| Dear Neighbors,
Happy Friday and happy International Women’s Day! Today’s newsletter includes some updates from yesterday’s City Council meeting, as well as community updates and information on my next Open Office Hours.
Minneapolis City Council Stands with Workers and Closes Uber Lyft Loophole, Winning Drivers City’s Minimum Wage
At our March 7 meeting, the Minneapolis City Council voted 9-4 to approve the Rideshare Minimum Compensation Ordinance. Councilmembers Wonsley, Chavez, and Osman co-authored the policy to close the loophole in the City’s $15.57 minimum wage and ensure that Uber and Lyft drivers earn minimum wage equivalents, just like every other worker in Minneapolis. I voted in favor of this ordinance because I believe all workers deserve dignified compensation for their work. You can watch yesterday’s discussion of this ordinance here.
This Ordinance is an important part of our commitment to workers’ rights, along with recently expanding co-enforcement and my proposed ordinance to create a Labor Standards Board. The Rideshare Minimum Compensation Ordinance reaffirms the precedent that minimum wage equivalents are a racial justice and workers’ rights issue. The vast majority of drivers are workers of color and immigrant workers. Uber and Lyft, which made billions in 2023, claim that drivers are already earning above the minimum wage, while also stating that enforcing the minimum wage on them would dramatically alter their business and force them out of the City. Mayor Frey has amplified these claims despite the fact that Uber and Lyft’s data include tips and bonuses towards compensation, directly contradicting Minnesota’s status as a One Fair Wage state where tips aren’t counted towards wages.
My colleague Councilmember Chavez stated that, “Small businesses are required to pay minimum wage before tips, and it’s clear that multi-billion dollar out-of-state tech companies should be too. No company should be above the law. Relying on low-income riders to subsidize Uber and Lyft paying drivers’ wages is an economic and racial injustice.”
Ramadan Honorary Resolution
I was honored to join with Councilmembers Chowdhury, Ellison, and Osman to present an honorary resolution commemorating the observance of Ramadan in 2024. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is a period of fasting, reflection, devotion, generosity, and sacrifice observed by Muslims around the world, including those in our diverse City of Minneapolis. Ramadan is expected to commence at dusk on Sunday, March 10 and will last for a lunar month. We were honored to be joined by members of Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE) and the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) as well as other community members for the reading of the resolution. You can watch the presentation of the honorary resolution here.
Successful Labor Standards Board Listening Session
On Monday, March 4, I hosted a Listening Session for the Labor Standards Board Ordinance that I’m authoring. This was an added opportunity for members of the public to share their experiences and opinions about whether the City should create a Labor Standards Board. I was pleasantly surprised that more than 100 people came out. More than 20 people who work in low-wage jobs in Minneapolis spoke about experiences they’ve faced at work and how they feel a Labor Standards Board could improve the conditions in their workplaces and industries. In the coming weeks a public hearing date will be set where members of the public will have another opportunity to speak about this proposed Ordinance.
March 12: Open Office Hours with Council Vice President Chughtai
On Tuesday, March 12 from 12:00-1:00pm, I’ll be holding Open Office Hours at Third Space Cafe (2930 Lyndale Avenue South). Feel free to come by to chat! I’ll be there with my aides to hear your thoughts and try to address any of your questions or constituent service needs.
March 12: East Bde Maka Ska Neighborhood Social
Join with the East Bde Maka Ska Neighborhood Association on Tuesday, March 12 from 5:30-7:30pm at Lake & Irving Restaurant & Bar (1513 West Lake Street) for gratis servings of their bestselling appetizers! Meet new faces and learn what's happening in East Bde Maka Ska, and ways to participate.
March 14: Whittier Alliance Community Dinner
Join the Whittier Alliance on Thursday, March 14 from 6:30-8:00pm at the Whittier Recreation Center (425 West 26th Street) to see the proposed design concepts for the former Kmart site and engage with the project team from the City, all while enjoying delicious Somali food from Mano Grill.
March 16: Second Annual Uptown City Crawl
The Uptown Association is organizing the Second Annual Uptown City Crawl on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Saturday, March 16 starting at 3:00pm. Purchased tickets include a T-shirt, wristband, exclusive discounted drink menus, and priority entrance to participating bar crawl locations.
Chili Fest!
I had a lovely time serving chili at the 25th Annual South Uptown Chili Fest in Bryant Square Park on February 25. I hope to be a part of Chili Fest again next year!
Community Safety in the LynLake Area
After hearing ongoing concerns about public safety issues in the LynLake area, in late February I convened a community safety meeting together with the LynLake Business Association and MPD Fifth Precinct Inspector Christie Nelson. Around 20 business owners and property managers in the LynLake area attended to express their concerns and hear updates from MPD and from the Ward 10 office. We plan to continue working together with community members and stakeholders to improve the public safety situation in LynLake and throughout Ward 10.
Lighting Improvements on 29th Street and Cecil Newman Lane
After hearing concerns about lack of adequate lighting on 29th Street and Cecil Newman Lane near Nicollet Avenue, City staff completed a review and identified two solutions that could be implemented in the short term.
-
The City has requested to Xcel that the light on the wood pole midblock on Cecil Newman be rotated to sit over the roadway, rather than the alley. If it can be done with the current amount of overhead wiring, then the adjustment would align with the typical alley/roadway intersection design and improve coverage on the roadway towards Eat Street Crossing.
The New Nicollet Redevelopment Project will redevelop the area adjacent to the former Kmart site in the longer term. While this process is still underway, infrastructure improvements along 29th and Cecil Newman Lane are included throughout the recommendations.
Uptown Farmers Market Seeks 2024 Pop-up Vendors
East Isles Neighborhood Association has announced a call for vendors for the revamped Uptown Farmers Market! 2024 will be a season of pop-up markets across participating neighborhoods, to build momentum and recognition for a stationary, weekly market season in 2025. Each pop-up this year will be connected to a larger, existing neighborhood event. While they aim to bring back many of the vendors, musicians, and food trucks who made the East Isles Farmers Market great, they're also welcoming new vendors and talent! Interested in vending? Learn more and fill out a vendor form. Interested in volunteering? Fill out a volunteer form.
Aisha Chughtai, Ward 10 Councilmember & Council Vice President
Paul Shanafelt, Ward 10 Policy Aide
Brad Sigal, Ward 10 Policy Associate
|
