
Cole’s 4-for-4 Vision is an Affordable, Safe, Innovative and Fair City for Every Neighbor.
“Affordable housing and rent were a key issue for Hanson; as a renter himself, he said, he believes it is City Council’s responsibility to communicate tenants’ rights.
‘When we talk about how we make a more livable community, it needs to be an affordable community. And we need to talk about affordable for everyone,’ Hanson said.”
Hamline alum Cole Hanson announces bid for City Council, The Oracle, March 2025
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A City You Can Afford to Live In
Combatting Homelessness
Support construction of housing of all types—apartments, Single Room Occupancy (SRO), and supportive housing programs—to meet diverse community needs.
Expand permanent supportive housing and ensure wraparound services for neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Rent Stabilization & Tenant Rights
Maintain affordability through protecting current rent stabilization policies and protections against excessive rent hikes.
Implement a St. Paul Renter’s Bill of Rights, giving renters basic awareness of rules like energy and utility shut offs, and clearer pathways to address neglect or unsafe conditions as protected by statute.
Actively hold corporate landlords like CVS accountable for “hoarding” properties and driving up rents through the application of administrative citations or land-value taxes for vacant commercial properties.
Greater Density & Zoning Reform
Relax outdated zoning requirements to enable the creation of more multi-family homes, ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), and “missing middle” housing.
Encourage transit-oriented development to accommodate growing populations without straining existing infrastructure.
Investigate and develop alternatives to funding the construction and expansion of existing social housing in the city rather than depending on federal funds.
Combating Blight & Strengthening Enforcement
Implement equitable code-enforcement tools to address vacant, dilapidated properties without displacing vulnerable residents.
Hold absentee landlords accountable for neglecting buildings and contributing to neighborhood decline.
Investigate alternative funding for city programs rather than regularly increasing property taxes like PILOT in Boston.
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A Safer City for Everyone
Addressing the Opioid Crisis
Take a public health approach, partnering with county, state, and federal programs to reduce overdoses from fentanyl and other narcotics at every level from when a resident calls 911 to what tools are available to first-responders.
Expand naloxone and suboxone availability; increase funding paired with accountability for treatment facilities and mental health services.
Focus on long-term recovery support, tackling the root causes of addiction, through city-wide support for peer-programs, supportive housing, and employment opportunities.
Food Security & Nutrition
Strengthen SNAP expansion, local food shelves, and community-led programs for fresh, nutritious options in partnership with Ramsey County and the State of Minnesota.
Support community farming on vacant lots and explore municipal grocery models to improve food access through the power of bulk purchasing.
Investigate funding models to support direct- and mutual-aid programs in the city to feed families of all sizes and income levels.
Alternatives to Policing & Public Safety Reform
Grow the Office of Neighborhood Safety and fund community-centered crisis responses.
Create and expand alternative first-response teams and resources for mental health and substance use situations - treating overdoses similar to self-harm or suicide.
Provide emergency responders the training and resources they need, while reducing overreliance on law enforcement for non-violent offenses whether they are drug-related or not.
Build closer ties to Ramsey County and Public Health Partners
Facilitate neighborhood-level meetings with stakeholders from across the various government agencies and offices that cover Ward 4 to coordinate responses quickly and efficiently
Prioritize public-facing and street-level response programs to triage crises as they arise.
“‘We’ve got to find a middle path and we’ve got to take advantage of the spectrum of options we have available to us, and that’s my job. That’s what I do,’ Hanson said.
[F]ully funding libraries, increasing safety on public transit and reducing barriers to starting and maintaining businesses… motivat[ed] from his experience not just living in but raising a child in the neighborhood.
‘I'm happy to get in the way and cause trouble and kick the door open for my neighbors, because that's what I like doing,’ Hanson said.”
Hamline alum Cole Hanson announces bid for City Council, The Oracle, March 2025
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A City of Enterprise, Large and Small
Supporting Small Businesses & Cooperatives
Provide targeted resources for BIPOC, immigrant-owned and first-time entrepreneurs to make our neighborhoods their launch pad into success.
Protect existing small businesses from displacement and encourage new developments to invest back into Ward 4.
Climate Resilience & Green Jobs
Expand tree canopies, protect our water-ways, and prioritize renewable energy solutions on roofs and other optimal spaces.
Bolster green job initiatives—such as weatherization and solar energy programs—to both protect the environment and grow our local economy.
Public Engagement & Transparency
Create more inclusive public engagement processes so historically marginalized residents have a real say in policy decisions (e.g., Hamline-Midway Library, St. Thomas Stadium, Kimball Court).
Make city decisions more transparent with better access to budgeting info and timelines.
Ensure businesses are able to thrive through clear regulations rooted in public safety and accountability, not a desire for more red tape.
Community Investment Funding for Local Entrepreneurs
Create a city-led fund to redirect funds collected from Administrative Citations to the communities they were collected from for reinvestment into local businesses and public facilities like parks and community centers
Support local investment cooperatives, like those in South Como and the Midway Investment Cooperative, in their efforts to provide community-owned spaces for community-based entrepreneurship.
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A City for Every Type of Family!
Revitalizing Key Corridors
Collaborate with Ward 1 to ensure United Village benefits locals—housing, public space, and local businesses—not just stadium visitors.
Work with community members to transform the vacant CVS at Snelling & University into a viable, neighborhood-serving space.
Expanding Child Care Options through Public Schools
Build off of excitement to provide childcare to all of our city’s young children by directing resources to SPPS to expand their existing Pre-K programs.
Streamline city processes for at-home and facility-based childcare providers to be licensed and based in our city.
Expanding Multi-Modal Options
Push for balanced transportation investments—bike lanes, walkable streets, public transit improvements, and well-maintained roads through the 1c Sales Tax and other funds.
Ensure sidewalks, crossings, and transit stops are safe and accessible to all ages and abilities through adequate lighting, striping, and bollard-style obstacles to vehicle traffic.
Support an at-grade alternative to I-94, also known as the “Twin Cities Boulevard” connecting communities, enhancing sustainability, and boosting local economies.
Prioritize upgrades to Snelling Avenue/Highway 51 viaduct between Hamline-Midway and the State Fairgrounds to unite neighboring communities.
Fully-staffed and Supported Parks and Libraries
Ensure libraries and rec centers are well-maintained, with safe play areas, reliable Wi-Fi, and welcoming spaces for families of all sizes. Prioritize ADA compliance and culturally inclusive design.
Fully staff all library and recreation centers in the city, attract professionals while mentoring youth in their first jobs, improving the overall quality and consistency of family-focused services our facilities already provide.