telephone
6124326005
Contact Phone
Mariam DeMello
With a legal education and over a decade of public service—including roles with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office, former Mayor R.T. Rybak, my current position with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, and service as a Minneapolis Charter Commissioner—I bring the knowledge and experience to take on our city’s toughest challenges.
As a lifelong resident, I share my neighbors’ concerns: property taxes keep rising while services decline, and too many of us no longer feel safe. I want to bring a moderate, solutions-focused voice to City Council to cut through dysfunction so that we can focus on the basics: making Minneapolis safter, delivering quality city services and affordable housing, and support businesses.
Public safety is the most critical issue facing our city. It affects every part of daily life—business vitality, economic development, housing stability, and even the strength of our schools.
The second pressing issue is housing. The challenges of affordability, homelessness, and rising homeownership costs are deeply connected. I worry that Minneapolis is becoming a place where many simply cannot afford to live. We need permanent, long-term solutions to end homelessness, expand an affordable and diverse housing supply—including cooperative housing, single-family homes, and rentals—and ensure current residents are not priced out of the neighborhoods they call home.
In additional to building affordable housing units, we need a diverse range of housing options so that both renters and homebuyers can find choices that fit their finances and their stage of life while still building equity. We need to incentivize and expand cooperative housing models such as Community Land Trusts, equity cooperatives where members build value through shared ownership, and limited-equity cooperatives that cap resale prices to preserve long-term affordability. We also need to streamline the approval process for housing developments without compromising labor protections or building standards and adopt inclusive zoning policies that encourage a healthy mix of housing types across our city.
We can strengthen climate resilience by investing in home electrification—better insulation, heat pumps, hybrid water heaters, induction stoves, and electrical upgrades—paired with incentives, rebates, and grants to make these retrofits affordable. Education is key: small changes like lighter roofs, efficient lighting, and improved insulation can make a big difference. I also support proposals like the franchise fee if costs aren’t unfairly passed on to residents. Just as importantly, we must preserve and strengthen our green infrastructure parks, lakes, and open spaces working with the community to ensure places like Hiawatha Golf Course remain resilient and accessible.
While our definition of public safety and policing may be evolving, the need for strong oversight and accountability remains unchanged. Any new initiatives whether they involve mental health services or deeper community involvement must be carefully evaluated by the City Council to ensure they are effective and efficient. This is not the time for trial-and-error approaches. There are proven models of intervention and prevention that reduce crime and strengthen public safety. By incorporating experts with real experience and knowledge, we can adapt those successful programs to Minneapolis and ensure they deliver meaningful results for our residents especially at risk youth.
telephone
6513439095
Contact Phone
6513439095
I’m a 50-year resident of Ward 11 (Washburn ’80!) running as an independent to halt the city’s tax and spending growth and revenue base decline that hits homeowners and renters hard. Many elected leaders seem anti-business / pro tax increases as we face macroeconomic stagflation risks and other funding threats. I retrained as a nurse in my 40s. We need targeted workforce redevelopment for job and wage growth. I served on the city’s advisories on Aging, and Racial Equity. As an independent, I seek to engage discouraged (non) voters and all others. I'm not beholden to any party line or big backers, just sound governance. I’ve been a targeted whistleblower at my state-run job. I’ll strive to bring that same fearless honesty to city hall.
My three-word identifier on the ballot is Budgetary Economic Stability. It’s going to take all hands working in unison to create jobs and generate revenue. My second or equal priority is assessing the depths of our annual budgetary shortfalls. The levy always rises to meet the current service level, but is the CSL optimal? There are essential core services to city operations, and others that are clearly less so. It may be time to honestly examine. I’ve heard the unofficial idea that a new elite upper tax bracket could possibly raise $40 million. I’m open to any ideas toward budget balance, but it would be nice if that cleverly focused tax increase was matched by fiscal restraint to sell the idea and rebuild trust, not just kick the can.
It’s a contrary view but is affordable housing truly #1 priority? Rents are fairly stable. Home maintenance is not cheap either. But if it is this so urgent, let's prioritize budget accordingly, and clarify the specifics. Renting should be more stress-free for sure legall, but it’s becoming the wiser option. The problem is that wages are not advancing (due to many big reasons near and far). Minneapolis is a mature, largely desirable city. Are there great living options just outside our borders? Should Minneapolis devote itself to this continuously. How? I admit, some of the (not so) ‘tall’ new builds have fit in more nicely than I expected (if neighbors concur). Within sane, fair limits and in smart locations, let builders build!
I’d build a time machine to un-lose 2024. Catastrophic. China is even trying harder than we are. I attended an open house where the family made commendable outlays to clean energy. The return on investment might be longer than many Ward 11 elders can see, but technical navigators such as the Center for Energy and Environment (www.mncee.org) can help with big or small steps. Applying a utility franchise fee increase constructively is always in talks. Sadly, unit costs and supportive policies are threatened. Mitigation is enticing, but tricky to forecast and scale. Let's ensure drains are capable, streets tapered. Ward 11 has a lot of tree shade and green. The more the better citywide. I'm not a topic expert, but willing to learn together.
‘If any’? Isn’t that the primary function of government? Smart initiation, continual evaluation? ``Prevent disturbances.’’ Is that code for violence interrupters? That narrow label can apply to very different groups. The public has some skepticism. We may need more PR clarity and evaluation on these good intentions. I also detect some jealousy about the funding winners, and valid concerns around political patronage. Emergencies and/or service seem like a core function, not for outsourcing, but we must monitor nonetheless. We should also monitor groups with terrible ideas that obstruct or diminish ``public safety,’’ a term many folks define so differently. Let’s keep these difficult talks open, honest. Bottom line, are we reducing crime?
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