Jeremiah Ellison, Minneapolis City Council Member in Ward 5

John is joined by Jeremiah Ellison who represents Ward 5 in North Minneapolis. Jeremiah says he's a progressive outlier in a historically low-turnout ward that tends to elects more conservative council members ("we made people feel like it was worth voting" in 2017). We talk about a housing crisis Jeremiah faced early in his first term; the rent control charter amendment (and mayoral veto); public safety ("Long before the past two years Ward 5, and Ward 4, we've had to carry the burden of gun violence in this city"); and the backlash to even having the conversation about creating a department of public safety. We talk about the high stakes in this year's election (and the wards where the stakes are a little lower). John asks about the surprisingly competitive campaign of his Trumpy opponent. Jeremiah says the challenge has lit a fire under his campaign, and admits he may have taken too many nights off campaigning during the last year. What has a grizzled Council Member Ellison learned in his first term -- what's some wisdom that would have benefited his younger, activist self? How has he evolved in his thinking during his time as an elected official? Does Jeremiah Ellison the artist find the elected life satisfying? Jeremiah tells the story of the time he got arrested for a girl (at a minimum wage protest). We close out the show with advice for raising a giant dog and music recommendations. 

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Wedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee