When politicians seek higher office, there’s always the ripple effect. When then-Third Ward City Council Member Jacob Frey announced his run for mayor in 2017, a number of people turned to Steve Fletcher as a DFL candidate to replace him. Fletcher had been the founding Executive Director of Neighborhoods Organizing for Change, a nationally-recognized “building hub” for social justice-oriented organizing, and had been named Grassroots Solutions’ 2011 Organizer of the Year. He had also served as executive director of the progressive think tank, Minnesota 2020.
In a recent interview, Fletcher said that people who knew him from his community work got behind him, seeing a chance to further the goal of more affordable housing. The Nov. 3 municipal election put some new faces on the City Council, including the Third Ward, and Fletcher’s last day in office is Jan. 2. He responded to questions about his experience on the Council.
What, if anything, has changed in the way the City Council works during your tenure?
“We have made significant strides away from individual “aldermanic privilege” toward being a more coherent, policy-making body. The Minneapolis 2040 plan, the Transportation Action Plan, the Renters First policy in regulatory services, and the Climate Action Plan are enduring, living documents that will continue to guide our city in the years to come. We’ve also created new capacity to align with city values, including the Office of Violence Prevention, the Sustainability team, the Small Business Team, and more.”
What are some of the changes in the Third Ward (demographics, economic development, civic involvement) during your tenure?
“I’ll focus on three major changes, two intentional by design, and one a product of the pandemic. First, we’ve seen a significant boom in housing, especially downtown in the Nicollet Island-East Bank and Dinkytown areas, including hundreds of new affordable units. Second, the city’s public realm is more walkable, ADA accessible, and safer than it was, thanks to smart transportation planning in Public Works, and a significant investment in public realm capital projects. The third change, which time has yet to tell us how long-term and severe this change will be, is a shift away from in-person office and retail that will force us to re-think some key aspects of the downtown economy, even once COVID finally fades.”
What advice would you give to (incoming Third Ward City Council Member) Mike Rainville?
“This term is going to be really critical, in light of the government structure amendment that passed in November, to establish governance practices that maintain a powerful policy role for the Council. Regardless of political alignments between this Mayor and this Council, it’s critical that the Council act to establish and assert its power on behalf of their constituents, because this first term under the new charter will set the tone for future mayors and future councils. Be a steward not only of the Ward, but of our democracy, and the body on which you serve, stand up for council policies, and don’t give away policy-making power you now hold on behalf of your neighbors.”
When does the Third Ward map get redrawn?
“Not soon enough for Ward 3 – we’ve grown so much that the Ward 3 Council Member has more than 10,000 more constituents than the average ward. The Charter Commission already has a first draft, which would shift Sheridan and Bottineau to Ward 1, part of Dinkytown to Ward 2, and part of the Mill District to Ward 6, to bring Ward 3’s population down in line with the other wards. Mike Rainville won election to a two-year term representing this over-full ward, and then there will be a special election in 2023 in which the Council will be elected to a two-year term under the new boundaries. Anyone with thoughts or concerns about the re-districting process should get in touch with the Charter Commission to share feedback on their proposed map.”
Do you plan a last meeting with constituents?
“COVID spread trends make it challenging to do public, in-person events, so probably not. Anyone seeking closure should contact me directly. I’ll be happy to connect.”
Asked about his and his family’s future plans, Fletcher demurred, saying that one of the many benefits of leaving office is that he can return to being a private person once more.
Below: Steve Fletcher hasn’t said what he’ll do after his term ends in January. (Provided photo)