Ward 6 Candidate Questionnaire Responses
Nelsie Yang
Housing
1. Saint Paul is currently completing a 1-4 Unit Housing Study that would broadly allow 4 housing units per lot across the city, and relieve other zoning requirements that constrain our city’s housing options. Do you support this and other regulatory changes that allow for more housing in St. Paul?
Response: I absolutely support regulatory changes that allow for more housing in Saint Paul. My constituents have shared so many stories of struggling to afford a home, or stay in their current one. Expanding housing options allows for more people to call Saint Paul home which also strengthens our tax base.
2. Saint Paul’s SAFE Tenant protections, which included just cause eviction protections and rules around security deposits and tenant screening, were repealed in 2022. How would you work to sustainably instate tenant protections in Saint Paul?
Response: As a champion of tenant rights and one of three Councilmembers who voted against the repeal of our tenant rights ordinance, I’m excited to continue engaging with renters and housing justice advocates and organizations to introduce another version of tenant rights next year. We must do everything to ensure protections and rules around security deposits and tenant screening, along with language about just cause eviction protections are included in our language.
3. It can be difficult for cities such as Saint Paul to secure enough public funding for building affordable housing. Given this challenge, what do you see as the most promising strategies for increasing the supply of affordable homes in Saint Paul?
Response: This past year, Saint Paul and Ramsey County partnered to invest over $74 million American Rescue Plan $ into deeply affordable housing. This proves that partnership across different levels of government makes more possible for our residents. As a Councilmember, I’m committed to strengthening those relationships with elected officials across different levels of government. I will also continue being a strong proponent of city programs like Inspiring Communities that ensure developers who purchase city properties create more affordable housing throughout our city.
Transportation
4. The quality of the transit network in Saint Paul is improving, and we hope to see this continue. How would you work with local constituents along existing and planned transit routes to build support for further improvements of our bus and light rail network?
Response: The East Side deserves to be connected as other parts of our city, as well as to other cities and regions of the state. I believe that we can build strong transit corridors without displacing residents and without negatively impacting local businesses. In addition to investing into connectivity, we must also invest in rider experience. That means advocating for free fares and infrastructure for public restrooms and bus shelters that accommodate a variety of weather conditions. As an advocate of mass transit, I have already been engaging with East Siders about the Purple Line to ensure that this once in a generation investment in our ward meets the needs of our community that has been marginalized for too long. I am a proponent of realigning the Purple Line onto White Bear Ave. This change not only ensures riders can access the business corridor along White Bear Ave and the Hayden Heights Library but it also creates urgency for Ramsey County to finally prioritize redesigning White Bear Ave so that it’s safe for pedestrians and bikers.
5. The future of the I-94 corridor, which runs through the heart of Saint Paul, is currently being considered by MnDOT through the Rethinking I-94 project. Sustain Saint Paul believes that the city deserves a future corridor that addresses historical harms to nearby neighborhoods, improves city connectivity across the highway, and reduces Vehicle Miles Traveled and associated vehicle pollution. What elements of a future corridor do you support? Some examples include an at-grade boulevard, a land bridge, a transit-only lane, reducing the number of vehicle lanes or street width; please be specific.
Response: During the 1960’s when the I-94 corridor was constructed, St. Paul communities were displaced. In the Rondo community, I-94 cut through the heart of a thriving Black community, which not only displaced community members but also stole wealth from homeowners and businesses. To me, justice would look like restoring the Rondo community to where it was prior to the construction of I-94. A highway to boulevard conversion would reconnect the community, which I favor rather than allowing I-94 to remain in the heart of St. Paul. We should be working toward a low-carbon transportation system that repairs past harms and prioritizes the people most impacted by road noise, vehicle emissions, and traffic. All of this could be achieved through open and transparent community conversations, and the Rondo community deserves to learn about all of the infrastructure options that are available.
6. The City of Saint Paul is currently preparing an update to the Saint Paul bicycle plan, with a focus on grade-separated bikeways and a more seamlessly connected network. Do you support this effort, and will you commit to ensuring its success if elected?
Response: Yes, and yes. Grade-separated bikeways are safer. People will choose alternative modes of transportation when they feel safe and when it’s easy and convenient. Grade-separated bikeways and a connected bike network offer that safety, ease, and convenience and will support residents in choosing to bike over using a car.
Quality urbanism
7. One of Sustain Saint Paul’s top policy priorities is “mixed-use zoning.” Our current zoning policies prohibit retail stores, coffeeshops, restaurants, and other neighborhood businesses in residential areas, and we think our city would be more vibrant and resilient if we allowed such neighborhood areas throughout the city. Do you support zoning changes to allow this?
Response: Yes.
8. Sustain St. Paul believes that whenever the city rebuilds or repairs a street, it should redesign the street to reduce traffic speeds for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike. Would you champion policies to encourage this?
Response: Absolutely. Every street reconstruction is an opportunity to improve safety for every resident and whatever mode of transportation they choose. We must also improve infrastructure for bikers and pedestrians. This is not only essential for resident safety, but to also meet our city’s most urgent climate goals.
What other urbanism-focused ideas do you have for making Saint Paul a more pleasant, safe, and vibrant place to live, work, and play?
Response:
Community gardens in areas of concentrated poverty
Solar gardens on school rooftops
Geothermal system at The Heights in my ward
Building more tiny homes throughout our city
