Minneapolis Professional Employees Association
Candidate Questionnaire – Mpls. Park and Recreation Board
Name: Annie Young
Address: 2601 Cedar Ave. S. Apt. 1
day & evening phone: same – 612-729-3359
website: www.annieyoung.org
office seeking: city wide at-large Commissioner
campaign committee: I have a team of about 10 people who work on specific tasks. We do not hold regular meetings and do as much of our work as possible electronically. Mary Gonsior, Treasurer
campaign contact: self – above info
1. Major Campaign issues:
a) To provide equity, accessibility and safety to all the park users city wide
b) Continue integrating environmental solutions into the operations of the park system
c) Seek funds, advocate and support youth programming to the greatest extent possible
If re-elected I will continue my support of environmental challenges and solutions and increasing the diversity of programming in our system.
2. Past experience and relevance to Park Board:
I have served on the Minneapolis Park Board since 1990.
I have lived in Minnesota since 1975 and permanently in Minneapolis since 1981.
From my web page: www.annieyoung.org
“An orator, writer, researcher, community organizer and elected officeholder are skills and talents Annie shares in her community and across the country. Areas of focus include environmental justice, social change, sustainable development, urban ecology issues and community building.
She shares practical solutions in facing the demise of our communities and the planet. With a focus on environmental injustices, especially in communities of color and her lessons learned in her own community - the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, Annie shares information to help turn negatives into positives within all of our communities.”
Current work
Self-employed with neighborhood groups and business on community issues and projects.
Relevant experience
Former Associate Director, The Green Institute. Tasks included Education Director, human resources manager, and community relations. Founder and first project coordinator of The Green Institute. 1993 to October, 1999.
Served on the Governor’s Minnesota Roundtable on Sustainable Development - a two-year appointment.1996-1998
Board member, Lake Street Partners, working to revitalize one of the major corridors in Minneapolis.
30 years of community organizing experience including work within the Phillips, Whittier, Seward and Harrison communities of Minneapolis. Annie has also lived in Winona, MN, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Brattleboro, Vermont. She was born in Los Angeles and raised in Denver.
Political Experience
Jesse Jackson for President, Minnesota staff, 1988
Served as precinct chair, resolutions chair and on various volunteer committees and campaigns along with phone banks, door knocks and other campaign duties for almost 40 years within the Democratic Party
Paul Wellstone’s 1st Senatorial campaign staff
Served on Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Minnesota representing elected officials convocation from 1990 – 1996
Elected to Minneapolis Park Board as at-large citywide commissioner in 1989; has served on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board since 1990.
3. How did you educate yourself about Recreational Issues? How familiar are you with Rec Centers in your District?
When I first got on the Park Board I was very naïve about recreational programming having only used the system because my son played sports activities in several inner-city parks. Attending the centers, meeting Directors, reading the National Recreation and Park magazine each month and attending conferences have made me very aware of the multitude of issues in the leisure and recreation fields.
As a city-wide commissioner I have become knowledgeable of almost all my centers and directors. I do this by attending many activities (and neighborhood meetings) in our parks. Building friendships with the employees is important to me.
4. Briefly explain your views on the current state of recreation programming meeting the needs of our diverse population of children, youth and teens.
With over 80 languages spoken and the many new immigrants arriving in Minneapolis our pakt resources are being stretched to their limits in meeting the needs of the new population. We are translating more of our materials, staff are learning more languages, and cultural diversity training are key to addressing these new challenges. I am in complete support of working hard with these communities to make them feel comfortable, safe and welcome in our parks and they can be active users of the system as well.
I support cultural diversity training and staff being encouraged to learn new languages (at least conversational words in several languages should be encouraged).
An example of changes include:
- less softball and baseball teams but many, many more soccer teams (soccer being a favorite all over the world)
- the need for more intense signage and preparing people for water activities. Immigrants from countries that are very arid need to learn water safety rules and need swimming lessons
- dealing with special immigrant communities about their relationship to neighborhood, etc. We were having a problem with Ecuadorian volleyball and often-raucous behavior and excitement. We proceeded to talk with them and find another space for them to use in order to not have the activity close to residential properties.
5. What do you think the relationship should be between the Park Commissioner and Recreation employees?
I work hard at being friendly with staff and thanking them for their work. I do not believe we should be interfering with hiring, firing and other personnel issues directly related to work and job performance. I also do not believe in asking for favors from employees of the system or treating them unfairly or in a threatening manner.
I am deeply concerned about the overlap of many of our retiring employees and the mentoring for the new, often very young staff members. I have also been an advocate for living wages across the board and improved wages and benefits for recreation workers in general.
AFSCME Questionnaire….
Please define your philosophy of government.Government is a way for us, as a nation (and locally), to have authority in setting the direction of our public affairs. Established by and for the people, government is us. Government needs to be more responsive to its citizens and engage them in participating in the creation of solutions to address our public problems. The United States has a democratic form of government. How we choose the leaders to administer and set policy in a democracy is a key function within that democracy.
The most basic public problems identified today include health, poverty, human services, criminal justice, education and labor. These are complex and interwoven issue areas within government especially when determining the dividing of the wealth of the nation. The parks and natural resources are part of that wealth therefore a key player in helping to address these public problems. Theodore Wirth, the major designer and former Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park system believed in the need for parks and green space in addressing health issues. The parks provide jobs and the parks are neighborhood centers for many of the youth of our city. In Minneapolis the parks, trees, lakes and river are a reason people live here – a part of the quality of life of this beautiful city. The parks are a public amenity that has its own set of issues and problems.
In my role as Mpls. Park Board Commissioner it is my responsibility to not only serve as a public servant but also to serve as a steward of our world-acclaimed park system. It is my duty to protect and keep a watchful eye on the system for the citizens of Minneapolis. Commissioners set policy and direction within this governmental unit. We must assure the efficient maintenance and operations of the system. A major part of the job is meeting the needs of all citizens and visitors to our parks and the city’s other natural amenities. Being fiscally responsible and maintaining a viable system is paramount. Joining in collaborative efforts and public/private partnerships are vital aspects of making government work better for the people.
6. What are your top three priorities if elected?
Unions provide a support system and the ability to empower its members in order to join together on common concerns. Earning your support will ensure our continued work together in making the park system the number one park system in America, which in turn makes Minneapolis a beautiful place to live, work and play. I believe in worker’s rights to organize and make their workplaces a safe and good environment to work. I want to listen to and meet the interests of the public employees within the Park Board system. As a strong environmentalist I look to build a blue/green coalition that will continue to make this city a great place to work in and to live in.
7. What other endorsements do you have or are you seeking?
The AFL-CIO COPE and the DFL Green caucus have endorsed me. I am screening before Building & Construction Trades Council, United Radio & Electrical Workers of America, along with a variety environmental and women’s groups.
* Describe your campaign committee. I have looked to have a variety of people, both friends and new acquaintances representing various political ilk serve on the YOUNG FOR PARKS RE-ELECTION COMMITTEE for specific tasks. I have an active and committed group of volunteers. We do not hold meetings and are doing as much as possible via phone and electronically. In my last election I attended over 225 events, festivals, parades and community forums which aided me to be a top vote-getter behind the Mayor in 1997. I plan to continue that same strategy – get out among the people - to as many people as possible.
AFSCME Questionnaire...
1. What is your position on the contracting out or privatization of city services? Under what circumstances would you support the privatization or contracting out of services currently provided by the city?
I do not support the contracting out or privatization of city services now provided by public employees.
[I think we should occasionally look at possible joint public-private partnerships if no public jobs are lost. My example is the asphalt plant at public works in my backyard. In our neighborhood master planning for the “coming of the LRT” the neighborhood is proposing a discussion about having the two asphalt plants merge in to one efficient and environmentally friendly new facility. Is this idea possible or feasible? That I do not know. But I would support talks with the understanding that no public employee jobs are lost.]
2. What role have you played in either advocating for or against the privatization of public services?
I have advocated against the privatization of public services.
3. What role have you played in either advocating for strengthening or limiting the scope of the living wage ordinance?
I support the living wage ordinance and have been working hard on the Park Board to continue increasing the wages of our recreation staff in order to meet the living wage standards.
4. For several cycles the city departments and agencies have been directed to reduce their budgets by 3% annually which has resulted in additional work demands on city employees. What is your position regarding the level of city taxes to meet current and future service demands?
On the park board we always have financial woes. Meeting the high expectations and needs of the city residents requires extremely efficient operations and tight fiscal management of our funds. This means additional work demands on the park employees.
Although taxes are rising, last year, the citizens of Minneapolis continued to show their support for a better education system and expanded library services. I believe they will also support their parks if they know what their increased taxes will pay for. We have been considering a referendum.
5. Would you support adding employees to the budget when the city begins new programs or initiatives? If yes, how?
I believe new programs must have built in to them the implementation and maintenance costs that would include staffing the program. Occasionally funds support initiatives within a specific program and were originated by staff, for staff enhancement or better implementation so there may not be a need for a new employee. But generally, new programs means new staffing in an open hiring process.
6. Would you work with our union in establishing a citywide policy of promotional opportunities among civil service employees? If yes, how? I do believe in workers having opportunities to improve their own work environments. I would be willing to look at, review and negotiate how this citywide policy would apply to Park Board employees.
7. Would you commit to promoting the citywide labor management committee as a place for meaningful discussion and resolution of issues that affect several bargaining units of city employees (such as vacation schedules)? If yes, how?
Again, I am willing to be part of the discussion as it impacts the labor/management relations on Park Board employees.
8. Would you accept a campaign contribution from AFSCME political committees?
I am evaluating acceptance of each PAC contribution this year on an individual basis. Although money is vital to a campaign, the endorsement, support and vote of individuals within a group is also key to a winning campaign.
I have been honored to carry your support in the past and seek your support for my re-election bid again this year.