District 3 July Newsletter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

commissioner marion greene
USA B

July 2019

Greetings,

As we join with family and friends to celebrate community and country, I find that our nation's current events, and the 50th anniversary of a monumental equal rights fight, have me feeling contemplative about the moment we find ourselves in and the future we are creating.

In the last week, the President joked about shutting down the Free Press while he continued to peddle divisive, unfounded, and prejudiced rhetoric. The White House willfully ignores the basic needs of children and families who have risked it all to come to participate in our democracy and contribute to the vibrant, diverse fabric that makes America unique and beautiful. And we marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, at which the United States’ LGBTQ+ liberation movement was born.

The combination of open mockery of foundational American values, fatal and inhumane conditions at the US-Mexico border, the monumental anniversary of Stonewall and the July Fourth holiday has left me with a feeling best described as unsettled.

Let July 4, 2019, be a time to reground ourselves in the American ideals that connect each and every single person living in this country: to live free of persecution because of who you are or what you believe, and to provide refuge for those seeking those same freedoms.

Let this and every Independence Day be a time to uphold what makes our country great, and to renew our commitment to take our nation to its fullest potential.

My very best,

marion signature

News

Advancing the Southwest LRT Project

The board and railroad authority authorized the Metropolitan Council to submit a request for a second Letter of No Prejudice to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Southwest LRT project. The letter is required to ensure that spending on the Southwest LRT project continues to qualify for federal matching funds.

Additionally, a five-year lawsuit challenging the legality of Southwest LRT has ended in favor of the Southwest LRT project. Read Star Tribune coverage here.

 

YouthLink Expansion and Rededication

D3

Photo courtesy of Lauren Cutshall.

I joined YouthLink to celebrate a major renovation and $6 million of fundraising campaign. Located in downtown Minneapolis, YouthLink connects young people experiencing homelessness with resources and support. By investing in families and their young children, we’re helping break the cycle of poverty and reduce disparities.

 

Celebrating 2019 Graduates

175 youth who are teen parents, in foster care, or involved in the justice system celebrated graduating or earning their GEDs in a ceremony at University of Minnesota. Now in its sixth year, this celebration of young people’s academic success is something the county is honored to be part of, along with partners Connections to Independence, YMCA Twin Cities, and Hennepin Healthcare.

 

Enhancing Small Business Districts in St. Louis Park

St. Louis Park is one of three cities that will receive funding to strengthen priority small business districts and main streets.

The board awarded Business District Initiative grants for the following projects:

  • City of St. Louis Park, $50,000 to fund a façade improvement program for the Historic Walker Lake business district
  • City of Hopkins, $10,000 to evaluate feasibility and support for the establishment of a downtown business improvement district
  • City of Wayzata, $40,000 to develop a marketing and communication plan corresponding with multiple construction projects impacting travel to its downtown

 

Star Tribune Coverage of Honey Bee Rescue

BKSP

Misty Hoffman, amateur beekeeper who came to the county- and bees' rescue. Photo by Glen Stubbe.

After part of their hive fell, a swarm of honey bees outside the Government Center was becoming a danger to people underneath it and a threat to their own future. Luckily, the county has a beekeeper who was able to successfully move them to a safer location (for the bees and for humans). See pictures and watch video of the skilled county staffer rescue the bees and secure the area via Star Tribune coverage.

 

Services for Children at Risk of Truancy

The board approved funding for the County Attorney’s Office Be@School Program, which keeps students out of the criminal justice system by focusing on attendance. In the 2017-18 school year, those services successfully diverted more than 3,500 children from court hearings.

District 3 Profile

SP HS

Sarah Peck

Crime Scene Investigator

Tangletown, Minneapolis 

Describe your work.

I am a Crime Scene Investigator for Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. It is a mobile crime scene unit. Police agencies within Hennepin County call us when they have a crime scene they want documented and/or there is potential evidence to collect. We work a variety of calls from photo details to violent crimes.

What do you find most enjoyable about your work?

Every day of work is different. There is a lot of problem solving involved in the job; trying to get to difficult locations, taking photos in low light, working in all kinds of weather. 

What is the most challenging part of the work?

The weather can make processing outdoor scenes difficult. Rain, snow and bitter cold make our job challenging at times.

What is one thing everyone should know about the work you do?

Some people think my job is gruesome, but it is really satisfying work. I see it as collecting puzzle pieces before the crime scene is cleaned up. This allows people to put things back in place and try to get back to their new normal.

Board Briefings

You're invited. In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the County Board often meets for updates on Thursday mornings. These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are made, and topics are subject to change. Board briefings occur in the board room on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public. Call my office to confirm briefing time and location.

Thursday, July 18

  • 9:00am-11:00am: Mental Health - Community Stabilization Report

The Community Stabilization Report is a review of the Adult Mental Health system in Hennepin County. This briefing will include an overview of the needs in our community, systemic gaps, and a road map to continuous improvement in mental health services.

County Calendar

Go Outside with Hennepin County: fun every day of the week

Events at Target Field Station

  • Monday movie nights: July 8, 15 and 29, 7 - 9 p.m. 
  • Thursday trivia nights: July 11 and 25, 7 - 8 p.m. 

Events at Hennepin County Government Center

  • Tuesdays: farmers market: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: yard games and activities: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 
  • Thursdays: piano music: noon - 1 p.m. 

Learn more at mplsdowntown.com/gooutside/. Follow along on social media using #mymplsdt.

 

Workforce board openings

Help advance our region's workforce. Apply to serve on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Board. This board works with the business community to increase employment opportunities in suburban Hennepin and Carver counties. Learn more and apply at hennepin.us/advisoryboards by July 19.

About District 3

D3

The 3rd District serves the city of St. Louis Park, and Southwest and Downtown Minneapolis.

County Information

Contact us

Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883

Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125

Laura Hoffman
District Aide
612-348-0863

hennepin.us

Follow us

facebooktwitterinstagramyoutubelinked in
Hennepin County