Mayor Hollies Winston of Brooklyn Park sat with MSR editor Al Brown for a wide-ranging interview. The conversation touched on a recent controversy involving Councilman Boyd Morson, the city’s commitment to affordable housing, and plans for the future.
The interview began with a discussion of Morson’s recent censure, which stemmed from accusations of attacking city employees in public. Mayor Winston defended the censure, stating, “I think people have to look at this differently. Our city council members must look at this from a governance perspective. It’s not all politics with this. Much of this involves protecting our city employees who do much for our city.”
Winston highlighted the city’s code of conduct, emphasizing its importance in ensuring a safe and respectful work environment. He pointed to past incidents, such as a hostile work environment created for a fire chief, which led to a costly settlement with the city. “So, when Councilmember Morson continued the attack on the city manager, there was a duty and responsibility for us as those who govern the city to protect our employees,” Winston stated.
The mayor stressed that the censure was not a personal vendetta but a necessary response to an employee complaint. He also acknowledged that Boyd had faced a previous censure stemming from a sexual harassment claim, a separate incident unrelated to the current situation.
Shifting gears to the city’s future, Winston spoke about the importance of affordable housing. While acknowledging Brooklyn Park’s existing affordable housing options, he highlighted the need for economic development to address the city’s financial challenges. “Bloomington has $5.5 billion in commercial property development… Brooklyn Park has two billion, a three-and-a-half billion-dollar gap,” he explained. “So, if you look at what we have in terms of the tax base, tax revenues, whatever needs we can’t cover through that lack of commercial property, that falls onto property owners in Brooklyn Park who have to pay that difference, or there will be services that we can’t offer.”
To bridge this gap, the city wants to create a biotech district and attract a workforce and market-rate housing. Addressing the city’s transportation needs, Winston acknowledged the limitations faced by Brooklyn Park, which relies heavily on county funding. He expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of public transportation in the north metro area, particularly the lack of east-west connections. However, he remains optimistic about the potential of the upcoming light rail project to improve accessibility and connect residents to job opportunities.
When asked about police reform, public safety, and community trust, Winston emphasized the importance of community engagement and proactive measures. He highlighted the city’s efforts to improve community relations, citing a recent survey indicating increased trust in the police. “I think it’s less about reform… It’s about the infrastructure you put in place,” he stated.
Winston described implementing two initiatives: an alternative response team comprised of a social worker and mental health specialist to de-escalate situations and using violence interrupters with deep cultural understanding to resolve conflicts.
The mayor concluded the interview with an optimistic outlook for Brooklyn Park, highlighting its diverse population and potential for growth. “I think there is a huge opportunity with Brooklyn Park, which has 60 percent people of color, featuring Nigerians, Liberians, Kenyans, Somalis, African-Americans, Asians, and whites. We really are the American experiment, a snapshot of where America is going.”