Terri Thao - Saint Paul Ward 6
Name: Terri Thao
Public Office Sought: Saint Paul City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-560-3456
Website: www.territhao.org
Twitter Handle: @territhaoward6
Facebook: Terri Thao - St. Paul City Council Ward 6
Candidate Bio
I have over 15 years of experience in the fields of community economic development, community engagement, leadership development and philanthropy. My professional job is training leaders of color and indigenous communities to serve on public boards and commissions in support of racially and economically equitable outcomes. In the last 9 years, I co-chaired several task forces on the City of St. Paul’s Planning Commission that included the Green Line LRT development and the Neighborhood and Comprehensive Planning Committee which oversaw the development of the recent 2040 Comprehensive Plan. In 2016, I was appointed to the board of MN Housing where I oversee funding for affordable housing development and first-time home buyer mortgages across the state of Minnesota. My passion
for building community capacity also afforded me opportunities to serve on the boards of various non-profit organizations such as Neighborhood House, the Asian Economic Development Association and the East Side Neighborhood Development Company. I am excited and look forward to improving outcomes for our residents and increasing community assets to strengthen the East Side. I believe this cumulative experience positions me as the best candidate for Ward 6.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Saint Paul?
We are living in an exciting time right now where there is a shift in our economic environment. The rapid changes in demographics and technology are crucial elements for us as we continue to advance an economically inclusive and prosperous Saint Paul. Local government and businesses must consider the needs of a broad range of communities , each with its own unique context, assets, and barriers. The city must also continue to invest in policies and programs that support minority owned businesses and connect people to jobs. My previous work in economic development allows me to understand how challenging it is for small businesses to find funding for working capital or even to move their entrepreneurial ideas into reality. While commercial properties in various neighborhoods may be affordable to these emerging entrepreneurs, several of them do not have access to appropriate funds that can help with cost of upkeep or remodeling. Furthermore, it is vital to have city resources available to support these businesses so they can better navigate the regulatory process. We must also prioritize our economic investments and bring together diverse stakeholders to build an equitable and thriving city for all .
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?
The city plays an important role in how they advance economic inclusion policies such as local hiring or inclusive procurement. The city, as an employer and contractor, should leverage their ability to create equitable job opportunities for St. Paul residents. Improvement in data collection for contract monitoring and compliance is also useful to solicit for types of jobs available in the city and growing industries or sectors that do not currently exist. In terms of job retention, the city should strengthen relationships with employers of different sizes to help connect individuals with barriers to employment to good jobs . The city can also solicit new
businesses when they invest in the creativity and skills of people in our neighborhoods, especially with our changing demographics and market trends. I witnessed this firsthand as board chair for the Asian Economic Development Association where we saw two different Thai ice cream roll food booth go from tents at our annual Little Mekong Night Market to two physical storefronts along University Avenue in a span of four months. There is tremendous interest in growing the creative economy on the East Side for local artists and we must help businesses improve their bottom line to create high-quality jobs.
As I speak to East Siders, many of them mention the types of local goods and services that we need in our neighborhoods. I will share this information with all of the stakeholders to mobilize interest and action and ensure that we are reaching this goal and sharing these results back to the community.
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?
It is important to identify if this role already exists in some sort of capacity at the City and ask for ways to enhance this work. If there is not someone explicitly in this role, then a separate business advocate hire would make sense. I do believe it is the responsibility of multiple departments to focus on the above topics so that the business perspective lives institutionally in the city of St. Paul.
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 would have to see how the mandatory scheduling notice would impact businesses of all sizes before I would support this proposal. The steps I would take to understand this impact would be to get data or information on the number of businesses that use scheduling as part of their business model and how scheduling is currently being implemented; who their current employees are and if offering more structured schedules would lead to greater retention and business impact.
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, I would not support modifying or repealing either ordinance. Rather I would continue to engage businesses of all sizes on how it is being implemented to see if it is retaining employees or creating additional costs to businesses.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Economic development strategies are key to addressing public safety. When you give people good jobs and dignified work, it means they can provide for their families and are less likely to engage in criminal activity. When we invest in job-training programs for youth it gives them on-the-job experience, alternatives to participating in unsafe activities and provides disposable income that is recirculated in the local economy.
In addition to this, I know the St. Paul Police Department has a commitment to community policing that we need to continue to strengthen. This means officers must have a positive and visible presence throughout the city as a way to deter crime. I will also support the city to engage and educate business owners on crime prevention strategies.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My priorities for the city budget would be to keep facilities like recreation centers and libraries open because they are informal spaces that provide services to the most vulnerable in our community, invest in local businesses and help homeowners reinvest in their properties.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
My understanding of the relationship between between commercial and residential property taxes is that they are set by the county, who also assesses properties, and sets the rates for different types of properties. The city sends a levy that does not assign level of taxes by property type. I know that in the past, for example during the foreclosure crisis, commercial property taxes increased to cover the decrease in residential property tax revenue. However this has changed with the current strength of the residential market. It is important to note that when residential properties are healthy and values are increasing, commercial properties are as
well. It will be important to find the right balance and ensure that all properties are successful so the burden is spread appropriately.
9. What will you do to expand Saint Paul’s tax base?
In addition to encourage new and expanding businesses in St. Paul, we also need to literally build on our physical assets. Ward 6 also has over 100 vacant lots that presents an opportunity to be returned to the tax base. We also have an unprecedented opportunity in the redevelopment of the Hillcrest Golf Course that is located in my ward to create new tax base for the city with both commercial and residential uses.
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?
Having co-chaired the MSP Workforce Innovation Network (a group of local and national foundations that are supporting workforce system innovations), I know that strengthening relationships with K-12 and post-secondary institutions will be key to developing and retaining the workforce in the region. This includes investing in career pathways programs, engaging with employers to identify emerging workforce needs and creating evaluation metrics that measure outcomes from the workforce system and employers. We also need to report back to the city and community on these indicators.
Our greatest asset is the future generations of St. Paul who come from diverse backgrounds and oftentimes have to overcome systemic barriers that may impact their success. We need to be proactive and address the deeper issues of poverty, housing instability and lack of access to affordable healthcare.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Saint Paul?
The city council’s role impacts everything that surrounds student achievement without ever stepping a foot in the classroom. Our decisions about land use and where we will build more affordable housing impacts family stability and mobility. We know from data and research that housing security is a great predictor of student academic success. I also believe education can be the catalyst needed to lift people out of poverty and as someone who grew up poor, public education in particular served as a lifeline to future opportunities and economic advancement for me. I would want to develop a closer partnership with parents, educators, the school district to ensure that every child has access to public education where they will build their knowledge and earn the confidence needed to be set up for future success - no matter their race, gender identity, preference, ability or economic status. I am a proud product of the St. Paul Public schools district.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing the city is poverty, with 40 percent of residents living at or below the poverty level including a high number of children in this population. I would address poverty by enhancing city services and enrichment programs offered through our parks and libraries. Low income families should be able to access and join various opportunities and programming to learn and engage, especially for children and youth of color. I would also support community-based initiatives similar to Saint Paul Promise Neighborhoods where children and families are connected to local resources that help them achieve academic success and self-sufficiency. Another strategy that I want to support is creating more worker owned cooperatives, given the high number of businesses owned by the baby boomer generation and with only 15 percent having succession planning, this presents a great opportunity for growth, especially for poor communities.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My top 3 priorities are:
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
We need to invest and support development of transit options such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) which is cheaper to operate and has been shown to have the same level of economic development impact as light rail development. From my conversations in the community, I have seen local property owners begin to reimagine their properties with the new Rush Line BRT that is being planned for the East Side.
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?
One service many people have asked for that the city could potentially provide is alley plowing. This has a tremendous impact on how people can get to work, school and/or daycare. I would be open to the city exploring their role in providing this service.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I am a product of this great city. When we invest in the people who are already here or immigrated here as poor refugees, we stand to benefit from them in future years when they become educated, come back to work here, and invest here by opening businesses, buying homes and other properties. As someone who grew up in a small business family, I saw the hard work, dedication, success and failures of trying to provide for one’s current and extended families. I carry these life lessons with me throughout my professional and community experience as proof of my commitment to ensuring the success of the East Side and of the city of St. Paul. I appreciate the opportunity to share my vision and story with the Chamber and look forward to a continued positive working relationship as the next City Council member from
Ward 6.
Public Office Sought: Saint Paul City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-560-3456
Website: www.territhao.org
Twitter Handle: @territhaoward6
Facebook: Terri Thao - St. Paul City Council Ward 6
Candidate Bio
I have over 15 years of experience in the fields of community economic development, community engagement, leadership development and philanthropy. My professional job is training leaders of color and indigenous communities to serve on public boards and commissions in support of racially and economically equitable outcomes. In the last 9 years, I co-chaired several task forces on the City of St. Paul’s Planning Commission that included the Green Line LRT development and the Neighborhood and Comprehensive Planning Committee which oversaw the development of the recent 2040 Comprehensive Plan. In 2016, I was appointed to the board of MN Housing where I oversee funding for affordable housing development and first-time home buyer mortgages across the state of Minnesota. My passion
for building community capacity also afforded me opportunities to serve on the boards of various non-profit organizations such as Neighborhood House, the Asian Economic Development Association and the East Side Neighborhood Development Company. I am excited and look forward to improving outcomes for our residents and increasing community assets to strengthen the East Side. I believe this cumulative experience positions me as the best candidate for Ward 6.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Saint Paul?
We are living in an exciting time right now where there is a shift in our economic environment. The rapid changes in demographics and technology are crucial elements for us as we continue to advance an economically inclusive and prosperous Saint Paul. Local government and businesses must consider the needs of a broad range of communities , each with its own unique context, assets, and barriers. The city must also continue to invest in policies and programs that support minority owned businesses and connect people to jobs. My previous work in economic development allows me to understand how challenging it is for small businesses to find funding for working capital or even to move their entrepreneurial ideas into reality. While commercial properties in various neighborhoods may be affordable to these emerging entrepreneurs, several of them do not have access to appropriate funds that can help with cost of upkeep or remodeling. Furthermore, it is vital to have city resources available to support these businesses so they can better navigate the regulatory process. We must also prioritize our economic investments and bring together diverse stakeholders to build an equitable and thriving city for all .
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?
The city plays an important role in how they advance economic inclusion policies such as local hiring or inclusive procurement. The city, as an employer and contractor, should leverage their ability to create equitable job opportunities for St. Paul residents. Improvement in data collection for contract monitoring and compliance is also useful to solicit for types of jobs available in the city and growing industries or sectors that do not currently exist. In terms of job retention, the city should strengthen relationships with employers of different sizes to help connect individuals with barriers to employment to good jobs . The city can also solicit new
businesses when they invest in the creativity and skills of people in our neighborhoods, especially with our changing demographics and market trends. I witnessed this firsthand as board chair for the Asian Economic Development Association where we saw two different Thai ice cream roll food booth go from tents at our annual Little Mekong Night Market to two physical storefronts along University Avenue in a span of four months. There is tremendous interest in growing the creative economy on the East Side for local artists and we must help businesses improve their bottom line to create high-quality jobs.
As I speak to East Siders, many of them mention the types of local goods and services that we need in our neighborhoods. I will share this information with all of the stakeholders to mobilize interest and action and ensure that we are reaching this goal and sharing these results back to the community.
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?
It is important to identify if this role already exists in some sort of capacity at the City and ask for ways to enhance this work. If there is not someone explicitly in this role, then a separate business advocate hire would make sense. I do believe it is the responsibility of multiple departments to focus on the above topics so that the business perspective lives institutionally in the city of St. Paul.
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 would have to see how the mandatory scheduling notice would impact businesses of all sizes before I would support this proposal. The steps I would take to understand this impact would be to get data or information on the number of businesses that use scheduling as part of their business model and how scheduling is currently being implemented; who their current employees are and if offering more structured schedules would lead to greater retention and business impact.
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, I would not support modifying or repealing either ordinance. Rather I would continue to engage businesses of all sizes on how it is being implemented to see if it is retaining employees or creating additional costs to businesses.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Economic development strategies are key to addressing public safety. When you give people good jobs and dignified work, it means they can provide for their families and are less likely to engage in criminal activity. When we invest in job-training programs for youth it gives them on-the-job experience, alternatives to participating in unsafe activities and provides disposable income that is recirculated in the local economy.
In addition to this, I know the St. Paul Police Department has a commitment to community policing that we need to continue to strengthen. This means officers must have a positive and visible presence throughout the city as a way to deter crime. I will also support the city to engage and educate business owners on crime prevention strategies.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My priorities for the city budget would be to keep facilities like recreation centers and libraries open because they are informal spaces that provide services to the most vulnerable in our community, invest in local businesses and help homeowners reinvest in their properties.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
My understanding of the relationship between between commercial and residential property taxes is that they are set by the county, who also assesses properties, and sets the rates for different types of properties. The city sends a levy that does not assign level of taxes by property type. I know that in the past, for example during the foreclosure crisis, commercial property taxes increased to cover the decrease in residential property tax revenue. However this has changed with the current strength of the residential market. It is important to note that when residential properties are healthy and values are increasing, commercial properties are as
well. It will be important to find the right balance and ensure that all properties are successful so the burden is spread appropriately.
9. What will you do to expand Saint Paul’s tax base?
In addition to encourage new and expanding businesses in St. Paul, we also need to literally build on our physical assets. Ward 6 also has over 100 vacant lots that presents an opportunity to be returned to the tax base. We also have an unprecedented opportunity in the redevelopment of the Hillcrest Golf Course that is located in my ward to create new tax base for the city with both commercial and residential uses.
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?
Having co-chaired the MSP Workforce Innovation Network (a group of local and national foundations that are supporting workforce system innovations), I know that strengthening relationships with K-12 and post-secondary institutions will be key to developing and retaining the workforce in the region. This includes investing in career pathways programs, engaging with employers to identify emerging workforce needs and creating evaluation metrics that measure outcomes from the workforce system and employers. We also need to report back to the city and community on these indicators.
Our greatest asset is the future generations of St. Paul who come from diverse backgrounds and oftentimes have to overcome systemic barriers that may impact their success. We need to be proactive and address the deeper issues of poverty, housing instability and lack of access to affordable healthcare.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Saint Paul?
The city council’s role impacts everything that surrounds student achievement without ever stepping a foot in the classroom. Our decisions about land use and where we will build more affordable housing impacts family stability and mobility. We know from data and research that housing security is a great predictor of student academic success. I also believe education can be the catalyst needed to lift people out of poverty and as someone who grew up poor, public education in particular served as a lifeline to future opportunities and economic advancement for me. I would want to develop a closer partnership with parents, educators, the school district to ensure that every child has access to public education where they will build their knowledge and earn the confidence needed to be set up for future success - no matter their race, gender identity, preference, ability or economic status. I am a proud product of the St. Paul Public schools district.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing the city is poverty, with 40 percent of residents living at or below the poverty level including a high number of children in this population. I would address poverty by enhancing city services and enrichment programs offered through our parks and libraries. Low income families should be able to access and join various opportunities and programming to learn and engage, especially for children and youth of color. I would also support community-based initiatives similar to Saint Paul Promise Neighborhoods where children and families are connected to local resources that help them achieve academic success and self-sufficiency. Another strategy that I want to support is creating more worker owned cooperatives, given the high number of businesses owned by the baby boomer generation and with only 15 percent having succession planning, this presents a great opportunity for growth, especially for poor communities.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My top 3 priorities are:
- Community and economic development: supporting commercial corridors and neighborhood nodes, creating community wealth, and supporting small businesses.
- Maintaining and preserving housing affordability through sharing and leveraging city resources for home ownership and rehabilitation, increased density, more affordable housing development, and supporting alternative housing options such as accessory dwelling units and cooperative housing models.
- Creating great safe neighborhoods by working to make streets physically safe for pedestrians and people with disabilities, ensure just and transparent policing by engaging with residents and law enforcement to develop community-based strategies to reduce crime, and advocating for community-centered policing approach where officers proactively engage communities on foot, bikes, or car throughout specific neighborhoods.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
We need to invest and support development of transit options such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) which is cheaper to operate and has been shown to have the same level of economic development impact as light rail development. From my conversations in the community, I have seen local property owners begin to reimagine their properties with the new Rush Line BRT that is being planned for the East Side.
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?
One service many people have asked for that the city could potentially provide is alley plowing. This has a tremendous impact on how people can get to work, school and/or daycare. I would be open to the city exploring their role in providing this service.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I am a product of this great city. When we invest in the people who are already here or immigrated here as poor refugees, we stand to benefit from them in future years when they become educated, come back to work here, and invest here by opening businesses, buying homes and other properties. As someone who grew up in a small business family, I saw the hard work, dedication, success and failures of trying to provide for one’s current and extended families. I carry these life lessons with me throughout my professional and community experience as proof of my commitment to ensuring the success of the East Side and of the city of St. Paul. I appreciate the opportunity to share my vision and story with the Chamber and look forward to a continued positive working relationship as the next City Council member from
Ward 6.