned businesses can thrive and profitable businesses in our community. These businesses will add great value to our community and provide much needed services.
What further policies can New Brighton adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
We must remain attentive to the needs of community businesses in this time of uncertainty. Through modifying current city ordinances we will be able to address their current and changing needs. We will be able to help local businesses through expansion of outdoor services, providing grants, and evaluating temporary changes to city code.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
If you would like to know more information please visit my website:
www.abdulleforcouncil.com or www.facebook.com/Abdullahi4NB