 CM Jenkins with CM Chavez, CM Cashman, CM Chowdhury, CP Payne, staff and community members for the Pride Month resolution.
Dear Neighbors,
The (un) official beginning of summer has passed (Memorial Day) and Pride Season is now in full swing. Happy Pride to all! It’s unfortunate that greeting is now a political debate. The federal government has taken an authoritarian turn, and our basic civil liberties are seriously at stake.
Earlier this week we witnessed a deeply disturbing example of this in our community. The fascist federal administration deployed military style agents on Lake Street. These actions are an abomination and should never happen on any street in America and yet it did. The extreme and over the top show of force was, in my opinion, designed to instill fear and sow discord in our local community. Instead of directing our righteous and understandable indignation at the despicable (t)RUMP regime, we have turned our anger inward and resorted to blaming each other. We must stand together unified if we expect to fight back effectively. Rightfully, there are questions about the role of local law enforcement. I will work with my colleagues and the Frey Administration to find answers.
Yesterday, the City Council unanimously voted to do an after-action review to determine the role of the Minneapolis Police Department in this despicable action, but make no mistake it was initiated and executed by ATF, FBI, ICE, and other federal agencies. Friends, I must be totally honest, I am sitting here in tears right now. As a person with multiple marginalized identities, I really don’t know where to turn my attention to fight back. 4000 Transgender Americans are right now as we speak being summarily kicked out of the military. Congress is contemplating kicking millions of people off of Medicare, stripping hungry children off of SNAP benefits, and making Social Security almost impossible to obtain. Black history is literally being erased, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is being criminalized.
I hear folks saying, “but we’re a sanctuary city.” Yes, we are, and what that means is that MPD will not ask folks they arrest about their immigration status, they will not release undocumented folks to ICE, nor cooperate in Immigration related activities. And, believe me, I know that if ICE finds undocumented folks while conducting actions related to criminal behavior, they will detain them. There is a lot of nuance and complexity here and there are no simple answers. Let’s always try to determine the facts before jumping to conclusions.
The bottom line is that this type of intimidation will more than likely continue. The question is ‘how will we respond?’ Lastly, thank you to community for showing up for each other, putting your bodies on the line for justice.
Love,
Andrea
Years of work on police reform and accountability will continue
The City of Minneapolis will continue police reform work already underway, despite the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) motion to dismiss the consent decree case more than four months after reaching an agreement and just days before the five-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.
On January 6, the City entered into a proposed federal consent decree with the DOJ, outlining policy, resource and training requirements that would, together with the settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR), continue to guide the City’s and Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) reform efforts over the next several years. The DOJ and the City jointly filed the agreement in federal court, seeking court approval. Since that time, DOJ requested and was granted three consecutive 30-day stays of the court proceedings.
On May 21, the DOJ filed a motion to dismiss the case. The decision on whether to dismiss the case now lies with the federal judge. No matter the outcome, the City of Minneapolis’ path remains clear – to continue to implement the reforms, apparently without support from the White House.
The City has already begun to implement the reforms listed in the federal agreement and will continue to do so. You can find more police reform updates on the City’s website.
Join a fun, family-friendly planting event this Saturday. This free event is part of the City’s ongoing work to improve water quality and support pollinators by restoring rain gardens and planting native flowers along Bryant Avenue.
Volunteers can expect to:
- Help plant flowers and native plants that filter rainwater and attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
- Learn about rain gardens.
- Find out tips for keeping storm drains clean.
- Enjoy snacks and good company.
No experience is needed. City staff will guide the planting and share ways you can help protect water in your neighborhood.
We’ll meet at Lyndale Farmstead Park and walk to nearby planting spots together. Be sure to dress for the weather, bring a water bottle and wear shoes you don’t mind getting a little muddy.
9 a.m.-noon Saturday, June 7 Lyndale Farmstead Park, 3900 Bryant Ave. S.
Learn more about the City’s stormwater work on the City website.
 Join us for a Caring Careers job fair at the Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center June 18. There’s a critical need for workers in health care and social assistance. Find out more about jobs to help elders and people with disabilities living in our community.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, June 18 Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center 505 15th Ave. S.
The City’s support of the local dance community progresses. Applications have opened for the Bridge Fund for Dance Program. The new funding aims to energize Minneapolis’ dance scene while attracting artists, audiences and experiences downtown.
Read more about the dance fund on the City website.
Celebrate Juneteenth in Minneapolis parks throughout June. From large community events to small neighborhood cookouts and movie screenings, there are a lot of ways to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture.
Read more on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board website.
Minnesota’s Hot Weather Rule protects residential utility customers from having their electric service shut off on any day that the National Weather Service has declared an excessive heat watch, heat advisory, or excessive heat warning.
Read more about hot weather protection on the State of Minnesota website.
Development is underway at the future home of the Minneapolis Democracy Center. Crews have made significant progress this year in preparing the former 3rd Precinct building at 3000 Minnehaha Ave. to become the heart of early voting and engagement in Minneapolis.
The City’s community engagement efforts found 70% of respondents living within the 3rd Precinct support plans to create the Minneapolis Democracy Center. This facility will include the Early Vote Center, offices for election staff, and flexible space for election-related equipment and supplies.
Cleanup
Crews have continued working on cleanup and repair. This includes HVAC, and electrical work continues on the interior, along with window, door, frame and skylight replacements. With the demolition of the vestibule, exterior improvements are more visible. Also on the exterior, bunker blocks have been removed from the building’s entry and new windows are being installed. New signage and fencing has also been placed around the site with more information about its future as the Minneapolis Democracy Center.
Barbara O'Brien, Director of Property Services, recently guided City Operations Officer Margaret Anderson Kelliher and City Clerk Casey Carl on a tour of the site. We captured that tour on video so the community could also see the work being done inside the building and our vision for its future. Watch the video.
Community use space
In addition to Elections & Voter Services, the Minneapolis Democracy Center will house a large, 8,000 square foot, ground-floor space for community use. In December, the City issued an request for proposals for a tenant to program the community space in the building. Three proposals were received. Currently, staff are reviewing the applicants who submitted proposals.
Next steps
The design process for the Democracy Center will begin this summer and will incorporate community engagement that will be announced in the coming weeks. A conceptual design presentation will be made to the City Council later this year. The project is anticipated to move into construction in 2026.
To learn more, visit the City website.
A new City opioid treatment program has begun for our community members with opioid use disorder. This pilot offers free prescription injections, treatment, and connections to services and support. That also includes insurance coverage help for longer-term treatment.
Read more about the opioid treatment program on the City website.
 As cookout season kicks off, keep food safety in mind. Warm weather is great for grilling – and for harmful bacteria to grow. Foodborne illnesses are caused by harmful bacteria, viruses and other agents that get into food.
Five key food safety practices
- Washing your hands before preparing food or when changing tasks.
- Keeping food at the correct temperature (hot or cold).
- Cooking food to the right temperature.
- Keeping raw and cooked foods separate.
- Using safe sources for food.
Read more food safety instructions on the City website.
The State of Minnesota offers a list of doulas in the state with search features that make it easier than ever to find a doula. Doulas provide physical, emotional and nonmedical support for parents before, during and after the birth of a baby.
The site includes a map for finding doulas with filter options such as for home birth services, cultural or religious practices, and payment options.
Doula support is especially important for people in communities facing disparities. A doula can help families feel safer, more empowered to make decisions about their body and baby, and more connected socially. Research shows that the support of a doula can:
- Reduce the length of labor.
- Reduce the likelihood of cesarean section birth.
- Provide nonmedical pain relief techniques.
- Reduce stress and anxiety.
- Support the partner or spouse.
- Result in babies often born with better heart rates and breathing.
Read more about finding a doula on the State of Minnesota website.
A new report from an independent evaluator shows that the City is making strong progress in police reform. The report from Effective Law Enforcement For All (ELEFA) comes in as Minneapolis approaches five years since George Floyd’s murder. According to ELEFA, the City has made more progress in the first year of monitoring than most other cities have under similar agreements.
The report highlights better policies, more effective training plans, stronger officer wellness programs, and a near elimination of complaint backlogs.
Key progress includes:
- Near elimination of OPCR and IA historical misconduct complaint backlog – all are now in process with 30 complaints closed as of March 31.
- Completing a comprehensive training needs assessment and developing a highly regarded annual training plan that ELEFA notes could serve as a model for other law enforcement agencies.
- Developing and updating key policies around Use of Force, mission/vision/values/goals, crisis intervention, and other areas.
- Incorporating significant resident feedback and input into new and revised policies.
- Expanding officer training programs.
- Laying groundwork for improvements to facilities and data systems.
- Designating 21 officers to serve as peer support members, providing mentorship, outreach and emotional support to officers who may need assistance.
The report evaluates the work done by the City and Minneapolis Police Department from October 2024 through March 2025. It marks ELEFA’s first full-year review of how Minneapolis is following the court-ordered settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, signed in 2023.
ELEFA will continue to hold regular community meetings to update residents on progress. You can find more information on ELEFA’s website.
The Lake Street Safety Center now offers a new service. Residents and community members can file a non-emergency police report in person.
City staff are available to help file report incidents including:
You can file reports in person until one hour before the safety center closes.
You can also file non-emergency reports by calling 311 or filling out a form online.
Learn more about the services and resources at the safety center on the City’s website.
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What can the safety center do for you? Whether you're a resident or worker or connected to a local business, learn about what the Lake Street Safety Center offers Tuesday, June 10. Meet the community service providers who work out of the center. Learn about the helpful services and resources available – right here in the East Lake Street neighborhood.
At the center
The Lake Steet Safety Center serves as a collaborative space of government and community-based services and resources. It offers services including:
- K-12 school enrollment and education-related resources.
- Resources for victims or survivors of crimes.
- Help with safety concerns or resolving conflicts.
- Housing services, like rental help or rapid rehousing.
- Support recovering from substance use disorder.
- Resources for the area’s businesses and property owners, like help with graffiti issues, lighting concerns, and registering security cameras.
- Connecting to social services and case managers.
- Free naloxone and fentanyl test strips are always available at the safety center – no questions asked. Pick up these resources to protect yourself and others.
We’ll have tables set up outside the center so you can stop by, ask questions, and find out how to connect with these services during regular office hours.
At the open house
- Learn how you can file non-emergency police reports at the center.
- Find out more about the City’s brand new Community Safety Ambassador pilot program in the Lake Street area.
- Learn about other walk-in support services and readily available resources at the center.
Lake Street Safety Center open house 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 2228 E. Lake St.
Learn more about the Lake Street Safety Center on the City’s website.
The City of Minneapolis has received the prestigious Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. This accolade is a testament to our City's dedication to financial excellence, transparency and responsible planning. Earning this recognition places Minneapolis among a select group of municipalities across North America committed to the highest standards in budgeting. It reflects the hard work and commitment of the Minneapolis Budget Division to serve our community with integrity and excellence.
Read more about the award.
Stay up to date on the Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee
The Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee is a group of residents and businesses advising the City of Minneapolis on its six-year Capital Improvement Plan. The committee shares recommendations through an annual report and is currently refining its project ratings. The committee will meet until the end of June.
Want to stay in the loop? See the calendar of upcoming committee meetings or previous agendas and minutes.
 Minneapolis now has a Narcan vending machine on the North Side. This life-saving resource expands access to the drug, naloxone, that reverses opioid overdoses.
Located at Fire Station 14, this is the second vending machine in the city. The vending machine:
- Provides 24-hour access.
- Contains more than 100 boxes of naloxone, each holding two doses.
- Is free to community members with no barriers.
Fire Station 14 also serves as the city’s safe station. This is a space where people struggling with addiction and substance misuse can connect with resources and support.
Learn more about naloxone and support for substance use disorder.
With warmer temperatures and bright, sunny days, the City has tips for residents as your gardens grow:
- Mow grass that reaches 8 inches or taller.
- Trim or cut back vegetation that hangs over sidewalks or the edges of alleys to keep them clear for people and vehicles.
- Mow vegetation that hangs over the street. It should be trimmed to the curb line.
- Prune and maintain the health and integrity of trees. (Residents with hazardous trees may qualify for help through the condemned trees assistance.)
- Discard rubbish such as loose or overflowing trash, scrap wood, brush piles, animal feces, etc., to keep rodents from setting up residence in yards.
If you receive a notice from the City to correct an issue, make sure to address it by the due date on the letter. After that, either the City or a hired third-party takes care of the complaint at the property owner’s expense.
Find out more or report an issue on the City website.
The City uses Smart911 to send important information to residents during an emergency.
Get alerts
You can choose to receive Smart911 alerts by:
- Text messages
- Emails
- Phone calls
- Push notifications in the Smart911 mobile app
- Wireless emergency alerts*
Alert topics
The City of Minneapolis will use Smart911 to send alerts on topics including:
- Snow emergencies
- Severe weather
- Public safety incidents
- Major infrastructure issues
- Major special event impacts
Find out more and subscribe on the City website.
*Wireless emergency alerts come through the nationwide Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. |
