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From Ward 5 Minneapolis City Council Member, Jeremiah Ellison.
On Thursday, February 22nd, the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution calling for federal action from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to initiate a national recall of defective Kia and Hyundai models made vulnerable to theft due to vehicles lacking industry-standard engine immobilizer technology and anti-theft devices which were not installed by the automakers.
Certain models of Hyundai/Kia vehicles between 2011 and 2022 did not include industry-standard anti-theft equipment resulting in these vehicles being more vulnerable to theft leading to increased reckless driving, robberies, vehicle accidents, and deaths in our community. For example, in 2022, the City of Minneapolis had 2340 reported thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, an
836% increase from the same time in 2021. More than 132 vehicle owners had their cars stolen more than once, and five owners had their vehicles stolen three times.
Hyundai and Kia, which are multi-trillion dollar companies, have a responsibility in protecting their consumers by ensuring that industry-standard technology is equipped in their vehicles because they do not, the people who are paying the price and most impacted are our community members. Our neighbors deserve to feel safe when they are commuting to work, picking up their children from school, or visiting the grocery store. While these tasks seem simple, our livelihoods are not. When these incidents happen, they impact our livelihoods, our families, our children, our mental health, and that is not fair to our community.
I am thankful to have co-authored this resolution and collaborated closely with Council President Elliott Payne (Ward 1) and his staff, Ben Carrier and Liam Davis-Temple, in passing this resolution to highlight such a critical public safety issue in our communities. And I am grateful for the work of our Attorney General Keith Ellison and his team for launching a civil investigation and continuing to lead the fight to make Kia/Hyundai safer since early 2023.
If you want to read more about this resolution, click here.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office is hosting the first Hennepin County Expungement Clinic & Community Fair, set to take place on Wednesday, February 28th, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Urban League Twin Cities, 2100 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis, 55411.
This transformative event, hosted by Urban League Twin Cities in collaboration with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Second Chance Coalition, Minnesota Justice Research Center, Minneapolis NAACP, and The New Justice Project, aims to provide individuals with a unique opportunity to reintegrate into society after serving their sentences.
Event Overview:
- The Expungement Clinic will be guided by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.
- The clinic is designed to expedite the process for individuals with adult felony convictions originating from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
- This prosecutor-initiated expungement service demonstrates a commitment to facilitating a fresh start for those seeking to rebuild their lives.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Only adult felony cases originating from Hennepin County are eligible for review at this event.
Community Fair:
- In addition to expungement services, the event will feature a Community Fair supported by key partners. Nonprofit organizations, including Second Chance Coalition, Minnesota Justice Research Center, Minneapolis NAACP, and The New Justice Project, will be present to provide valuable information and services, connecting the community to available resources and support.
Expungement Clinic & Community Fair Details:
- Date - Wednesday, February 28th
- Time - 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Location - Urban League Twin Cities, 2100 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis, 55411
The Urban Scholars program is a summer internship program where college students, graduate students, and law students have the opportunity to intern in various positions in local government to gain hands-on learning opportunities, a holistic understanding of public service work, and to create a direct pipeline for folks of diverse backgrounds to be employed in government positions. The application is open now and closes on Monday, March 4th, 2024. Our office is excited to continue supporting this amazing program and we encourage Northsiders to apply.
These paid internships match interns based on:
- Career goals.
- Skills.
- Experience.
- Academic work.
- Interests.
The Urban Scholars program pursues equity. It works toward an equitable workforce with leadership that reflects our community. Its goals are to provide:
- Leadership and professional development training.
- High-quality, resume-building work experience.
- Guidance and opportunities to grow a meaningful professional network.
Read more, hear about the experience from program alumni, and apply by March 4 on the City website.
With the presidential primary election just a couple weeks away, the Early Vote Center is extending its hours. Anyone who is eligible to vote in Minneapolis on the day of the primary can vote early at the Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.
From now through Thursday, Feb. 29, the Early Vote Center’s weekday hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekend hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. On Friday, March 1, the center is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The center’s last day of service is Monday, March 4, which is the day before the presidential primary election. Hours March 4 are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Elections offices are open until 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, but only for dropping off mail ballots.
Also, voters at the Early Vote Center can now place their ballot directly into the tabulator without needing to complete a series of envelopes, just like the process on the day of the primary.
Request mail-in ballot soon
- If you’re planning to vote by mail, the City recommends applying for your mail ballot as soon as possible. Go to the City website to apply.
- Completed ballots should be mailed no later than Tuesday, Feb. 27. After that date, the City recommends returning your mail ballot in person to make sure it arrives in time. Ballots can be dropped off during regular business hours at Minneapolis Election & Voter Services, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.
Find information about registering and voting in Minneapolis on the City website.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation would like to hear from you. It’s asking Minnesota residents for feedback on public investment in transportation. Minnesotans can provide feedback by:
- Taking the five-minute survey about freight or passenger rail in Minnesota.
- Using the interactive map to give feedback on specific rail crossings, stations and locations.
- Attending an upcoming meeting or pop-up event.
Learn more about the Minnesota State Rail Plan update.
Join me from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM every Monday for Open Coffee Hours! These are informal and a chance for me to hear directly from you while we share coffee or a meal (virtually).
Office hours is on a first come first served basis. Please try not to call in past 12:50 p.m. as we want to leave enough time to chat about what you'd like to discuss.
Please RSVP here and my staff will follow-up with the call-in details. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to Dieu Do, Policy Associate, at dieu.do@minneapolismn.gov.
Are you experiencing struggles with food insecurity, housing, career readiness, and legal matters? Are you in need of help? Please look below to see which resources can be beneficial to you.
Career Readiness
Family Support & Educational Programming
Food Insecurity
Housing/Tenant Protections
Legal Representation
Minneapolis residents eligible for energy assistance may qualify to have the additional cost of a winter storm surcharge removed from their gas bills. Gas customers eligible for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can qualify to have a gas surcharge removed.
The City of Minneapolis is encouraging anyone who may qualify to apply for assistance:
The fee will be removed through September 2026.
Additional Benefit
- Those who qualify will also be enrolled in CenterPoint Energy’s Gas Affordability Program. This will limit the amount a customer will pay per month on their gas bill.
You might be eligible for free or low-cost internet services. The City is partnering with local providers to help make the internet more accessible.
Resources include:
- Discounted internet for household use.
- Free temporary internet access at Wi-Fi hotspots.
- Free internet access to public sector information including City, County and State resources.
- Low-cost computers.
- Public computer access.
- Personal help from a “digital navigator.”
Call 311, email 311 or look on the City website to find details, a list of resources and how to find out if you qualify for different internet services programs.
To help others find these resources, Hennepin County has developed flyers in four languages to share.
The Affordable Connectivity Program helps households pay for internet service and get a discount on a device. Find out if you qualify for the program on the Hennepin County website.
Food Shelves and Food Distribution
- Check out the Minneapolis food security resources on the City website. You can find locations, hours, contact information, and volunteer/donation needs of local food shelves and food distributions.
- To see food shelves by location, explore our map.
Need to report an issue? Can't find the right information? Minneapolis 311 can help. 311 coordinates with City departments and service providers to report your concerns, find you information and connect you with nonemergency City services. For example, if you report an abandoned vehicle, pothole, or long grass/weeds, 311 connects with the experts in the right department to get to the bottom of it.
There are many ways to get in contact with 311 for non-emergency City information. Choose what's easiest for you.
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Call 311. Agents are here to answer your call 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 311 from within city limits or 612-673-3000.
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Email 311. You can email 311 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Agents will respond 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Text 311. You can text 311 a short question any time. Just text two or three keywords to 311TXT (311898) to receive an answer from the Minneapolis 311 information database on your mobile phone.
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Get the 311 mobile app. Report neighborhood issues on the 311 mobile app 24 hours a day.
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TTY. 311 agents use computer-based technology so hearing-impaired callers can easily communicate with the City using TDD/TTY devices. Call TTY 612-263-6850.
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Use the contact form. You can send 311 your comments or questions on the website contact form.
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