St. Paul leaders push 'yes' on civil fines

St. Paul officials, including Mayor Melvin Carter, held a Monday press conference launching the 'Vote Yes for a Fairer St. Paul' campaign urging approval of Ballot Question No. 1, which would allow the city to use administrative (civil) fines to enforce ordinances instead of relying solely on criminal citations. The measure, unanimously backed by the City Council in late 2024, aims to curb overcriminalization and improve enforcement of tenant and worker protections; in‑person early voting is open through Nov. 3.