Nelsie Yang - Saint Paul Ward 6
Name: Nelsie Yang
Public Office Sought: Saint Paul City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 763-477-1799, Chris Xiong
Website: www.nelsieyang.com
Twitter Handle: @NelsieYang
Facebook: Nelsie Yang for St. Paul City Council Ward 6
Candidate Bio
When I look out into the community, I see a reflection of myself. I see resilient families fighting to make it the next day, no matter the challenges they face.
As a daughter of Hmong refugees; as the sister of a survivor of gun violence; as a renter; and as a community organizer, I have first-hand experience of the challenges facing many residents of Ward 6. This gut-level understanding will help me to ensure that decisions made about our lives work for us.
I also have years of experience in creating/managing budgets, listening, strategic thinking, and building organizations that impact people’s lives. I understand how the political process engages residents, and ways that elected officials can do better in working with the people and organizations they serve.
I've spent my political career running campaigns for progressive leaders and served on boards such as Hmong Americans for Justice; MaivPAC; and Our Revolution Greater Saint Paul Chapter. I am building TakeAction Minnesota as part of a new generation of leaders. I work hard and serve as a bridge for many generational perspectives around me.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Saint Paul?
The East Side is known for a diversity of small businesses that provide community-based products and services, making up a large part of our East Side Pride. I believe that in order for the East Side and all of St. Paul to thrive, reinvestment in small businesses must be prioritized so that the working families who operate them can increase job opportunities and capital to revitalize our neighborhoods.
I also know that the business climate of Saint Paul is impacted by rising property taxes, which make it harder for businesses on the edge of profitability to survive. This results in vacant lots and financial distress for entrepreneurs. As Council Member, I want to work with stakeholders to expand our tax base and champion corporate accountability.
Finally, I have long been aware of how healthcare costs stifle the ability of people to start and maintain businesses. I support initiatives by the Governor and other state officials to provide an affordable, public option for healthcare in Minnesota, so that current and aspiring entrepreneurs don’t have to choose between their health and their business interests. This will impact the business climate of St. Paul dramatically.
2. 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, Saint Paul?
I believe that the City has a responsibility to be the kind of place where businesses want to take root and can thrive. We know that means having workers who can do the jobs required -- which means good schools and affordable colleges. And equitable transportation and housing for all families. I will work tirelessly to advocate for these and work closely with organizations that are already doing the groundwork to solicit new business to the city, especially in communities of color and marginalized communities. By engaging in this partnership, the city council can promote services that bring in more entrepreneurs. I believe when we build stronger communities, we attract the best businesses into our city and retain them longer.
3. Would you support hiring a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Saint Paul?
Yes. We should have achieved this long ago. Ward 6, specifically, is home to many diverse and thriving small businesses that are eager to grow. The business advocate must not only play a researcher role, but they must also engage with business owners and community organizations to understand the lived experiences of these stakeholders. Upon securing funding for a business advocate, our mission will be to find candidates who best represent our businesses across race, class, and gender.
4. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Saint Paul (such as mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Saint Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I proudly support businesses that are committed to our city’s mission of equity and being livable for all. That means making a commitment to hire directly from our city, engaging in conversation with consumers, community organizations and elected officials to improve business, and creating positive, healthy workspaces to build stronger families in the community. From larger initiatives like fair scheduling act to local ones like paying livable wages, I will work in coalition with stakeholders to ensure we achieve this vision of equity and be accountable to evaluating the impact, especially in businesses from marginalized communities.
5. Would you support modifying or repealing the new earned sick and safe time or minimum wage ordinances that apply to the city? If so, how?
No. This is an ordinance put in place to protect the health, livelihood, and dignity of workers and promote positive working environments for businesses owners. When we sustain these, it is an investment in long term success for both parties. As Council Member, I will work with stakeholders, like business owners, consumers, and workers, to evaluate the impact of these ordinances and ensure they’re best serving our community.
That said, I understand that when cities like St. Paul and Minneapolis implement these policies on their own, the impact is not as strong as we would like it to be. I would advocate for a metro or even a state minimum wage of $15 per hour. The minimum wage has not even begun to keep up with inflation over the past 30 years. People’s labor should insure a decent quality of life, that includes food, clothing and shelter. Too many people are working 40 hours a week or more and unable to afford the basics.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
I am ready to lead on a new vision of community-based public safety with East Siders. My vision of public safety goes beyond the traditional methods.
As an organizer of criminal justice reform and as a person with experience of the Ramsey County Public Defender’s Office, I am a champion of dismantling root causes of crime by using restorative justice to transform public safety. I will fight to increase accessibility and funding of youth and adult diversion programs because I understand that everyone needs an opportunity to thrive. As a mental health and social work advocate, I will fight for mental health practitioners and social workers to work alongside police officers, providing services around mental health and cultural competency. I am committed to a collective effort to align response teams that integrate the work of firefighters, police officers, mental health practitioners, and social workers.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My run for city council is not about me. It’s about the needs and livelihood of the people in our city. That’s why I’m determined to ensure our city budget is crafted by the community and reflects their deepest needs. Our budget must prioritize 1) Quality affordable housing, 2) Community-based public safety, 3) Grants for small businesses and start-ups, 4) Local initiatives that bring us closer to clean, green communities, and 5) Improved road infrastructure.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Our city is thriving today because of families and businesses contributing to the tax base. We need a balance of both in order to create job opportunities, parks, rec centers, and more. Based on community input, I’m interested in finding a long-term, sustainable method to support the needs in our community, which is why I’m committed to working in coalition to expand the tax base through corporate accountability.
9. What will you do to expand Saint Paul’s tax base?
As an organizer and working class individual, leveling the playing field in our tax system has always been a priority. I support quality affordable housing development in vacant lots, especially along White Bear Ave and the Hillcrest Golf Course. I will also champion a bolder, equitable approach to expand our tax base by fighting for corporate accountability. It is unjust that we expect working families and small businesses to pay more out of their pocket every year while wealthy corporations do not pay their fair share. I will work in coalition with stakeholders to put our city in the right direction of corporate accountability, and I urge business advocates to speak in support of this also. Our businesses can and will do better when our schools and families have the resources they need to live well.
I will also advocate for local government aid and hold our legislators accountable to funding needs in our city. We have many organizations that are already doing the groundwork to improve our neighborhoods, and their initiatives deserve to be invested in.
Workforce development
10. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
There are many proactive initiatives we can take to develop and retain an educated workforce. I will partner with schools, businesses, and families to create success pipelines for our students to be college-ready, enter the trades, and explore other career pathways such as entrepreneurship. We should never limit how far their dreams can go. We need to provide hands-on experience, internships, and apprenticeships and ensure our budget reflects these goals as well.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Saint Paul?
It is vital that the city maintains a strong relationship with the school district since they are interconnected. I support current initiatives that the city has with the school district: youth programs, recreational programs, transportation, park programs, and facility sharing.
I am interested in exploring how we can reimagine our schools to be community hubs. I want all-day, weekend recreation programs for youth and families that take place inside our schools.
In addition, I believe that our city and schools can work in partnership to address homelessness. We know that the home dynamic impacts how our students show up in the classroom. The school district has a stake in addressing homelessness in partnership with the city.
I am a proactive leader who approaches stakeholders for input directly. My vision is that the City can co-govern with organizations, parents, and students to ensure we tackle systemic issues in our communities together.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Our biggest challenge is addressing root causes of poverty that keep our community oppressed. Poverty is a systemic issue that perpetuates from generation to generation, unless we decide to disrupt this cycle. From concerns about lack of public safety to fear of being priced out of one's own home, these are issues that intersect with poverty. We must tackle this issue by revitalizing the East Side, which is why I'm leading with a vision to bring more opportunities, like parks and programming to youth and families while fighting for more job opportunities and cleaner, safer communities at the same time. To do this means we need a bold voice at City Hall that will advocate for families to earn their fair share of investment, and that's what I'm prepared to do.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
1) Quality, Affordable Housing
A safe and stable home is a basic necessity, but the financial forces of student debt, rising cost of living, and low wages are some of the most pressing issues make housing unaffordable for many. I will work alongside community coalitions and stakeholders to fight for the expansion of quality, affordable housing while tackling root causes of poverty that drive people to struggle. We must invest in affordable mixed-income housing that is suitable for larger families and that the affordable homes are pleasant and habitable.
2) Clean & Safe Communities
As Council Member, I will work to increase accessibility and funding for youth/adult diversion programs, mental health practitioners & social workers. I will also listen to leadership in the police department and the neighborhoods, to increase trust and our ability to serve communities of color and marginalized communities. I will also fight to expand green spaces and parks, move toward zero waste, and implement cost-effective renewable energy so we can be a part of healing the planet.
3) Job Opportunities and Economic Sustainability for Working Families and Small Businesses
To continue the fight for economic justice, I will work to provide opportunities for youth, people from marginalized communities, and people with criminal backgrounds. I want to end poverty wages by enforcing the $15 minimum wage ordinance. I will fight to make sure small businesses, especially start-ups, have increased access to city grants and receive equitable treatment from banks in loan processes. And I will be a voice for corporate accountability.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
I am invested in an East Side where all people can thrive, no matter their method of transportation. Based on lived experiences and community conversations, I understand how disenfranchised constituents can be when reporting transportation matters. I am committed to working directly with Public Works to ensure the highest rate of quality and service in plowing, street maintenance, and designing the East Side to its maximum potential for safety.
In addition, the attraction of Lake Phalen is an opportunity for the East Side to be revitalized to become a model across the map. I am committed to attracting other methods of travel, such as Nice Rides and Car-To-Go, for East Siders.
15. Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Or, are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I would like to hear more from SPAAC about how they would answer this question. Moving forward, we must be proactive by ensuring that our city budget is crafted by the community, especially people from marginalized communities. I believe there’s a lot the city can do to tackle systemic poverty and homelessness by partnering with schools and other public entities to create programming and share facilities.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I am committed to community engagement and will focus on proactive outreach to institutions and individuals on the East Side and beyond. My door is open to anyone who wants to talk about how to make St. Paul, especially the East Side, a more vibrant, equitable, safe and sustainable community!
Public Office Sought: Saint Paul City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 763-477-1799, Chris Xiong
Website: www.nelsieyang.com
Twitter Handle: @NelsieYang
Facebook: Nelsie Yang for St. Paul City Council Ward 6
Candidate Bio
When I look out into the community, I see a reflection of myself. I see resilient families fighting to make it the next day, no matter the challenges they face.
As a daughter of Hmong refugees; as the sister of a survivor of gun violence; as a renter; and as a community organizer, I have first-hand experience of the challenges facing many residents of Ward 6. This gut-level understanding will help me to ensure that decisions made about our lives work for us.
I also have years of experience in creating/managing budgets, listening, strategic thinking, and building organizations that impact people’s lives. I understand how the political process engages residents, and ways that elected officials can do better in working with the people and organizations they serve.
I've spent my political career running campaigns for progressive leaders and served on boards such as Hmong Americans for Justice; MaivPAC; and Our Revolution Greater Saint Paul Chapter. I am building TakeAction Minnesota as part of a new generation of leaders. I work hard and serve as a bridge for many generational perspectives around me.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Saint Paul?
The East Side is known for a diversity of small businesses that provide community-based products and services, making up a large part of our East Side Pride. I believe that in order for the East Side and all of St. Paul to thrive, reinvestment in small businesses must be prioritized so that the working families who operate them can increase job opportunities and capital to revitalize our neighborhoods.
I also know that the business climate of Saint Paul is impacted by rising property taxes, which make it harder for businesses on the edge of profitability to survive. This results in vacant lots and financial distress for entrepreneurs. As Council Member, I want to work with stakeholders to expand our tax base and champion corporate accountability.
Finally, I have long been aware of how healthcare costs stifle the ability of people to start and maintain businesses. I support initiatives by the Governor and other state officials to provide an affordable, public option for healthcare in Minnesota, so that current and aspiring entrepreneurs don’t have to choose between their health and their business interests. This will impact the business climate of St. Paul dramatically.
2. 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, Saint Paul?
I believe that the City has a responsibility to be the kind of place where businesses want to take root and can thrive. We know that means having workers who can do the jobs required -- which means good schools and affordable colleges. And equitable transportation and housing for all families. I will work tirelessly to advocate for these and work closely with organizations that are already doing the groundwork to solicit new business to the city, especially in communities of color and marginalized communities. By engaging in this partnership, the city council can promote services that bring in more entrepreneurs. I believe when we build stronger communities, we attract the best businesses into our city and retain them longer.
3. Would you support hiring a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Saint Paul?
Yes. We should have achieved this long ago. Ward 6, specifically, is home to many diverse and thriving small businesses that are eager to grow. The business advocate must not only play a researcher role, but they must also engage with business owners and community organizations to understand the lived experiences of these stakeholders. Upon securing funding for a business advocate, our mission will be to find candidates who best represent our businesses across race, class, and gender.
4. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Saint Paul (such as mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Saint Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I proudly support businesses that are committed to our city’s mission of equity and being livable for all. That means making a commitment to hire directly from our city, engaging in conversation with consumers, community organizations and elected officials to improve business, and creating positive, healthy workspaces to build stronger families in the community. From larger initiatives like fair scheduling act to local ones like paying livable wages, I will work in coalition with stakeholders to ensure we achieve this vision of equity and be accountable to evaluating the impact, especially in businesses from marginalized communities.
5. Would you support modifying or repealing the new earned sick and safe time or minimum wage ordinances that apply to the city? If so, how?
No. This is an ordinance put in place to protect the health, livelihood, and dignity of workers and promote positive working environments for businesses owners. When we sustain these, it is an investment in long term success for both parties. As Council Member, I will work with stakeholders, like business owners, consumers, and workers, to evaluate the impact of these ordinances and ensure they’re best serving our community.
That said, I understand that when cities like St. Paul and Minneapolis implement these policies on their own, the impact is not as strong as we would like it to be. I would advocate for a metro or even a state minimum wage of $15 per hour. The minimum wage has not even begun to keep up with inflation over the past 30 years. People’s labor should insure a decent quality of life, that includes food, clothing and shelter. Too many people are working 40 hours a week or more and unable to afford the basics.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
I am ready to lead on a new vision of community-based public safety with East Siders. My vision of public safety goes beyond the traditional methods.
As an organizer of criminal justice reform and as a person with experience of the Ramsey County Public Defender’s Office, I am a champion of dismantling root causes of crime by using restorative justice to transform public safety. I will fight to increase accessibility and funding of youth and adult diversion programs because I understand that everyone needs an opportunity to thrive. As a mental health and social work advocate, I will fight for mental health practitioners and social workers to work alongside police officers, providing services around mental health and cultural competency. I am committed to a collective effort to align response teams that integrate the work of firefighters, police officers, mental health practitioners, and social workers.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My run for city council is not about me. It’s about the needs and livelihood of the people in our city. That’s why I’m determined to ensure our city budget is crafted by the community and reflects their deepest needs. Our budget must prioritize 1) Quality affordable housing, 2) Community-based public safety, 3) Grants for small businesses and start-ups, 4) Local initiatives that bring us closer to clean, green communities, and 5) Improved road infrastructure.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Our city is thriving today because of families and businesses contributing to the tax base. We need a balance of both in order to create job opportunities, parks, rec centers, and more. Based on community input, I’m interested in finding a long-term, sustainable method to support the needs in our community, which is why I’m committed to working in coalition to expand the tax base through corporate accountability.
9. What will you do to expand Saint Paul’s tax base?
As an organizer and working class individual, leveling the playing field in our tax system has always been a priority. I support quality affordable housing development in vacant lots, especially along White Bear Ave and the Hillcrest Golf Course. I will also champion a bolder, equitable approach to expand our tax base by fighting for corporate accountability. It is unjust that we expect working families and small businesses to pay more out of their pocket every year while wealthy corporations do not pay their fair share. I will work in coalition with stakeholders to put our city in the right direction of corporate accountability, and I urge business advocates to speak in support of this also. Our businesses can and will do better when our schools and families have the resources they need to live well.
I will also advocate for local government aid and hold our legislators accountable to funding needs in our city. We have many organizations that are already doing the groundwork to improve our neighborhoods, and their initiatives deserve to be invested in.
Workforce development
10. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
There are many proactive initiatives we can take to develop and retain an educated workforce. I will partner with schools, businesses, and families to create success pipelines for our students to be college-ready, enter the trades, and explore other career pathways such as entrepreneurship. We should never limit how far their dreams can go. We need to provide hands-on experience, internships, and apprenticeships and ensure our budget reflects these goals as well.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Saint Paul?
It is vital that the city maintains a strong relationship with the school district since they are interconnected. I support current initiatives that the city has with the school district: youth programs, recreational programs, transportation, park programs, and facility sharing.
I am interested in exploring how we can reimagine our schools to be community hubs. I want all-day, weekend recreation programs for youth and families that take place inside our schools.
In addition, I believe that our city and schools can work in partnership to address homelessness. We know that the home dynamic impacts how our students show up in the classroom. The school district has a stake in addressing homelessness in partnership with the city.
I am a proactive leader who approaches stakeholders for input directly. My vision is that the City can co-govern with organizations, parents, and students to ensure we tackle systemic issues in our communities together.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Our biggest challenge is addressing root causes of poverty that keep our community oppressed. Poverty is a systemic issue that perpetuates from generation to generation, unless we decide to disrupt this cycle. From concerns about lack of public safety to fear of being priced out of one's own home, these are issues that intersect with poverty. We must tackle this issue by revitalizing the East Side, which is why I'm leading with a vision to bring more opportunities, like parks and programming to youth and families while fighting for more job opportunities and cleaner, safer communities at the same time. To do this means we need a bold voice at City Hall that will advocate for families to earn their fair share of investment, and that's what I'm prepared to do.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
1) Quality, Affordable Housing
A safe and stable home is a basic necessity, but the financial forces of student debt, rising cost of living, and low wages are some of the most pressing issues make housing unaffordable for many. I will work alongside community coalitions and stakeholders to fight for the expansion of quality, affordable housing while tackling root causes of poverty that drive people to struggle. We must invest in affordable mixed-income housing that is suitable for larger families and that the affordable homes are pleasant and habitable.
2) Clean & Safe Communities
As Council Member, I will work to increase accessibility and funding for youth/adult diversion programs, mental health practitioners & social workers. I will also listen to leadership in the police department and the neighborhoods, to increase trust and our ability to serve communities of color and marginalized communities. I will also fight to expand green spaces and parks, move toward zero waste, and implement cost-effective renewable energy so we can be a part of healing the planet.
3) Job Opportunities and Economic Sustainability for Working Families and Small Businesses
To continue the fight for economic justice, I will work to provide opportunities for youth, people from marginalized communities, and people with criminal backgrounds. I want to end poverty wages by enforcing the $15 minimum wage ordinance. I will fight to make sure small businesses, especially start-ups, have increased access to city grants and receive equitable treatment from banks in loan processes. And I will be a voice for corporate accountability.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
I am invested in an East Side where all people can thrive, no matter their method of transportation. Based on lived experiences and community conversations, I understand how disenfranchised constituents can be when reporting transportation matters. I am committed to working directly with Public Works to ensure the highest rate of quality and service in plowing, street maintenance, and designing the East Side to its maximum potential for safety.
In addition, the attraction of Lake Phalen is an opportunity for the East Side to be revitalized to become a model across the map. I am committed to attracting other methods of travel, such as Nice Rides and Car-To-Go, for East Siders.
15. Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Or, are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I would like to hear more from SPAAC about how they would answer this question. Moving forward, we must be proactive by ensuring that our city budget is crafted by the community, especially people from marginalized communities. I believe there’s a lot the city can do to tackle systemic poverty and homelessness by partnering with schools and other public entities to create programming and share facilities.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I am committed to community engagement and will focus on proactive outreach to institutions and individuals on the East Side and beyond. My door is open to anyone who wants to talk about how to make St. Paul, especially the East Side, a more vibrant, equitable, safe and sustainable community!