1. Do you navigate Minneapolis by bicycle, walking, or in a wheelchair? If so, for what purposes (commuting, recreation, errands) and how often? Please indicate how you commute to work.

My commute to work is by car, I am an Oral Historian consequently some of my interviews occur throughout the metro region and all over the state.  I do walk quite often.

2. Have you ever been transit-dependent or car-free? How do you understand the experiences of residents who don't have the option to drive, particularly children, seniors, and people with a disability?

I have been car-free, it is a challenge in Minneapolis because the transit system is not well connected. This presents challenge for low-income women and families. Creating stress, missed appointments, etc. 

3. Describe any past work or accomplishments that you have been involved with around the areas of bicycling or walking issues in your community.

I have worked with communities to develop "open streets" events in there neighborhoods. I have worked on projects to improve the sidewalks in parks, i.e., Powderhorn. I have worked with residents to improve safety at intersections, i.e., 38th and Stevens, that include temporary bumpouts.

4. Last year, the City adopted a Complete Streets policy to make streets safer for everyone. The policy states: “Minneapolis is committed to rebalancing its transportation network by clearly prioritizing walking, taking transit, and biking over driving motorized vehicles, in a manner that provides for acceptable levels of service for all modes." Will you support the Complete Streets policy? Please share how you prioritize walking, transit, bicycling, driving, and parking in your decisions.

I would prioritize cleaner, healthier forms of transportation over cars.

5. The 2017 Minneapolis capital budget includes $6.1 million for specific walking and biking infrastructure, which is 9 percent of the total capital streets-related funding. 2010 Metropolitan Council surveys estimated that 15.9 percent of all trips in Minneapolis were done by walking and 5.1 percent by bicycle. Would you support spending more, the same amount, or less on building and maintaining bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure?

I would work with advocacy groups, colleagues and others to determine the right budget amounts for improving our transit infrastructure, these concerns must be balanced with other budget priorities.

6. In 2015, the City adopted a protected bikeway plan that identifies 48 miles of protected bikeways to be prioritized for implementation. (Protected bikeways are a bicycle route where there is a physical barrier of some kind between bikes and cars, and have been shown to be safer and more comfortable than unprotected bike lanes.) Do you support implementing the protected bikeway plan even if it could mean losing parking or traffic lanes for cars in some corridors?

I would work with advocacy groups, colleagues and residents to determine the appropriate loss of parking and driving lanes to ensure bicycle safety and efficient traffic management

7. In 2016, we published a report that looked at those stopped by police while riding a bike, and why. We found that it was very likely that police were profiling young black men, and were sometimes using minor infractions such as riding without lights or riding on a sidewalk in a business district as a pretense for a stop. Starting in 2014, Minneapolis police significantly reduced traffic enforcement of all kinds. Traffic violations continue to play a significant role in many biking and walking crashes in Minneapolis. With these factors in mind, how would you, or would you not, change how police enforce traffic laws in Minneapolis?

I believe that traffic enforcement is important, however as an African American woman, I know that Black and Brown people are disproportionately negatively impacted, and some times, these interactions prove to be deadly, i.e., Philandro Castile, I will work diligently to find the right mix, and improve training around implicit bias, and racial profiling in the Minneapolis Police Department

8. Public Works is currently studying policy options for winter maintenance of both bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. What changes, if any, would you like to see related to winter maintenance of sidewalks and bikeways?

more education for residents and business owners, and more attention from PW, to address these issues

9. Since 2010, an average of about 250 bicyclists and about 250 pedestrians have been hit and injured in Minneapolis each year, and about 40 have been killed. A number of cities around the country are taking a “Vision Zero” approach which seeks to eliminate all traffic deaths by taking a proactive approach to improving safety and targeting resources to problem areas and proven safety improvements. Would you or would you not support Minneapolis setting and working toward goals to eliminate traffic fatalities?

Yes

10. What do you hope to accomplish to make Minneapolis and your ward better for bicycling and walking by the end of your term, if you are elected?

I hope to improve bike and pedestrian safety, along with installation of more bike facilities in ward 8. There are some significant pedestrian issues along Nicollet Ave, that I hope to resolve by the end of my term.

Ward Specific Question

What specific corridor and/or street in your Ward do you feel is most in need of improved pedestrian and/or bicycle infrastructure? What kinds of improvements would you envision, and why is this particular connection important?

38th Street