The City of West St. Paul can become a more vital and energized place, and as it does very small, medium and large business will want to be a part of the city.

The expansion of arts and culture in the city, see this link, will greatly improve business and bring more prosperity and opportunity to West St. Paul, I believe.

Something the city can readily do is eliminate unnecessarily restrictive practices in signage, zoning, to offer businesses and entrepreneurs all options to develop and thrive, providing there is no threat to real public safety and neighboring business and residences. The city should not be operating as "taste police" regarding business marketing and presentation.

The city could encourage business to mentor and assist each other to fulfill needs such as building maintenance and regeneration; and offer "cudos" page(s) on the city website and in the city newsletter for participating business.

Making it possible to purchase various licenses online might be a big time saver that many businesses and residents may appreciate. There could be more expansion of the city website to:

• post contracts the city has with vendors and services, inclusive legal services, for transparency and to allow citizen to know what is being spent
• and inclusion of a blog that would make it easy for residents and businesses to offer feedback to city government

Residents and business might be attracted to WSP if the city provided free or low cost wireless Internet access, and some other Minnesota Cities have done.

Developing old commercial space, such as Signal Hills Shopping Center, in a new and unique way, that does not attempt to go backwards in time to "what was" and also employ creative thinking so that there is no attempt to compete with the many newer and larger shopping center in the Metro Area can be done if the citizens want to do that and are committed to that. More arts, culture and entertainment, and expansion of the farmer's markets, may be good additions. A combination of business/public/private and community involvement will have to be part of the solution. Of course, the rich history of Signal Hills as one of the first covered shopping centers in the US could be a delightful part of regeneration,.

UPDATE: Nick Ferraro, Pioneer Press Voter's Guide wrote comment that was defamatory about my character, it literally slings shit on my character, regarding a 1997 criminal case brought by the city, which was dismissed because the charges were false and had no substance, in the voter's guide. See my letter to him, click here. See my attorney's motion in this case: click here e-mail to Mr. Ferraro, October 20, 2010: Article Corrections, Addendum Mr. Ferraro: Regarding your article that states: "The case was thrown out of Dakota County District Court after Judge Duane Harvis concluded the city should have sought charges through a formal complaint." I have been advised to request that you state the source that you relied upon to make that statement, as you obviously did not rely on the court record or me for that statement. It could have been provided by some other 3rd party, other than yourself. That statement by you is an oxymoron in terms of the legal procedure that is involved, as I have pointed out extensively. The legal events and statements of Judge Harvis, that transpired were remarkable and unforgettable, as my legal counsel did not have to argue his motion, Judge Harvis said "He (my lawyer) is absolutely right" and then Judge Harvis went on to scold the city prosecutor for bringing an action that could not be supported by a valid long form complaint, and stating there had been a pattern of that, in front of a filled courtroom, filled with mainly other lawyers for various other cases. Thank you for your immediate response, ASAP, by e-mail. Mary Jane Duchene THE RESULT WAS THAT JUDGE HARVIS GAVE THE PROSECUTOR A PRESCRIBED NUMBER OF DAYS TO STATE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE THAT HAD COULD BE TRIED, BY AMENDING THE LONG FORM COMPLAINT, OR THE CASE WOULD BE DISMISSED. NO AMENDMENT BY THE PROSECUTOR WAS DONE, THE CASE WAS DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. THE CHARGES WERE FRIVOLOUS. I WAS CERTAINLY NOT CONVICTED. THIS WAS AN EXAMPLE OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT AND WASTE OF TAX PAYERS MONEY.

 

 

SEE: Cable TV Candidate Forums

SEE: Cable TV Candidate Forums

Thank you all for voting for me in 2010!

Quality Housing Program:

•   Mary Jane will work to ensure that available federal funding is obtained for required repairs low income and senior citizens in West St. Paul, so that these citizens do not continue to be in danger of loosing their homes, from abatements added on to property taxes.

•   Mary Jane believes that the community in West St. Paul want to be caring and supportive of the disabled, low income and senior property owner, and will want to develop their neighborhood programs to include meaningful development of volunteer programs to assist these disadvantaged citizens with mandated home repairs.

City Attorney:      Mary Jane will work for the appointment of a city attorney who resides and offices from West St. Paul, not South St. Paul; and who has no conflicts of interest that impede a fair and healthy implementation of the law and ethical actions, see:

Diabetics/Disabled Anonymous:      www.DDAWEB.org      www.MurderbyDiabetes.org      https://www.angelfire.com/mn3/abuseofpower/index.html

REAL ESTATE ISSUES:    * ALICE KRENGEL CASE

Diversity:      Mary Jane has the experience and skill to work for a community that welcomes the disabled, seniors, and members of ethnic minorities, and which enforces laws prohibiting the taking of unethical and illegal advantage of people in these protected classes;- and will work diligently to remedy the current status quo to achieve these equitable results.