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the Mayor reach out to Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office to have someone speak to how this organization went out to local schools and talked about improving student safety. She explained <br /> she voiced concern to the Mayor about the City not being sued or how this event would lead to the discussion of banning guns. She noted she suggested the event with the Annunciation <br /> parents be held at the Community Center versus at City Hall because this would allow for more people to attend. She indicated she had not heard anything back from the Mayor and the <br /> next thing she saw was a flyer stating Keith Ellison would be coming in as a speaker. She stated the Mayor has made it very clear that he would like to advance his political career <br /> and there was nothing wrong with that. She indicated her issue was that he had stated he supported Keith Ellison’s reelection. She discussed how the Mayor has brought in different <br /> candidates for the Council and community to get to know, but noted these events were not held in the Council Chambers. She reported the City Council was non-partisan and did not endorse <br /> candidates on campaign for individuals in the Council Chambers. She discussed how the recent event held with the Annunciation parents was labeled a town hall event. She indicated a <br /> few years ago, the town hall event was changed to the State of the City. She felt this event should not have been labeled as a town hall event and felt it was wrong to have a hired <br /> anti-gun activist brought in to speak at City Hall. She explained she had not learned of this until Sunday. She understood the community needed to talk and have discussions about what <br /> has happened because innocent people have been killed by acts of gun violence. She supported more conversations being held and people working together to address this concern. She reported <br /> the name calling and arguing was getting the City nowhere. She indicated it was her understanding the City had not contributed any money to having this event held at City Hall and noted <br /> she had no knowledge of the anti-gun activist that was hired to attend this event. She explained she had done a lot of ugly crying over the past two days, and this was very difficult <br /> for her to speak about. She stated she greatly respected her fellow Councilmembers and how this group worked together for the benefit of the community. She explained she was speaking <br /> out on this topic because she did not want to lose her job or her daycare license because her daycare families that she had had for the past 31 years no longer trust her. <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom thanked Parks and Rec, Project Ardan, the Community Engagement Committee and the community for attending the tree lighting ceremony and for making this event possible. <br /> <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom stated he would be attending a Board of Pardons meeting on Wednesday, December 17. <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom read a statement of reflection on the past year. He stated he was proud of the humanitarian efforts the Council pursued. He thanked Councilmember Smith for suggesting <br /> the Council adopt a family in order to provide them with a Merry Christmas. He explained the Council would continue to pursue opportunities for everyone to do better. He stated he was <br /> grateful for all of the volunteers in the community. <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom commented on the recent statements and hate that has been focused towards the Somali community. He reported Mounds View has Somali residents, and he reported this hateful <br /> rhetoric will not be tolerated in Mounds View. He discussed how the Somali residents he knows were some of the most resilient people he knows. He proposed the City host a community <br /> event in early 2026 to show solidarity with the Somali residents in Mounds View. He apologized to the