Issues — Jamal Osman for Ward 6

Fighting for You!

Renters, Workers and Neighborhoods.

When I was first elected, I pledged to be a 'Champion' for the People of Ward 6 - and to advance the progressive DFL policies we believe in.

As your Council Member, I believe that to be a true 'progressive’ - we need to actually make 'progress’ on the issues facing Minneapolis.

I’m willing to work collaboratively with my colleagues - whether 'progressive' or 'moderate’ - and to support good ideas, even when I don’t attain all we want.

I want to continue to move solutions forward for you on the important issues facing us - and help build up a better city, where we all can enjoy a brighter future.

Below are more details on my positions - and the policies I will support if re-elected:

• Our city is expensive, and only getting more unaffordable for renters, workers, and families looking to purchase a home and build generational wealth. To make Minneapolis a city where everyone has a place to call ‘home,’ we must support individuals and families to meet their basic needs of stable rents and affordable housing. Let’s use every resource and ‘tool’ at our disposal and get started!

  I support policies that:

  1. Provide a fair 3% cap on annual rent increases and sets ‘vacancy controls’ to prevent property owners from raising rents beyond 3% when a unit becomes vacant.

  2. Exclude exemptions for subsidized affordable housing or newly built units.

  3. Provide a process for allowing landlords to raise rent to pay for substantial capital improvements or deferred maintenance.

  4. Expand investments in shelter, emergency and transitional housing for our unhoused neighbors - getting everyone inside and off the street as quickly as possible.

  5. Support investments in community-driven, public, and affordable housing options – including creating a “public developer” to build, acquire and operate ‘social housing’ throughout the city - it’s time the city get directly involved in building the permanently affordable housing our low and middle income residents need.

  6. Encourage pathways to homeownership for historically marginalized communities.

• Our city must have a strong workforce. We must continue to strengthen protections for workers, giving workers more of a voice in the city, and involving unions and worker organizations in efforts to improve training, set standards and ensure enforcement so we strengthen workers’ power in the city.

  I will support policies that:

  1. Provide a strong relationship with workers, local labor unions and worker advocacy organizations.

  2. Ensure that all workers earn a wage that is sufficient to cover their basic needs and maintain a decent standard of living.

  3. Advance robust worker protection and enforcement mechanisms, including strong labor standards - and the creation of a labor standards board, collective bargaining rights, and fair treatment for workers in industries such as hospitality, retail and “gig” economy.

  4. Champion initiatives to combat workplace discrimination and harassment, promoting a safe and inclusive work environment for all employees.

  5. Strengthen workplace safety regulations and enforcement to protect workers from hazardous conditions and ensure their well-being on the job.

• Our city will continue to grow – and it must be a welcoming one. Supporting and including immigrants brings economic growth, cultural diversity and social opportunities. By embracing immigrants, we all benefit – not only from their skills but from their perspectives and entrepreneurial spirit – which in turn drives neighborhood economies.

  I will support policies that:

  1. Affirm the city's commitment to diversity, equal rights, and non-discrimination.

  2. Collaborate with local immigrant-serving organizations, non-profits, and advocacy groups to develop inclusive policies, identify community needs, and provide essential services that support immigrant communities.

  3. Provide for robust protections for immigrants from discrimination, harassment, and exploitation - both in the workplace and throughout the city.

  4. Facilitate access to quality education and vocational training for immigrants and equips them with the skills needed to succeed in the job market and open economic opportunities.

  5. Establish partnerships and programs that actively engage immigrant communities and encourage their participation in civic activities - such as community forums, cultural events, and neighborhood associations.

• Our city is suffering through an on-going drug and mental health crisis – and our County and State, as well as other healthcare providers, must continue to partner with Minneapolis to ensure those who need healthcare have access, know their options and actually get treatment and help.

  The city must find ways to expand access to mental health services, support culturally competent treatment facilities and programs, implement better data collection processes, and respect cultural healing practices.

  I will support policies that:

  1. Recruit and train neighborhood healthcare providers who are culturally competent and able to understand and address the specific healthcare needs of diverse populations – which fosters trust and improves healthcare outcomes.

  2. Establish or expands community health clinics for every neighborhood - starting in underserved neighborhoods – to increase access to primary healthcare services, preventive care, and health education.

  3. Provide telehealth and mobile healthcare units to neighborhoods with limited access to healthcare facilities - bringing medical services directly to residents, particularly those who may face transportation, mobility or communication barriers.

  4. Conduct targeted health education and outreach programs in neighborhoods to raise awareness about available healthcare services, preventive measures and healthy lifestyle choices.

  5. Collaborate with neighborhood organizations, local community advocates, faith-based groups and nonprofits to deliver healthcare services and disseminate health information to enhance outreach efforts and strengthen community engagement.

  6. Ensure language access services, such as interpreters or bilingual healthcare staff – to enable effective communication and understanding between healthcare providers and residents with limited English proficiency.

• In our city, it is essential that everyone feels safe and secure - free from the threat of crime or unequal justice. As someone who deeply understands the injustices that occur, I recognize the critical need to address systemic issues that contribute to the overrepresentation of Black individuals in the criminal justice system. Building trust and fostering accountability through robust police oversight is so important to public safety - and we must continue to support and improve accountability on all fronts.

  Minneapolis is grappling with a troubling surge in gun violence and other crimes - underscoring the urgency to implement proven and effective prevention strategies. By strengthening oversight mechanisms and hiring standards; diversifying our responder ranks and types of public safety responder; listening to marginalized communities and neighborhood advocates; and, so much more – we can ensure our public safety response capabilities align with the realities we face today.

  I will support policies that:

  1. Enhance and support the role of the Community Commission on Police Oversight – ensuring they have the resources they need to fully investigate and the platform to communicate their findings.

  2. Implement measures to enhance transparency in police and all public safety operations. This includes publicly sharing policies, procedures, and use-of-force guidelines - making disciplinary actions and outcomes of misconduct investigations available to the public, while respecting privacy rights.

  3. Foster meaningful engagement between public safety agencies and neighborhoods – and encourages regular community meetings, listening sessions, and forums to facilitate open public safety dialogue.

  4. Prioritize comprehensive and ongoing training for police officers and all public safety officials and members – including de-escalation techniques, cultural sensitivity, implicit bias, community policing strategies, and crisis intervention. And we must continually collaborate with academic institutions and experts to develop evidence-based training programs.

  5. Actively recruit and hire officers from diverse backgrounds to ensure law enforcement agencies represent the communities they serve. Providing cultural competency training to all officers to foster understanding and promote fair and unbiased policing.

  6. Forge partnerships with external organizations - such as civil rights groups, academic institutions, and legal experts - to conduct independent audits and evaluations of police and public safety practices. Seeking external expertise to constantly guide policy development and implementation.

  7. Collaborate with mental health professionals and social service agencies to develop alternative crisis response models. These models would divert non-violent incidents away from law enforcement, ensuring individuals receive appropriate support and reducing the potential for unnecessary use of force.

  8. Promote the use of restorative justice practices to address low-level offenses and builds trust between law enforcement and neighborhoods. This includes community-based alternatives to traditional punitive measures.

  9. Establish robust data collection and analysis systems to identify patterns of misconduct, bias, or disproportionate enforcement. Using this data, we can better inform policy changes, allocate resources effectively, and enhance transparency.

• Despite all of the challenges our city faces, we have witnessed remarkable resilience and unwavering strength – all thanks to the vibrant fabric of our neighborhoods. It is so important that we place neighborhoods at the forefront of our outreach efforts, prioritizing policies that guarantee fair and equal access to crucial city and county services. We must nurture flourishing neighborhoods and their small businesses – by doing so we can ensure an inclusive city where every resident has the chance to thrive and make valuable contributions to our shared prosperity.

  I will support policies that:

  1. Allocate additional resources to neighborhood associations - to empower them in addressing local needs. This can include funding for social housing, community development initiatives, neighborhood improvement projects, and community-building activities.

  2. Increase funding for neighborhood centers, afterschool programs, and educational resources to support the development and success of young people in our city.

  3. Provide financial incentives, training programs and resources to support the growth and success of small businesses in local neighborhoods - fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem that encourages residents to start their own businesses, creating job opportunities and economic stability.

  4. Invest in public transportation systems, sidewalks, parks and other infrastructure projects to improve connectivity and create vibrant public spaces within neighborhoods - ensuring equitable distribution of transportation resources and prioritizing sustainable and accessible modes of transportation.

  5. Develop strategies to repurpose vacant or underutilized properties, such as through community land trusts, affordable or social housing initiatives or mixed-use developments that meet the needs of the neighborhood - encouraging community-driven development projects that prioritize local input and benefit the community.

  6. Invest in cultural institutions, arts programs, and recreational facilities within neighborhoods to enhance quality of life - promoting public art projects, community festivals, and recreational activities that bring residents together and celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of their neighborhood.