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I want to highlight a couple of things for you this week. First, in case you missed it in the Pioneer Press print or online edition, I submitted an op-ed opposing St. Paul’s ballot initiative to partially fund early childcare through mandator property tax increases. At the November election, St. Paul voters face a crucial decision: whether to approve a mandatory property tax increase for the next 10 years to fund early-childhood care and education initiatives. While I believe the goal of this ballot measure is commendable, its implementation raises serious concerns regarding prioritization of pressing municipal issues and fiscal responsibility. As part of my own due diligence, I spent a good deal of time studying the initiative. The importance of this topic warrants serious consideration. I listened to the City Council presentation in September of this year; I read the 48-page report summarizing the plan and reviewed overviews of both the need as well as proposed financial projections; we invited Councilmember Noecker (the plan sponsor) to present the program to our Public Affairs Issue Forum; I spoke with Art Rolnick, whose professional work in the area of economics and early childhood development (and his support for this program) are very well known and respected. I do agree that investing in our children is critical to our future. And, at the same time, I can’t support the proposed program on Election Day.
Second, and continuing with the election theme, we’re one week away from election day. Which has me thinking about the importance of elections to our democracy. The most important: make your voice heard and vote! I don’t know if Winston Churchill said it best, but he provides a clear statement of the significance of each individual’s participation in our democracy and their contribution to our Republic. “At the bottom of all the tributes paid to democracy is the little man, walking into a little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper—no amount of rhetoric or voluminous discussion can possibly diminish the overwhelming importance of that point.” Mr. Churchill sure had a way with rhetoric. I encourage you all to vote. No matter who you’re going to vote for, please take the time to cast your ballot on or before Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Your vote, and our collective votes, will shape the future for the business community in the East Metro, the state, and the nation. Your vote - and our elections - matter. Make sure you are registered, visit the East Metro Voter Guide to learn about candidates, find your polling station, and get a plan in place to vote on Election Day.
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A couple of things to highlight this week, and a call to action. First off, last week we executed our Career Connect Day event which gets bigger and better every year… and this year we invited Minneapolis! Stay tuned for a Level Up! program in the Spring, tag teaming on this event to provide an actual hiring event for young adults immediately ready for the workforce. I love how this program is building out.
Second, another amazing example of corporate citizenship. Today I want to highlight Mortenson Family Foundation and M. A. Mortenson Companies Inc. Last week Fortis Capital announced that they have received generous support from Mortenson Companies to invest in their efforts to foster and support economic development in areas where it is most needed for systematically disadvantaged persons primarily in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, and throughout Minnesota. Fortis Capital is a nonprofit engaged in economic development finance, with an emphasis on providing access to debt capital for businesses owned by persons of color and in challenged communities. Big impact done quietly, consistently… I so appreciate how Mortenson shows up! Third, a call to action at the St. Paul City Council. The St. Paul City Council is poised to take up zoning amendments that will prohibit new drive-thrus for restaurants and coffee shops while creating new requirements for pharmacy and bank drive-thrus. Restricting drive-thrus will negatively impact consumers and businesses by removing a key aspect of safety, convenience, and efficiency. A drive-thru ban limits a business’s ability to provide a safer environment for staff and consumers, which is crucial when dealing with workforce shortages and public safety concerns. Banning future drive-thrus for restaurants and coffee shops, along with strict limits on bank and pharmacy drive-thrus, will create another set of regulations that limit consumer choice and hinder growth in Saint Paul. The City needs to promote an environment that attracts new jobs, not create more restrictions that hinder economic development. These proposed code amendments will not change consumer behaviors and will result in further distances traveled to access a drive-thru or a heavier reliance on food delivery platforms, which will negate any positive environmental returns that would come from these proposed zoning code amendments. If you live or work in Saint Paul, follow the link here to contact your Council Member with concerns about these proposed changes. The first reading is scheduled for November 6 with a public hearing to be held on November 13. Adoption could come as soon as November 20. With such a divided vote (7-5) at the Planning Commission we need you to add your voice in opposition to these restrictions on business. Contact JP if you would like to learn more about this issue. See you in the trenches. B First off, another example of corporate citizenship. Hubbard Broadcasting is launching a statewide effort to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Helene and Milton. Minnesota first responders and volunteers are heading south as well. Click here to find out how you can help.
And the teaser for this week: what grade does the Fed give the economy? President Kashkari gives the economy high marks and expects more interest rate cuts before the year’s end. Interest rates were cut .50% in September, very welcome and steeper than the typical 0.25% cut. Kashkari: “Right now I give the economy an ‘A.’ The economy is changing. We still have a strong labor market, and inflation is coming down. We’re not where we want to get to yet on inflation, but we’re making progress…. It’s an ‘A,’ but its in transition.” His remarks are echoed by those of the largest US banks, through last week’s earnings releases and comments on continued strong consumer spending. And one final note for your reading pleasure: last week TC Business published a good article, “Resuscitating Downtown St. Paul,” along with a companion interview of Ecolab’s CEO, Christophe Beck. As Saint Paul explores options to address the real estate “crossroads,” I particularly like what Christophe Beck says: “When talking about public safety, homelessness, and economic development growth, the main thing to remember is that these issues are very much intertwined. And solving community issues requires a community solution. What I am getting at here is that true collaboration is the only answer. Only when government, private sector, and nonprofit organizations come together can we foster positive, real change.” Come learn more about Saint Paul real estate at our November Lunch With Leaders with panelists from the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance and the real estate community. I’ve been thinking about corporate citizenship. You know, the social responsibility of businesses and the extent to which they commit to – and execute on – certain priorities. Last week I joined Wells Fargo in celebration of their new HOPE Inside Center, in collaboration with Operation HOPE, at their Prosperity branch. This is but one expression of Wells Fargo’s focus on economic inclusion, helpful financial tips, and the real impacts of financial education on our community. The big picture of Operation HOPE is “to make free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved, thereby disrupting poverty and empowering economic inclusion for millions of low- and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation.” On the ground, they’re specifically providing free financial education to raise credit scores. There is a significant correlative relationship between credit scores and income, home ownership, even life expectancy. Learn more – I’m impressed.
This past week I also was reminded – twice! - of important lessons I’d learned years ago. That, clearly, I’d forgotten. You see, I’ve been wrestling with this notion of how to disagree on issues while still holding onto relationships. And 2 people I consider mentors reminded me of the book, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom. Have you read it? This book changed my thinking about how to negotiate. And I’d like to share with you what I’ve been reminded of. This book is short, an easy read. The Four Agreements are a set of principles from the book by the same name, by Don Miguel Ruiz. Its goal is to help people achieve peace, happiness, love in relationships and life. I have found these Agreements to be tremendously helpful in business negotiation as well. As Ruiz says, “everything we do is based on agreements we have made – agreements with other people, with God, and with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves.”
It takes courage to be impeccable with my word, even when doing so might make me feel uncomfortable. It also takes courage to stop taking things personally – when an issue comes up, or when I disagree with someone, it’s not about me. And if I’m going to make assumptions, I always assume goodwill. Finally, I commit to doing my best. And part of that best is that “being impeccable” and “not taking things personally” commitment. Good reminder, yes? See you in the trenches, B First, a quick plug for our upcoming Career Connect Day on October 15, where we will bring 2,000 high school students together with employers for career exploration. We need you! This year we’ve expanded our invitation to include Minneapolis students… if you haven’t confirmed your table at the event, we still have openings available we are hoping to fill. It’s a short day, from 9 am to 2 pm, and you’ll get to connect with our youth to hear what they are thinking about, and with other businesses. You can register at the link above or connect with [email protected] directly for questions. This event continues to grow – join us this year and you’ll also be in the loop to secure your spot for next Spring’s extension program, for young adults (18-24yo), a Level Up programming/placement day.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the annual State of the Airport Luncheon, over at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis. Always a great event, and this year was especially interesting. Board of Commissioners Chair Rick King shared the airport success “by the numbers”: 19 airlines, 163 destinations, 18th largest in terms of traffic, 168K SF expansion underway at Terminal 2, #1 on- time airport and #1 overall (again!!). Impressive numbers, yes? What I found especially notable – and potentially transformative as it relates to airlines and sustainability – was the news that, as we were meeting, Delta had sent off its first flight from MSP to New York using Minnesota-grown sustainable fuel (SAF). You should be saying “WOW!” because this is a really big deal. According to Minnesota Star Tribune article on the big event: “The Minnesota SAF Hub, a coalition led by Greater MSP, orchestrated this as part of its larger mission to decarbonize the airline industry, which accounts for about 2% of the world’s emissions of carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. “This initial SAF delivery is another example of how we are making SAF real in Minnesota and showing the world how to do it right,” said Peter Frosch, president and CEO of Greater MSP, in a news release. “We are highlighting the first SAF flight from MSP International as another major milestone in our push to build a SAF economy anchored in Minnesota.” Now this initial trip was fueled by MN and ND farmers, partnering with Cargill. Their efforts are joined by Flint Hills Resources, who also has announced it is in the early phases of developing a SAF blending facility at its Pine Bend refinery, in collaboration with Delta Air Lines. This new facility is being designed to blend jet fuel with 30M gallons of SAF annually, and delivering it to MSP airport via Flint Hills’ existing jet fuel pipeline system. These companies and more: beyond telling people what they want to hear, they are making changes we can see. See you in the trenches, B |
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December 2024
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