Editorial: Ness Playing Politics with Student Housing

When it comes to the Duluth City Council, no member is more widely known at UMD than Councilor-at-Large Don Ness. A self-described advocate for students, Mr. Ness’ campus popularity has been built by being a reliable voice for the many collegiate bodies in the Duluth city.

It is precisely because of the trust that Mr. Ness has built with students that makes his recent support for a new rental ordinance so appalling. The ordinance, which passed in a 6-3 Council vote, has the impact of restricting the number of rental houses to one or two per city block and goes into effect on Sep. 23.
The extraordinarily negative impact the ordinance will have for the off-campus student housing situation in Duluth cannot be underestimated. One only needs to think of the thousands of college students living in the central hillside area to see how the gradual elimination of most rental units in that area will be catastrophic for students in search of affordable housing within a reasonable distance to campus.

The ordinance also has the effect of limiting growth in rental units in other nearby neighborhoods, such as Woodland, Congdon Park, and Kenwood areas. This means that the likelihood that UMD students will have to find housing in the Lincoln Park, West Duluth and even Superior areas will increase dramatically as each year passes.
Mr. Ness has responded to recent criticism for his August 13th vote by stating that he is in favor of creating a student housing district, consolidating students to one area of the city. Such a district would supposedly be more convenient and affordable for students, and attractive of an idea for city residents.

There are many problems with the councilor’s response. One of the largest reasons students are attracted to the Duluth-Superior area for college has to do with various geographical and environmental wonders students have the opportunity to live amongst. Also, quarantining students into a single district of the city is not needed for the same reasons it is often required in larger cities such as Minneapolis. The transportation, economic, and safety issues present in those cities are not nearly as prevalent in Duluth.

While Mr. Ness has voted to support the new rental ordinance, pushed by older, richer (and more likely to vote) residents of the city, he has yet to solidify plans for any conceivable student housing district. Thus, it seems Mr. Ness’ recent change-of-position and unusual nonalignment with college residents seems to be conveniently positioned near his mayoral primary election next Tuesday.

The discrimination-laden ordinance that Mr. Ness has chosen to support has left UMD students without the voice they thought they had. Perhaps it is appropriate to suggest then, that UMD students should think twice about providing a voice for Mr. Ness at the polls on Tuesday.