Spotlight On: Melvin Carter, Mayor, City of Saint Paul
April 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Melvin Carter, mayor of the city of Saint Paul, talked about how Saint Paul serves as a model for leadership diversity. He highlighted Saint Paul’s collaborative spirit, and explained why investing in infrastructure is not just about fixing roads; rather, it is about laying the foundation for economic growth and prosperity.
What are the key takeaways from the State of Our City address, and how do you see this impacting the business community?
The overarching theme I conveyed was my unwavering optimism about our city’s future. We are facing both significant opportunities and challenges. However, our community comprises incredible partners dedicated to Saint Paul and adept at collaboration.
We are in a robust position, as illustrated by three key metrics. First, our public safety statistics are notably positive. National Public Radio recently highlighted Saint Paul’s efforts in combating rising auto thefts, showcasing a remarkable 40% decrease amid a nationwide surge of 30%. This 70% swing underscores the effectiveness of our law enforcement and broader public safety initiatives.
Second, we stand on the brink of what promises to be our city’s most significant economic expansion. With two expansive housing and retail development sites — Highland Bridge and The Heights — each exceeding 100 acres, we are embarking on rare ground-up redevelopment projects. With opportunities in our Midway area and around our sports facilities, Saint Paul is poised for unprecedented economic growth.
Lastly, Saint Paul’s value proposition is increasingly recognized nationally and globally. We recently hosted the Red Bull Heavy Metal snowboarding showcase, bringing large crowds to see Olympic-level talent. Additionally, the NCAA Frozen Four was an incredible success, bringing fans from across the country to our city, and we eagerly anticipate the Minnesota Yacht Club Music Festival in July and look forward to hosting the World Junior Hockey Championships next year.
What sets Saint Paul apart from other cities?
We don’t view ourselves as overshadowed by anyone. Saint Paul is a city that knows how to unite, roll up our sleeves, and embrace opportunities. This collaborative approach bodes well for our future.
We believe in this city’s richness. Saint Paul offers an exceptional quality of life, boasting numerous colleges and universities, Fortune 500 career opportunities, and a thriving business and entertainment ecosystem around these corporate giants.
So, what sets us apart is not just the individual strengths of our players but the collaborative spirit that permeates our community. Our police department enthusiastically partners with community agencies for public safety. Our union leaders eagerly collaborate with the chamber for development initiatives. And when it comes to shaping the future of downtown, our CEOs sit side by side with residents, ready to tackle challenges together.
What are some community-focused initiatives that reflect Saint Paul’s values and commitment to caring for its residents?
We are pioneering a universal college savings accounts program, the first of its kind. Every child born in Saint Paul receives a $50 college savings account automatically. This simple act of investment sends a powerful message of belief in our children’s futures.
Saint Paul is also the first city in America to use public funds to pilot guaranteed income programs. We have also used American Rescue Plan dollars to eliminate participation fees for youth sports, leading to a remarkable increase in participation among our young people and a decrease in crimes.
Moreover, we have eliminated late fines in our public libraries, ensuring every family can access education and information without financial barriers. These efforts underscore our belief that Saint Paul is more than just its infrastructure. It’s a community of people caring for one another.
Ultimately, we are determined to combat the broader impacts of poverty and inequality. The early results are promising, showing how our shared commitment to caring for each other strengthens our community.
How does the city serve as a model for leadership diversity, especially noting that you are its first African-American mayor and the city council’s all-female leadership?
It’s truly astounding. The landscape was quite different when I was first elected to the city council in 2007. I was the sole person of color, the lone representative under 30, and our council president was the only woman. It’s incredible to witness the evolution of representation over the past decade. People from various neighborhoods would visit my office, acknowledging me as their council member, even if they did not reside in my district. I understood what they meant.
The expansion of representation is significant, but we often emphasize that making history is not as crucial as shaping the future. Merely occupying a seat is not enough because it’s about our actions to benefit our community. What truly excites me is our collective ability to collaborate and advance the vision entrusted to us by our voters.
What measures is your office taking to increase foot traffic in Saint Paul? Does this involve converting commercial space to residential space?
The downtown landscape was not meant to be empty, but COVID-19 certainly dealt a blow to downtowns nationwide. That is why we are exploring strategies to revitalize downtown, such as stimulating office-to-residential conversions. We are even considering repurposing our city-owned building, the City Hall Annex, which has been under our ownership since the 1970s. Converting it into residential space could significantly bolster our downtown housing stock while injecting vitality into our streets. City employees relocating to the skyway and street level could further support property values and downtown vibrancy.
However, the future of every downtown hinges on creating enticing amenities that attract people to live, work, and play there. Identifying suitable buildings for conversions and curating a diverse entertainment mix are crucial steps. Our ability to host major events is also paramount.
Currently, we are advocating for funding from the state capital to renovate our Xcel Energy Center. This venue, home to the Minnesota Wild and our new women’s professional hockey team and host to numerous athletic, music, performance, and cultural events, requires modernization to become a 21st-century space. We envision it as a welcoming hub, not just during events but also on quieter days, enhancing the overall downtown experience.
Why do you believe voters approved the recent one-cent increase in local sales tax for a 20-year transportation fund, and what opportunities does it create for the city?
I have expressed my strong optimism about Saint Paul’s future. I truly believe the possibilities are endless for our city; however, to realize our economic ambitions, we must invest in infrastructure. As a lifelong Saint Paul resident, complaining about potholes and deteriorating streets feels almost like a birthright. We have fallen behind in our public infrastructure investments nationally and locally.
That is why we recently passed a one-cent sales tax, with three-quarters earmarked for streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, and other public rights-of-way. The remaining quarter will go toward public buildings and parks. When I became mayor, I inherited a backlog of street repairs and over $100 million in deferred maintenance for city-owned buildings.
This investment presents an opportunity to rebuild our city for the next generation. It will create jobs over the next two decades and enable us to reimagine our streets. Take Summit Avenue, home to the nation’s longest row of historic mansions. The last time it was fully reconstructed was during President William Taft’s tenure when car ownership stood at under 3%.
Considering the growth in car ownership, vehicle weights, and the impact of the climate crisis, our century-old infrastructure is not sufficient. We need to modernize our streets to meet today’s challenges. Business leaders and community members alike have emphasized the importance of a generational investment in infrastructure.
One business leader aptly pointed out that private-sector investments often follow public-sector infrastructure improvements. No business wants to handle its own water treatment or pave its own streets. By prioritizing infrastructure, we signal businesses that Saint Paul is the place to invest and grow.
Investing in our infrastructure isn’t just about fixing roads, it is about laying the foundation for economic growth and prosperity for future generations.
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