District 10 Como Community Council

Nine seats up on D. 10 council board

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Here’s your chance to have a bigger voice in the decisions that affect your neighborhood: Nine seats are up for election in April to the District 10 Como Community Council board. Most do not have an incumbent running, so you don’t even have to worry about trying to throw someone out.
Any community member in District 10, age 16 or older, is eligible to run. The board is volunteers like you, elected by neighbors like you. Simple truth: We do better as a community when the board reflects the full strength of Como: renters, homeowners, local institutions, businesses, and neighbors of all kinds – regardless of color, age, ethnicity, income, gender, faith, or how deep your roots are in the neighborhood or in Saint Paul. To put it another way, we welcome a diversity of opinions, experiences, and backgrounds.
As spelled out in rules that guide the community council, board seats up for election this year are:
• Chair
• Secretary
• One representative each from the neighborhood’s four sub-districts
• Three representatives from the neighborhood at-large
These positions serve two-year terms, through April 2023. To get on the ballot, apply now at www.district10comopark.org/candidate.html. That’s where you can also learn more about the roles and opportunities of board members. The filing deadline is Sunday April 4. The election is April 20.

Vote in the District 10 Elections
Request your ballot now to vote in the April board elections for the Como Community Council. Once again this year, District 10 community members can vote from home: You can vote online, or by returning a paper ballot through the mail. (Because of restrictions on public gatherings, we still can’t schedule in-person voting.)
To request a ballot: Fill out the registration form at www.district10comopark.org/ballot.html. We’ll send ballots beginning Friday,April 9.
• If you intend to vote online, we need your request by Tuesday, April 20 at 5 p.m.
• If you want a paper ballot, we need your request by Wednesday, April 14.
Who is eligible to vote: Renters, homeowners, and other residents of District 10 who are at least 16 years old can vote. So can representatives from business, nonprofits, or other organizations with a physical presence in District 10. If you have questions, email: district10@district10comopark.org.

Free Food Fridays continue
The Como Community Council and Sanneh Foundation will continue distributing free food boxes every Friday through the end of April. The food is available to Ramsey Country residents dealing with financial hardships because of Covid-19.
Food will be distributed from 1:30-3:30 p.m. (or until supplies run out). The location is the north parking lot of Niem Phat Buddhist Temple, at Dale Street and Front Ave.

Old media navigate a new era
As more people get their information (and misinformation) from social media sites, as daily, weekly and monthly local newspapers scale back or fold altogether, what’s the future of local news?
The Como Community Council’s Sunday Series features a panel discussion with Tesha Christensen from the Monitor, Scott Carlson from the Park Bugle, and Kelly Smith from the Star Tribune.
The online presentation is Sunday, May 2 from 1-2:30 p.m. It will include plenty of time for Q&A. To attend via phone or Zoom, email district10@district10comopark.org. We’ll send you access information.

Como kindness comes through for homeless neighbors
During the coldest weekend of the season, Como residents showed they don’t take warmth for granted.
Responding to a call from the Como Community Council, individuals, families, church groups and more nearly filled a U-Haul with gloves, mittens, socks, blankets, quilts, hats, scarves, sweaters, coats, and other winter gear. It all went to the former Bethesda Hospital, where Ramsey County is operating a temporary homeless shelter for people previously living on the streets. Ward 5 Councilmember Amy Brendmoen picked up the tab for the truck (out of her own pocket, we should add).
Plus, the Community Council collected more than $2,600 in donations from more than 50 local residents. Those funds will help Ramsey County’s Housing Stability program provide additional supplies to meet the needs of neighbors who do not have a home they can call their own.
To make it all happen, more than 20 volunteers stood out in below-zero cold to collect contributions.

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