My Vision for Minneapolis: Success Through Safety

As I’ve continued to talk with neighbors and community leaders, one thing is clear: we must prioritize public safety to increase our economic opportunity.  These are not separate issues, they are deeply connected. If we want a strong, stable local economy, then we have to invest in strong, stable, and safe communities.

Public safety is about ensuring every resident feels safe walking to work, running a business, or enjoying activities in their community. It is about access to street lighting, mental health services, youth programming, and community-based violence prevention. 

At the same time, economic opportunity helps reinforce public safety. When residents have good jobs, affordable housing, and community resources, the conditions that lead to crime decrease. We cannot divide community issues like public safety and economic opportunity, as addressing one and not the other will lead to no solutions.

That’s why I am focused on strategic investments in both public safety and economic opportunity, all across Minneapolis. Economic opportunity is crime prevention. If elected, I will:

• Invest in neighborhood-based violence prevention programs

• Support small businesses by simplifying the processes of permits, inspections, licensing, and accessing city resources

• Expand trades and workforce training through a youth center

• Prioritize opening new community safety centers and the 3rd Precinct.

Minneapolis must make strategic investments in our public safety ecosystem that ensures economic opportunity, and vice versa. We must address the root causes of decreased public safety and economic development. 

Public safety and economic opportunity are intertwined. In Minneapolis, we must invest in both. Let’s keep building a city where everyone feels safe and successful.