Via CM Palmisano email
Dear Neighbor,
The end of Operation Metro Surge is a relief to our community and an opportunity for us to collectively catch our breath, even though we are still feeling and responding to the effects on a daily basis. Neighbors have come together to support various needs across our community, from rental assistance funds to grocery delivery to school carpools.
I was grateful to join a group of neighbors in Fulton a few weeks ago to discuss various needs and how community members can support them. Many of you have been asking about ways to help, and there are no clear answers on what is best. Here are a few of the resources I’ve been suggesting:
Family Housing Fund
Greater Twin Cities UnitedWay
Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
I share with many of you in a commitment to help vulnerable neighbors. As your Council Member, I am also focused on supporting our city’s recovery broadly. I’ve voted in support of proposals before the City Council including: a resolution calling on Governor Walz to pass an eviction moratorium throughout the duration of Operation Metro Surge, a $1M allocation for emergency rental assistance from our city’s affordable housing dollars, and a $7M allocation to support small businesses from our Downtown Assets Fund.
These are especially difficult decisions given the significant and unexpected costs and impacts of Operation Metro Surge. Large funding reallocations threaten our already-precarious financial situation and have the potential to increase the city’s property tax levy for years to come; policy changes do not happen in isolation and often have unintended impacts.
Most recently, I voted against a proposal to extend the pre-eviction notice period, after trusted housing advocates like Agate, Beacon, and People Serving People told us this is not good policy. A policy like this hurts our entire affordable housing ecosystem, particularly our nonprofit and affordable housing partners. Rent is the primary source of operating income for these properties, and sustained income loss directly impacts the conditions of housing and affordable housing preservation. These providers have told us we don’t need to delay eviction; we need to increase the amount of emergency rental assistance available.
This ordinance passed the City Council but was vetoed by Mayor Frey today. He is instead proposing an additional $1 million in emergency rental assistance, coming from our affordable housing part of the budget. I will be voting in support of this alternative. As providers have told us, rental assistance is what we need in this moment.
The decisions before me as your City Council Member are not simple nor easy, and most importantly, I do not take my votes lightly. We are all – neighbors, City Council Members and the mayor, and representatives at the state and federal level – grounded in the reality of this situation and working together to do right.
Yours in service,
