Georgiana May
Name: Georgiana May
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-792-6558
Campaign Website: https://www.georgiana4falconheights.org/
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/georgiana.may
Candidate Bio
In my career as Professor in evolution and ecology at the University Minnesota, I honed a key skill that will serve me well as a council member – putting together information and resources to address complex problems that may not have an easy answer. Further, I funded all of my research and training work from competitive grants and will use these abilities to help obtain new, non-tax sources of funding for the city.
In the city of Falcon Heights, I previously served on the Community Engagement Commission and actively engaged in Community Conversations on Policing and the Larpenteur/Snelling Corridor Development Study. More recently, I was a member of the Climate Action Team that developed the Climate Action Plan. Currently I serve on the State Fair Task Force and the Environment Commission. Together my efforts helped produce a framework that will be instrumental in moving forward together in tackling challenges of sustainable development.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I am data-driven with a heart. I put together information and resources to address complex problems that may not have an easy answer and develop several workable scenarios. I want to hear from all residents even though we may not agree because together, we can build a sustainable and equitable community that is fiscally sound and uses tax and assessment resources responsibly.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
Safe, Friendly Neighborhoods – neighbors helping neighbors, one block or building at a time. I will work with our SAVPD to ensure regular reporting, as well as encouraging Night-To-Unite events and re-invigorate our community liaison program.
Responsible Growth – ensure development is fiscally and environmentally responsible. Plan new development to address housing needs, incorporate goals of the Climate Action Plan that both reduce energy costs and support healthy living.
Maintain and improve parks and gardens – Green and garden spaces are important to the well-being of individuals and the community as they provide natural gathering spaces.
Accountable Government – I will be present, prepared and responsive to citizens.
I do the background work to understand critical issues and discuss those issues with residents. The state’s economic outlook means that we must make every decision with a sharp eye on fiscal responsibility while actively seeking new sources of non-tax revenue.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Falcon Heights?
The development of the University of Minnesota Golf Course is an opportunity to address an array of housing needs while incorporating sustainable solutions that reduce energy costs and improve health and well-being with green spaces for our residents. However, that development also presents a huge challenge as it must be well-managed to be fiscally responsible and serve the needs of future Falcon Heights residents. My experience and skills in managing large research projects, analysis of complex issues, and on-going community engagement will serve the Council well as we move forward together on this project.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development?
As we grow Falcon Heights in population and area, we need to grow the business community to provide goods, services and workforce development. The critical need for food access and sufficiency could be addressed by governments incentivizing new grocery businesses, especially in the western Larpenteur corridor. Falcon Heights might provide seed grants for supportive social services provided by private or non-profit organizations similar to the existing Como Connects and St. Anthony Block Nurse program for seniors. Looking ahead, Falcon Heights could better harness the research powerhouse represented by the University of Minnesota Saint Paul campus to promote the development of agricultural, green and sustainable energy start-ups.
How would you characterize the business climate in Falcon Heights and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Falcon Heights?
The business climate in Falcon Heights is good but has limited scope. The city can use the opportunity afforded by the development of the UM Golf Course to attract new agricultural, green and sustainable energy businesses and start-ups, and with that, workforce development and new jobs. We have a highly trained and well-educated workforce in our backyard – let’s work with the UM, Ramsey County, and the Met Council to increase high quality employment in Falcon Heights.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
With strong efforts of the St. Anthony Village and Falcon Heights Councils, city managers and community members, Falcon Heights has recently contracted with the St. Anthony Village Police Department (SAVPD) to provide public safety services to the city. While still in the first year of that contract, the response of citizens has been very positive. Nonetheless, challenges exist; funding the high-quality policing provided by SAVPD is a high priority of residents and council will need to continually seek new resources at the state or federal level; continue to build a constructive relationship with the SAVPD by advocating for transparency in reporting policing activities and through informal events such as Night-to-Unite.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability, and how do you view the role of rent control policies in that process?
First, we need a study of current and projected housing needs in Falcon Heights by age group and income levels. Second, we need to assess current housing stock and design new developments to address needs. Since lower income housing often represents a sizeable investment from the city, protect that investment by regulating the management – insuring that healthy, safe housing is maintained and that necessary changes in rent are tied to cost-of-living or infrastructure costs.
In addition, the high cost of housing and mortgages has put starter homes out of the reach for many young people and changes how we think of affordable housing. We could use creative approaches such as land trusts, multi-generational, or multi-family housing to help reduce the cost of home ownership.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
I served on the Climate Action Team and helped develop the Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Falcon Heights. In the CAP, we recommend a pragmatic, multi-prong approaches to improving transit and transit safety – improve key links in bike and walking paths, incentivize the use of e-vehicles by installing charging stations, and work with the MetCouncil to improve public transit safety and convenience.
Falcon Heights must also address the problems associated with the Snelling and Larpenteur intersection, the 2nd busiest intersection in the state. Right now, it is a no-person zone of drivers running red lights, high speeds, and disregard for pedestrians. As a Council member, I will work with SAVPD, regional law enforcement, and regional and state governments for better traffic control and improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability with the uncertainty surrounding future federal funding and the expiration of temporary COVID relief dollars?
As a biological scientist who understands disease transmission, I frankly, do not see easy answers. The loss of funding for pandemic preparedness and misinformation regarding vaccines is a national problem that will negatively affect all Falcon Heights and Minnesota residents. What we can do – support efforts such as Michael Osterholm’s Vaccine Integrity Project at the University of Minnesota. Elect scientists and knowledgeable people at every level of government. Write to your elected representatives at the State and Federal level in support of sane health policies.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
I see fair wages and childcare subsidies as very different issues that should have different approaches for funding. Fair wages should come from the employer that is profiting from the labor. In contrast, good child and health care is a right of all people and for workers, should be navigated by employers, federal Medicaid, and state agencies. Funding for affordable and high-quality childcare should come from our local and county governments as well as the state. For school-age children, we have an excellent school system and the affordability of privately provided after-school care in schools could be enhanced by local governments and foundations. I would like to see this extended to universal pre-K for families because early childcare is the most expensive and difficult to obtain. For example, employed on the faculty at the University of Minnesota, early childcare cost a quarter of my salary. As a small city, affordable, early childcare will require cooperation between employers, county, state, and federal programs such as Medicaid and Heads Start programs.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-792-6558
Campaign Website: https://www.georgiana4falconheights.org/
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/georgiana.may
Candidate Bio
In my career as Professor in evolution and ecology at the University Minnesota, I honed a key skill that will serve me well as a council member – putting together information and resources to address complex problems that may not have an easy answer. Further, I funded all of my research and training work from competitive grants and will use these abilities to help obtain new, non-tax sources of funding for the city.
In the city of Falcon Heights, I previously served on the Community Engagement Commission and actively engaged in Community Conversations on Policing and the Larpenteur/Snelling Corridor Development Study. More recently, I was a member of the Climate Action Team that developed the Climate Action Plan. Currently I serve on the State Fair Task Force and the Environment Commission. Together my efforts helped produce a framework that will be instrumental in moving forward together in tackling challenges of sustainable development.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I am data-driven with a heart. I put together information and resources to address complex problems that may not have an easy answer and develop several workable scenarios. I want to hear from all residents even though we may not agree because together, we can build a sustainable and equitable community that is fiscally sound and uses tax and assessment resources responsibly.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
Safe, Friendly Neighborhoods – neighbors helping neighbors, one block or building at a time. I will work with our SAVPD to ensure regular reporting, as well as encouraging Night-To-Unite events and re-invigorate our community liaison program.
Responsible Growth – ensure development is fiscally and environmentally responsible. Plan new development to address housing needs, incorporate goals of the Climate Action Plan that both reduce energy costs and support healthy living.
Maintain and improve parks and gardens – Green and garden spaces are important to the well-being of individuals and the community as they provide natural gathering spaces.
Accountable Government – I will be present, prepared and responsive to citizens.
I do the background work to understand critical issues and discuss those issues with residents. The state’s economic outlook means that we must make every decision with a sharp eye on fiscal responsibility while actively seeking new sources of non-tax revenue.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Falcon Heights?
The development of the University of Minnesota Golf Course is an opportunity to address an array of housing needs while incorporating sustainable solutions that reduce energy costs and improve health and well-being with green spaces for our residents. However, that development also presents a huge challenge as it must be well-managed to be fiscally responsible and serve the needs of future Falcon Heights residents. My experience and skills in managing large research projects, analysis of complex issues, and on-going community engagement will serve the Council well as we move forward together on this project.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development?
As we grow Falcon Heights in population and area, we need to grow the business community to provide goods, services and workforce development. The critical need for food access and sufficiency could be addressed by governments incentivizing new grocery businesses, especially in the western Larpenteur corridor. Falcon Heights might provide seed grants for supportive social services provided by private or non-profit organizations similar to the existing Como Connects and St. Anthony Block Nurse program for seniors. Looking ahead, Falcon Heights could better harness the research powerhouse represented by the University of Minnesota Saint Paul campus to promote the development of agricultural, green and sustainable energy start-ups.
How would you characterize the business climate in Falcon Heights and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Falcon Heights?
The business climate in Falcon Heights is good but has limited scope. The city can use the opportunity afforded by the development of the UM Golf Course to attract new agricultural, green and sustainable energy businesses and start-ups, and with that, workforce development and new jobs. We have a highly trained and well-educated workforce in our backyard – let’s work with the UM, Ramsey County, and the Met Council to increase high quality employment in Falcon Heights.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
With strong efforts of the St. Anthony Village and Falcon Heights Councils, city managers and community members, Falcon Heights has recently contracted with the St. Anthony Village Police Department (SAVPD) to provide public safety services to the city. While still in the first year of that contract, the response of citizens has been very positive. Nonetheless, challenges exist; funding the high-quality policing provided by SAVPD is a high priority of residents and council will need to continually seek new resources at the state or federal level; continue to build a constructive relationship with the SAVPD by advocating for transparency in reporting policing activities and through informal events such as Night-to-Unite.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability, and how do you view the role of rent control policies in that process?
First, we need a study of current and projected housing needs in Falcon Heights by age group and income levels. Second, we need to assess current housing stock and design new developments to address needs. Since lower income housing often represents a sizeable investment from the city, protect that investment by regulating the management – insuring that healthy, safe housing is maintained and that necessary changes in rent are tied to cost-of-living or infrastructure costs.
In addition, the high cost of housing and mortgages has put starter homes out of the reach for many young people and changes how we think of affordable housing. We could use creative approaches such as land trusts, multi-generational, or multi-family housing to help reduce the cost of home ownership.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
I served on the Climate Action Team and helped develop the Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Falcon Heights. In the CAP, we recommend a pragmatic, multi-prong approaches to improving transit and transit safety – improve key links in bike and walking paths, incentivize the use of e-vehicles by installing charging stations, and work with the MetCouncil to improve public transit safety and convenience.
Falcon Heights must also address the problems associated with the Snelling and Larpenteur intersection, the 2nd busiest intersection in the state. Right now, it is a no-person zone of drivers running red lights, high speeds, and disregard for pedestrians. As a Council member, I will work with SAVPD, regional law enforcement, and regional and state governments for better traffic control and improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability with the uncertainty surrounding future federal funding and the expiration of temporary COVID relief dollars?
As a biological scientist who understands disease transmission, I frankly, do not see easy answers. The loss of funding for pandemic preparedness and misinformation regarding vaccines is a national problem that will negatively affect all Falcon Heights and Minnesota residents. What we can do – support efforts such as Michael Osterholm’s Vaccine Integrity Project at the University of Minnesota. Elect scientists and knowledgeable people at every level of government. Write to your elected representatives at the State and Federal level in support of sane health policies.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
I see fair wages and childcare subsidies as very different issues that should have different approaches for funding. Fair wages should come from the employer that is profiting from the labor. In contrast, good child and health care is a right of all people and for workers, should be navigated by employers, federal Medicaid, and state agencies. Funding for affordable and high-quality childcare should come from our local and county governments as well as the state. For school-age children, we have an excellent school system and the affordability of privately provided after-school care in schools could be enhanced by local governments and foundations. I would like to see this extended to universal pre-K for families because early childcare is the most expensive and difficult to obtain. For example, employed on the faculty at the University of Minnesota, early childcare cost a quarter of my salary. As a small city, affordable, early childcare will require cooperation between employers, county, state, and federal programs such as Medicaid and Heads Start programs.