(*note*
Tamir Nolley is also seeking the endorsement of the Grassroots and Independence
Parties)
Name: Tamir
Nolley Office Sought: City Council, Sixth Ward Address: 2323 Garfield Av S.
#10, MPLS, MN 55405 Phone : (612) 872-4188 E-Mail: t.nolley@mindspring.com
1. Please
tell us about your past experience and how it might qualify you to be a Green
Party candidate for the office for which you are seeking endorsement.
A. I was
born in Minneapolis and have lived here most of my life. I have also lived in other cities
including Tucson and San Francisco. I
am politically progressive and have formed deep relationships with the East African
community and with various
countercultures of this city. I have worked
for progressive groups such as MontPIRG (Montana) and Anti-Racist Action. I am
proficient in Spanish and can work with
local Spanish speaking communities. I
am currently a member of Communities United against Police Brutality because I
have personally experienced police harassment and will continue to work
tirelessly to stop it.
2. What do
you hope to accomplish by running for office?
A. To make
our city a place where everyone feels free to contribute to its vibrancy and
growth. To protect its environment and
green space. To stop police brutality
and excessive force. To give our
counter culture a voice in our city's policies and to engage those people who've given up because they feel
that no one understands their situations.
3. What are
the main three or four issues of your campaign, and which, if elected, would you focus your efforts on
when in office?
A. Our four
platform points are: 1.) Stopping
police harassment. 2.) Protecting
out environment 3.) Creating
affordable housing 4.) Protecting
our city's cultural infrastructure I
will focus on all of these, but I am particularly concerned with the police issue.
4. The Green
Party is based on ten key values. Tell us how you will incorporate each of these values in your positions
during your campaign and if you are elected. Are there any of these values you do not share? If
so, which are they and please explain why you do not share them.
A. I agree with all of the ten key values of
the Green Party, particularly respect for diversity. My campaign will be artistic and accessible in many languages. I will promote these values at the beginning,
and as the publicity of the campaign increases.
5. How would
your candidacy and, if elected, your service in office, contribute to the growth of the Green Party of
Minnesota?
A. Because of my ties as a cab driver, and as a
friend to the East-African and Hispanic communities, I can help to increase the
ethnic diversity in the party. as well as the people working on the campaign,
In office, I can promote the values of the party from the bully-pulpit I'll
have.
6. Is there anything in the Green Party state
platform with which you disagree? If so, what?
A. The only difference I have, and I will admit
it's hair splitting, is that in some situations the party seems to be telling
people how to live their lives. An
example of that is promoting vegetarianism.
I am vegetarian, but I do not believe that I have the right to impose
that view on others, just as they do not have the right to impose their beliefs
on me.
7. Explain your
positions on the following subjects, and be as specific as possible:
Election reform:
A. I support Instant Runoff Voting as a
means of creating a more fair and just electoral system.
Affordable Housing:
B. We need to think creatively in regard
to housing because of the shortage that exists. There are a variety of solutions including: property tax relief
for landlords who maintain property in good condition and keep rent at
affordable rates. We should look at
rent control cautiously in order to avoid the problems rent control created in
New York City. We need to build ecologically
sound homes, incorporating alternative energy sources; houses which will last
for generations, not years. I am open
to other ideas on affordable housing, but I believe the real solution lies with
creating living wage jobs.
Rent Control and Tenants Rights:
C. We need rent control programs to stave off the escalation of
rents, but they must be carefully designed and implemented. We can't afford to lock more people out of
the housing market by creating an "insider" market of rent control
apartments. I take this issue
personally because my rent went up in January and my family is scraping by from
month to month. Tenants must be well
informed of the rights they have, and those rights, especially against price
gouging, should be strengthened. Livable Wage
C. The key to helping communities
struggling with crime and with poverty lies with livable wage jobs. This is also essential to ending the affordable
housing crisis. It is a travesty that,
in a supposedly booming economy, anyone
is making less than $10 per hour. We
need a living wage ordinance with no loopholes.
Police/Community Relations
D. I am outraged by the murders of Abuka
Sanders and Barbara Schneider. We deserve
better than to be harassed by government or law enforcement because of our
race, appearance, or political activism.
We must hold our police accountable for their actions, and reward those
who do respect their communities. I
would also like to see an elected board of police commissioners who can
prosecute, subpoena, and dismiss the "cowboy" cops when they become
out of control.
Transportation/City Planning
E. Out government often operates in a
top-down manner and doesn't always suffer advice from the communities. Our department heads often know little about
the industry they are supposed to be managing.
I believe, for example, that the taxi inspector should be a former cab
driver or owner; and that people on the arts commission should be artists. As far as transportation, we need to look at
how other major cities deal with their transportation issues. San Francisco has an effective transit
system which includes electrically powered buses. I support rail transit, but
not at the cost of destroying green space and homes. We should investigate by
fuel cell technology. I am intrigued by
the idea of personal rapid transit, but I'm not sure it would be any better
than mass transit. Environmental Quality
F. Our environment must be preserved by
all means possible. I oppose projects such as the Kondirator and
the garbage incinerator. I also reject projects
which destroy green space, such as the hwy. 55 reroute. I will not support shelling out green space for a new stadium. Airport Issues
G. I support building an airport in a less
populated part of the state, near the twin cities. This must be done with the interests of the communities in mind
to protect them from airport noise and
air pollution.
Crime
H. Combating crime starts with improving
the economy in high crime areas and creating living wage jobs. Our investment in the war on drugs has squandered
resources which could be used for productive crime prevention efforts.
Economic Development
I. I want to see small, locally owned
businesses thrive and uplift their communities. I oppose commercial gentrification of
impoverished neighborhoods because it comes at the expense of poor
families. I will work against corporate
welfare, such as Tax Increment Financing.
Civil Rights
J. Our city government does not respect
the civil rights of many of it's citizens. We need to enforce laws which prevent racism, classism, and stop the
repression of countercultures. The
civil rights of all city residents must be respected by all city residents,
especially law enforcement and the government.
8. If you
discovered a significant budget surplus, what would you advocate the City Council do with the money?
A. I
would advocate that the city invest in programs to create living wage jobs for
poor communities. At the same time,
there should be a level of fiscal restraint.
We cannot guarantee that the economy will not drop over the coming
years. I also believe TIF flies in the
face of wise economic decision making.
9. Are there
any issues that are specific to your ward, and if so, what is your position on these?
A. My ward has about four different
neighborhoods with very different interests.
What they have in common is the need to combat poverty with living wage
jobs. Phillips, Whittier, and the West
Bank have a real problem with the Minneapolis Police profiling minority,
poor citizens and people outside of the status quo. Taxi ordinance issues are also important because of the number of
cab drivers, many of whom are East-African immigrants, in the sixth ward.
10. If you
are endorsed, what, if any, expectations do you have of the Minneapolis/5th District Green Party
regarding your campaign, and if elected, your service in office?
A. Feedback and community outreach. Helping me organize community forums so that
I can hear the people once in office.
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| Tamir
Nolley |
Ø
Candidate
for Mpls City Council, Ward 6
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Hop on
the Nolley Trolley !