June 12, 2026

Dear neighbors,

Happy Pride month! Our LGBTQ+ neighbors are a precious and vital part of our city. As a hostile federal government has been attacking our LGBTQ+ community I renew my commitment to fighting for protection, empowerment, love, and liberation of our LGBTQ+ neighbors. Love always wins!

It was a busy week for our Ward 8 office, here are some updates.

• City Hall hosts Pride celebration and first ever Drag show
• City Council waves special assessment taxes for George Floyd Square reconstruction
• The People's Way
• 38th Street THRIVE Plan
• Law enforcement agency agreements
• Lyndale Open Streets
• Council Coffee & Conversation for Seniors in Minneapolis
• Public Hearings Next Week
• Kingfield Monarca Democracy Defense Trainings
• Ward 8 Summer Safety Event

Updates from City Hall

City Hall hosts Pride celebration and first ever Drag show

Photo of Pride celebration at City Hall

Yesterday morning the City’s Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Employee Resource Group and the Neighborhood & Community Relations department hosted a Pride celebration breakfast and the first ever Drag show at City Hall. After the event, the City Council presented and read an honorary resolution for Pride Month. It was so special to celebrate with community and local Drag performers for this historic moment. During this joyful celebration I was also grateful for the reminder that Pride has always been and continues to be a protest. Pride month is a time to ground ourselves in the fight for our LGBTQ+ neighbors to be seen, loved and recognized for all the amazing contributions they make to our communities and city. It is also a time to renew our commitment to having all of our neighbors’ backs. I will carry this reminder with me this month and every day after. In June, I am excited to support the Pride in Policy initiatives that Council colleagues are bringing forward, including an initiative to repeal the ban on bathhouses which my office is co-authoring, because it is time to right this historical wrongdoing and end this form of legalized homophobia.

City Council waves special assessment taxes for George Floyd Square reconstruction

In accordance with the Municipal Code for street construction projects, last week the City administration brought forward a resolution to adopt special assessments, in the amount of $636,446.46, for the George Floyd Square street reconstruction project. The assessments would have seriously negatively impacted residents and businesses in the George Floyd Square area, and sparked backlash from residents, community leaders, and organizations. In response, I urged my Council colleagues to vote against the assessments proposal, resulting in the Council voting unanimously to deny these special assessments.

This project has been billed for so long as something that the City was doing for the community, but you can't do something for the community and then charge them for it. George Floyd Square is a sacred place of global importance. The community in this area has been hard hit over the last 6 years, so I led the charge on protecting residents and businesses from a special assessment that was out of touch with what this project is. I am proud that, in partnership with Council Member Jason Chavez (Ward 9) and City staff, my office has found an alternate funding source for the project, in lieu of special assessments, that will not burden businesses and homeowners while also not cutting other services or projects.

The People's Way

Yesterday the City Council voted 10-2 (with one abstention) to deny Mayor Frey’s choice to give Minnesota Agape Movement exclusive development rights for the People’s Way site at George Floyd Square. I want to acknowledge that the process to select a developer for this site has been very painful and has pitted respected organizations and community leaders against each other. The vote to deny Agape the development rights was also painful, but I believe it was the right thing to do. My priority is to work alongside community leaders and residents to support the best outcome for everyone involved at the People’s Way. The community has been clear that they wanted a different path than what was proposed for the People’s Way.

Now it's time to get to work on a People's Way plan that is responsive to the needs and values of the community. Council Member Jason Chavez and I have a meeting with Mayor Frey scheduled for next week to discuss next steps for the site. I am committed to working with community leaders, my colleagues and City staff towards a successful plan without too much more delay.

38th Street THRIVE Plan

At yesterday’s City Council meeting, Council Member Chavez and I also introduced a Legislative Directive requesting an update on the progress of implementing the 38th Street THRIVE Strategic Development Plan. This Legislative Directive includes a request for updates on the funding that the Council allocated to this plan last December. The 38th Street THRIVE plan is really important and delivers critically needed resources to the 38th Street corridor. I am committed to ensuring this plan’s implementation and success.

Law enforcement agency agreements

Finally, at yesterday’s City Council meeting we approved an ordinance authored by Council Members Chavez and Chowdhury, Council Majority Leader Chughtai and Council Vice President Osman that will prohibit the City from entering into a law enforcement agreement with another agency unless their officers are banned from concealing their identity while performing their activities in the city of Minneapolis. Under this ordinance, when another law enforcement agency wants to sign a Joint Powers Agreement with the City, they must disclose whether the agency has a concealment policy and how they will apply it when operating within the city of Minneapolis. Thank you to my colleagues for bringing this important measure forward. Following our experiences during Operation Metro Surge we must take every action we can to demand more transparency from law enforcement. I was proud to support this step forward in giving residents some tools to help keep law enforcement accountable.

Other Updates & Upcoming Events

Lyndale Open Streets

Photo of CM Stevenson and his partner at Open Streets Lyndale

I had a great time at Lyndale Open Streets last weekend! I was excited that the Open Streets season started on Lyndale Ave, and it was great to get to connect with many of you. I always enjoy the opportunity to celebrate together and enjoy our streets safely walking, biking and rolling. Thank you to all who attended and made this event possible.

Council Coffee & Conversation for Seniors in Minneapolis

Flyer for Coffee & Conversations event, all details outlined below

TRUST Inc. is hosting a coffee & conversation event for Minneapolis Senior Citizens on Monday, June 15th at 10am, and I would like to warmly invite Ward 8 Seniors in our community to join. I will be joining Council Members Whiting (Ward 11) and Chowdhury (Ward 12) at the event to give updates from City Hall and hear what the needs and priorities of Southside Seniors are. Join us! The event will take place from 10-11:30am at Richfield Lutheran Church, 8 W 60th Street. This will be the first of quarterly council coffee & conversation hosted by TRUST Inc.

Public Hearings Next Week

There are two critically important opportunities for public comment coming up next week. I strongly encourage anyone who is able to attend to come share your views and opinion on the issues we will be considering. Your testimony is valuable and will help shape our next steps. 

1. Public Hearing On Data Center Moratorium

Flyer for Public Hearing on Data Centers, all details outlined below

At the May 21st City Council Meeting the Council passed the introduction and referral of a temporary data center moratorium brought forward by Council Members Aurin Chowdhury and Jason Chavez. That means a pause on new data centers is now in effect, and we have a little bit of time to develop a regulatory framework and next steps on data centers in Minneapolis. This is where you come in! We need to hear from you, constituents and subject-matter experts, on what kind of regulation and approach you want to see the City take on data centers. The Council will also be taking another vote on the moratorium at the end of June. The public hearing will take place during the Business, Housing and Zoning Committee on Tuesday, June 16th at 1:30pm in the Council Chambers, 350 S 5th St, Room 390. Each person will have 2 minutes to give a public testimony. If you can’t attend the hearing in person I encourage you to please submit it online.

2. Public Hearing On Repealing The Bathhouse Ban

Flyer for Pride in Policy actions, pack the chambers for the Public Hearing on repealing the ban on bathhouses, all details outlined below

My office, along with Council President Elliott Payne, Council Majority Leader Aisha Chughtai, Council Minority Leader Robin Wonsley and Council Members Jason Chavez and Aurin Chowdhury are bringing forward an initiative to remove outdated and stigmatizing language from the Minneapolis code and to eliminate barriers to develop licenses for adult bathhouses in the future. The ban on bathhouses stems from discrimination and stigmatization of the LGBTQ+ community and creates barriers to safer spaces and sexual healthcare advocacy. It’s time to address this historical wrongdoing. I encourage everyone who is able to come share your opinions and experience with this issue, the public hearing will take place during the Public Health, Safety and Equity meeting on Wednesday, June 17th at 1:30pm in the Council Chambers, 350 S 5th St, Room 390. Each person will have 2 minutes to give a public testimony. If you can’t attend the hearing in person I encourage you to please submit it online (link). I also encourage you to contact the City Council and Mayor in support of this initiative using this link. You can learn more about this initiative and the work of our offices in this FAQ.

Kingfield Monarca Democracy Defense Trainings

Flyer for Monarca Kingfield Democracy Defense training

Join Kingfield neighbors and Monarca for a training on how to ensure every citizen can safely cast their ballot this November and every person has a voice in our country’s future. At a time when our democracy is under attack, and our communities have been under attack by a hostile federal government, these trainings are more important than ever.

There are two trainings coming up, the first on Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:30pm, RSVP for location.
The second is Thursday, June 25th at 6:30pm, RSVP for location.

Ward 8 Summer Safety Event

Flyer for Ward 8 Summer Safety Event, all details outlined below

Now that summer is in full swing, the City has activated our Summer Safety Plan to help keep our neighborhoods and city safe over the summer months. My office is hosting an event for City and County officials to come share about the plan and specifics to Ward 8. This will also be a great opportunity to come ask questions and share your own experiences and concerns. The event will include representatives from the Minneapolis Police Department (including inspectors from the third and fifth precinct), the Minneapolis Fire Department, the Neighborhood Safety Department, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. Here are the details:

• What: Ward 8 Summer Safety Meeting
• Location: MLK Park Rec Center (4055 Nicollet Ave. S Minneapolis, MN 55409)
• Date + Time: Wednesday June 24th, 6:00 - 8:00PM

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Thank you and solidarity,
Soren Stevenson

Contact us

Visit: minneapolismn.gov/ward8
Email: soren.stevenson@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2208

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.