06/10/2020
REGARDING THE A.I.C.H.O. HOUSING PROJECT:
I don't often make statements on social media. In this case, this topic feels like it needs to be shared in this forum.
Regarding the AICHO/Indigenous Resiliency Affordable Housing Project:
As the president of the city council, I must say that I regret not making a clear public statement directly addressing the resolution for the Indigenous Resiliency Affordable Housing Project (Council resolution 390R backed by AICHO and other partners) at our June 8th meeting. I will do my best in this written statement to say what I failed to say at our meeting.
It is required that any local partner organization who is applying for MHFA low income housing tax finance credits have support from the City of Duluth through a vote from the City Council. Almost always, these requests are a very easy “yes” vote for the council. The need for new, affordable housing is understood by all.
In the case of 390R, Council Vice President Van Nett requested the resolution supporting the AICHO project be pulled from our consent agenda for discussion. It became clear to me and the full council that Councilor Van Nett had enough concern about the resolution to warrant tabling 390R. It stayed on the table during two meetings. During the weeks while 390R was tabled the council received many emails about the resolution. Many opposed to the approval and many in support. During the May 25th meeting there were members of the public present via the WebEx platform who addressed the council during the “citizens time to be heard” portion of the agenda. Prior to the COVID19 pandemic and virtual meetings – members of the public would have addressed the council specifically during the agenda moment related to the resolution. Meeting virtually, this is an awkward situation – I will address this further with my colleagues and administrative staff.
As to my action in support of the council keeping the resolution tabled and not taking action on it – I was acting out of respect to my colleague. An immediate result of the tabling action was the many communications (mostly via email) from community members on this issue. Clearly, the discussion was a priority to Indigenous community members as well as members of the broader community. As the person sitting in the seat of the council president, I felt it my responsibility to allow for community voices to be heard. And, while the council holds civility as a value it is not the role of council president or anyone else to censure or limit the comments made by community members.
During the weeks the resolution was tabled I directly reached out to top leadership at AICHO. During these conversations I expressed my support for the approval of the resolution, I also stated my opinion that there would very likely be strong support from my colleagues, and further affirmed I felt a responsibility to ensure that community voices be heard on the matter- especially the voices of Indigenous community members.
On June 8th AICHO and its partners decided to withdraw their application for the MHFA program. When I heard about the decision from AICHO leadership I expressed my disappointment and I directly urged them to reconsider. The decision by AICHO ultimately took the opportunity for further discussion and a likely vote of support away from the council. In the end, I urged my colleagues to vote to return the resolution to administration rather than voting it down.
Under the best of circumstances, receiving approval for low income housing tax credits is often a multi-year process. There are many pieces of the complicated puzzle which when successfully completed leads to the building of affordable housing projects. Competition for limited funds includes projects from all over the state.
It is my hope that we will see this project come back to the council next year and that we will see many great affordable housing projects come into reality in the near future.
I do apologize for the mistakes I’ve made in communicating and engaging during the past weeks. I will do my best to stay involved in the challenging conversations to come.
Sincerely,
Gary Anderson
