Ward 11 council member

Let's build a better Minneapolis together

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Ward 11 community – for those of you who I haven’t had the opportunity to connect with yet, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Emily Koski, and I am your new council member. I am honored to serve our community – and I look forward to representing your values and voices on the Minneapolis City Council.
This new Minneapolis City Council is historic in a multitude of ways – we are a female majority city council and we are the most diverse city council yet. We are being led by council president Andrea Jenkins – the first Black and transgender council president in the city of Minneapolis, and council vice President Linea Palmisano, the council member for our neighboring ward.
I am incredibly proud to be a part of this city council – I am proud to be a part of a body that embodies diversity in age, gender, race, and ideology. This city council is a step forward in creating a more representative government – one that exemplifies unique experiences, differing opinions, and diverse perspectives. Already, I have learned so much from my fellow council members and have been developing meaningful relationships with them.
I am also proud to be a part of a body that embodies diversity, because we as council members and as the city council, are role models to children throughout the city of Minneapolis; and, it’s so important that they see role models that they can relate to in leadership positions, in positions they might aspire to have one day.
Our community, and the city of Minneapolis as a whole, has been through so much these past several years – a global pandemic that upended our lives, the murder of George Floyd and the unrest that followed, and our city has been the epicenter of a global reckoning on race. When put together these events have left many in our community feeling divided and disconnected. I believe that it is incredibly important for us to find ways to come together and create connections.
During the first 100 days of my term as your council member, I will be holding a multitude of meetings throughout our community; each of these meetings will provide opportunities for you to engage with me directly about what’s important to you. I will be holding Neighborhood Meetings, Ward 11 Monthly Meetings, and Ward 11 Triannual Public Safety Meetings.
As your council member, I will be working hard to communicate with Ward 11 through as many platforms as possible – through the Ward 11 Newsletter, through social media channels, through community groups and neighborhood organizations. In my communications, I will keep you updated on my work, and the happenings of city hall, but I will also highlight local businesses, and let you know about activities and events in our neighborhoods. And I encourage each and every one of you to stay connected.
So far, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with constituents, neighborhood associations, organizations, city staff, department heads, and experts on a variety of issues. From affordable housing, to public safety, and from infrastructure to basic city services – I am working hard to get the job done.
Over this term, I will be serving as the Chair of the Budget Committee, the Vice Chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, as a member of the Policy and Government Oversight Committee, and as a member of the Audit Committee, in addition to serving as a member of the committees which all council members serve on.
Lastly, the tragic police shooting of Amir Locke is weighing on all our hearts and minds. This is a painful time for the community – and we must do everything within our power to prevent future loss of life and keep everyone in our community safe. That is why I am collaborating with my colleagues on the city council and our city staff to take action to increase transparency and create long-lasting solutions. I appreciate those who have reached out to me to voice your thoughts, concerns, and ideas. I encourage you to continue to hold myself, the city council, and the mayor accountable.
I thank you for the opportunity you have given me, to serve as your council member on the Minneapolis City Council. I look forward to working with you, and to working for you, so that together we can create solutions and build a better city of Minneapolis for all of us.

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