About Rebecca
Born in Boston and raised in St. Louis Park, I was taught by my family and my faith to work hard, serve my community, and lead the change I wanted to see in the world. Growing up, my parents modeled those beliefs every day. As doctors serving veterans at the VA Medical Center, they dedicated their careers to public service and spent their evenings helping neighbors, whether it was building a local playground, raising funds for schools, or rolling up their sleeves wherever help was needed. My Jewish tradition reinforced that work ethic: when you see a problem, you take action to solve it.
With my family at home on the West Side
At Harvard, where I majored in Social Studies, I studied how our economic, social and political systems shape people’s lives, often unfairly and inequitably. When I came across a poster on campus that asked, “Do you want to make a difference?” I immediately signed up for Teach For America and moved to Baton Rouge to teach middle school science. Louisiana’s education system was among the lowest-ranked in the country, and I wanted to begin my career where the need was greatest. Working with young people was inspiring, but I also saw firsthand the impact of poverty, low expectations, and underfunded schools on my students’ futures. I could offer my very best for 90 minutes a day, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to take on the systemic challenges holding my students back.
From there, I went to work at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, where I supported education nonprofits through grantmaking, before moving abroad. I worked with Teach For India to train new teachers and experienced what it meant to navigate government systems as a complete outsider feeling the weight of poverty, bureaucracy, and the absence of long-term, sustainable planning. In Uganda, with the Justice and Reconciliation Project, I supported restorative justice efforts for communities recovering from conflict.
These years grounded me in how much people depend on effective, responsive government, and how high the stakes are when that government falls short.
I then moved to St. Paul in 2011 to serve as a program officer at Achieve Minneapolis, where I continued my commitment to equitable education as the foundation for strong communities. On the West Side, I found my home. I became active with the West Side Community Organization, eventually serving as board chair, and then served on the Planning Commission which was my first real exposure to local government. I loved it. I saw how practical, well-designed local action could improve lives in immediate, meaningful ways.
Today, I am a proud West Sider, a civic leader, a wife, a mom, an early riser, and a relentless optimist. I love digging into policy, listening deeply, seeing all sides of a problem, and getting things done. I am committed to outstanding constituent service and to being accessible and responsive.
My goal is simple: to make St. Paul the best place for every resident to live, learn, work, raise a family, and build a future together. In order to get there, we need effective leadership representing us on the County Board.
Achievements
Leadership & Governance
Elected Council President in 2025 and led collaborative budget process between the Mayor’s office and Council to deliver a budget that preserves city services while stabilizing expenses; chaired the St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the Council’s Audit and Policy Committees; created a more transparent legislative drafting process; reformed Council voting procedures to require clear “aye” and “nay” votes.
Housing Affordability & Tenant Protections
Advanced hundreds of units of new affordable housing; supported a permanent Housing Trust Fund; helped pass rent stabilization amendments and comprehensive tenant-protection policies.
Homelessness Response & Emergency Shelter
Helped launch Heading Home Ramsey; supported expanded outreach and regional coordination; led the effort to create the Seasonal Safe Space emergency shelter for unsheltered residents.
Worker Rights, Wages & Enforcement
Backed the $15 minimum wage with enforcement provisions; established the Division of Labor Standards; supported Earned Sick and Safe Time; helped pass Saint Paul’s Wage Theft Ordinance.
Youth & Early Childhood Investment
Strengthened the Right Track youth jobs program; led the Saint Paul Early Learning Initiative; supported redesign of the Youth Fund; championed free Parks & Recreation programming for children.
Public Health & Safety Initiatives
Supported restrictions on flavored and menthol tobacco, tobacco-license caps, smoke-free parks, and Tobacco 21; coauthored speed-limit reductions; designed the Police Customer Service Survey; launched skyway safety trainings.
Transportation, Transit & Infrastructure
Advocated for the Capitol City Bikeway; led the work to redevelop Central Station; pushed for West 7th transit improvements; and supported increased funding for pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Downtown Revitalization & Public Space Activation
Initiated the Downtown Action Series; helped launch and now serve on the board of the Downtown Alliance; supported office-to-housing conversions, cleanup efforts, and public-space improvements; initiated Lowertown Social Hours; helped make the new Pedro Park a reality.
Small Business Support & Economic Development
Co-led the “Open for Business” permitting-simplification initiative; created multilingual business guides; championed flexible signage policies and pedicab updates; launched the St. Paul Small Business Awards; secured West Side Commercial Vitality Zone funding; established the Commercial Corridor Organization Assistance Program (CCOAP) which has funneled $1.4 million to activate St. Paul’s main streets.
Community Engagement & Accessibility
Hosts monthly community drop-ins in every neighborhood across the ward; supported sidewalk, streetscape, and public-art enhancements; helped maintain inclusive spaces through gender-neutral bathroom policy and humane pet-store legislation.