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See what's going down below with the latest updates from Ward 4. Big things happening, stay in the loop!
 I am beyond thrilled to announce the success of the Connecting Camden railroad elimination grant application—an incredible milestone that marks a turning point for the future of our community. This achievement is not just a grant; it's a testament to the power of persistence, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to improving the safety and livability of our neighborhoods.
This victory is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of so many—those who contacted my office, filled out surveys, attended meetings, and submitted letters of support. Each of you played a critical role in making this possible. A special thank you to our exceptional city staff, particularly the Public Works Department, whose tireless efforts and attention to detail made this application stand out. You didn’t just complete a task—you created a compelling vision for what our community can become.
I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to Senator Klobuchar for her steadfast support throughout this process. Your advocacy and commitment were instrumental in securing this funding, and we are stronger because of your partnership.
Together, we have achieved something monumental. The future of our community is brighter because of our hard work, and I cannot wait to see the lasting impact this next chapter will bring. This is only the beginning!
 As many of you know, I have long been passionate about improving the health and well-being of our community in North Minneapolis. Recently, I had the privilege of visiting the newly expanded North Point Health and Wellness Center, and I am filled with pride and optimism for what this facility offers to our neighborhood.
It’s truly incredible to see how far North Point has come since the early days when I had the honor of working there. The transformation is nothing short of remarkable. The new space is not just a healthcare center—it’s a hub of hope and opportunity, providing essential services that improve the lives of so many in our community. From primary care and mental health services to dental care and wellness programs, North Point is truly a beacon of support for families in need.
One of the highlights of my visit was seeing the brand-new Children's Center, which is already making a significant impact. This dedicated space is a safe, nurturing environment while parents can access much-needed resources. The Children’s Center represents a deep commitment to the next generation, ensuring that our children get the care and attention they deserve to thrive.
When I worked at North Point, I saw firsthand how the center became a trusted partner in our community’s health journey. Now, with these expanded facilities and services, I’m excited to see the next chapter unfold—one where families can access the care they need under one roof, and where we continue to break down barriers to healthcare in North Minneapolis.
Thank you to all the dedicated staff, partners, and community members who have made this possible. The future of our community is brighter because of your hard work and dedication, and I’m proud to support North Point in its continued mission to serve the families of Ward 4 and beyond.
 How to stay safe and warm
Hennepin County offers warming station options throughout Minneapolis and the Twin Cities. Additional locations can be found at the Salvation Army and other organizations when temperatures drop below zero.
- Stay inside as much as possible and limit time spent outside.
- Dress in layers and keep clothes and shoes dry.
- Check on family, friends, neighbors and older adults who may live alone or need help.
- Know the symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia. Call your health care provider if symptoms are severe.
- Keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle.
- Additional cold weather safety advice.
Protection from heat shutoff
The Cold Weather Rule is now in effect through April 30. The rule prevents your heat from being shut off, even if you can’t pay your bill.
Find help and resources on the State of Minnesota website. Information is also available in Español/Spanish, Hmoob/Hmong and Soomaali/Somali.
Prepare your home for the cold weather season
Colder weather requires preparing your home to keep you and your family safe and comfortable. Your cold weather checklist includes:
- Keeping anything that can burn at least three feet away from space heaters.
- Turning space heaters off when you leave the room or go to bed.
- Never using your oven to heat the home. Watch the City of Minneapolis video about heating safety.
- Having a professional inspection of furnaces and fireplaces once a year.
- Making sure your home has working smoke and fire detectors.
- Replacing furnace filters as needed.
- Caulking and weather-stripping are two simple ways to prevent drafts and keep the heat in. Learn more about air sealing your home in the winter.
Minimum heating requirements for rental properties
Rental properties must have safe and effective heating systems. From Oct. 1 to April 30, the minimum heat requirement is 68°F.
If you are a renter and your heat isn’t working:
- Notify the property owner or manager right away.
- If they don’t take steps to fix it immediately, call 311 to report it.
- Outside of 311 hours, call 911 to report low heat or no heat. No matter the time of day, an inspector will follow up with you as soon as possible to address loss of heat.
If you are a rental property owner or manager:
- Be sure that renters know how to reach you to report urgent issues.
- If a renter notifies you that their heat isn’t working, take immediate steps to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed right away, provide space heaters for each affected unit until heat is restored.
Visit our web page if you have questions about your rights.
Being a welcoming city means we support and connect our neighbors and residents with the services they need and the opportunities they strive for. The City’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs will continue to engage with our immigrant communities, providing information and resources for legal assistance, food, shelter, transportation, healthcare, victim services and more.
We stay committed to limiting the City’s role in federal immigration enforcement. Minneapolis already has a local law in place that limits City employees from inquiring about immigration status or participating in civil immigration enforcement.
It’s not too late in the season to get your flu shot. Minnesota is seeing its highest flu hospitalizations since the Minnesota Department of Health started tracking hospitalization data. Getting the flu vaccine can lower your chances of getting very sick and help protect others by keeping the virus from spreading.
Minneapolis firefighter Mark DeLude knows this too well after losing his father to the flu. DeLude’s father, also a Minneapolis firefighter, was not vaccinated. Watch DeLude’s story: Fighting the Flu: Minneapolis Firefighter Saving Lives in Father’s Memory.
Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting the flu vaccine at a free flu clinichttps://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/health/current-concerns/vaccines/free-clinics/ or with your health care provider.
Join this online event focused on reflection, connection and action. The National Day of Racial Healing is an opportunity to come together as a community, engage in courageous conversations, and work toward building a more inclusive and just society. Through healing conversations and collective efforts, we can break down barriers, strengthen bonds, and create a future of mutual respect and understanding. Together, we heal, grow and move forward.
Learn about the history of the National Day of Racial Healing.
Featured speaker
Featured speaker Anton Treuer (pronounced troy-er) is a professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University and an author of many books. He’s building an Ojibwe teacher training program at BSU and his equity, education and cultural work has put him on a path of service around the nation and the world.
The City of Minneapolis is a co-sponsor of this Hennepin County event.
National Day of Racial Healing 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21
Register for this online event.
 Minneapolis is seeing a rise in police staffing with a net gain of 36 officers in 2024, marking the first increase since 2019. This growth is due to successful recruitment efforts and a new police contract. The city also experienced a 133% increase in police applications over the past year, reflecting a commitment to building a diverse and community-focused force.
In other news, Minneapolis reaffirmed its status as a welcoming city with an update to the police department’s immigration policy, ensuring officers no longer inquire about a person’s immigration status in most cases. Every resident should feel respected and supported, regardless of their background.
Finally, the city celebrated a legal victory for the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which aims to create a more inclusive, sustainable city. A recent court ruling upheld the plan, allowing the city to continue its progress on affordable housing and equity across neighborhoods.
From Feb. 3-24, the City plans to accept grant applications to help pay for repairing failing private sewer pipes and connections to the public sewer. Homeowners can receive grants between $5,000 to $10,000 and may need a match to receive the funds. Funding will be awarded on a lottery-based system. This year’s funding is expected to provide grants to 32-38 property owners. You can look at information now to get ready with bids and then apply when applications open.
Find eligibility and more information on the City website.
The City Council has voted to enter into a federal consent decree with the United States Department of Justice. The court enforceable agreement outlines policy, resource and training requirements. These will continue to help guide the City’s and Minneapolis Police Department’s reform efforts moving forward.
Highlights from the consent decree:
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Community engagement: Minneapolis Police Department strategies to address crime will develop deeper collaboration between police and the community.
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Use of force review: The Minneapolis Police Department will institute both a robust team and a board to review certain uses of force.
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First Amendment: The Minneapolis Police Department will adopt, train on, and sustain policies that facilitate the exercise of First Amendment rights of community members and journalists while enabling police to maintain public safety and order.
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Behavioral health response: The City will continue its behavioral crisis response with additional training, policies, protocols, review and coordination.
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Supervision: Changes to supervision requirements will facilitate more officer accountability and evaluations.
The federal consent decree will be in effect at the same time as a similar settlement agreement with the State of Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The reforms outlined in both agreements are expected to take several years to fully implement.
Learn more about the federal consent decree on the City website.
The Minneapolis Health Department is giving away free radon test kits to encourage people to test their homes for radon. Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that’s the second leading cause of lung cancer, and two in five homes in Minnesota test high for radon.
Radon comes from the soil and rock around a home. It enters through cracks and holes in the basement floor.
Learn more about free radon test kits and the City’s grant funding for mitigation systems on the City website.
Gregory Wheeler, a Minneapolis homeowner, called the City of Minneapolis to help keep his family safe and healthy when his home tested high for radon levels.
The minimum wage across the city of Minneapolis is now $15.97 for all businesses. There is a higher minimum wage in Minneapolis than the rest of the state.
Coverage depends on the physical location (in the City of Minneapolis) of the employee while the employee is performing work, regardless of the employee’s age or training.
Read more about City of Minneapolis labor standards.
The City of Minneapolis is organizing the Feb. 8 Community Connections Conference around the power of participating in your community and local decision-making. The theme is Participation is Power: Speak, Act, Grow. The annual free conference connects Minneapolis residents, community groups, neighborhoods and local government.
You can register early now.
Community Connections Conference 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Exhibitor check-in 8 a.m. Minneapolis Convention Center, first floor, Hall E 1301 Second Ave. S.
Theme
The theme this year – Participation is Power: Speak, Act, Grow – invites people to:
- Speak: Voice their opinion about important upcoming projects and decision-making.
- Act: Take action by voting, joining a neighborhood organization board or a City appointed board.
- Grow: Learn skills and information they can use to improve their neighborhood, community and lives.
Not just any event
We believe:
- People from all communities should feel welcome in City spaces.
- It should be easy for everyone to get involved and influence important decisions.
- People from all communities should get information about programs and policies in language they understand.
Learn more and sign up online.
Applications are open now for Step Up internships. For more than 20 years, the City’s Step Up program has provided summer employment for Minneapolis residents 14-21. Youths are placed in internships at public, private, nonprofit and community organizations.
Applications for summer are open until Feb. 14. |
