When we vote -- whether it's for local, state or national elections -- the question we ask ourselves is: Which candidate is going to make life better for my family and me? Whether we're thinking about streets, water quality, taxes, police protection or other critical issues, that's really what we're asking.
When voters in eastern Duluth's 1st District are at their polling places on Nov. 8, I hope they feel my efforts as their City Council representative have indeed made life in Duluth better for them and their families.
When campaigning for election four years ago, I said I was committed to playgrounds and parks, streets, fiscal responsibility, public safety and neighborhood advocacy. Even the challenges we faced in 2008 -- notably a multimillion-dollar deficit and a badly sputtering economy -- did not temper my resolve. Or the results.
In 2009, Morley Heights residents were exploring upgrades to their playground equipment and asked for my input. The result was the creation of a Neighborhood Playground Equipment Restoration Program, which matched up to $15,000 of city money to help pay for playground equipment. To date, playgrounds in Morgan Park and Morley Park and at Playfront have benefited from this program, with Lester Park not far behind. And our city's most popular park -- the Lakewalk -- has now been extended eastward to 60th Avenue East.
Regarding streets, I supported Mayor Don Ness' streets initiative and objected to Municipal State Aid funds from St. Paul being used for new skywalk construction downtown. Using state-aid funds on anything but our streets did not fit with the intended use of those funds. Since then, parts of Gladstone, Cooke and Glenwood, and all of Ivanhoe, have been fully reconstructed, in addition to several mill-and-overlay and reclamation projects. The rest of Glenwood, Livingston and Oxford will be reconstructed starting this coming year.
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When some trees were removed on Cooke with the elimination of boulevards, extra funds were secured to replace trees on private property to restore the neighborhood's beautiful tree canopy. I attended neighborhood construction update meetings to advocate for interests of 1st District residents and provide updates on construction activities.
Two City Council actions I have found most gratifying, because so many citizens have expressed how much it means to their families' health and safety, were the social-host ordinance and the ban on synthetic marijuana, both of which I initiated.
The social-host ordinance was created to reinforce that disruptive, underage drinking parties would not be tolerated in our neighborhoods. To date, several hundred social-host citations have been issued and party activity has been greatly quelled in our traditional family neighborhoods.
When the explosive scourge of synthetic marijuana arrived in Duluth, we were the first city in the state of Minnesota to ban the sale of these dangerous, unregulated drugs. The Duluth ban was quickly followed by our neighboring cities and created momentum toward a statewide ban that just went into effect earlier this year.
During the next four years, I'll continue working hard to make Duluth better. I'll continue to vote against every property tax increase, utility rate increase and "street light fee," as I have during my entire term on the council. Having the city simply take more money from you is not the answer.
I never forget that I work for you. And your family. I'd be honored to continue doing so for the next four years, and I'd appreciate your vote on Nov. 8.
Todd Fedora is the incumbent candidate for the Duluth City Council in the 1st District.
