Public Safety

On Sunday the Pioneer Press published my latest op ed, this one welcoming our new Chief of Police and sharing the results of our recent public safety survey.  Upon accepting his appointment, Chief Henry spoke about his vision for co-producing with the community a public safety strategy that can be a role model for other communities. My response is that “the business community is aligned in our desire, in the strongest terms, to improve outcomes in public safety and support this vision.” Because we have real work to do.

In the article I describe that I see St. Paul at an “inflection point”:  the majority of respondents (56%) express continued confidence in the city’s long-term plan to improve public safety AND we need some course corrections to demonstrate progress and maintain the public’s trust.  I think specifically about a victim-centered approach when it comes to holding people accountable for breaking the law – the need for real and immediate connection to consequences.

It's also worth noting the work of social services providers and the City/County in serving the unsheltered, connecting people to housing, shelter, and services, to close encampments.  This challenge continues, but their extraordinary effort is worth noting.

Follow THIS LINK to read our report on the survey.
 
See you in the trenches.
B​

• Axel Henry sworn in as St. Paul’s next chief of police.
• B Kyle’s op ed on Sunday: Congratulations, Chief Henry. We have some work to do in St. Paul.

• Minneapolis Fed President Kashkari expects more interest rate hikes. Shared at last week’s MN Chamber 2022 Economic Summit. Economists, too,  see U.S. inflation running hotter through next year than they did a month ago and recession odds continue to mount against a backdrop of rising borrowing costs.
• State of Minnesota Launches $34.5M Venture Capital Program: At a press conference on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus on Wednesday, state leaders heralded the launch of a $34.5 million program that will provide direct funding to entrepreneurs and to other venture capital funds. The money stems from a $97 million federal funding package that Minnesota secured last month. The funds came to Minnesota through the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act, and they’re specifically earmarked for small business assistance. 
• The Infrastructure Law, One Year In: A year after President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law, local transportation leaders say the funding will bring improvements to roads, sidewalks and bridges, as well as greater equity. But they also say that changes are needed to help with the rollout of all the new funding, including speeding up permitting for transportation projects and making it simpler for local governments to apply for the grants.   Here is the US Chamber’s commentary.
• MN added 17,400 jobs in October, the most in 2022.

​State

• MN House DFL and MN Senate DFL announce committee structure and chairs.

 
Regional

• St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s office announced this week that the city will oversee the distribution of $4.65 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding for community-owned businesses, home improvements for low-income families and cultural and arts initiatives, as well as help paying so-called restaurant “SAC” fees, or sewer charges. More here.  
• The City of St. Paul has released the second solicitation for the 30% AMI Deeply Affordable Housing Program. Applications are due Wednesday, November 30, 2022, by 4:30 p.m. The current solicitation aims to facilitate the creation of multifamily rental housing units affordable to households at or below the 30% Area Median Income (AMI) level ($35,190 for a family of four). This is the second solicitation for the City of Saint Paul’s 30% AMI Deeply Affordable Housing Fund. Through this program, the city will invest $37 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to increase the supply of housing for extremely low-income residents earning less than 30% of the Area Median Income. 

​
Subscribe to our Chamber Advocacy Update to keep up with advocacy news.

• Visit Saint Paul’s Guide to the Holidays in Saint Paul!
• Please join us at St. Paul’s holiday party –  Holiday Chamber Connect: Tuesday, December 6, 5-7pm. Register here!
• ​Our Young Professionals network is having its end-of-the-year celebration at Can Can Wonderland: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 4-6pm. Register here!

• What does Simon Sinek have to say about alternatives to quiet quitting? Everyone is struggling to find balance between personal lives and work. And it’s hard. Instead of disengaging, let’s have difficult conversations about this balance.

• Greater Twin Cities United Way responds to surge in call for housing and mental health help. Also notable:  their longstanding 211 helpline is responding to a surge in demand, fielding 480,000 calls in 2021 — a 40% increase from 2020. And, now, a new suicide and crisis lifeline relaunched this year nationally with the new 988 phone number.

• Multifamily market stands strong amid headwinds. The trend of record absorption continued into Q3 with more than 9900 units absorbed through the year, a 12% increase compared to last year.
• Historic St. Paul warehouse to become eco-friendly arts space. D/O Architects and nonprofit film organization FilmNorth have entered a public-private partnership to restore the 24K SF Brown-Jaspers Store bldg. at 2441 University Ave W.
• More than $2B in federal funding announced for Minnesota projects. The money will go toward more than 140 road, bridge, public transit, and other projects. ​​