Where I actually stand on housing policy

Every Minnesotan deserves the dignity and security of a safe, affordable place to call home.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with and speak with so many delegates, including Faith in Minnesota members, throughout the course of this campaign and there’s one thing I hear over and over: we need to do anything we can, right now, to address the housing affordability crisis. I believe that we can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good because our neighbors need to see that we’re putting in the work to get them into homes and keep them in their homes.

We’ve heard some disinformation in our conversations about manufactured homes in my city of Tonka Bay. I don’t know where it came from and I abhor the insider politics of vague innuendo as an attack.  

But here’s the truth: I support manufactured home construction as a path to affordable home ownership. Tonka Bay welcomes manufactured homes in our community, it’s part of our code. In fact, in recent weeks, we took action on our zoning policy to ensure higher density remains a part of our community and protects the Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing that exists here. 

During my tenure as Mayor of Tonka Bay, we’ve built vastly more high density housing than any other administration in the history of the city - adding close to an additional 95 units.  I championed development of the largest multi-family market rate development in our city’s history with the building of more than 80 units in 2021 - and still get invited to BBQs and parties by residents as thanks! 

Relative to a starting point of roughly 569 homes, that’s a ~17% increase.  And we did so by converting our commercial districts into residential in conjunction with the Met Council. Even as recently as last week, I worked to expand lot allowances for larger numbers of units per parcel for future development.

Since I’ve been Mayor we have also improved roughly 25% of our water, sewer, and roads.  While projects of these kinds are typically assessed to the properties they directly serve, we made the conscious decision to spread this cost across the entire city to ease the cost burden on working class families that make up a significant portion of the homes off the lake.

When I worked at Allianz, I fought for and created their low income housing tax credit program.  It was successful and it worked, which made it popular even at one of the world’s largest corporations and has financed thousands of affordable housing units across the country.  I’ve spent my career looking for creative solutions to the housing affordability crisis.

I will support any policy or legislation that makes housing more affordable. But I do think that as we build on any initial successes, we need to improve on addressing our priorities in future housing legislation. We must focus legislation on adding more public housing in Minnesota.  That way we can address affordability the right way, by removing the profit motive of corporate developers. I believe we need to aggressively add affordable housing near transit and near where people work and play. What good is finding an apartment you can afford or your forever home, if it isn’t a part of a vibrant community you want to live in?

As your next auditor, I will continue to aggressively advocate for any solution to our housing crisis, whether that’s through our investments, the Housing Finance Agency, or supporting local governments as they work to help new residents call their community home. And I’m excited for a future where we can do this work together. 

Minnesota succeeds when we invest in people, build stronger communities, and make sure everyone has a fair shot. I’d be honored to earn your support for DFL State Auditor.