Public Safety & Policing
In my community, policing is one of residents’ main concerns. People in neighborhoods I represent want to feel safe in their community. Yet there is also a very real understanding that police are sometimes a source of harm, as the murder of George Floyd made all too clear. In my conversations with residents, I hear that people want the police to be better community partners and to treat them with respect regardless of the color of their skin. The people of color in my district feel as if their children are treated like targets or threats rather than kids to be protected.
I believe in using our resources to investing in our community to make us safe by ensuring stable housing, accessible healthcare, and an excellent public education for everyone. We must divest away from systems of violence, racism, and white supremacy to reach a more just society. I know that our communities can be kept safe without resorting to lethal force and guns. We must use our resources to invest in social services, public education, living wage jobs, and other anti-poverty measures that reduce crime. We can support those struggling with mental health issues and addiction rather than harming them. And even in potentially threatening confrontations, we can have a system of protection that focuses on de-escalation rather than relying on violence. This is what will lead to better public safety and community wellness.
I believe in using our resources to investing in our community to make us safe by ensuring stable housing, accessible healthcare, and an excellent public education for everyone. We must divest away from systems of violence, racism, and white supremacy to reach a more just society. I know that our communities can be kept safe without resorting to lethal force and guns. We must use our resources to invest in social services, public education, living wage jobs, and other anti-poverty measures that reduce crime. We can support those struggling with mental health issues and addiction rather than harming them. And even in potentially threatening confrontations, we can have a system of protection that focuses on de-escalation rather than relying on violence. This is what will lead to better public safety and community wellness.
Affordable Housing
Housing is a human right. Without safe and stable housing, it is hard for families to maintain their physical and mental health, jobs, and an education. We're facing a housing crisis in Minneapolis, which often manifests itself in the displacement of Black women & their families, along with LGBTQ+ youth. This year, I was on the Housing Conference Committee that worked to provide an orderly off ramp to the eviction moratorium. I hosted events where people could access the RentHelp assistance provided by the state. Working together, we can implement stronger eviction-prevention programs and increase legal representation so that more people can stay in their homes. In my second term I will continue to advocate for the state to be a good partner in providing safe, dignified, and affordable housing for everyone from seniors, to low-income families, to working professionals. My focus is on building and maintaining public housing, mixed income neighborhoods and increasing pathways to home ownership especially for BIPOC communities. Homelessness is a policy choice. I am committed to making sure that there are enough resources to address workforce development so that people can be trained to secure a job, increase the minimum wage to a living wage so that people can afford a place to live, as well as provide greater access and coverage for mental health care and addiction recovery so that people can keep and maintain their homes. |
Equitable Policy Making
I am running to build the boldest, most inclusive district in Minnesota. I bring a depth of understanding and passionate commitment to inclusivity and breaking the systemic barriers of race, gender and poverty. To break these systemic barriers, we must address urgent needs in housing, health, and the environment. It is clear that the dominant narratives maintain systems that harm and kill the very people who are excluded from these systems.
As a State Representative, I am using my position to hold corporations that seek to harm our environment accountable. We know that the people and institutions that hold the most power today are not paying their fair share. Meanwhile, people looking to work a living wage job, give their kids a good education, and desire to live in a healthy environment are suffering. I have fought for and will continue to advance legislation that is created by centering the needs of residents, particularly Black, Indigenous, and people of color, queer people, women/trans/femme/non-binary people, people with disabilities, seniors, and our youth.
I will also champion issues to ensure that women of color are protected in our society. I support the recently created office for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives and the new task force on Missing and Murdered Black Women that is seeking more data and resources to protect these women and family members from harm. This session, I am carrying the CROWN Act to ensure that women and men of color can wear their traditional and natural hairstyles in the workplace and schools. These laws are crucial first steps to building a more inclusive society.
Our government and institutions have institutionalized inequality and inequity. Just as the government consciously or implicitly excluded people, the government can actively include people in its policies. This upcoming election will define the next generation and determine if we will go back to the old normal or create a new path that supports our brothers and sisters no matter their status and focuses on creating healthy communities. I will be fighting for a more just and inclusive society.
As a State Representative, I am using my position to hold corporations that seek to harm our environment accountable. We know that the people and institutions that hold the most power today are not paying their fair share. Meanwhile, people looking to work a living wage job, give their kids a good education, and desire to live in a healthy environment are suffering. I have fought for and will continue to advance legislation that is created by centering the needs of residents, particularly Black, Indigenous, and people of color, queer people, women/trans/femme/non-binary people, people with disabilities, seniors, and our youth.
I will also champion issues to ensure that women of color are protected in our society. I support the recently created office for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives and the new task force on Missing and Murdered Black Women that is seeking more data and resources to protect these women and family members from harm. This session, I am carrying the CROWN Act to ensure that women and men of color can wear their traditional and natural hairstyles in the workplace and schools. These laws are crucial first steps to building a more inclusive society.
Our government and institutions have institutionalized inequality and inequity. Just as the government consciously or implicitly excluded people, the government can actively include people in its policies. This upcoming election will define the next generation and determine if we will go back to the old normal or create a new path that supports our brothers and sisters no matter their status and focuses on creating healthy communities. I will be fighting for a more just and inclusive society.
Reliable Public Transit
Public transportation must be reliable and accessible to get people to where they live, work, and play. I take some kind of public transit almost every day: bus, light rail, rideshares, scooters, and also walk to get around our district and beyond.
The system works best from 9-5 on weekdays, but on evenings and weekends, it’s difficult to find a safe and reliable way back home or to work. Funding for public transit is currently tied to motor vehicle sales taxes. To create a safe and reliable system we need dedicated funding independent from motor vehicles. I also want to create more accessible and frequent routes and explore expanding programs for reduced or no-cost fares. As we move to an electric fleet of buses and light rail, I will advocate to prioritize lines that run through neighborhoods with major transportation hubs, main thoroughfares, and communities that have the highest rates of respiratory illnesses and experience other effects of air pollution. I will promote an equitable public transportation that centers communities of color that were decimated by previous highway developments. I will also promote policies that will allow us to creatively redesign spaces, especially in the cities, away from car dominance. If people find it safer and faster to walk, bike, or take public transport, it will be much easier to reduce our dependence on cars. |
Climate Justice
Climate change is real. I will work to ensure that Minnesota moves towards 100% renewable energy and meets and maintains high standards to conserve our environmental assets, including the Mississippi River. I will be a voice to ensure that environmental protection changes are made in partnership with low-income communities of color. Such communities have traditionally borne the brunt of the impact of environmental waste. Any solutions our legislature develops must ensure that these communities have a voice and that their needs are met.
A healthy community is one where people are eating food that nourishes them, have clean water and air, and live in environments that do not make them sick. Often environmental issues are seen as a luxury even for communities that have been most affected by pollution. It can be hard to care about the climate crisis if you are losing your home, don't have a job, or are in the hospital. During a global pandemic people are rightly focused on these necessities. Yet, these issues intersect with climate justice. My goal for our district is to create healthy and sustainable environmentally safe buildings.
A healthy community is one where people are eating food that nourishes them, have clean water and air, and live in environments that do not make them sick. Often environmental issues are seen as a luxury even for communities that have been most affected by pollution. It can be hard to care about the climate crisis if you are losing your home, don't have a job, or are in the hospital. During a global pandemic people are rightly focused on these necessities. Yet, these issues intersect with climate justice. My goal for our district is to create healthy and sustainable environmentally safe buildings.
Closing the Achievement Gap
esther's statement on recommitting to public schools
As Summer Begins, Let’s Recommit To Quality Education Through Public Schools
By: Esther Agbaje
DFL Candidate for Minnesota House, District 59B
The 2020 school year ended in a way none of us would have predicted. Students and teachers attending class via Zoom and parents learning how to homeschool their children. The pandemic laid bare the necessities for access to resources like: high speed internet, up to date computers and tablets, and a quiet room to study. Many students in my district do not have these necessities to effectively participate in distance learning because of Minnesota’s lingering disparity issues.
Even with the challenges of distance learning, there have been bright spots that deserve attention. For example, some special education students have thrived with more dedicated attention from teachers helping to bridge some of the rampant disparities these students typically encounter.
My educational foundation is in public schools. Because of my dad’s job I lived in different parts of the country, and I was exposed to different learning styles and passionate teachers within the public school system. I recognize that I was lucky to have these types of programs and opportunities, and that makes me even more committed to fighting for equity in our education system.
The unfortunate truth of Minnesota schools is that for its high marks and renowned quality, we continually fail to educate and prepare our black, brown, indigenous, or poor children for success because of institutionalized racism. As distance learning will likely become a norm, it, along with other school district policies, must promote equity and prioritize students who are underserved or under resourced. I believe that in order to create the just society we deserve, our education system must be supported in a way that promotes success in public schools. This means that our federal and state dollars are used to provide resources, teachers, and support staff to those schools most in need.
I will pursue policies that support our teachers and close the achievement gap. I will work with and listen to students, parents, public school teachers, administrators and support staff in our community and then fight for our shared interests. This includes better pay for teachers and workers in the schools, more supplies for students from books to technology, recruitment and retention of more teachers of color, and access to mental health resources. I will also advocate for smaller class sizes where teachers and students can build relationships to provide the adequate attention needed to foster success.
Our state dollars must fund special education programs for our students who have different learning needs, and English language learner programs to create an inclusive space for our immigrant and refugee populations. We can no longer have unfunded mandates in our public education system.
Supporting the education needs of our students and their families is about more than just our approach to the formal public school system. For example housing stability has a direct impact on quality education outcomes. I applaud the Minneapolis Public Schools pilot program that is offering rental assistance to insecure families so parents can focus their energy on school and less on where they will sleep at night. This and other wraparound services should be scaled to create the inclusive community stemming from our schools.
As your next legislator, I will fight to ensure that public dollars are used for public schools in a way that advances the needs of black students, students of color, and poor students to keep the promise of public education as the foundation necessary for students to have the skills for a living wage paying job and become leaders in their communities. The urgency to build the society we deserve could not be greater than it is now. And I am committed to ensuring that future includes making the gift of public education available to every student regardless of zip code, income, or family background.
Even with the challenges of distance learning, there have been bright spots that deserve attention. For example, some special education students have thrived with more dedicated attention from teachers helping to bridge some of the rampant disparities these students typically encounter.
My educational foundation is in public schools. Because of my dad’s job I lived in different parts of the country, and I was exposed to different learning styles and passionate teachers within the public school system. I recognize that I was lucky to have these types of programs and opportunities, and that makes me even more committed to fighting for equity in our education system.
The unfortunate truth of Minnesota schools is that for its high marks and renowned quality, we continually fail to educate and prepare our black, brown, indigenous, or poor children for success because of institutionalized racism. As distance learning will likely become a norm, it, along with other school district policies, must promote equity and prioritize students who are underserved or under resourced. I believe that in order to create the just society we deserve, our education system must be supported in a way that promotes success in public schools. This means that our federal and state dollars are used to provide resources, teachers, and support staff to those schools most in need.
I will pursue policies that support our teachers and close the achievement gap. I will work with and listen to students, parents, public school teachers, administrators and support staff in our community and then fight for our shared interests. This includes better pay for teachers and workers in the schools, more supplies for students from books to technology, recruitment and retention of more teachers of color, and access to mental health resources. I will also advocate for smaller class sizes where teachers and students can build relationships to provide the adequate attention needed to foster success.
Our state dollars must fund special education programs for our students who have different learning needs, and English language learner programs to create an inclusive space for our immigrant and refugee populations. We can no longer have unfunded mandates in our public education system.
Supporting the education needs of our students and their families is about more than just our approach to the formal public school system. For example housing stability has a direct impact on quality education outcomes. I applaud the Minneapolis Public Schools pilot program that is offering rental assistance to insecure families so parents can focus their energy on school and less on where they will sleep at night. This and other wraparound services should be scaled to create the inclusive community stemming from our schools.
As your next legislator, I will fight to ensure that public dollars are used for public schools in a way that advances the needs of black students, students of color, and poor students to keep the promise of public education as the foundation necessary for students to have the skills for a living wage paying job and become leaders in their communities. The urgency to build the society we deserve could not be greater than it is now. And I am committed to ensuring that future includes making the gift of public education available to every student regardless of zip code, income, or family background.
Minnesota has one of the greatest education disparities in the country. I will work to fix this by partnering with those who have been at the forefront of this issue to close the gap between the achievement of white students and students of color. I will work toward providing equal resources, recruiting diverse teachers, and supporting parents so they can be actively engaged in their childrens’ education.
Supporting families’ needs is beneficial to students fully participating in school. For example, students experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity cannot achieve their full potential. Minneapolis Public Schools has created a program to offer rental assistance and other support to parents. I want to help build strong partnerships to determine if a program like this could work across the state. |
Accessible and Affordable Healthcare
A GoFundMe page cannot be a healthcare plan. Affordable health care is inaccessible for many individuals, families, and businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the inequities of a system that primarily ties healthcare coverage to an employer. The costs are astronomically high and sometimes the services are few or arbitrarily denied. I want to see Minnesota move towards a Medicare4All style system to provide health coverage to everyone.
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Besides providing general health care, health insurance plans must also include mental health and dental health needs and addiction treatment. I believe in protecting a woman's right to choose and having access to quality reproductive healthcare, which includes access to contraception, STD testing, pap smears, and abortion. I'm glad to be a part of the Reproductive Justice Caucus to advance these efforts. The purpose of healthcare is about the complete wellness of a person, and I will advocate for fighting for universal coverage for all Minnesotans.
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Local Business Development
I am a champion of efforts to expand access to capital for local minority-owned businesses and small-to-medium sized businesses. Funding to assist businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and those needing to rebuild after the June 2020 protests is crucial to building back our community to be even stronger and more resilient. This funding should also be available for capital investment in our community businesses and organizations. I want more of our local business owners to have the resources needed to grow and sustain their businesses and contribute to the development of our community.
When our businesses thrive, they are better able to invest in our community. I also want to ensure that workers receive a livable wage. For example, in Minneapolis we know that a livable wage is upwards of $20/hr to just pay the rent. I am working along with local partners and legislative colleagues towards implementing higher wages and worker protections across the state that allow us to live our lives and afford our housing, health care, and other necessities. |
Join Esther's campaign for Inclusion and Justice
Esther believes that together we can create a state that lives out our bold and progressive values. Be a part of this vision by volunteering, spreading the word on social media, sharing the issues facing your community, attending an event, or following along online.e
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