| QUESTIONS |
Jeff Anderson |
Tony Cuneo |
Becky Hall |
Tim Little |
| Sustainability / lessen fossil-fuel use? |
ANDERSON: One of our greatest assets is our environment. The natural beauty, Lake Superior, and the multitude of outdoor recreational activities are reasons that so many of us live here. As your next city councilor I will work to protect our environment.
I would like to commission a comprehensive study looking at the feasibility of increasing the renewable energy quotient in the city's energy portfolio. With such rapid advances in wind, solar and other emerging energy technologies, we need to be doing whatever we can to keep Duluth green.
I propose the creation of a Clean Technologies Commission to advance the creation, adoption, and use of clean technology in Duluth. I would encourage the next Mayor to create a 5-year Energy Efficiency Plan for all city departments, reduce energy consumption by City Departments, train city employees on green building standards, and increase the number of alternative fuel and high efficiency vehicles in the city fleet. I would also like the city to develop incentives for developers to employ green building standards. |
CUNEO: To speak specifically, mass transit is always a good first place to look. I am disappointed we don’t hear more about the possibility of a commuter train from lakeside into downtown. We also see other cities doing really creative things with their buses. Making them more comfortable, infusing local art and poetry, and encouraging current bus riders to bring a friend and introduce new people to the system.
To speak in broader terms we must take opportunities to think originally and independently. Whatever we can do to set ourselves apart is in the long run an investment in the future success of Duluth. We have a very unique opportunity to be a cutting edge example of a city that enhances its natural beauty by embracing new technologies and finding ways to integrate them into our local economy. |
HALL: (see her answer to question #2) |
LITTLE: Mr. Little did not respond to our survey. |
| Local food production? |
ANDERSON: We need to recognize the importance of programs like the Duluth Community Gardening Program and encourage the creation of other programs like it. As the past president and a current board member of Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, I have supported our "Fresh & Perishable Food Recovery Program" that rescues food from local restaurants, hospitals, universities and other organizations. This program keeps hundreds of thousands of pounds of local food out of the waste stream each year. |
CUNEO: This is an extremely interesting topic to me. My wife and I attempted our first vegetable garden this summer (we need practice), but it is something I would like to see flourish in Duluth. I have seen really great ideas being developed in other communities: schools teaching their students gardening skills and then using the food they grow in the lunch room, cities supporting urban gardening programs and implementing roof tops and window sills to produce great quantities of food. These are exciting and healthy ideas.
Supporting local food production is part of a greater ethic to support your local economy. My family shops local whenever possible and does at least 80% of its grocery shopping at the Whole foods coop (enjoying locally grown food whenever possible). This is an ethic I believe in and would look for ways that the city might also support our regional farmers and our local economy. |
HALL: To be honest, I don't have any immediate plans to address questions 1 and 2. I look forward to learning more about what we can do as a community to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels would support any efforts with that goal in mind as long as it's financially feasible for our city. The same goes for ideas on increasing food production in Duluth. |
LITTLE: |
| Strengthen Union movement? |
ANDERSON: I support the Duluth Central Labor Body Working Families Agenda. I support Majority Sign-Up and Project Labor Agreements. The Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body and the Duluth Professional Fire Fighters also endorse me in this campaign. |
CUNEO: My first priority must always be strengthening the health of the entire city. As a representative for all of Duluth’s people I must understand all sides of an issue. That said, I believe deeply in fighting for working people. I have stood with labor fighting for a better community and advocating for workers justice for as long as I have been in Duluth.
I will participate in and support coalitions such as those organized by the Citizens Federation and Unite HERE local 99 to bring to light the conditions under which many in our community struggle. I am running for city council because I believe that we can be an example in Duluth. We can show the world that business and labor, environment and industry can co-exist with creative, honest, and caring leadership. |
HALL: I believe the unions have sufficient strength in our community currently. |
LITTLE: |
| Call for U.S. Troops home from Iraq? |
ANDERSON: Yes. |
CUNEO: Yes, I would have supported the resolution recently passed in the Duluth city council on this issue. It is clear that this is an ill-conceived war that has been poorly managed. Most reports coming from Iraq (not issued by the White House) seem to tell us that the people of Iraq want us out. That is a clinching argument in my book. |
HALL: I don't believe this is an issue for a city councilor to address. A city councilor's job is to ensure that core services are provided for its citizens such as fixing the streets, providing police protection, etc. The issue on the war should be directed to our congress, they're the ones making the decisions on this one. |
LITTLE: |
| Support I.C.R.B. for Duluth Police? |
ANDERSON: I would support a review board with citizens, elected officials, and police officers represented. |
CUNEO: I have trust in the leadership of the Duluth Police Department and believe that the current leadership would do all that it can to make the process of justice transparent and open. Philosophically I believe citizen review boards are a good tool, but as I learn more about the subject I realize their might be great financial and legal hurdles. I would be interested in learning more about the topic and what compromises might be achievable. |
HALL: I would have to research this further before making a decision. |
LITTLE: |
| Instant Runoff Voting in Duluth? |
ANDERSON: Yes. |
CUNEO: Absolutely. I wish it would’ve been an option in this past primary election. Instant Runoff Voting allows voters to be more accurately represented and I believe in many cases IRV would open doors of participation to new candidates and points of view. |
HALL: Would have to research this one further as well. Would like to know more about all the ramifications of such a process before I decide. |
LITTLE: |
