Candidate Information– Mpls. Park and Recreation Board
Name: Annie Young
Address: 2601 Cedar Ave. S. Apt. 1
day & evening phone: same – 612-729-3359
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
background information...
· Provide a brief biography and explain your qualifications for this office.
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.
Became Green Party member in 2000 and participated in various activities including serving as emcee for the Nader Super Rally at the Target Center in Sept. where I did acknowledge your National Organization’s support .
· What are your top three priorities if elected?
1) To provide equity, accessibility and safety to all the park users city wide
2) Continue integrating environmental solutions into the operations of the park system
3) Seek funds, advocate and support youth programming to the greatest extent possible
· Why are you seeking UERMW endorsement?
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.
· What other endorsements do you have or are you seeking?
The AFL-CIO COPE , Minneapolis Building & Trades Council and AFSCME Council 14. Although I was recently endorsed by these groups they are having second thoughts because of my relationship to the Green Party. I will also be seeking support from a variety of 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 to 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.
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.]
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.
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.
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.
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.
I would be honored to carry your endorsement.