Taxes 

We have a certain expectation of our quality of life in Maplewood and someone has to pay for it. Cutting items from the budget without careful consideration is not a responsible way to run a city.  Each department has carefully examined its needs and made hard decisions about services and employees.  The currently proposed  ”zero based levy option” may reduce taxes, but at a great cost. Under this plan, ten employee positions remain open, including two police officers. The plan also disproportionately affects quality of life issues such as snow removal, street maintenance, parks, and sewer upkeep. Tough decisions need to be made because of Pawlenty’s cowardly cutting of Market Value Home Credit. I can and will stand up to the criticism that comes with making the tough decisions. 

Human Rights Commission

There is a large section of Maplewood that is often left out of the conversation, including our senior citizens, Asian population, renters, the growing Latino community and business owners. At one point we had a Human Relations Commission. It was eliminated due to “inactivity”.  I believe it is time to bring it back which  I petitioned the council to do.  I think we can develop models for local human rights observances  ( Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Cinco de Mayo, Asian celebrations, etc.). We can do small things like conduct workshops and conferences to assist and inform city and county officials who are concerned about enhancing the rights of all in our communities.  I believe I can represent ALL of Maplewood.

Community Center 

The community center adds to the quality of life in Maplewood, making it an important part of the community at large. I believe it can be successfully operated with the proper guidelines and continue to be a great asset to the area. Scrapping or selling off the center, as some have proposed, would actually cost the city more money. The center operated with a $300,000 subsidy from the 2009 levy and is expected to perform more closely to break even  this year.  I would propose we set a limit of $150,000 a year.  That means of the $15,000,000 budget, the subsidy equals 1% of the total levy.  This is a  small portion of the overall budget and worth every penny.

Parks and Recreation Department

I am dedicated to the parks and recreation program in Maplewood!  The wonderful parks and trails are part of the reason I moved to our great city.  My children and I use Harvest Park and others every day with our dog Cloe.  I am bothered by other issues being given attention while this department is deeply and unfairly affected. Due to open positions and a hiring freeze, the parks and rec department is currently overworked and understaffed. I believe we need to make this a top priority with proper funding. Underfunding means less equipment repair, delayed mowing and trash removal, no funds to address critical issues such as the Emerald Ash Borer . The list goes on and on.

Organized Trash Haulers

I propose we work with the Environment and Natural Resource Commission and the League of Cities  to explore single hauler options for Maplewood. There are more than 10 licensed haulers in Maplewood tearing up your streets, creating both air and noise pollution every “trash day”.  Through the bid process, it might be possible to reduce noise, pollution and pricing, as well as add  options like leave/brush removal. I think this idea deserves another look.

Council Climate and Friction

At the end of the day, we need people to work together for residents.  I think what has happened is a complete shame. I will work to change the climate on the council.  I can bring sane, reasonable leadership and will focus on issues, not personalities.