You may have seen the opinion piece of mine that ran in today’s Pioneer Press calling on the City to continue to prioritize public safety as it considers budget decisions. I think its important to acknowledge the progress we’ve made and ensure this progress continues as we set the stage for welcoming back our workers and visitors. 

Yesterday, Doug Baker announced his retirement as CEO of Ecolab, effective New Year's Day. Few people in the history of downtown Saint Paul have made more contributions than Doug. He helped create the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, raised funds for Dorothy Day Place, contributed to public schools, and of course stewarded incredible growth for one of our largest employers. We will be forever grateful to Doug, and we look forward to our close partnership with Ecolab and Cristoph Beck’s leadership.

Before I sign off, a quick reminder to vote and note that due to yesterday’s court decision, it is now recommended that you drop off your ballot in person or vote in person on election day.