 Sunday evening I watched Minneapolis residents take center stage at the JFK Profile of Courage awards, as our community was honored with this prestigious award for our response to Operation Metro Surge. Then on Monday evening, I attended the Rebel Loon Archive’s exhibit of protest art detailing this same time in our city’s history. I was excited to see the wide variety of works displayed, but stepped squarely into a lot of unexpected emotions. In some ways, this time seems like a distant memory, but in other ways I realize the experience will always live with us just under the surface.
A gift I will always remember from that evening is turning to see Liam and family take in the crop art portrait of him in his blue bunny hat…no TV cameras, no bright lights. There were not a few tears. You can watch Erica Helander, founder of the Rebel Loon Archive, describe the exhibit here. It runs through this weekend, June 7th at True North Studio, 3001 Hennepin Ave, 10am-2pm.
The council, mayor, and key city staff also renewed our strategic direction work last week, which was cut short due to the death of Renee Good. Not all of the council attended, but those of us who did found the process very beneficial. The purpose was to help us coalesce around common norms of process, both behaviorally and legislatively, and to develop some common strategic directions we could work on together. Of course, this was not all accomplished in these two half-days, but we made some progress.
Day one, we opened up about the “elephants in the room” around previous behaviors, agreeing: we don't have a shared vision or common destination, the group operates as competing factions rather than one team, trust and respect have been damaged, outside influences shape internal dynamics, and meaningful dialogue is limited. This was not the complete agreed upon list, but enough to get the picture. As a relatively new council member, it was extremely encouraging to see us take this first step to name the issues.
Day two, we explored our leadership styles (DiSC assessments) and learned how these traits are individually presented, helping us better understand our differences. We also committed as a group to three norms of behavior as we move forward including: no personal attacks, whether toward colleagues, staff, or the mayor, use the phone not the mic, and collective accountability. As I have said previously, I have never been in a work environment quite like this one, but am optimistic we can begin to hold each other accountable to these basic norms beginning next week when we all gather for Committee of the Whole meeting.
Our consultant, Darcy Luoma, was hired by the council last year and will be facilitating meetings with us periodically over the next four years, with quarterly meetings in 2026.
Looking forward, I continue to recognize the importance of public safety. Last week we had a shooting on Nicollet Mall between 7th & 8th Streets at 8:30 a.m. The suspect was immediately apprehended, but we cannot tolerate these occurrences. On Wednesday, I attended a meeting organized by Downtown Improvement District leaders to discuss this incident and safety downtown. The meeting included Chief Peterson (congratulations to our new Interim Minneapolis Police Chief!), Sheriff Witt, Chief Dotseth of Metro Transit, business leaders, CM Rainville, myself, and others to develop specific strategies and coordinate current plans between jurisdictions. Beginning Monday, there will be additional Metro Transit agents on Nicollet Mall between 5th & 7th Street and other future safety plans were made.
I know many families are anticipating the start of summer and wrap up of school next week, congratulations on making it through another school year! We have a great Ward 7 community and thanks for being a part of it.
 Credit: Hiero Veiga/Meet Minneapolis
This Saturday, June 6, downtown Minneapolis becomes a living tribute to one of the city's most beloved sons — and everyone is invited.
Prince Celebration 2026 is bringing a free, all-ages Block Party and Community Sing-Along to the Prince Mural across the street from the legendary First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis from 2:00–10:00 p.m. The centerpiece is a crowd-wide sing-along from 4:30–6:30 p.m., led by a mass choir of 100+ vocalists under Musical Director Sanford Moore. No ticket needed, just show up and sing.
Ten years after his passing, Prince's music still brings this city together.
 Credit: Taylor Dahlin, “3rd Annual Lake of the Isles Pencil Sharpening, Minneapolis,” CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
And, if you’re in the mood for next-level quirk, don’t miss the fifth annual sharpening of the giant pencil on the east side of Lake of the Isles, taking place this Saturday, June 6, from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., 2217 East Lake of the Isles Parkway. The program includes storytelling about the project and comments by the artist. David Rees, the Number One #2 Pencil Sharpener in the world, will oversee the sharpening and add his wit to the program, and DJ Jake Rudh will serve as house DJ. Expect t-shirt giveaways, the University of Minnesota Pep Band, ice cream and music.
Scratching your head and asking “what the heck are you talking about?” It’s a giant pencil sculpture on the east side of Lake of the Isles that has turned into a beloved community icon. In the Spring of 2022, Curtis Ingvoldstad shaped a 20-foot-tall, 32-inch diameter wind-damaged bur oak snag on the lawn of this prominent lake home into an enormous No. 2 Pencil. Every year on the first Saturday in June, the Minneapolis community comes together to watch the pencil be ceremonially “sharpened.” It’s a quirky, fun event – only in Minneapolis!
 Credit: Lane Pelovsky/Meet Minneapolis
Open Streets is back this year, with its kick-off event happening this Sunday, June 7, on Lyndale Ave. between 22nd Street and 42nd Street. During that time, this portion of Lyndale will be closed to vehicle traffic and will turn into a giant street fair.
Hennepin Avenue will also host its own Open Streets event on October 11, starting at West 36th Street, and extending this year all the way north to Franklin. Along with staged entertainment and food trucks, these events are a great way to meet your neighbors and get connected to your local neighborhood association. Last year’s event on Hennepin drew 50,000 people, with the cumulative total for all four Open Streets events totaling 120,000 people. Mark your calendar!
 On Thursday, June 18, bring the whole family down to Nicollet Mall for the Big Honking Truck Parade. Starting at E. Grant Street, get up-close looks at the trucks that keep Minneapolis running — police and fire vehicles, concrete mixers, sanitation trucks, and more rolling through downtown in full motorcade style. The parade concludes at Nicollet and S. 6th Street.
Come early! Mich's Market (located at 700 Nicollet in Dayton’s) opens at 5:00 p.m. with local and artisan goods, and area restaurants will be ready to fuel up the whole family. The parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. Watch highlights from the 2025 parade.
 After a successful inaugural season, the Uptown Farmers Market is back — and this year it has a new home. The market will be held at MoZaic Plaza at the corner of Lagoon & Girard every Thursday from 4–8 p.m., bringing fresh local produce, artisan baked goods, ready-to-eat meals, and live music to the neighborhood.
Come out and enjoy fresh eats, live beats, and good vibes in Uptown. Learn more and plan your visit at uptownmarket.org.
 On Saturday, I was honored to attend the ceremony dedicating a one-block stretch of Blaisdell Avenue between Franklin and West 22nd Street as “Officer Jamal Mitchell Way.” This is the site where Officer Mitchell lost his life in the line of duty two years ago as he sought to render medical aid in the middle of an active shooting incident.
It was a somber but meaningful ceremony that featured remarks from the mayor and MPD officers and leadership who served with Officer Mitchell during his time with the Fifth Precinct. Officer Mitchell’s family was in attendance, and his children got to pull the cord that formally unveiled the sign. Officer Mitchell’s life partner, Tori, said the re-naming was deeply meaningful to the family:
“On May 30, 2024, our family lost our beloved Jamal. We are eternally grateful for this honor and for recognizing that he made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the residents of Minneapolis. We love him, we miss him. Thank you to everyone who made this street naming possible.”
 On June 2, Mayor Frey announced First Precinct Inspector Bill Peterson as Interim Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department.
Peterson, a 30-year veteran of MPD, has served in leadership roles across patrol, special operations, pre-service training and precinct command. He has helped lead the department’s response to major incidents and events, including the North Side tornado, the I-35W bridge collapse, periods of civil unrest and large-scale public safety operations such as the MLB All-Star Game and Super Bowl LII.
Since 2019, he has led the First Precinct, overseeing public safety operations in seven neighborhoods: North Loop, Downtown East, Downtown West, Loring Park, Elliot Park, Cedar Riverside and a portion of the University of Minnesota West Bank. As Inspector, Peterson has focused on building strong relationships with residents, businesses, neighborhood organizations and violence prevention partners across the First Precinct.
Peterson’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Minneapolis, as the City continues implementing major public safety reforms, rebuilding staffing levels, reducing violent crime and strengthening trust with communities across the city. His experience leading major operations, implementing training initiatives and working alongside community partners positions him to guide the department through these priorities while maintaining a clear focus on public safety.
Read more about Peterson's appointment.
 The City of Minneapolis is launching a coordinated, citywide Summer Safety Plan that outlines how the many components of the City’s community safety network will collaborate throughout the summer to prevent violence, respond to emergencies, and ensure residents and visitors enjoy being in Minneapolis during this busy season.
The effort kicks off with Operation Safe Summer, June 1-6. Led by MPD in partnership with multiple other law enforcement agencies, the initiative targets individuals known to regularly engage in violent crime.
In its fifth year, the operation has resulted in dozens of arrests, the recovery of numerous guns, substantial amounts of illegal narcotics, and has helped reduce crime in the city.
The coordinated effort includes the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Minnesota State Patrol, Metro Transit Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and the Plymouth Police Department.
In addition, the City’s summer safety campaign will involve coordination between departments and community organizations, prioritizing prevention and community engagement programs focused on violence prevention, emergency preparedness, youth engagement, water and weather safety education – all through expanded community outreach.
The comprehensive strategy includes public safety planning for major summer events, including Pride, Taste of Minnesota, Aquatennial, the U.S. Special Olympics, WWE Summer Slam, Open Streets events, and other large public gatherings.
Want to learn more? Join city staff and law enforcement on Saturday, June 6, for the Summer Safety Kickoff, a family-friendly event where neighbors build a safer community together. Meet safety providers and first responders, get fire and crime prevention tips, learn about preparedness and access helpful resources.
Summer Safety Kickoff Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, June 6 Peavey Field Park, 740 E. 22nd St.
Learn more about the Summer Safety Kickoff.
 Credit: Annie Wang
This week, the Business, Housing & Zoning (BHZ) Committee took up CPED's recommendation to grant exclusive development rights for two years (extendable to three) to Minnesota Agape Movement for the People's Way, formerly the Speedway gas station adjacent to George Floyd Square (GFS) which the city purchased for $200,000 in 2023. The BHZ committee voted to deny this proposal, but it will still move forward to the full council for another vote on June 11. I was against this motion and would have preferred the item be referred back to staff to get some of my questions answered.
The leaders of Agape have a long history of work in the community, and they have had an extensive presence in GFS itself. That said, there have been legitimate concerns raised about the viability of Agape's proposal and their capacity to realize their vision for the location within the two-year timeframe. The proposal they submitted as part of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was a six-story building with restaurants, a museum, a music studio, and a rooftop garden at a cost of up to $35 million, a concept that city staff have admitted is unrealistic and must be scaled back. After Agape was announced as the preferred developer last month, partners listed on their team began distancing themselves from the project, as the Star Tribune reported. I also have questions about their financial position: Agape lost its nonprofit tax-exempt status in 2023 before having it reinstated in 2024, and its filings show revenues under $50,000.
One concern I don't find compelling is that Agape "forced" the reopening of the area. The city contracted with Agape in 2021 to help reopen the intersection. There are those who never supported the reopening because all 24 Demands weren't met. That isn't how municipal governance works and keeping it closed and barricaded went against the wishes of the majority of community members.
My doubts aren't limited to Agape. The other finalist, Rise and Remember, a nonprofit led by Floyd family members and community activists, proposed a memorial garden and greenhouse for an estimated $2.5 million, and a city-commissioned survey found most area residents supported their proposal. But Miles Mercer, the city's manager of business development, told the committee that neither group would have the skills on its own to pull off any sort of development here, and that the teams assembled are not what staff would have liked to see. "But it is what we have," he said. That is not good enough for a site this significant, and it is the core of why I couldn't simply support moving forward as presented.
Much of the frustration I hear — and share — from constituents and colleagues is how slow the progress has been toward memorializing the events of 2020 and revitalizing the area. It's been six years, and the street is just now being redone so that it will be open once again to buses. Whatever happens at the full council on June 11, I'm trying to think creatively about how the city can get this property into the hands of the right people to steward the legacy of those awful events and meet the needs of the community right now, without the property sitting undeveloped for another six years.
 On Wednesday I had the chance to sit down with representatives from the Jeremiah Program, a national organization with a campus here in Minneapolis that’s devoted to supporting single moms and their kids to break the cycle of poverty and start living out their dreams, two generations at a time.
Since 1998, the Jeremiah Program has had its local residential campus nestled near the Basilica and MCTC, in the Loring Park neighborhood, and last year it saw 531 moms and their children participate in its “two-generation” programming, centered on the belief that “no mother should have to choose between investing in herself and her children.” Along with one of the organization’s board members and two family coaches, we were joined by a program participant, whose family is enjoying stable housing, and pursuing their educational goals. For anyone interested in more detailed information, please visit their website to learn more.
Tuesday, June 9: West Maka Ska Neighborhood Council monthly meeting, 6 – 8 p.m., Bakken Museum Great Hall, 3527 Zenith Ave. S.
Tuesday, June 9: East Isles Neighborhood Association monthly meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., at Grace Trinity Church, 1430 W. 28th Street. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, June 10: Citizens for a Loring Park Community neighborhood party, 5:30-7:30, at Hennepin Ave United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland.
Wednesday, June 10: Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association monthly meeting, 6:30-7:30pm at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 420 Cedar Lake Road. Click here for more details.
Wednesday, June 10: Cedar-Isles-Dean Neighborhood Association monthly meeting, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., Jones Harrison Senior Living, 3700 Cedar Lake Avenue. Click here for full details.
Monday, June 29: Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association monthly meeting, 5:30pm, via Zoom. Click here for meeting link.
 Stop by on Thursday, June 11, in the City Hall Rotunda for a Pride Month breakfast hosted by the City’s SOGI (Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity) Employee Resource Group and the Neighborhood & Community Relations department. The event will include a short program and performances by local drag performers.
After the breakfast, City Council members will read an honorary Pride Month resolution in Council Chambers.
Pride Month Breakfast and Council Resolution 8-9:30 a.m. Thursday, June 11 City Hall Rotunda, 350 S. Fifth St.
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