I hope you’ve been staying cool through the hot summer days we’ve experienced the last couple weeks. Summer is always one of the busiest times for me – there are so many community events, and a full City Council calendar as everyone prepares for Budget season. You’ll find a lot of updates and information in this newsletter update.
Policy and Council Updates
Minneapolis Police Officers Federation Contract
Many of you have reached out to me directly, submitted public comments, and attending City meetings to share your perspective and feedback about the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis contract with the City. I am so grateful to all of you who have reached out. This kind of participation in local government is the best example of our democracy at work.
Council President Payne, Council Member Wonsley (who chairs the Administration and Enterprise Oversight Committee), and I worked together to ensure a public and transparent process that allows Minneapolis residents to fully understand the contract and give feedback. The result has been a more deliberative and participatory process that we all hope helps continue to build trust between the City and its residents. There were two opportunities for public comment on the POFM Contract – the June 25 and July 8 AEO Committee meetings. Dozens of Minneapolis residents spoke at those meetings. After the hearings in committee, it was referred without recommendation to the regular Thursday, July 18 City Council meeting.
It was a great opportunity to hear from individuals who spoke passionately about public safety in our community. Both those urging the Council to vote for and against the contract shared a clear desire for a safe and vibrant Minneapolis. The votes on the contract reflected residents' commitment to safety, and the difference of opinion about how that is achieved.
As the representative of Ward 10, I voted against accepting the contract as proposed. It’s important to invest in fairly paying all of our City employees, and I could not support the historic increase in MPD wages while the Administration is still failing to offer meaningful increases to some of our lowest wage workers, even though the City Council has budgeted for it. The lack of permanent reforms, the Mayor’s refusal to consider reforms to coaching practices, and the Administration’s unwillingness to exercise their authority to offer budgeted raises to frontline employees – all with a 22% wage increase price tag. This will make officers of the Minneapolis Police Department some of the highest paid in the country, surpassing New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago, the four largest cities in the country with considerably higher populations and larger municipal budgets. All of these factors led to me voting no on the POFM contract. Ultimately the contract passed at the July 18 Council meeting. I remain committed to work closely with all City partners to ensure the reforms are long-term. I hope the Mayor and Chief are able to follow through on their promise that this will solve the staffing shortage, and are able to improve their track record with police recruitment and retention.
Minneapolis City Council Passes Resolution in Support of Striking Park Board Workers
Minneapolis is home to nationally recognized and award-winning parks. We know that workers are what make our parks something to be proud of. Everyday frontline workers of LiUNA! 363 create beautiful, welcoming, and safe places for our communities. They deserve dignity, respect, and safety on the job. They are currently on strike fighting for fair and comprehensive wages, guaranteed protections to safety on the job, affordable, equitable, and usable health insurance, and better scheduling and staff provisions.
I know how critical their work is to the success of our city – and I am proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with striking park workers as they fight for the contract they deserve. Read the resolution the Council passed.
Public Safety Aid Spending
The Frey Administration brought forward a plan to pay for the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis contract that defunded comprehensive public safety by using already-budgeted, one-time Public Safety Aid money. For years, Mayor Frey and City leaders have made promises to support community safety efforts beyond just policing, often calling it a “both, and” approach. Most Councilmembers, including myself, are also committed to public safety beyond just policing.
The City’s annual budget is $1.8 billion. I rejected the premise that the only way to fund 22% raises for police officers is by defunding integral aspects of unarmed safety programs in Minneapolis. Programs designed to successfully address gun violence, prevent hate crimes, support efforts to make our commercial corridors and transit system safer, and more.
At the Thursday, July 18 City Council meeting, the Council passed my counter proposal that preserves funding for unarmed comprehensive public safety programs. It also reduces the deficit by $6 million over the next two years, ensuring that the Police Federation contract is fully funded while not further increasing property tax burden on Minneapolis residents.
Budget Priorities Reviewed in the Budget Committee
I serve as the Chair of the Budget Committee – in that capacity I have led on ensuring a transparent and accessible budget. This year, I invited all Councilmembers to present their priorities for the 2025 budget in Committee. As the Mayor works to put together his recommendations for the budget, it’s important for the Council to start working together to prioritize residents needs. Learn more about what Councilmembers presented, and what shared priorities emerged.
There have been a lot of conversations regarding the City’s budget shortfall. The Council remains committed to ensuring that the burden does not overwhelmingly fall on residents through the property tax levy – it was one of the top themes emerging from Councilmembers throughout this process and will be reflected in how current spending is evaluated, identifying funding sources, and prioritizing the needs of Minneapolis residents.
Ward 10 Office Updates
Here are a few highlights of work our office has been doing recently.
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My office continues to meet biweekly with the Ward 10 neighborhood organizations, providing updates on policy and constituent work and receiving updates of what’s going on in Whittier, The Wedge, South Uptown and East Bde Maka Ska.
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We’ve continued monthly stakeholder meetings to maintain safety at the Uptown Transit Station.
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Constituents who are members of Unidos and ISAIAH met with me during their lobby day – they discussed issues related to climate initiatives, housing, and youth programming.
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Our team attended an Immigration Policy Round Table convened by Councilmember Wonsley to develop a deeper shared understanding of our City’s immigrant populations.
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I met with Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) President Sethi to talk about the upcoming semester and how to best support students and faculty in Whittier.
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Our office met with leaders from Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity about the crucial work they do in Ward 10 and throughout Minneapolis to bring people together to create, preserve, and promote affordable homeownership and advance racial equity in housing.
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My team met with the Environmental Justice Table to talk about ongoing efforts to shut down the Hennepin County-run Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC). The facility burns about 45% of trash generated in the county to create energy, but the incinerator, located on the north edge of downtown Minneapolis, is a significant source of industrial pollution.
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Congratulations to all the Ward 10 residents recently appointed to various Council advisory boards and committees! I’m excited to see the unique expertise of these residents that will help shape our community:
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I was so excited to participate again this year in reading to students as part of summer programming at Whittier International Elementary School!
Meeting with Local Businesses: Baba’s and Anthony’s
Over the past month, my staff and I have met with several local businesses to discuss their successes and challenges. This included a visit to Baba's Hummus House & Mana'eesh Bakery on Lyndale Avenue near 22nd Street. We had a great conversation with the owner about our commitment to revitalization of Lyndale, street reconstruction challenges, and identifying ways the City Council can support businesses through this time. We also met with the owners of Anthony's Pipe & Cigar Lounge on Lake Street between Bryant Avenue & Colfax Avenue to talk about how we can support their commitment to staying in Uptown in the upcoming years.
Lastly, we met with UMBRA Arts, a new vibrant maker’s and fine art collective dedicated to fostering creativity, inclusivity, and community. Offering a unique blend of a creative LGBTQ+ focused hub, manufacturing division for bespoke gifts and crafts, and a fine art gallery showcasing local artists who will be coming to the LynLake corridor soon!
Queermunity Coming to Uptown!
We’re excited to share the news that Queermunity is moving to Uptown! They’ve made plans to move in at 3036 Hennepin Avenue South, above Magers & Quinn Bookstore! This will be a great addition to Uptown! From the article: “Queermunity is determined to be an accessible and lively community space for LGBTQ+ people in the Twin Cities, with special attention given to the unique wants and needs of people with intersecting marginalized identities. Queermunity will offer its own programs and services, as well as host and collaborate on initiatives with partner organizations. The space will include a full-service café with a rotating seasonal menu of locally sourced food and beverages directed by June De, James Beard semi-finalist and sous chef of Union Hmong Kitchen, in addition to coworking desks, meeting rooms and event space rentals.”
Welcome to Ward 10, Queermunity!
Hennepin Avenue South Reconstruction Updates
On June 14, Hennepin Avenue South between Lake Street and 31st Street was reopened to vehicles two weeks ahead of schedule. It has been closed as part of Phase I of the Hennepin Avenue Reconstruction Project. We even went out to the businesses on that block that morning to let them know their block is reopened ahead of schedule. Hennepin Avenue South between Lake Street and 26th Street is still closed for construction until November, with Phase II of the reconstruction project starting next year further north on Hennepin.
I know construction on Hennepin and on Lake Street has been very difficult for businesses and residents. My team and I are doing everything we can to respond to your concerns. Public Works hosts weekly open stakeholder meetings every Friday at 10:00am where you can hear the most recent updates and ask questions. Information on these meetings and other updates are available on the Hennepin Avenue South Reconstruction Project webpage. See the July 14-20 construction update here.
Businesses in the construction zone are still open, don’t forget to visit!
June 17-September 30: Bike, Walk/Roll, and Ride-Share to Uptown Quest
Community Events and Activities
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The Bryant Square Park Summer Concert Series supported by the South Uptown Neighborhood Association is continuing! You can be in community and enjoy live music most Tuesdays and Thursdays through August 1st! Download the schedule.
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The East Bde Maka Ska Neighborhood Association has several activities coming up:
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The next Whittier Alliance Community Engagement Dinner is on Thursday, August 8 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Whittier Recreation Center, you can get to know neighbors and enjoy food together. You can see more events like the Whittier Really Really Free Market on August 3 from 1:00-4:00pm by checking out the Whittier Alliance Event Calendar.
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National Night Out is approaching! NNO is Tuesday, August 6. If you or your organization is looking to Register Your NNO Event or register your block, don’t forget the deadline to submit is July 30!
It continues to be a privilege to represent Ward 10, and I look forward to seeing you all out in community! Thank you for reading this lengthy update! As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office via email at ward10@minneapolismn.gov if you have any questions!
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