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Dear Neighbors,
Happy Tuesday!
I hope each one of you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I would like to invite Ward 6 neighbors to come celebrate a new public artwork dedicated to Hussien Samatar. “Common Currents” is a two-part artwork sited at each end of Samatar Crossing. It is inspired by the journeys people have undertaken to begin new chapters in Minneapolis. The wavelike sculptures include colorful steel panels inscribed with poetry by local poets. They evoke Hussein Samatar’s enduring legacy of bridging cultures.
5 p.m. May 28 East side of Samatar Crossing Gather on the downtown side of the crossing and walk or roll with artists and poets in a poetry procession to Cedar Riverside. Experience readings from the project poets along the way. The program will close on the east side with refreshments and music.
- CM Jamal Osman
The Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan was passed in 2019 and was the guiding vision for shaping how the city will grow and change for the next 20 years. This includes historic zoning reforms to allow for a diversity of use in all neighborhoods across the city.
In part due to the 2040 Plan, Minneapolis has seen record-breaking levels of affordable rental housing units produced in the past several years, while also keeping rents at some of the lowest rates in the country.
Read about the plan on the City website.
Join us June 10 at an open house on the proposed future of the former 3rd Precinct building. The City of Minneapolis is proposing to redevelop 3000 Minnehaha Ave. into a democracy center. It would house Elections & Voter Services and offer a large, ground-floor space for community use.
We want to hear from you. Come any time during the open house for information and to provide your input.
Minnehaha 3000 open house 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday, June 10 Minneapolis American Indian Center, 1530 E. Franklin Ave.
Find more information on the City website.
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.
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.
 The City Council approved Mayor Jacob Frey’s nomination of Timothy Sexton to be the City’s new director of the Public Works Department. Sexton served as the assistant commissioner for sustainability, planning and program management for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Sexton began his new role with Public Works May 6, overseeing a department with approximately 1,100 employees that build, operate and maintain the City’s public infrastructure and deliver critical services, such as solid waste and recycling collection, safe drinking water, street maintenance and emergency sewer and road repairs.
At MnDOT, Sexton lead a staff of 350 people and provides strategic direction for all modal programs (freight, rail, waterways, aeronautics, transit, walking, biking, shared mobility), research and innovation, asset management, and sustainability and public health.
Read more on the City website.
Applicants, hires, gender and ethnic diversity are all up after a sustained Human Resources push to bolster recruitment and retention shows successes. Minneapolis’ first quarter hiring figures this year are exceeding 2023’s in several categories.
The City has set out to attract, engage and hire people with exceptional and diverse talent and to align their skills and passions with opportunities for public service. That work is paying off in:
- An increase in hiring and applicants.
- Retention and pathways to growth.
- An increase in diversity.
Read more about hiring and City jobs on the City website.
National Night Out is a time for City residents to come together and celebrate with neighbors. Many blocks in Minneapolis take this opportunity to reconnect, eat and build relationships while kids play and bike freely on a closed street. Our goal this year is to increase participation.
Register your event by July 30
Registration is now open, and it’s free. Sign up early. Registration closes July 30, five days before the event.
Some points to consider:
- Register only one event per block, so confirm with your neighbors who will be registering.
- Consider whether you want your street blocked off to traffic.
- Ask neighbors for help organizing your event.
- Call 311 to request a fire truck, MPD K9, and/or MPD Mounted Patrol.
Contact the City crime prevention specialists with questions.
Register your block.
Sign up for the City of Minneapolis’ new alert system. You can get text alerts, create a full profile if you’d like alerts on specific subjects, and even download the mobile app to your phone.
Alert topics
The City of Minneapolis will use the new system, Smart911, to send alerts on many topics including:
- Snow emergencies.
- Severe weather.
- Public safety incidents.
- Major infrastructure issues.
- Major special event impacts.
Smart911 replaces the City’s former alert system, Swiftreach. If you were subscribed to Swiftreach, you'll get alerts in the new system. We encourage you to create a Smart911 profile for more precise alerts.
Sign up for alerts
To subscribe, text MPLSAlerts to 77295 or create a full Smart911 profile online.
Read more about the new alert system on the City website.
Dear Ward 6 Constituents,Please join me during our community office hours to chat and discuss issues that matter the most to you.
Thank you!
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