Sandy Pappas has been a Minnesota State Senator since 1990 representing a population of about 84,300 people in District 65 which includes downtown St Paul. This is her 11th term. She is a member and chair of the Capital Investment Committee. She is also a member of the Finance Committee, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, Labor Committee, and Rules and Administration Committee.

She has recently authored a bill that would direct more children who break the law toward services that will help them back on the right path, rather than funneling them into the juvenile court system. The bill, SF 3694, would raise the age at which children receive protection or services (CHIPS), rather than sentencing in juvenile court, from 9 to 12. You can read more about it here: https://communityreporter.org/expanding-chips-to-protect-our-youth/

Sandy grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota, and has a long history of activism and service. She has supported the American Indian Movement, protested the Vietnam War, and promoted women's rights. She has been recognized as Legislator of the Year on several occasions and has been named a Friend of Higher Education. She and her husband are members of the Minnesota Jewish Congregation Shir Tikvah which was the first synagogue in America to hire an openly lesbian rabbi.

Sandy's husband, Neal Gosman, is a Transportation Security Officer at MSP Airport as well as the Treasurer of the AFGE Local 899 Union. He is also an Estate Planner at EPIS.net.  They have three children and over thirty grandchildren.

How long have you lived at City Walk?

We moved in in the spring of 2009, so 15 and a half years.

Why did you move here?

We were looking to move into a condo downtown for about five years. We had a house that was too big on the west side on a big lot with five bedrooms and our kids had all moved to Israel and they weren’t coming back often enough to make it worthwhile to have a house. We wanted a condo, we wanted less work, we didn’t want to have a yard, we didn’t want to have animals anymore and I wanted to live halfway between the river and the Capital so I could walk easily both ways and City Walk met that criteria. We looked at lofts but then we realized that I couldn’t have a dark enough bedroom and we needed more than one bathroom and I wanted a guest room which we have here so it took us a while. Most of the condos are two bedrooms, we wanted a three bedroom and so we found this place and it had been on the market for a year so it wasn’t going anywhere but we thought it might sell so even before we sold our house, we bought this unit. I wanted a pool, I like an outdoor pool but I hadn’t seen the party room and I know I have been in other party rooms downtown and they are much bigger but ours is better now that it has been remodeled. I like to have events. Whether it is to have friends over or have fund raisers, it is nice to have a party room. The apartment is large, it is two apartments put together. The original owners had it built that way so it was like that when we moved in. We have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, three air conditioning/ heating units, but not three kitchens.

What do you like about it?

It has all the amenities I like. I like to walk to work, walk to the river, I like being connected to the Skyway. That can be convenient in the winter, we are at the end of the Skyway. I like having a grocery store nearby. I’m excited about a new park. I like the view from my window. Sometimes I feel like I’m in a vacation condo. I have a pool, an exercise room, a wonderful view, I can walk. I like being up high and having some outdoor space with the balcony. Sometimes we eat out there. I use the pool a lot.

What don't you like about it?

I wish we had more activities in the building especially since I am moving toward retirement. All these years I didn’t have much time to be involved because I was working full time. I still am but I’m thinking more about life after retirement and it would be nice to have more social activities, get to know more people in the building. I’ve lived here so long I should know everyone and I don’t. I wish we had a directory with everybody’s picture and name so that it would be easier to get to know people. I don’t like that we are fighting over the building and routine maintenance. I think it Is important to have a well run building and keep the value of our building. I’m very glad to see some of the improvements that are being made. Painting the railings is like having a brand new building, it looks so nice. I feel bad that I don’t go to Board Meetings but I always have a conflict on Thursday nights so that is one of my issues, I have a lot of conflicts.

I went to the Jazz night, I’m on the garden committee and the exercise room remodel committee. I’m trying to do more.

Thoughts about the future?

My term is up in two years and I plan on retiring. We do plan on staying here. Neal has an office here and we have the guest room. We have a lot of guests. This summer I was either traveling or hosting company so we really use the guest room for both family and friends.

It would be a good idea if more people in the building got involved. It would also help to have more transparency, more information. Maybe the minutes aren’t detailed enough or people aren’t paying enough attention. I think it is good that people are paying more attention but I don’t think it needs to be so contentious.

One thing I would like to work on is making the building smoke free. I understand existing residents should be able to smoke if they choose, but new people coming in would be subject to the non-smoking rule. I need to look into what all would be involved to make the change.