Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter delivered his State of the City Address, highlighting the city’s progress, growth, and opportunities ahead. Mayor Carter’s priorities are infrastructure, sustainability, public safety, housing, education, and guaranteed income programs.
Early in his address, Mayor Carter said that to realize a truly sustainable Saint Paul that can meet the demands of a growing city, they must address decades of disinvestment in infrastructure. To solve this, the Mayor highlighted their local sales tax proposal, which could generate a billion dollars toward streets, parks, and recreation facilities.
Beyond laying the groundwork for reinvesting in their infrastructure and sustainability, the Mayor noted that they must continue to build a coordinated, comprehensive, and data-driven approach to public safety. Mayor Carter shared updates about several initiatives, including a collaboration between the police department, community-first partners, and the Office of Neighborhood Safety on Project PEACE. This gun violence intervention initiative connects victims of violence with evidence-based resources, community-led programming, and wraparound support.
Mayor Carter also announced the launch of the Inheritance Fund, which will provide up to $110,000 in down payment assistance to descendants of Old Rondo to begin restoring the community wealth that was taken away by the construction of I-94.
Watch Mayor Carter’s full remarks here.
