PRESS & NEWS

Good morning!

Today, I am standing here where Duluthians meet friends to walk and talk.

Where visitors first experience Duluth’s unique beauty and where residents come to sit and center themselves.

Where kids can dip their toes in the lake, crawl around on rocks and throw stones for the first time (although not today!).

Where even those of us who have lived here our whole lives watch ships from around the world enter our port, pass under our bridge and load the iron ore which feeds the steel mills out east or unload windmill turbines destined to help power a renewable energy future.

And where all of us still look at awe at this magnificent, sacred Lake.

When we see this Lake. When we stand right here. We’re home.

We are at the literal intersection of Duluth’s economic development, social connection, shipping, tourism, and a sense of place. Although I can think of warmer places, I can’t think of a better place for today’s announcement.

And standing together outside in the cold wind feels appropriate. The last four years have changed us.

The pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, increasing economic security, stretched mental and chemical health resources and loud political times have tested us. Disrupted our lives. Chilled us to our core. Made many of us retreat into our shells.

We miss each other. Neighborhoods miss their community groups. Downtown misses the influx of daily workers and shoppers. Residents are growing weary of institutions, and one another. The past four years have changed us all and changed our community.

The challenges that we have faced are real - and they aren’t over. We still have collective work to do as a community.

Seven years ago I pledged to work relentlessly for a healthy – prosperous – sustainable – fair – and inclusive community – for all neighbors and across all neighborhoods. And for the past seven years you have given me the honor and responsibility of being Mayor of this great City.

I promised to focus on the big things – the structural and important things that may not grab headlines or be particularly sexy but are needed to be a strong and vibrant community.

We committed to growing investment and growing our economy – In 2021 we had a record number of building permits and half a BILLION dollars of investment – our third record year of investment in a row.

We committed to telling a new story of Duluth through marketing and tourism We launched a new tourism strategy to connect tourism’s economic impact to neighborhood-based businesses and amenities – all built around what makes us unapologetically unique: our people, our pace, and our place.

And for the first time in X years, Spirit Mountain made the City money rather than needing a subsidy.

We committed to good jobs so everyone can succeed – and we created Community Investment Zones to direct investment in resource-poor neighborhoods and established business subsidy criteria to grow good job opportunities for women, persons of color, and other traditionally socially disadvantaged people.

We committed to fixing Duluth’s decaying infrastructure – and we established Duluth’s Street Plan with dedicated funding repairing 14 miles of roads a year compared to 2 when I took office. We rebuilt Superior Street and are removing lead from Duluth’s water pipes and repairing its sewer pipes.

We took on Duluth’s affordable housing crisis directly – we created a $4 million Housing Trust Fund and have invested $XX million to build new and renovate existing affordable housing. Since 2016 we’ve added a total 1500 new housing units across Duluth.

We pledged to start Duluth on a rapid path to a renewable energy economy – since taking office we have reduced the City’s polluting greenhouse gases by 32% and with a new Sustainability Office we are galvanizing the whole city to join in leading.

And finally, we committed to fairness and equity in everything we do – we elevated the Office of Human Rights, established the first ever cross Department Equity Action team, repaired relationships with the Fond du Lac nation, and built genuine community engagement into how we do business. We all do better when we all do better, as Paul Wellstone used to say.

We’ve done a lot together these past seven years – those were just some highlights. But here’s the bottom line – when we say we are going to do something we do it. We get things done, Period.

And collectively there is more work to do as a community.

So, I am here today to announce that I am running for a third term. Asking for a third term is not something I do lightly. We’ve been doing this work together for a while now. I don’t take for granted that you have already placed trust and confidence in me.

I’m not standing here because this is an easy time to lead. I’m standing here precisely because it’s not.

Who leads the city matters.

The accomplishments listed above are not mine – I played my role. Duluth is more resilient, more connected, more financially stable and economically secure than when I took office because we worked together.

Nor do I expect to be rewarded for what we have accomplished. We did what we said we would and were elected to do. Elections are about our future and where we want to go.

So let me share my vision of our work ahead.

When I see empty storefronts in our downtown - the literal financial heart of our community …

When I cross the city and I see uneven economic development …

When small businesses tell me they didn't think it would be so hard …

I know we need to develop a renewed downtown together. The Downtown Task Force recommendations gave us a plan and a direction – together with downtown businesses, residents, and others we need to make it happen.

We need to renew key sites and structures of the city: a new Library with community, health and workforce services within it, the Pastoret, Lot D, Atlas Industrial, and the former Kmart site amongst others.

We need to achieve our City Broadband commitment and get every single resident of our community fast, reliable and affordable internet access

When I read that parents are taking themselves out of the workforce because they can’t find affordable and reliable childcare …

When I am told by Cirrus and other employer partners that their growth is limited - not by vision or collaboration with the city - but by the restrictions of our housing market …

I know we need to double down on finding innovative solutions for childcare and affordable housing.

When I hear a mother share the story of her son who died as a result of opiate addiction

When I encounter people who are unhoused and living in their car - not by choice, but by survival

When I look down my street and I see seniors who need more supports than they can access or afford

I know we need to work even harder for affordable housing, and services for our Opiod and mental health crises

When I meet new residents of Duluth who don't know where they fit in. Who aren't sure because of their identity that they are safe

I know why our work listening and engaging the community is so important and must continue to be core to everything we do. We have done good work. Now is when we lock it in and make this the way the City will always do its business.

When I hear the stories from entrepreneurs excited about opportunities in the clean energy future …

And see our aging housing stock in a cold weather climate …

I know we must accelerate Duluth’s transition to clean energy economy across the whole city.

We’ve set the direction, we’re seen as a national leader, now we must move rapidly.

This is some of the important work we need to do.

Over the next months, I’ll share more, and throughout the campaign we will be out in the community, talking with residents, asking for advice and ideas, listening and learning. That, too, is a commitment I am making.