Harry Colbert of North News on elections in Minneapolis
The Minnesota city to watch this Election Day is Minneapolis. The mayor and all 13 city council members are up for election, and a few key ballot measures could reshape the way the city envisions public safety and how much renters pay.
Host Cathy Wurzer checked in with Harry Colbert, editor-in-chief of North News, about interest in the election. The local paper covers north Minneapolis, which is one of the most racially diverse and lowest-income parts of the city.
Colbert said he hears people saying they want change, and some think what happens in Minneapolis could have national implications.
He said there was a flurry of campaign activity over the weekend, but before that it was quiet.
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In Minneapolis Ward 4 and 5, Colbert said both City Council incumbents were in favor of the public safety charter amendment that would replace the police department with a public safety department. Colbert said amendment proponents were able to assure people police wouldn’t be eliminated, but that early on that was less clear.
Colbert said the rent control measure is the amendment least talked about. “I don’t have a good gauge on how that will shake out,” he said, adding that a lot of property owners are against it.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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