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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

More on today’s closed door from Ward 3:

Today, I voted, very reluctantly, in favor of Resolution 26-1659 to appoint the law firm Fisher Phillips as Special Counsel to represent Mayor Her in the lawsuit brought by Chief Henry against the Mayor and the City.
It is my understanding that state law creates a presumption that public employees, including the Mayor, will be indemnified and provided a legal defense in matters such as these unless there is a legal basis to deny that defense. Additionally, the City Attorney cannot represent the Mayor in this case because of the conflict of interest created by her role as both an appointee of the Mayor and a fact witness in the litigation.
Ordinarily, the determination of whether the City will indemnify and defend an employee is made by the City Attorney. However, because of this conflict, the City will retain an outside firm through action at our next council meeting to conduct an independent indemnification analysis and determine, through a quasi-judicial process, whether the Mayor is entitled to indemnification and defense by the City.
Until that determination is made, it is my understanding that the City must continue to comply with its obligations under state law.

Based on the legal advice provided to the Council, voting against this resolution could have exposed the City to additional legal risk by failing to meet those obligations. There is a process in place to determine whether the Mayor was acting within the scope of her official duties during the conduct that gave rise to this lawsuit, but that analysis will take time and could not be completed before this vote. We also have a timeline to respond to the lawsuit that we must comply with.
I am deeply disappointed by the situation we find ourselves in. As a councilmember, I have a responsibility to protect the City from legal risk, but I also have a responsibility to safeguard public resources and protect the City from unnecessary financial harm. I have serious reservations about whether this is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. I also have concerns about how this particular law firm was selected.
Like many residents, I am still waiting to see the full report from Resolute Law which I have formally requested. My colleagues and I were forced by legal timelines to make significant decisions without having access to all of the information we would have preferred to review. That is not how I make decisions, and it is not how the City should make decisions.

I know I am not alone in my frustration. More than 100 public comments on this resolution were overwhelmingly opposed to the City paying for the Mayor's legal defense. Our office continues to hear from constituents who are disappointed by the Mayor's alleged conduct and are asking questions that I am still unable to answer. The expectations of our community are not being met.
Trust in government depends on transparency, accountability, and confidence that public dollars are being spent in ways that reflect our shared values and priorities. Right now, many residents feel those standards are falling short.
I remain deeply frustrated by this situation. Our residents deserve better. Our city employees deserve better. And our City deserves better.
I will continue to closely oversee this developing matter and use the authority afforded to my office under the City Charter to pursue the transparency and accountability that residents expect and deserve. In the meantime, I will remain focused on serving Saint Paul and continuing the work of building the city our community deserves.

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Molly Coleman @mollycoleman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Sharing my comments from today’s meeting of the City Council, related to the hiring of outside counsel to represent Mayor Her in the lawsuit brought by Chief Henry. The full audio of the meeting is available here: stpaul.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=....

On April 1st of this year, the City was notified by Chief Henry’s attorney that the Mayor was being accused of engaging in illegal conduct toward City employees, and that litigation was reasonably foreseeable.

Today, one day shy of six months later, the City finally saw fit to discuss the matter in a closed door session with this City Council.

In the six months during which the Council and the public have been kept entirely in the dark by the administration, an external law firm has already been engaged at tax payers expense to investigate the allegations of repeated sexual harassment and other inappropriate workplace conduct by the Mayor.

Neither the Council or the public has been informed of the total cost of that investigation. Neither the Council or the public has seen the report.

While vague media reports have circulated that the report will be made public soon, we’re left with the allegations in the Chief’s 73-page complaint and the investigation summary prepared by an employee of the Mayor herself that finds that the Mayor engaged in “offensive and inappropriate behavior,” “created an uncomfortable work environment” for City employees, and “sent inappropriate text messages” to at least two City employees.

Today, the Council is effectively being asked to write a blank check with taxpayers’ money to a law firm that, frankly, is a law firm that I take great issue with—just minutes, literally minutes, after this body was provided for the first time was provided with any sort of update related to this matter.

This is no way to run a city. The lack of transparency, the refusal to provide the Council with the information necessary to fulfill our duties as a co-equal branch of government, and the lack of respect for the residents of the City is unacceptable. And yet, as the Council President explained, we effectively have no choice in this matter. If we choose not to retain outside counsel today, then we are opening up the City to additional liability and the risk that the Mayor herself could sue the City for refusing to hire outside counsel.

We are in a horrible position and we have very few options. I am incredibly frustrated by the vote that we are being asked to take today. I am incredibly frustrated by the timeline on which we are being asked to take it and the fact that we will be spending unknown sums of money, significant sums of money, defending against claims we know nothing about—despite the fact that our money has already been used to investigate those very claims.

So while I will vote yes for this resolution today, I want to be very clear about the legal limitations that require, from my perspective, that vote—and the immense frustration and disappointment at being asked to take this vote today.

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Lake Superior! Live! @lake-superior.live · 30/09/2026

Current* conditions near Bayfield, WI:

View looking SSE from Port Superior Marina overlooking Pikes Bay in Lake Superior. // Image captured at (local time): 2026-09-30 01:10:35 CDT (about 8 min. prior to this post) // Image sourced from: windy.com // Current Temp in Bayfield: 61 F | 16 C // Precip: broken clouds // Wind: SSW at 7 mph | 11 kph // Humidity: 99%

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Victor Stefanescu @vstef.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Scoop: A group of local investors including a longtime former owner is making a play to save Pearson’s Candy, a beloved Minnesota confectioner slated to halt production this week. www.startribune.com/pearsons-can...

startribune.com

As Pearson’s Candy crafts its last Salted Nut Roll, local investors make a play

A group including former co-owner Larry Hassler is trying to convince the confectioner’s private equity owner to sell.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The real social technology is “Da Gang” and “Consciously Hosting people.” Anyway this is why I hate the whole “you don’t owe other people anything” vein of self care discourse.

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Anders @derzquist.net · 29/09/2026

Lots of Third Space Discourse envisions a pattern where individuals go to a place and then connect with others to form a group. But I think the real dynamic is where people first form a group and then go adopt a space to (formally or informally) make their own.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I voted early today and I saw my favorite volunteer: Jeff. Jeff has welcomed me the last six times I have voted early and frankly at this point I would kill on his behalf.

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Bill Lindeke @blindeke.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

My thoughts about Waymo... which we really need to regulate... (but not like that) www.minnpost.com/cityscape/20...

minnpost.com

What should Minneapolis do about Waymo?

A human in the driver’s seat of a driverless taxi won’t solve some of the bigger headaches brought on by Waymo’s arrival.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Minestrone on my shoulder got herself adopted and will be a MacGrove resident going forward.

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Lauren in Saint Paul @comobelladonna.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The BlueSky logo should actually be a single performative tear

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Annoyed that the billionaire slipped completely off the hook and everyone is still chirping and barking at the sensitive guitar waif. You went for the decoy! You got played!

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Lake Superior! Live! @lake-superior.live · 19/09/2026

Current* conditions near Bayfield, WI:

View looking SSE from Port Superior Marina overlooking Pikes Bay in Lake Superior. // Image captured at (local time): 2026-09-18 21:14:01 CDT (about 5 min. prior to this post) // Image sourced from: windy.com // Current Temp in Bayfield: 59 F | 15 C // Precip: few clouds // Wind: ESE at 2 mph | 3 kph // Humidity: 93%

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Daniel Suitor @danielsuitor.com · 17/09/2026

put me in da trash hole

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Saint Paul has no patience for it this morning. Dude gets on the bus, breezes past the driver. Driver doesn’t say anything, doesn’t move the bus. Whole bus makes the Marge Simpson noise, dude pays.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Get a lawn sign for The People’s Lawyer and I guarantee I will mutter “My dog.” Whenever I bike past your house.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Man if you saw the Macklemore news and got mad at Ed Sheeran you just missed. It was Robert Kraft.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Conversely you have never had more access to content depicting crime. You have never felt less safe while living in a year that is in competition for the safest in human history.

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taylr @taylordahlin.com · 13/09/2026

katie jones speaks at her oktoberfest fundraiser on the importance of electing DFLers up and down the ticket this year so we have a trifecta in the legislature again, and some of the wins they achieved this session

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Anders @derzquist.net · 12/09/2026

St Paul Saints did the toy plane toss competition on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Undefeated civic troll operation. So proud this is my home team

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Snowden St. @snowden.st · 24/07/2024

Everyone's vote is the least interesting thing about them, on a real practical level. I think it's useful for folks to share their views and concerns, but developing a deep *care* over another individual's piddly lil vote is a recipe for brain worms and broken holiday dinners, to no gain.

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Lake Superior! Live! @lake-superior.live · 08/09/2026

Current* conditions near Duluth, MN:

Easterly view overlooking Bayfront Park, with a view of the Aerial Lift Bridge and Lake Superior beyond. // Image captured at (local time): 2026-09-08 17:18:12 CDT (about 1 min. prior to this post) // Image sourced from: youtube.com/@DuluthHarborCam1 // Current Temp in Duluth: 77 F | 25 C // Precip: overcast clouds // Wind: SSW at 17 mph | 28 kph // Humidity: 82%

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Well considering he’s a pederast can we talk about 10?

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Vince Mpls @vincempls.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

"Warrendale" was a railroad station on the Northern Pacific, one of a string of little stations between St Paul and Minneapolis built in 1886. There's no photo of it, but it would've looked exactly like the one in St Anthony Park. They all became obsolete after the streetcar system got built out.

a piece of Donnelly's Atlas of St Paul, 1892, showing Warrendale station along the rail line.

St Anthony's Northern Pacific Railroad Station in the 1890s, with horse and buggy in front.

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🚲 🥜scoops 🥜🚲 @scoopsstp.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

My hostage taker is holding a knife to my throat and asking "In what order was Minnesota added to the United States" and yelping "19th like the number of stars forming a larger star on the flag WAIT NO PLEASE CAN I CHANGE MY ANSWER wait god what is 19+13 is it 32? 32nd? If only the flag made sense!"

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🚲 🥜scoops 🥜🚲 @scoopsstp.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Cornering Lisa Demuth at her booth and drilling down on why we both think it is so important to have 19 small stars to represent the fact that Minnesota is the 19th state admitted to the union AFTER the original 13 states, also my heartfelt belief that Minnesota became a different state in 1893

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

This is literally the first time I’ve heard the term Warrendale. We’re talking about the Como neighborhood. Please be serious Tim Harlow.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

There’s been so much political projection surrounding this shooting. Everyone wants it to bolster their hobby horse and there’s just no clean justification for anyone’s anything here without a really clear and compelling case for a competing interest simultaneously.

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Fossilized Tree Sap @amberrl.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

tooooo many trolls trolling lately

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Uriah Ward @uriahward.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Dabbing isn't cool anymore. But you know what's always cool? Flipping your ballot and voting for the DFL-Endorsed candidates for Saint Paul School Board: Uriah Ward, Stephanie Anderson, and Omar Syed!

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Uriah Ward @uriahward.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

@tombasgen.bsky.social no stunts this time!

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Junk headline but within the story it does correctly flag the actual driver for rising property taxes: State and Feds rolling obligations downhill. Also lol at Eden Prarie’s low levy increase. They are either gutting themselves or putting their bills on lay away.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

You gotta enjoy Uriah’s eternal earnestness but as an elected staffer watching him do flips really queues up my “No physical stunts. There’s only 7 of you.” lecture. Please vote early and flip your ballot so Uriah does not bust his ass in the next video.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

If you have ever liked one of my long form municipal explainers you will absolutely find this podcast produced by @mollycoleman.bsky.social’s Ward 4 office a critical text on homelessness: open.spotify.com/episode/74GG...

open.spotify.com

Housing, Health & Homelessness A Conversation With Community Experts

SPNN Podcast · Episode

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Anders @derzquist.net · 16/11/2025

Saint Paul Issue Polling Should the city dramatically increase taxes in order to abolish poverty within the city for all time? Yes - 89% No - 6% Unsure - 5% Should the city continue paving roads? Yes - 41% No - 39% Unsure - 20%

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Okay so the thing that I’m obsessed with is that we got a real type of guy. 1) willing to steal a bronze bust 2) keep it for personal admiring! Not scrap! 3) dumb enough to crack off a few rifle rounds in his own front yard in a major city Just an amazing creature.

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Metro Transit (Official) @metrotransitmn.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

⚾ Ride light rail for a modern-day Streetcar Doubleheader! This Saturday, Aug. 29, catch the Twins vs. White Sox at 2:10 p.m., then Saints vs. Toledo at 6:37 p.m. at CHS Field. Ride between Target Field and CHS Field on the METRO Green Line and connect with Twin Cities baseball history. 🚈

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I love this stupid town. www.kare11.com/article/news...

kare11.com

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Saint Paul is out of the Flock game. Wards 2 & 3, Noecker and Jost, pulled the metaphysical plug with a 7-0 vote. Talk to Bob Fletcher if you want the rest. They belong to him.

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Bill Lindeke @blindeke.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: squirrel eating a catsup packet

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Lake Superior! Live! @lake-superior.live · 26/08/2026

Current* conditions near Marquette, MI:

Northern view from Mt. Mesnard overlooking the city of Marquette and Marquette Bay in Lake Superior. // Image captured at: 2026-08-26 11:18:02 UTC (about 1 min. prior to this post) // Image sourced from: nmu.edu // Current Temp in Marquette: 65 F | 18 C // Precip: overcast clouds // Wind: SSW at 7 mph | 11 kph // Humidity: 91%

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Jolene is of course Dolly’s best song. 9 to 5 has always been my personal favorite. Her duet with Sabrina Carpenter on Please Please Please of course speaks most deeply to me as a profoundly stupid man.

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SHOEGAZE COMMANDO @bornwithatail.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Good morning

A 1980’s news anchor man with graying “helmet” hair, sitting in front of a video monitor that says “Feeling Fine”

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

She’s right. If you talk to any of the EMS guys who work the Fair 80% of their work is people fumbling the basics, 19% are people who were medically unfit to leave the house in the first place and then 1% actual unpredictable emergencies.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Would you attend a fundraiser to help purchase one of the new Big Belly garbage cans for the city? I want to throw a big dumb party to where trash goblins buy a trash can.

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Tom Basgen, Mr. Saint Paul @tombasgen.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I do think Mr. Lang will have to have his ass beat in front of MPLS City Hall a 3rd time before he finally throws in the towel but it appears our neighbors to the West are more than capable of providing this education. Personal Request: 2 Spidermen next time please.

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