April 24 Newsletter from Council Member Lisa Goodman
Friday, April 24, 2020 at 1:10PM
The news this week has shown that people are starting to get restless as it pertains to the various stay at home orders issued by governors around the county. Although I can understand the frustration, this is not the time to give in and throw away the progress that has been made through our stay home order. I personally support Governor Walz’s position and trust that he is making conscious, thoughtful decisions based on fact. I also believe that he and his team will put together a comprehensive plan that is in the best interest of maintaining the health of our state and communities.
Below we will once again share information and I am also going to share about a special Ward 7 business that within one week of needing to close to the public, came up with a new way to bring hope and creativity to the community.
Keep the faith and hold tight and continue to care for yourself and others.
Lisa
Ward 7 Spotlight
ARTrageous Adventures is a small art studio on 21st and Penn Ave that had to close its doors, as so many other small businesses, due to being considered a non-essential business. In order to keep its art instructors employed they decided to create a new different business model. They are now putting together ARTrageous BOXED Adventures and delivering them to homes throughout the Twin Cities. The kits are meant to help kids create art with their families.
ARTrageous currently offers a preschool, school aged and teen box with many different seasonal themes such as the recently released eARTh Day box and the upcoming May Day box. The May Day box will highlight the annual tradition of the Heart of the Beasts' May Day parade that sadly won't be happening this year. They are hoping to bring smiles to families throughout the city with these products. There is even a Birthday Box to commemorate the special day, especially since so many birthday parties have had to be cancelled. Each box comes with the supplies and an instructional booklet to create up to 5 projects. You also receive a fun follow up email that has a video link with a DIY on how to turn your ARTrageous box into something special for each theme so families are encouraged to reARTcycle to create no waste.
Some community members asked how they could help ARTrageous if they did not have children. This led to the idea for a Donation Box that could be purchased by any community member to be delivered to a Senior Facility, Foster Home or family in need. Jones Harrison was the first recipient of this idea and CIDNA has supported this project by approving a delivery of May Day baskets to each resident there. Recently the National Kidney Foundation reached out requesting a donation from ARTrageous to deliver boxes to families who have children with chronic kidney disease who are in isolation.
If you would like more information about purchasing a box for your family or for another please go to www.ARTrageousAdventures.com.
2020 Spring Street Sweeping Continues
Below you will find a basic guide for street sweeping dates by neighborhood.
Please be aware these dates are subject to change so please follow the actual street sweeping link for the most accurate and up to date information.
Bryn Mawr:
- Week of April 27
Cedar/Isles/Dean:
- Week of April 27
East Isles:
- North/South
- Emerson, Fremont (week of April 27)
- Girard, Humboldt (week of May 11)
- Irving: North of 26th Street (week of May 11)
- Irving: South of 26th Street (week of May 4)
- James: (week of May 4)
- East/West
- 28th Street (week of April 27)
- 22nd, 24th, 25th, 25½th, 26th and 27th Streets (week of May 4)
- Euclid Place & Lake Place
- (week of May 4)
Kenwood:
- North/South
- week of April 27
- East/West
- week of May 4
Loring Park:
- East/West (week of May 4)
- Oak Grove, 14th, 15th, 16th
- North/South (week of May 11)
- Clifton, Groveland, Dell, Willow, Spruce, LaSalle, Nicollet, 1st Ave
Lowry Hill:
- East/West (week of May 4)
- North/South
- Bryant, Colfax, Dupont, Emerson, Fremont, Logan, Morgan
- (week of April 27)
- Girard, Humboldt, Irving, James, Knox
- (week of May 11)
- Bryant, Colfax, Dupont, Emerson, Fremont, Logan, Morgan
Stevens Square:
- Pleasant Ave (week of April 27)
- Remainder (week of May 11)
- http://www.minneapolismn.gov/publicworks/streetsweeping/
City Has Begun Taking Applications for Gap Funding Applications for Renters
The City of Minneapolis began taking applications April 22 for the City’s $3 million in Gap Funds for Housing for renters. The online application opened at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, and will close at noon on Monday, April 27.
Apply online or call:
- Applicants can apply online or call the Tenant Resource Center at 612-302-3180. Callers will need to leave a voicemail message. An intake worker will return the voicemail message within three days.
- The Gap Funds for Housing will establish an Emergency Housing Assistance program for citywide emergency rental assistance and open the successful, existing Stable Homes Stable Schools initiative to all Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) elementary schools.
- The amount of assistance provided will depend on the individual needs of the household, taking into consideration other resources the household is eligible to receive. In most cases, the maximum amount of assistance will not exceed $1,500 per household, but providers will have the flexibility to provide up to $2,000 under extraordinary circumstances. Eligible expenses include rent payments, utility payments and/or other housing stability related costs.
- Payments will be made directly to the rental property owner, utility company or the housing cost payee.
- The City has worked with the Tenant Resource Center to establish a broad team of Community Prevention Providers to facilitate the Emergency Housing Assistance program.
- Learn more about Minneapolis Gap Funds for Housing.
Donations for Gap Funding
The City is open to accepting donations from private individuals or entities for the Gap Funds for Housing and the forgivable 0% interest loans for Small Business Program. Donors could direct their donations to be expended in a manner consistent with the program guidelines but would not have any additional control over how the donation is allocated. Please contact the City if you are interested in donating.
Minneapolis Property Owners Can Buy Trees for $25.00 (Through May 1)
- This year Minneapolis offers twice as many low cost trees for property owners to plant on their private property (not to be planted on boulevards)
- 22 Varieties available (including large species, flowering and several kinds of fruit trees)
- Comparable trees cost $125 at a nursery
- Trees are available on a first-come, first served basis for residents, businesses and nonprofits (limit one tree per address)
- Trees must be picked up May 16, 17 or 18 at the Minneapolis Impound Lot
- ORDER THROUGH: https://mpls-tree-sale.myshopify.com/
City Extends Comment Period for the draft Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan
- The new deadline is May 22, 2020
- Check out the program or comment at: http://go.minneapolismn.gov/
- This 10 year action plan will guide future planning, design and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways they get around
- Staff will hold its first online open house on the Transportation Action Plan
- Monday, April 13 (4:30-5:30 pm)
City Extends Comment Period for Neighborhoods 2020
- The new deadline is July 15, 2020
- Check out the program information at: www.minneapolismn.gov/neighborhoods2020
- You can submit comments:
- Email: neighborhoods2020@minneapolismn.gov
- Phone: 612-673-3737
- Mail: Neighborhood and Community Relations; 105 Fifth Ave South; Suite 425, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Situational Update as of 12pm, April 22
There are over 2.6 million confirmed cases worldwide. There have been over 180,000 deaths globally. CDC has issued a global Level 3 Travel Warning and a recommendation that anyone returning from international travel self-quarantine for 14 days.
There are 830,789 confirmed cases in the US with new cases being updated rapidly. The US is now the country with the highest number of cases and deaths by a significant margin. A total of 45,153 deaths have been reported in the US.
There are 2,721 cases in Minnesota out of approximately 49,344 tested (combined MDH Lab + Private Numbers). There have been 179 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 1,073 cases and 113 deaths in Hennepin County.
There are 281 cases in the City of Minneapolis and 35 deaths. The City is sharing Minneapolis specific daily case counts through a public facing dashboard at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
Congregate living facilities in Minneapolis continue to see new cases and represent about one-third of confirmed cases.
MDH is using strict testing criteria to focus on the highest priority specimens, including hospitalized patients. Health care workers and those in congregate living settings such as long-term care and correctional facilities continue to be given high priority.
Resources
- City of Minneapolis: http://minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/index.htm
- Impacts to Services: How Coronavirus is impacting City Services.
- http://www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/WCMSP-223375
- NOTE: This link has links to dozens of city departments and services
- FAQS on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- FAQS for Businesses
- Contact the Minneapolis Small Business Team:
- 612-673-2499 (BIZZ) or SmallBusiness@minneapolismn.gov.
- Community Support
- Housing
- Resources in multiple languages
- Minnesota Department of Health
- Center for Disease Control
- State of Minnesota Dedicated COVID-19 Hotlines:
- Community (schools, child care, business) questions
- 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504 (7:00 am – 7:00 pm)
- Health questions
- 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903 (7:00 am – 7:00 pm)
- Community (schools, child care, business) questions
