Passage of the 2024 St Paul Budget
We’re winding down to our last Council meeting next Wednesday, Dec 20 and the last few weeks of 2024! Last week, I voted in support of the final 2024 St Paul Budget. Before the final vote, I proposed two important amendments:
- The first amendment was to dedicate $520K in new Fire department funding specifically for the hiring of 4 more firefighters. Our Council, labor partners, and neighbors fought hard for this money all year long. Approval of this amendment would ensure accountability in how these dollars are spent, preventing it from becoming a general fund used without oversight.
- The second amendment was to hold off on dedicating $1.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funds to pay off medical debt for eligible St Paul residents through RIP Medical Debt. While this is a great cause, I have very clearly heard other ways we could use ARP funding that needed consideration too. Two most urgent needs is pandemic pay that our city workers have been asking for for years, and providing financial aid to organizations serving our homeless community, such as Catholic Charities Higher Ground Shelter, that are experiencing deep budget shortfalls.
I want to thank Councilmember Prince and Councilmember Noecker for voting with me on both amendments to prioritize our community’s voices and needs, ensuring there is public process in our decision-making. Though I am disappointed that my two amendments did not pass, I am proud of this work. The final $844.9 million budget has some big wins, including funding that will allow our city to:
- repair damaged street lights and address copper wire theft
- increase fire department staffing
- make capital improvements to libraries
- launch a study aimed at advancing hiring practices to ensure St Paul's competitiveness in the labor market
- offer 35 free weekends for swimming at Oxford Community Center
I am grateful to the St Paul community members who reached out to share their values and to the advocacy of labor partners who voiced their needs. For more, listen to the full presentation online, or check out the 2024 budget proposal here.
Book Giveaway Tomorrow! 📚📖
This Saturday, December 16, Parks and Libraries will be partnering with the Saint Paul Federation of Educators and a few other organizations to hand out 40,000 books geared for young people ages 0 to 18. Families, educators, youth workers, daycare providers, free little library owners, and anyone else interested in getting some free books are welcome to come. The books selected by area educators have characters that represent the diverse communities who call Saint Paul home. Choose which ones you'd like to take with you (boxes available for easy moving).
Saturday, December 16, 2023
10:00 - 2:00 | Wellstone Center (179 Robie Street East)
ESNDC LeadSafe Minnesota Services
Lead exposure remains a significant public health concern, with potentially severe consequences for individuals, especially children, and the broader community.
Read the notice on elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings and what Saint Paul Regional Water Servies is doing about lead: stpaul.gov/saint-paul-regional-water-services/about-your-water/lead.
Contact Saint Paul – Regional Water at 651-266-6350 for information on obtaining a water sample container for testing.
Additional education as well as FREE testing services are available through the East Side Neighborhood Development Company:
- SWAB CLEANING: (Ramsey County residents ONLY) Lead Remediation by a certified Lead contractor who will encapsulate and stabilize lead hazards in the home up to $1,575 worth of work at no cost to you.
- Free Education on Childhood Lead Poisoning (Available to all Metro residents)
- Free In-Home Lead Assessment (Available to all Twin Cities Counties)
- Referral to Ramsey County Lead Window Replacement Program (Ramsey County residents ONLY) for assistance
More information: https://esndc.org/residents/ or contact ESNDC at 651-288-875.
Lead Testing Clinic
ESNDC has partnered with Care 4 All Lab Services to offer FREE lead testing for children and pregnant women. No registration or insurance information is required.
Where: 925 Payne Avenue, basement level, at Care 4 All.
When: Wednesday, December 20, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM, and Friday, December 22, 10:30-11:30 AM and 3:30-4:30 PM.
Each child that receives a lead test through them will receive a free toy and each pregnant woman who gets a lead test will receive a $25 gift card just for getting tested.
Discharging Racial Covenants
The City of Saint Paul is working with the Just Deeds Coalition to remove racial covenants from property deeds in an effort to make Saint Paul more equitable today and contribute to the wellbeing of generations to come.
Affordable Housing Incentive Program - Dec 15th Deadline
 
To support owners committed to protecting and preserving affordable rental units, the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), through the City’s Housing Trust Fund, has launched the next application cycle for the Saint Paul 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program.
Applications due TODAY, Friday, December 15, 2023. Properties must meet program eligibility requirements as outlined on the website and in the 4d Program Guidelines.
Learn more and apply online at stpaul.gov/4d or contact 4d program staff at 4d@stpaul.gov.
ESNDC Friendly Storefronts Program
Attention Ward 6 Businesses! Are you looking to refresh the appearance of your storefront this summer? Check out East Side Neighborhood Development Company’s Friendly Storefronts Program - Grant funding is available for façade improvement projects on a first come basis. See the flyer for general program guidelines, and send all inquiries to jmcgregor@esndc.org to start the application process!
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