Does a Neighborly Act Require a Large Time Commitment?

Article by Becky Fillinger

Last week we met Pat Jenkinson and Barb Babekuhl of Columbia Heights who have rejuvenated their neighborhood over many months with weed pulling, plantings and making connections between residents of their neighborhood. These two have made a huge impact in their community.

Benedict's server Phil was the beneficiary of a Big Tip Challenge thanks to Mill District resident Kate Rocca.But - does every meaningful neighborly act need to take a large time and energy commitment? The answer is No. Let me introduce you to Kate Rocca, a Mill District resident, co-owner of a photography studio and a server. Kate turned 30 on Saturday and wanted to participate in the #BigTipChallenge as a way to give back to the server community.

The big give took place at Benedict’s in Rochester – Kate’s hometown. Over sixty people donated to her birthday challenge! Phil, the unsuspecting server, was speechless as he received $1,420 as his tip. He ultimately shared the bounty with the entire wait staff at the restaurant.

Kate says, "What a special day being able to take care of those in the service industry – and to those who donated – y’all are pretty special too." 

So, thank you Kate for showing us that neighborly acts can be spontaneous, generous acts that delight. Happy Birthday!

Do you know someone who should be recognized as a good neighbor?

Be That Neighbor is seeking nominations from our readers. Please use this online form for your nominations - people, businesses, nonprofits are all eligible. We'll celebrate these exemplary neighbors in October by recognizing 'A Neighbor A Day' - winners will be featured on Mill City Times and social media. We can't wait to hear from you! Please share with your friends.

https://millcitytimes.survey.fm/nominate-a-good-neighbor

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

Reader Opinion: Up-zoning in a Pandemic World

Why the Novel Coronavirus Means Up-Zoning Should Be Eliminated from The Minneapolis 2040 Plan

Dennis Paulaha, PhD, Great River Coalition

The Minneapolis 2040 Plan was created on the premise it would help solve three crucial problems: affordable housing, racial inequities, and the city’s negative impact on global warming.

The major tool in the Plan is up-zoning, a policy that eliminates single family zoning throughout the city and allows developers to buy and tear down any homes they want and replace them with apartment buildings ranging in size from three units to an unspecified limit, depending on the proximity to mass transit routes.

The authors of the Plan, saying they did not want to impose any financial burdens on developers as they tear down and rebuild the city, removed lot-line setbacks, which means new buildings can be built right up to lot lines, or across lot lines if adjoining properties are purchased by a builder. 

The Planners also eliminated the “burden” to developers of providing off-street parking, which means the occupants (renters, not owners) of the new apartment buildings will have no choice but to park on the street.

The question is: Is there any chance the up-zoning tool will help solve any of the Plan’s stated problems?

The answer is, no. The truth is, up-zoning will make each problem worse. Of course, we knew that before the 2040 Plan was adopted. 

There were enough articles, meetings, and presentations to make it clear to the mayor, the Planning Department, and the City Council that up-zoning will lead to increasing, not decreasing home prices and rents, will eliminate the homes people who, as they struggle to advance, might someday be able to buy (because those homes will be gone), will increase population density, which will increase, not decrease, the city’s carbon footprint, and instead of reducing the racial inequity problem, will make it worse by forcing blacks out of homes they are renting with no thought as to where they can go after those houses are torn down and replaced with apartment buildings with each unit having rents higher than what they were previously paying.

In other words, if someone wants to increase the affordable housing problem, increase racial inequities, and increase a city’s carbon footprint, there is absolutely nothing better than eliminating single-family zoning.

A PANDEMIC WORLD

Now there is an even more serious problem with up-zoning. 

In a world we now know must live with pandemics on an ongoing basis, the absolutely worst thing any city could do is install an up-zoning plan.

Here’s why.

As the writers of the Minneapolis Plan promised, up-zoning will increase the population and population density of the city, which makes controlling pandemics worse.

Replacing single-family homes, which give people a physical safety net, with apartment buildings that remove that safety net by forcing people to live in much closer quarters makes it easier for a virus to spread. 

Apartment buildings with no lot-line setbacks, no off-street parking, and no grass make it impossible for people to spend safe time in their own yards, which imposes both psychological and physical damages on city residents.

The Minneapolis up-zoning plan, which city officials also called “transit oriented development,” meaning it is intended to increase the use of mass transit, is also the absolutely worst thing a city can do when dealing with the reality of pandemics, because mass transit does not allow social distancing unless the buses and trains only one-quarter filled with passengers.

The related plan of encouraging tall (and very expensive) condo buildings throughout the city, in order to give wealthy people an opportunity to accumulate equity in something other than single-family homes, has also been singled out as a dangerous design by architects who point out the obvious contamination issue with elevators and hallways. 

When the Mayor of Minneapolis, the City Council, and the Planning Department pushed through a Minneapolis 2040 Plan based on up-zoning, they made it absolutely clear at the few public meetings they held that they had no concern for the financial well-being of homeowners, the future of the black community, the education of the city’s children, the natural environment, or the city’s impact on global warming.

And now, in our new world, it can be said that a failure to eliminate up-zoning from the 2040 Plan and to reinstall single-family zoning will make it clear that their disregard for the residents of Minneapolis is even deeper and even more dangerous.

Third Avenue Bridge Renovation Photos

Article and photos by Mill District resident Doug Verdier

Work continues on the renovation of the Third Avenue Bridge, with major prep work being done on the base of one of the bridge piers nearest to Main Street.

Also this week, the water level of the Mississippi River below the bridge was lowered about two feet, allowing workers to install new wooden boards along the length of the Horseshoe Dam structure. The boards, which are now installed along the entire length of the Horseshoe Dam, help control the flow of the river in the area.

Removal of damaged outer layer of concrete is underway on this span near Main Street. 

Each span will undergo similar removal and replacement of outer material to below water line.

Horseshoe Dam upstream from Third Avenue Bridge shown high and dry after the river's water level is lowered to allow workers to install new wooden boards that will help control flow over the dam.

Workers first installed metal bars to support and attach wooden boards. A completed section of boards can be seen at top of photo.

Friends of the Mill District is now Be That Neighbor

Article by Becky Fillinger

Name change better reflects the nonprofit's expanded vision

The Friends of the Mill District nonprofit formed in 2015 when a group of friends began a conversation about Minneapolis’ Mill District and the broader community in downtown Minneapolis. The vision was that their programming be free of charge and available to every resident, including the disadvantaged and others who sometimes feel invisible.

Their programs grew over the past five years to include a community choir (the Mill City Singers), Yoga in Gold Medal Park, meals and donations for those experiencing homelessness, support for Cedar Riverside youth programs, Community Conversations and more. The mission to build community by ‘connecting, convening, and supporting’ neighbors hasn’t changed.

What changed was a need to refine the nonprofit’s focus.

Claudia KittockClaudia Kittock, Board Chair, explains, “When the COVID-19 pandemic began, we decided to create a Facebook page where we could post community needs in real time. The name Be That Neighbor was simple and described our work. As the Facebook page exploded, we realized the name also better reflected the work we have been doing as a charity. Be That Neighbor gives us a clearer focus, and while the Mill District is home for several of us, our focus is not geographic. It is about being a good neighbor in every way we can.”

Jennifer Weber

Jennifer Weber, Board Member, also notes the broader mission of Be That Neighbor: “Friends of the Mill District has been an incredible neighbor at the heart of all the work and support we have provided across the Twin Cities for the last four years. The name change gives new energy and purpose to inspire us all to be the best neighbors we can be without being confined by a geographic title.”

The nonprofit is currently collecting nominations for Good Neighbors. In October, they’ll celebrate ‘A Neighbor A Day’. Know someone you'd like to nominate? Send your nominations to: 

https://millcitytimes.survey.fm/nominate-a-good-neighbor

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

2020 Census Updates from the U.S. Census Bureau

Important information to know from the U.S. Census Bureau:

Census takers are now working across all areas of Minnesota to visit households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census from now through September 30.  

Door-to-Door Visits Begin Nationwide for 2020 Census  

NOTE:  The Census Bureau will follow up with some households by phone.

How to identify census takers?  

• Census takers wear a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge  
• Census takers will also have official U.S. Census Bureau phones  
• To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public in Minnesota may contact the Chicago Region Census Center:  312-579-1500  

Under Title 13 federal law, census taker work is confidential, to protect the privacy of households responding to the census - so news media are NOT allowed to follow census takers at work.  

Why is it important to respond to the 2020 Census?  

A complete and accurate count of each community ensures that community receives its fair share of representation in Congress and the state legislature and its fair share of billions in federal funds distributed each year to state and local communities for many programs, such as emergency response services, hospitals and clinics, schools, job training, roads, highways and more. Census data is important for decisions by businesses, nonprofits and all levels of government.

Who will census takers be visiting?  

Households that have not yet responded.  

2020 Census response rates are updated daily on this interactive map: 2020Census.gov/response-rates  

The majority of households have already responded. In Minnesota, 72.6% have responded – about 1.9 million households. That means about one in four households will need census taker visits.

Can you still respond in your own to the 2020 Census?  

Yes - Those that respond on their own will not need to be visited to obtain their census response. 

Please share these ways for responding to the 2020 Census – thanks!   

• Online – visit 2020Census.gov   
• Phone – call 844-330-2020 – phone lines are open 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Central – seven days a week 
• If a census taker visits your home or calls you, please answer their questions. 
• The Census Bureau is also sending emails to low-responding blocks. The email is sent from 2020Census@subscription.census.gov. Please respond.  
• For non-English language support: 2020Census.gov/languages.  

More info on census takers:  2020Census.gov/census-takers  

What can households expect when a census taker visits?  

• In most cases, census workers will make up to six attempts at each housing unit address to count possible residents. This includes leaving notification of the attempted visit on the door. The notification will include reminder information on how to respond online, by paper or by phone. In addition, census workers may try to reach the household by phone to conduct the interview. 
• Census takers will go to great lengths to ensure that no one is missed in the census. After exhausting their efforts to do an in-person interview with a resident of an occupied housing unit, they will seek out proxy sources — a neighbor, a rental agent, a building manager or some other knowledgeable person familiar with the housing unit — to obtain as much basic information about the occupants as they can. 
• Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language. 

Following local public health guidelines  

Census takers have completed training on social distancing and safety protocols, will follow local public health guidelines, and will be required to wear a face mask when conducting follow-up visits. 

On Aug. 6, the Census Bureau and Centers for Disease Control issued a joint statement stating: 

Participation in 2020 Census interviews should present a low risk of transmission of COVID-19. Census takers are trained to rigorously and universally follow these CDC recommendations to mitigate risk of transmission: 

• Wearing of face masks. 
• Maintaining social distance of 6 ft. or more. 
• Practicing hand hygiene. 
• Not entering homes, and conducting interviews outside as much as possible or practical.  

Census Takers Contacting Some Households By Phone  

In order to minimize the need to send census takers to households in person, the Census Bureau is training census takers to follow up with households by phone. Using information provided to the Census Bureau and third-party purchased data, the Census Bureau has a strong contact list for both landlines and cellphones assigned to houses on the Census Bureau’s address list. These phone calls will enable the Census Bureau to have maximum flexibility for conducting field operations, and is one more method that census takers can use to reach nonresponding households. Phone calls will be used on an as-needed basis and when in-person contact attempts have not resulted in an interview. If a voicemail is available, the census taker will leave a message asking the household to call one of the Census Bureau’s call centers. 

About the 2020 Census - The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020 (Census Day).  

Sunrise on the Mississippi Invitation from Minneapolis Parks Foundation

Sunrise on the Mississippi: Rising to the Occasion in 2020

For five years, 300 Twin Cities community leaders have come together along the riverfront to champion parks that transform human life. This year, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation invites you to rise to a new occasion.

Join them for this ZOOM-in on newly-opening RiverFirst projects – Great Northern Greenway Overlook and Water Works – that are restoring a relationship between people and communities and the Mississippi River.

Thursday, September 10, 2020, 8 am – 9 am

Stories Featuring:

The Sioux Chef - Juxtaposition Arts - Damon Farber Landscape Architects - Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Please RSVP by August 31 to cmoir@mplsparksfoundation.org or 612-354-7513 to receive Zoom link and password.

The Largest Flour Mill in the World

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

For 100 years starting in the 1850s, Minneapolis truly earned the nickname “Mill City.” We were a leading producer of lumber and flour, we had the most mills, and we built the largest mills in human history. At the peak of the flour milling industry in the city, we were known as the flour milling capitol of the entire world, and the biggest mill in the world at the time was the Pillsbury A-Mill.

1885 photo of the A-Mill taken from Hennepin Island

The first Pillsbury to come to the area was John Sargent Pillsbury, who would later become Minnesota’s eighth governor. He left New Hampshire for St. Anthony in 1855 and opened a hardware store. After not having the most success in the hardware business, he wrote back home in 1869 and requested that his nephew Charles Alfred Pillsbury join him in St. Anthony. Later that year on June 4th, Charles purchased a run-down mill for $10,000, or over $194,000 after inflation, that was producing 200 barrels of flour a day. Two years later, he bought the Alaska Mill, which he leased the year prior, and the C.A. Pillsbury & Company was born.

Even though the Pillsburys had no flour milling experience, they quickly caught on and made great advancements to the industry. Charles first made improvements to a device called a middlings purifier that cleaned and graded the middlings, the product of flour milling that is not flour, from the cracked wheat. This resulted in a higher food value in the wheat berry that is ground into flour. For the following decade, the Pillsbury Company would continue to improve and grow their brand of “Best” flour.

Image of a Pillsbury ad from the late 1880s

In 1879, Gov. John S. Pillsbury announced his company was going build a new, state-of-the-art flour mill that would be the largest in the world. The Pillsbury's hired local architect Leroy Buffington, who is also known as the father of modern-day skyscrapers. Unfortunately for the Pillsbury’s, Buffington was not a fan of industrial engineers, so when they consulted about the design, he barely gave them the time of day. Buffington wanted his mill to look grand and beautiful and stick out along the riverfront. What Buffington didn’t take into consideration when ignoring the industrial engineers was that the machinery in the building would be constantly running. The machines are powered by the river and you can’t turn off the river, so you can’t turn off the machines. After five or so years of constant grinding, the building literally started shaking itself apart, even with its eight-and-a-half-feet thick foundation walls. Concrete buttresses and thick metal cables were used to synch up the building, and they were in use until the latest renovations in 2013.

The “A” in A-Mill meant that it was the Pillsbury Company’s largest mill, but it also beat out its competitor across the Mississippi River, the Washburn A-Mill, to become the largest flour mill in the world. The mill immediately began producing 4,000 barrels of flour a day, and once the entire building was up-and-running, the mill produced 7,200 barrels of flour a day during a time with 500 barrels was considered a lot. During the next decade and a half, the Pillsbury Company continued to improve their facilities and production, and shortly after 1905, the mill would top out at 17,500 barrels a day!

In 1975, the A-Mill began to be phased out of operation but continued as a mill until 2003. Developer Shafer Richardson purchased the property, and in 2006 they proposed plans to renovate the mill, rebrand to East Bank Mills, and expand the campus into high-end loft-style condominiums. The 2008 financial crisis ended that vision for the development company, and in 2013, local developer Dominium bought the complex, renovated it, and turned it into affordable lofts for artists. The finishing touch on the Dominium renovation was to restore and update the A-Mill’s original 2,400 horse-power water turbine that powered the mill. Once that was complete, the building was producing 75% of its own electricity. The total cost for the project was $175 million.

Present day A-Mill Artist Lofts, with Mill & Main to the right. 

While the vast majority of flour mills have been razed and replaced with housing and park land, we Minneapolitan’s are very fortunate that milling complexes like the Pillsbury A-Mill have stuck around. Once the largest flour mill in the world, the iconic Pillsbury A-Mill continues to make a positive impact in Minneapolis by housing talented artists and providing opportunities for them to showcase their works in the Mill City. 

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Who’s a Good Neighbor? Here Are Two You Should Know!

Article by Becky Fillinger

Mill City Times is assisting non-profit Be That Neighbor in recognizing the good neighbors among us. We asked for nominations of ‘Good Neighbors’ a few weeks ago and were pleasantly surprised when two neighbors nominated each other!

Pat Jenkinson and Barb Babekuhl live in the sleepy community of Columbia Heights, a first ring suburb of Minneapolis. In this diverse city, their local neighborhood is a cluster of 65 townhomes that borders Sullivan Lake and its walking path. Until recently the townhome community really didn’t open its arms to the rest of the neighborhood. That’s until Pat and Barb got involved.

Pat Jenkinson (right) and Barb Babekuhl (left)

It started small with Pat and another friend Michelle forming a small neighborhood social group, which grew into the neighborhood watch committee, which grew into thinking bigger on how to gather neighbors in a common cause of helping the environment through organic composting. Last year this group of neighbors received awards from the City of Columbia Heights on its outstanding recycling efforts, with Barb receiving the Anoka County Recycling Champion Award.

Fast forward to Spring 2020. COVID-19 didn’t stop the momentum of Pat and Barb - it actually fueled them to recruit additional neighbors to be more involved. Pat and Barb spent their COVID-19 stay at home days beautifying a neighborhood area that had become overrun with volunteer trees and weeds, and created a pollinator area near the walking path. Through their action the townhome community opened itself up to more neighbors, walkers around the lake and visitors to the community. What blossomed was more than flowers - neighbors started talking to each other more, stopping to admire the beauty the ladies were creating, taking pictures and sharing to social media. One neighbor stops every few days and sends her pictures all the way to relatives in China! Neighbors wanted to become involved and began to donate plants, seeds, painted rocks, chalk, mosaics tiles and trinkets.

To help spread the message of the pollinator garden and positivity, Barb and Pat recruited young neighborhood children to help create a border that shared positive messages. The children, along with Pat and Barb, started to do chalk art on the sidewalk every few days to keep the community engaged and encourage positivity during the past few months. The pollinator area became a neighborhood project that has brought a community together. During Pride Days in Columbia Heights, they handed out windmills to people walking around the lake to spread the message of Love your Neighbor.

Barb and Pat spend countless hours beautifying their neighborhood. They engaged all the neighbors to not only participate, but be exemplary neighbors themselves. Pat and Barb in tandem created a better neighborhood. And did I mention they’re humble? Each nominated the other for this recognition!    

Do you know someone who should be recognized as a good neighbor?

Be That Neighbor is seeking nominations from our readers. Please use this online form for your nominations - people, businesses, nonprofits are all eligible. We'll celebrate these exemplary neighbors in October by recognizing 'A Neighbor A Day' - winners will be featured in Mill City Times and social media. We can't wait to hear from you! Please share with your friends.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

Q1 & Q2 2020 Downtown Market Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

DMNA Seeking Members for Public Safety Task Force

The Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association invites community members to apply for membership on the DMNA Public Safety Task Force, established at its July 20th board meeting.  The function of the task force is to facilitate active participation by the DMNA board and membership in the ongoing debates about public safety in Minneapolis.  The task force will work to advance the “Guiding Principles for Police Reform and Public Safety” (adopted 7-6-20), within the general framework of the DMNA mission and goals.

The task force is designed as a working group, and membership will require a significant time commitment, probably entailing several hours a week. Every member will be working on one or more task areas. Online meetings will be held biweekly, and frequent email/online communication should be expected. The task force is initially authorized through October 2020, when a report of its work will be presented at the DMNA Annual Meeting.

The working group will develop specific tasks that address the function stated above. Its general objectives are: to encourage downtown residents to respond to public comment opportunities on public safety issues; to advise the DMNA on board responses to community safety issues; to collect & report relevant neighborhood data; to develop & distribute public information materials; and to develop recommendations to the DMNA Board on how the neighborhood association can actively contribute to public safety in our neighborhood.

Membership is open to anyone who lives within the DMNA boundaries, (or who has an employment or business connection to the neighborhoods within these boundaries).  Although we are seeking to assemble a group with a broad range of skills, we specifically welcome applications from persons with a strong background in communications, including social media.

To apply for membership on the task force, please complete the application via the link below by Wednesday, August 12 at 5 p.m.  If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact DMNA Neighborhood Coordinator Christie Hantge at christie@thedmna.org.

DMNA Public Safety Task Force application  (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/dmnapublicsafetytaskforce)

August 7 Updates from Ward 7 Council Member Lisa Goodman

COVID-19 Situation Update as of August 5, 2020

• There are 7,356 cases in Minneapolis and 204 deaths.

• Thirty-one percent of all Minneapolis cases were diagnosed in July. Overall, 52% of cases were diagnosed in June and July.

• The City shares Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.

• Congregate living facilities in Minneapolis continue to see new cases among residents, but the numbers have decreased significantly, from an average of 49 cases a week in April and May to six cases a week in June and July. Residents of these facilities account for only 7% of confirmed cases, however they account for 71% of COVID-19 deaths.

• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 12 regarding masks is still in effect. The regulation requires people to wear face coverings in all indoor public places.

• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17 regarding bars and restaurants is in effect. The regulation closed bar areas in restaurants, nightclubs, and indoor spaces of entertainment in Minneapolis as of August 1. Bar areas that can be converted for seated service will be allowed if food and beverage are served tableside while patrons are seated. The goal is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among young adults, food service workers, and bartenders.

Situational updates: Minnesota

• There are 57,779 cases in Minnesota out of over 1 million tests completed. There have been 1,629 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 18,393 cases and 825 deaths in Hennepin County.

• The Health Department is using a color-coded map with multiple layers to show a seven-day rolling average of new cases in Minnesota. The State is at 11 cases per 100,000 and Minneapolis is at 18 cases per 100,000. These numbers put both Minnesota and Minneapolis in the orange category, which represents accelerated spread of COVID-19.

• Minnesota is currently in Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan for reopening.

• Governor Walz’s statewide mask mandate remains in effect. People are required to wear masks in all indoor public places where people gather and some outdoor venues where physical distancing is difficult.

Health Incident Command Updates

As the Health Department (MHD) continues to respond to COVID-19, we are applying an equity lens to all our work in conjunction with partners across the City enterprise.

Businesses:

o Multiple City departments assisted with distributing over 450,000 masks to businesses, prioritizing BIPOC-owned businesses and businesses in BIPOC communities. CPED led this effort in partnership with the Mayor’s office, the Health Department and Regulatory Services. Remaining masks (48,000+) will be given to City regulatory staff for further distribution to impacted communities.

o Health inspectors continue to conduct follow up at businesses with COVID-19 positive employees.

Case investigations: MHD is conducting over 50 case investigations and contact follow-ups per day for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, we have 26 investigators, including six non-MHD enterprise staff. Of the 7,356 cases in Minneapolis, 85% have been interviewed, 2% have refused, 8% have been lost to follow-up, and 5% are new cases that still need to be interviewed. Forty-two percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents are in a language other than English.

Community testing: The Health Department, in partnership with Hennepin Healthcare and the Minnesota Department of Health, provided community testing on Saturday, August 1, at Incarnation- Sagrado Corazon Church in south Minneapolis (3817 Pleasant Avenue South). Community-based organizations and volunteers staffed the event. Approximately 400 community members were tested, the majority of whom were from the Latinx community. MHD will return to the same location on Saturday, August 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to offer additional testing. Staff are proactively exploring options for providing additional testing to priority groups including BIPOC communities and other populations most likely to be impacted by COVID-19.

Food security: MHD and hunger relief partners continue to see strong demand for free food at food shelves and community-led food distribution events. Despite the reopening of some grocery stores, ongoing unemployment and financial challenges are limiting the ability of many individuals and families to purchase food, especially nutritious staples such as fresh fruits and vegetables. MHD continues to co-host a weekly free food distribution event at Powderhorn Park (Fridays, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) which primarily serves the Latinx community. In addition, MHD staff are regularly connecting with other community-led food distribution sites and food shelves to assess needs and connect them to resources.

Health at encampments:

o The Health Department continues to work closely with the Park Board, Hennepin County, and community-based organizations to respond to the needs of those living at encampments in parks and other locations across the city. MHD staff continue to distribute harm reduction supplies, masks, and hygiene kits.

o The Park Board has issued move notices to those remaining at the Powderhorn West encampment. Unlike in the past, there is not a hard deadline for moving. Park employees, along with outreach partners and MAD Dads, are encouraging campers to move to one of three other parks (BF Nelson , Marshall Terrace, and Beltrami). Law enforcement is not involved in moving these campers.

o The encampment located on City-owned land at 24th Street East and 13th Avenue South is causing pedestrian traffic issues. Staff from MPD and CPED will be visiting the site to see what can be done to mitigate the problem and ensure site safety.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): MHD has continued with community resource distribution efforts. To respond to community requests, we distributed 5,950 reusable cloth masks, 630 N95 masks, and 2,950 one-time use masks in the past week. Staff were able to work with Representative Mohamud Noor to provide masks for many who gathered in parks to pray during Eid.

Schools: Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) will start the year with distance learning. The MPS school year begins on September 8. Health Department staff are sharing local COVID-19 data with MPS to help with data-driven decision-making and are helping develop metrics to guide reopening. MHD staff are also assisting MPS in planning for testing, responding to outbreaks, and general safety operations as the pandemic continues. Staff are approaching partners at Hennepin County, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield and St. Paul health departments and districts to coordinate school pandemic planning.

Vaccinations: MHD staff are leaning in to prepare for future COVID-19 vaccination events with a focus on early engagement with BIPOC communities and other groups most impacted by COVID-19. Minnesota was chosen as one of four states to be part of a vaccination planning pilot. As part of the Health Department’s ongoing work, staff are exploring ways to promote seasonal flu vaccinations.

• The City specific COVID email address is: COVID19@minneapolismn.gov.

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Polling Places Changing Due to Pandemic

To help keep voters and Minneapolis residents safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, 50 of 125 polling places in Minneapolis are moving for the 2020 primary and general election. The changes will help protect people living in residential facilities and provide more space to keep voters a safe distance from elections staff and each other.

Of the 50 polling places being relocated, 16 were in senior homes, high-rises and other residential sites. Another 32 were in areas with limited space that would make it difficult for people to keep at least 6 feet from others inside. Two were moved due to on-site construction.

Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services partnered with Minneapolis Public Schools and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation board to find new locations for voting during the pandemic. In total, 94 buildings will be open for the Aug. 11 primary and Nov. 3 general elections, with 35 in schools and 22 in park buildings. Some buildings will have more than one voting precinct.

Registered voters will receive a postcard in the mail indicating their new polling locations. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s polling place finder can also provide voters their new polling places. These locations will be the same for the Aug. 11 primary and Nov. 3 general elections. All voters choosing to vote in person on Election Day should check the online polling place finder or call 311 to verify their polling place.

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Ward 7 Polling Places

Bryn Mawr North (7-1C): Bryn Mawr Community School (252 Upton Ave South)

Kenwood (7-2D): Kenwood School (2013 Penn Ave South)

Lowry Hill (7-3): Temple Israel (2324 Emerson Ave South – Fremont Ave Entrance)

Cedar/Isles/Dean (7-4D): Kenwood School (2013 Penn Ave South)

Lowry Hill (7-5): St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral (519 Oak Grove Street)

Downtown West (7-6): Westminster Presbyterian Church (1200 Marquette Avenue)

Bryn Mawr South (7-7): Bryn Mawr Community School (252 Upton Ave South)

Loring Park (7-8): Emerson Spanish Immersion School (1421 Spruce Place)

East Isles (7-9): Temple Israel (2324 Emerson Ave South – Fremont Ave Entrance)

Steven Square West (7-10): Plymouth Congregational Church (1900 Nicollet Avenue)

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Voters: Get Your Ballot in Early Without Leaving Your Vehicle with Drive-Through Ballot Drop-Off

Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services will have a drive-through – and walk-through and bike-through – option at 980 E. Hennepin Ave. for voters returning their completed mail ballots. Staying in your vehicle or on your bike not only makes returning ballots faster and more convenient, it also helps you maintain a good physical distance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With less than a week before the Aug. 11 primary, the City recommends ballots not be mailed back because they may not be delivered in time to be counted. Instead, mail ballots may be dropped off at Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., from now until the primary. Minneapolis voters may also drop off mail ballots at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. Sixth St., in the skyway level of the building.

Deadlines

For the State primary, a voter’s ballot will count as long as it is postmarked on or before the day of the primary (Aug. 11) and is received in the mail no later than two days after the primary (Aug. 13). This is a change from previous election law requiring mail ballots to be received by the day of the primary.

Office hours

Hours for Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10. Voters delivering their ballots the day of the State primary, Aug. 11, must bring it to the office no later than 3 p.m. Ballots may not be dropped off at polling places Aug. 11.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging voting early by mail, and Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services supports voting early by mail along with other CDC and Minneapolis Health Department recommendations to make sure every voter in Minneapolis can safely cast their ballots this election year. 

What’s on the ballot?

Minneapolis voters will cast ballots for the following primary races:

• U.S. senator.
• U.S. representative (District 5).
• State senator and State representative (some districts).
• School Board member at large.
• School Board member (some districts).

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City Council Approves Funding Package to Expand Capacity for Three New Homeless Shelters

The City Council has approved a roughly $8 million funding package to expand shelter capacity for three new shelters for people experiencing homelessness in Minneapolis.

The City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County’s response to homelessness during COVID-19 prioritizes moving people from unsheltered homelessness to safer shelter and housing situations. There has been a significant increase in unsheltered homelessness since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City has received a one-time influx of funding from the federal government, through the CARES Act, to provide help with responding to homelessness during the pandemic. This historically large, one-time Emergency Solutions Grant funding provides an opportunity to strategically respond to COVID-19 across a range of strategies and to reshape the City/County homelessness response system to better serve people experiencing homelessness in the coming months and years.

Learn more about the new shelters.

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City Council Approves Changes to Minneapolis Homes Programs in Effort to Close Racial Gaps in Home Ownership

The City Council approved changes to the City’s Minneapolis Homes programs that reflect a citywide strategy to create sustainable homeownership opportunities and make a meaningful impact to close the homeownership gap between white households and Black, Indigenous, people of color and immigrant (BIPOCI) households in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Homes focuses on reducing property vacancies, creating new housing units and sustaining homeownership in the city by providing educational, financing and property opportunities to homebuyers, homeowners and developers.

Minneapolis Homes programs are changing significantly in response to market data and community feedback through a long-term affordability housing study led by the City and Grounded Solutions Network. Highlights of changes include:

• Focusing on lower income households: All homebuyer programs are changing to focus on households that make less than $80,000 a year with concentration on households making less than $60,000 or $40,000 a year. All City-owned land suitable for residential development will be reserved for creating affordable housing moving forward.
• Diversifying the types of units funded: One- to 20-unit ownership projects throughout the city are eligible. Projects can be on City-owned land or privately owned land. Acquisition, rehabilitation, down payment assistance and new construction are all eligible activities.
• More options for perpetual affordability: The City is launching its own model for perpetually affordable housing, which will sell homes at an affordable price and provide homeowners with a 2% rate of return annually in most market conditions. City of Lakes Community Land Trust partnerships and new perpetually affordable housing models will also be encouraged through City programs.

Learn more about Minneapolis Homes on the City’s website.

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Important Census Updates: Complete Your Census by Sept. 30, Census Takers Begin Door Knocking

Have you completed the census yet? Completing the census will ensure that our communities receive resources for programs and services that we need. Many programs that our communities rely on, including SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and Head Start are funded through data that is obtained by the census. The 2020 Census is our chance to shape the future of Minneapolis for the next 10 years.

Census takers have begun following up in Minneapolis with households that haven’t yet completed the 2020 Census. Census staff have been hired locally and are here to help households complete their census forms. The goal of census door knockers is to help get an accurate count. Census staffers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge that includes their photograph and a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark.

Census field staff follow both CDC and local public health guidelines, are trained in physical distancing protocols and will provide census takers with masks during their visit. Census staff have sworn a lifetime oath of confidentiality. Any information that you provide to them will not be shared with any entity other than the Census Bureau for statistical purposes only and never to identify an individual.

Find more information here on verifying a census taker’s identity, COVID-19 protocols or the strategy to visit households that haven’t responded yet.

Fill out your census

If you haven’t yet completed the 2020 Census application and would like to avoid a census taker coming to your home, you can submit your form online, by phone or through the mail (using the U.S. Census Bureau form that you received in the mail at home). Language assistance is offered in multiple languages online or over the phone and can also be requested at your visit if they come to your home.

Take your census by Sept. 30

The U.S. Census Bureau officially announced that the 2020 Census self-response period will end Sept. 30, 2020. This means that there are less than two months remaining to ensure that our communities are counted and that we get the resources that we need for the next 10 years.

In 2010, Minneapolis had a census completion rate of 72.8%. Currently, Minneapolis has a completion rate of 69.9%. It is important – now more than ever – that our communities are counted.

Let’s get counted, Minneapolis.

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City Council Passes Ordinance Protecting Freelance Workers

The City Council has approved a freelance worker protections ordinance to help prevent the exploitation of freelance workers, including many self-employed entrepreneurs who work as independent contractors. The new ordinance takes effect Jan. 1, 2021.

The City is dedicated to ensuring that everyone gets paid for the work they do regardless of their employment arrangement. Freelance work is a growing segment of the economy, and Minneapolis is home to one of the largest communities of freelance workers in the country.

Many freelance workers face difficulty getting paid on time and have limited recourse. In a response to a City survey of independent contractors, more than 33% reported lost income in the past 12 months due to a hiring party’s failure to pay, underpayment or late payment for work performed.

Highlights of the freelance worker protections ordinance

• Businesses that hire certain freelancers for their work in Minneapolis must confirm their agreement in writing.
• The hiring party may not refuse to pay the freelancer as stated in the contract or demand a freelancer accept less compensation after work has started.

The Labor Standards Enforcement Division of the City’s Civil Rights Department will enforce the ordinance by investigating claims and imposing remedies up to and including damages and penalties as appropriate for the violation. The division also oversees compliance of the City’s sick and safe time, minimum wage and wage theft ordinances.

For more information, email wagetheft@minneapolismn.gov.

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City Seeking Diversity of Applicants for Fall Openings on Boards and Commissions Appointments

Twenty-four City boards and commissions have openings for appointments this fall. The City seeks applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting services are available so all residents can participate. The positions are open until filled; application review begins Sept. 30 unless marked otherwise.

City boards and commissions have brought forward recommendations that resulted in renter protections, wage protections and a ban on a hazardous chemical in dry cleaning. Board and commission members in the City of Minneapolis help shape key policy decisions, give community-based input into the City’s administration of services and supply valuable insights.

People can apply through the open position pages linked below and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions and timelines by visiting minneapolismn.gov/boards/openings. Applications are open now.

These 24 City boards and commissions have 97 open positions:

• Animal Care and Control Advisory Board.
• Arts Commission, Minneapolis.
• Bicycle Advisory Committee.
• Capital Long-Range Improvements Committee.
• Commission on Civil Rights, Minneapolis.
• Community Environmental Advisory Committee.
• Futuro Latino Empowerment Commission.
• Heritage Preservation Commission.
• Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Aging.
• Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing.
• Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities.
• Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.
• Northside Green Zone Council.
• Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
• Police Conduct Oversight Commission.
• Police Conduct Review Panel.
• Public Health Advisory Committee.
• Racial Equity Community Advisory Committee.
• Transgender Equity Council.
• Southside Green Zone Council. (Application review will begin Aug. 9.)
• Workforce Development Board, Minneapolis. (Application review will begin Aug. 15.)
• Workplace Advisory Committee.
• Violence Prevention Steering Committee.
• Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Boards, commissions and advisory committees

The City of Minneapolis has more than 50 volunteer-based boards, commissions and advisory committees that advise the City on issues and help develop policy and administer services. Boards and commissions fall into a handful of categories: appeal boards, development boards, general advisory boards and special service districts (defined areas within the city with special services).

Appointments to boards and commissions are made twice a year: in the spring and fall.

Potential applicants can find more information at 612-673-2216 or OpenAppointments@minneapolismn.gov.

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National Night Out Recommended Date Changes to Sept. 15 for 2020

The Minneapolis recommended National Night Out date for 2020 is Tuesday, Sept. 15. Residents can find out if their block is already signed up by emailing crime.prevention@minneapolismn.gov. Registered block leaders received notices directly about closing their streets to hold their event, but a block without a block leader could still hold a COVID-19 safe event by spreading out across three or four yards to make enough space for physical distancing.

Event safety in a pandemic

A safe event during a pandemic follows guidelines from the Minneapolis Health Department, Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Events are outdoors.
• People keep their masks on when they’re not eating or drinking.
• People keep at least 6 feet from others not in their household.
• Households bring their own food, beverages, utensils, tables and chairs.

National Night Out is an annual nationwide event that encourages residents to get out in the community, holding block parties and getting to know their neighbors to prevent crime. It’s a great way to promote community-police partnerships and enjoy a Minnesota summer evening surrounded by friends and family.

Find out more about National Night Out at www.minneapolismn.gov/nno.

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Save the Date for the 7th Annual Trans Equity Summit: Sept. 13-15

The 2020 Trans Equity Summit will be Sept. 13-15, virtual and outdoor in person, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. daily. Programming will include breakout sessions, performances, a job and resource fair, and healing justice offerings.

This year's theme is "Claiming Our Power for Change: Caring for Community." It reflects a critical need for trans/GNC folks to embody themselves through community care, bear witness to one another without sacrifice and with joy, condition their collective emotional-spiritual excellence, and prepare to assert their power in the dramatic reshaping of Minneapolis.

The summit is free and open to the public. Watch for updates on the City website.

Reader Opinion: Why the Former Metropolitan Council Should Not Have Approved the Minneapolis 2040 Plan

By Dennis Paulaha, PhD- Great River Coalition

The Metropolitan Council is responsible for managing the impact on the natural environment of all Metropolitan Districts under its jurisdiction.

And because the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act (MERA) prohibits acts or plans that are likely to impair the environment, the Metropolitan Council cannot legally approve a Plan from any District that is likely to impair the environment, because doing so is prohibited under Minnesota State law.

It also means the Metropolitan Council does not have the legal right to approve a plan from one District that is likely to impose spillover or external environmental damages to one or more other municipalities or Districts.

For the record, the Minneapolis City Council has admitted in court that the up-zoning policy in the Minneapolis 2040 Plan (eliminating single-family zoning throughout the city) will definitely impose environmental damage.

Which, according to the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act (MERA), means a Plan that includes the elimination of single-family zoning cannot legally be approved by the Metropolitan Council.

Furthermore, because the increase in the city’s pollution caused by intentionally increasing the city’s population by eliminating single-family zoning cannot be contained within a cylinder placed over the city of Minneapolis, there is no question the up-zoning policy of the Minneapolis 2040 plan will impose environmental damages to other municipalities and Metropolitan Districts

As such, the former Metropolitan Council should have demanded the up-zoning policy be removed from the Minneapolis 2040 Plan before it was approved.

Additionally, it should be noted that the Minneapolis 2040 Plan is based on inaccurate population projection. Instead of using the official population forecast, City Planners made up and used a number large enough to justify an up-zoning policy that lets developers replace single family homes with apartment buildings in order to accommodate their false population forecast.

If the inaccurate population number (which the Planners admitted is a goal, not a forecast) is replaced with an honest forecast, there is no need to replace single family homes with multi-unit apartment buildings in order to accommodate a larger population, because the actual population forecast does not justify doing so.

Another problem is, the writers and promoters of the Minneapolis 2040 Plan claimed all the studies and research conclude that increasing population density reduces a city’s carbon footprint.

That is not true. What the studies say is that a given number of people in a densely populated city will have a smaller carbon footprint than the same number of people spread out in a suburb where people have to drive farther to get where they are going and have less access to public transportation. But the research warns that the city versus suburb comparison does not apply to increasing the population and population density in either a city or a suburb. In other words, what every valid study says is that if population density is increased in either a city or a suburb, carbon dioxide omissions will increase. That is, of course, simple logic that is not even debatable.

Therefore, the Minneapolis 2040 Plan is based not only on inaccuracies regarding its the population forecast, it is also based on inaccuracies about the environmental studies and research regarding the relationship between population density and carbon dioxide emissions.

In other words, Minneapolis Planners misrepresented the relationship between population density and a city’s carbon footprint to claim intentionally increasing the population density of the city will reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

All of which means the former Metropolitan Council did not have a legal right to approve a Minneapolis 2040 Plan that includes eliminating single-family zoning to intentionally increase the population and the population density of the city, given that doing so will not only cause environmental damage to the City of Minneapolis, but will spill over to other Districts and municipalities governed by the Metropolitan Council.

Friends of the Hennepin County Library Announces 24th Season of Pen Pals

Via an August 6 e-announcement from Friends of the Hennepin County Library:

The highly acclaimed and longest-running literary series in the Twin Cities returns for its 24th season this October...and you're invited!

We are thrilled to announce our 2020-21 Pen Pals season, a rich array of virtual and in-person events, offering fresh voices, expert perspectives, and classic storytelling, featuring: Colum McCann, Nikki Giovanni, Yaa Gyasi, Susan Choi, and Erik Larson.

Don't miss your chance to experience today's most acclaimed literary voices in thought-provoking, candid conversation! Last year’s events nearly sold out before individual tickets went on sale – subscribe today!

Attend all five lectures as a subscriber and triple last year's discount - SAVE $75!

Season subscription now only $150 - $200 after discount.

Download, print and mail in the season order form, or call our box office at 612-543-8112, starting Friday, August 7, at 9 a.m.

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2020-21 Pen Pals Season Author Guest - Colum McCann

Colum McCann is the author of the recent bestselling novel Apeirogon, as well as Let the Great World Spin and five others. He has received the National Book Award, a Guggenheim fellowship, and the Pushcart Prize.

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020 | 7:30 p.m. + on-demand replay through Oct. 25

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2020-21 Pen Pals Season Author Guest - Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, activist, and author of several children’s books, essays, and poetry collections, including the upcoming Make Me Rain. Her numerous honors include the Langston Hughes Medal, Rosa L. Parks Woman of Courage Award, and seven NAACP Image Awards.

Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020 | 7:30 p.m. + on-demand replay through Nov. 8

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2020-21 Pen Pals Season Author Guest - Yaa Gyassi

Yaa Gyasi, the author of Homegoing, is a recipient of the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35” Award and a National Book Critics Circle Award. Her new novel Transcendent Kingdom releases in September 2020.

Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 | 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 | 11:00 a.m.

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2020-21 Pen Pals Season Author Guest - Susan Choi

Susan Choi is the author of The Foreign Student, A Person of Interest, My Education, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated American Woman, and Trust Exercise, which won the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction.

Thursday, May 6, 2021 | 7:30 p.m.,  Friday, May 7, 2021 | 11:00 a.m.

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2020-21 Pen Pals Season Author Guest - Erik Larson

Erik Larson is the author of five bestsellers, including The Devil in the White City, which was nominated for a National Book Award. His latest, The Splendid and the Vile, chronicles Churchill’s first year as prime minister.

Monday, May 24, 2021 | 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | 11:00 a.m.

Season Format and COVID-19 Update 

Fall 2020 events are virtual and take place on Zoom. Winter/Spring 2021 events take place in person at Hopkins Center for the Arts with traditionally reserved seating. 

In-person events are subject to change based on recommendations from health agencies. Ticket holders will have access to a virtual backup event in the case of in-person event cancellation. 

Virtual event tickets include access to an on-demand recording for 72 hours following the event.

MSP Film Society's Virtual Cinema Updates

Via an August 5 e-announcement from MSP Film Society:

August has arrived and MSP Film Society has another jam-packed month of exciting programming available in our Virtual Cinema:

Opening this Friday, August 7 - A THOUSAND CUTS, Ramona S. Diaz's thrilling film about the increasingly dangerous war between press and government; along with OUT STEALING HORSES (Ut og stjæle hester), based on the bestselling novel by Norwegian author Per Petterson. JAZZ ON A SUMMER'S DAY, the classic concert film set at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, will open on Wednesday, August 12.

In anticipation of Fashion Week MN, MSP Film Society is excited to present two fashion-forward docs this month:  MARTIN MARGIELA: IN HIS OWN WORDS, about the mastermind known as the Banksy of the Fashion World, opens on Friday, August 14; followed by HOUSE OF CARDIN on Friday, August 28, which offers a rare peek into the life of legendary fashion designer Pierre Cardin.

"WE THE PEOPLE: REQUIRED WATCHING" continues on Sunday, August 16 with a FREE screening of JIM CROW OF THE NORTH, the Twin Cities PBS original documentary that explores why Minnesota has some of the worst racial disparities in the nation, followed by a conversation with Director Daniel Pierce Bergin, Anthony R. Scott, President of Minnesota's Black Community Project, and Brian Paulson, Senior Program Officer at the Pohlad Family Foundation, on Monday, August 17 at 7pm.

Opening Friday, August 28 is MR. SOUL!, Melissa Haizlip award-winning documentary about her father Ellis Haizlip’s groundbreaking television variety show SOUL!, which ran from 1968-1973 and offered an unfiltered, uncompromising celebration of Black literature, poetry, music, and politics. MR. SOUL! is being presented as part of our "WE THE PEOPLE: REQUIRED WATCHING" series, and will include a FREE Community Conversation on Monday, August 31 at 7pm. Registration will be made available as soon as guests are confirmed.

And on Wednesday, August 19, MSP Film Society presents a special encore screening of the MSPIFF39 Redefined official selection COUP 53, followed by a discussion with Director Taghi Amirani, Editor Walter Murch, and actor Ralph Fiennes on Thursday, August 20.

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OPENING Friday, August 7 - A THOUSAND CUTS 

On June 15, 2020, journalist Maria Ressa was found guilty of cyber libel, setting a ticking clock on the limited time she has to get her story out to the world and keep the fight for democracy alive in this all too familiar tale of an autocratic leader drowning out "fake news." Nowhere is the worldwide erosion of democracy, fueled by social media disinformation campaigns, more starkly evident than in the authoritarian regime of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Ressa places the tools of the free press—and her freedom—on the line in defense of truth and democracy. Ramona S. Diaz's thrilling film follows key players from two sides of an increasingly dangerous war between press and government. As each side digs in, we become witness to an epic and ongoing fight for the integrity of human life and truth itself—a conflict that extends beyond the Philippines into our own divisive backyard.  official trailer  - official website

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OPENING Friday, August 7 - OUT STEALING HORSES (Ut og stjæle hester)

November 1999: 67-year-old Trond (Stellan Skarsgård), lives in self-imposed isolation and looks forward to welcoming in the new millennium alone. As winter arrives he meets one of his few neighbours, Lars (Bjørn Floberg), and realizes he knew him back in the summer of 1948. 1948 – the year Trond turned 15. The summer Trond grew up. OUT STEALING HORSES is based on the bestselling novel by Norwegian author Per Petterson. official trailer  - official website

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OPENING Wednesday, August 12 - JAZZ ON A SUMMER'S DAY

Filmed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island and directed by world-renowned photographer Bert Stern, Jazz on a Summer's Day features intimate performances by an all-star line-up of musical legends including Louis Armstrong, Thelonius Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Anita O'Day, Chuck Berry, Dinah Washington, and closes with a beautiful rendition or The Lord's Prayer by Mahalia Jackson at midnight to usher in Sunday morning. The 1959 classic is considered one of the most extraordinary and possibly the first concert film ever made. official trailer - official website

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OPENING Friday, August 14 -  MARTIN MARGIELA: IN HIS OWN WORDS

An intimate profile of Martin Margiela, one of the most revolutionary and influential fashion designers of his time. From Jean Paul Gaultier's assistant to creative director at Hermes to leading his own brand, Margiela never showed his face publicly but reinvented fashion with his radical style for over 20 years, through 41 provocative collections. For the first time, the "Banksy of fashion" reveals his drawings, notes and personal items, giving us an exclusive peek to his vision and career. The film features interviews with, among others, Jean Paul Gaultier, Carine Roitfeld, Trend Forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort, Fashion Critic Cathy Horyn and Fashion Historian Olivier Saillard. The score has been composed by the Belgian rock band dEUS.

official trailer

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ONGOING SERIES - "WE THE PEOPLE: REQUIRED WATCHING" 

MSP Film Society presents our community screening and conversation series of films that speak powerfully to systemic inequality, followed by conversations with directors and community leaders discussing ways we can support social justice and anti-racism efforts within our communities.

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FREE SCREENING - Sunday, August 16 - JIM CROW OF THE NORTH

Why does Minnesota suffer through some of the worst racial disparities in the nation? One answer is the spread of racist, restrictive real estate covenants in the early 20th century. Jim Crow of the North charts the progression of racist policies and practices from the advent of restrictive covenants after the turn of the last century to their final elimination in the late 1960s. Roots of racial disparities are seen through a new lens in this film that explores the origins of housing segregation in the Minneapolis area. But the story also illustrates how African-American families and leaders resisted this insidious practice, and how Black people built community — within and despite — the red lines that these restrictive covenants created. A Twin Cities PBS Original. official trailer

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COMMUNITY CONVERSATION - Monday, August 17 at 7:00pm 

MSP Film Programmer Craig Laurence Rice leads a post-screening discussion with Director Daniel Pierce Bergin and Anthony R. Scott, President of Minnesota's Black Community Project, discussing the ways we all can support social justice and anti-racism efforts in our community.

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SPECIAL SCREENING - Wednesday, August 19 - COUP 53 

*MSPIFF39 Redefined Official Selection*

While making a documentary about the CIA/MI6 coup in Iran in 1953, Iranian director Taghi Amirani and editor Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now, The Conversation,The English Patient) discover never seen before archive material hidden for decades. The 16mm footage and documents not only allow the filmmakers to tell the story of the overthrow of the Iranian government in unprecedented detail, but it also leads to explosive revelations about dark secrets buried for 67 years. Working with Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Schindler’s List, The English Patient) to help bring the lost material to life, what began as a historical documentary about four days in August 1953 turned into a live investigation, taking the filmmakers into uncharted cinematic waters. The roots of Iran's volatile relationship with America and Britain has never been so forensically and dramatically exposed.

A ticket for the COUP 53 screening also includes an exclusive Q+A with Ralph Fiennes, Walter Murch and Taghi Amirani, which will be available on August 20. official trailer

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OPENS Friday, August 28 - MR. SOUL!

From 1968 to 1973, the public television variety show SOUL!, guided by the enigmatic producer and host Ellis Haizlip, offered an unfiltered, uncompromising celebration of Black literature, poetry, music, and politics—voices that had few other options for national exposure, and, as a result, found the program an improbable place to call home. The series was among the first to provide expanded images of African Americans on television, shifting the gaze from inner-city poverty and violence to the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement. With participants’ recollections and a bevy of great archival clips, MR. SOUL! captures a critical moment in culture whose impact continues to resonate. official trailer

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OPENS Friday, August 28 - HOUSE OF CARDIN

A rare peek into the mind of a genius, an authorized feature documentary chronicling the life and design of Pierre Cardin. A true original, Mr. Cardin granted complete access to his archives and his empire, and unprecedented interviews at the sunset of a glorious career to filmmakers P. David Ebersole and Todd Hughes. official trailer

The Mill City Times Interview: Vasiliki Papanikolopoulos, Founder, Minnesotans Unite

Article by Becky Fillinger

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for small businesses. Locally, the state has funded small business relief grants and the federal Payroll Protection Program provided some relief for businesses that qualified. Is there any other aid available? Meet Minnesotans Unite. We interviewed the founder, Vasiliki Papanikolopoulos, to learn how we, as community members, can continue to support our local small businesses.

Q:  Please tell us the history of Minnesotans Unite.

A:  Minnesotans Unite is about 4 months old - it started at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with a mission to support and showcase small businesses. When neighborhood shops began to close amidst the lockdown, we realized there needed to be a way to easily support our favorite places. It began as a platform to purchase gift cards which served two purposes: for the small businesses, they impact their bottom lines immediately, and for consumers, they are something to look forward to. 100% of the gift card purchases go to the small businesses. Now, we’ve built on that and are broadening the ways in which we connect the community with small businesses. These include some exciting product launches in partnership with our participating businesses, as well as with local artists.

Q:  How did you become involved?

A:  Small local businesses and their owners have been hugely influential in my life, and I find them to be community pillars across the world. With larger forces like Amazon and Walmart putting elements of local identity in jeopardy, I’ve always sought out ways to reinforce the value of consuming small and local. This has taken various forms over the years, and Minnesotans Unite has been the latest and most fruitful effort.

Vasiliki PapanikolopoulosQ:  How are you recruiting more small businesses to join Minnesotans Unite? 

A:  Front and center for us is bringing more small businesses into the network who believe in the power of togetherness. We are doing so via direct outreach as well as with initiatives that speak to the resources and support the Minnesotans Unite platform provides small businesses. These initiatives include monthly meetings with business experts, exchange with other business owners, and parallel marketing efforts for their businesses on the one central platform that makes it easy for consumers to support any and all.

Q:  Do you currently live in Minneapolis?

A:  Yes! I’m Greek-Cypriot-American, born and raised in Minneapolis. Eight years ago I moved to Philadelphia for school and then work, and last September moved back home to Minneapolis.

Q:  A bit off topic, but tell us about your position with The Port Global. Greek tech start-ups - exciting! Do you find that Greek companies face similar issues in helping local small businesses survive?

A:  I’m the Director of Marketing for The Port Global. It’s been quite fascinating growing up at the intersection of what seemed like two very different worlds, the US and Greece. As time passes, what we’ve seen is Greece following in the footsteps of what’s trending in the US and what was a strong foundation in Greek culture centered around small businesses is less so now. It used to be, you’d go to the butcher shop, and on the way stop at the shoemaker and maybe even the bookstore. Now, with larger chains and ecommerce, it’s a much different landscape. I’m quite passionate about working in a space where we can play a part in evolving the next generation of Greek startups and businesses.

Q:  If businesses want to join Minnesotans Unite, what steps should they take? Are you looking for individuals to help with the group’s efforts?

A:  It’s quite simple - if you are reading this, as a small business owner who is interested in being a part of the network or as a consumer looking to support the effort, and you are community-driven, we would love to hear from you at hello@minnesotansunite.com. The ways in which to stay in touch with Minnesotans Unite are by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as subscribing to our newsletter.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

The Mill City Times Interview: Zev Radziwill and Tom Foerster, Stewards of Bluff Street Park

Article by Becky Fillinger

Who takes care of your local parks? Would you be surprised that many Minneapolis parks have volunteer stewards overlooking their care on a more regular and local basis than the city can provide? We talked to Zev Radziwill and Tom Foerster, neighbors in the Riverview Tower Condos, who became very active caretakers of their local park. 

Tom Foerster (left) and Zev Radziwill

Q:  Tell us a bit about your group.

A:  We call ourselves “West Bank Parks” – and our local group provides stewardship and volunteers for Bluff Street Park, Bohemian Flats, and the Dinkytown Greenway. Tom is in fact the official community Park Steward for Bluff Street Park (BSP). We also offer our park steward expertise and experience to other neighborhood volunteer groups. We have a long-term goal of growing neighborhood volunteer involvement in our city parks and green spaces. Our projects include: 

• Cleanups - Spring and Fall in partnership with both parks 
• Planter boxes on the Northern Pacific Bridge #9 and under the Bluff Street Park sign 
• Small gardens – herbs, peppers and tomatoes  
• “Lily Lane” on Greenway and Bridge Number Nine 
• Future plans: Bike station at Bluff Street Park, East side of Bridge #9; more oak trees along the path and Greenway; more beautification – we’re considering Art at the Bridge Base 

Q:  Tell us about your most recent project. 

A:  The lilies have been our current obsession during these strange times. Planted 5 years ago, these plant beds require re-mulching the entire stretch every couple of years – as well as yearly flower replacements.  This year was the mulching year and it has been quite the adventure.  It took 100 bags of mulch and several days of work to get the lane in good shape. We call the area “Lily Lane” for obvious reasons – the Chicago Apache daylilies are beautifully in bloom now.  Someday, we plan to tackle the other side of the lane as well - but maybe with not as many lilies!

Q:  Why was it important to you to beautify these small plots of land?

A:  We both grew up on farms – Tom in South Dakota and Zev in Washington County. So wanting to see beauty in the land – even “City” land (ha!) – comes natural to us. When we got the sign for Bluff Street Park, thanks to Scott Vreeland and others on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) – that was the first place Tom applied his skills! And it just progressed to planting and tending the park up and along the Greenway area. Prior to this improvement, the area was just rock and scrub. Tom and many volunteers tackled it head-on! But bottom-line, we want the walkers and bikers – and families and couples – and those just out for a daily stroll, to have some beauty and nature in their lives. This little stretch of our park provides a break from the construction and major urban environments all around it.

Aerial view of Bluff Street Park

Q:  What do you know about the history of the Bluff Street Park area? 

A:  This area was a heavily polluted superfund site at one point – known as the Gasworks. Much of the Cities’ gas street lamps from the late 1800s to 1924 were lit by the coal gasification fuel generated and stored in and around the Bluff Street Park area.   

From 1879 to 1890, this area was home of the F.D. Noerenberg Brewery. (Side note: The same family founded Grain Belt Brewery. Do you know Noerenberg Gardens at Three Rivers Park District? Same family). The people living down at Bohemian Flats worked here and at a sister plant near Middlebrook Hall called the Minneapolis Brewery.

Bluff Street was one of the very first streets in the new Minneapolis – one of the first opened up on this side of the river.

And of course, prior to all this, it was Ojibwe land. They would portage on the University of Minnesota side down along the flats there. There are many native plants and herbs we’d love to see reintroduced throughout this area. 

Q:  What plants are in the park?

A:  When MNDot finished the I-35W bridge construction after the 2007 collapse, they planted a seed mix of non-native turfgrass. Our goal was to get back to native bedrock bluff prairie vegetation, which we completed in 2015. We’ve rescued peonies, irises, tiger lilies and sedum plants from park construction sites and replanted those in the Bluff Street Park as well. The sedum is pollinator friendly - butterflies are also attracted to the plants in the park.

Q:  Who were the members of the original Bluff Street Park Task Force?

A:  Cedar-Riverside neighbors, who had lived in neighborhood for years, were the original task force members - Rosemary Knutson, Arthur Renander, Jerry Clark and Anne Webb. Rosemary’s vision for native prairie grasses and a butterfly meadow has been realized. 

The second generation, now called the West Bank Parks, includes the two of us, Jerry, Rosemary, Matt Langland and Mary Mellen. Matt is a resident of Riverview Tower Condos and longtime neighborhood trails and transit guru – he helps at all clean-up days in the park. Mary is a Riverside Park champion and longtime volunteer in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Jerry Clark is now 85 and still participating – he most recently painted over some graffiti. Zev is President of the Cedar-Riverside Community Council (CRCC) and Tom is the official park steward. We have a broad level of civic involvement and community-minded spirit in our group.

Q:  Do you have sponsors?

A:  We’re received grant monies from the University of Minnesota Good Neighbor Fund, the CRCC Community grant and from individual contributors. We rely heavily upon individual contributions.

Q:  What advice do you have for readers who might like to be park stewards?

A:  Visit the MPRB Stewards page and tell them that West Bank Parks sent you! We can tell you that it is very rewarding work – you’ll meet many neighbors, see the outcomes of your efforts and will be making a difference in our city.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

Parkways Reopen to Motor Vehicles Beginning August 3 (With Construction-related Exceptions)

This is a reminder that all Minneapolis parkways closed to motor vehicle traffic and open to trail users will go back to allowing motor vehicle traffic beginning Monday, Aug. 3.

On Aug. 3, workers will begin removing barriers and other traffic control in place at Cedar Lake, Lake Harriet, West Bde Maka Ska and West River Parkways. Most parkways will be open to motor vehicle traffic by Wednesday, Aug. 5, with several construction-related exceptions.

West River Parkway will remain closed in three sections due to construction projects:

• Between 4th Avenue North and the Stone Arch Bridge parking lot for the Water Works project. Trail traffic will be routed onto one lane of the parkway.
• Between 13th and 22nd Avenues South for repairs to the 10th Avenue SE Bridge and Bridge #9, which serves the Dinkytown Greenway trail.
• Between East 33rd and 36th Streets for a sewer improvement project.

Theodore Wirth Parkway is also closed between 29th Avenue North and Golden Valley Road for a road resurfacing project. Please follow posted detours and stay away from areas where construction work is happening.

In late March the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) began closing parkways or park roads adjacent to its most popular trails to allow more space for trail users to follow social distancing practices and limit the spread of COVID-19. Several adjustments were made throughout the spring and summer in response to parkway conditions and demand, as well as efficiently use funds allocated toward maintaining the closures.

At its May 6, 2020 meeting, MPRB Commissioners passed Resolution 2020-202, which granted MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura authority to spend up to $250,000 on a series of parkway closures enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those funds will be exhausted by Aug. 3.

Please continue to stay at least six feet apart from people not in your own household while using parks and trails. Other guidelines park users are asked to follow to limit the spread of COVID-19 while using parks and trails:

• Bring a water bottle. Most MPRB water fountains are not operational.
• Bring disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizer. Most MPRB restroom buildings remain closed.
• Do not use parks if you feel sick or have COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, body aches, coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose and sore throat.
• Cover your cough with your elbow, don’t cough into your hands.
• Wash your hands immediately before and after visiting a park or trail.

Stay Updated

Visit minneapolisparks.org/coronavirus for more information on the MPRB's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Receive timely email updates by visiting minneapolisparks.org/subscribe, entering your email and selecting the “COVID-19” topic in the “News Updates” section.

Mobile Entertainment Embraces Social Distancing with new ‘Six Foot Bubble™ Tours’

Via a recent Press Release from Mobile Entertainment:

Mobile Entertainment, known for Human on a Stick– the first Segway tour operator in the U.S.an d Minnesota’s top-rated tourist attraction for over 10 years, is launching unique walking tours with professionally-authored and voiced storytelling technology.

Mobile Entertainment adds walking tours in a new tour series, Six Foot Bubble™ Tours, officially launching on Friday, July, 31. 

Six Foot Bubble™ is pioneering tours for a socially-distanced world with innovative audio equipment so groups can still enjoy learning more about wonderful Minneapolis and Saint Paul together. Watch our promotional video here.

For the first time, in addition to being led by a professional Mobile Entertainment tour guide, tourists will be guided by audio narration, either via headphones or a small speaker, produced to make listeners feel like they are reliving history, while keeping a safe distance from those outside their “bubble.” Local celebrities, including the architectural historian and former Pioneer Press critic Larry Millett, collaborated with Mobile Entertainment to produce a lively and informative narration for these tours.

“The idea behind Six Foot Bubble ™ is basically to make something good out of a bad situation,” says Mobile Entertainment Founder Bill Neuenschwander. “We want people to still be able to enjoy the rich history and views of the phenomenal areas of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, while keeping themselves and their families safe.”

There are six new routes that are part of the Six Foot Bubble™ Tours, all with a digital storytelling feature with narrators from unique and distinctive backgrounds. Kicking off the series is a tour of Irvine Park, the first neighborhood in Saint Paul. This tour will guide guests through the heritage preservation district of Irvine Park as well as other nearby landmarks within the broader West Seventh neighborhood, including the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Mississippi Upper Landing. Tours run everyday from 9-1 p.m., and 2-6 p.m., but tourists must make a reservation.

July 31 Ward 7 Updates

COVID-19 Situation Update as of July 29, 2020

• There are 6,751 cases in Minneapolis and 196 deaths. The City is sharing Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics through a public dashboard at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• The Health Department is using the Harvard Global Health Institute's COVID-19 Risk Levels dashboard (https://globalepidemics.org/key-metrics-for-covid-suppression/). This color-coded metric looks at a seven day rolling average for new cases. Based on the latest data, Minneapolis is at 18 cases per 100,000 compared to 11 cases per 100,000 for the State. These numbers put both Minneapolis and Minnesota in the orange category, which represents accelerated spread of COVID-19.
• Case numbers for the past two weeks show that six Minneapolis neighborhoods (Central, East Phillips, Elliot Park, Jordan, Lowry Hill, and Whittier) have seen increased case counts which correlate with case increases in the under 35 year-old age group. Data also indicate a slight increase in cases among the 35-44 year-old age group.
• Over the past few weeks, the racial breakdown for the under 35 year-old age group has shifted from over 50% white to about 30% white and 60% BIPOC. This group is experiencing increased exposure in bars and at gatherings of friends and family.
• Congregate living facilities in Minneapolis continue to see new cases among residents, but the numbers have decreased significantly, from an average of 49 cases a week in April and May to six cases a week in June and July. Residents of these facilities account for only 7% of confirmed cases, however they account for 71% of COVID-19 deaths.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 12 regarding masks is still in effect. The regulation requires people to wear face coverings in all indoor public places. Last week, the Mayor rescinded Emergency Regulation No. 15 and No. 16 which allowed Adult Day Cares to reopen and eased operational restrictions in licensed congregate care settings. These facilities are beholden to state COVID-19 guidance.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17, signed July 29, 2020, requires all bar areas in restaurants, nightclubs, and indoor spaces of entertainment in Minneapolis to be closed starting August 1. Bar areas that can be converted for seated service will be allowed as long as food and/or beverage services are provided tableside while patrons are seated. The goal is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among young adults, food service workers, and bartenders. Nine Minneapolis bars have been publicly identified as having outbreaks associated with spread among patrons.

Situational updates: Minnesota

• There are 52,947 cases in Minnesota out of over 993,000 tests completed. There have been 1,589 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 16,881 cases and 810 deaths in Hennepin County.
• Minnesota is currently in Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan for reopening. This phase allows bars and restaurants to offer indoor dining at 50% capacity with tables spaced six feet apart. Further restrictions at bars are currently in effect in Minneapolis (see above: Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17). Pools may open at 50% capacity and gyms may open at 25% capacity.
• Governor Walz’s statewide mask mandate is still in effect. This requires people to wear face coverings in all indoor public places where people gather and some outdoor venues where physical distancing is difficult.

Health Incident Command Updates

As the MHD continues to respond to COVID-19, we are applying an equity lens to all our work in conjunction with partners across the City enterprise.

Businesses:

o Health inspectors have completed 569 site visit/inspections since indoor dining reopened on June 10. Bars continue to have clusters of positive COVID-19 cases. Health inspectors continue to provide guidance and cleaning instructions to bars with COVID-19-positive employees and patrons. Additionally, inspectors are reviewing COVID-19 plans during all routine health inspections.

o The Health Department is assisting with a joint business recovery effort to distribute 500,000 masks to businesses, prioritizing distribution to BIPOC-owned businesses and those located in BIPOC communities. CPED is leading this effort in partnership with the Mayor’s office, Regulatory Services, and Health.

o In response to requests from business owners, Health Department and Communications staff created new signage clearly stating that the City requires masks in indoor public spaces. Signage is available on the City’s COVID-19 website in English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong.

Case investigations:

The Health Department is conducting over 50 case investigations and contact follow-ups for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 per day. Currently, there are 26 investigators, including six non-MHD enterprise staff. Of the 6,751 cases in Minneapolis, 85% have been interviewed, 2% have refused, 8% have been lost to follow-up, and 5% are new cases that still need to be interviewed. Thirty (30) percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents are in a language other than English. The MHD team has conducted 53% of the interviews for Minneapolis residents since May 8.

Community Testing:

o Sagrado Corazon/Incarnation Church: Community testing will be offered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 1 and 15 at Sagrado Corazon/Incarnation Church, 3800 Pleasant Avenue South. This community testing event will focus on the Latinx community; however, it will be open to everyone. The goal is to test 300 persons per day during the 8 hours that testing will be available. Partners include Sagrado Corazon/Incarnation Church, Hennepin Healthcare, the Minneapolis Health Department, and St. Mary’s Health Clinics.

o PICA Head Start: Testing will be available on August 11 and 25 primarily for Head Start families at both the Fraser site (700 Humboldt Avenue North) and the McKnight site (4225 3rd Avenue South). Testing for the community will also be available. Partners include PICA Head Start, the Minneapolis Health Department, and the Minnesota Department of Health.

o The Health Department’s Long Term Care team supported baseline testing at the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority’s Heritage Park site for their assisted living residents on July 23.

Food security:

o The Health Department continues to co-host a weekly free food distribution event at Powderhorn Park (Fridays, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.). The event regularly serves approximately 500-800 people, many from low-income Latinx households that have been heavily impacted by loss of employment, COVID-19, and the closure of retailers along Lake Street. City staff will continue to support this event at least through the end of August and are in the process of assessing long-term food security needs, operations, and options, especially in light of the elimination of a $600 per week federal unemployment benefit.

o Health Department staff, in partnership with other City staff and community partners, are convening calls and conducting outreach with community-led “pop-up” food distribution hosts, The goal is to assess real-time needs, gather feedback on ongoing food security challenges in specific communities and related policy implications, and connect groups to available resources such as PPE and Hennepin County funds. MHD staff continue to coordinate with food banks and other hunger relief organizations to identify, implement, and support food-related community needs.

Homelessness:

o The encampment located on City property at 2601 14th Avenue South was disbanded on Wednesday, July 29. The Police Department’s Homeless Outreach team and community partner, American Indian Community Development Corporation, worked together to clear the property. People living at the encampment were given one week’s notice of this action and were provided with resources for available shelter. Immediately after the property is cleared, CPED and Public Works will fence in the property to prevent future encampments from forming.

o The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board designated the following as sanctuary parks: Riverside, Annie Young, Marshall Terrace, Lake Harriet, Boom Island, and Bde Maka Ska. An additional four to six parks will be named based on proximity to hygiene supports. Park encampments must obtain a permit and cannot have more than 25 tents. Encampments will not be allowed in Safe School Zones. The Health Department continues to work with MPRB to provide health and sanitation services at encampments on park land. Last week, MHD staff provided guidance on the potential environmental impacts and hygiene safety of “pop-up” showers that have appeared at some encampments.

o MHD staff continue to distribute harm reduction supplies, masks, and hygiene kits to community outreach partners for distribution to residents of various encampments.

Personal Protective Equipment: The Health Department is continuing PPE resource distribution efforts. In the past week, MHD staff have distributed over 2,200 cloth masks in response to requests from the community. In fulfilling those requests, staff are balancing the needs of clinics and health care providers with the needs of low-income individuals, BIPOC communities, low-income multi-family housing properties, faith communities, people experiencing homelessness, community-based organizations, food distribution sites, and people engaged in recovery efforts. The Health Department recently received an additional 50,000 cloth masks, which will help in responding to ongoing community requests.

• The City specific COVID email address is: COVID19@minneapolismn.gov.

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Polling Places Changing Due to Pandemic

To help keep voters and Minneapolis residents safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, 50 of 125 polling places in Minneapolis are moving for the 2020 primary and general election. The changes will help protect people living in residential facilities and provide more space to keep voters a safe distance from elections staff and each other.

Of the 50 polling places being relocated, 16 were in senior homes, high-rises and other residential sites. Another 32 were in areas with limited space that would make it difficult for people to keep at least 6 feet from others inside. Two were moved due to on-site construction.

Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services partnered with Minneapolis Public Schools and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation board to find new locations for voting during the pandemic. In total, 94 buildings will be open for the Aug. 11 primary and Nov. 3 general elections, with 35 in schools and 22 in park buildings. Some buildings will have more than one voting precinct.

Registered voters will receive a postcard in the mail indicating their new polling locations. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s polling place finder can also provide voters their new polling places. These locations will be the same for the Aug. 11 primary and Nov. 3 general elections. All voters choosing to vote in person on Election Day should check the online polling place finder or call 311 to verify their polling place.

Keep safe and vote by mail

Though polling locations will be open for the primary and general elections, the City encourages voting early by mail to minimize direct contact with others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages voting early by mail, and Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services supports this and other CDC and Minnesota Department of Health recommendations to make sure all voters in Minneapolis can safely cast their ballots this election year.

More information on how to vote by mail is available at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/bymail.

For those going to the polls on Election Day, we will have COVID-19 protocols in place to provide a safe and healthy environment for all voters and election judges. The polling place protocols follow best practices from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, the protocols follow Emergency Regulation 2020-12, which requires people in Minneapolis to wear a cloth face covering when they are in an indoor public space.

Voting at the Early Vote Center

The Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., makes early voting in person more convenient for Minneapolis voters. It’s especially helpful to people who need language support or other special accommodations, such as curbside voting. And while we are in a pandemic, voting early can help people avoid lines and crowds at polling places on the day of the election.

The Early Vote Center’s hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The center will also have Saturday hours for the last two weekends before the primary. All early voting hours are posted on the Elections & Voter Services website: vote.minneapolismn.gov/events.

EVS Headquarters—located at 980 E. Hennepin Avenue—will be open to serve in-person early voters both Saturdays (Aug. 1 and 8) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Direct Balloting begins Tues., Aug. 4, allowing in-person early voters to directly scan their completed ballot into the tabulator…exactly as on Election Day. New this year, in light of the need for enhanced safety protocols, EVS will be hosting “drive-in, drop-off” ballot service, as shown on this graphic.

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Next Steps for Proposed Charter Amendment that Would Create New Department of Community Safety & Violence Prevention

The Minneapolis Charter Commission has held three public hearings to gather feedback on a proposed charter amendment establishing a new Department of Community Safety & Violence Prevention authored by five City Council members. A decision on whether that proposal will be referred to voters at the Nov. 3 general election must be decided by Aug. 5 to meet statutory deadlines.

The proposed Department of Community Safety & Violence Prevention would have responsibility for “public safety services prioritizing a holistic, public health-oriented approach,” according to the proposed amendment. As a charter department, the director would be nominated by the mayor and approved by the City Council. The director would have non-law enforcement experience in community safety services, including but not limited to public health and/or restorative justice approaches.

The ordinance provides that the City may maintain a division of law enforcement services composed of licensed peace officers subject to the supervision of the Department of Community Safety & Violence Prevention.

The City Council voted June 26 to advance the proposal as a ballot measure to be considered by Minneapolis voters. Under State law, proposals to amend the City Charter must first be reviewed by the City Charter Commission. The Charter Commission has at least 60 days to complete its review and submit its recommendation to the City Council but it may take up to 150 days to complete its review. The statutory deadline for submitting questions on the Nov. 3 general election ballot is Friday, Aug. 21. If approved by voters, the changes would become effective May 1, 2021. A decision by the Charter Commission is anticipated at its regular meeting on Aug. 5.

The Charter Commission also held a public hearing on a separate proposed charter amendment that proposed to eliminate minimum funding level requirements for the police force. That proposal was submitted by a Charter Commission member. At its meeting July 29, the Charter Commission voted not to submit that proposal to voters in November.

Learn more about the proposed charter amendment and submit feedback.

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City Council Adopts Revised 2020 City Budget

The City Council has approved Mayor Jacob Frey’s revised 2020 City budget proposal that addresses roughly $156 million in projected revenue losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mayor and City Council have trimmed the budget through a combination of spending freezes, use of cash reserves, program cuts and employee furloughs. The revised City budget is approximately $1.5 billion.

The first phase of the response to the economic impact of the pandemic included spending and hiring freezes that saved approximately $58 million. The revised budget plan includes plans to offset approximately $100 million in additional revenue losses.

As part of the City Council’s budget markup process, approximately $1.1 million has been shifted from the Minneapolis Police Department to the Health Department for violence prevention efforts. In addition, the City added $100,000 to the budget to support initial community engagement in the co-creation of a vision for a permanent memorial for George Floyd.

The mayor will present a recommended 2021 City budget to the City Council later this summer. Learn more about the City budget at minneapolismn.gov/budget.http://tour.35wat94.com/

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Mayor Frey Moves to Curb COVID-19 Community Spread in Bars and Restaurants

Mayor Jacob Frey has issued an emergency regulation that targets the community spread of COVID-19 in Minneapolis bars and restaurants.

The action orders the closure of bar areas in restaurants, clubs and other indoor spaces starting at 5 p.m. Aug. 1. Indoor table service, including at high tops, will be allowed under the regulation as long as patrons follow the existing state guidance.

The Minneapolis Health Department is reporting a rate of 18 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 per day while the statewide rate has remained closer to 11 per 100,000. Public health experts have attributed the higher rate to people congregating at bars, among other reasons. More than 50 percent of new cases in Minneapolis continue to be in young adults under age 35 who report increased exposure in bars and at gatherings of friends and family.

Read more about the emergency regulation.

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National Night Out Recommended Date Changes to Sept. 15 for 2020

The Minneapolis recommended National Night Out date for 2020 is Tuesday, Sept. 15. Residents can find out if their block is already signed up by emailing crime.prevention@minneapolismn.gov. Registered block leaders received notices directly about closing their streets to hold their event, but a block without a block leader could still hold a COVID-19 safe event by spreading out across three or four yards to make enough space for physical distancing.

Event safety in a pandemic

A safe event during a pandemic follows guidelines from the Minneapolis Health Department, Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Events are outdoors.
• People keep their masks on when they’re not eating or drinking.
• People keep at least 6 feet from others not in their household.
• Households bring their own food, beverages, utensils, tables and chairs.

National Night Out is an annual nationwide event that encourages residents to get out in the community, holding block parties and getting to know their neighbors to prevent crime. It’s a great way to promote community-police partnerships and enjoy a Minnesota summer evening surrounded by friends and family.

Find out more about National Night Out.

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Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Parkways Reopening to Motor Traffic

All Minneapolis parkways closed to motor vehicle traffic and open to trail users will go back to allowing motor vehicle traffic by Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Schedule

• East Bde Maka Ska Parkway: Thursday, July 30.
• Cedar Lake, Lake Harriet, West Bde Maka Ska and West River Parkways: Barriers and traffic control will be removed starting Monday, Aug. 3.

The funds for parkway closures to allow more space for trail users to follow physical distancing practices and limit the spread of COVID-19 will be exhausted by Aug. 3.

Please continue to follow these safety guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19 while using parks and trails:

• Stay at least 6 feet from people not in your own household.
• Do not use parks if you feel sick or have COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, body aches, coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose and sore throat.
• Cover your cough with your elbow, don’t cough into your hands.
• Wash your hands immediately before and after visiting a park or trail.
• Note that most MPRB water fountains are not operational, and most MPRB restroom buildings remain closed.

Keep up to date with Park Board news here.

Doug Verdier's July 29 Water Works Photos - Tree Planting

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project.

The first of many new trees were placed within the Water Works Park site today, July 29. Five Northern Red Oaks were delivered on site and carefully planted along the front of the pavilion on either side of the existing cottonwood. More trees of a variety of types and sizes will  be coming soon, for example: Eastern Red Cedar, Swamp White Oak, White Pine, Sugar Maple and more. 

Trees awaiting placement on the site.

Bobcat carefully picks up and transports tree to its new home.

Holes are prepared to receive the trees that are gently deposited in the ground.

Workers from landscape company ensure that trees are properly placed and straightened before filling in the hole.

Making adjustments.

Getting ready to complete filling the hole with new dirt.