"Right to Repair" is Wrong for Saint Paul

I want to revisit the pending "right to repair" ballot initiative, set to appear on the November 2026 ballot after a Ramsey County judge ruled the city council’s attempt to block it was invalid. This past weekend I joined Matt Fairbanks, business manager and president of Sheet Metal Workers Local 10, on a Pioneer Press op ed about this issue.

Saint Paul leaders have pursued other idealistic policy proposals (think rent control or medical-debt relief) that sounded good but didn’t work all that well in the real world. This proposed “right to repair” is following a similar path. The St. Paul City Council just passed an ordinance that allows them to fine landlords that do not keep properties up to code. It just makes sense to see if this new, common-sense ordinance works as intended before embarking on another cumbersome new program that requires significant resources the city doesn’t have.

There's a shift underway in Saint Paul that's worth noticing. Cranes are back on the skyline. Vacant storefronts are welcoming new businesses. Long-stalled projects are finally breaking ground. This isn't wishful thinking or ribbon-cutting rhetoric—it's real momentum, and it's the kind of momentum that strengthens a city's foundation for the long haul.

Mayor Kaohly Her put it well in her recent budget address: Saint Paul won't solve its fiscal challenges by shrinking; it must grow. We couldn't agree more. We need policies that encourage growth – not get in its way. We've been down this road before. As we said repeatedly during the rent control debate, Saint Paul doesn't need another policy that polls well, campaigns well, and fits neatly on a yard sign, only to make it harder to invest, build, and expand the city's tax base once the votes are counted.

Ongoing shameless plug: visit (early and often) the East Metro Voter Guide to learn more about candidates for office.

See you in the trenches, 
B

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