Office hours at Arya Cafe
Amy & Ben from the Ward 12 Team at the Cooper Playground Opening Celebration
Community, there is much conversation about the Cooper Playground and the Future of the School Site as the Home of Anishnabe Academy. Here is what I can share with you!
First, on May 16th we celebrated the opening of Cooper Playground– new equipment and playground saved for our neighbors who need it. I was proud to be part of this effort with the Longfellow community, Hennepin County, and our State Representative Sam Sencer-Mura to ensure that this playground continues to serve the families who rely on it. Now we have a play area that the community can enjoy.
There will be a community meeting hosted by Longfellow Community Council and my office on July 8 at 6 pm at Sanford Middle School, where Minneapolis Public Schools will present on the future planning of Anishinabe Academy at the former Cooper Elementary site and will be able to answer questions & take feedback.
Now fast forward– work is being done to explore and implement a plan for Anishinabe Academy (K-8) to have a new home at this empty school site. The website for Anishinabe Academy shares:
“Anishinabe Academy is dedicated to serving and educating the families of Minneapolis through an American Indian, Indigenous lens, with a Native-centered curriculum, and through Ojibwe and Dakota language.”
“Families looking for a public school that honors American Indian culture and language you need look no further. Located in Minneapolis’s Longfellow neighborhood, Anishinabe Academy offers a small, welcoming environment with staff who develop close relationships with students and their families. Anishinabe Academy integrates and reclaims Dakota and Ojibwe identities, cultures and languages through authentic academic experiences. Our programming continues at Sanford and Northeast Middle Schools, and at South High School’s All Nations program as our pathway schools.”
Anishinabe Academy Webpage
On June 9, the MPS Board of Education approved Resolution 2026-0047, moving the future Anishinabe Academy project to the next phase. The Board authorized the Superintendent to begin designing a new PK-8 school on the former Cooper Elementary site, the option recommended by the project's Steering Committee after extensive engagement with the Anishinabe Academy community, the broader American Indian community, and Cooper neighborhood residents.
This step (called "Gate Check B") covers design work and budget development. The Board also approved the use of restricted capital funds to pay for this phase, up to the amount already set aside in that budget category. A full financing plan will be presented to the Board before construction can proceed.
You can read the resolution at this link, it is item 9b: Public Meeting Agenda: June 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Business Meeting - BoardBook Premier
I have heard from many of you who have written and called my office about the future of the Cooper Playground and Site. I want to highlight a few points. First, this school site is owned by Minneapolis Public Schools–Cooper Elementary School, which closed in 2005 and has sat empty since, except for the playground. For years, community members have shared with me their desire to see this area activated again, especially as blight has grown, vandalism has increased, and property crimes have occurred on and in the site. That is why I fully believe that Anishinabe Academy being at this site is the new life we need to see here, and I believe our community will be a welcoming place for the families and kids who will come to get an education. This is an opportunity for us to build a stronger community connection with our local indigenous community and grow the caring, multiracial, and multigenerational Longfellow community.
There are many questions to be answered, and community concerns must be heard. I will work with our neighborhood association and the school district to ensure greater transparency and a place for us to continue our dialogue. Here are a few things to note:
- The vote at the school board has not finalized the project design, and there is still a long road ahead. There will be time for more community engagement.
- Anishinabe Academy was promised that their current school location would be temporary; it has been 16 years since that promise.
- There will be a playground that will continue to remain available to the community. The only time it will be unavailable will be for a few short hours during the school day.
- I will, in my capacity as Council Member, advocate for community access to the playground, green spaces, and tree preservation, and completely understand that this is one of the only nearby play spaces for our community.
- If we work together and create space for engagement, this can be an awesome opportunity to grow our Longfellow community with the Anishinabe school community.
Please let me know what you think, what concerns you have, and anything else you feel is important to share.
Future home for Anishinabe Academy Project Webpage
There will be a community meeting hosted by Longfellow Community Council and my office on July 8 at 6 pm at Sanford Middle School, where Minneapolis Public Schools will present on this and will be able to answer questions & take feedback.
 On June 17, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board voted 8-1 to direct the Superintendent to begin the process of decommissioning the Minnehaha Off-Leash Recreation Area ahead of the scheduled Minnehaha long-term plan update.
This vote allows the Park Board to begin planning for the closure of the off-leash dog park while identifying alternative off-leash recreation opportunities. The decommissioning would occur no later than December 31, 2026. The Board also directed staff to develop a community engagement plan, establish a Technical Advisory Committee, and create an implementation timeline that includes additional off-leash recreation opportunities at one or more alternative locations.
The Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park sits within a larger landscape that includes Mni Owe Sni (Coldwater Spring), the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, and areas of deep significance to Dakota history, spirituality, and ancestral presence. Archaeological studies and Dakota oral histories have reinforced the importance of this area, which has been designated a Traditional Cultural Property on the National Register of Historic Places. Following engagement with Dakota Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, Dakota elders, and the MPRB Native American Parks Council, the request to decommission the off-leash dog park in recognition of the site's sacred and spiritual significance was brought forward through this resolution.
While I do not have jurisdiction over this issue as a City Council Member, I have remained in communication with Park Board Commissioners Kay Carvajal Moran and Jason Garcia and have heard from many neighbors through correspondence and community conversations. I thank the commissioners for their proactive communication and everyone who has reached out.
This is where I stand: I understand that this is a beloved and valued off-leash dog park, and it will be difficult for many people to see it go. At the same time, I believe this is the right decision. The Dakota people, the first people of this land, whose ancestors endured immense suffering, including at the nearby Fort Snelling concentration camp, have made a valid request that a sacred site, where burials have occurred and deep cultural and spiritual connections remain, be treated with respect.
I have learned that many Dakota people view this landscape much like a church, cemetery, or place of pilgrimage. From that perspective, allowing dogs to run off leash, dig, and relieve themselves in this area is inconsistent with the respect we would show other sacred or burial sites. My understanding is that while off-leash activity will be phased out, public access and on-leash recreation will remain.
I believe we can approach this change with care and compassion by honoring the significance of this land to the Dakota people while working together to identify suitable alternative locations for off-leash dog recreation in Minneapolis.
Resolution: https://agendasuite.org/iip/mprb/file/getfile/24916
Minneapolis Parks Statement: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/news/2026/06/18/minnehaha-off-leash-recreation-area/
Please reach out on this with any questions or comments.
 I will be hosting a Ward 12 Townhall to go over legislative accomplishments and information on upcoming matters. We will also go through community updates and have time for public comment and question & answer. Thank you to Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church for hosting.
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Time: 6:00PM-7:30PM
Location Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church 4101 37th Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55406
After years of organizing, advocacy, and persistence from community members and organizations, including EPNI, a major milestone has finally been reached. Funding secured through the state bonding bill will allow the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) to move forward with purchasing a portion of the Roof Depot site from the City of Minneapolis.
Under the agreement, the property will be divided into two sections. EPNI will purchase the southern portion of the site for $6.12 million. In the meantime, EPNI has secured a short-term lease that allows work to begin on farm infrastructure in the existing parking lot while the final details of the purchase agreement are completed.
.t is my commitment to support this in getting through the finish line.
This achievement represents more than a decade of work by neighbors, organizers, and advocates who refused to give up on a vision for the future of East Phillips. I want to thank the East Phillips community, Little Earth residents, Indigenous leaders, and everyone who fought for this outcome. I also want to recognize our state legislative delegation for helping secure this critical investment. And a huge thanks hanks to Council Member Chavez for his steadfast leadership on this. I have been working on this since I was an aide in his office, and when everyone in the City doubted this project, he never wavered.
Community members advocated in courtrooms, at City Hall, at the Capitol, and on the ground, including during the historic 2023 occupation of the Roof Depot site. Through every setback and challenge, they remained committed to the vision of community ownership and environmental justice. I am proud to have stood with them throughout that fight.
The Urban Farm project has the potential to address food access, create jobs, expand community gathering spaces, and support housing stability. While there is still work ahead, including final city-level approvals, one of the largest barriers to making this vision a reality has now been cleared.
West River Parkway will be closed at Lake Street Bridge June 22-26, 7 am-3 pm, for work by Metro Transit on existing conduit systems under the bridge.
Vehicles will be detoured over Lake Street and back to West River Parkway. The parkway will be reopened up to vehicle traffic at the end of each work day.
Local access to driveways inside the closure area will be maintained. Pedestrian and bike lanes are expected to remain open for the majority of the work. If temporary closures are needed, transition ramps will be in place leading to a detour route.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's patience while work is done to public infrastructure.
More information can be found on the Road Closures Page.
The City of Minneapolis is beginning work on its next comprehensive plan, Minneapolis 2050. This plan will guide how the city will grow to meet the needs of people who live, work and play in Minneapolis. The City updates and submits its comprehensive plan to the Metropolitan Council every ten years. Learn more about comprehensive plans.
Over the coming months, City staff will start asking for people’s ideas and feedback. Join our mailing list to get email or text updates about Minneapolis 2050 and how to get involved.
Join the Minneapolis 2050 mailing list.
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Happy Pride from City Hall and the Ward 12 Office!
On June 11, City Hall held its first Drag Show and Ballroom. It was an incredible showcase of talented local artists making history in our city. The reception included a light breakfast, speeches on the amazing work city staff is doing to connect with our 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and updates on the Pride in Policy Package of ordinances that create protections for our 2SLGBTQIA+ community, which will be voted on at the June 25 council meeting, which I am proud to be a co-author of. The morning reception was followed by a reading of the 2026 Pride Month Honorary Resolution at the beginning of the City Council meeting.
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These celebrations and policies reaffirm the City of Minneapolis ' commitment to protecting and uplifting our 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The federal government continues to attack our community members. It is good governance and in line with our city's values to ensure that everyone in our community is not only welcomed but also safe. The Pride in Policy package codifies protections for our 2SLGBTQIA+ community members and provides the City of Minneapolis with a framework for moving forward with care for our 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.
Pride in Policy Package, Final Vote 6/25:
 A Welcoming and Gender Affirming Minneapolis
- Declares Minneapolis as a Welcoming City. Establishes Minneapolis as a safe haven for gender-affirming and intersex care.
- Bars city resources from being used, or employees from interfering with anyone's ability to receive gender-affirming or intersex care
- Prohibits data-sharing agreements that could be weaponized against SLOBTQIA+ people.
- Requires City employee health plans to offer coverage for the healthcare needs of the intersex community and gender-affirming care benefits
- Mandates all-gender restrooms in City buildings
Gender Inclusive Language Ordinance:
Updates gender references in the code to be gender-neutral and inclusive of all genders. Ensures all areas of the city code respect the diversity of peoples' gender identities.
Gender Inclusive Language Staff Direction
- Directs the City Clerk, in collaboration with the City Attorney's Office, to review the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances and identify gender-specific references
- Directs staff to develop a plan and recommendation for the removal of gender specific references wherever possible.
Expanding All Gender Restroom Access Legislative Directive
- Asks Mayor Frey's Administration for a report on the status of existing initiatives, including outreach to building owners, enforcement through the 311 complaint process, City-funded signage programs, the inclusion of all-gender bathroom information in routine city mailings, and more.
- Asks for recommendations on additional actions the City can take to incentivize property owners to add all-gender restrooms, including reviewing what other cities across the country have done.
Support Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender-Expansive Restroom Access Resolution
Requesting the Minnesota Legislature to establish local authority to protect transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive residents' equal access to restroom facilities.
Bathhouses Regulation: Ending Legalized Homophobia
- Removing language to modernize and eliminate barriers to developing licenses for adult bathhouses in the future
- Moving building standards for adult entertainment venues to the adult entertainment code
- Developing a code framework to reflect public health-backed safe sex practices while maintaining the Health Department's enforcement powers
The Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution recognizing June 2026 as Gun Violence Awareness Month, and I am proud to have been the lead author. The resolution honors the survivors and those whose lives have been lost to gun violence, recognizes the work of community organizations, and affirms the City’s commitment to invest in gun violence awareness, education, training, violence prevention, and policy change.
Gun violence homicide is a local and national public health concern that disproportionately affects teens and young men ages 15-35 and individuals who identify as Black, American Indian, and Latino, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Gun violence by the numbers
In the last year, Minneapolis and Minnesota have experienced gun violence due to interpersonal conflicts, crime, suicide, federal law enforcement, school shootings, mass shootings and political violence. In Minneapolis, between January and May 2026, 22 homicides have occurred and 88 people suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds.
Gun injuries and deaths are preventable. Community organizations and the City’s contracted partners play a vital role in community violence intervention by providing services such as violence prevention, youth and group violence intervention, violence interruption, hospital-based violence intervention and community trauma response. These approaches have proven successful in reducing violence and saving lives.
Effective Law Enforcement for All (ELEFA), the independent monitor for the settlement agreement between the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR), released its semi-annual progress report June 15.
This is the fourth progress report ELEFA has released since it began monitoring progress of the City’s compliance with the settlement agreement on March 18, 2024. The reporting period for the new report covers Oct. 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
Learn more about the progress report.
Operation Metro Surge caused widespread harm across Minneapolis.
The City’s updated Impact Assessment estimates nearly $700 million in impacts to the Minneapolis community and City government operations.
The assessment shows how Operation Metro Surge affected people’s ability to work, go to school, access food and health care, stay housed, seek legal protection and feel safe in daily life.
This builds on earlier findings about livelihood, shelter, health and food security. It adds new information about protection and youth and education.
Learn more about the community impacts from Operation Metro Surge.
Investing in economic resilience
The updated Impact Assessment will help guide the City’s investment in relief and assistance for residents and businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. To date, the City has invested millions of dollars to help Minneapolis regain economic momentum, including:
- $7 million in the Small Business Resiliency Fund which supports direct financial relief and activation and marketing support to stabilize small businesses and drive customers back to commercial corridors
- Within the Small Business Resiliency Fund, $4 million in license fee relief for more than 2,000 food and hospitality businesses across Minneapolis. This support helps cover renewal fees for many food, wine, liquor and brewery license holders impacted by Operation Metro Surge.
- Support for events and activations in commercial areas
- Support like cultural market grants and cultural business weeks
- $3.8 million in emergency rental assistance, with an additional $3 million donated by the Wilson Foundation
Visit the Minneapolis Forward resource hub to learn more about our recovery efforts, current resources and investments.
New resources explain the City of Minneapolis zoning rules that allow homes with 2 to 20 units. These types of homes are sometimes called the “missing middle.”
New builders, homeowners, and neighbors can use these resources to:
- Learn about the different types of housing allowed in neighborhoods
- Explore what they can do on a lot
- Learn basic zoning terms
- Guide early steps in the planning process
View the missing middle housing resources webpage.
The webpage includes two new resources:
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The Missing Middle Housing Snapshot. This one-page guide gives people a quick look at the types of homes allowed in different areas.
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Zoning Worksheets. This workbook helps people learn the zoning rules. It also helps them understand what kinds of homes they can build. The interactive features offer space for notes and ideas to help begin planning.
Nara Organics is recalling all lots of Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula now on the market. The formula may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.
Infant botulism is rare but serious. Symptoms can include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, weak muscles, trouble sucking or swallowing, weak crying, weakness or trouble breathing.
All lots currently on the market are included in the recall. Lot codes are printed on the bottom of the can.
- 700g cans, UPC 860013251901
- 400g cans, UPC 860013251918
These products were sold nationwide at Target stores, Target.com and Nara.com between July 2025 and June 2026.
Read full details about the recall on the Food and Drug Administration website.
The Minneapolis Fire Department often responds to fires caused by improper use of lithium-ion batteries. Batteries, especially rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, can overheat, catch fire or explode if they are damaged or not used correctly. As device use increases and devices are recharged more often during summer break, know how to lower the risk of fires and injuries:
- Only use the charging cord that came with the device.
- Stop charging a device once it is fully charged.
- Store batteries and recharge devices at room temperature.
- Do not charge devices under your pillows or blankets, under your bed or on the couch.
- Do not try to recharge batteries that are not rechargeable.
Learn more about lithium-ion battery safety on the National Fire Protection Association website.
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