Saint Paul’s renter population makes up half of all residents, and a majority of households of color are renters. Yet, renters are at a disadvantage when it comes to civic engagement. Nowhere is this more clear than in the board makeups of Saint Paul’s 17 district councils. In addition to the Planning Commission, district councils were created to allow local residents to weigh in on local land use decisions. Their breadth of focus has expanded in recent years, as the lines have blurred between community organizations, advocacy groups, and land use. Historically, district councils have been dominated by white homeowners, and many district councils today still reflect that legacy. One might even go as far as to suggest that some of the 17 district councils are outright hostile to renter participation, even if renters want to participate.
“Want to participate” is the key phrase here. Local governmental education is paltry in Saint Paul. A renter myself, I wasn’t even aware that district councils existed until long after I graduated from college. So if renters are even aware that district councils exist, they still need to have the time, resources, and training to serve on a board. None of the boards compensate their members for participating either, which further accentuates the already present inequities in who is able to participate.
In attempting to address this situation on the East Side, we’ve partnered with the Greater East Side District 2 Community Council to launch a “Renter Advisory Committee”. Through our partnership with D2’s executive director Lisa Theis, and Renter and Business Organizer David Ackos, we’ve been working to create a safe space for renters in District 2 to learn about their local district council. Two defining features of D2’s Renter Advisory Committee have been compensating attendees from District 2 and bringing in a number of renter advocates from HOME Line to do renters’ rights training with the renters. Spearheaded by David beginning in 2021, we’ve already seen successes with a number of renters joining the D2 board!
The next D2 Renter Advisory Committee meeting is on May 31st at the Hayden Heights Library from 6:30-7:30.
We hope more district councils are inspired to launch their own versions of a Renter Advisory Committee soon.
From my office in the basement of the East Side Freedom Library,
Ben Werner