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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We are approaching the end of the year, and I want to say thank you. Thank you for your resiliency, your engagement, your questions, and your ideas. My work and leadership at Hennepin County are enriched and augmented by you.
Read below for more on this month’s highlights: Access to the Government Center during the Kim Potter trial, the county’s ongoing disparity reduction focus, Lyndale Avenue safety improvements update, and Hennepin County at the White House. (Yes, that White House!)
This is the last regular newsletter of the year. In two weeks I’ll send out a high-level budget recap, and my office will resume our regular communications in January.
At that time we’ll be approaching the two-year anniversary of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are not out of the woods. International medical experts continue to assert that the safest, most expeditious way to get back to our pre-COVID lives is through vaccination and maintaining immunization. If you haven't gotten vaccinated yet, please consider doing so before gathering this holiday season. You can find both first-time vaccination appointments and booster appointments through the county portal here.
As the board puts the final touches on the county’s 2022 budget, I'm wowed by our achievements over the course of the last year, and how they are shaping ongoing work to reduce disparities and deliver fundamental services to residents. More on this in our upcoming annual year-in-review letter which should be in your mailboxes in January.
I wish you the warmest greetings of the season. As always, please continue to be in touch with me and my office about issues of importance to you.
My best,
During the upcoming State vs. Kim Potter trial, there will be temporary changes in how to access the Hennepin County Government Center. The building will remain open to the public.
Temporary changes starting Monday, November 29
- Government Center parking ramp closed to public parking (open only to contract parkers)
- Building will have one entrance (North Plaza street level/5th Street) and one exit (South Plaza street level/7th Street)
- Skyways to and from the Government Center will be closed
- Tunnel to and from Minneapolis City Hall will be closed
- A Tower weapon screening area will be closed. All staff and public going into the towers will pass through the C Tower weapon screening, then use C Tower elevators and bridge floors to access the A Tower side.
Hennepin County’s role in the trial is to ensure that the Fourth Judicial District Court can conduct business in a safe and effective manner. To do that, it is necessary to implement temporary access changes at the Government Center.
Service reminders
Hennepin County remains committed to providing services to residents during this time. Many county services continue to be offered online, by phone and in person by appointment.
Visitors to county buildings are required to wear face coverings.
More information
Visit hennepin.us/media/kim-potter-trial.
Hennepin County can help you find and access childhood immunizations, from COVID-19 to MMR
Childhood immunizations protect kids from serious diseases like COVID-19, measles, mumps, rubella, and diphtheria. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, childhood immunization rates have fallen in Minnesota.
Not only do childhood immunizations help keep children safe, but they also protect other vulnerable family members. As families prepare to come together for the holidays, getting children caught up on childhood immunizations, including the COVID-19 vaccination if they’re five or older, helps keep all family members safe and healthy.
Connecting to childhood immunization services is easy
Hennepin County has programs to help families get their children caught up on all immunizations, including the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of their health insurance status. The county can also help families connect to services not run by Hennepin County.
To connect to childhood immunization services:
- Call 612-348-8900. Help is available in English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong.
- Visit the county’s childhood immunization website, hennepin.us/immunizations. The site lists immunization programs and other resources like vaccine schedules.
To connect with COVID-19 vaccinations:
Children’s Vaccine Event
Hennepin County is hosting a COVID vaccine (Pfizer) event for kids ages 5–11. Get a $50 Visa gift card with the shot as supply allows.
District 287 N. Education Center
5530 Zealand Ave. N., Mpls
Dec. 7, 4:30-8:30pm
Appointments preferred, limited walk-ins.
Learn more: https://www.hennepin.us/residents/emergencies/covid-19#vaccine-information
Since 2013, thousands of committed county employees have focused on developing innovative strategies and creating powerful solutions around seven interconnected disparity domains: education, employment, income, health, housing, justice and transportation.
Educational outcomes, compensation levels, wealth attainment, home ownership, mortality and justice system involvement are just some examples of areas where disparities are disproportionally impacting our residents who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
Read our recently released Disparity Reduction Vision and Priorities report and check out our Disparity Reduction storytelling website to learn more about what we’re doing.
The report highlights the important decisions and progress made in the course of the county’s Disparity Reduction work and clearly states the issues and our emerging solutions to solve them. The website augments this work by bringing to life the stories of our efforts to reduce disparities.
Crews have suspended work on Lyndale Avenue (County Road 22) at the 25th and 27th street intersections for the winter.
Crews completed everything they could get done this year, including:
- Upgrading new pedestrian ramps
- Upgrading bus pads
- Installing new bases for the new pedestrian crossing beacons and streetlights
Unfortunately, we could not get all the materials we needed for the new streetlights and pedestrian flashing beacons due to material delays. This along with the anticipated changes in weather and colder temperatures resulted in the decision to complete the remaining work next spring.
When crews return in spring 2022, the remaining work will include:
- Constructing the new center medians
- Upgrading streetlights
- Installing new flashing beacons for people crossing the road at the intersections
- Striping crosswalks
We will provide e-mail and website updates when construction is resumed at the intersection.
Learn more about the project here: https://www.hennepin.us/residents/transportation/lyndale-avenue-safety
Hennepin County was invited to attend the signing of President Biden's historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill on November 15, on the South Lawn of the White House. The invitation signals that the White House sees Hennepin County as a key local government partner in the Midwest, and demonstrates our deepening relationship with the President’s administration. I was honored to represent our region at this momentous event.
Learn more about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act here.
Counties are well-positioned to improve economic outcomes for the residents of their local communities. NACo’s new report analyzes the tools that counties can use to drive economic mobility, or movement up the economic ladder over a lifetime. The report examines the underlying elements of economic mobility and identifies how county leaders can use local power and authority to leverage county policy, planning and service delivery as levers to foster upward mobility for residents.
Seven key issue areas are identified in which counties hold particularly effective solutions to uplift communities and residents: housing, education and workforce development, health, community and neighborhood development, justice and public safety, technology and information access and financial security. Also featured are several case studies highlighting the various ways counties are using these levers to develop community-based approaches to promote successful economic outcomes for residents - you can find Hennepin County’s case study in the “Community and Neighborhood Development” section of the report.
Learn more here.
The Hennepin County Board is recruiting volunteers for 52 advisory board positions through its annual appointment process. The deadline to apply is December 31, 2021. For more information or to apply, visit the Advisory and Watershed District Boards webpage.
2022 Advisory Board Openings
- Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council (12)
- Capital Budgeting Task Force (2)
- City Planning Commission, Minneapolis (1)
- County Extension Committee, University of Minnesota Extension (4)
- Human Resources Board (4)
- Library Board (3)
- Mental Commitment Attorney Panel Advisory Board (1)
- Race Equity Advisory Council (13)
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Board (8)
2022 Watershed Board Openings
- Lower Minnesota River Watershed District Board (1)
- Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board (2)
Winter Hazard Awareness Week was November 14 - 20. Our changing climate means an increased frequency of freeze/thaw cycles, ice storms, rain on snow events, and heavy snowstorms.
Read on for tips from Hennepin County’s Climate Action team: https://www.hennepin.us/climate-action/what-we-can-do/preparing-winter-weather
Eco-friendly Holiday Guide from Choose to Reuse provides tips for reducing waste and supporting local retailers
We all go into the holidays with the best of intentions – we want to share great gifts, tasty food and plenty of time together. With a little planning, you can create joy, not waste this holiday season.
Decorations
Check out your local thrift or vintage stores for decorations and ornaments you can reuse and enjoy for years to come. Retailers like Arc’s Value Village, Bethesda, and Time Bomb Vintage are all great options.
Gifts
Buying secondhand saves money, cuts waste, and allows you to find something unique and special without worrying about shipping delays. Check out the Hopkins Antique Mall, which has 78 booths on two floors packed with vintage finds. See the Secondhand Holiday Gift Guide for more great ideas.
Giving experiences never gets old and is usually a less-waste, more sustainable option. See our guide for giving experiences rather than physical gifts.
If you are buying new, look for long-lasting items that can be reused or recycled later. In addition, look for battery-free and plastic-free toys and always opt for minimal packaging.
Remember to wrap up your gifts the green way. Get creative – reuse gift bags from last year or wrap gifts using recyclable materials, like newspapers and brown paper bags.
Inspired hosting
Although you want to be a generous host, making too much food that doesn’t get eaten is a waste of money and resources. The Guest-Imator from Save the Food will help you plan and shop for just the right amount.
A low-impact holiday meal also means skipping the disposables. Use dishes you already have and purchase any extra dishes you need, like pie plates, at a local thrift store. While you’re there, get inspired and grab festive table décor to make the meal memorable.
For additional ideas for choosing to reuse by opting for secondhand gifts and decor for the holidays, see Hennepin County’s guide to an eco-friendly holiday season.
Contact us
Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883
Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125
Laura Hoffman
District Aide
612-348-0863
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