Marylee Abrams
Name: Marylee Abrams
Public Office Sought: Maplewood Mayor
Email: maryleeformaplewood@gmail.com
Phone: 651-239-3814
Website: www.MaryleeforMaplewood.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook page:
Candidate Bio
I have served on the Maplewood City Council since 2014, and I was re-elected in 2018. In January 2019, I was appointed as Mayor of Maplewood. Maplewood has been my home for 25 years where I raised two wonderful sons, who both attended and graduated from ISD #622. I recently retired from my law practice after 36 years, representing clients in labor and employment matters. In my spare time I enjoy our many parks, trails, and swimming at the Y/Community Center.
I have enjoyed my service on the Council and am committed to making Maplewood the best city to raise a family and grow a business. Some of my accomplishments include:
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My top three priorities include:
How would you characterize the business climate in Maplewood and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
Prior to Covid-19, our business climate was exciting, and we were on the brink of many new developments and redevelopment in our community. We were adding new businesses and jobs, and new housing was planned. The new plans for development and re-development have been temporarily stalled, and I am convinced they will surge once again after we have passed the pandemic.
Businesses add jobs, and opportunities for other small businesses to grow and thrive. Businesses are a cornerstone to the quality of life in a community, along with excellent public services, and parks and trails.
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, Maplewood?
Good government inspires growth and development, which in turn generates job creation and new opportunities. The city plays a foundational role in attracting new businesses, retaining jobs, and helping our current businesses grow. We have engaged in a business retention program through SPACC and the White Bear Chamber. Maplewood has hosted a number of business breakfasts, networking opportunities, and created an annual award luncheon to recognize our business partners in the community. We also held a job fair for high school students, and we have partnered with education to ensure workforce development and job creation.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Maplewood (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 Maplewood and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
As Mayor, I am in support of growing local jobs and livable wages. I do not believe specific employment related proposals such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notices are city issues. Instead, specific employment proposals should be developed by our state legislature. Maplewood is bordered by over 8 other cities. Any unique restrictive regulations would imperil Maplewood businesses, when customers or clients could simply cross a city border for the same types of services in another community. State-wide uniform legislation levels the playing field for all businesses, and it avoids a patch-work of regulation that pits one city against another.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
During my time on the Council and as Mayor, the Maplewood police department has done a lot of community work. We instituted a Use of Force Task Force to review force situations and policies, and a Policy Advisory Commission to review all other department policies. We adopted body worn cameras for all officers, and officers were provided extensive de-escalation training. We initiated a crisis team to work to resolve long term mental health issues. We created a Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee (MAC) which has been delayed due to Covid-19. A zoom meeting of the MAC will be conducted in July. We will continue to work on integrated community policing initiatives, including hiring more diverse officers, to ensure our policing efforts reflect our community values.
Housing shortages are a metro wide issue. As Mayor, I want to focus on reinvesting in our current housing stock in Maplewood through our EDA and possible small rehab loans, and also work to add a variety of housing options in our community. We already have several large developments under construction right now, and there is additional land on the market earmarked for housing.
Transportation is an important east metro issue. We simply can’t build enough roads to handle the growth in traffic congestion, and we need to invest in other transportation options to plan for the future. I have been working on the PAC Committee for the Rush Line, and I see well-managed transportation as important to keep Maplewood a vital community. We also have the Gold line being developed in south Maplewood.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
The city is facing a one million-dollar deficit in 2020, as a direct result of reduced revenues, increased costs, and Covid-19. We have already taken immediate steps to adjust spending in almost every department to manage the deficit including reducing capital expenditures; we have furloughed staff and also had to lay-off staff; offered early retirement to qualifying staff, reduced the size and cost of printing the Maplewood Living monthly newsletter, and frozen seasonal hiring. Our Rec and Nature Center program are not operating at this time due to Covid-19 restrictions which have severely limited programming.
I am committed as Mayor to not raise the city property tax levy for 2021, as our residents and businesses have all been suffering the financial stress of the pandemic. Unemployment was at an all time high last month and it would be unconscionable to further burden Maplewood taxpayers. As a result, staff will all be submitting reduced budgets for 2021.
What will you do to expand Maplewood’s tax base?
Focusing on redevelopment at the Maplewood Mall and around the Mall are a priority for me as Mayor. We have many successful ring businesses surrounding the Mall, and we need to expand both new housing in the area as well as encourage new businesses to relocate there. A new grocer has proposed filling the old Rainbow store site on White Bear Avenue, along with a new gas station and convenience store in the parking lot which can help to revitalize White Bear Avenue. Two large properties located just off Rice Street that are owned by the SPRWC are being sold this summer and many developers have expressed interest and proposals for a variety of housing on the sites.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
The city of Maplewood already has many connections with both ISD #622 and #623. We held a job fair for 300 high school juniors and seniors and worked with the districts to make the event a huge success. We regularly meet with the Superintendents of both districts. A number of the annual charitable gambling grants are awarded to groups related to the school districts to enhance learning and opportunities for kids. We partner with the White Bear Chamber and Century College to connect businesses with students exploring career options.
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?
As a result of Covid-19, city services are changing. DMV tasks are now accomplished through appointment only. Programming for the Nature Center went viral as meeting in groups has been severely restricted. This is also true for our Rec programming. Now is the time to revisit all city services and assess where we are in light of the social distancing required, and the work from home suggestions. We are finding new ways to creatively deliver services through the pandemic. As Mayor, I proposed creating a task force to study and assess the Nature Center while it is closed due to the pandemic. The task force will research new partnerships and options for sustainable programming to ensure the future and eventual reopening of the Nature Center. As Mayor, I have also asked for an online survey to seek community input on relevant Rec and Nature Center programming in light of our changing demographics, and opportunity for public comment before the Council.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Maplewood?
The City Council has a duty and an obligation to make sure Maplewood is an inclusive city. Approximately 40% of our residents are members of our communities of color. I just recommended to the Council a new Community Inclusiveness Strategic Priority which was adopted on June 22. It reads: “Create a city where everyone is valued and respected, and celebrate our strengths as a diverse, multi-cultural, multi-lingual community. We recognize that our different perspectives and experiences bind us together to make us stronger.”
What further policies can Maplewood adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
As Mayor I supported flexibility in our city ordinance governing liquor service on patios, and also flexibility on the placement of temporary signage for businesses opening for take-out or drive up services. On June 22, 2020 I proposed waiving a pro-rated liquor license fee for our on-sale liquor establishments, representing the time they were closed due to Covid-19. I see this as a reinvestment in sustainability in our community. The Council will consider my proposal on July 13, 2020.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Now more than any other time we need solid, stable city government. Our financial recovery needs a steady hand and sound thinking. I am committed to guiding Maplewood through this pandemic and time of social unrest. I am an experienced committed leader who will take everyone’s point of view into mind, and I will make decisions that will benefit all of Maplewood and ensure the future of our city.
Public Office Sought: Maplewood Mayor
Email: maryleeformaplewood@gmail.com
Phone: 651-239-3814
Website: www.MaryleeforMaplewood.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook page:
Candidate Bio
I have served on the Maplewood City Council since 2014, and I was re-elected in 2018. In January 2019, I was appointed as Mayor of Maplewood. Maplewood has been my home for 25 years where I raised two wonderful sons, who both attended and graduated from ISD #622. I recently retired from my law practice after 36 years, representing clients in labor and employment matters. In my spare time I enjoy our many parks, trails, and swimming at the Y/Community Center.
I have enjoyed my service on the Council and am committed to making Maplewood the best city to raise a family and grow a business. Some of my accomplishments include:
- Strengthening city finances by helping to reduce city debt by approximately 25 million dollars, while providing exceptional service to residents,
- Helping to create an asset management plan and financial guardrails to ensure good fiscal management of city resources,
- Working to create an inclusive forward-thinking city that embraces our diversity as a true strength,
- Increasing community engagement through our Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee, the North End Study, serving on the Rice & Larpenteur Alliance, and forming a coalition of representatives from our diverse faith community.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My top three priorities include:
- Working through a very challenging budget year. As a result of reduced revenues, increased costs, and Covid-19, the city has forecasted a 1million dollar deficit in 2020, and similar deficits in 2021. I am committed to not raising the city tax levy for 2021, as so many of our residents have been faced with unemployment, and our businesses closed due to the pandemic.
- Encouraging new development and re-development. Prior to Covid, we were on the brink of some very exciting new projects in Maplewood. I am committed to seeing those through to completion.
- Protecting and preserving our parks, trails, preserves, and Nature Center. Our extensive parks system directly increases the quality of life in Maplewood, and I am committed to ensuring the future of these great community resources.
How would you characterize the business climate in Maplewood and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
Prior to Covid-19, our business climate was exciting, and we were on the brink of many new developments and redevelopment in our community. We were adding new businesses and jobs, and new housing was planned. The new plans for development and re-development have been temporarily stalled, and I am convinced they will surge once again after we have passed the pandemic.
Businesses add jobs, and opportunities for other small businesses to grow and thrive. Businesses are a cornerstone to the quality of life in a community, along with excellent public services, and parks and trails.
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, Maplewood?
Good government inspires growth and development, which in turn generates job creation and new opportunities. The city plays a foundational role in attracting new businesses, retaining jobs, and helping our current businesses grow. We have engaged in a business retention program through SPACC and the White Bear Chamber. Maplewood has hosted a number of business breakfasts, networking opportunities, and created an annual award luncheon to recognize our business partners in the community. We also held a job fair for high school students, and we have partnered with education to ensure workforce development and job creation.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Maplewood (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 Maplewood and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
As Mayor, I am in support of growing local jobs and livable wages. I do not believe specific employment related proposals such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notices are city issues. Instead, specific employment proposals should be developed by our state legislature. Maplewood is bordered by over 8 other cities. Any unique restrictive regulations would imperil Maplewood businesses, when customers or clients could simply cross a city border for the same types of services in another community. State-wide uniform legislation levels the playing field for all businesses, and it avoids a patch-work of regulation that pits one city against another.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
During my time on the Council and as Mayor, the Maplewood police department has done a lot of community work. We instituted a Use of Force Task Force to review force situations and policies, and a Policy Advisory Commission to review all other department policies. We adopted body worn cameras for all officers, and officers were provided extensive de-escalation training. We initiated a crisis team to work to resolve long term mental health issues. We created a Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee (MAC) which has been delayed due to Covid-19. A zoom meeting of the MAC will be conducted in July. We will continue to work on integrated community policing initiatives, including hiring more diverse officers, to ensure our policing efforts reflect our community values.
Housing shortages are a metro wide issue. As Mayor, I want to focus on reinvesting in our current housing stock in Maplewood through our EDA and possible small rehab loans, and also work to add a variety of housing options in our community. We already have several large developments under construction right now, and there is additional land on the market earmarked for housing.
Transportation is an important east metro issue. We simply can’t build enough roads to handle the growth in traffic congestion, and we need to invest in other transportation options to plan for the future. I have been working on the PAC Committee for the Rush Line, and I see well-managed transportation as important to keep Maplewood a vital community. We also have the Gold line being developed in south Maplewood.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
The city is facing a one million-dollar deficit in 2020, as a direct result of reduced revenues, increased costs, and Covid-19. We have already taken immediate steps to adjust spending in almost every department to manage the deficit including reducing capital expenditures; we have furloughed staff and also had to lay-off staff; offered early retirement to qualifying staff, reduced the size and cost of printing the Maplewood Living monthly newsletter, and frozen seasonal hiring. Our Rec and Nature Center program are not operating at this time due to Covid-19 restrictions which have severely limited programming.
I am committed as Mayor to not raise the city property tax levy for 2021, as our residents and businesses have all been suffering the financial stress of the pandemic. Unemployment was at an all time high last month and it would be unconscionable to further burden Maplewood taxpayers. As a result, staff will all be submitting reduced budgets for 2021.
What will you do to expand Maplewood’s tax base?
Focusing on redevelopment at the Maplewood Mall and around the Mall are a priority for me as Mayor. We have many successful ring businesses surrounding the Mall, and we need to expand both new housing in the area as well as encourage new businesses to relocate there. A new grocer has proposed filling the old Rainbow store site on White Bear Avenue, along with a new gas station and convenience store in the parking lot which can help to revitalize White Bear Avenue. Two large properties located just off Rice Street that are owned by the SPRWC are being sold this summer and many developers have expressed interest and proposals for a variety of housing on the sites.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
The city of Maplewood already has many connections with both ISD #622 and #623. We held a job fair for 300 high school juniors and seniors and worked with the districts to make the event a huge success. We regularly meet with the Superintendents of both districts. A number of the annual charitable gambling grants are awarded to groups related to the school districts to enhance learning and opportunities for kids. We partner with the White Bear Chamber and Century College to connect businesses with students exploring career options.
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?
As a result of Covid-19, city services are changing. DMV tasks are now accomplished through appointment only. Programming for the Nature Center went viral as meeting in groups has been severely restricted. This is also true for our Rec programming. Now is the time to revisit all city services and assess where we are in light of the social distancing required, and the work from home suggestions. We are finding new ways to creatively deliver services through the pandemic. As Mayor, I proposed creating a task force to study and assess the Nature Center while it is closed due to the pandemic. The task force will research new partnerships and options for sustainable programming to ensure the future and eventual reopening of the Nature Center. As Mayor, I have also asked for an online survey to seek community input on relevant Rec and Nature Center programming in light of our changing demographics, and opportunity for public comment before the Council.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Maplewood?
The City Council has a duty and an obligation to make sure Maplewood is an inclusive city. Approximately 40% of our residents are members of our communities of color. I just recommended to the Council a new Community Inclusiveness Strategic Priority which was adopted on June 22. It reads: “Create a city where everyone is valued and respected, and celebrate our strengths as a diverse, multi-cultural, multi-lingual community. We recognize that our different perspectives and experiences bind us together to make us stronger.”
What further policies can Maplewood adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
As Mayor I supported flexibility in our city ordinance governing liquor service on patios, and also flexibility on the placement of temporary signage for businesses opening for take-out or drive up services. On June 22, 2020 I proposed waiving a pro-rated liquor license fee for our on-sale liquor establishments, representing the time they were closed due to Covid-19. I see this as a reinvestment in sustainability in our community. The Council will consider my proposal on July 13, 2020.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Now more than any other time we need solid, stable city government. Our financial recovery needs a steady hand and sound thinking. I am committed to guiding Maplewood through this pandemic and time of social unrest. I am an experienced committed leader who will take everyone’s point of view into mind, and I will make decisions that will benefit all of Maplewood and ensure the future of our city.