www. Saylesbeltonformayor.com
1.
If endorsed would you list
the Caucus’ endorsement along with your other endorsements?
Yes, as I have proudly done in my prior elections.
2.
Are you willing to make a
commitment NOT to run against a DFL-endorsed candidate?
Yes. I have
always abided by the party endorsement and have not wavered from this
commitment.
3.
Are you in favor of a
women’s right to control her own reproductive system, including the right to
have an abortion?
Yes.
4.
Do you support extending
health insurance, pension benefits, sick and bereavement pay to unmarried
partners of city employees as currently afforded married heterosexuals?
Yes. I
co-authored the city ordinance with Council Member Brian Coyle to afford
domestic partners the right to register as partners in Minneapolis. I authored the council resolution, which
extended domestic partners benefits to employees of the City of Minneapolis. Unfortunately, this was struck-down by Judge
Hedlund. My office recently worked with
Council Member Thurber to have this issue placed on the cities legislative
agenda to seek local authority on this matter from the legislature.
5.
Do you support City funding
for the Minnesota Aids Project and the Aliveness Project?
Yes.
6.
Are you opposed to measures
like the Minnesota Defense of Marriage Act?
Yes.
7.
What is your definition of a
family?
A family consists of individuals who share a bond of
love and have made a life long commitment to each other’s well being.
8.
How do you define
homophobia?
It is the irrational fear and ignorance of members
of the GLBT community. Unfortunately it
leads to hatred, physical and emotional violence and discrimination. It cannot and will not be tolerated.
9.
How would you promote better
relations between the Police Department and the GLBT community?
The first step is to ensure that our police force reflects the GLBT community and I will ensure that outreach efforts towards this recruitment will continue. As a city we can be proud of individuals such as Downtown Command Inspector Sharon Lubinski and the numerous other individuals at various ranks in the police department. We must however continue to provide all officers in the department the appropriate bias training. We must continue to work with agencies like Outfront Minnesota and District 202 to seek their input and assistance on GLBT issues confronting the police department as well as individuals of the GLBT community. Also in 1994 the police department created a GLBT Liaison team to deal with concerns and issues. I would reexamine this and strengthen it if necessary.
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Stonewall
DFL Caucus
10.
What experience have you had
with Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender (GLBT) issues and why are they important
to you?
Throughout my life I have interacted with the GLBT
community. From my work as a probation
officer, working with the Minnesota State Sexual Assault Program and as an
elected official I have worked with and sought the input of the GLBT community. I have sought the input of individuals and
agencies in the GLBT community as appropriate.
I currently have three GLBT staff members in my office and have had
members of the GLBT community on my staff for the last ten years. Former Senator Alan Spear and State
Affirmative Action Officer Matthea Little Smith serve as two of the co-chairs
on my re-election campaign. One of the
highlights of each year of my life in elected office has been joining the GLBT
community in its annual Pride celebrations and especially the Pride
Parade. I gain an enormous amount of
energy, encouragement and support from this event each year.
As an African American women the issues facing the
GLBT community are not unlike those that I have faced all of my life, both as a
person of color and a woman. The issues
of discrimination, hatred, bias, violence, and at times the feeling of a lack
of hope. Collectively we have worked
hard and achieved much. Yet, we still
have a long way to go to achieve fairness, justice and human rights for
all. I am committed to work with the
GLBT community to work towards this end.
11.
If elected, what do you
propose to do to address the lack of fair and affordable housing in the Twin
Cities?
We all recognize that the metropolitan area faces a
crisis in affordable housing. We also
acknowledge the City of Minneapolis cannot bear this burden alone, but that the
Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, the State of Minnesota, federal
government, philanthropic and private investors all must play a role in seeking
a solution. I am committed to ensuring
that all of these players are at the table.
To that end I have begun work on:
-
Securing
one percent of the State’s general fund for affordable housing.
-
Working
with the Mortgage Bankers Association of America and the U.S. Conference of
Mayors to seek more incentives to create increased production and more federal
funding for housing.
-
An
initiative with the Family Housing Fund, the Minneapolis Community Development
Agency, the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority and the Minneapolis Public
Schools to provide families with children in our community schools with
affordable housing.
-
Unlawful
Detainers are a barrier to rental housing for many families. I have proposed to place the cities Housing
Services division with the Hennepin County Housing Court so that staff can
assist citizens to mediate with landlords to reduce the number of UD’s filed.
-
Utilize
Phase II of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program to encourage neighborhoods
to allocate more dollars towards housing.
-
Continue
efforts with the MPHA to ensure the Moving Home Program (Section 8
Homeownership Demonstration Program) is implemented and expand this program
allowing Section 8 recipients to use the value of their voucher as income for
five years and permitting them to purchase a home.
-
Work
with Clare House and others to expand their program of housing for persons with
HIV/AIDS living in the City of Minneapolis.