While one role of government is to provide, and properly fund, valuable services, the level of inefficiency is staggering. My #1 task is to do more, with less. This is the #1 role of a single mother, which I have successfully and exceedingly navigated over the last 6 years, creating financial safety, stability, and growth to leave a legacy of which I am incredibly proud. These principles and values are an integral part of who I am and how I operate. I will uncompromisingly cut taxes and hold steadfast in opposition of wasteful spending. We are all feeling the pressure, and it appears that in regards to bloated government spending, "the emperor has no clothes."

The impact of wasteful spending is to create financial instability in families and communities. Financial stress takes a toll on otherwise supportive relationships and partnerships. Costs are up 18%. It is selfish and short sighted for the government to contribute to hard working peoples struggles. Further, property tax is one of the largest revenue generators for governments. While some taxation is necessary, taxation to the point of making home ownership(the foundation of a secure family) burdensome and prohibitive, creates more problems than it solves.

My top priority is to efficiently maximize the things we do invest in to create a framework whose impact is to do its part on reducing crime, as outlined in other points below. I do believe people deserve a safe home. However, this is not best achieved by free handouts that do little more than to perpetuate a cycle of helplessness. Rather, modeling efficiency and programs that support safety within the community is the answer. When the needs for safety, food, shelter, love, and belonging are met, the natural fruit is positive growth. We must return to these fundamentals.

We are not under the law but under grace, but grace can only take us so far. Grace is not a license to repeatedly abuse and steal. Crime damages both the victim and offender. Some say Mary Moriarty is rolling over on crime. However, I believe her approach is part of an evolving solution to a growing problem facing the community which is underpinned by fear of radical groups who threaten property destruction and violence if they don't get their way. A complete approach of “grace” encourages people to go further in crime. Accountability is needed. The question is, how do we resolve this at the core level?

According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, “Over 16,000 cars were stolen in 2022 in Minnesota, representing more than $200 million in losses to victims. In 2020, theft of motor vehicles increased in Minnesota at double the rate of the U.S. as a whole.” KARE 11 reports, “In 2022, Minneapolis saw an 836% increase in stolen Kia and Hyundai automobiles. It's so bad that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison launched an investigation into the automakers for selling cars with such vulnerable anti-theft protections.” I believe the investigation blaming auto makers for vulnerable cars is the wrong target to blame. If it were not those cars, it would be another. Thieves simply select low hanging fruit.

I believe the intention behind these policies that are deemed ‘weak on crime’ are not to wreak havoc on the community. Rather, once someone enters the legal system and is convicted of a large criminal offense, doors close that they never had the chance to open. There is recognition of the future challenge to find a place to live and job. While I can empathize with this, it falls short unless the conditions which gave rise to the problem are addressed.

In one case of car theft, an elderly woman had her arm broken. This is unequivocally unacceptable. Inability to solve the problem also results in harm to thieves, sometimes in the loss of their own lives. This problem must be solved on the correct level of resolution.

Older people are recruiting youth to commit crimes because they know the youth will not be charged. The question is, “Why are the youth they target vulnerable to these predators?” Gang affiliation is sought out for a sense of belonging and safety. Youth have a gap in these essential needs being met, and predators are adept at cluing in on vulnerable targets. The Child Advocacy Center Reports, “Child molesters most often select their victims carefully, typically targeting a child who is in need of attention, perhaps living in a single parent home and/or experiencing difficulty at school or in social settings.” Grooming vulnerable youth to commit crime follows a similar process as a sexual predator. These predators admittedly seek out children who meet similar criteria: broken homes where children feel lonely, lack a sense of belonging, and often suffer from economic hardships. The answer is to hold these predators accountable, while finding ways to positively meet the youth’s needs for belonging and safety. As a community, we need to find ways to support our children.

I support Moriarty’s approach to make contact with the parents of these youth. "When we made contact with families, 100% of the parents or guardians said, 'We're not surprised that our young person is on your radar screen and thank you, help us,'" Moriarty said.(KARE 11) While parents are grateful, a child whose behavior is escalating takes a toll on these parents own resources. Single parents find themselves stretched thin, struggling to balance survival needs in addition to triaging an out of control child. Single mothers especially may find this fearful and challenging, as a son at this stage is likely stronger than her. Through lack of knowledge, we are being destroyed.

More children are being raised in single parent homes. Of all people most vulnerable to economic disaster, single mothers are at the top of the list. When one is facing 18% increased costs, and trying to meet survival needs, it can feel overwhelming to also solve a crisis involving a child who is involved in crime. By the time a youth is on an escalating crime spree, it is late in the game and tertiary interventions are required. I believe the key lies in offering connection, safety, and belonging as we support families and reexamine some of the traditional values that have been abandoned. Research shows that a key component of primary intervention is simply having one adult with secure attachement who cares about and supports a child. We need to get on a new path as we triage the current framework.