Nelsie in the News
Yangforcouncil@gmail.com
St. Paul DFL party endorses 3 City Council incumbents
March 19, 2023
AARON LAVINSKY, STAR TRIBUNE
"It is the most exciting time to live on the East Side of St. Paul. Thank you for your investment in our community. Thank you for continuing to choose the East Side as your home."
St. Paul police killing of Yia Xiong sparks ongoing protests
February 26, 2023
“That is exactly why we are here. We are here to fight for justice. We are here to make sure no one dies like Yia Xiong and at the hands of our police.”
Senate advances bill moving state toward ranked choice voting
March 14, 2023
“Currently, only charter cities have the authority to switch to RCV. The bill before the Legislature would allow any city, county, school district or other local government to adopt it for their elections.
St. Paul City Council Member Nelsie Yang told the committee that she thinks RCV levels the political playing field for immigrant communities and people of color.”
Letter to the Editor: Walk the walk, young people: Turn off your phones for a month
“As a criminal justice organizer, I work every day to fight to restore the rights of those with a criminal history. The recent article about the City Council candidates reminds us that too many are still unwilling to let people with a criminal history integrate into our society.
I strongly believe that every single person deserves compassion. I have seen far too many people who are not given the opportunity to move past their history. This article does not reflect the kind of St. Paul we need to build: a restorative community that allows people to build better lives for themselves and fully participate in our society.
Going forward, I hope that my fellow St. Paulites will be willing to open their hearts to those who are trying to be productive contributors to our community, even if they’ve struggled to do so in the past. Everyone is welcomed. Everyone is valued.”
October 30, 2019
Yang sits down with Bill Lindeke at Caydence Coffee and Records to chat about her campaign, her background and her vision for the neighborhood. This podcast is sponsored by the Saint Paul Flag.
Options for All in Minnesota Women’s Press, July 2019 Issue
“I love the work that I do as an organizer and union steward at TakeAction Minnesota, because I’m a part of a larger movement. I am one droplet of water within a river of leaders and allies that are working together to achieve a community where everyone is in, and no one is out."
New batch of Minnesota candidates energized by barriers broken in 2018
By JUDY KEEN , STAR TRIBUNE
April 27, 2019 - 10:50 PM
Nelsie Yang embodies all those characteristics: She’s 24 and, like Thao, the daughter of Hmong refugees. She’s a rookie candidate also running for the St. Paul City Council’s Sixth Ward seat.
“I actually grew up believing that people of color could not run for office,” said Yang, a TakeAction Minnesota organizer. “I always saw old white men running.” She believes it’s time for “a future represented across race, gender and class.”
East Side high-rise turns to City Council candidate in heating emergency
By JAMES WALSH , STAR TRIBUNE
February 11, 2019 - 9:35 PM
“Emily Johnson was running out of options when the heat went out Saturday at her St. Paul Public Housing apartment building.
There is no on-site manager at the 201-unit Edgerton Hi-Rise on weekends. The on-call maintenance staff said they were working on it, but the heat wouldn’t be back until Monday afternoon. Worried about elderly and disabled residents, Johnson, the resident council secretary, first tried public housing officials, then the Red Cross, the United Way, even the police.
“I was calling everyone I could think of to call to see if we could get someone to do something,” she said.
At 7 p.m. Sunday, Johnson grabbed a campaign flier left earlier Saturday by Nelsie Yang, who is running for the City Council’s Sixth Ward seat. “I just thought, ‘Well, I’ll give her a try.’ ”
Yang, who’s 23 and an organizer for TakeAction Minnesota, took action. First, she called Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough, who went to a hardware store and bought every space heater they had. Yang sent out a plea on the neighborhood Facebook page. Within a few hours, heaters and hand warmers were arriving at 1000 Edgerton St. Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher offered blankets. A sheriff’s deputy knocked on doors in the 14-floor building, seeing if residents were all right...”
October 24, 2018
3 Hmong TV interviews Nelsie Yang
July 24, 2018
"Nelsie Yang, an organizer with TakeAction Minnesota, has announced her intent to run for the Ward 6 seat on the St. Paul City Council next year. "
Pioneer Press / Read Full Press release