February 5 Ward 7 Update from Council Member Lisa Goodman

DID Launches 2021 Safety Plan

The plan provides wrap around support for downtown Minneapolis                               

The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District today announced a new partnership with Hennepin County to add a social worker as part of the DID Livability Team’s ongoing work. The position will help more effectively address a range of mental health and chemical dependency issues throughout downtown.

This new partnership aligns with the full unveiling of the DID’s 2021 safety plan—a robust, five-tiered approach made possible by $3.5 million worth of investments from downtown property owners focusing on overall safety measures, activity, and collaboration.

The DID safety plan will bring members of the public, private, and non-profit sectors together throughout the year providing a variety of resources that, together, build a cohesively vibrant downtown experience. The plan has begun rolling out and all tactics are expected to be deployed prior to this summer.

“We strongly believe it takes full collaboration to build confidence in downtown’s safety, and that includes community outreach, law enforcement, communication with our downtown stakeholders and street level activations,” said Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District. “This plan is thorough, brings a great deal of expertise together and is a unified effort in providing public safety to our downtown community.”

The plans five focus areas include:

1. Communications and collaborations
2. Security presence and response
3. Livability outreach and street engagement
4. Advocacy for a safer downtown
5. Activation, vibrancy, and crime prevention

Outreach and security presence are cornerstones of this safety plan. The security presence and response plan includes DID Ambassadors, dedicated downtown patrol, added Joint Beats presence, and more.

In addition to the new Hennepin County social worker, the plan includes street outreach engagement through the DID Livability Team, YouthLink, Youth Coordinating Board, St. Stephen’s, Office of Violence Prevention Outreach Interrupters and MAD DADS.

To further enhance communication, the plan will include the DID Safety Communications Center at the First Precinct coordinating with a network of law enforcement, outreach teams and private security. RadioLink, security meetings, downtown safety workshops and more will be part of the communications plan.

Vibrant streets make safe streets, so activations are part of the safety plan. This year’s activation plans, subject to public health guidelines throughout the year, include the Nicollet Farmers Market, Nicollet Maker Market, street show music performances, Street Eats incubator food cart program, MN Fringe Beyond the Box performances, MNSpin, and more.

For more information, visit www.MplsDID.com or follow @MplsDID on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District

The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID) is a business funded non-profit focused on creating a more vibrant downtown. DID leads and collaborates on programs that make downtown safer, cleaner, and greener. DID convenes people across sectors and jurisdictions to work on issues of mutual interest; develop innovative solutions to complex public space challenges/opportunities including strategic activation and seeks continuous improvement of ongoing programs including the ambassadors. For more information, visit www.MplsDID.com

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Hennepin County Shelter Availability

In preparation for the upcoming weather, there have been additional shelter beds added for single adults this week. Almost all emergency shelter is currently accessible 24 hours a day and all shelters have made accommodations to be CDC compliant. We encourage anyone that is currently sleeping outside to contact the Adult Shelter Connect to access shelter. We understand there is hesitation, for many reasons, but it is critical over these next few days to get out of the cold and this is the best way to do that.

To access emergency shelter, please call the Adult Shelter Connect at 612-248-2350 from 10:00AM - 5:30PM Monday-Friday, or 1:00PM - 5:30PM on weekends and holidays.  More info here.

If you work with any families that are in need of shelter there is ample capacity. Call 612-348-9410 to speak to shelter representative.

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Ward 7 Spotlight

Small, family-owned businesses are the life-blood of Minneapolis. The smaller they are, the more important their history in our community. Gittelson Jewelers has been a downtown Minneapolis business serving consumers, MN athletes and musicians for over 35 years. In fact we just celebrated our 35th anniversary this last fall during COVID-19 and the aftermath of city-wide unrest. Needless to say, the results of our generational celebration were all but forgotten in the wake of our current environment. The skwyways are empty and these businesses are all but forgotten.

Gittelson Jewelers is in the Norhtstar Center building serving generations of clients and Minneapolis’s most interesting customers for now, almost 36 years. Please remember to support the smallest of our family-onwed businesses in downtown Minneapolis, specifically the hidden “Gems" in the Minneapolis Skyways. 

Gittelson Jewelers specializes in:

• Diamond engagement rings
• Custom made engagement rings and other fine jewelry
• Jewelry & watch repair
• Diamond earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more.

We’ll clean, check and inspect your jewelry for free while in our store. 

We’ll comp your parking in the Crowne Plaza ramp if you are purchasing with us. 

If you don’t want to come in the store, we’ll do virtual consultations and even deliver it to your doorstep if you’re within the Twin Cities metro locale. 

We are the longest standing jewelry store in the Minneapolis skyway system since 1985. 

For Valentine’s Day we have numerous sale items throughout our store. 

www.gittelsonjewelers.com

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COVID-19 Situation Update as of February 3, 2021

Situational updates: Minneapolis

• As of February 3, there are 31,699 cases in Minneapolis and 377 deaths. The total number of cases increased by 1.3% over the previous week. Hospitalizations increased by 1.3% and ICU admissions increased by less than 1%.
• Over the past week, there have been about 75 new cases per day on average. Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics are available at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• The new case rate in Minneapolis has decreased significantly, however we are still seeing at least 10 new cases per day, as well as averaging five hospitalizations, one ICU admission, and one death per day. It is important to continue taking precautions and take advantage of the available testing.
• The seven-day rolling average rate for Minneapolis is at 16.3 cases per 100,000. The rate continues to decrease, but the impact of the re-opening of bars and restaurants, as well as the return to school and sports, remains to be seen.
• The State is releasing $6.9 million in federal vaccination funding to local public health departments. MHD will receive $368,621 to spend by June 30. In addition, the Minneapolis Police Department received federal funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance for the COVID response and MHD will allocate $268,000 of it for COVID testing, case investigation, and contract tracing.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 12 regarding masks remains in effect. The regulation requires people to wear face masks in all indoor public places.

Situational updates: Minnesota

• As of February 2, there are 463,766 cases in Minnesota out of over 6.6 million tests completed. There have been 6,234 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 96,262 cases and 1,539 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The State uses a color-coded map to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases. As of January 26, Minnesota is reporting 18 cases per 100,000 and Minneapolis is at 16.3 cases per 100,000.
• The State continues to work with the CDC to conduct surveillance to determine how prevalent the newly identified strains of COVID-19 might be in Minnesota. As of today, 16 cases of the B.1.1.7 and two cases of the P.1 variant have been detected in Minnesota.
• MHD encourages everyone to sign up for the State’s COVIDaware MN exposure app. The app notifies you if you may have been exposed to COVID-19 by anyone else using the app. The app complements, but does not replace, case investigation and contact tracing.
• The 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.
• Governor Walz’s Emergency Order 21-01 is in effect. Details are available on the City’s Guidance for Restaurants, Bars and Breweries and Distilleries web page.

Have a COVID-safe Super Bowl

• Looking forward to the big game on Sunday? The safest way to cheer on your favorite team is to stay home and watch with people in your own household. Attending large gatherings increases your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.
• If you host or attend a party, there should be no more than two households total and a maximum of 10 people indoors. While you’re around others, it’s very important to stay physically distanced, wear a mask, and wash your hands.
• The CDC offers additional recommendations for COVID-safe celebrations on their website.

Health Department Incident Command updates

• The Health Department is offering multiple community testing and vaccination clinics every week during the month of February, with many more to come in the next few months. We need City staff to volunteer at these events. Thank you to those who have already signed up to help out! Anyone who is interested can fill out a brief survey. Staff who volunteer will receive training and personal protective equipment, including COVID vaccination for those volunteering at multiple events.

Case investigation/Contact tracing

• MHD staff are conducting case and contact follow-up for Minneapolis Public School (MPS) staff diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19, and providing recommendations to MPS on next steps.
• We continue to conduct follow-up on individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, as well as contact tracing at workplaces and with exposed individuals. Of the cases in Minneapolis, 65% have been interviewed and 2.3% have refused. Thirty-three percent of cases have been lost to follow-up and less than 1% of new Minneapolis cases still need to be interviewed.
• Twenty percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents have been conducted in a language other than English, representing over 15 different languages.
• We have 50 active case investigators, including two non-MHD enterprise staff and 17 AmeriCorps staff. With the decrease in cases, case investigators are interviewing an average of 60 cases per shift and making an average of 100 calls per shift, plus conducting workplace and other contact follow-up.
• Cases now have the option of completing the interview online. Cases receive a text and are able to choose one of four languages to complete the survey in. About 5% of Minneapolis cases have chosen to complete the interview online.

COVID-19 vaccination

• We continue to partner with Hennepin Healthcare to vaccinate Phase 1A priority groups in Minneapolis. This week, we are hosting 10 clinics and expect to vaccinate Metro Transit workers, older adults in assisted living facilities, school health workers, and unaffiliated health clinic staff. To date, we have given out over 2,000 vaccines.
• Hennepin County Human Services has been and will continue to vaccinate certain groups in Minneapolis where they have existing relationships (i.e. shelters, the unsheltered homeless, and board and lodging facilities).
• The State is opening a vaccination clinic at the Minneapolis Convention Center this Thursday, Saturday (February 4 – 6), with second doses being provided in March. They are expecting to vaccinate approximately 9,000 people at this site including 4,500 educators/childcare workers and 4,500 people over age 65. Other updates about the State’s vaccination distribution plans and progress can be found on their vaccination website.
• Vaccine demand continues to far outpace available doses at this time. While waiting to be vaccinated help stop the spread of the virus by continuing to wash your hands, stay 6ft apart, and wear a mask.
• We are hosting vaccine briefings for Enterprise Leaders every other Monday from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. The next briefing is scheduled for Monday, February 8. Past recordings can be found on the COVID Vaccination Channel.

Community Public Information and Outreach

• As a Health Department, we’re committed to providing timely, culturally appropriate, science-based information to help people make informed decisions about COVID-19 vaccination.
• We established agreements with five community partners (Insight, Centro, Somali Center Resettlement Services, MIGIZI and SEAD-Southeast Asian Diaspora) to serve as trusted messengers. These groups will help us ensure that critical COVID-19 information is reaching BIPOC communities using the most effective messages and channels.
• We are developing, translating and disseminating community friendly materials for trusted messengers to use when educating about COVID-19.
• We are offering community conversations about COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and ways to prevent the virus. Please use this form to request a conversation.
• A City vaccine webpage called “the hub” will be available in the next several weeks so that Minneapolis residents can find a vaccination site close to their home.
• Food, Lodging, and Pools inspectors along with NCR staff are distributing flyers to promote the COVID-19 testing events listed below.

COVID-19 Testing

In the past week, 209 COVID-19 saliva tests were provided at three community based events, a local business, and a coffee shop. Despite the vaccine roll-out, it is important to get tested. Please help us promote the following free saliva testing events:

• Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway, February 4 (2 p.m. to 7 p.m.) for MPS staff and community and offered with the Power of People Leadership Institute on February 13 and February 20 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for all community members.
• MN Chippewa Tribe Building, 1308 East Franklin Ave, February 16 (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.).
• Columbia Manor, 3300 Central Ave. N.E. on February 4, 11, 18, and 25 (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.).
• Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, 1301 10th Ave N., February 27 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
• Free saliva testing is also offered at three local sites hosted by the State health department. Visit the State’s COVID-19 testing web page to register and find more information.
• Minneapolis Convention Center - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
• Brooklyn Park Starlight Center - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
• Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport - 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
• The State is also offering free at-home saliva tests. Any person in Minnesota can order a saliva test kit from the COVID-19 Test at Home program. The test will be delivered to your home with rush shipping.
• The City's testing web page offers the latest information on testing sites and guidance about what to do while you wait for COVID-19 test results. Staying away from others while you wait for your results is extremely important, especially if you have any symptoms. The web page has short videos in multiple languages explaining how to quarantine and isolate effectively.

MHD distribution of saliva test kits:

• The Health Department is offering free saliva testing kits to community partners, organizations and businesses. After you request saliva testing kits, a staff member will contact you for more information. Virtual training on how to administer the tests is offered upon request.
• To date there have been 64 requests from businesses and community partners for 6,989 test kits.
• MHD may also offer testing to companies; testing was provided at the Broadway Equipment Company on February 2.

Responding to community needs

• We have a good stock of personal protective equipment on hand (masks, hand sanitizer, and gloves) and are able to fulfill community and business requests for supplies. These items may be requested through the COVID-19 Requests and Inquiries form.
• We are responding to 10-15 emails per day in our COVID19@minneapolismn.gov inbox. Most people are requesting information about COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Please continue using the COVID email for any questions about vaccines or other COVID-related issues.
• Last week, we distributed 7,660 hygiene items to unsheltered homeless persons through community partners. Items included wipes, toothbrushes and paste, deodorant, condoms, warm weather gear including gloves and boots, and 4,320 handwarmers.
• With CARES funding, we purchased equipment to support the weekly free food distribution at Corcoran Park (tables, chairs, tents, carts). We are working with other community food distribution sites to determine if and how we can share the equipment.

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