Kimetha “Kae Jae” Johnson
Name: Kimetha “Kae Jae” Johnson
Public Office Sought: West St. Paul Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 612-293-8440
Website: Kaejaeforwsp.com
Twitter handle: Kaejaeforwsp
Facebook page: Kimetha “Kae Jae” Johnson fo West Saint Paul Mayor
Candidate Bio
I have been both a community and union organizer for over twenty years. I have created and delivered a leadership program for 90,000 members of SEIU, developed nearly 300 new member leaders a year, I led and organized a 240 hour strike that increased nursing home workers member wages by $1.50 within the first 6 months. I’m currently the Unit President for USW 7263-21 and the founder of Residents of Color Collective (ROCC ) a community group focused on identifying and addressing the needs in communities of color. My experience as a community leader allows me to bring a new perspective and respect for the value of listening and engaging all communities of the working family and the ability to use negotiating skills to attract projects that will encourage a more diverse businesses community and protect prevailing wage.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
1 – Ensure all voices in our community are engaged and have equitable influence, especially those who have gone unheard for such a long time, namely people of color, renters, and young families.
2 – Build a safer city by investing in sidewalks in all residential areas and safe street crossings and trails for pedestrians, wheelchairs, and cyclists, and safe bus stops for school children and those using public transportation.
3 – Build a stronger foundation for small businesses and attract a wider variety of retail and service businesses and jobs to West Saint Paul.
How would you characterize the business climate in West St. Paul and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
Currently the business climate is suffering due to mandated closings due to the Covid-19. However, I have faith in our vibrant small business community and their resilience and look forward to using the platform as mayor and my role on the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to celebrate existing businesses and bring in new businesses that represent and meet the needs of our increasingly diverse community.
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, West St. Paul?
I will continue what the EDA is currently doing with allocating funds and offering extension grants to existing businesses for expansion that will increase jobs and better working conditions..
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in West St. Paul (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 West St. Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I do support a universal $15 minimum wage to bring us in line with our closest neighbor St. Paul. Other employment law changes such as sick & safe time and mandatory scheduling notice would have to be considered with the priority of not creating hardship for small businesses in particular and would require situations like total number of employees, gross income, etc. There is a delicate balance between providing employment opportunities for our residents and protecting our small business community from undue hardship.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
I will look for opportunities to increase density like allowing housing on Roberts or changing height and parking requirements to encourage more space for apartments.
I will continue WSP's plan to maintain and repair our current roads and infrastructure.
I will work with Metro Transit to expand public transportation options, maintain current bus routes, schedules, enhance current bus stops and encourage the addition of heated/enclosed major transit hubs.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
I would maintain the city’s focus on reducing the 14 million dollars in debt by seeking out projects that will bring revenue to the city and that qualify for grants that will further help the city’s debt reduction.
What will you do to expand West St. Paul’s tax base?
One way to expand the tax base is to review zoning codes, such as including height requirements and parking, to bring in new housing projects that provide high quality, high density affordable and market rate housing. Another way is to maintain the quality of our current housing stock with assistance for people in need with existing grants and loans, and consider expanding those programs if they prove to be effective. Seek out new and diverse businesses and continue to support existing businesses.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Seek new and continue existing partnerships with district 197
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 am not looking to cut any services at this time. I will continue to look for opportunities to partner with other cities and entities, such as our successful partnership with neighboring cities with the South Metro Fire Department
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in West St. Paul?
As the first black candidate to run in West St. Paul, I’m committed to expanding opportunities for women and BIPOC owned businesses through creating speciality grants that will attract and build deeper diversity within our business community.
What further policies can West St. Paul adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
In the short term I will encourage staff and the EDA to lobby for relief opportunities from the federal and state government and take on the role of actively promoting small businesses in our city and perhaps allocating some of the EDA’s budget to do so. In the long term, I’d like to examine the possibility of creating a special emergency relief fund for small businesses.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
It’s important to me that children like my granddaughter grow up in a city that addresses her needs.
Public Office Sought: West St. Paul Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 612-293-8440
Website: Kaejaeforwsp.com
Twitter handle: Kaejaeforwsp
Facebook page: Kimetha “Kae Jae” Johnson fo West Saint Paul Mayor
Candidate Bio
I have been both a community and union organizer for over twenty years. I have created and delivered a leadership program for 90,000 members of SEIU, developed nearly 300 new member leaders a year, I led and organized a 240 hour strike that increased nursing home workers member wages by $1.50 within the first 6 months. I’m currently the Unit President for USW 7263-21 and the founder of Residents of Color Collective (ROCC ) a community group focused on identifying and addressing the needs in communities of color. My experience as a community leader allows me to bring a new perspective and respect for the value of listening and engaging all communities of the working family and the ability to use negotiating skills to attract projects that will encourage a more diverse businesses community and protect prevailing wage.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
1 – Ensure all voices in our community are engaged and have equitable influence, especially those who have gone unheard for such a long time, namely people of color, renters, and young families.
2 – Build a safer city by investing in sidewalks in all residential areas and safe street crossings and trails for pedestrians, wheelchairs, and cyclists, and safe bus stops for school children and those using public transportation.
3 – Build a stronger foundation for small businesses and attract a wider variety of retail and service businesses and jobs to West Saint Paul.
How would you characterize the business climate in West St. Paul and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
Currently the business climate is suffering due to mandated closings due to the Covid-19. However, I have faith in our vibrant small business community and their resilience and look forward to using the platform as mayor and my role on the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to celebrate existing businesses and bring in new businesses that represent and meet the needs of our increasingly diverse community.
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, West St. Paul?
I will continue what the EDA is currently doing with allocating funds and offering extension grants to existing businesses for expansion that will increase jobs and better working conditions..
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in West St. Paul (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 West St. Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I do support a universal $15 minimum wage to bring us in line with our closest neighbor St. Paul. Other employment law changes such as sick & safe time and mandatory scheduling notice would have to be considered with the priority of not creating hardship for small businesses in particular and would require situations like total number of employees, gross income, etc. There is a delicate balance between providing employment opportunities for our residents and protecting our small business community from undue hardship.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
I will look for opportunities to increase density like allowing housing on Roberts or changing height and parking requirements to encourage more space for apartments.
I will continue WSP's plan to maintain and repair our current roads and infrastructure.
I will work with Metro Transit to expand public transportation options, maintain current bus routes, schedules, enhance current bus stops and encourage the addition of heated/enclosed major transit hubs.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
I would maintain the city’s focus on reducing the 14 million dollars in debt by seeking out projects that will bring revenue to the city and that qualify for grants that will further help the city’s debt reduction.
What will you do to expand West St. Paul’s tax base?
One way to expand the tax base is to review zoning codes, such as including height requirements and parking, to bring in new housing projects that provide high quality, high density affordable and market rate housing. Another way is to maintain the quality of our current housing stock with assistance for people in need with existing grants and loans, and consider expanding those programs if they prove to be effective. Seek out new and diverse businesses and continue to support existing businesses.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Seek new and continue existing partnerships with district 197
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 am not looking to cut any services at this time. I will continue to look for opportunities to partner with other cities and entities, such as our successful partnership with neighboring cities with the South Metro Fire Department
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in West St. Paul?
As the first black candidate to run in West St. Paul, I’m committed to expanding opportunities for women and BIPOC owned businesses through creating speciality grants that will attract and build deeper diversity within our business community.
What further policies can West St. Paul adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
In the short term I will encourage staff and the EDA to lobby for relief opportunities from the federal and state government and take on the role of actively promoting small businesses in our city and perhaps allocating some of the EDA’s budget to do so. In the long term, I’d like to examine the possibility of creating a special emergency relief fund for small businesses.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
It’s important to me that children like my granddaughter grow up in a city that addresses her needs.