>> AS A GOLD STAR MOTHER AND THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN MOTHERS COMMITTEE, I URGE YOU TO VOTE.

I'LL SEE YOU AT THE POLLS.

♪ >> Eric: FOR THE REST OF THE HOUR WE WILL HAVE A DEBATE WITH THE LEADING CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR OF ST.

PAUL.

"ALMANAC" IS A STATEWIDE PROGRAM AND WE DON’T OFTEN FEATURE DEBATES FOR CITY OFFICES.

BUT THIS YEAR IS A BIT DIFFERENT.

WITH THE MAYORS RACES IN BOTH MINNEAPOLIS AND ST.

PAUL GETTING ATTENTION BEYOND CITY LIMITS.

LAST WEEK WE FOCUSED ON MINNEAPOLIS.

TONIGHT IT'S THE CAPITOL CITY'S TURN.

THERE ARE FIVE CANDIDATES ON THE ST.

PAUL MAYORAL BALLOT.

WE INVITED THOSE WHO WE BELIEVE TO HAVE THE THREE CANDIDATES TO JOIN US IN STUDIO TONIGHT.

FORMAT WILL BE KIND OF THE TYPICAL "ALMANAC" THING, NO DEBATE, NO TIMED RESPONSES, NO OPENING STATEMENTS, NO FORCED FORMALITY, JUST KIND OF A CONVERSATION.

>> Cathy: IT WORKS PRETTY WELL ACTUALLY.

CANDIDATES JOINING US TONIGHT, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER MELVIN CARTER IS RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM, WAS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BEFORE BECOMING MAYOR IN 2018.

YAN CHEN IS A PHYSICIST AND RESIDENTIAL LANDLEADER.

THE RESEARCH SCIENTIST RAN FOR AN OPEN CITY COUNCIL SEAT TWO YEARS AGO AND LOST.

REPRESENTATIVE KAOHLY HER HAS REPRESENTED ST.

PAUL'S DISTRICT 64A IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE SINCE 2019.

BEFORE THAT SHE WORKED AS POLICY DOOR FOR MAYOR CARTER.

WELCOME ONE AND ALL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US HALLOWEEN HERE.

WELL, I DO WORK IN DOWNTOWN ST.

PAUL AND I WORK AT MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO AND I WAS IN THE SKYWAY SYSTEM THIS WEEK GOING BACK AND FORTH, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU YOU CAN STILL SHOOT A CANNONDOWN THE SKYWAY AND NOT HIT A PERSON OR OPEN BUSINESS.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DOWNTOWN SAY IT'S A DISASTER.

I'M WONDERING WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR SKYWAYS AND REVITALIZATION IF YOU'RE MAYOR, REPRESENTATIVE HER?

>> I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY IMPORTANT TO REOPEN THE SKYWAY.

WHEN E THINK ABOUT THE EW GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO LIVE DOWNTOWN ST.

PAUL WHEN WE DO RENOVATIONS AND REBUILD, WE HEAR FROM SENIORS AND OUR YOUNGER RESIDENTS IS THAT THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A WALKABLE CITY.

LIKE I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF SENIORS BY MIRS PARK THE OTHER DAY AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE LOVED THE ABILITY TO TAKE THE SKYWAY TO WALK AROUND ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER TIME.

WITH THE SKYWAYS LOSED AND THE BUILDINGS DON'T CONNECT ANYMORE IT MAKES IT CHALLENGING FOR THEM.

I THINK THAT'S A CRITICAL PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

WHAT ABOUT SKYWAYS, MAYOR?

>> WELL, THE CHALLENGE THAT YOU DESCRIBED IS WHEN YOU SAID THE FEW PEOPLE WHO LIVE DOWNTOWN.

WE HAVE NEVER HAD ENOUGH RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN, WE NEED A LOT MORE RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN.

I ACTUALLY THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT SKYWAYS.

I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE ALSO WANT THRIVING STREETS, WE WANT THRIVING STREETSCAPE IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND WE MADE A DECISION A LONG TIME AGO TO SORT OF HAVE COMPETITION.

OUR DOWNTOWN CAN BE FULL AND FEEL EMPTY STREET LEVEL AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AND HOW WE WANT THOSE TRADEOFFS TO NAVIGATE.

>> Ms.

CHEN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO ABOUT THE SKYWAYS?

>> I THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HAVING RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN, THEY HAVE NO PLACE TO SHOP AND THEY HAVE NO PLACE TO DO ANYTHING.

WHY?

THE FUNDAMENTAL REASON I THINK IT IS CRIME, WHETHER IT'S PERCEIVED OR REAL, PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL SAFE.

OTHERWISE YOU CANNOT HAVE A VISITOR IN, YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

ALSO WE NEED TO SOLVE THE PARKING ISSUE.

IF OUR PARKING IS SO EXPENSIVE, WHO WANTS TO COME TO DOWNTOWN?

WE HAVE FIVE PARKING RAMPS CITY OWNED AND MOST OF THE TIME SITTING EMPTY.

WHY?

WE CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS TO REVITALIZE IN DOWNTOWN WITHOUT USING CITY SUBSIDIES.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE WAYS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING DOWNTOWN, NOT ONLY ST.

PAUL, UT EVERYWHERE, IS CONVERTING OFFICE SPACE TO RESIDENTIAL.

WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THAT?

HOW EXPENSE IT?

WHAT WILL WILL BE FOR NEW RESIDENTS TO DO IN THESE CONVERTED BUILDS?

WHAT ABOUT THAT SUBJECT?

>> AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR CRITICAL GOALS AND IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE.

IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE 9,000 PEOPLE ISN'T A BIG ENOUGH ECONOMY TO SUPPORT ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WE NEED.

ALL OF THE DOWNTOWN THAT'S FAIR BETTER THAN ST.

PAUL ALL THE DOWNTOWNS THAT FAIR BEST THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC HAVE WAY MORE RESIDENTS.

WE NEED 20, WE LITERALLY NEED 20,000 MORE RESIDENTS DOWNTOWN.

I'LL TELL YOU AFTER THE PANDEMIC ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR OFFICES WENT EMPTY.

THERE'S A PHENOMENON THAT HAPPENED ACROSS THE GLOBE.

BY CONTRAST OVER 93% OF OUR RESIDENTIAL UNITS ARE ALWAYS OCCUPIED.

SO WHEN PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO LIVE HERE THEY WANT TO LIVE HERE.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR STATE TO TRY TO GET A CONVERSION CREDIT PASSED SO THAT WE CAN HELP TO FACILITATE THAT.

IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE BUT THE TRUTH IS IT WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE, IT WOULD COST US FAR MORE TO NOT TAKE A STRATEGY LIKE THAT.

AND LET ME TELL YOU WHEN YOU HAVE THE ECONOMY THERE, WHEN YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE THERE, THEN OF COURSE YOU GET A PIZZA SHOP, OF COURSE YOU GET A GROCERY STORE AND THOSE AMENITIES BECAUSE THE MARKET IS THERE FOR IT.

>> I STRUGGLE A LITTLE BIT WITH HEARING THIS RESPONSE BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS BEEN MAYOR OR EIGHT YEARS.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHY THERE'S ONLY A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE DOWNTOWN LIKE THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF THIS ISN'T A NEW ISSUE AND THERE COULD HAVE BEEN WORK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE LONG BEFORE TO GET US TO THIS PLACE IN WHICH NOBODY WANTS TO BE DOWN THERE.

I AGREE WITH YAN, IT'S NOT ABOUT BUILDING AND COVERING OFFICES SPACES, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM OF RETAIL SPACES THAT WANT TO BE THERE, THEY'RE TELLING US IT'S THE HARDEST CITY TO DO BUSINESS IN, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT NEW BUSINESSES TO BE IMPLEMENTED, BUT THE FACT IS AS SOON AS TODAY WE WERE HEARING FROM CONTRACTORS WHO WERE SAYING OUR SYSTEM ONLINE, THE POLY SYSTEM IS IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE AND THERE'S NOBODY DOWNTOWN TO TALK TO.

>> EVEN PROMOTING THE POLY SYSTEM IS A NEW WAY TO IMPROVE PERMITTING.

>> WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT'S HALLOWEEN BUT THERE'S NO MAGIC WANDS HERE.

WHEN I GOT ELECTED MAYOR WE WERE THE LARGEST CITY TO NOT HAVE A LARGE INDEPENDENT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LIKE THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE, THAT'S WHY WE STARTED IT MY FIRST YEAR OF MAYOR.

A LOT F THESE GO BACK 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS, 50 YEARS, I REMEMBER AS A KID HEARING ABOUT HOW IT WAS GOING TO SAVE DOWNTOWN.

WE HAVEN'T -- IT WAS ALWAYS SO STABLE.

OUR DOWNTOWN WHEN I WAS GROWING UP WAS CENTERED AROUND DEVELOPMENT STORES AND OFFICE BUILDINGS.

THE INTERNET HAPPENED TO DEPARTMENT STORES AND COVID HAPPENED TO OFFICE BUILDINGS.

THE ONE STABLE LIKE PILLAR WE HAVE LEFT IS XCEL ENERGY CENTER NOW GRAND CASINO ARENA WHICH IS WHY WE'RE FOCUSED SO HEAVILY ON RENOVATING THAT, WE HAVE A LOT WORK TO DO BUT BIG OPPORTUNITIES DOWNTOWN.

>> Ms.

CHEN, YOU WERE SHAKING YOUR HEAD.

YOU'RE NOT BUYING THE MAYOR'S REASONING HERE.

>> NO, ANOTHER WAY OF DOING IT, DEMOLISHING A CERTAIN COMMERCIAL BUILDING, IF THE BUILDING IS NOT IN GOOD STRUCTURE, IT GETS SUPER EXPENSIVE TO CONVERT.

EVEN FOR THE BEST BUILDINGS, LIKE THE LANDMARK TOWER, THAT'S THE EASIEST BUILDING TO CONVERT, IT COSTS OUR TAXPAYERS $60 MILLION, 20 MILLION FROM THE STATE CREDIT.

SO 20 MILLION FROM FEDERAL.

AND IF WE KEEP DOING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DRAIN OUR CITY COFFER.

AND THINK ABOUT IT, THERE IS $60 MILLION, HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE WE COULD -- DIFFERENT THINGS WE COULD DO DIFFERENTLY.

SO NO, WE CANNOT DO CONVERSION, WE CAN DEMOLISH BUILDINGS, THAT'S NO PROBLEM, OR PRESERVE SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, BRING BUSINESS IN.

>> Cathy: SO YOU MENTIONED GRAND CASINO, I ALWAYS STILL CALL IT THE X, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.

>> VERY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.

>> Cathy: YES, $450 MILLION TO RENOVATE THAT THING AND YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU NEED THAT TO IGNITE DOWNTOWN.

GOSH, EVEN THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE BONDING COMMITTEE WHO LIVES IN ST.

PAUL, SHE'S NOT INTO IT, THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T SEEM VERY INTERESTED IN THIS.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THIS DONE?

>> WE'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

YES IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROJECT AND IT'S A BUILDING THAT HAS ALMOST HALF A BILLION DOLLAR ECONOMIC IMPACT IN OUR CITY EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

MAKING MONEY COSTS MONEY, THAT'S A CORE IMPACT OF BUSINESS.

WE CANNOT BUILD OUR DOWNTOWN FOR THE FUTURE BY DISINVESTING.

AND Ms.

CHEN IS RIGHT, SOME BUILDINGS ARE MORE SUITABLE FOR THOSE TYPES OF CONVERSIONS THAN OTHERS, THAT'S WHY WE DID THE BEGINSLER STUDY THAT TOLD US WHICH ONES WERE MOST SUITABLE FOR CONVERSION.

SO WHERE OUR GRAND CASINO ARENA IS CONCERNED THAT'S A CENTER FOR HOCKEY GAMES.

>> Cathy: CONCERTS.

>> IT'S A CENTER FORM LOTS AND LOTS OF THINGS.

>> Cathy: LEGISLATURE IS NOT INTERESTED IN THIS.

>> CITIES HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF TRYING TO WORK WITH THE STATE TO DO STUFF AND IF WE CAN'T WORK WITH THE STATE TO DO STUFF CITIES ARE AWARE THE BUCK STOPS SO WE HAVE TO DO IT WITHOUT THE STATE.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE A EMBER OF THE ST.

PAUL LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, WHY ISN'T THIS THING FLYING?

>> MEAN, TO BE HONEST I THINK IT WAS THE APPROACH AND TIMING.

WHEN THERE'S CHALLENGES WITH APPROVING A PROJECT THAT THE CITY AND THE WILD, I'M TRYING TO CHOOSE MY WORDS HERE VERY CAREFULLY, THAT THEY DON'T COME TO SEE YOU UNTIL A MONTH BEFORE YOU'RE IN SESSION OR LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE SESSION AND THEY WANT YOU TO FUND A BIG PROJECT AND CAN'T GET THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND DON'T HAVE A GOOD REASON WITH ALL THE COMPETING PROJECTS, MAKES IT HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET ON BOARD.

YOU'RE NOT JUST SELLING THE DELEGATION, YOU'RE COMPETING ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE AND MINNEAPOLIS AND EVERYBODY ELSE, AND SO WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD GAME PLAN COMING INTO IT IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

WHEN ST.

PAUL DELEGATION WAS ASKING BASIC QUESTIONS LIKE HOW MUCH EACH ONE OF THE DIFFERENT PIECES.

GRAND CASS SEENO, CIVIC CENTER, ROY WILKINS, DON'T GET THE NUMBERS.

>> SHORTER RESPONSE, MORE WE CAN GET IN.

>> Cathy: I THINK THE MAYOR SHOULD RESPOND TO THIS.

SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S INTERESTING CRITICISM.

>> WELL, WE LOVE YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, WE LOVE YOUR SUPPORT TO DO THAT.

IT'S A BIG VISION DOWNTOWN AND WE KNOW THAT BIG VISIONS MAKE FOLKS UNCOMFORTABLE.

WE'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF SMALL VISIONS DOWNTOWN AND WE ARE WHERE IT GOT US.

>> I WILL SAY IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT'S A BIG VISION, IT'S LACK OF -- PEOPLE TO PASS IT, THAT'S IMPORTANT, I DIDN'T GET A CALL UNTIL JANUARY AND WE WERE GOING INTO SESSION A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THAT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE HONEST WHY THINGS DON'T WORK, WE ARE ALL BIG VISION PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO SELL YOUR PROJECTS.

>> Eric: CITY AXES IN ST.

PAUL I THINK ARE THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE.

CERTAINLY AMONG THE HIGHEST.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Eric: ARE CITIZENS GETTING BANG FOR THE BUCK HERE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THAT'S REALLY THE ISSUE.

AND SO THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT MOTIVATED ME TO START TO UN FOR THE POLITICAL OFFICE.

SO TO FOCUS ON THE CITY LEVEL, BECAUSE I LOOKED AT THE BUDGET.

THIS IS NOT RIGHT NOW HAPPENING.

I LOOK AT THE BUDGET TRAJECTORY SINCE 2008 AND UP TO WAS 2022.

AND YOU SEE OUR REVENUE HAS BEEN SLOWLY GOING DOWN AND OUR SPENDING HAS BEEN SLOWLY GOING UP.

SO WE HAVE A GAP HERE AND THE THINGS THAT THE POLITICIANS HAVEN'T REALLY PAID ATTENTION TO THIS GAP SO WE JUST KEEP THINGS AT THE STATUS QUO AND IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

>> Eric: YOU NEED ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF REVENUE?

>> FIRST OF ALL THAT'S NOT ACCURATE.

WE'RE NOT LIKE THE STATE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE BALANCED -- >> THAT'S WHY WE'RE USING PROPERTY TAX.

>> I'LL TAKE MY ANSWER.

WE ARE IN BALANCE EVERY YEAR, AND WE HAVE TO BE IN BALANCE EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE WHICH IS WHY I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE TAXES THAT WE PASSED.

THAT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE THAT HELPS THE FOLKS WHO COME TO WORK TO MAINTAIN PARKS, TO INVITE THOSE BUSINESSES, WE TALK ABOUT THE BUILDINGS AND HOSPITALS AND UNIVERSITIES WHO DON'T PAY INTO THE PROPERTY TAX BILL, THEY PAY INTO THE FRANCHISE FEE SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE DIVERSIFYING REVENUES.

>> Eric: INCOME TAX INCREASE ON THE WEALTHY?

>> I CARRIED THE FIFTH TIER TAX BILL AT THE LEGISLATURE, BUT I WILL PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY IN REVENUES IF IT'S TAXES YOU'RE NOT DIVERSIFYING REVENUES, YOU'RE STILL MAKING PEOPLE PAY TAXES.

DIVERSIFYING REVENUE IS AN IDEA LIKE I HAVE ABOUT BRINGING THE URBAN WEALTH FUND INTO PLAY HERE BECAUSE CITIES ACROSS EUROPE AND ASIA HAVE USED URBAN WEALTH FUNDS IN ORDER O DEVELOP THEIR CITIES AND THAT USES THE CITY'S CURRENT ASSETS RIGHT NOW TO GENERATE NEW REVENUES SO THAT'S DIVERSIFYING REVENUES, NOT NCREASING ADDITIONAL TAXES ON PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: SAY, WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT, OF COURSE ST.

PAUL IS A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS, YOU KNOW.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SCARED BECAUSE OF THE I.C.E.

RAIDS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THERE WAS AN I.C.E.

RAID RECENTLY IN ST.

PAUL.

I'M WONDERING, REPRESENTATIVE HER, IF YOU WERE MAYOR, SHOULD THERE BE AN ORDINANCE BANNING FACE COVERINGS ORN BY I.C.E.

AGENTS AND MAYBE SENDING OUT REAL-TIME ALERTS TO RESIDENTS IF THERE ARE -- >> ABSOLUTELY, I WAS THE PERSON WHO PROPOSED THAT AT THE FIRST DEBATE AT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE DOING THAT, BANNING FACE COVERINGS, WEARING BADGES, REAL TIME ALERTS BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO TEACH PEOPLE TO BE CONSTITUTIONAL OBSERVERS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM OF THAT.

>> Ms.

CHEN.

>> I THINK OUR CITY, MAYOR, REPRESENTATIVE HER, THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

THEY'RE REALLY ADVOCATING.

BUT I THINK ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION, I WANT TO BRING AN ADVOCACY GROUP, IN ADDITION WE NEED TO DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO BUT AS ADVOCACY, WE NEED TO BE PUSHING BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ASK WHY.

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO ACHIEVE?

ARE THEY TRYING TO SOLVE THE CRIME ISSUE?

ARE THEY TRYING TO -- THE IMMIGRATION POLICY, OR ARE THEY GOING TO SOLVE THE LABOR ISSUE?

I THINK WE SHOULD ASK THE QUESTION TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ASK THEM WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF AN ORDINANCE, WOULD YOU BRING THAT BEFORE THE ST.

PAUL CITY COUNCIL?

>> SURE, I WOULD.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING AROUND THE COUNTRY IS I.C.E.

DOESN'T CARE WHAT LOCAL ORDINANCES ARE, I.C.E.

DOES CARE WHAT FEDERAL JUDGES SAY WHICH IS WHY WE'VE PUSHED THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, WE'VE FILED THREE LAWSUITS AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN COURT SO FAR.

WE'VE WON INJUNCTIONS IN TWO OF THEM, JUST LAST MONTH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE WHITE HOUSE SUED US ACCUSING US OF DISCRIMINATING AGAINST I.C.E.

AGENTS BUT THIS IS WHERE WE CAN CHALLENGE THEM IN COURT IN A WAY THAT'S NOT JUST SYMBOLIC, SURE, WE COULD PASS AN ORDINANCE, THAT WILL IMPACT OUR LOCAL POLICE BUT OUR LOCAL POLICE DON'T OPERATE IN MASKS ANYWAYS.

I.C.E.

FEDERAL AGENTS AREN'T BOUND BY CITY ORDINANCES WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS FIGHT TO FEDERAL COURT WHICH IS WHAT ST.

PAUL IS DOING.

>> WE'RE ALSO SEEING THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T CARE ABOUT FEDERAL COURTS EITHER.

WE SHOULD DO BOTH AND A ST.

PAUL DELEGATION SENT A LETTER TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ASKING TO TAKE ACTION AND THE OFFICE'S RESPONSE WAS NOT ACTUALLY TO SUPPORT THESE TYPES OF THINGS AND FOR ANYTHING THAT THE CITY WOULD DO -- >> THAT'S A MISCHARACTERIZATION.

>> I GOT THE LETTER, THERE WAS NO ACTION.

WE SPECIFICALLY LAID OUT FIVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE CITY COULD DO AND THE RESPONSES BACK DIDN'T ADDRESS ANY ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE DON'T ALLOW OUR POLICE TO BE I.C.E.

AGENTS, THEY DO NOT ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICY, THAT'S WHY THE WHITE HOUSE IS SUING US US.

LAST WEEK WHEN WE SAW A BUILD-UP OF EDERAL AGENTS LIKE I.C.E.

AGENTS AND BORDER PATROL AGENTS AHEAD OF KRISTY NOEM'S SPEECH HERE, WE SENT OUT AN ALERT, STARTED AN OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO DO KIND OF, WHO ARE THE ONES THAT -- >> LET ME TELL YOU, HE'S PUT $100,000 INTO THAT ND I WAS ACTUALLY IN COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH HIS LAWYER.

>> OH, I DIDN'T EVEN MENTION THAT.

>> IN HIS OFFICE WHO DIDN'T EVEN OFFER ANY OF THIS, THE OFFICE HE JUST TALKED ABOUT OR THE FUNDS THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS.

I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO BROUGHT SOLUTIONS TO THEM, YOUR LAWYER NEVER ONCE MENTIONED YOUR OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION OR ANY FUNDS THAT WERE AVAILABLE.

>> I DIDN'T MENTION OUR LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.

>> RAMSEY COUNTY PULLED OUT OF THAT PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WASN'T AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WAS $100,000 IN THERE.

THAT'S HOW MUCH COMMITMENT THIS MAYOR HAS TO OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES $100,000.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU HINK WE SHOULD DO MORE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING, GREAT.

ARE YOU GOING TO ASK US A QUESTION ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME?

BECAUSE IT'S WAY DOWN >> Cathy: VIOLENT CRIME IS GOING WAY DOWN.

>> THERE WAS TWO SHOOTINGS TODAY.

TWO PEOPLE IN UR CITY WERE KILLED.

BECAUSE CRIME HAS INCREASED ON YOUR WATCH.

WHEN CRIME HAS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY, COMING DOWN A LITTLE BIT >> WAIT, OKAY, LET'S TELL THE TRUTH.

>> YEAH, LET'S -- >> EVERY CATEGORY OF VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN DOUBLE DIGITS IN ST.

PAUL RIGHT NOW.

SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN 7 ON% -- HOLD ON.

>> ONE AT A TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN 07% IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE ON PACE FOR NEARLY 20-YEAR LOW IN HOMICIDES BECAUSE OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE WITH OUR ST.

PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS PAST YEAR, THAT'S FANTASTIC PROGRESS, YES, THERE'S GOING TO BE STILL GOING TO BE EVENTS HERE AND THERE.

>> I TALKED TO YOUR POLICE OFFICERS, THEY DID ALL THE WORK WITH VERY LITTLE PARTNERSHIP FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

THAT'S WHY YOU DIDN'T GET YOUR ENDORSEMENT.

>> MY BIGGEST ISSUE, THE VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN, BUT THE ISSUE IS REALLY O WE FEEL SAFER.

ONE OF THE THINGS, SHOPLIFTING, OH IT'S A NUISANCE CRIME, ACTUALLY HAS EFFECT ON PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY I DECIDE TODAY RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, I JUST FEEL, I DON'T WANT TO WATCH MY BACK, I WANT TO FEEL SAFE IN A COMMUNITY.

AND THERE IS A COMMUNITY TRUST WE START TO FOSTER, WE START TO FOSTER.

WE START TO FOSTER.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE FROM -- >> IT'S FASCINATING SPIN TO SAY WE'VE FOCUSED TOO HEAVILY ON -- >> I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

>> INTERRUPTED -- >> I REALLY THINK THAT'S GREAT.

NO, I NEVER SAID THAT.

I WOULD ASK >> Cathy: HANG ON, HANG ON.

>> Eric: ONE AT A TIME.

>> I'M GLAD THE VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN.

HOWEVER, DO WE FEEL SAFER?

THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

>> Cathy: AND DO RESIDENTS FEEL SAFER?

AS I SAY WHEN YOU GO DOWNTOWN YOU GO THROUGH THOSE SKYWAYS, THERE ARE TIMES YOU THINK I'M NOT SURE WHO'S BEHIND ME.

>> AND HERE'S THE THING, THERE'S PEOPLE IN CRISIS, AND THERE THERTHEY'LL NEVER FEEL SAFER IF THERE'S CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR GOING AROUND SAYING THE CITY'S GOING TO HELL IN A HAND BASKET.

EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY OF VIOLENT CRIME IS GOING DOWN DOUBLE DIGITS.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CARRY THAT MESSAGE.

THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN CRISIS, OUR DOWNTOWN THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE ON IT WHO DON'T WANT MY WALLET, THEY DON'T WANT YOUR PURSE BUT THEY'RE IN CRISIS AND IT FEELS UNSTABLE.

AND LET ME TELL YOU WHEN WE HAVE 70% GUNFIRE IN A CITY OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO FOCUS ON QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

>> WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT NOBODY SAID THE CITY IS GOING TO HELL IN A BASKET.

WE HAVE KNOCKED OVER 40,000 DOORS.

IT'S NOT THE CANDIDATES SAYING THIS, IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE KNOCKED DOORS AND THEY TELL US THEY DON'T FEEL SAFER SO.

TO PUSH THIS BACK ON THE CANDIDATES AND BLAME IT ON THEM IT'S NOT LIVING IN REALITY, IT'S GASLIGHTING EOPLE AND TELLING THEM THEY'RE SAFER AND THEY'RE TELLING US THEY'RE NOT SAFER WE KNOW THAT.

>> Eric: CITIES CAN'T ON THEIR OWN PASS AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN OR ANYTHING, IT TAKES LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

AND I WONDER IF YOU'RE GOING TO PASS SOME KIND OF TRIGGER ORDINANCE THAT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT IF AND WHEN THE LEGISLATURE DOES THAT?

>> WELL, WE CAN PASS THOSE LAWS, WE CAN'T ENFORCE THEM YET.

OUR PLAN IN ST.

PAUL AND NOT JUST ST.

PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS, AND OVER A DOZEN CITIES PLANNING ON PASSING THESE LAWS, WE'RE PASSING LAWS WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

CITY COUNCIL THAT WOULD BAN THE PUBLIC POSSESSION OF ASSAULT WEAPONS, THE DEVICES THAT TURN REGULAR GUNS INTO MACHINE GUNS, WOULD BEEN GUNS IN RECREATION CENTERS AND LIBRARIES, AND THIS IS THE RADICAL ONE, WOULD REQUIRE EVERY GUN TO HAVE A SERIAL NUMBER.

EVERY MINNESOTAN THINKS THIS IS THE BEAR MINIMUM AND MOST PEOPLE THINK WE ALREADY DO THOSE THINGS.

WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING RIGHT UP FRONT WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE THOSE BECAUSE OF STATE LAW.

WE'RE ASKING THE STATE TO EITHER PASS THOSE LAWS OR REMOVE PREEMPTION SO CITIES CAN DO THIS OURSELVES.

WE'RE KEEPING PRESSURE PRESSURE IS ON AND IT'S IMPORTANT WORK THAT CITIES ARE DOING TOGETHER.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF LIFT WOULD THAT BE IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE?

>> IT WOULD REQUIRE THE MAYORS TO ACTUALLY TALK TO THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT THIS.

>> Eric: YOU SEEM TO THINK THERE'S A COMMUNICATION GAP HERE.

>> VERY MUCH SO AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.

>> WE ARE ACTUALLY TALKING TO -- >> ACTUALLY I'M IN LEADERSHIP AND YOU'RE NOT TALKING TO ME AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

I'M WORKING IN EVERY TOWN WITH MOMS DEMAND WITH CHAIR MOLLER.

>> MOMS DEMAND SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING AS WELL.

>> THEY SUPPORT US TOO.

WE'RE THE ONLY ONES WHO ACTUALLY ABIDED BY NOT PUTTING ENDORSEMENT.

ONLY ONE HAS VIOLATED CAMPAIGN LAWS IN ORDER TO DO THAT, SO, YEAH.

>> Eric >> WHAT THE MAYOR REALLY SAID WHAT WE HAVE DONE REALLY HAS REDUCED THE VIOLENT CRIME A LOT.

SO STARTING EARLY, MOST EFFECTIVE THINGS WE CAN DO IMMEDIATELY.

>> CAN I SAY THOUGH THAT THERE'S A DANGER AROUND THIS OF WHAT THE MAYOR IS PROPOSING.

THE PEOPLE NOW ARE UNDER THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN ACTION ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THEY HAVE NOT.

BECAUSE OF PREEMPTION THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING WITH THIS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE NOW THINKING WE WILL TAKE ENFORCEABLE ACTION AND WE CANNOT.

THERE'S A DANGER IN THAT AND THE MAYOR HAS TRIED TO PEG ME TO RADICAL GUN LOBBIES BECAUSE I'M TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN ENFORCEABLE LAW BECAUSE THE STATE HAS TO REMOVE PREEMPTION.

AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE IT IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAKE-UP OF THE LEGISLATURE IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH A 67-67 SPLIT.

UNLESS THE MAYER CAN GET A 68TH VOTE IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING IT'S DANGEROUS FOR THE CITIES TO PASS THESE LAWS.

>> YOU'RE MISCHARACTERIZING WHAT I SAID.

I'VE NEVER SAID THAT AND YOU CONTINUE TO MISCHARACTERIZE JUST LIKE YOU DID IN YOUR E-MAIL TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS TELLING THEM THAT I'M WITH THE PROGUN.

>> ALL I'M SAYING THE GUN -- TWEETED YOUR SUPPORT.

FACTS ARE FAIR, REPRESENTATIVE, FACTS ARE FAIR.

>> WELL, THEY HAVE TO BE FACTS AND THEY ARE NOT.

IT'S VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WE HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE ON THE DOORS AND THEY SAID, OH, BUT WE PASSED GUN LAWS IN ST.

PAUL AND WE HAVE NOT.

ALL IT DOES IS SYMBOLIC ACTION THAT SAYS LOOK WHAT WE ARE DOING.

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

>> Cathy: WE ACTUALLY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR EACH OF YOU ABOUT JUST -- LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS.

AND I'M WONDERING YAN CHEN, IF YOU WERE TO BE ELECTED MAYOR, IT'S KIND OF AN UPHILL CLIMB FOR YOU IN A SENSE.

YOU'VE NEVER HELD OFFICE BEFORE.

AND I'M WONDERING HOW MIGHT YOU MANAGE?

IT WOULD BE A BIG LEAP FOR YOU.

>> I THINK ACTUALLY I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE, RIGHT?

BECAUSE I THINK THE REALLY CRITICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A POLITICIAN VERSUS BEING A SCIENTIST IS I ALWAYS LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY TRULY MISSING IN OUR POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE.

THEY PROPOSE SO MANY THINGS, EVERYTHING SOUNDS SO GOOD.

LOOKING BACK, WHAT'S THE RESULT?

ARE WE ARRANGING THE DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC OR ARE WE REALLY TRULY REPAIRING SHIPS?

THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING.

I WANT TO REPAIR THE SHIP INSTEAD OF REARRANGE THE DECK CHAIRS.

>> Eric: ONE WAY TO KEEP PROPERTY TAX INCREASES IN CHECK IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID FROM THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

AND I WONDER IF YOU'RE SATISFIED WITH HOW YOU AND THE ST.

PAUL DELEGATION HAVE DONE BRINGING LGA DOLLARS BACK TO THE CAPITAL CITY.

>> WE FIGHT HARD EVERY SINGLE TIME BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS UNDER ATTACK BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE CONSTANTLY WANT TO GO REDO THE L GA FORMULA.

I WILL SAY THE BEST WAY FOR US IS TO KEEP RESIDENTS HERE AND KEEP BUSINESSES GROWING.

IF YOU GROW YOUR TAX BASE THAT IS MORE SUSTAINABLE AND MORE RELIABLE THAN TRYING TO DEPEND ON THE LEGISLATURE AND SCHIELD SHOULD THEY CHANGE THE FORMULA, HAVE LESS AMOUNT.

THEY CAN DECIDE WHEN YOU GET THE MONEY AND WHEN YOU DON'T.

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED DURING COVID WHEN DIDN'T HAVE FUNDING AND THERE WAS CUTS TO LGA.

>> I AGREE THAT REPRESENTATIVE HER HAS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR LGA.

>> Cathy: OKAY, KEY PART OF YOUR PITCH, MAYOR, IS SOLVING REAL PROBLEMS FOR REAL PEOPLE.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS IN YOUR CITY WHO STRUGGLE TO PAY THEIR RENT.

YOU WERE FOR A RENT CONTROL ORDINANCE YET BACKED AWAY FROM IT AFTER PRESSURE FROM DEVELOPERS AND LANDLORDS, IT'S BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY WATERED DOWN.

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SWITCH YOUR STANCE ON THAT ISSUE?

>> I DON'T THINK I REALLY SWITCHED MY STANCE.

WHAT I SAID WAS WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND WHAT I SAID FROM THE BEGINNING IS WE HAVE TO AMEND IT.

I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO WRITE THAT POLICY AND WHAT I SAID IT NEEDS TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY AMENDED FROM THE BEGINNING AND WE WORKED WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO AMEND IT.

THE EXCLUSION WE PASSED THIS YEAR TO EXCLUDE NEW CONSTRUCTION IS VERY CRITICAL FOR US BECAUSE THAT HELPS US TO COMPLETELY UNLOCK NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY.

EVERY TIME WE SAY THE WORDS HOUSING AND CRISIS WHAT WE SAY IS WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY THAN UNITS AND OUR WORK TO ADD UNITS AND TO OUR HOUSING SUPPLY IS CRITICAL FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF UOUR HOUSING GOALS WHICH IS WHY WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE BEGINNING AMENDING THAT ORDINANCE SO IT COULD UNLOCK NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION.

>> Cathy: THOSE WHO WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ORDINANCE THOUGH REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE BACKED AWAY IN A BIG WAY.

>> AGAIN WHAT I SAID FROM THE BEGINNING IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT I SAID ALL THE WAY FROM THE BEGINNING WAS I THINK IT WOULD NEED TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED AND THAT'S A PROMISE WE KEPT.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> Eric: WHY DON'T WE END UP WITH A LITTLE TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR FIRST HUNDRED DAYS MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN OFFICE AND WHAT CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS OR WHATEVER YOU MIGHT DECIDE TO DO IN THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS, LIKE 45 SECONDS OR SO.

>> YEAH, 100-DAY PLAN THAT I'VE PUT OUT TOGETHER ALREADY, REALLY WORK WITH EACH OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM AND PRIORITIZE THAT, LOOK AT A BUDGET EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT BUDGET SEASON TO PROJECT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND ALSO THEN WORKING WITH DISTRICT COUNCILS TO BRING UP ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM BECAUSE DISTRICT COUNCILS HAVE FELTED LIKE THEY'VE BEEN OVERLOOKED AND UNDERUTILIZED AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.

EACH OF OUR CORE DEPARTMENTS AND REBUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE FELT LIKE THEY'VE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM ALL THE WORK.

>> Ms.

CHEN, FIRST 100 DAYS.

>> I WOULD SAY REALLY A LOT TRYING TO DO THE COORDINATION.

IN ORDER TO SOLVE CRIME, YOU NEED HELP FROM THE COUNTY AND STATE.

IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH HOMELESS, I NEED THE COUNTY AND STATE HELP.

SO THE BUDGET PART I CAN DEAL WITH -- MYSELF.

BUT REALLY EFFECTIVE DEPARTMENT LEADER, I WOULD ASSEMBLE THE BEST TEAM BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE PERFORMANCE, SO I CAN GET THAT DONE, BUT THE HARDEST PART IS REALLY COORDINATION AND TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, DON'T FORGET ABOUT SCHOOL BOARD.

YES, SO THAT'S REALLY THE HARDEST PART.

>> Cathy: IF YOU GET A THIRD TERM WHAT WILL THE FIRST HUNDRED AYS LOOK LIKE?

>> WE'RE ALREADY INTO IT, WE'RE ALREADY DOING IT.

LEVERAGING THE SAME APPROACH THAT WE USED TO BRING GUN VIOLENCE DOWN BY 70% TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID CRISIS.

WE'RE DOUBLING DOWN THE BUILD MORE HOUSING TO CONTINUE OUR MOMENTUM DOWNTOWN AND COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE WE'RE PROTECTING IN PARTICULAR OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE BEING TARGETED BY THE I.C.E.

ADMINISTRATION.

>> Eric: CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT SUMMIT AVENUE BIKE LANE?

ARE YOU FOR IT, AGAINST IT?

>> I WOULD SAY REEVALUATE THE PROJECT.

>> I'M FOR IT.

>> NO, THAT'S NOT A PRIORITY RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: NOT A PRIORITY.

WELL, TREMENDOUS JOB, FOLKS, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> Cathy: -- VOTING IN ST.

PAUL?

>> THERE IS RANKED CHOICE VOTING, I'M ASKING FOLKS TO RANK ME FIRST.

I'M GOING TO GO TRICK OR TREAT WITH MY KIDS NOW.

>> Eric: THERE ARE FIVE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR.

REMINDER THAT NEXT TUESDAY, ELECTION DAY.

IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHERE O VOTE YOU CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION AND MORE ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE THAT'S AT SOS.MN.GOV.

THERE'S A HANDY LINK RIGHT ON THE FRONT PAGE WHERE YOU CAN GET VOTER INFORMATION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF LOCAL ELECTIONS AS WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS ARE UP, THEY'RE ON THE BALLOTS AROUND THE STATE.

NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE BACK WITH A MORE TRADITIONAL SHOW FOR YOU.

WE'LL HEAR FROM WINNERS AND LOSERS POST-ELECTION.

PAUL DOUGLAS WITH A WINTER FORECAST, AND WE'LL HAVE THE MINNESOTA HISTORY ECTION BACK AS WELL.

BRAND NEW QUESTION FOR YOU A WEEK FROM DAY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BE CAREFUL.

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