14 Comments
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Paul Thoresen's avatar

I likely disagree with 80 or 90% of anything he would like to enact as a city council member. This is shown in the interview ( and just knowing he is DSA) . However I appreciate the interview Terry and opportunities to find that small percentage of areas I might agree with him. I would guess if we turned off our phones and went hiking he and I would get along fine - unless we talked an about politics.😉

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Mary Pattock's avatar

I'd like to know if he supports or rejects the DSA platform. Has he even read it? How would he describe the influence of the DSA on the council?

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Paul Thoresen's avatar

Well, they have to agree with it to be endorsed. I mean he was endorsed last time around and there's the application form that says he agrees with police abolition Etc

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Paul Thoresen's avatar

In addition to his answers on the application form last time for the TCDSA, here is the information on the front of the form that they ALL (though seeking the endorsement from the twin Cities. DSA including Soren) endorsed:

TCDSA 2023 Municipal Policy Platform–Approved by Membership December 2022

1. Housing for all

1. Strong rent Control–3% cap, no exceptions.

1. Repeal the Saint Paul City Council’s overruling of the rent control

ordinance passed by voters

2. Build public housing by taxing the rich.

3. Immediately halt encampment closures and fully fund a housing first approach to

homelessness.

2. A Green New Deal

1. Kick out the Polluters-Support the East Phillips Urban Farm, Close HERC.

2. Corporations should pay the bill for the impact of their pollution.

3. Public Safety Beyond Policing

1. No new money for cops–fund public safety alternatives.

2. Demilitarize the police and ban tear gas.

4. Raise expectations of our local governments

1. Municipal shoveling and alley plowing.

2. Municipal universal pre-K with quality wages for childcare workers.

* You can ignore the numbers. I think it got reformatted a bit.

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ML's avatar

I like that he is boots on the ground regarding homelessness in Minneapolis. That's a huge factor in solving this crisis.

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Adam's avatar

Seems like there's going to be a highly competitive election in Ward 8. The mayor appears to be a notable area of disagreement between the candidates. We'll see how that plays out. In 2021, Frey received 3,998 first choice votes in Ward 8. Sheila received 3,121 and Kate 2,465. If Frey's 3 main opponents organize against him, that could end up really helping Soren.

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Linda Gowan's avatar

Seems very much inline with the current City Council.

Saying "no" to the City Council was not necessarily a bad thing.

I would prefer to see more willingness to run the city rather than fixing the state and world.

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Rhesa's avatar

Worthy goals, yet how will he get them accomplished?

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Susan Lenfestey's avatar

You can't support workers if you don't support or at least work with the businesses who employ them. You can't pay for the programs to provide services to those in need without a strong commercial tax base. As Rhesa says -- worthy goals, how will we pay for them?

I'd cook the fish. I might question how he caught it!

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Rhesa's avatar

Think what you will about Ralph Nader, all his talks were about solutions. Ideas.

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michele burns's avatar

He risks damage to his other eye if he persists with the anti-car rhetoric. Not that I would throw the punch, but others might.

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Adam's avatar

really? Encouraging violence because someone running for office talked about how they prefer to walk places? I, along with a lot of Ward 8 voters, appreciate that it's becoming easier to get around our city without a car. I picked my house in large part because I was close to the #18 and had easy access to bike lanes on 1st and Blaisdell. I prefer to get around by foot year-round, although it's obviously harder some days in the winter than others. In the summer, I can get a bunch of places safely on bike in ways that wasn't possible when I moved into the Lyndale neighborhood in 2017.

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michele burns's avatar

I’m not encouraging violence, just pointing out how unpopular his anti-car stance is to many residents. You and Soren may not be aware of this, but cars are a necessity for many busy people to get to work/school, shop, transport kids, etc. Also, some people just don’t like spandex shorts. But you do you. 🙂

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Adam's avatar

no, you encouraged violence but don't want to admit it. I don't wear spandex shorts when I bike. I don't even own a pair. That just shows a total lack of understanding of the people who are advocating for safer bike infrastructure. I wear normal clothes and use an e-bike. No offense to the spandex club, but it's often them who are total assholes on our local trails and I've heard enough of them argue against bike lanes because "they've been biking forever and there aren't an issues" for them. They often don't care about people who aren't confident or new to biking in a city. Neither Soren or myself say cars aren't a necessity for lots of people. Many people I know in Ward 8 who enjoy or prefer walking, transit, and biking also drive. It doesn't have to be "us versus them." It's about how we can best share our public space without being total jerks to each other.

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