Ward 1 — Liz De La Torre

Candidate Questionnaire — Ward 1 — Liz De La Torre

Ward 1 contains the neighborhoods of Frogtown, Lexington-Hamline North End, Snelling-Hamline, and Summit-University. It is currently represented by Councilmember Dai Thao. There are four candidates running: Abu Nayeem, Anika Bowie, Liz De La Torre, and Dai Thao. We have received responses from Liz De La Torre and Abu Nayeem.

1. How do you plan to increase housing affordability in St. Paul?

I believe that housing affordability is an issue that should be best addressed by the federal government, specifically HUD. With that being said, I am committed to easing land-use restrictions and zoning ordinances to accommodate the need for density across our city. We also must be willing to increase our housing stock throughout the city and halt the practice of concentrating subsidized housing to particular neighborhoods.

2. What do you see as the main cause for the shortage of affordable housing in St. Paul?

There is no singular cause behind the shortage of housing. I believe that it has to do with staggering wages, outdated definitions of single family homes, and the lack of emergency shelter and transitional housing. Gentrification also plays a role in this, as does the lack of accessible and reliable public transit. I’ve also made a it a priority to talk about personal vehicle ownership as an equity issue and a privilege that many cannot afford.

3. How can the city eliminate homelessness?

The key to truly addressing homelessness in our city begins with expanding the conversation to include emergency shelter and transitional housing. We should be partnering with existing organizations, nonprofits and coalitions that have an expertise in this to meet the diverse needs of those experiencing chronic homelessness. We should be meeting these folks where they’re at and ensure that connection to other services are also offered. I believe that using this approach, coupled with growing density, changing our zoning ordinances and easing restrictions on fourplexes are real things within the city council’s purview.

4. Do you support changing the city’s zoning to allow quadplexes everywhere in the city? If not, please explain why.

YES! Saint Paul has a real opportunity to make this a reality — something that not even Minneapolis was able to!

5. Do you support eliminating minimum parking requirements? If not, please explain why.

Yes. I have made this part of my platform under transportation and infrastructure. We’ve prioritized personal vehicle ownership in this city for far too long.

6. Do you support funding the city’s 4(d) affordable housing program? If not, how will you preserve at-risk Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH)?

I generally agree with the idea behind the 4(d) affordable housing program. Since the state directs municipalities to adopt guidelines, I would like to see the city pursue housing that is going to do more than the minimum to meet the guidelines. I would also want to ensure that the landlords are also fulfilling their obligations and keeping the units safe and up to code standards.