|
The Seward Neighborhood Group (SNG) hosted a fantastic event called Solidarity, Truth, Action, and Neighborhood Defense (S.T.A.N.D). I was honored to speak alongside Council Vice President Osman, County Commissioner Angela Conley, and State Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura about the federal occupation and ways neighbors can support each other. Seward residents asked important questions about the federal government’s actions and ways to resist. Thank you to everyone who organized and attended this important event.
Council Member Wonsley standing and speaking beside Vice President Osman and County Commissioner Conley at Seward STAND.
Council Member Wonsley standing and speaking beside Vice President Osman and County Commissioner Conley at Seward STAND.
Calling all artists, creators, and service providers!!!
Would you like to contribute to a mutual aid fundraiser for the Immigration Law Center of Minnesota and CTUL Emergency Fund? Here’s how you can use your specialized skills to help.
- Commit to attending the event on Sunday, Feb. 22 from 1-5 pm at the Vine Arts Center to sell your work (where at least 50% of your profits go to the fundraiser).
- Donate your work in advance for an event volunteer to sell on your behalf where 100% of the funds will go to mutual aid.
- Spread this message to friends, family, and other creators who may be able to contribute.
Paintings, prints, jewelry, and other physical art is amazing, but there are so many other things you could contribute if that's not your typical medium! Some other ideas for donations are homemade body products, coupons for a free service like a massage, tattoo, yoga/dance class, haircut, acupuncture etc., a gift card to a local immigrant-owned business for a raffle prize, baked goods, and so much more. If you have an idea of something you could donate, reach out to us!
If you decide to participate in one of the first two ways, please fill out this form.
Sprouting Love Through ICE
Mutual Aid Art Fair
Sunday February 22nd 1-5pm
Ivy Arts Building - Vine Arts Center (2637 27th Ave S)
Poster for Mutual Aid Art Fair.
You’re invited to a free community event to celebrate Mardi Gras at First Church! Enjoy a taco bar, mini golf, fresh doughnuts, and live music and dancing. All are welcome.
Mardi Gras Festival
Friday February 13th 5:30-8pm
First Congregational Church (500 8th Ave SE)
Poster for Mardi Gras Festival.
Summary: At the request of residents, Council is holding a public comment on granting liquor licenses to hotels that are alleged to be housing ICE agents. You can share feedback in person on February 17th at 9:30am at City Hall, or submit comments in writing to CouncilComment@minneapolismn.gov.
Background: Every bar and restaurant in the city of Minneapolis has a liquor license that must be renewed annually by the City Council. The license renewal process is an opportunity for the City to address any concerns with the business, such as if a licensee is not complying with laws and regulations, creating safety or nuisance issues, or not paying license fees. There are limited reasons that Council can legally deny a license or impose conditions on a licensee. That said, having a liquor license is not a right– it is a privilege granted to businesses who show they are able to comply with regulations and public safety standards, which is why they must be renewed annually.
Last week, the City Council was asked to approve liquor license renewals for several hotels that are alleged to have been housing federal agents participating in Operation Metro Surge. Council Members received thousands of emails from constituents outlining the public safety concerns that have arisen from ICE allegedly staying at these hotels. In light of these concerns, Council is holding a public comment period so that residents can share their perspectives with Council.
Key votes: The public hearing will take place at the Committee of the Whole on February 17th starting at 9:30am at City Hall. Comments can also be submitted in writing through February 17th via email to CouncilComment@minneapolismn.gov. After the public hearing, Council will consider the liquor licenses.
Summary: Council Member Chavez Council will consider a proposal to allocate $5 million for small business resilience and recovery from the impacts of Operation Metro Surge.
Background: Operation Metro Surge has left our city with huge amounts of trauma and hundreds of millions of dollars of economic damage. Thousands of small businesses are facing permanent closure if there is not immediate investment to stabilize them.
Council Member Jason Chavez has authored a proposal to invest $5 million into small business resiliency. I’m proud to co-author this policy along with Council Members Chowdhury, Chughtai, Stevenson, Vice President Osman and President Payne. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and are critical to vibrant and safe neighborhood corridors. This is an absolutely crucial way to protect our small businesses and support an equitable recovery in our cultural corridors and citywide.
Small businesses are also a significant part of the city’s tax base, meaning that if hundreds of small businesses close we will see massive increases in property taxes for working class people citywide. Lack of action now will result in devastating long-term damage to the liveability of our city, because small businesses contribute significantly to the city’s revenue through taxes.
Governor Walz’ announcement that he is proposing $10 million for small business recovery for the entire state underscores the need for Minneapolis to invest in small businesses immediately. The Governor’s paltry proposal is completely out of step with the reality that small businesses are losing $10-$20 million per week just in the metro area. Ten million for the entire state, after two months of occupation, is completely insufficient. Recovery efforts will require hundreds of millions of dollars, and the current proposed investments by the state and philanthropy are just a fraction of the commitments Minneapolis needs to to support small business. These are all reasons for why city leaders must step up and provide resources needed to help our small businesses both navigate and survive the impacts of the federal occupation.
Key votes: The Committee of the Whole will vote on $5 million for small business resilience funding on February 17th. The Council will vote on the investment on February 19th.
Summary: In response to the housing stability crisis created by Operation Metro Surge, I am authoring an ordinance called Pause Eviction, Save Lives that would slow down the timeline for a renter to be evicted. Next week, Council will vote to set a public hearing on the policy for March 3rd.
Background: The occupation of Minneapolis by federal agents has caused many families across the city to lose income and fall behind on rent. This is creating a looming eviction crisis that will have catastrophic impacts on families, neighborhoods, and our city if local leaders do not take action. In light of this, I worked with my colleagues to create an ordinance called Pause Evictions, Save Lives, which is a temporary policy change that would extend the timeline for evictions to protect renters from the impacts of the ICE occupation.
Currently, if a landlord plans to file an eviction due to missed rent, they must give the renter 30-days notice prior to filing the eviction. Pause Evictions, Save Lives would temporarily increase the required notice from 30 days to 60 days. This gives families an extra month to acquire the funds needed to cover any missed rent and avoid the eviction being filed. The 60-day requirement would be in effect until July 31, unless Council takes action to extend it or end it earlier.
Rental assistance funding takes time to get to the renters who need it. Additionally, new financial resources could be available to families once the state legislative session begins on February 17th. Pause Evictions, Save Lives gives families more time to apply for and receive rental assistance funding, preventing evictions and protecting families.
Last week, my co-authors and I asked for council support to expedite consideration of this ordinance. The expedited timeline would have allowed Council to pass this crucial renter protection before March 1, the next date many residents in our city are expected to pay rent. This would literally make the difference for thousands of families entering into the eviction process, versus thousands of families having a protection in place when next months’ rent is due. Unfortunately, five Council Members did not see value in expediting consideration of the ordinance and the vote failed.
That said, I and my co-authors are continuing to move Pause Evictions, Save Lives forward. At the City Council meeting on February 19th, I will ask my colleagues to advance the ordinance to the next step of the legislative process by setting a public hearing for March 3rd. If approved, this means the ordinance could pass as soon as March 5th, granting thousands of families temporary relief from eviction.
Key votes: Council will vote on February 19th to set a public hearing on Pause Evictions, Save Lives for March 3rd at 9:30am. If approved, the ordinance could pass as soon as March 5th.
The ACLU has set up a portal to document experiences of harassment, intimidation, violence, or potential violation of civil rights by federal agents. This documentation is especially critical over the coming week. The federal government may attempt to argue that the courts don’t need to issue an injunction against profiling by federal agents because the Operation Metro Surge is “over.” The ACLU is looking for stories, declarations/testimony about profiling to illustrate the continued need for an injunction against profiling by federal agents. Submit your experiences and testimony here.
For the last several weeks my office has received inquiries into how the City was tracking and retaining evidence of federal agents in our city acting unlawfully. My office has made multiple inquiries to the administration to obtain this information, but each time the response was inefficient or more concerningly, incorrect. This was very troubling, and in response I am bringing a legislative directive to the February 17 Committee of the Whole meeting with the goal of gaining more clarity on the city’s process for retaining crucial evidence that can help assist with holding unlawful federal agents accountable.
Contact Ward 2
Visit: minneapolismn.gov/ward2
Email: robin.wonsley@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2202
City Hall
350 S. Fifth St., Room 370
Minneapolis, MN 55415
For reasonable accommodations or alternative format please contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311. |
