Rapid City People’s Alliance

THE PEOPLE’S AGENDA

Security & Dignity for All

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We, the working class and underrepresented people of Rapid City, believe in our vision for a better community: one of security and dignity for all. That vision requires responsibility, commitment, action, and accountability from the city’s leadership and its residents. The following policy criteria are required to achieve a Rapid City where all residents can live a dignified life.

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The Agenda

Housing Stability

Guide housing development toward affordability and availability, not luxury and scarcity.

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Ensure the city’s definition of affordability reflects the economic reality of local residents.
Increase production and preservation of quality, affordable housing through zoning and incentives.
Ensure that residential neighborhoods are not turned into tourist areas to the detriment of long-time residents by expanding short-term rental regulations.
Protect vulnerable residents by creating critical housing relief and assistance programs.
Invest in the development of fair relief eligibility and property valuation for all homeowners.
Implement property tax relief for qualifying fixed- and low-income homeowners via assessment limits, deferrals or credits.
Prevent displacement through increased tenant protections, eviction prevention programs, emergency assistance and homeowner/renter education.
Invest in dedicated city service for rental property inspections to ensure landlord accountability to tenant safety and dignity.
Advocate for state-level housing policies to reflect the needs of Rapid City residents.

Economic Dignity

Incentivize and advocate for living wage policies so that people can live dignified lives.

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Advocate to incrementally increase the minimum wage so all businesses are paying a mandated living wage that increases annually with inflation.
Require that all city contracts and tax increment financing districts awarded have a living-wage clause attached.
Provide tax incentives for small businesses to increase workers’ wages.
Invest in local and state childcare systems to provide affordable and quality options for families.
Advocate to modify income eligibility requirements to reduce barriers for families to receive childcare support.
Provide tax incentives for private businesses to host childcare for their employee’s families.
Implement targeted tax relief programs.
Use other taxes (e.g. an increased sales tax) to lower property and grocery taxes without the loss of services.
Use taxes to fund publicly beneficial projects such as schools, roads, transportation, and other things that make work and life in Rapid City easier and more enjoyable.
Limit TIFs to projects slated for public use or public benefit, and require that all TIFs include a Community Benefit Agreement that addresses specific local needs, such as affordable housing, job creation, or environmental mitigation.
Support people in crisis so that they have a stronger safety net.
Create city-based emergency and stabilization funds to bolster state assistance.
Require all industries within the city to offer paid sick leave for all employees.

Public Transportation & Accessibility

Update public transportation options to reflect city growth and to be usable for citizens to get to work and to access services.

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Create more bus stops, particularly closer to important locations like medical care or veteran services.
Extend public transportation hours and increase frequency of stops.
Provide funding to subsidize services like Rapid Rider and Dial-a-Ride for riders with disabilities, the elderly, and others who rely on the services.
Improve existing public transportation infrastructure to make public transportation more usable.
Add appropriate infrastructure, such as benches and shelters, at current bus stops.
Ensure areas around and leading to stops are accessible, e.g. adding curb cuts and maintaining sidewalks.
Expand bike paths, bike lanes, and sidewalks to provide additional transportation options while encouraging community health and connection.
Provide incentives for opening essential businesses, such as grocery stores or healthcare facilities, and other services in areas that need them most.
Review and modify zoning laws to include housing near where people work and access services.
Strengthen partnerships among the city, schools, health providers, and social services.

Community Connection

Invest in accessible community spaces and programming.

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Support community-led solutions and peer support networks.
Create more free, public spaces, particularly spaces available for youth.
Create zoning laws that require green spaces or parks.
Create opportunities for those who are here year-round, not just tourists.
Invest in projects that create jobs, entertainment, and other opportunities for year-round residents.

Planning & Growth Management

Update and improve the comprehensive plan to more proactively plan for city growth that benefits the community.

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Explicitly integrate housing affordability, income data, and displacement risk into long-term planning.
Condition development approvals on demonstrated capacity for roads, utilities, schools, and services.
Ensure that infrastructure around schools is prioritized in growth planning. Center children and education in planning for the future of the city.
Update accessibility and land-use requirements to ensure public locations and businesses are easily accessed by all.
Ensure zoning laws allow for community needs, such as care centers and food, to be available in all parts of the city.
Require public locations and businesses to be ADA-accessible. Provide assistance or incentives for current locations in updating current accommodations or becoming ADA-accessible.

Community Care and Public Health

Expand critical resources for vulnerable residents, particularly those with disabilities.

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Develop city initiatives that focus on supporting the everyday needs of veterans.
Advocate to increase Social Security Insurance and Social Security Disability Insurance payments.
Provide additional funding to expand adult day centers in Rapid City.
Increase access to affordable mental and physical health care and addiction services.
Increase outpatient and inpatient options for treatment in the area.
Incentivize practitioners to accept sliding-scale, income-based fees.
Create a city-wide healthcare option for independent workers and small business owners.

**Any policies not under the authority of the city will require engaging in collaborative county- and state-level advocacy & organizing. Additionally, these agenda items address the most prominent issues expressed from community feedback, not the only issues.

Need Help Understanding the Terms?

Some policy terms can be confusing. Check out our glossary to learn more about the language we use in The People’s Agenda.

View Glossary (PDF)

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