|
Dear neighbors,
My heart is heavy with grief today along with many of you at this outcome that yet again displays the extent to which persistent systemic racism and white supremacy continue to infect and affect our entire society. I cry for those who care deeply for social justice and for those who demonstrate that daily by putting their lives on the line in service to justice for all.
Today we approved a settlement in an unprecedented case that involved a former MPD officer convicted of third-degree murder of a member of our community. This tragedy, as unfortunate as it is, happens far too often in communities of color without the same penchant for accountability and justice. Public safety and police trust must be our utmost concern. This deeply painful incident has already instituted changes in our Police Department, beginning with the naming of a new Police Chief, body-worn cameras, a number of policy changes that we believe will lead to more accountability and more community trust.
The death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond on July 15, 2017 was a tragedy that has left our community with profound pain. We wish her family and friends solace and peace. Events like this have an impact on all of us. This hurts everyone in our community, and we are one community.
The City has reached a settlement of $18 million to be provided to the Ruszczyk family. The settlement was approved by a unanimous vote of the City Council.
Additionally, the Ruszczyk family will donate $2 million to the Fund for Safe Communities at the Minneapolis Foundation. The fund is committed to addressing all forms of gun violence, centering youth and communities most impacted. It was a priority for myself, the entire City Council and the Mayor that part of the settlement include funds invested to address broader issues of police violence in our communities, which we know disproportionately impacts communities of color.
This settlement which was approved by the City Council today, came about after two days of mediation of which I personally participated. While I can’t comment on what occurred during the mediation or the settlement conference that followed, I can state that foremost in my mind was getting to a place of where our community could begin to heal.
As we move forward, I will continue to place the values of Equity, Police Accountability and Economic Inclusion at the core of my work to ensure equitable outcomes for every person in Minneapolis. Public safety and police trust must be our top concerns.
The City does not use outside insurance for these types of claims. It will be paid from a self-insurance fund, which is the City’s internal account that covers expenses like workers compensation, general liability claims for vehicle crashes and for claims like the one announced today. This payout is significant and impactful. In the upcoming months, City finance staff will be working with the Mayor and Council on the process to rebuild the reserve level over time. The City has been and continues to be fiscally sound in its budgeting and its financial reserves.
As we move forward I am deeply concerned with the inequities in our city, the challenges that renters are experiencing, the wide gaps in wealth and income as it relates to Blacks and Whites, as well as incessant Police Brutality that continues to plague Black and Brown Communities.
So for once the judicial system worked to hold a police officer accountable and extend justice to a grieving family, all of us must work as hard as we can to ensure that if and when this type of violence happens in our community, that the same type of justice is afforded to Black, Brown and Indigenous families.
Last week I was the Honorary Chairperson for the LunaFest fundraiser at The Riverview Theatre for the Minnesota Peacebuilding Institute and as I was preparing my remarks for the evening I came across this quote, that I think may be of comfort at this moment,
"Peacemaking doesn't mean passivity. It is the act of interrupting injustice without mirroring injustice, the act of disarming evil without destroying the evildoer, the act of finding a third way that is neither fight nor flight but the careful, arduous pursuit of reconciliation and justice. It is about a revolution of love that is big enough to set both the oppressed and the oppressors free.”
Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
 The public can comment during a public hearing Monday, May 6 on the revised Neighborhoods 2020 framework for neighborhood programming, funding and governance structure to support the City’s 70 neighborhood organizations in 2020 and beyond. This endeavor is part of broader work across the City to ensure greater equity for Minneapolis residents.
Revisions to the Neighborhoods 2020 framework reflect more than 400 pages of public comments. Commenters agreed with the goal that organizations reflect the demographics of the communities they serve and that neighborhood organizations are an integral part of the City’s engagement structure. Revisions to the document based on the comments include removing a hard deadline date when an organization is making positive progress, maintaining a base allocation for each neighborhood organization, and including written communication as one of various forms of engagement methods.
Neighborhoods 2020 framework public hearing
City Council’s Committee on Public Health, Environment and Community Engagement meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 6 Room 317, City Hall, 350 S. Fifth St.
Anyone unable to attend the public hearing or who prefers to submit their comments in writing can send them to the City Council at councilcomment@minneapolismn.gov.
In an effort to preserve the existing system and build capacity, the City will offer training and assistance for the organizations still needing to make changes to reflect the diversity of their neighborhoods.
Proposed next steps for the Neighborhoods 2020 framework
- June-July: Listening sessions open to the public.
- Late summer-early fall: draft new guidelines.
- Fall: Public comment on draft guidelines.
- End of 2019: City Council vote on Neighborhoods 2020.
- January 2020: Organizations will have new program.
More information is available at minneapolismn.gov/ncr/2020.
 The City is developing the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan, which is a 10-year action plan to guide future planning, design and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways they move around. The Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan will identify specific strategies and actions to implement the transportation vision outlined in Minneapolis 2040.
Help shape the City’s plan for the future of transportation!
Community Workshop (South)
Thursday, May 9
5-7 p.m.
Longfellow Recreation Center, 3435 36th Ave. S Minneapolis, MN 55406
Can’t attend a workshop? You can learn more and provide input on our interactive website: go.minneapolismn.gov
 Public Works crews have started the City’s comprehensive street sweeping program to clear away what accumulated in the streets over the winter. The City began sweeping Tuesday, April 16. To make sure the crews can do the most complete job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance to make sure streets are clear of parked vehicles. Drivers should watch for temporary “No Parking” signs to avoid a ticket and tow.
Residents, workers and visitors have several ways to find out more about street sweeping:
-
“No Parking” signs – Crews will post “No Parking” signs at least 24 hours before sweeping any streets. Parking will be banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day a street is swept. Drivers should not park along these streets until these temporary “No Parking” signs are removed.
-
Interactive web tool – To find out which week your street is scheduled to be swept, go to www.minneapolismn.gov/publicworks/streetsweeping and click on “street sweeping schedule lookup.” Then the weekend before your week, you can revisit the website to find out which day of the week the street is scheduled to be swept.
-
Videos – Street sweeping is explained in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong in short videos at www.YouTube.com/cityofminneapolis and on City cable channels. Residents who have friends or neighbors who speak these languages are encouraged to share links to the videos.
-
English: See how and why Minneapolis sweeps streets and what you can do to help keep streets and waterways clean.
-
Spanish: Vea en este video de las series “Sabia Usted” como y porque Minneapolis barre las calles y limpia las vias fluviales.
-
Somali: Ka daawo fiidyowga taxanaha… ee Minneapolis ee loo yaqaan “Ma Ogtahay” siyaabaha iyo sababaha minneapolis jidadka ay u xaaqido oo ogow sidii aad uga caawin lahayd ilaalinta nadaafada jidadka iyo biyo mareenada.
-
Hmong: Yog xav paub ntxiv, sais nroog Minneapolis cov tshooj xov xwm hu, “Koj pos paub.”
Clean streets mean a healthier environment
Minneapolis is known for its sparkling lakes and waterways, and we want to keep it that way. That’s why protecting and enhancing our environment is one of the City’s top priorities. Street sweeping is one way we work to protect our environment because it keeps leaves, trash and other pollutants from clogging our storm drains and polluting our lakes and rivers.
Minneapolis streets are swept completely curb to curb once in the spring and once in the fall.
Residents should not push leaves, grass clippings or anything else into City streets. It’s bad for our lakes and waterways, and it’s against the law. Anything that goes down a storm drain flows directly into our lakes, creeks and river, and decomposing plant material in the water encourages the growth of harmful aquatic plants and algae.
What: Ward 8 and Ward 11 Council Members Andrea Jenkins and Jeremy Schroeder are collaboratively hosting an end of session constituent event for Ward 8 and Ward 11 residents. We have invited some of our State Senators and Representatives to speak with us about the 2019 legislative session including Senators Jeff Hayden and Scott Dibble and Representatives Aisha Gomez and Jamie Long. We will also have Gene Ranieri from the City's Intergovernmental Relations Department join us for this discussion. We look forward to seeing you there!
When: Friday, May 31st from 12 pm to 1:30 pm
Where: Turtle Bread, 4762 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
More information will be available soon!
Please Join Us for a Community Discussion about Preventing Displacement
Hosted by the MSP Anti-Displacement Policy Network Team:
- Minneapolis Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins and Council Member Jeremiah Ellison
- St. Paul Council Members Jane Prince and Mitra Jalali Nelson
- Westside Community Organization
- Frogtown Neighborhood Association
- The Alliance – Equity in Place
- Hope Community, Inc.
We know that cities thrive when people can live in safe, stable, affordable homes in healthy neighborhoods connected to opportunities without fear of being displaced. That’s why Minneapolis and St. Paul are part of the All-In Cities Anti-Displacement Policy Network - a network of local elected leaders, staff, and community based organizations from 10 cities across the country with the mission of preventing displacement.
Our City representatives and Community organizations involved in the network invite you to join us at these forums to find out what we’ve learned and to share your ideas about how to prevent involuntary displacement in our communities.
Food and childcare will be provided, the agenda is the same for each meeting
RSVP is not required. If you are interested in providing input but unable to attend the forum, you can submit ideas and comments online.
Translation services provided upon request. Please contact Joe Musolf, (651) 266-6594 for the St. Paul event or Katie Topinka (612) 673-5068 for the Minneapolis event.
Additional program details will be available closer to the date.
 Minneapolis is now using an app that helps people who are blind or have low vision get around Nicollet Mall, City Hall, Target Center and the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Aira app uses smart technology to connect users with human agents who are trained professional guides. The agents access the user’s smartphone camera (or Aira glasses) for a live video feed combined with GPS and maps so they can describe these public spaces and help users maneuver through them and also more richly experience what they have to offer.
Minneapolis has made the four “geo-fenced” locations available on the Aira app for free. Aira is available on any iOS or Android phone by downloading the mobile app and registering. As soon as users enter an Aira access location, they will receive a notification and can use Aira for free anytime while in the Aira access location (for example, in Minneapolis, on Nicollet Mall or in City Hall, Target Center or the Minneapolis Convention Center).
About Aira
Aira is a service that connects people who are blind or have low vision to highly trained, remotely located agents. Through a smartphone app or an optional pair of smart glasses, Aira delivers instant access to visual information at the touch of a button – enhancing everyday efficiency, engagement and independence.
People interested in the app can find out more at aira.io/guests.
The Minnesota cold weather rule has ended for the season. The cold weather rule protects residential customers who have difficulty paying their natural gas bills from having their service disconnected Oct. 15 through April 15. All customers with cold weather rule payment plans should contact CenterPoint Energy as soon as possible to set up a new payment plan and ensure continued service. Customers may even be eligible for financial resources that can help pay down natural gas bills.
Customers can also use CenterPoint Energy’s online options to make a one-time payment, set up a payment arrangement, report a payment made at an authorized bill payment center, and have service reconnected.
To make a payment by phone and avoid service disruption, please call 612-372-4680.
For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.
 Proposals to build and renovate streets, buildings, bridges, park facilities and other parts of Minneapolis’ infrastructure over the next five years are collected and prioritized every year. The committee that does this work wants to hear from you about your priorities. You can share your thoughts at one of two upcoming input sessions.
The input sessions are opportunities for you to get questions answered by the Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee members and City staff. Previous meetings with the public have helped generate new ideas about improvements that had never been proposed before, such as adding sidewalks where they hadn’t existed in the public system.
Public input sessions
North Side 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave. N., Room 107
South Side 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 15 Phillips Community Center, 2323 11th Ave. S., South meeting room
Joint public hearing – Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee/Planning Commission Committee of the Whole
People can also speak in favor of or against proposed projects or suggest other ideas by attending the official joint public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 16, City Hall, Room 319.
The Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee reviews capital budget requests submitted by City departments and independent City boards and makes recommendations to the mayor and City Council on how those projects should be prioritized and which ones should be funded in the committee’s annual report.
Projects considered for the next Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee report are now available for review at the tab for 2020-2024 Capital Budget Requests.
 The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has announced the latest short-term and long-term road closures that will affect driving on I-35W. Remember to plan ahead and consider alternative ways to get downtown as work continues on MnDOT’s 35W@94: Downtown to Crosstown project. Make sure to check the website before your trip, and sign up for email updates to stay current. Metro Transit bus routes and Minnesota Valley Transit Authority routes will be affected by construction.
To learn more about this project, current traffic impacts and detour routes, and to sign up for email updates, visit www.mndot.gov/35w94.
Plan ahead, know your route and check 511 and the project website for updates: www.511mn.org.
| 
