Candidates talk business, police in debate

The six DFL candidates for mayor met Tuesday for what likely will be the final debate before the party's endorsing convention, largely reiterating their platforms and reviewing past accomplishments.

Two interesting moments arose during the hour-long forum on Minnesota Public Radio, however, on the topics of economic development and the city's handling of police misconduct.

Responding to a question about how to make the city more "business friendly," former Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Andrew said it would require different approaches for large and small businesses.

For small businesses, Andrew believes the city needs to eliminate red tape and improve its regulatory structure. Regarding larger businesses downtown, Andrew said they would be "a partner" of the city.

"We are going to enlist their help and support in developing and devising strategies to grow jobs in our community," Andrew said. "That is a persuadable group of people to invest in our community, specifically in North Minneapolis...We are going to be partnering with business, even if it has to involve some level of support such as providing job training or some other benefit to the company, to get somebody to locate there."

Council Member Gary Schiff, who is calling for a rewrite of the regulatory code, objected to Andrew's approach to downtown businesses.

"I have a different vision than Mark Andrew," Schiff said. "I don't believe it's the city's role to help big business expand. It's why I opposed the Vikings stadium subsidy so strongly. I think our role is to help small businesses prosper."

I think it's 'both and,'" Cherryhomes said. "I think 'both and' are what will make our city strong. Both a strong vibrant business community downtown and strong small businesses in our neighborhood."

Another notable moment occurred during a discussion of police response to the May shooting of Terrance Franklin.

"It's a deplorable situation that we have not only with the Franklin case but many other cases past in our city," Andrew said, adding that he believes Janee Harteau was a good selection for police chief. "And it is one of the vexing challenges that we have had and that the mayor is going to have to assume responsibility for."

Andrew said the payouts for lawsuits surrounding police activity are "not excusable" and he is interested in reinstituting the Civilian Review Authority. That could involve giving them subpoena power and eliminating the chief of police's tie-breaking vote.

Cherryhomes also said she would like to reinstate the CRA, as well as give them subpoena power and eliminate the police chief tie-breaking vote.