Issues

Farheen Hakeem will bring leadership to:

Fiscal Responsibility

Minnesotans are hurting financially. While our tax money is bailing out corporate banks, politicians are debating whether an income of $130,000 a year is considered middle class. At this moment, there are too many Minnesotans that are limited in food assistance and unemployment, and these families are making less than $20,000 per year.

The General Assistance Medical Care program is crucial for Minnesotans to survive this financial crisis. According to Mark Zandi's article from Economy.com:

Extending UI (Unemployment Insurance) and expanding food stamps are the most effective ways to prime the economy’s pump. A $1 increase in UI benefits generates an estimated $1.64 in near-term GDP; increasing food stamp payments by $1 boosts GDP by $1.73 (see table). People who receive these benefits are very hard- pressed and will spend any financial aid they receive within a few weeks. These programs are also already operating, and a benefit increase can be quickly delivered to recipients.

Significantly raising taxes on individuals that are making more than $250,000 is one of the many solutions that I will bring as Governor of Minnesota. Others are creating a Minnesota State Bank so your money is working to benefit you and your community, creating a wind energy company to bring jobs and clean energy revenue to our community, and reducing salaries of state employees that are making over $100,000. It is time for everyone to sacrifice, not just those of us that are at the lower end of the economic spectrum.

I am the candidate that has the knowledge of what low-income families are challenged with, and the courage to support higher taxes on people of higher incomes.

Being Truly Progressive

In the three times I have run for office, my opponents claimed to be progressives and said they could actually win to bring change. Then the minute they were elected, change couldn't come because they were too busy blaming others, instead of taking the initiative to pursue solutions.

I have been told that we need to vote DFL because they can actually win and fight for the issues that affect us. Yet, as a majority of the Minnesota State Senate and House, they have not delivered single payer healthcare, equal rights for LGBT people, protection to women's reproductive freedom, stopped or reduced foreclosures, or brought sustainable jobs (or at least forced Pawlenty to veto). Why do they keep expecting us to vote for them? The DFL does not own the progressive vote; you own your own vote, and you are an intelligent voter who will vote your values, not your fears.

Being a true progressive means taking a stand and doing what is right no matter how unpopular it may be. It also means doing your own homework about the issues, not reading your opponent's issue statements and co-opting them because they sound better.

I am the candidate for Governor that has the proven authenticity and consistency to bring progressive political values to fruition. Whether it is being pro-choice, pro-LGBT rights, pro-immigrant rights, pro-wind energy, or pro-single payer, I have always had the same clear message and will continue to regardless of the consequences.

User-Friendly and Transparent Leadership

There is a need for state government to be more user-friendly for people, and there is a need for strong, hard working, passionate advocates for Minnesotans. I am the leader who will build a bridge for the people of Minnesota to the State Capitol. As a proven advocate and organizer in disenfranchised communities, I have the skills and the knowledge to make the State Government less intimidating and complicated and more approachable to the people. I promise to be accessible to you and will continually seek community input before making decisions that affect our lives.

Education and Youth development

Young people ages 18-23 are becoming invisible in Minnesota. Many of them leave their communities because of the lack of resources and income, or become homeless. Homeless youth are a result of a broken system. The energy and votes of the very people who elected the current president have been abandoned by all politicians. We need to make more strides in expanding our youth options for success, instead of centralizing services at the national level. We need to give youth the tools to build a future for themselves, and abandon old systems that keep them in the revolving door of poverty.

As Governor, I will support a proactive, comprehensive policy for our youth to engage them as active members of society. Those steps include investing in early childhood programs, offering opportunities in supplemental education for our youth, increasing community involvement with our youth at schools, and an increase in before-school, after-school and during-school programming.

As a former math teacher and a current youth coordinator, I am very passionate about the education of all our youth. My extensive experience in teaching and youth work has given me the knowledge to serve the youth of Minnesota. We must ensure adequate funding for staff, resources, and materials for the classroom and for community centers. This will improve the quality of education to our students, and provide more opportunity to the community.

Health Care

From the very beginning, I have been a supporter of single-payer universal health care, and I have been a champion in advocating for it for years. Since Minnesota has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country, and more and more small businesses are not able to keep up with rising health insurance costs, it is very clear there needs to be health care reform now. A group of legislators committed to real health care reform has formed the Minnesota Health Reform Caucus (MHRC). As your Governor, I will work with this group to make the Minnesota Health Plan a reality.

Transportation

Our community relies heavily on Public Transportation, I'm an advocate for it to be safe and accessible. The tragedy of the I-35W bridge collapse is a metaphor of our draining local resources while ignoring our addiction to oil. As critical as it is for the legislature to allocate resources to maintain local infrastructure and reduce traffic congestion, we also need to prioritize transportation alternatives for our community.

As a proven leader in community input, and an energetic organizer, I have the skills and the enthusiasm to develop plans with authentic community input. This is unlike current practice where plans are drawn in a closed boardroom, and then a presentation given so that few concerns or questions are addressed.

Environmental Sustainability and Energy Justice

Long before any of the my opponents even understood what wind energy was, I championed the issue during my 2005 campaign for Minneapolis Mayor and 2006 campaign for Hennepin County Commissioner. In addition, I brought solar and geothermal into the conversation in the 2008 election, and combated the myths of "clean coal" and nuclear as being sustainable. With my knowledge and dedication, wind energy will become a reality in our community. Why shouldn't it be? This is not about idealism, but the need to live sustainability. I am the candidate who promises to make us nuclear-free by year 2020.

As a coalition builder, I have the ability to capitalize on urban wind plans by building relationships with people from Greater Minnesota, who are already on board with wind energy. Wind energy will not only lessen our burden on coal and nuclear energy, but it allows us to save money.

Other methods to minimize the negative impact on the environment are to make recycling more accessible, and to preserve and restore green space and wetlands.

As an environmentalist, I support preserving natural lands and habitats from corporate interests and development. Furthermore, I will support legislation that will increase preservation of our land in Minnesota.