January 30, 2001

The DFL Endorsing Convention is approaching. Are you ready for another election? I hope so! I am asking for your support to become the next City Council Member for the 10 Ward. I bring the experience, commitment, leadership, and vision that our ward values and demands in a Council Member.

As an active neighborhood resident and as a Minneapolis City employee, I work with residents, businesses, and rental property owners of the 10th Ward to address community issues and priorities. My knowledge of the strengths and challenges of Minneapolis City government allow me to build successful community-city partnerships. My experiences highlight why I am uniquely qualified to provide the hard work and effective leadership necessary for working with you to make our communities great places to live, work-, and recreate.

My wife, Heidi, and I live in the Lyndale neighborhood. We both share a love for what South Minneapolis has to offer - neighborliness, strong community activism, diversity, progressive values, great housing, parks, and a vibrant urban environment. We enjoy biking and walking through the neighborhoods, taking in the many flower gardens and conversations. Our surroundings fuel Heidi's and my commitment to our community.

As a Lyndale resident, I have participated in and led many improvement projects in my neighborhood. My volunteer work includes serving as a board member on the Lyndale Neighborhood Association (LNA) (1994-96) and the Lyndale Neighborhood Development Corporation (LNDC) (1996-2000). On LNA, I worked to increase the participation and voice of all Lyndale residents and businesses. I was a part of the leadership that structured LNA into an award-winning, resident-driven, community-building organization. On LNDC, I worked to create a physical environment that supports a healthy community. We worked to maintain affordable housing, create a vibrant urban environment, encourage housing and business renovations, and foster neighborhood businesses.

Professionally, as a Crime Prevention Specialist (CPS) for the Minneapolis Police Department from 1992-2000, and a Crime Prevention Program Coordinator with the Planning Department from September 2000 until the present, I know the Importance of a strong community working with city staff. I work directly with I 10th Ward community members on issues they prioritize as being the most important to them. We resolve these issues by coordinating the efforts of everyone who is impacted by the issues, including residents, businesses, rental property owners, and city staff. My job includes community organizing, facilitating community discussions, and coordinating city resources. I know that the incredible talent and commitment that exists in our community and among our city staff is one of Minneapolis' greatest strengths; however, the distance between these two groups is one of our city's greatest challenges.

In my efforts, I champion the philosophy that great cities start with strong communities and build on innovative partnerships. This philosophy is recognized in awards that I have received, including the Minneapolis Excellebrate Award in 1997, the Lyndale "Brick in the Neighborhood" award in 1997, the Hennepin County Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year Award in 2000, and the Minneapolis Center for Neighborhoods' Public Partners Award in 2000.

My volunteer and work experiences are shaped by and shape the vision that I would bring to the office of City Council. I believe that strong cities have governments that are driven by Priorities, Partnerships, Innovation, and most importantly Community. Throughout the campaign you will hear about these points. For now, I will just touch upon priorities.

As your council member I will listen and work hard with you to develop and achieve the priorities necessary to make our communities strong and healthy.

I will insure city staff and resources work with community members on these efforts. In my conversations thus far in my campaign, five priorities stand out:

• Quality public infrastructure (clean, well maintained streets and boulevards and quality schools and parks)

• Strong, positive working relationships between city residents and staff

• Housing and economic development funds targeted more effectively to meet the needs of Minneapolis residents (especially the need for affordable housing)

• Support and celebration of all our communities (not just geographically based)

• Vibrant urban environments that insure safe communities and streets. I am committed to working with you on these and other priorities to make the 10th Ward a great place to live.

On Saturday, March 31st, I need your support at the DFL Endorsing Convention, being held at 10:00am (registration begins at 9:00 am) at Martin Luther King Park (41" and Nicollet). Your support will allow me to gain a very important endorsement in my run to become your next City Council Member. I will work hard to gain and always maintain your support.

The DFL endorsing convention is an appropriate first step in my campaign, since some of my first community organizing efforts were encouraging my family and friends to attend our precinct caucuses. Over the next 2 months I will be calling you to talk and answer any questions. In the meantime, please feel free to call me at 612-822-8343, or email at niziolek@uswest.net. I look forward to speaking with you concerning your thoughts for the future of our community.

Sincerely, Dan Niziolek