St. Paul

St. Paul City Council threatens to block IRV vote

Filed under: St. Paul

As we reported this spring, Minneapolis is moving, if a bit fitfully, toward instant runoff voting in municipal races.

It's shaping up differently in St. Paul. Organizers there have gotten enough signatures to put IRV on the ballot in November, but the City Council, buoyed by City Attorney John Choi's warning that IRV doesn't jibe with the state constitution, is considering the drastic step of keeping it off the ballot altogether.

Today's Star Tribune has an editorial calling for the City Council to let the voters decide.

"City councils are not courts," the Strib opines. "It isn't the role of a council to settle disputes over constitutionality."

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at June 30, 2008 10:44 AM | Comments (5)

 

NYPD blues: St. Paul cops reject 2004 RNC tactics

Filed under: St. Paul

This week's Village Voice examines police preparations for the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. The New York weekly notes that local cops are pledging to avoid the heavy handed tactics of the NYPD in 2004. But the article also points out that the St. Paul Police Department is purchasing 230 tasers--one for every officer on patrol--in time for the September gathering. It further notes complaints from anti-war activists that the city has been slow to issue demonstration permits. Still SPPD spokesman Tom Walsh is promising respectful treatment for protesters:

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Posted by Paul Demko at March 13, 2008 5:51 PM | Comments (0)

 

St. Paul welcomes Bam Bam the monkey

Filed under: St. Paul

St. Paul's animal control office took custody of Bam Bam from a resident earlier this month. The monkey stands accused of biting a human being. Bill Stephenson, head of the city's animal control office, says he can't comment on the primate's fate because it's a pending investigation. Surely Bam Bam can be put to some use in preparing for next summer's Republican convention.

More photos after the jump:

Continue reading "St. Paul welcomes Bam Bam the monkey"

Posted by Paul Demko at January 17, 2008 2:14 PM | Comments (3)

 

RoboCop: Is the St. Paul Police Federation breaking the law?

Filed under: St. Paul

In recent weeks hundreds of St. Paul residents have been receiving phone calls from St. Paul Police Federation president Dave Titus. The calls are targeted at potential voters in the city's three most hotly contested city council races.

However, Titus is not directly making all of these calls himself. Rather it's a machine-dialed, recorded message designed to bolster SPPF-backed candidates Debbie Montgomery, David Haas, and Dan Bostrom. The only problem is that Minnesota state law forbids such automatic messages unless there is a live human placing the call.

"It's clearly illegal," says David Schultz, a professor at Hamline University and an expert on campaign laws, of the phone calls. "You've got to have a live person at some point."

Continue reading "RoboCop: Is the St. Paul Police Federation breaking the law? "

Posted by Paul Demko at October 30, 2007 2:37 PM | Comments (10)

 

St. Paul City Council debates available online

Filed under: St. Paul

The St. Paul Neighborhood Network is taping debates for all seven city council races. The discussions are being show on public-access TV, but can also be watched via the group's web site. So far Ward 6 (featuring Dan Bostrom and Pakou Hang) and Ward 7 (with Kathy Lantry and Janine Kelly) are posted.

Posted by Paul Demko at October 17, 2007 2:29 PM | Comments (0)

 

Mischke abandons campaign

Filed under: St. Paul

St. Paul City Council candidate Gerald Mischke is dropping out of the race. The political neophyte was attempting to oust Ward Three incumbent Pat Harris. In a statement issued today Mischke announced that he will no longer actively campaign for the post. He cited the unstable situation at the Star Tribune, where Mischke works as an ad designer, as a contributing factor in the decision.

"I knew that I was attempting a very difficult thing by running at this time," he says in the statement. "I would however like to stay involved in local progressive politics in some capacity."

Mischke will remain on the ballot in November.

Posted by Paul Demko at August 23, 2007 3:53 PM | Comments (0)

 

Tim Droogsma not too prudish after all

Filed under: St. Paul

Back in June, Vita.mn ran a story about where people have sex outdoors in Minnesota. The article made it on the Strib's main web page, prompting reader complaints. Kate Parry, the paper's ombudsman, wrote an article about the brouhaha, quoting Tim Droogsma, former press secretary for both then-senator Rudy Boschwitz and then-governor Arne Carlson.

Droogsma's reaction to the article: "I don't think I'm too prudish (which, I realize, is what prudes always say), but do we really want this sentence: 'She hopped on my lap, facing forward. I pulled up her skirt in the back, slid her panties out of the way, and unzipped'?"

Fast forward a couple months:

Continue reading "Tim Droogsma not too prudish after all"

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at August 17, 2007 1:54 PM | Comments (2)

 

Budget blues

Filed under: St. Paul

The City of St. Paul is facing a projected $15.8 million budget shortfall for 2008. Solving the fiscal puzzle will not be easy. For instance it would require a 25 percent increase in property taxes to close the gap in the city's general fund. What's more roughly two thirds of that money is slated to pay for police and fire services--not an area that politicians are usually eager to cut.

City finance director Matt Smith lays out the grim news in a nifty new video (complete with really strained metaphor about a swimmer being attacked by LGA cuts!) posted on the city's web site.

Municipal finance geeks can also try their hand at solving the city's fiscal woes by utilizing the city's "Budget Cruncher." The gizmo is making an encore peformance after last year's budgetary difficulties. Personally I'm waiting for the Wii version.

Posted by Paul Demko at June 12, 2007 4:05 PM | Comments (0)

 

Nutty bet

Filed under: St. Paul

More than a playoff series will be on the line tonight when the Minnesota Wild visit the Anaheim Ducks. As has become de riguer under such circumstances, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle have put together a wager over the first-round NHL playoff series.

The stakes? If Anaheim loses Pringle has to display two cases of candy from St. Paul-based Pearson's Candy Company in his office. But if the Wild lose Coleman will showcase an orange tree and a crate of 150 oranges in his workplace.

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Posted by Paul Demko at April 11, 2007 4:42 PM | Comments (1)

 

Not Working on the Railroad

Filed under: St. Paul

Tom Stransky is arguably the most ardent foe of bringing light rail to St. Paul. For at least four years, the owner of Midway Used and Rare Books has plastered the windows of his storefront with anti-LRT placards.

But recently the signs have disappeared from Stransky's bookstore at the busy intersection of University and Snelling Avenues. "To tell you the truth we kind of gave up," says Stransky, who's owned the store since 1980. "You can't fight City Hall. That's the honest truth."

The bookstore owner says that he lost all hope after last fall's elections, when voters endorsed a ballot measure mandating that all motor-vehicle sales-tax revenue be devoted to transit and highways starting in 2011. At least 40 percent of that money must be directed towards public transit.

Stransky is convinced that construction of the light-rail line will ultimately result in the death of small businesses along University Avenue, including his own. The only upside, he notes, is that he owns the building. "They're going to have to pay me for it."

Posted by Paul Demko at April 9, 2007 9:49 AM | Comments (0)

 

St. Paul Ward One candidates forum tonight

Filed under: St. Paul

The St. Paul Branch NAACP will host a city council candidates forum tonight at St. Peter Claver Church, on the corner of Oxford and St. Anthony, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. The purpose of the forum will be to heighten awareness of issues in St. Paul's Ward One and to hear from the candidates currently running: the incumbent councilmember, Debbie Montgomery, and challenger Melvin Carter III. Questions will be asked by a panel and the community will be given the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates as well. For further information call (651) 649-0520.

Posted by Corey Anderson at February 20, 2007 7:09 AM | Comments (0)

 

Cold cash

Filed under: St. Paul

Towing companies set to further filch St. Paul parking violators

This winter has so far been kind to parking scofflaws. More than two months into the frozen season we're yet to see a single substantial snowfall. Consequentially we're also yet to endure the uniquely Minnesotan brand of torment known as a snow emergency.

Global warming aside, it's inevitable that at some point this winter enough snow will fall to trigger such a declaration. And when this happens those hapless souls in St. Paul who run afoul of the city's parking strictures will pay a much steeper price to re-claim their vehicles from the impound lot. Tomorrow the St. Paul City Council is slated to approve a resolution increasing the impound lot fee by $23.67, to a total of $123.07. In other words a jump of 23.8 percent. The fee increase will take effect on January 1.

Continue reading "Cold cash"

Posted by Paul Demko at December 12, 2006 2:44 PM | Comments (2)

 

Mayor Coleman lays out living wage ordinance

Filed under: St. Paul

During last year's St. Paul mayoral race, challenger Chris Coleman frequently promised to push for a beefed-up living wage ordinance if elected. Today the first-year mayor followed through on that promise, laying out his proposal at a press conference in the basement of City Hall.

Under the proposed ordinance, businesses that receive more than $100,000 in city funds will be required to pay a living wage to workers. That means 130 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of four, or $12.51 per hour. If the company provides health care coverage the wage requirement is reduced to 110 percent of the poverty level, or $10.58 per hour.

Continue reading "Mayor Coleman lays out living wage ordinance"

Posted by Paul Demko at November 15, 2006 5:35 PM | Comments (2)

 

Mayor Coleman on living wage ordinance: never mind

Filed under: St. Paul

Two issues were constantly mentioned as being at the top of St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's agenda when he took office in January. The first was a comprehensive smoking ban, similar to the one already enacted in Minneapolis. On that front Coleman took swift action, signing off on a measure prohibiting smoking in bars and restaurants after less than two weeks in office.

The other issue that was supposedly a priority for Coleman was enacting a more stringent living wage ordinance. Supporters of such a measure want any business that receives $100,000 or more in municipal funds to be required to pay a living wage (currently calculated at roughly $12 an hour). The Mayor's enthusiasm for this proposal, however, seems to have waned since he took office.

Continue reading "Mayor Coleman on living wage ordinance: never mind"

Posted by Paul Demko at July 17, 2006 10:01 AM | Comments (0)

 

Can you balance St. Paul's budget?

Filed under: St. Paul

Do you think you can solve St. Paul's budgetary woes without parking officers handing out 55 tickets per day? The capital city is looking at a $15 million budget deficit and amateur accountants are invited to visit the "Budget Cruncher" on the city's website to try their hand at keeping the city open for business for another year. The program allows one to make adjustments to expenses and revenue sources. Clicking the "Review Effects" button reveals how your changes affect city services. Overhead costs (mayor's salary, city attorney's office, HR, etc.) appear untouchable, hotel taxes and franchise fees as well. Cutting expenses by 2 to 10 percent and raising revenue by 3 to 5 percent for my efforts yielded a lousy $4 million in deficit reduction. Any bright ideas?

Posted by Corey Anderson at July 7, 2006 11:29 AM | Comments (1)

 

St. Paul goes smoke free

Filed under: St. Paul

The St. Paul City Council gave final approval this afternoon, by a 4-3 margin, to a comprehensive smoking ban in bars and restaurants. Mayor Chris Coleman intends to immediately sign the bill. The ban will take affect on March 31st. St. Paul joins Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Golden Valley in outlawing smoking in bars and restaurants.

In a statement Coleman pledged to fight for a statewide prohibition.
"Now that we have seen the two largest cities in Minnesota join thousands of cities across the country in similar smoke-free ordinances, I will work to urge the state legislature to take the next step and pass a statewide ban," he says.

Posted by Paul Demko at January 11, 2006 4:30 PM | Comments (6)

 

Bus barn blight

Filed under: St. Paul

Late last month the Snelling Hamline Community Council sent a letter to the City of St. Paul regarding a blighted property in the Midway neighborhood. The piece of property includes a billboard and the community council argues that it's in violation of the city's sign ordinance. The applicable statute reads: "Lots on which signs are located shall be kept neat, orderly and free of debris."

As described in the letter the lot doesn't quite meet this mandate. The community council complains that the property is covered with trash and enclosed by a rusting, dented fence. "It is a blight in the neighborhood and a disgrace to the city," the letter concludes.

Continue reading "Bus barn blight"

Posted by Paul Demko at January 9, 2006 3:55 PM | Comments (0)

 

Bush meat: Kelly clobbered in St. Paul

Filed under: St. Paul

The polls were right. As had been forecast for weeks, incumbent St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly was trounced yesterday, 69 to 31 percent. He received just 18,203 votes, compared with 40,601 for challenger Chris Coleman. It was the widest margin of defeat ever suffered by an incumbent mayor in St. Paul. The Coleman victory also ends 16 years of futility for DFL-endorsed mayoral candidates in the city.

National politics undoubtedly played a central role in the contest. The candidates were barely distinguishable in their ideological track records, but Kelly enraged fellow Democrats by endorsing the re-election of President Bush last year. The President garnered support from just 26 percent of St. Paul voters in the 2004 contest.

Consequentially the normally sleepy municipal race attracted interest from Democrats across the country. Sen. John Kerry showed up to stump for Coleman, as did fellow 2004 presidential contender Gen. Wesley Clark. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, frequently tabbed as a possible 2008 presidential challenger, also made an appearance on the Hustings. And Coleman was the only mayoral contender in the country to receive an endorsement from the liberal advocacy group Moveon.org.

Continue reading "Bush meat: Kelly clobbered in St. Paul"

Posted by Paul Demko at November 9, 2005 9:25 AM | Comments (0)

 

St. Paul smut shop, liquor store get temporary reprieve

Filed under: St. Paul

The City of St. Paul's plans to raze and redevelop a liquor store and adult video arcade on University Avenue have been temporarily put on hold.

In September, Jill Rasmuson, owner of R & R Books, a porn shop that has been in business since 1976, filed suit in U.S. District Court claiming that the city's actions violated her constitutional rights. The suit sought a temporary restraining order barring the city from moving forward with plans to condemn the property. (For a full rundown on the dispute, see my previous news story.)

Last week, in response to the lawsuit, the city agreed not to pursue a "quick take" eminent domain procedure, whereby it could seize the property almost immediately. This means that the adult video store, along with the adjoining liquor store, should be able to avoid the wrecking ball for at least six months.

Continue reading "St. Paul smut shop, liquor store get temporary reprieve"

Posted by Paul Demko at November 3, 2005 4:48 PM | Comments (0)

 

Let the 2006 election season begin

Filed under: St. Paul

With municipal elections less than a week away, most political observers are focused intently on the mayoral races in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Not the St. Paul Police Federation.

In a bizarre move, the union issued a press release this afternoon announcing that it has endorsed Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher for re-election--in 2006.

The suspiciously timed annoucement is notable for a few reasons. For starters, the police federation is the only union of any size to endorse St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly. Secondly, former St. Paul police chief William Finney is Fletcher's primary opponent in the sheriff's race. He also happens to be one of the most visible supporters of mayoral challenger Chris Coleman. Finally, if you believe the polls, Kelly is in for a historic electoral drubbing on Tuesday.

In other words, the announcement seems like a desperate ploy to shake up next week's mayoral race. "In their flawed logic they must hope that it's going to help Kelly," concurs Finney. "I really don't understand their logic--except that it's vindictive towards anyone who's supporting Coleman."

Posted by Paul Demko at November 2, 2005 3:21 PM | Comments (3)

 

Hardball politics in St. Paul

Filed under: St. Paul

St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly's endangered re-election campaign is ratcheting up the rhetoric. In a mailing received by St. Paul voters this week, his opponent Chris Coleman is pictured with his mouth zippered shut. The headline on the piece reads, "Chris Coleman has a plan to raise taxes and spend your money. He just won't tell you what the plan is before the election."

The piece then goes on to use some fuzzy math to portray Coleman as a truly terrifying menace to taxpayers. For instance, the mailing notes that when the city council voted to raise St. Paul's property tax levy by 67 percent more than what was proposed by Mayor Kelly, "Chris Coleman was silent!" Of course, this is another way of saying that the city council voted to raise the property tax levy by 5 percent, whereas Kelly wanted a 3 percent boost. But that doesn't sound nearly as menacing.

Continue reading "Hardball politics in St. Paul"

Posted by Paul Demko at October 26, 2005 2:08 PM | Comments (1)

 

Hail to the man who lost to the chief

Filed under: St. Paul

by Eliot Brown

To the sound of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World," Senator John Kerry hopped on a stage before a cheering crowd at a Chris Coleman rally in St. Paul on Monday.

Kerry, speaking on behalf of Coleman at Macalester College, pumped his fists in the air, shook hands with random supporters on the stage, and gave the crowd a gracious wave before launching into his talk. The whole act, complete with Kerry's awkward smile, was eerily reminiscent of the 2004 Presidential campaign.

In his speech, Kerry praised Coleman's vision and environmental focus but also highlighted many of his own accomplishments, such as his push to increase federal funding for police forces.

Continue reading "Hail to the man who lost to the chief"

Posted by Corey Anderson at October 12, 2005 4:28 PM | Comments (0)

 

Recall Randy recalls last election

Filed under: St. Paul

St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly's recent plea to forgive and forget his endorsement of President Bush in last year's election campaign didn't sate the folks at RecallRandy.org. Matching the color scheme of Kelly's opponent, DFL-endorsed Chris Coleman, the organization's red, white, and blue "Republican Randy" signs have been cropping up around the capital city over the last few weeks. Very little info about the organization can be found on their website. A piece in the St. Paul Pioneer Press from August 2004 [via Minnesota Democrats Exposed] states twin brothers David and Daniel Duddingston launched the site (and a failed petition drive) in response to Kelly's endorsement of Bush. The new lawn signs prominently feature the phrase "We Remember," which isn't too difficult, noting the parade of Republicans, including Norm Coleman, Tim Pawlenty, Rudy Giuliani, and Tom Neuville, who have recently been stumping for the mayor.

Posted by Corey Anderson at October 10, 2005 2:37 PM | Comments (0)

 

Mayor Kelly: Even the silver medalist is still an Olympian

Filed under: St. Paul

It's one thing to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It's another thing for incumbent St. Paul mayor Randy Kelly to sell his recent two-to-one primary defeat at the hands of Chris Coleman as a deliberate part of his reelection strategy. Yet that didn't keep Kelly and his crew from talking up the brighter side of an embarrassment. Confidential to Kelly: Why not brag about the 1,800-vote thrashing that you inflicted on third-place finisher and Green candidate Elizabeth Dickinson?

"We said we'd come in second. That comes as no surprise." --Kelly campaign spokesman Vince Muzik, quoted by the AP while watching primary returns with the mayor

"I came in second in the 2001 primary and won the general election. The fact is that my campaign has not been geared toward the primary. We are focusing on a November election where we are going to reach out to a broader group much different than the partisans who come out and vote in primaries." --Mayor Kelly, quoted September 15 in the Star Tribune

"Everybody was saying the voters were going to punish this mayor, so why did 35 percent fewer come out than four years ago to supposedly punish him?" --Sen. Norm Coleman's chief of staff Erich Mische, quoted September 15 in the Star Tribune

"It's hard to read anything into this because it's a historically low turnout. This is the DFL playground. They dominated primary votes. The turnout was terrible....The message of Chris Coleman apparently isn't resonating, because no one is buying it. --Vince Muzik, quoted September 14 in the Pioneer Press

"This might be the best thing that ever happened. It may really motivate his supporters." --Republican operative and Politics in Minnesota co-editor Sarah Janacek

Posted by Michael Tortorello at September 16, 2005 3:19 PM | Comments (0)

 

Bashing Boss Kelly

Filed under: St. Paul

St. Paul City Council member Jay Benanav, who lost to Randy Kelly by 403 votes in the 2001 mayoral election, just posted this note (which was initially sent to the Pioneer Press) to the St. Paul issue forum:

Continue reading "Bashing Boss Kelly"

Posted by Paul Demko at September 14, 2005 11:33 AM | Comments (1)

 

DFL diehards send Boss Kelly a message

Filed under: St. Paul

Former city councilman Chris Coleman handily won the St. Paul mayoral primary last night. Coleman's 13,041 votes to Randy Kelly's 6,740 shows there's been a little fallout to Kelly's endorsement of George W. Bush last year. The Green Party candidate, Elizabeth Dickinson, garnered a respectable 4,905 votes in an otherwise under-attended primary election. Kelly's folks are claiming only the hardcore DFLers vote in the primaries, the St. Paul DFL contends Coleman would most likely get Dickinson supporters and that there aren't enough Republicans and independents for a Kelly victory. One thing's for certain, as Paul Demko wrote earlier, Kelly's substantial war chest should level the playing field as he carpet-bombs the capital city with his sharply-designed, clumsily-written literature for the next eight weeks.

Posted by Corey Anderson at September 14, 2005 10:27 AM | Comments (0)

 

Randy Kelly promises that if he is re-elected every St. Paul resident will receive a free lifetime supply of Twinkies

Filed under: St. Paul

Both daily newspapers ran stories today highlighting the fact that St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly has raised an eye-popping $840,000 for his re-election campaign and has nearly half of that money on hand. Which sort of explains why glossy, full-color Kelly mailings have been piling up in the mailboxes of St. Paul residents.

Based on the latest missive being cirulated by the Mayor, though, he might want to spend some of that money to hire a competent copywriter. Here's the text from the front of the mailing:

Success. Some people measure it by what they did yesterday. Randy Kelly measures it by what he will do tomorrow.

This theme then continues on the inside of the mailing:

There is this idea in politics today that success is defined by everything you did yesterday. It's almost as if we should vote to elect leaders by what they have done in the past, rather than what they are going to do tomorrow.

Of course people vote to elect leaders by what they've done in the past. How the hell else, exactly, are they supposed to judge elected officials?

As best I can tell, Kelly is directing voters to ignore his track record over the last four years. Instead they're supposed to vote for him based on what he promises to do in his second term. Somehow I don't believe this logic will go over real big with St. Paul voters.

Posted by Paul Demko at September 2, 2005 3:27 PM | Comments (0)

 

Drugs! Gangs! Terrorist Attacks!

Filed under: St. Paul

St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly's budget speech yesterday garnered front-page headlines because he proposed raising property taxes for the first time in a dozen years. If the Mayor gets his way, the three-percent bump in the levy will primarily be used to hire 25 additional cops next year.

But neither daily paper took note of another curious aspect of Kelly's speech: the over-the-top crime hysteria. At times he was downright Bush-ian in his rhetoric.

The Mayor's initial foil was the city's "massive crisis of methamphetamines"--the drug currently being blamed for all of society's woes. According to Kelly, meth use is leading to "sights never before seen by law enforcement." (The crack epidemic apparently bypassed St. Paul.)

But Kelly reserved his most lurid warnings for the city's gang problems. The Mayor detailed the threat of an emerging, multi-national gang with roots in El Salvador dubbed MS-13 (also known as Mara Salvatrucha). He stated that these gangsters have been known to engage in beheadings and grenade attacks, and likened the organization to Al-Qaeda. Kelly claimed that there are currently 13 of these gang members operating in the state of Minnesota.

Naturally he then went on to invoke the attacks of 9/11. "The idea that it can't happen here has to be replaced with the understanding that it might happen here," he warned.

Posted by Paul Demko at August 12, 2005 10:06 AM | Comments (1)