Trista MatasCastillo
Name: Trista MatasCastillo
Public Office Sought: Ramsey County Commissioner-District 3
Email: @votetrista.org
Phone: 612-845-7036
Campaign website: http://votetrista.org
Twitter handle: @TristaMatas
Facebook page: @VoteTrista
Candidate Bio
I am currently finishing my first term on the Ramsey County Board, serving since 2019. Prior to serving on the Board, I spent 16 years in the US military in three branches (Navy, Marines, Army-National Guard), and then after entering civilian life, I became a lobbyist for affordable housing and veterans’ issues with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, the City of Minneapolis, and the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
1. Affordable housing and homelessness. The lack of affordable housing in our communities is at crisis levels, and it impacts every aspect of our work at Ramsey County. While I was chair of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, we passed the county’s first-ever countywide affordable housing levy, which will dedicate $11M annually to create deeply affordable housing and economic vitality. I want to build on that work and ensure that we begin to address this crisis durably and lastingly.
2. Public safety. Our community continues to reel from cycles of gun violence that tear apart families and make it harder for people to trust that their neighborhoods are safe. Ramsey County is committed to using every tool at our disposal to disrupt these cycles and create the healing our streets need.
3. Climate change. We know that our climate is changing here in Minnesota as everywhere else, which will create new challenges and opportunities in the years and decades ahead. We need to think smart about how we can adapt proactively to reduce our emissions and prepare our infrastructure for unexpected weather events while understanding where these needed changes create opportunities for growth and improvement.
How would you characterize the business climate in Ramsey County and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
I believe that Ramsey County is a fantastic place for businesses and corporations to settle and grow. Our staff in departments such as Workforce Solutions and Community & Economic Development work tirelessly to connect jobseekers with potential employers, to develop and strengthen corridors of commerce in our communities, and to advance the deep wealth-building that will lift up every enterprise that our diverse community has to offer.
What role do you think the county should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Ramsey County?
The single most important thing we can do on the Board of Commissioners to attract and retain businesses is to ensure that the county is a thriving, safe, and vibrant place for them to do business. Projects such as Riversedge, on the former West Publishing site in downtown St. Paul, will achieve those goals and more, pairing a vibrant new park and connection to the riverfront with an attractive mixture of residential, hotel, and class-A office space.
What role do you think the county should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in Ramsey County?
I do not believe that these ideas would fall under the authority of Ramsey County, and I have yet to see any formal proposal for such presented by advocates or our staff. In general, I support proposals at the city level that protect the rights and interests of workers, but I believe it is important to be deliberate and to continuously measure outcomes to ensure that success doesn’t come with unexpected consequences.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals in Ramsey County (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of a policy on the many types of businesses in Ramsey County and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I do not believe that these ideas would fall under the authority of Ramsey County, and I have yet to see any formal proposal for such presented by advocates or our staff. In general, I support proposals at the city level that protect the rights and interests of workers, but I believe it is important to be deliberate and to continuously measure outcomes to ensure that success doesn’t come with unexpected consequences.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
From where I sit, the most important thing I can do to help address the shortage of labor is to increase the supply of housing in our county and region. Too many people are priced out of the Twin Cities today who would gladly move here and work if they had the opportunity.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
Within the City of St. Paul, Ramsey County’s role in public safety and crime is generally a support role, as the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office is not contracted or funded to patrol within the city. I have been a champion of the new work we are developing in the St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health Department to work with offenders and victims to address the root causes of violence and to disrupt the cycles of retaliation that we see on our streets far too often.
What strategies or policies would you use to address housing issues?
See above. In general I would like to see an “all-in” approach to housing, including not just the additional funding from our HRA levy and other sources, but also strategies including upzoning, elimination of requirements for things like parking, and further density bonuses for developments that include affordable units.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
I strongly support Ramsey County’s All Abilities Transportation Network policy, which aims to create a mobility system that allows people to get around our communities safely and conveniently whatever their means of transportation. Our upcoming Rice Street project is a great example of this, reallocating space to create better spaces for biking and walking, adding greenery, supporting business vitality by creating a safer and more pleasant environment, and incorporating Metro Transit’s planned Rice-Robert METRO G Line project.
What are your priorities for the county’s budget?
Budget priorities shift from year to year, and I want to be flexible to make sure that our staff teams have the support they need to address challenges as they arise. With that said, I have concerns about the caseloads some of our financial assistance workers carry and the response times that sometimes result from that. Improving our safety net and services has been a big focus at the county for several years now, but I know there is still more to do to create a system that really serves all of our residents well.
What will you do to expand Ramsey County’s tax base?
Developments like Riversedge and Rice Creek Commons, if and when we reach agreements with the relevant parties, could make a big impact on the county’s tax base. Even as the state’s most densely-developed county, we have opportunities to create new tax base if we move carefully and thoughtfully.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
I’m grateful that the Twin Cities metro is already one of the most educated workforces in the country, and I am confident in the leadership of our educational institutions to keep building on that legacy. Ramsey County works closely with school districts in areas including family supports and mental health responses, and I look forward to more collaboration in the years to come.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I think all of the services that we provide are essential, and I think the disruption our residents experienced during the pandemic when even the most innocuous program was delayed or retooled goes to show that. With that said, there may be opportunities to partner more closely with the City of St. Paul for some services or departments where there is overlap.
What is the role of the County Board in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Ramsey County?
Last year, we released our Economic Inclusion & Competitiveness Plan, which highlights the need to invest in minority- and women-owned businesses here for the future competitiveness of our region. I would encourage you to take a closer look at that plan and see the many strategies listed there.
What further policies can Ramsey County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Ultimately, we are open to exploring any policies that come from the community to help our residents and businesses recover from the many overlapping crises of the last few years. Rather than imposing a top-down approach, I want to hear from individual businesses and residents what are the challenges they face and how we can do better.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Serving as your County Commissioner these last four years has been one of the honors of my life, and I come to the job each day with enthusiasm to learn and to lend my hand. We’ve accomplished a lot in a short amount of time, but I know there is so much more that we could be doing to make Ramsey County a great place to live, work, and do business. Thank you for your support.
Public Office Sought: Ramsey County Commissioner-District 3
Email: @votetrista.org
Phone: 612-845-7036
Campaign website: http://votetrista.org
Twitter handle: @TristaMatas
Facebook page: @VoteTrista
Candidate Bio
I am currently finishing my first term on the Ramsey County Board, serving since 2019. Prior to serving on the Board, I spent 16 years in the US military in three branches (Navy, Marines, Army-National Guard), and then after entering civilian life, I became a lobbyist for affordable housing and veterans’ issues with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, the City of Minneapolis, and the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
1. Affordable housing and homelessness. The lack of affordable housing in our communities is at crisis levels, and it impacts every aspect of our work at Ramsey County. While I was chair of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, we passed the county’s first-ever countywide affordable housing levy, which will dedicate $11M annually to create deeply affordable housing and economic vitality. I want to build on that work and ensure that we begin to address this crisis durably and lastingly.
2. Public safety. Our community continues to reel from cycles of gun violence that tear apart families and make it harder for people to trust that their neighborhoods are safe. Ramsey County is committed to using every tool at our disposal to disrupt these cycles and create the healing our streets need.
3. Climate change. We know that our climate is changing here in Minnesota as everywhere else, which will create new challenges and opportunities in the years and decades ahead. We need to think smart about how we can adapt proactively to reduce our emissions and prepare our infrastructure for unexpected weather events while understanding where these needed changes create opportunities for growth and improvement.
How would you characterize the business climate in Ramsey County and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
I believe that Ramsey County is a fantastic place for businesses and corporations to settle and grow. Our staff in departments such as Workforce Solutions and Community & Economic Development work tirelessly to connect jobseekers with potential employers, to develop and strengthen corridors of commerce in our communities, and to advance the deep wealth-building that will lift up every enterprise that our diverse community has to offer.
What role do you think the county should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Ramsey County?
The single most important thing we can do on the Board of Commissioners to attract and retain businesses is to ensure that the county is a thriving, safe, and vibrant place for them to do business. Projects such as Riversedge, on the former West Publishing site in downtown St. Paul, will achieve those goals and more, pairing a vibrant new park and connection to the riverfront with an attractive mixture of residential, hotel, and class-A office space.
What role do you think the county should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in Ramsey County?
I do not believe that these ideas would fall under the authority of Ramsey County, and I have yet to see any formal proposal for such presented by advocates or our staff. In general, I support proposals at the city level that protect the rights and interests of workers, but I believe it is important to be deliberate and to continuously measure outcomes to ensure that success doesn’t come with unexpected consequences.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals in Ramsey County (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of a policy on the many types of businesses in Ramsey County and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I do not believe that these ideas would fall under the authority of Ramsey County, and I have yet to see any formal proposal for such presented by advocates or our staff. In general, I support proposals at the city level that protect the rights and interests of workers, but I believe it is important to be deliberate and to continuously measure outcomes to ensure that success doesn’t come with unexpected consequences.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
From where I sit, the most important thing I can do to help address the shortage of labor is to increase the supply of housing in our county and region. Too many people are priced out of the Twin Cities today who would gladly move here and work if they had the opportunity.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
Within the City of St. Paul, Ramsey County’s role in public safety and crime is generally a support role, as the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office is not contracted or funded to patrol within the city. I have been a champion of the new work we are developing in the St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health Department to work with offenders and victims to address the root causes of violence and to disrupt the cycles of retaliation that we see on our streets far too often.
What strategies or policies would you use to address housing issues?
See above. In general I would like to see an “all-in” approach to housing, including not just the additional funding from our HRA levy and other sources, but also strategies including upzoning, elimination of requirements for things like parking, and further density bonuses for developments that include affordable units.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
I strongly support Ramsey County’s All Abilities Transportation Network policy, which aims to create a mobility system that allows people to get around our communities safely and conveniently whatever their means of transportation. Our upcoming Rice Street project is a great example of this, reallocating space to create better spaces for biking and walking, adding greenery, supporting business vitality by creating a safer and more pleasant environment, and incorporating Metro Transit’s planned Rice-Robert METRO G Line project.
What are your priorities for the county’s budget?
Budget priorities shift from year to year, and I want to be flexible to make sure that our staff teams have the support they need to address challenges as they arise. With that said, I have concerns about the caseloads some of our financial assistance workers carry and the response times that sometimes result from that. Improving our safety net and services has been a big focus at the county for several years now, but I know there is still more to do to create a system that really serves all of our residents well.
What will you do to expand Ramsey County’s tax base?
Developments like Riversedge and Rice Creek Commons, if and when we reach agreements with the relevant parties, could make a big impact on the county’s tax base. Even as the state’s most densely-developed county, we have opportunities to create new tax base if we move carefully and thoughtfully.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
I’m grateful that the Twin Cities metro is already one of the most educated workforces in the country, and I am confident in the leadership of our educational institutions to keep building on that legacy. Ramsey County works closely with school districts in areas including family supports and mental health responses, and I look forward to more collaboration in the years to come.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I think all of the services that we provide are essential, and I think the disruption our residents experienced during the pandemic when even the most innocuous program was delayed or retooled goes to show that. With that said, there may be opportunities to partner more closely with the City of St. Paul for some services or departments where there is overlap.
What is the role of the County Board in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Ramsey County?
Last year, we released our Economic Inclusion & Competitiveness Plan, which highlights the need to invest in minority- and women-owned businesses here for the future competitiveness of our region. I would encourage you to take a closer look at that plan and see the many strategies listed there.
What further policies can Ramsey County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Ultimately, we are open to exploring any policies that come from the community to help our residents and businesses recover from the many overlapping crises of the last few years. Rather than imposing a top-down approach, I want to hear from individual businesses and residents what are the challenges they face and how we can do better.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Serving as your County Commissioner these last four years has been one of the honors of my life, and I come to the job each day with enthusiasm to learn and to lend my hand. We’ve accomplished a lot in a short amount of time, but I know there is so much more that we could be doing to make Ramsey County a great place to live, work, and do business. Thank you for your support.