 What a season it’s been! From record voter turnout in our municipal election to the ongoing work of keeping our neighborhoods safe, healthy, and connected, I’m filled with gratitude for the energy and care this community continues to show. You showed up, you voted, and you reminded everyone across Minneapolis that the Northside’s voice matters.
I’m deeply appreciative and proud to continue serving our Ward 4 community a place full of resilience, creativity, and heart. Every day, I’m inspired by the neighbors, business owners, and families who make this part of the city shine brighter.
This month’s newsletter covers both celebration and challenge. We’re sharing updates on election results, new City funding to keep food shelves stocked amid the federal shutdown, progress on traffic safety cameras, and our continued work to replace lead service lines across the city. You’ll also find important resources for heating assistance, immigration rights, and local composting and recycling programs.
As always, my office is here to help whether it’s navigating City services, addressing concerns, or just talking about what’s next for Ward 4. I’m so proud to represent a community that looks out for one another and leads with heart.
With appreciation and hope for the season ahead,
— LaTrisha Vetaw, Council Member, Ward 4
 Unofficial results in for municipal electionTabulation is now complete for Tuesday’s municipal election. The unofficial results for all races can be found on the City website.
Across all 13 wards, a record-setting number of Minneapolis voters made their voices heard in the 2025 municipal election. According to unofficial results, 147,702 voters – 55% of registered voters - cast their ballot. The unofficial 2025 numbers break the previous record of 54% turnout in 2021.
Certifying final results
Now that all unofficial results have been reported, the City Council, sitting as the Municipal Canvassing Board, will receive the final tallies at its meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10. At that meeting, the Canvassing Board will certify final results, at which point they become the official results in the 2025 municipal election.
As the federal government shutdown delays and disrupts critical food assistance, the City of Minneapolis will allocate $150,000 to six local nonprofit partners that provide free, healthy food to neighbors. The funding, directed from the Minneapolis Health Department’s Homegrown Minneapolis program, will go out this week to help food shelves restock and meet rising demand as residents face continued uncertainty around federal food benefits.
More than 60,000 Minneapolis residents — about 14% of the city’s population — rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to buy food each month. While two federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must use contingency funds to continue some SNAP payments during the shutdown, it’s still unclear when—or if—those funds will reach families in full.
Federal shutdown impacts to SNAP benefits, but City services remain stable.
The federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1 with no resolution in sight.
City staff are monitoring ways the shutdown could affect us in Minneapolis. We continue to have enough cash on hand to keep City programs and services that depend on federal funding going temporarily despite a slowdown in payments from the federal government.
But with federal programs at growing risk as the shutdown continues – especially for food assistance – we’re sharing some key information our community should know.
Food assistance
Shutdown impacts to SNAP benefits
Food security is a critical priority and a real concern for many families in our community. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will not be issued beginning in November due to the federal shutdown. More than 60,000 of our Minneapolis community members, 14% of our city’s residents, will be affected by the lack of SNAP benefits.
On Oct. 27, Governor Tim Walz announced the State of Minnesota would provide $4 million in emergency funds to support food shelves.
Attorney General Keith Ellison is co-leading a coalition of 22 other attorneys general and three governors in filing suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for issuing SNAP benefits, and Secretary Brooke Rolling for unlawfully suspending SNAP. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order, arguing that the USDA has repeatedly stated its authority to continue SNAP benefits during a shutdown.
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families is monitoring this situation and providing information to counties and tribal nations, which administer SNAP benefits in Minnesota. Find more information on the State’s website.
Food shelves
Minnesota has more than 300 food shelves and meal programs to help support families when they need help right away. Residents can find a local food shelf using the Hunger Solutions map or by calling 1-888-711-1151.
Nutrition and breastfeeding program
If you have children up to age 5, you may qualify for WIC. WIC is Hennepin County's Women, Infants and Children nutrition and breastfeeding program that can help get food on the table.
Learn more about WIC on the Hennepin County website.
How to help support our community
You can consider donating your dollars or time to a nearby food shelf to support neighbors. Locally, Minneapolis food shelves buy food that meet the specific needs of the communities they serve. Cash donations have the greatest impact because they allow local food shelves to:
· Access wholesale and discounted prices so they can stretch your dollar
· Make purchases based on inventory and cultural needs
· Purchase fresh foods such as produce, eggs, meat and milk
Impact to family planning services
We’re monitoring potential impacts to the City’s family planning services. There have reportedly been mass layoffs to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs made during the shutdown.
OPA administers the nation’s Title X family-planning network, teen-pregnancy prevention, and LGBTQ+ health initiatives. If the program does not exist, it will affect City services provided at school-based clinics and jobs supported through OPA grants.
The Minneapolis Health Department has identified one-time bridge funding that will allow services to continue through December.
Spanish version:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aVqIdOPSDgEcZoZe9YhPYgV_ga_4SE5a/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=114701495188607939982&rtpof=true&sd=true
Food in the Hood - Beacon of Hope
Beacon of Hope Church
2827 Newton Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 5:00-7:00 pm (Note: during November and December holiday season there is only one food program on the 2nd Thursday of the month)
Food Shelf In-A-Box at MNIC Unity
MN Internship Center (MNIC)
2201 Girard Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
3rd Wednesday of the month from 2:00-4:00 pm
Food Shelf In-A-Box at 800
800 W Broadway Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
4th Thursday of the month from 1:00-3:00 pm
Food Shelf In-A-Box at True Vine New Bethel
2639 Thomas Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
3rd Wednesday of the month 1:00-3:00 pm
Haven Community Pantry
Sanctuary Resource Center
710 W Broadway
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 to 3:00 pm.
Loaves & Fishes – Free Produce Market
St. Olaf Lutheran Church
2901 N Emerson Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Saturdays at 11:00 am
612-377-9810
NorthPoint Health & Wellness Food Shelf
2220 Plymouth Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Food Shelf: Monday and Wednesday: 10-4 pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 10-7 pm
612-543-2500
Minneapolis Central Church of Christ (MCCC Food Shelf)
1922 4th Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Every Saturday 11:00 am- 2:00 pm
612-374-5481
Shiloh Cares Food Shelf
1201 W Broadway North
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Wednesday-Friday 10:00 am- 3:00 pm
612-302-1463
Camden Promise
4656 N Colfax Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55412
Monday – Saturday 11:30-2 pm
Community meal: M-F 11:30-2 pm
Stop by the corner of 47th & Colfax.
612-521-5216
Community Covenant Church
901 Humboldt Ave, N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 12:00-1:30 pm
612-374-3935
Pillsbury United Communities – Oak Park Produce Distribution
1701 Oak Park Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55411
1st and 3rd Wednesday, 4-6 pm
612-377-7000
Salvation Army North Office Parkview Food Shelf
2024 Lyndale Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
M-W 9 am-11 am and Mon 1-2:30 pm or by appointment.
612-522-4871
Loaves & Fishes – Great is Thy Faithfulness- Community Meal
Great is Thy Faithfulness
1115 N 30th Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Monday through Friday 5:30-6:30 pm
612-377-9810
Enter through the red big doors at the front of the church along N Emerson Ave.
Loaves & Fishes – True Vine New Bethel- Community Meal
2639 N Thomas Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Monday through Friday 12:30pm-1:30pm
612-377-9810
Loaves & Fishes – Proverbs Christian Fellowship Church – Community Meal
3210 N Oliver Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55412
2nd & 4th Saturday from 11:00 am- 12pm
612-377-9810
Salem Lutheran Church
4150 Dupont Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55412
Hot meal to go Tuesdays at 6 pm
612-521-3644
Brooklyn Center Food Shelf Resources:
CAPI
5930 Brooklyn Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55429
Food Shelf: Tuesdays, 1-4 pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9-12 pm and 1-4 pm
Produce distribution: July through October on the 2nd & 4th Friday at 1:00 pm
612-721-0122
CEAP Food Shelf
7051 Brooklyn Blvd
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
Monday -Friday 9:00am-4:00pm
763-566-9600
Loaves & Fishes Brooklyn United Methodist Church – Community Meal
7200 Brooklyn Blvd
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from Noon-1:00 pm
612-377-9810
Robbinsdale Food Shelf Resources:
NEAR Food Shelf
5209 W Broadway
Crystal, MN 55429
M-F 1:00-4:20 pm by appointment, will accept walk-ins.
763-533-2836
Food Shelf In-A-Box at the Gathering
3620 43rd Ave N
Robbinsdale, MN 55422
4th Thursday of the month from 4:00-6:00 pm
Crystal Food Shelf Resources:
PRISM Food Shelf
Minneapolis is a Welcoming City – a place where all should feel safe, respected and included, regardless of immigration status. The City of Minneapolis works hard to put these values into policy and practice because we know that when everyone in our city feels like they belong, we all benefit.
Immigration rights and responsibilities
You can find information from our community partners on the City website. Some of that information includes:
What to know in interactions with ICE (federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement):
o You have the right to stay silent and to talk with a lawyer.
o You have the right to refuse to sign any document until you talk to a lawyer.
o You have the right to not open your door until you see a warrant.
o Stay as calm as you can, and do not run away. o Learn more about your rights in interactions with ICE from the Immigrant Defense Project.
How to prepare:
o Make a plan to prepare your family.
o Carry a “know-your-rights” card.
o Keep your immigration papers on you at all times.
o Meet with a lawyer to learn about your immigration options.
Learn how to prepare for an immigration encounter. Attend a workshop, information session or community hours.
Click here for more information
Initial data from the City of Minneapolis’ traffic safety camera pilot program shows speeding is down at camera locations across the city in the program’s first month. As the program transitions from issuing warnings to issuing citations, the City is releasing preliminary findings of the pilot’s impact.
Across all five camera locations over the first month of operations:
· The rate of drivers recorded traveling 10 or more miles over the speed limit was reduced by 30%.
· The rate of drivers recorded traveling 20 or more miles over the speed limit was reduced by 76%.
These positive initial results can only be attributed to signs and initial warnings sent out. Results in other cities with traffic safety camera programs have shown further reductions in unsafe speeding as more people receive warnings and citations are issued.
Warnings and citations Beginning Friday, Nov. 7, the City will begin to issue citations to drivers detected travelling 10 or more miles over the speed limit.
Next week, residents with a lead water service line will be getting a letter from the City. The water service line is the pipe that runs from the water main in the street to the meter inside a property and is owned by the property owner. The letter provides information about the water service line material, steps that can be taken to minimize lead exposure in drinking water, and an update on the City’s effort to replace lead water service lines. An interactive map of the water service line inventory can be viewed on the City’s website.
How we know our tap water is safe
Minneapolis takes steps to make sure our tap water is lead-free and safe to drink. The water is tested hundreds of times a day and is treated in a way that prevents lead from pipes from getting into the water.
Replacing lead service lines
Last year, using state and federal grant funds, we began proactively replacing lead service lines at no cost to the homeowner. We replaced around 400 lead service lines using grant funds in 2024 with a plan to replace 1,000 more this year. This effort will continue until we’ve replaced or attempted to replace every lead service line in the city. Replacement requires the property owner’s consent. Project locations are selected based upon priorities established in State law; we do not replace lines upon individual property owner request. State law requires us to prioritize replacement by:
· Replacing service lines at day cares and schools.
· Focusing on areas with lower-income residents and other disadvantaged communities.
· Coordinating the replacement of lead service lines with other capital improvement projects to make the most of grant funding.
If a property owner would like to replace their lead service line before their property is in one of the City’s designated project areas, they may do so at their own expense by contracting directly with a licensed plumbing contractor. Or the property owner may authorize the City to hire a licensed plumbing contractor to replace the lead service line. In doing so, the property owner agrees either to reimburse the City directly for the replacement costs or to have any unpaid portion assessed as a special tax on the property payable over five years. You can find more information on the City website.
Even though federal funding is on hold due to the government shutdown, the State of Minnesota is urging eligible households to apply now for energy assistance through Minnesota’s federally funded Energy Assistance Program. The State recommends that households take the following steps to protect their heat and electricity from interruption:
1. Apply for the Energy Assistance Program. This will make sure your household is in the system when funds are available. The program is still accepting and processing applications. Apply through the Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County.
2. Set up a payment plan with each utility company to get shut-off protection. Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule offers some protection from utility shutoffs but requires households to set up and follow a payment plan. If you have questions, you can visit the Public Utilities Commission website or call 1-800-657-3782.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
The Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport is one of 40 major airports where the Trump administration has decided to reduce flight capacity due to the prolonged federal government shutdown. We will start seeing flight cancelations at MSP Friday, Nov. 7, ramping up to a 10%
reduction. This could impact up to 90 flights per day. The FAA says cuts to each airline’s schedules will be proportionate.
Travelers should be sure to check airline schedules frequently and arrive at the airport early in case of security delays or unexpected schedule changes. The FAA says they will share more information in the coming days.
When you’re done with your carved pumpkins and other gourds, you can put them in your green organics recycling cart. They don’t need to be bagged. Remember to remove any candles or lights first.
If you haven’t signed up for organics recycling, you can put carved pumpkins and other gourds with your other yard waste.
Added synthetic materials such as paint, permanent markers, glitter or jewels make pumpkins non-compostable, and then they have to go in the black garbage cart.
Wrappers from Halloween candy go in the garbage. They are not recyclable or compostable.
After the 2025 election season wraps up, if you have yard signs for the election check with the campaign to see if it’s collecting its yard signs for reuse. If the yard sign can’t be reused, you can drop it off Nov. 12-26. The signs will be brought to Choice Plastics, where they’ll be turned into pellets and then recycled into new material.
Yard sign recycling drop-off sites
· Minneapolis North Transfer Station, bins outside of the gate 2710 Pacific St.
· Minnetonka/Hopkins Recycling Center, 24/7 11522 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka
· St. Louis Park Recreation Outdoor Center, container inside front entrance 8 a.m.-8 p.m. every day 3700 Monterrey Drive, St. Louis Park · Hennepin County drop-off sites, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays
o 1400 96th St. W., Bloomington
o 8100 Jefferson Highway, Brooklyn Park Find more information about yard sign recycling drop-offs. |
