Results

Peter played a key role in the groundbreaking 2023 transportation package, which provided major investments in transit, walking, and biking infrastructure. Recognizing that transportation is the #1 source of climate pollution in Minnesota, this legislation included a dedicated ¾ cent sales tax in the metro area to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and curb greenhouse gas emissions. This package represents a critical step toward addressing the climate crisis by prioritizing sustainable transportation options beyond just vehicle electrification.

Peter worked to ensure the passage of the 100% Clean Energy bill, putting Minnesota on track to achieve a carbon-free electricity system by 2040. This landmark law positions the state as a national leader in clean energy innovation and climate action.

Peter supported the successful passage of the cumulative impacts bill, protecting communities already overburdened by pollution and ensuring that environmental justice is a priority in environmental decision-making.

Peter led the People, Not Polluters campaign, which is focused on ensuring Minnesota’s state agencies prioritize people over polluting industries. The campaign calls for greater transparency and accountability, pushing for policies that protect communities from environmental harm and prevent industry influence from undermining public health and climate action.

Peter played a central role in securing the location of the Cedar Riverside light rail stop, ensuring it serves the needs of the Cedar Riverside community in addition to the university. This decision prioritized accessibility for one of Minneapolis’ most diverse neighborhoods, reinforcing public transit as a tool for equity and connection.

Workers should not be forced to choose between their between their paychecks and their health. We used this argument and others to pass Paid Sick Leave in Minneapolis. We must push hard for the State of Minnesota to protect workers and raise wages statewide.

The first Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act has been in effect since 1975, but it did not include a ban on smoking in bars & restaurants. For decades, servers were forced to choose between their paychecks and their health. To protect public health, the cities of Bloomington and Minneapolis led the way by passing citywide bans. The key votes to avoid watering down the Minneapolis ban passed the City Council by 7-6 margins. This was a key milestone. Saint Paul followed our lead and this built pressure and momentum for the statewide smoking ban that passed three years later. Peter will keep pushing for pro-worker and pro-public health legislation at the Capitol.

Peter served as lead negotiator for the City of Minneapolis for over two years to develop the Central Corridor LRT Memorandum of Understanding, an elaborate agreement between the Metropolitan Council, University of Minnesota, Hennepin County, and the City of Minneapolis that allowed the University to drop its lawsuit and keep the Green Line moving forward. His work included pushing successfully for an alternative design that would serve both the University and the neighborhood and small businesses along Cedar Avenue.

Peter understands the importance of preserving our history, including our architectural history. Peter and his wife Mandy have been (slowly) restoring their 1889 home, with a goal of efficiency and sustainability. Peter believes that we can accommodate sustainable growth and respect our history at the same time. In City Hall, Peter helped pass the law to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or “granny flats” and he worked with others to help save the former Sears building on Lake Street from demolition and repurpose it into the Midtown Exchange, which has helped revitalize the Lake & Chicago and support immigrant business in the Midtown Global Market.

We have an obligation to pass on to future generations a City as great as we inherited. Part of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live is our fantastic park system. But years of underinvestment, exacerbated by huge funding cuts from Governor Pawlenty, have taken a toll. To address our infrastructure debt in Parks & Streets, and to ensure every child has access to neighborhood parks as great as Peter had as a kid growing up in Minneapolis, we needed a real long-term plan with long term funding. Unfortunately some were willing to leave street repair out of the plan entirely or to make promises to parks without real ongoing funding. As Policy Director at the City, Peter insisted on real funding and built a coalition to support it. That’s how we got a real 20 Year Park & Streets Investment Plan, a generational commitment that will provide far more investment in parks and streets than any point since the 1960s. After decades of unproductive discord between the City Council and the Park Board, the plan was approved by both the City and the Park Board in 2016. But the future of our Minneapolis Parks requires both local funding for neighborhood parks and state funding for regional parks like the Mississippi and the Chain of Lakes, which attract a huge number of visitors from far beyond city borders — and produce lots of wear and tear. At the Capitol, Peter will push for Minneapolis Parks to get their fair share of state funding for these vital regional assets.

Peter developed legislation to establish a value capture district, secured passage at State Legislature, then secured approval to use the revenue to buy Kmart property at Nicollet & Lake.

Peter was one of seven members of the Ethics Task Force, a committee of citizens and city staff, which researched best practices in ethics law around the country in order to develop the first comprehensive city code of ethics with tough new rules on conflicts of interest and the teeth to enforce those rules, including the establishment of an Ethical Practices Board. After the proposed new code of ethics was drafted, Peter was the point person to get it approved by the City Council. Later, Peter was the point person to develop an overhaul of the City’s Internal Audit ordinance, and expanded the audit department.