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Dear Neighbors,
Please take a look at this newsletters on some upcoming engagement events and opportunities, and opportunities for boards and commissions. There will be an additional newsletter update to share more of the work that has taken place at City Hall and other opportunities for you to get involved in!
At our last regular City Council meeting we took action on 59 items forwarded to us from our standing committees, received notice of 1 ordinance introduction, referred 2 ordinances to standing committees for consideration, and approved 2 honorary resolutions.
We approved an ordinance that bans the use of algorithmic devices to set rental or vacancy rates. Approximately 1 in 7 rental units in the Twin Cities are managed using rental algorithms, and in those units tenants pay an average of $312 more per year for their rent. You mostly see these algorithms used with larger corporate landlords and these statistics show the adverse effects it's having on residents in our City. We've seen the negative and predatory impacts the increased use of algorithms and AI has had in industries like our hospitals and healthcare industry and how much that has hurt people. I was proud to support banning these types of technologies now before the use of algorithms becomes even more common in our rental market which will drive up rents and drive out small time and local landlords in favorite of large corporate ones.
Pick your favorite place to start!
 we approved a variety of contracts for MinneapolUS Services. These services are a unique, interdisciplinary, public health approach to violence prevention and an adaptation of the Cure Violence Model (CVM).
The Cedar Riverside Neighborhood where there has been a successful violence prevention effort was slated to be cut, I was dismayed to see this, and as a council we were able to discuss together how we can keep continuity of this important programming, and we were able to find a way to save it using so unutilized public safety state aid dollars.
Coverage for the program will include a team of seven people deployed per shift, each shift lasting up to 8 hours, with approximately 5 shifts per week. Teams will also work to change behavioral norms that support violence through public education and active community engagement. Continual data collection efforts will be implemented to assess program effectiveness and inform strategies.
Geography:
- A Mother’s love was assigned to Area 1.
- No coverage has been assigned to Area 2 but the City Council passed a resolution supporting consideration to re-solicit this request.
- No coverage has been assigned to Area 3 but the City Attorney said there are options for coverage. I am interested in working with colleagues to find a solution to this.
- Restoration Inc. was assigned to Area 4.
- Mad Dads was assigned to area 5.
- No coverage has been assigned to Area 6 but the City Attorney said there are options for coverage. I am interested in working with colleagues to find a solution to this.
- Sabathani Community Center was assigned to Area 7.
- TOUCH outreach was assigned to Area 8.
I am excited to see that our violence interrupter services going deeper into our neighborhoods. I am committed to working with staff to address the areas that do not have coverage yet.
 My office has been working with Longfellow Community Council and Minneapolis Public Schools to ensure that Cooper Playground continues to remain an asset for the use and enjoyment of our community. On March 18, we had a great meeting with community members to discuss the future of the playground and discuss potential designs. We are now down to the final two choices for The Cooper Playground! Please follow this link to select your favorite option (two color choices for each design)-- it is encouraged you sit and ask the kids in your life to help fill out the survey! :)
Please share with neighbors!
Additionally, we discussed the exciting update the Minneapolis Public School Anishinaabe Academy Facilities Workgroup has recommended Cooper school to be the future home for the school. This is great news for activation in this area and there are still many more steps before this happens. Will share any updates and opportunities to get involved/learn more.
Here is a helpful document with updates for both Cooper Playground and Anishinaabe Academy.
Huge shout out to the neighbors in the area for their effort and work on this.
 For the last year, I have been attending meetings with Reclaiming Edmund, a community-led coalition that has been working to connect with their neighbors to educate them on the namesake of Edmund Boulevard. In late March, we had a well attended community meeting on the renaming effort of Edmund Boulevard and why it is important. Community members in our neighborhoods and Edmund got to voice their views, share their preferred name, ask questions, and learn together. Read coverage of the meeting on The Southside Pride and Longfellow Whatever.
The namesake, Edmund G. Walton (1865-1919)became the first developer in the area to apply racially restrictive covenants to the properties he sold, which introduced racial covenants as the legal way of segregating Minneapolis. There has been a lot of support from the 12th Ward for this effort.
I am proudly as the Council Member taking this feedback and work back with me to City Hall and will work with neighbors to bring a application forward. Similar to when Former Council Member Johnson brought forward and application to rename Dight avenue to Cheatham avenue. .
There will be future engagement efforts before the application goes forward. I have sent a letter directly out to all neighbors who live on Edmund Boulevard to weigh in.
Reclaiming Edmund primary focus over the last 9 months has been collecting name suggestions from community, and forming a steering coalition of neighbors to sort through the suggestions and narrow down the options. As the coalition approaches the end of their years-long engagement, I am assisting them in gathering community feedback on the selection of a new street name. Will you take 5 minutes to fill out a community feedback survey? , or use the following link to take the survey and help select a new name: https://forms.gle/HQ3b9paCxqAVT8vdA
There is also an option to share if you support or oppose the name change.
 MnDOT is making pedestrian safety and accessibility improvements to the Hwy 55/Hiawatha Ave. and 46th St. E. and 45th St. E. intersections. You can learn more about these improvements on the project webpage.
This is the design phase of the project and construction is expected to take place in 2026. This meeting will also be open house style. I will be there part of the time and hope to see you there!
Public meeting
Join us for an in-person public meeting on Thu, April 10 to learn more about the 2026 construction project for Hwy 55/Hiawatha Ave. and 46th St. E. and 45th St. E. There is no formal presentation and the public is invited to stop by anytime. The project team will be available to answer questions.
Thu, April 10
5-7 p.m.
Lake Nokomis Community Center – Multipurpose Room
2401 E Minnehaha Pkwy., Minneapolis
You are encouraged to sign up for project email updates to stay up to date on this project. Please let us know if there are other organizations in the community that we should be in contact with. Thank you for helping to spread the word!
There's still time to apply for an open seat on one of the City's advisory boards or commissions! The ABC Recruitment deadline has been extended to April 20. This is a great opportunity to shape policy and uplift community voices.
The following boards are currently recruiting:
- Bicycle Advisory Committee
- Pedestrian Advisory Committee
- Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council
- Public Health Advisory Committee
- Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Aging
- Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing
- Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities
Apply today: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/boards-and-commissions/current-openings/boards-commissions-application/
Please reach out to my office with any questions you may have on applying for a Minneapolis Board or Commission!
Minneapolis is working to start a pilot for traffic safety cameras and wants to hear from you. Take a new survey to share your feedback on camera locations. A new State law allowing this pilot requires protections for fairness, equity and privacy.
Camera enforcement is proven effective at saving lives and reducing crashes. It’s one part of the City's effort to get to zero traffic deaths and serious injuries.
The pilot will launch as early as August with about five camera locations that will enforce speed limits. The pilot will run for up to four years and may expand to a maximum of 42 locations. The program may also expand to enforce red lights.
The City will gather feedback on potential camera locations through mid-May.
Read more about the traffic safety camera pilot and take the survey on the City website.
Starting the week of April 7, the City of Minneapolis will begin upgrading pedestrian ramps in the Morris N area to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. These improvements will enhance accessibility and safety for all pedestrians. Some utility upgrades will also take place throughout the summer.
During construction, there will be temporary sidewalk closures and traffic control measures to ensure a safe workspace for crews. Roads will remain open, but drivers and pedestrians should expect some temporary disruptions.
If you have an irrigation system in the public right of way, please mark it with flags or stakes to help crews avoid damage. The City is not responsible for any irrigation system damage in these areas.
For questions or concerns, contact Ryan Gottsleben at Ryan.Gottsleben@MinneapolisMN.gov or 612-590-4233. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to improve pedestrian accessibility!
The 2025 season for Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling collection of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings starts the week of April 7. Customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curbs next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on their pickup day.
You can set yard waste out in a reusable container, compostable bags (paper or certified compostable plastic), or bundled with string or twine.
See how to prepare it on the City website.
 Get to know your neighbors and have a voice in your neighborhood organization at Longfellow Community Council’s Spring Gathering and Board Elections.
All in attendance will have a chance to hear from and vote on incoming board members. Food will be provided free of charge. This is a family-friendly event hosted at Hiawatha Community School. All are welcome!
Please RSVP here to help them ensure they have enough food.
Want to shape the future of Greater Longfellow? Joining the Longfellow Community Council Board of Directors is your opportunity to directly influence the well-being of our vibrant and diverse neighborhood. As a Board member, you’ll be a vital link between your neighbors and community initiatives, ensuring all voices are heard and championed. There are several vacancies. Click here to learn more. Fill out this form if you are ready to apply. |
