New Velez email Feb 23

(ed note -- I am extremely happy to see that there was both a subject line and a live link to the website. Great improvements! And yes, this is the same text as the letter from Friday. I'm a little slow.)

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Moving Northeast Forward

This is a tough time for the City of Minneapolis. Continuing cuts to local government aid and a national recession mean dwindling resources for this great City.

At the same time, Northeast Minneapolis finds itself at a crossroad, when two long-time elected officials step down next January, Northeast will lose significant experience and influence in both the City Council and the Park Board.

Now is the time to be strategic about positioning Northeast Minneapolis so that we emerge from these difficult economic times not just intact, but even better than before. To achieve that, we need a City Council Member who can hit the ground running and ensure that our history of strong representation does not experience any lapse whatsoever during the upcoming transition of leadership.

It is because of this challenging situation that after much thought and consultation with my family, I am running for your endorsement as a Ward 1 City Council candidate.

For four years I have worked as the Policy Aide to 5th Ward City Council Member Don Samuels. During that time I have learned how City Hall works and how resources get allocated. I have formed strong relationships with the staff that keep this City functioning, and I have learned how to get things done.

The constituents of the 5th Ward will tell you that I am their toughest advocate. They will tell you that I take the challenges of their Ward seriously, and that I deliver solutions, which evolve from the relationships that I have with City staff. As a long-time resident of Northeast Minneapolis and the father of two school-aged children, I want to bring that hard-fought experience to our part of the City.

I love Northeast Minneapolis and as your council member I intend to make sure that Northeast is at the forefront of the Council’s agenda as we negotiate the upcoming budget and form an economic development plan. In Northeast Minneapolis we understand that public safety and living wage jobs are inextricably linked. I will work tirelessly to bring increased livability, economic opportunity and safety to this part of the City. I hope you will caucus for me on at 7:00 PM March 3rd at Northeast Middle School, 2955 Hayes St NE as I run for the DFL endorsement.

To learn more about my background and vision for the First Ward, please visit my website at www.josevelez.org. I hope to meet you in person very soon. Join me, and together, we can keep Northeast Minneapolis moving forward.

Best regards,

Jose Velez

P.S. Please contact me by return email or by phone at 612.708.1496 with your ideas to keep Northeast moving forward.



Prepared and paid for by Citizens for Velez. Chris Gams, Treasurer, www.josevelez.org.