Ward 6 — Kassim Busuri

Candidate Questionnaire — Ward 6 — Kassim Busuri

Ward 6 contains the neighborhoods of Frost Lake, Hayden Heights, Hazel Park, Payne/Phalen, Phalen Village, and Prosperity. It is currently represented by Councilmember Kassim Busuri, who was appointed by the City Council after the resignation of Dan Bostrom. There are six candidates running; Alexander Bourne, Kassim Busuri, Greg Copeland, Danielle Swift, Terri Thao, and Nelsie Yang. We have received responses from Kassim Busuri and Terri Thao.

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

I have approved the purchase of Hillcrest Golf Club which will bring 1000 homes to the East Side. I also plan on investing into the 503 vacant properties throughout the city to come into the rental inventory. I would also be actively be seeking out developers to invest in Saint Paul.

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

There are many factors that has led to the shortage of affordable housing in Saint Paul. One of them is that we have put so much restriction into building new homes that it cost to much to build house in Saint Paul and once you have a new construction it to expense for people to afford to by it. Other reasons have to do with the fact that developers are seeking help to make housing affordable and the city is limited to the amount of help they give developer so that leads to a shortage because the demand is so high and city can’t help fast enough.

3. How can the city eliminate homelessness?

I will partner up with other agencies throughout the community and the county. The city alone cannot address the homelessness issue and we need many partners working together. We need social and mental health workers to be part of the working committee to help address this issue of homelessness and we can come together a solution.

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

I will support any zoning change that will allow more affordable housing for the city.

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

Yes I support eliminating minimum parking requirements so that way we can focus on the major issue which is the shortage of homes.

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)?

Yes I support the city’s 4(d) affordable housing program as long as it brings more homes for the city.