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Hello to all my 3rd Ward neighbors,
With the warm weather upon us, I hope you all are enjoying the wonderful parks and trails in the 3rd Ward. Here are the major activities of my week:
I hosted a listening session with Public Works staff and community members to discuss issues with the scooter program. Park Commissioner Elizabeth Schaffer joined the discussion to learn more about how users and residents view scooter use. This year there we be two vendors and users will still be able to start rides until midnight. Several park areas and bridges, which have heavy pedestrian traffic, are geofenced to cap scooter speeds at 10 mph. You can view the City's scooter dashboard to learn more about where scooters are used throughout the City. You can and should also report scooter violations when you see them. As a reminder, moving violations can only be enforced by police under state law.
At the Public Health and Safety (PHS) Committee meeting I voted to move forward the nomination of Michelle Phillips to be the City's next Director of Civil Rights. Ms. Phillips has served as Deputy Inspector General with the Civil Rights Department in Baltimore and is currently the Inspector General of Oakland's Civil Rights Department. She will bring her proven leadership to the improvement of constitutional policing and building departmental strength to provide thorough investigative processes.
Also at PHS, Comissioner Barnette provided an update on the Office of Community Safety's summer safety strategies. Chief O'Hara presented a detailed plan for addressing the most violent crimes and the efforts to continue reducing overall crime in Minneapolis.
As of today, the ride share issue has not been resolved. The State Legislature is debating what the per mile rate will be and could pass a bill in the coming days. The State report suggests the range of $0.89 to $1.21. The City Council, on a 10-3 vote, has set it at $1.40. Neither Uber or Lyft have been involved in the City or State negotiations. I continue to have concerns about any impact on our low-income neighbors, the disability community, and people who use ride share to get grocieries, medicine, go to work, doctors appointments, and school. At this time, both Uber and Lyft have said they will leave Minnesota on July 1st.
This week is National Police Week. Henry, Patrick, and I attended the open house activities at the 1st and 2nd Precincts. A big thank you to the NE Lions Club and the East Side Exchange Club for the excellent barbeque at the 2nd Precinct. Today I attended the ceremony honoring law enforcement in Hennepin County who were killed in the line of duty. Both Sheriff Witt and Chief O'Hara spoke to the dedication of law enforcement personnel and the sacrifice their families make. Please remember to wave and say hi and thank you when they drive by.
Know anyone looking for a good job? The Public Works Department is hiring for several entry level positions. They are accepting applications until June 2nd.
As always, Henry, Patrick, and I are here to serve you. We can be reached at ward3@minneapolismn.gov. Please report all issues to 311 before contacting us so there is a paper trail and staff are already aware of the issue when we speak with them. You can contact 311 by simply dialing 311, email them at Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov or by submitting a 311 Contact Form.
Your neighbor,
Michael
The Community Commission on Police Oversight will conduct a public hearing at 6 p.m. May 21 to receive community comments about Minneapolis Police Department policies, rules, practices and special orders. The hearing is required under the ordinance creating the commission and is intended to offer the public the opportunity to comment on police department policies and related matters as an important component of civilian oversight of law enforcement.
Public hearing
Interested people may register to speak in the public hearing starting at 5:30 p.m. Speakers will be taken in the order they have registered.
Written comments
Written comments may also be submitted for the record of this public hearing. Written comments may be submitted three different ways:
Community Commission on Police Oversight public hearing
6 p.m. Tuesday, May 21
Public Service Building, Room 100, 505 Fourth Ave. S.
Learn how to participate in a public hearing.
The first spring farmers markets have opened, kicking off the 2024 season. The other farmers markets and mini markets will open over the next several weeks.
Locally grown food
Farmers markets are a great way to get locally grown food. In 2023, the average distance traveled from farm to market was 42 miles.
Spring, summer, fall farmers market locations and schedules
To see the locations, hours and other information about the 2024 farmers markets, visit the City website.
To learn more about local farmers markets, visit the farmers markets page on the City website.
Market Bucks and SNAP
Shopping at farmers markets is an easy way for everyone to get healthy, local food on the table. The Market Bucks incentive matches up to $10 worth of coupons per day to customers who use SNAP benefits to buy eligible food at participating farmers markets. Participating markets are noted in the map on the City website.
2023 was a record year for SNAP and Market Bucks use citywide, bolstered by Produce Market Bucks offering a double match on SNAP dollars. Farmers market customers in Minneapolis spent more than $345,000 in SNAP, Market Bucks and Produce Market Bucks last year.
Homegrown Minneapolis also offers other ways to get healthy, local food on the table. Homegrown Minneapolis is a citywide initiative expanding our community’s ability to grow, process, distribute, eat and compost more healthy, sustainable, locally grown foods.
Office of Community Safety (OCS) staff continue to meet with residents and businesses throughout the south Minneapolis community about the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center and the Lake Street Community Safety Center. The information they collect will help decide on what services could be found in the community safety centers.
Upcoming for people in south Minneapolis:
- Residents of Hale, Page and Diamond Lake neighborhoods can talk with staff at their monthly online community association board meeting May 20.
- African Americans who live or work in the areas that will be served by the community safety centers are invited to an event May 21 at Better Futures, 2620 Minnehaha Ave.
- OCS and City Council Member Jamal Osman will host an engagement event for Somali residents of south Minneapolis May 21 at Phillips Park.
- Residents of the Standish, Ericsson, Keewaydin, Minnehaha, Morris Park and Wenonah neighborhoods are invited to attend an event May 23 hosted by the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA) and Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association (SENA). This will be held at the Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway.
- Residents of the Field, Regina and Northrop neighborhoods can talk with staff at their monthly board meeting June 19. At this meeting we will provide an update on the results of our community engagement, which ends May 24, and discuss next steps.
Please note some dates and times may change. Please go to the community safety center webpage for details and the most up-to-date information.
Take the community safety center survey by May 24
Residents and businesses in south Minneapolis neighborhoods that will be served by the community safety centers should have received postcards in the mail about the community safety center survey. We hope to hear from everyone who works in and/or lives in the area served by the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center.
The survey will be open until May 24. Find more information about the survey on the City website.
Community engagement feedback and reports
Summaries and reports covering some of our previous community engagement sessions can now be found on the City of Minneapolis’ website. The page will be updated as more reports become available. See the current reports on the City website.
Find more information on the City website, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
The Minneapolis Department of Regulatory Services is gearing up for a Renter Rights Resource Fair June 4. Together with HOME Line, Legal Aid, Urban League Twin Cities, Arrive Ministries and others, City staff will help community members with:
- Overcoming maintenance issues.
- Renter rights.
- Understanding property owner/tenant responsibilities.
- Housing resources for immigrants and refugees.
- Environmental hazards in homes.
- Providing critical resources.
You can drop in any time during the event or join us at 12:30 p.m. for a presentation from HOME Line about new state laws. A free meal and interpretation services will be provided.
2024 Renter Rights Resource Fair
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 4
Minneapolis Public Service Building, 505 Fourth Ave. S., first floor
Share the event with a neighbor and stay up to date by visiting the Facebook event.
Contact Kaylee Tracy for more information or with questions.
A unique, small business pilot partnership between the City of Minneapolis and the Workplace Justice Lab is proving to be revolutionary for small business owners who are immigrants, Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
The Small Business High-Road Labor Standards Intervention Pilot began as an idea 18 months ago to strengthen and support these businesses and help them comply with the City’s labor laws.
Learn more on the City website. |
