JUST ANOTHER PHOTO OP?

WHERE IS THE REAL PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN SAINT PAUL?

Reporter: This is a larger issue with Madison Equities. Will there be other shoes to drop as it sells off its portfolio?

Mayors: “That’s hard to predict,” Carter said, adding that the city has a team trying to meet with Madison Equities every couple of weeks. “They haven’t been exactly forthcoming with the information that you know that we need.”

Hard to predict? Have you even walked downtown lately? This has been obvious for a long time—many of us saw it coming from a mile away. Where’s the urgency? It seems like the city is completely out of touch with its residents and businesses. “Obviously, it would be great to have had a list of businesses in Alliance Bank from them yesterday that we could kind of contact ahead of time. Instead, we end up having to kind of walk through the building and try to connect with people in person,” Carter said.

How is it possible that no one in your administration has this information? I could find it in 10 minutes! Are you seriously telling us that no one knows who’s doing business downtown or where? What about licensing, inspectors, or even tax records? I don’t buy it. You have a staff—why didn’t you get this information when this all started?

Reporter: “Carter’s biggest concern is the way Madison Equities is shutting down buildings and treating tenants, which, he said, is taking up an “enormous” amount of his staff’s time to mitigate.”

It’s unfortunate that your staff has to deal with this. Maybe you should spend some time living downtown yourself to truly see what’s happening. You might gain a better appreciation for those of us who live and work here every day.

Mayor“Hopefully this rings a new day for us where we can move forward,” he said, “get some better property managers in there.”

Hope only goes so far—we all know how that saying ends. As a taxpayer watching my taxes keep rising, I expect real answers and a plan.

Reporter:  respond to criticism that downtown St. Paul feels pretty desolate?

Mayor: “I think it’s actually a bigger question than that. The question is, what’s going on with downtowns?” CRarter posited. He pointed to office buildings in the suburbs, greater Minnesota and downtowns nationwide that have emptied out during and post-pandemic as more people work remotely.

“We have to rethink what downtowns are across the country.”

I live here, and you’re the mayor of this city—it’s your responsibility to take action. Look at other cities that have successfully turned things around; the solutions are out there. But instead of just looking elsewhere, the real focus needs to be right here. Our city needs leadership, a clear vision, and real urgency to address these issues before things get worse.

Reporter. Carter said there’s good news on the horizon, including the capital city attracting big events like the Yacht Club Musical Festival and the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

Events are great, but that’s not the real issue here. This is about the long-term well-being of our city, its residents, and its businesses. You seem disconnected from the real challenges we’re facing. Do you truly understand what’s happening downtown? It feels like you’ve lost sight of who you represent and what your priorities should be. We need leadership that listens, takes action, and addresses the real problems—not just distractions.

Reporter: According to Carter — who referenced a study commissioned by the St. Paul Downtown Alliance (SPDA) and the City of St. Paul — vacancy in office buildings is higher than he’d like but residential properties are close to full. MPR News is working to independenttly verify that information.

I’d like to see the actual data on this because, frankly, I have my doubts. When you look at the number of vacant properties and businesses struggling downtown, it tells a different story. What do the numbers really show? How many storefronts are sitting empty? How many businesses have left or are barely holding on? Without real transparency, it’s hard to trust vague assurances. Show us the facts so we can have an honest conversation about what’s really happening.

Mayor: “We need to be able to give people more chances to live downtown. Those are the types of things that will help us renovate and help us bring more vitality back,” Carter said.y

Why on earth would anyone want to move downtown when you have to leave the core just to access basic necessities? High taxes, minimal services—what’s the incentive? I made a serious investment in this city. I bought a condo, gave up my vehicle, and committed to living here because I believed in downtown’s potential. But now, I’m starting to question that decision.

That said, I’m here for the long haul, and I won’t stay silent. When the next election comes around, neither you nor the city council will have my vote. I don’t care about political affiliation—I care about real change, real leadership, and real solutions. And I will continue to make my voice heard, publicly and persistently, until something is done to turn this city around.

Things will not change until the businesses and residents stand up and demand action.