Wow. What an election season. |
Dear John,
Welcome to a special election season edition of our member newsletter! It’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me this week, to say the least. I’d imagine many of you can relate. Across the state and country, we experienced some incredible wins alongside some devastating losses. After a day of street canvassing for Omar Fateh, my spirits buoyed by the wonderful conversations I had with last-minute voters, I returned home to the news that Zohran Mamdani won his race for mayor of New York City, marking a historic progressive shift away from the wealthy powers-that-be in favor of real policy change for everyday people. As Frey won the first round of Minneapolis mayoral votes, watching New Yorkers celebrate felt a little bit like this:
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Image: Squidward looking out window at Patrick and Spongebob having fun |
Learning the next day that, for a third time since I became a Minneapolis organizer, big money interests tipped the scales in favor of a corporate moderate mayor over a people-powered campaign was crushing. I allowed myself to grieve and get angry. And then, I thought about all that we DID accomplish, particularly in the face of the endless PAC money being spent against us. Our Duluth Tenants won Duluth Right to Repair. Both St. Paul ballot initiatives passed. While Ethrophic Burnett and Katie Cashman sadly lost their races in Minneapolis Wards 5 and 7, the rest of our endorsed Council candidates won, alongside all our endorsed Minneapolis Park Board District candidates. These are all causes for celebration, and proof that our vision — that of a government that works for people over profits — is possible. I’m proud to have been in this fight with all of you, and I look forward to our collective future.
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Image: Duluth Tenants members and local leaders celebrate their victory |
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We're making moves: Timely team updates & calls to action |
🏠Duluth Tenants win Duluth Right to Repair!
We’re elated by the news that Question 1 passed in Duluth in a LANDSLIDE, earning nearly 70 PERCENT of the vote! This initiative, organized and championed by Duluth Tenants, will allow renters in Duluth to get timely repairs in their homes and deduct the cost from their rent payments. This law will be the first of its kind in MN and represents a huge win for renters everywhere! GO, Duluth Tenants!
Thank you to everyone who volunteered and donated to get this ballot initiative over the finish line – from this summer into the final stretch! |
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👩🏫 Minneapolis Families for Public Schools mobilizes for enforceable class size limits and more Over 1,000 Minneapolis families have contacted the Minneapolis Public School District since Oct. 17 urging the district to settle a strong contract with the Minneapolis Federation of Educators. Our demands are as follows:
✅ Enforceable class size limits at every school ✅ More resources for special education and English Language Learners ✅ Fair pay for educators – including ESPs and adult educators
📢 Families are showing up in a big way today at the WE CAN SETTLE THIS rally. Follow @mplsfamilies4public schools on Instagram to see photos! And check out a recent interview with MFPS member Shannon Gibney on Kare 11! |
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🎤 Parents, we want to hear from you!
MNUP is getting into formation to take back our tax dollars from Trump’s tax giveaways to the ultra-wealthy and ensure they’re invested in US. |
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We're sharing: Making meaning of the Minneapolis election |
Getting the final results of the mayoral race on Wednesday morning was devastating. Even more upsetting, perhaps, is learning just how much money was poured into re-electing Jacob Frey and his allies. According to an investigation by the Star Tribune, the top three PACs funding Mayor Frey and his aligned City Council candidates collectively raised around $1.6 million, mostly from big developers and companies like Lyft.
By contrast, pro-Fateh PAC Mpls for the Many raised around $350k, primarily from individual donors, local businesses, unions, and civic organizations.
These numbers highlight just how much of a challenge wealth poses to true democracy. They also paint a picture of a mayor who can be bought by the highest bidder, one who represents the interests of greedy corporate landlords and rideshare companies resentful of being forced to pay their contractors living wages.
There’s a reason these same entities weren’t pouring money into Omar Fateh’s campaign, and that’s because of his track record passing policies to benefit people over corporate interests. On top of the mountains of cash stacked against his campaign, Sen. Fateh was also faced with relentless racist and Islamophobic rhetoric, even from within his own party, and a state DFL committee refusing to honor the will of Minneapolis voters by revoking his endorsement. Despite all of that, we put up a strong fight — rallying together a coalition of supporters of multiple candidates to leverage second and third choice votes. TakeAction members organized a volunteer effort that knocked over 16,000 doors in support of Sen. Fateh’s campaign. And that fight isn’t over. TakeAction co-ED Amanda offered the following words: “The movement for new leadership in Minneapolis is undeniable – which is why corporate interests and the establishment were ready to spend big and sow fear to protect the status quo.
While we feel grief and disappointment about the outcome of this election, I’m proud of the leadership TakeAction members have shown not just this campaign cycle, but in organizing for the Minneapolis we deserve year-round. We will keep organizing alongside leaders like Sen. Fateh to build a city that protects and invests in all of us neighbors, no matter the kind of job we have, where we sleep at night, or how old we are.” |
We're chatting with: Babo, TCUP |
Image: Babo (left) with fellow TCUP member Drey painting signs |
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On a lighter note, we love to feature TakeAction members in our newsletter each month! Check out this Q&A with Babo, a leader with Twin Cities United Performers (TCUP) who is organizing to make Minnesota the best place to be a performer. Babo is one of many TCUP members who volunteered on their own time in the movement to elect Omar Fateh (check out their starring role in this excellent video alongside fellow TCUP members!).
1) What's your team and, if you're into astrology, your sign? I am a communications team leader for Twin Cities United Performers (TCUP), and I'm a Gemini sun, Taurus moon, Scorpio rising.
2) What's a topic you could talk about for hours on end OR one thing bringing you joy right now? Drag brings me so much joy, seeing local drag friends perform, seeing drag on tv, etc. Drag is like sugar to my brain because of the whimsy, silliness, and queer expression of it all.
3) What's a core memory of your time with TCUP so far? What did it feel like? I really enjoyed the HQ dates we had in January and February while we were writing/finalizing the TCUP advance and getting people to come in and pledge with us to use it. It was so fun meeting new people, and I was so excited about getting all those people organized to get better communication from venues to improve the quality of our work experience as performers. It felt like hope!
4) Who is a person you've met through organizing and why are they special to you? Robyn Jamner! They are special to me because we have a great rhythm to our video work and have collaborated on lots of charming videos to promote our campaign, but more importantly they are a wonderful and talented human that I'm lucky to call a friend.
5) How is what you're learning through organizing showing up in your day-to-day life? OR What's something you believed before that you think about differently now? I didn't think I could be a good leader in this space because of my neuroses, but I've learned to utilize my quirks to lead in a collaborative non-hierarchical way that seems to work for us thus far.
6) What does the world you're fighting for look like, feel like, in the day-to-day? How can people act with you right now to get closer to realizing that vision? Lots of goofing, lots of ease, warmth, and a strong sense of community care. People can get right with their higher power, love themselves unconditionally, and do what helps them feel alive to get closer to that - maybe, I don't know anything. |
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How are you doing? Reply and let us know. More soon, Charlie Bartlett (she/her)
TakeAction Member |
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Disclaimer: This is an independent expenditure paid for by TakeAction Minnesota, 2356 University Avenue W, #401A, St. Paul, MN 55114. It is not coordinated with or approved by any candidate nor is any candidate responsible for it. |
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TakeAction Minnesota
705 Raymond Ave Ste 100
Saint Paul, MN 55114
United States
phone: 651.641.6199 |
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