Candidate Questionnaire
Mpls South Uptown: Districts 61 A & B
If you live in the South Uptown neighborhood, double check which district you live in. Here are candidate responses to policy and value questions on public safety, housing, and democracy as provided in response to a questionnaire or from their campaign website or public statements.
Public Safety
Toya López – 61A
My approach to public safety is one rooted in transformative justice, community-oriented alternatives, harm reduction, and funding culturally-relevant social services that create lasting alternatives to punishment and imprisonment. I will support continued legislation to expand public safety alternatives to armed police and I support limiting the use of cash bail for misdemeanor offenses. Regarding policing I will support ending pretextual Stops, ending Qualified Immunity, banning the use of “excited delirium,” and requiring licensed peace officers to obtain professional liability insurance. Regarding mental health, I support expunging non-violent drug offenses and support no charges made regarding drugs on mental health crisis calls, mandating mental health treatment for people in jails or prisons, mandating that people receive the same meds they were prescribed by their doctor before they entered the jail, and limiting use of force on mental health related calls.
Toya López also responded to our questionnaire that she is supportive and will advocate for comprehensive sex education.
Katie Jones – 61A
from website:
Public safety begins by ensuring people’s everyday needs are being addressed and by putting market structures in place that drive the outcomes we want. This includes fully funding our schools, investing in positive youth development programs for teenagers, and regulating copper recycling such that stealing wiring from light poles and other infrastructure is less attractive. I will work with the City and County to support their programs that conduct on the ground violence prevention in our communities.
Katie Jones does not name on her website whether she is supportive of comprehensive sex education.
Jaime Long – 61 B
from website:
Jamie authored a bill to cap probation lengths; remove excessive punishments; and build a restorative criminal justice system. While the bill did not become law, the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission enacted a similar proposal with Jamie’s support.
Long also was a co-author on the Equal Rights Amendment, as well as the Gender-Affirming Rights Act.
Bob “Again” Carney Jr – 61 B
Carney did not complete our questionnaire and does not have a website on policy stances.
Housing
Toya López – 61 A
Yes. It is said we don’t have a housing problem, we have an affordable housing problem. I can see this clearly with the decay I’ve seen some vacant buildings go through, meanwhile housing no one. While I believe this is mostly a municipal issue, I will research more on how to make these structures available and smooth hurdles around upgrading or converting buildings into housing. I also want to make sure these structures are safe and threats to safety are clearly labeled in case neighbors decide to live there anyway.
Toya López responded to our questionnaire that she is supportive of using county or state resources to increase the amount of available affordable housing.
Katie Jones – 61 A
from website:
To truly solve for lack of affordability, we need an abundance of housing options for people at all income levels. That means removing barriers for homeowners to choose to add additional homes to their properties. State policy that gives all cities the same guardrails and parameters can help alleviate this burden.
Jaime Long – 61 B:
from website:
Long co-authored HF 2477, which appropriated money Minneapolis Public Housing Authority for grant funding to rehabilitate affordable family housing units.
Bob “Again” Carney Jr – 61 B
Carney did not complete our questionnaire and does not have a website on policy stances.
Expanding the Electorate
Toya López – 61 A
Thus far we have made it our first priority to reach renters and low-income folk. By centering this people, I’ve also had the pleasure of informing neighbors that you can vote now with a felony. I also advocate on behalf of Elliot Park to ensure we also have access to candidate forms and information like our wealthier neighborhood counterparts. I also want to make a bigger effort to reach non-english speakers, namely Somali and Latino immigrants who do have the ability to vote. (Though I also want to advocate for the voices of those who can’t vote). My intention after the primary is to increase knowledge of how to vote if you are unhoused, disabled, or in long-term care. Thus far I have created a zine for this purpose but I hope to do more office hours at bus stops and speak with care facilities about informing their patients. [If elected] I will endeavor to increase capacity for neighbors to get involved to begin with, this includes housing and rental assistance, food assistance, transportation, and universal basic income. I also want to encourage leadership in local boards, coops, and neighborhoods, and increase use of democracy skills. Ultimately I would like to see public participation in accountability, feedback, and participatory budgeting. I also want to acknowledge that for many community-members, local government must first show itself to be trustworthy, transparent, accountable, and responsive before putting their own energy into civic participation.
Katie Jones – 61 A
from website:
Expand our electorate. As part of this election, my campaign will dedicate efforts to door-knock in neighborhoods with historically lower voter turnout. Democracy works best when everyone participates. … If elected, I will join the Inclusive Democracy Caucus and work to expand our democracy while championing efforts to protect it from threats
Jaime Long – 61 B
Long did not complete the questionnaire and does not answer the question on his website.
Bob “Again” Carney Jr – 61 B
Carney did not complete our questionnaire and does not have a website on policy stances.