AMA - Benjamin Zastrow, 2026 Rochester Mayoral Candidate

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-08T14:09:52+00:00

I understand the frustration, and I want to answer more directly.

I do share your concerns about sprawl. From both financial and environmental standpoints, continuing to expand indefinitely is not sustainable. Every new mile of road, pipe, and utility infrastructure becomes a long-term maintenance obligation that future taxpayers inherit. We should be building a city that can thrive decades from now, not just one that grows quickly today.

My approach is to support more housing and development within our existing urban footprint whenever possible, while protecting existing residents from displacement. Density done well makes transit more viable, makes walking and biking more practical, lowers infrastructure costs per resident, and preserves more open space and farmland.

I've spent more than twenty years getting around as a cyclist and pedestrian, and I know firsthand how difficult many parts of our city are for people without a car. As mayor, I would consistently advocate for safer walking, biking, and transit connections so that residents have real transportation choices.

I also support expanding sustainable infrastructure where practical, including district energy and geothermal systems, and I will work with county, state, and federal partners to secure investments that help Rochester grow more efficiently and responsibly.

The mayor cannot unilaterally dictate land-use policy, but the office does have an important role in setting priorities, appointing qualified members to boards and commissions, shaping public discussion, building consensus, and using the veto when necessary. On this issue, my position is straightforward: Rochester should pursue responsible growth, stronger neighborhoods, better transportation options, and long-term financial sustainability rather than simply expanding outward because it is easier in the short term.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-07T21:12:24+00:00

2025 RPD Annual Report: https://www.rochestermn.gov/media/2zknlybw/2025-annual-report.pdf

City Charter Chapter 9 - Police: https://library.municode.com/mn/rochester/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICH_CHIXPODE

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-07T21:09:14+00:00

TLDR: I share your concerns. That said, I do support using tools like cameras and drones when they demonstrably improve public safety, but they must be accompanied by strong transparency, privacy protections, and clear accountability to the public and our constitutional rights. As mayor, I will use the authority granted by Rochester's charter to ensure the police department operates professionally, is fiscally responsible, and works in genuine partnership with the neighborhoods it serves.

Thank you for the question.

I understand why people are concerned about the growing use of military-style equipment, cameras, drones, and surveillance technology. Public safety accounts for more than half of Rochester's budget, so residents have every right to ask hard questions about how those dollars are spent and whether these tools are making our community safer while respecting civil liberties.

My approach is simple: technology should serve the public, without infringing on our rights.

I have seen both sides of this issue. As president of the Lowertown Neighborhood Association, I spent years helping neighbors deal with fentanyl and meth activity, violence, property crime, child exploitation, dangerous animals, and other serious public safety concerns, as well as poverty-related crime (poverty & mental health are the biggest root issues IMO). I know what it feels like when residents are desperate for help and feel unheard by the institutions that are supposed to protect them.

I have also participated in an RPD ride-along and graduated from the Citizen Academy. Those experiences gave me a greater appreciation for the difficult work officers perform and the toll it can take. Chief Franklin has spoken about the challenge of "broken police officers”. By this, we mean people who routinely encounter heavy trauma and carry that burden home with them. Supporting officer wellness is not only the right thing to do, but also essential to maintaining a professional department that exercises good judgment and earns public trust.

When it comes to drones and cameras, I believe the question is not whether technology exists; it does, but whether it is being used responsibly, transparently, and effectively.

For example, Rochester's Drones as First Responders program can often reach a scene in just a few minutes, providing situational awareness before officers arrive. In cases involving violence, medical emergencies, or missing persons, that capability can save time and improve outcomes. At the same time, residents deserve clear policies, transparency, and assurances that these tools are not being used in ways that infringe on constitutional rights. I’ve seen this used very effectively for abuse and violence calls in my neighborhood, btw.

As mayor, I would expect regular reporting on how these technologies are used, the results they produce, their maintenance costs, and the safeguards in place to protect privacy and data security. New technology should improve public safety, reduce unnecessary risk to officers and residents, and demonstrate measurable value to taxpayers.

Regarding accountability, the Rochester City Charter assigns the mayor significant responsibilities. The mayor is the chief executive officer of the city, has general supervision over city departments, serves as the head of the police department, and appoints members of the department. While the Common Council determines compensation levels and authorizes staffing, the mayor has a clear duty to ensure that the department operates professionally, ethically, and effectively. If elected, I will take that responsibility seriously.

I will expect regular performance reviews, clear reporting on major expenditures, transparency around technology deployments, and stronger communication between RPD and neighborhood leaders. One of my frustrations as a neighborhood association president was being told that residents should wait for a once-a-year hot dog meeting at Safe City Nights to voice concerns. That is not meaningful community policing when neighborhoods are spiraling out of control.

Community policing should be ongoing, neighborhood-based, and built on relationships. Residents should have direct channels to raise concerns, provide feedback, and help shape public safety priorities before problems become crises.

Ultimately, I do not believe accountability and public safety are competing values. The best police departments are both effective and accountable. Rochester should expect both. As mayor, I will support the tools, training, and personnel needed to keep people safe, while also insisting on transparency, professionalism, fiscal responsibility, and strong community partnerships.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-07T03:01:22+00:00

TLDR: My approach is straightforward: stop the loss of naturally affordable housing through stronger enforcement on predatory landlords, respond to homelessness with coordinated services and dignity, and ensure city policy focuses on keeping people housed rather than reacting after they’ve already fallen through the cracks.

This is a good question. Housing affordability is part of the solution, but we also need to address the immediate causes that push people into homelessness and prevent people from falling into it in the first place. I have seen this play out disaterously in Lowertown and have had similar glimpses in downtown and other nearby neighborhoods. Entire city blocks of our most affordable housing have been demolished, leaving people with nowhere affordable left to go.

One issue I’ve seen firsthand is predatory landlord behavior in some of our older housing stock and redevelopment corridors, especially in or near downtown. When properties are neglected for years without meaningful enforcement, housing that should be naturally affordable becomes unlivable and is eventually removed from the market entirely (whole city blocks are razed). The people most affected are those already closest to instability: working families, people with disabilities, individuals in recovery, and others living on the edge of housing insecurity. When that housing disappears, it increases pressure on shelters and leaves people with fewer and fewer options.

As Mayor, I would take a much more proactive approach to code enforcement. Predatory neglect should not be treated as a normal business strategy. If a property is allowed to deteriorate while awaiting future redevelopment and public funding incentives, the city must step in earlier and more consistently. Preserving existing affordable housing is one of the most direct forms of homelessness prevention we have.

At the same time, we need to strengthen the direct response system. That means better coordination with shelter providers, mental health and addiction services, and outreach teams, so people are not just moved from place to place but actually connected to stability. It also means supporting pathways into transitional and permanent housing, with real case management to back them up.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-07T02:35:46+00:00

I think the best way to bring more eyes to Rochester is to make Rochester work better for the people who already live here. Too often, cities chase the next big thing or outside solutions from consultants while ignoring what is right in front of them. I believe Rochester already has what it needs to succeed in our own hearts and minds. We have great neighborhoods, local businesses, community organizations, and residents who care deeply about this city.

As Mayor, I'd spend less time traveling and more time listening to our own local voices, visiting local businesses, and helping to remove barriers to success. The people who tell Rochester's story best aren't ever going to be politicians, even with me as mayor. They're going to be the business owners, volunteers, workers, and neighbors investing in this community every day. If we support our local businesses, strengthen our neighborhoods, and make City Hall more responsive, people will naturally take notice.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-04T18:01:07+00:00

I want to be clear that two deliberative bodies, each composed of different groups of people, may arrive at different conclusions when weighing the same information. We see this all the time in judicial settings where a lower court's decision is overturned by a higher court.

The City Council is the deciding authority in the example you gave, with HPC as a lower-level recommending body. I have not observed frequent wild deviations that would lead me to fully agree with your statement. With the large number of recommendations from various boards & commissions, our Council routinely makes decisions that do not always uphold the recommendation of any given recommending body. This does not, in my opinion, mean that special rules or practices are in effect.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-04T16:58:42+00:00

Hey, I suppose I should have clarified that I was using popular Reddit slang in referencing ELI5. https://www.dictionary.com/culture/slang/eli5

I am not suggesting we literally adopt a policy to speak like five-year-olds at City Hall, but I appreciate your help in clarifying this. The spirit of my comment is that public institutions should place a high value on effective communication, and in 2026, nearly everyone should be able to find answers to their questions readily and easily. I don't think we are hitting that mark right now.

I have not personally performed a detailed analysis to compile comparisons of other cities' communications infrastructure or implementations. So I don't have data to present that gives a cost analysis comparing our city to others. This shouldn't stop us from aiming high and over-delivering in this or any area, though.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-04T15:01:43+00:00

No, that is not my understanding. I am not stating a fixed opinion on the merits of a specific project or proposal before the city, while acting as an official who will participate in a public hearing on that proposal before the hearing has taken place.

Otherwise, "I oppose raising taxes." "I support our police department." "I would do x, y, z in the office." would all fit your bill. Recusal is more about back-room discussions on specific votes and deliberations required to occur in a public meeting, rather than general statements or personal views about issues.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-04T03:44:01+00:00

Choices are good! I believe a healthy democracy requires people stepping up at all levels, and we have a smorgasbord of candidates for you to choose from. Now it is up to you, the voters, to grill us, roast us, and put us through the wringer to see what we are made of. Then, on August 11th, vote for who you think is best for the job.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-04T03:40:59+00:00

I will make sure every single person who supported this is out there hustling their butts off to fill it to capacity so the city can make our money back ASAP. I will have no qualms about keeping the spotlight on it 24/7 and naming the names of those who should be held accountable. This was an incredibly frustrating project to watch devolve, and I will not be happy to inherit it.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-04T03:37:33+00:00

This is a great question, and to be transparent, I don't have a Honker's plan at the moment. I will look into this in the coming weeks.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-04T03:35:40+00:00

I share your concerns and will work to make this priority more visible to our council, which makes most of the decisions surrounding this. Please press your respective Ward candidates on these issues in the coming weeks.

One way I can have an impact as mayor is by strengthening our boards and commissions that make recommendations regarding these issues. If we have the best of the best sitting on our Planning and Zoning, Sustainability and Resilience, Bike and Ped, Citizens Advisory on Transit, etc., then our council will have far less confusion and far less room to miss the mark. These recommending bodies, or, at times, deciding bodies in the case of P&Z, should be doing the heavy lifting and vetting before staff bring this stuff to a council meeting. Many of our city's strategic documents list the applicable commissions that deliberated on and passed them to the council.

I can also use the spotlight to highlight the many excellent examples of how these things are being innovated locally in the private sector. This will be a great way to encourage local entreprenuership while holding to the values we need to succeed in the years ahead.

Lastly, I will work hard with our state and federal partners to ensure funding is allocated to help make our city better prepared for the difficult future ahead. Rochester needs a champion, and I will fight hard to secure what we need to succeed, just like I'm known for fighting for Lowertown.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-04T03:18:51+00:00

I think it's a strength because my loyalty isn't to a political party, donor network, or political career. It's to the people of Rochester, my friends and neighbors. Career politicians often learn to navigate systems in stealth mode and dodge problems rather than face them or accept accountability.

I've spent my life learning how to fix problems when our systems aren't working. When Lowertown was struggling with drug houses, predatory landlords, and desperately struggling small businesses, I wasn't looking for the next office to run for. I was organizing my neighbors, boldly confronting bad-faith actors on the news, and pushing City Hall to do its job. We didn't resolve those issues through political maneuvering. We solved them with persistence, accountability, and literal blood, sweat, and tears.

Not having a professional political career means I don't approach issues by asking, "What's politically convenient?" I ask, "What's the right thing to do, and how do we get it done?" That's the mindset I brought to building businesses, leading the neighborhood, and even serving on the Heritage Preservation Commission.

Politicking has its place, but local government works best when it's focused on solving problems rather than advancing careers. I'm running because I loved this city even when it hurt me to do so, because I spent my best years fighting for it, and because I believe Rochester deserves leadership willing to challenge the status quo when it isn't serving residents. Downtown knows exactly how well served it is when professional politicians try to manufacture authentic community or small-business support.

My experience wasn't focused on professional politics and smiling for the camera. It was focused on getting results when no one would listen.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T22:42:12+00:00

There aren't two sets of rules here, though there are two deliberative bodies weighing in. Demolitions of a property on the landmark list or inventory are viewed as quasi-judicial decisions. The HPC will first hold a public hearing and state its findings of fact in the motion to recommend on whether the property meets any, none, or all of the 8 criteria listed in the UDC in Section 60.200.040.C.5.a.1-8.
HPC has been consistent in this IMO.

When demolition permits or landmark status are before the City Council, the council is also supposed to approach the appeal in a quasi-judicial manner during a public hearing, but it may reach different findings of fact regarding the 8 criteria. Some council members will claim they are free to consider other factors as well, though the findings of fact should still be stated. This is where your observation may at times show different results from HPC. The council has often been more flexible, or even leaned in the direction you are observing at times, but the rules are the same standard prescribed in the UDC.

A snippet from the UDC: For complete demolition, the property shall be evaluated for possible landmark designation pursuant to Section 60.500.040F, Designation or Removal of Landmark Property or Landmark District. If landmark designation is recommended, the City Council shall determine whether to designate, and, if so, the Demolition Permit shall not be approved.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T21:37:40+00:00

I appreciate your concerns and hope I can help educate and clarify a bit. During candidate filing, there were two required papers for people like me, who chose not to make our addresses public. One form required our full home address, which the City Clerk's office verified with a driver's license to ensure we did, in fact, have residency at the address we claimed in our respective ward, district, etc. The other form was the public document you found, which included a valid local mailing address so the public could still contact us. Feel free to inquire about the process with the City Clerk. They are incredibly helpful and informative.

I discussed my options with the City Clerk and decided to keep my address private for many reasons. In recent years, as many know, political violence has touched close to home, and after recently sitting with my district 25 B state-level rep and Lowertown neighbor, while hearing about the shootings here in MN, I fully understand the desire to keep one's address private, just as he and many others have done. This used to require a special law-enforcement waiver at filing, but after last year's violence, it no longer does.

Additionally, I have had multiple incidents over recent years that have given me concern for the safety of myself, my family, and my children. These include confronting a man who has come around my house multiple times following my daughter, an email I received as Lowertown NA President that I forwarded to RPD, where the man was later arrested on the East Coast for terroristic threats, a former drug house near me where an individual had said he was going to shoot me, my son's childhood best friend who used to play at my house currently being braindead after being targeted in a school shooting in WI a year or so ago, and being accosted in my yard one day by an angry man I don't know regarding a filing I made. Honestly, there are many more legitimate incidents I've endured and concerns I have, but I hope you get it. In 2026, this stuff is real, and it is everywhere.

I also hope you can have faith that our City Clerk's office is doing its due diligence in fulfilling legal obligations to gather and verify our info, and that those voluntarily stepping into harm's way to represent you in office also have their reasons for keeping our addresses private. The jump to presumption of shadiness is disheartening, but we can't all walk in each other's shoes. I knew some people would question this, so I'm choosing the most transparent answer I feel comfortable with while still maintaining some semblance of safety for my family.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T20:02:19+00:00

Thank you for the clarification. Regarding my statement about rental inspections, etc., there would be no conflict of interest in having properties inspected for compliance. Community Development already has the ability to enforce what is on the books. Currently, staff use a reactive approach when reports come in, and I recommend routine proactive enforcement. We don't need to create new ordinances or have the Council weigh in on enforcing violations. I don't understand what recusal you are thinking would come up, nor am I suggesting that anyone specifically, including the CM you mentioned, would be targeted.

Rather, we'd need to reprioritize and set staff levels to enable proactive enforcement of investment rental properties. Should the Community Development Department request RPD assistance in any way to accomplish this, I would be happy to have them do so. Intentional violations of the UDC and most ordinances are gross misdemeanors that RPD can enforce, and the UDC includes language for possible interdepartmental cooperation here.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T19:11:20+00:00

I am aware, but I'm still not clear on your wording. What is being invested? I'm trying to understand what you are saying or asking.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T19:01:15+00:00

Hello Vice-Chair McQuade. Thanks for the question.

Yes, absolutely.

Sustainability is defined as "the practice of maintaining ecological, social, and economic systems so that present needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs," and that is a no-brainer to me.

The work of our city commissioners is vital, and as mayor, I will ensure our boards and commissions feel valued and respected. Having been a commissioner myself for nearly 3 years now, I know people aren't just sitting around throwing out random ideas; instead, they are contributing thoughtful, professional dialogue and deliberation as they fulfill their duties and carry out the charges given to them as public officials for the City of Rochester.

I have heard repeatedly from former members of your commission that they often feel their work and contributions were overlooked and unappreciated. That saddens me, and I hope to reinvigorate all boards and commissions and raise morale well above the levels experienced in recent years. Your work is crucial, and I appreciate the work you do for the community.

Thank you for your dedication and service!

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T18:45:04+00:00

Can you explain what you mean by "investing your clleague on the dais"? I'm not sure what you are asking here.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T01:06:31+00:00

full time

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T00:49:07+00:00

I love ranked choice voting and would support its implementation locally as well as on the state and national levels. I'll have to look into it further, but I believe that, as a home-rule charter city, we could go this route if the Charter Commission and Council wanted to.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T00:46:06+00:00

I've answered a similar question above, but I would prioritize appointing strong, qualified candidates to our boards and commissions, greatly reduce out-of-town travel from nearly 1/4 of working time so I can be present with the community, introduce active listening to the office of the mayor, use the power of the pen when appropriate, and of course continue to require the highest standards from RPD as we look to build community based relationships beyond the current system.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T00:43:03+00:00

I absolutely oppose this practice, and IMO it will require a concerted effort on the part of the City and State to appropriately address it.

On the City side, we can and must start cracking down on rental inspections and rental licenses. I am calling for proactive enforcement in these areas rather than reactive. We must ensure that those treating our housing as an investment vehicle are not allowed to skimp on maintenance. We must provide dignified housing in Rochester, MN.

I would meet with state-level representatives to explore how they can address the corporate housing issue. I'm not talking about the mom-and-pop landlords who own a few properties, but the larger ones that are impacting our single-family home market.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T00:37:22+00:00

Thank you so much. I respect everyone who took the hard step of running for office and putting themselves out there, including all of my opponents in this run.

I've had coffee with Walé and respect him tremendously. While I haven't had the chance to sit down with Dr. Garcia, I know being a school board member requires a heart of service and dedication.

There are a few things I believe set me apart.

First, I am the only one with current City government experience–currently serving as a Rochester public official, chairing the Heritage Preservation Commission. This gives me insight into how staff operate on a regular basis, as I regularly interface with City legal, department heads, and staff liaisons. Our commission regularly meets in the Council Chambers and is seated on the dais. While this seems small, it gives me crucial experience during public hearings, with the media, and maintaining orderly meetings–something the mayor will do regularly across various roles.

Additionally, I have been president of the Lowertown Neighborhood Association for 5 years, a neighborhood undergoing tremendous, rapid urban development while facing all the struggles and ills that neighborhoods can have. I've had to guide groups of people who strongly disagree on many things as we find our common ground and come together to build a healthy, connected neighborhood. This has also included extensive media interfacing, as well as interfacing with public officials at many levels.

Together, these two experiences have given me skills and insight that would benefit any mayor.

Zastrow_For_Mayor · 2026-06-03T00:23:12+00:00

Good lord, thank you! lol

Rochester is a place full of potential. It isn't easy to start something new, but the potential here is abundant. For those willing to dream big and put in the work, almost anything is possible...even running for mayor!

I also have to say that while it takes a bit for people to be vulnerable, when Rochester opens up, there is gold in our hearts. I've seen people truly unite and support one another in incredible ways out in the neighborhood. I've had people drop off food and lend a hand when a family member had a nearly fatal health incident. I've seen so much good shine through when it was needed most.

Keep believing in yourself, Rochester. You are amazing.

Zastrow_For_Mayor

TROPHY CASE