The Mill City Times Interview: Northeast Tea House Offers Haven from Daily Stress

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Northeast Tea House opened its doors on August 24 and the sense of Zen upon entering its doorway is palpable. We spoke to Simon Parish, founder and head tea master and David Parish, co-founder, about the inspiration for the tea house and plans for the future.

Q:  Congratulations on your new business! Please tell our readers about your tea house.

A:  Thank you! Northeast Tea House is our vision of a refuge from the anxieties and frenetic pace of modern life. We’ve put a lot of effort into creating a space that is extremely beautiful and calming, and most conducive to mindful engagement with friends and traditional tea culture. We provide customers with everything needed to engage in their own tea ceremonies, known as gongfu brewing – a meditative process of tea steeping and drinking that is very relaxing, and that gets much, much more tea from the tea leaves. This process, combined with the beauty of NTH, cannot help but create calm.

We also mill fresh matcha in-house. As far as we’ve been able to learn, we are only the second place to do so in the country. The difference in flavor and texture of freshly milled matcha is incomparable, and entirely unlike the matcha one can find in a store or even online.

In addition, we have a rotating menu of 35 or so seasonal teas, sweet and savory snacks, tea ware and, once it is safe to do so, events and classes.

Simon Parish 

Fresh-milled matcha

Q:  Can you tell us more about gonfu brewing?

A:  Gongfu is the traditional method of tea brewing that uses a higher leaf-to-water ratio and shorter brew times. Typically using a gaiwan, or lidded bowl, one brews their tea leaves for a short time, strains the tea and drinks it, then repeats the process multiple times with the same leaves. Each infusion yields slight differences in the flavor, and observing the changes in the tea lends to the naturally meditative quality of the process. The tea also tends to be much more flavorful, and one can get a lot of tea out of the same leaves.

Q:  What’s the inspiration for your shop?

A:  Culturally, we take a lot of inspiration from China and Japan – the cultures that grew up with tea and developed the calming methods of brewing it that we think are so effective. Personally, engaging with tea via these cultures has provided enormous benefit to my own mental health by giving me a reliable method for relaxation and appreciation of the present moment even during challenging times. My love for the intricacies of tea coupled with is meditative qualities inspired me to provide a space where other could benefit in the same way. Especially now, when anxiety is the norm, the role for a tea house such as ours seems even clearer.

Q:  Are you offering classes?

A:  We absolutely will once we can host larger events in a post-pandemic world. In the meantime, we are trying to find creative ways to provide tea education and experiences to customers, and are able to host smaller, distanced groups at our community table. Class topics will range from the simple enjoyment of the meditative process of gongfu, to tasting subtle variations in similar teas from different years, provinces, etc.

Q:  How might we follow your news?

A: We are fairly active on Instagram, and update our website regularly. One can also subscribe to our mailing list via our website, and keep up-to-date on the latest offerings, deals, and events. Finally, we have an in-store rewards program for frequent visitors and will be reaching out to that group with specials just for them! Come see us at 224 E Hennepin Avenue. We’re open from 10a-7p daily - please call with any questions, 612-321-8215.

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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. 

Third Avenue Bridge Construction Photos Taken September 16, 2020

Editors Note: In addition to documenting the progress of the Water Works project, Mill District resident Doug Verdier has also been photographing the Third Avenue Bridge rehab project.

Work on the Third Avenue Bridge continues with construction of a protective barrier around the base of one of the piers to enable restoration of the structure above and below the waterline.

Hundreds of large bags of what appears to be sand are lowered to the base of the pier where crushed rock previously had been placed to support heavy equipment. In this photo, five bags are being lowered by crane from a transport vehicle on the bridge to the area below. Once there, the smaller crane near the base of the pier picks up bags and puts them in place around the area that will be protected from the river during construction. White bags already in place can be seen starting the encirclement of the base of the pier.

A closer view of the bags being lowered from above, and the bags already in the river.

View from above showing the placement of bags around the upstream side of the pier near the Horseshoe Falls.

Another view from the bridge of the area below the Horseshoe Falls showing the progress in construction of the barrier that will ultimately encircle the base of the pier.

Mill City Times Ventures into Television - New TV Show Celebrates the Best of Minneapolis

Article by Becky Fillinger

Every autumn new television shows are offered up by networks and streaming services. Mill City Times is no outlier – we proudly present our new television venture, Milling About with Brianna Rose.

The show is locally produced and focuses on our community – you’ll find it on MCN6. MCN6 is cable channel 6 in the six-county Twin Cities metro area.

Brianna RoseAs Executive Producer, I wanted to showcase local talent and community news on a televised show for some time. Our metro area is so rich with entertainers, history, farmers markets, vibrant neighborhoods, restaurants, natural beauty – so many television-worthy topics jump out at me. I write about these themes weekly for Mill City Times, but it’s a dream come true to present them to you on television as well. MCN6’s tagline is Minnesota-Made Content in Support of Building Strong Diverse Community – our show fulfills their charter very well.

Host Brianna Rose explains, "Milling About with Brianna Rose is a show that aims to bring the best of Minneapolis - the businesses, the projects, the entertainers, the food, the people - into your home, giving you an up close look at what makes this city great."

Appearing on the jam-packed pilot episode are:

• Martha Archer, Executive Director of the Mill City Farmers Market and Mhonpaj Lee of Mhonpaj’s Garden.
• Ricci Milan, tap dancer with funk, soul and honesty
• Mark Andrew, President, Friends of the Falls
• Mike Binkley, Board Member of the North Loop Neighborhood Association
• Claudia Kittock, Board President of Be That Neighbor, and Neighbor of the Month, Jerry Croxdale
• Michael Rainville, Jr., whose articles on local history are published bi-weekly on Mill City Times

We think of the show as local must-see TV! The half-hour pilot episode will be televised four times in the coming two weeks: September 17 and 18 at 8:00 PM, and September 24 and 25 at 4:00 PM.

What topics would you like to see the show cover? Please email Becky at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com to suggest ideas or to be a guest on the show.

9/25/20 EDITOR'S UPDATE: The viewing schedule has been expanded to: Sept 28 and 29 5PM; Oct 1 and 2 8PM; Oct 5 and 6 5PM; Oct 8 and 9 8PM; Oct 12 and 13 5PM.

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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. 

Spectacular Moon Photos by Mill District Resident Ric Rosow

Thank you to Mill District resident, Ric Rosow, for sharing these photos and his facinating process for creating the images.

The above photograph is a composite of eight photographic images taken during the early morning of September 4th. There are seven separate images of the moon moving across the sky. The images were taken between 5:40 and 5:57 a.m. I zoomed in on the moon to the full extent my 70-300 lens allowed. The eighth image is the stadium taken at 6:03 a.m. I changed the camera's setting to reveal the stadium and zoomed out to taken in the full width of the building and part of downtown. I then combined the seven moon images into one image. It was not a process of copying and pasting the moon seven times into the image. Rather, the process involved combining seven independent images of the moon into one, which I call the "7-moons" image. After completing that I then blended the "7-moons" image with the image of the stadium. At the time these photographs were taken the moon was not as close to the stadium as it is in this composite photograph. The moon was higher in the sky approaching the stadium. I transformed the 7-moon image to make the moon smaller and then blended that into the sky directly above the stadium.

Above is a second composite of the moon setting over the US Bank Stadium on September 4th. The images that comprise this composite were taken after the 7-moons composite photo when the sky was becoming brighter and the moon lighter. In this photograph I chose images that overlapped each other to create the composite. In addition I applied a special effect to the stadium roof which made the letters on the roof glow as if it was a neon light.

First in a Series on Replacing the Minneapolis 2040 Plan with Alternative Ideas for Economic Growth

By Dennis Paulaha, PhD, Great River Coalition

Sometimes the truth is so obvious we overlook it.

And the truth about the Minneapolis 2040 Plan is that it was never about economic development.

It was about buses. It’s about trains, too, but it is mostly about buses.

They call it Transit Oriented Development.

It is based on the idea that a city (or Metropolitan area) developed around mass transit (and bike lanes) is better than a city based on roads and private automobiles.

And because Minneapolis, like every other city in the country (world), is a mixture of private automobiles, mass transit, bicycles, and sidewalks, it is easy, at least on paper, to make an honest, logical, fact-based argument that says if more people can be enticed into using mass transit, the economic benefits are likely to outweigh the costs, given the construction, maintenance, and environmental costs of highways, freeways, and private automobiles.

The question is: If the Transit Oriented Development people at the top (including the Metropolitan Council) want more people on buses and on light rail, where are the people going to come from?

Their answer is to eliminate single-family zoning and to encourage commercial development along bus and light rail lines.

By letting developers tear down single-family homes and replace them with three- to six-unit apartment buildings, they have more people. 

By letting developers build apartment buildings with more units on mass transit routes and within a block of mass transit routes, they have more people closer to transit routes. 

By not requiring developers to provide off-street parking, they make it more convenient for many people to walk to a bus stop than to a car parked a block or two away on the street. Also, as more and more people move into the new apartment buildings without off-street parking, cars will begin to fill up the streets, and many people will not want to drive to work for fear of not finding a somewhat convenient parking space when they return; others, as the planners seem to hope, may find it too difficult, expensive, and inconvenient to own a car at all.

What about the fact that up-zoning will lead to the gutting of North Minneapolis and force many black families out of the city or into homelessness? That’s good for the Transit Oriented Development idea, because every time a single-family house is replaced with a three- to six-unit apartment building, a family that may not use mass transit will move out and younger people who are more likely to use buses and light rail will move in.

What about the fact that up-zoning may lower single-family home values throughout the city and lead many middle- and upper-middle class people to move out of the city? That’s good too, for the Transient Oriented Development plan, because middle- and upper-middle class residents do not use mass transit, and the younger people who will replace them are more likely to do so.

In other words, neither the entire 2040 Plan required by the Metropolitan Council, nor the up-zoning policy in the Minneapolis 2040 Plan, was ever about trying to solve the affordable housing problem.

It was never about helping black communities.

It was never about helping other minority communities.

It was never about being environmentally responsible.

It was never about economic growth or development.

It was, from the beginning, a plan intended to intentionally, and unnecessarily, move tens-of-thousands of people into the city in ways that make it difficult to own cars so they will be pushed into using mass transit, especially city buses.

TWO BIG PROBLEMS

The proponents of Transit Oriented Development overlooked, or ignored, two big problems.

One, which they can be excused for overlooking, is that in a world preparing for ongoing pandemics, the economic benefits of mass transit and transit oriented development are likely to be overshadowed by the human and financial costs of having people crowded together in small spaces.

The other, which they have no excuse for ignoring, is that Transit Oriented Development for Minneapolis, which is at the core of the Minneapolis 2040 Plan, is based on two false premises or assumptions. One is that the City of Minneapolis is an autonomous economic, business, and social unit, which is not true for any city. The second is that the economic, financial, and social structure of the City of Minneapolis can be describes as some sort of wagon wheel, with downtown Minneapolis as the hub and all spokes (economic, financial, and social) connected to the hub, which is also not true of any city.

THE BEGINNING OF A BETTER PLAN

The truth is, no city, including Minneapolis, can be described as an island or as a wagon wheel, with people going back and forth from their homes to jobs in the city center.

Which means any plan to increase the economic, financial, and social wellbeing of a city must begin by throwing out the wagon wheel drawings and replacing them with reality.

Without seeing a sign, it is difficult to know when you cross the Minneapolis-St. Paul line during the ten to fifteen minute drive from one downtown to the other.

And with St. Paul to the East, there are great suburbs and small towns north, south, and west of Minneapolis. 

People who live in condos and apartments in downtown Minneapolis or in single-family homes, duplexes, apartments, and condos in single-family zoned neighborhoods throughout the city work in many different parts of Minneapolis, in St. Paul, in Minneapolis suburbs, in St. Paul suburbs, in small towns outside the suburbs, and in Wisconsin.

People who work in Minneapolis live in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minneapolis suburbs, St. Paul suburbs, small towns, and Wisconsin.

People who live in condos and apartments in downtown Minneapolis, or in single-family homes, duplexes, apartments, and condos in single-family zoned neighborhoods throughout the city and suburbs, take advantage of entertainment, restaurants, and bars throughout the the City of Minneapolis, including many located in suburbs and neighborhoods with single-family zoning.

The large department stores that, in the past, were the center of activity in downtown Minneapolis are gone, replaced by restaurants, bars, smaller retail, and entertainment.

The Mall of America, which is the largest retail space in the area, and which has more out-of-town visitors each year than Disneyland and Disneyworld combined, is in Bloomington, a suburb just minutes away by freeway from virtually anywhere in Minneapolis and most Minneapolis and St. Paul suburbs.

The stadiums for the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings are in downtown Minneapolis. So is the Minnesota Timberwolves arena. (Minnesota, not Minneapolis, because the fan base is not constrained by the city limits of Minneapolis, which is also the case for the Minnesota Wild whose arena is in St. Paul.) 

And office buildings that at one time would have been once clustered together in downtown Minneapolis are spreading into the suburbs.

All that is good for people who value a high quality of life. 

It is also good for business, because the quality of life in Minneapolis makes it easier for businesses to attract the best employees, whether they choose to live in condos or apartments in downtown Minneapolis or in single-family homes, duplexes, apartments, and condos in single-family zoned neighborhoods throughout the city and suburbs.

And it all exists today because of the protection afforded in the past by zoning laws and regulations.

Of course, like most cities in the world, Minneapolis has neighborhoods that have been in residential and commercial decline for years, a shortage of affordable housing, a recognition that it is necessary to do something about global warming, and the dishonor of having one of the worst records of racial disparity in the nation.

Good or bad, it is within that reality, where much of the city’s economic success can be credited to smart (meaning flexible) zoning laws and regulations that limited, but did not shut out, the ability of developers to buy and tear down single family homes and replace them with more expensive single-family homes, multi-family condos and apartment buildings, even commercial buildings, that any plan to improve the economy and the wellbeing of the people, and to address the affordable housing problem, the racial inequity problem, and the city’s impact on the natural environment, must begin.

Along with all that is a new variable that cannot be ignored, which is that any plans put together today cannot ignore the reality and uncertainty of living in a world that may face future pandemics. In fact, the above description of Minneapolis is a pre Covid-19 description.

September 11 7th Ward Update from Council Member Lisa Goodman

Announcing the 2020 Greening Lab Scavenger Hunt!

Greening Lab, a series of pilot projects that try to improve the survival rates of street trees downtown, is conducting a digital scavenger hunt this summer. The scavenger hunt begins at The Commons and ends at Loring Park, with 10 locations throughout downtown.

Use a cell phone and your knowledge of downtown sites to find the 10 tree tags in downtown Minneapolis between the Mississippi River and Hennepin-Lyndale Crossroads. Each tag will prompt you to text to learn about the street tree conditions at that particular site and provide the next clue.

The full Scavenger Hunt route is 1.8 miles and a perfect afternoon activity for kids and families. Find 4 or more clues and receive a FREE tree-lover prize!

Get started here... Clue #1: The Ginkgo Biloba is considered one of the oldest tree species in the world, and with a circumference of 10.5 feet, this Ginkgo is the oldest one downtown. Find it in East Town, in one of downtown's newest green spaces.

Need a hint? Text 'MAP1' to 612-913-4800 for a hint at its location. Share your progress on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. #GreeningLab

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City Hosting Online Open Houses for Hennepin Avenue South Reconstruction Project

The City of Minneapolis is holding two online open houses later this month to share updates, answer questions and solicit feedback about the reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue South between Douglas Avenue and West Lake Street.

The City plans to reconstruct this section of Hennepin Avenue starting in 2023. The reconstruction project provides an opportunity to redesign Hennepin Avenue to meet the needs of current and future users of the street. Project goals include improving the sidewalk and intersections for all users, evaluating bicycle network connectivity, providing space for enhanced transit stops for future bus-rapid transit (BRT) service, replacing aging infrastructure and maintaining and enhancing traffic flow for transit and motor vehicles.

Online open houses

Public Works will host two virtual open house meetings to present the project background, introduce potential design concepts and get public input on the project. The open houses will feature a presentation followed by a Q&A session.

• 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30

Find links to the open houses and more information about the project on the City’s website.

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September is National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. This year’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) theme is "Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today."

The City of Minneapolis encourages residents to set aside some time this month to use FEMA’s weekly themes and learn about ways to prepare for weather emergencies and other disasters that could occur at home and work and in their communities. Families preparing before an emergency with a focus on children’s understanding can help save lives and increase the community’s resilience.

FEMA’s weekly focuses in National Preparedness Month 2020: Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today

Week 1 Sept. 1-5: Make a plan

Week 2 Sept. 6-12: Build a kit

Week 3 Sept. 13-19: Prepare for disasters

Week 4 Sept. 20-26: Teach young people about preparedness

Find information on these weekly themes and more at Ready.gov/september.

Video

Watch and share FEMA’s preparedness videos.

App

Residents can prepare for a disaster today by downloading the FEMA app for real-time alerts from the National Weather Service, ways to share notifications with loved ones, emergency shelter information and more.

Find more information about emergency preparedness from the Minneapolis Office of Emergency Management.

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Minneapolis Census Response Reaches a Milestone, but We Still Need Everyone by September 30

Minneapolis has reached a milestone in its 2020 Census count by meeting the 2010 Census self-response rate of 72.8%. While we still have three weeks and 27.2% of our community yet to count, this is worth celebrating.

Meanwhile, hundreds of households in Minneapolis remain uncounted. This undercount could leave communities without resources and fair political representation for the next 10 years.

What can you do to help?

1. Complete the census.
2. Already completed the census? Encourage your friends, family and neighbors to do the same.
3. Share census information on social media. Post the link: my2020census.gov and tell your networks about the importance of getting counted.

The data that is obtained by the census allows the federal government to determine where to allocate resources for things like schools, parks, roads and much more. Our communities deserve the proper funding for resources that we rely on including programs and services like SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and Head Start.

If your household misses the opportunity to complete the census this year, the next opportunity to be included won’t occur until 2030, so don’t wait. Complete the census for you and for everyone in your household including all children and all relatives that live with you. Visit My2020census.gov or call 1-844-330-2020 and get counted before the Sept. 30 deadline.

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Neighborhoods 2020 Deadline Approaching: September 30

The public comment period for the Neighborhoods 2020 draft program guidelines on neighborhood programming and funding to support the City’s 70 neighborhood organizations in 2021 and beyond ends Sept. 30, 2020.

The equity and inclusion recommendations outlined in this document form the cornerstone of the City’s commitment to have an equitable neighborhood funding program for all of its residents.

The draft program guidelines follow the vision to preserve Minneapolis’ neighborhood organizations and create equitable communities in which all people are valued, communities are engaged and leadership mirrors the diversity of the city.

Ways to submit comments

• Email: Neighborhoods2020@minneapolismn.gov
• Phone: 612-673-3737
• Text messaging and voicemail: Español: 612-404-2978 Hmoob: 612-367-6548 Soomaaliga: 612-367-6729 English: 612-518-8743
• Mail: Neighborhood and Community Relations 105 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 425 Minneapolis, MN 55401

Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m., Sept. 30.

Next steps

The final guidelines and public comments will be presented to a City Council committee and then the City Council for a vote.

Neighborhoods 2020 is a plan for continuing to fund neighborhood organizations in Minneapolis when the existing funding source ends and a process to identify expectations for the work they do. These draft program guidelines are centered on building equity in our community. The City Council directed that staff work with a consultant to continue conversations with neighborhoods and the community on program guidelines and metrics for the Neighborhoods 2020 framework while continuing to ensure that racial equity remains at the core of the work.

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Public Comment Period Open for Zoning Code Updates to Reach Minneapolis 2040 Goals

The City has launched the 45-day comment period for the public to review draft “built form” regulations that will regulate the scale of new buildings and additions throughout Minneapolis. The regulations are critical to achieving the goals of Minneapolis 2040, the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which was approved by the City Council in 2018. The plan will shape how the city will grow and change over the next two decades so all residents can benefit. Under consideration now are technical aspects of Minneapolis 2040 implementation.

Minneapolis 2040 includes 14 Built Form Districts that will guide the development of new regulations, which will govern issues such as: building height, floor area ratio, lot sizes and setbacks from property lines. The new built form regulations will resolve some of the major conflicts between Minneapolis 2040 and the City’s current zoning regulations. They are also intended to make the scale more predictable for new buildings and additions in different areas in the city including neighborhoods, downtown, production and employment areas, and areas served by high-frequency transit. 

Minneapolis 2040 went into effect Jan. 1 following more than two years of community engagement. The plan guides growth and change with 14 key goals, including eliminating racial disparities, promoting climate change resiliency, and increasing access to jobs and housing.

Read more about how to comment on the draft regulations.

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Voters: Apply Now to Get Your Ballot for the General Election

Want to make sure your ballot will be returned on time to count for the general election on Nov. 3?

Apply now and get your ballot right when early voting opens. Ballots will be mailed out starting Sept. 18. This will ensure plenty of time to receive your ballot, vote and then return your ballot using the postage-paid envelope.

You can request your Absentee Ballot at:  www.mnvotes.org or you can call 1-877-600-VOTE (8683)

Learn more about how the City is working to ensure a safe election season during the pandemic.

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COVID-19 Situation Update as of September 9, 2020

Situational Updates: Minneapolis

• As of September 9, there are 9,597 cases in Minneapolis and 227 deaths. The City shares Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• Minneapolis has seen a decrease in COVID-19 cases from a high of 19 per100,000 people in early August to 13 per100,000 people in late August. In addition, there are now an average of approximately 60 new cases per day as opposed to 80 new cases per day. Current hospitalizations and ICU admissions have remained stable over the past week.
• We have created a dashboard for school administrators that shows the 14-day per 10,000 people COVID-19 rate for both Minneapolis overall and by race/ethnicity to help school personnel make decisions about virtual, in-person, or hybrid instruction. Additionally, MHD staff is assisting Minneapolis Public Schools with investigation and contact tracing for specific cases.
• Colleges and universities continue to prepare for the start of the fall semester by developing COVID-19 safety plans for housing, classroom instruction, and other on-campus experiences. The University of Minnesota created a four-step plan to gradually expand activities for students. The plan applies to students at some locations including the Twin Cities campus.
• 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.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17 regarding bars and restaurants remains in effect. The regulation closes bar areas in restaurants, nightclubs, and indoor spaces of entertainment. Food and beverages can be served tableside while patrons are seated, and patrons can approach the bar to order if they don’t congregate.

Situational Updates: Minnesota

• As of September 9, there are 81,868 cases in Minnesota out of over 1.6 million tests completed. There have been 1,869 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 24,433 cases and 895 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The MN Department of Health is using a color-coded map with multiple layers to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases in Minnesota. Both the State and Minneapolis are at 13 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.
• The MN Department of Health is convening Local Public Health Departments on a weekly basis to discuss COVID-19 vaccination plans once a viable vaccine becomes available.

Health Incident Command updates

As the Minneapolis 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

• In the past week, Health inspectors completed 80 food safety routine inspections with an emphasis on COVID-19 preparedness plans and the implementation of COVID-19 protocols. Health inspectors responded to five food COVID-19 complaints from 311 and to one business with reported COVID-19 positive employees and/or patrons.
• Environmental Health staff are working with the Police Department and Public Works Transportation to help neighborhoods prepare for National Night Out on September 15. Staff are providing COVID-19 guidance and hosting two Q&A sessions for block leaders to help ensure that residents can gather safely. Block leaders who submitted street closure permit requests for their events were sent information about how to obtain free face masks from the City and how to call in to the Q&A sessions.

Case investigations

• MHD is conducting over 50 case investigations and contact follow-ups per day for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, there are 26 investigators, including six non-MHD enterprise staff. Of the 9,597 cases in Minneapolis, 85.7% have been interviewed, 2.1% have refused, 10.6% have been lost to follow-up (LTF), and 1.5% are new cases that still need to be interviewed. There was a slight increase in the number of cases marked as LTF due to backlog reporting by some laboratories and clinical sites. Twenty-four percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents are in a language other than English.

Community testing

• 81 COVID-19 tests and 45 seasonal flu shots were provided to residents of the Little Earth housing complex in partnership with the Native American Community Clinic, Hennepin Healthcare and Hope Community on Friday, September 3.

Future testing events include:

• Shiloh Temple, in partnership with Northpoint, Hennepin Healthcare and Hope Community on September 11 and 12 (1201 W Broadway Avenue N), 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Flu shots will be available.
• Abubakar As-Sadique Islamic Center in partnership with Hennepin Healthcare on September 19 and 25 (2824 13th Avenue South), 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• MHD is collaborating with Hennepin County and the MN Department of Health to offer testing at Tawfiq Islamic Center (2900 Lyndale Ave. N.) on September 17.
• MHD is working with community clinics, MDH, and other partners to plan for sustained COVID-19 testing in indoor environments. For instance, free COVID tests will be offered at the Brian Coyle Center (420 15th Ave. S) every Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. starting on September 11. The People’s Center Clinics and Services is sponsoring this testing. Find more information on the Brian Coyle Center website.

Encampments

• Residents at the newly reoccupied 75 tent Hiawatha encampment now have access to porta potties, handwashing stations, COVID-19 signage, and large sharps containers provided by MHD. Southside Harm Reduction Services provides smaller sharps containers and naloxone via MHD. Public Works is supplying 10 garbage cans and waste collection services. The City is working with Hennepin County and the MN Department of Transportation on this encampment.
• The health needs at additional encampment sites including those at parks and Kmart are routinely monitored.

Personal Protective Equipment

• MHD continues to respond to requests for masks and other personal protective equipment. In the past week, staff distributed 1,100 masks and 190 bottles of hand sanitizer to neighborhood organizations, people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, COVID-19 testing sites, and hospice/in-home health care service providers.

• Staff also distributed 1,000 masks to the Police Department for National Night Out events scheduled for September 15.

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

Hennepin History Museum Reopens

The Hennepin History Museum (HHM) reopened last Thursday after being temporarily closed for the past several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this action, the museum is extending two current exhibits through the end of the year:

- Votes for Women, the compelling story of the women In Hennepin County who fought for - and against - their right to vote through ratification of the 19th amendment.

- American's Finest Theatre: The Terrace, the beloved movie theater and mid-century architectural showcase in Robbinsdale, MN and the fight to save it from the wrecking ball and preserve its legacy.

NEW DAYS/HOURS OF OPERATION AND TICKETING

The museum has new days and hours of operation beginning September 10:

• Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"We are thrilled to welcome people back to the museum, with new hours that are better tailored to the preferences of our members and the general public," said HHM Executive Director John Crippen. "We are also excited about new exhibits now in development for next year, but it was an easy decision to extend the fun of our current exhibits given the important stories they tell and the number of people who feared they would miss them," Crippen also noted.

HHM has instituted an on-line admission ticket system to assure safe social distancing in its Exhibit Galleries through limited numbers of sales each hour. Purchase tickets in advance by going to hennepinhistory.org and clicking "Tickets" on the home page.

Due to extra safety protocols in the Research Library, appointments are required. Use this link for appointments: https://hennepinhistory.org/research/

Masks are required for everyone visiting, including children ages six and up.

VISITOR INFORMATION:

Hennepin History Museum, 2303 Third South, Minneapolis, is on MTC's #11 High Frequency Route. Free

parking at the museum and on Third Avenue. Bike racks available. Visiting requires the use of stairs.

Masks required for everyone visiting, ages six and up. Go to hennepinhistory.org

Help Clean Up Your Street During Litter Be Gone, October 1-10

Editor's Note: This information was taken from the Litter Be Gone website.

Residents of Minneapolis are invited to take part in Litter Be Gone, an annual litter cleanup event happening October 1–10, 2020. Volunteers will pick up litter from their neighborhood streets and sidewalks before it becomes covered by leaves and snow, and prevent it from ending up in storm drains and waterways.

Volunteers can join in this citywide effort while staying safe and socially distanced. Litter Be Gone encourages individuals, families, and small groups of neighbors to clean up their own blocks anytime during this 10-day event.

It’s easy to participate. Volunteers need only a pair of gloves and some plastic bags for collecting littered trash and recyclables. Volunteers can use their own supplies or pick up free gloves and bags at a Litter Be Gone supply hub on Saturday, October 3, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A limited number of litter grabbers and free drink coupons from local sponsors will also be available at the supply hubs. Visit www.LitterBeGone.org/supply-hubs for locations and details.

See the community-wide impact. Volunteers are asked to share their results (the number of volunteers, bags, and blocks cleaned) at LitterBeGone.org. Volunteers can also post photos and videos of their litter cleanups on social media to inspire others. Use the tags @LitterBeGoneMN #cleanMpls.

Help promote Litter Be Gone and earn a free Chinook Book app subscription. Block leaders, neighborhood organizations, local businesses, and other groups can help promote Litter Be Gone to their neighbors and earn a free Chinook Book app subscription. Email litterbegonempls@gmail.com for details.

For more information, visit www.LitterBeGone.org and follow @LitterBeGoneMN on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Litter Be Gone is coordinated by the Alliance for Sustainability in partnership with the City of Minneapolis and its Clean City program. Additional citywide support comes from Xcel Energy, Chinook Book, Adopt-a-Drain, Wings Financial Credit Union, and AlphaGraphics.

MacPhail Announces New Electronic Music Recording Arts (EMRA) Program

Via a September 8 e-announcement form MacPhail Center for Music:

Full range of instruction in multitrack recording and electronic music production – enrollment now open!

MacPhail Center for Music today announces the official launch of our Electronic Music Recording Arts (EMRA) program.  The program is led by MacPhail teaching artist Michael Cain, who has held significant teaching positions at Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory and Brandon University in Canada. Joined by mixing and mastering engineer and beat maker Isaac Rohr and singer-songwriter and DJ Krysta Rayford (aka K.Raydio), EMRA offers a wide range of instruction including multitrack recording, electronic music production, mixing, mastering, beat making, DJing, remixing, sound design, Hip Hop production, mobile music making and electroacoustic composition. 

Students will learn every aspect of recording and electronic music production including how to use industry standard software such as Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Logic Pro and FL Studios. A state-of-the-art studio is currently under construction at MacPhail’s downtown Minneapolis location, and classes can be enjoyed in the meantime through virtual Live Online learning, which MacPhail has been an industry leader in for the past ten years. 

EMRA’s Fall Semester offerings include: 

• Electronic Music Production: Basic to advanced techniques in electronic music production, including working with digital audio, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), multi tracking and sequencing as well as beat making, DJing and remixing.  

• Sound Design/Synthesis: Fundamentals of synthesis and sound creation using digital and analogue electronic instruments, effects and VST plugins.    

• Digital Audio Recording: Fundamentals of digital audio recording, covering topics such as sound acoustics, using microphones, signal flow, mixing, and mastering. 

• Electroacoustic Composition: Students learn the technologies and practices for creating electroacoustic compositions. Topics covered will address software such as MAX MSP and Chuck for creating electronic musical compositions in the genre of 20th century classical music. 

“Electronic music studios and programs are more than just vehicles for creating and teaching electronic music, they become a hub and center for the entire musical community to collaborate, experiment, and learn together. They really are community resources and, therefore, support and contribute to all kinds of musical activities in a variety of genres,” said Michael Cain, director, EMRA. “The opportunity to develop this program with the dream team that is Isaac Rohr and Krysta “K. Raydio” Rayford, two of the most talented people I know, will make EMRA one of the most unique, forward leaning, and comprehensive electronic music programs out there.” 

Registration for one-on-one lessons with EMRA are now open. EMRA lessons are in accordance with MacPhail’s detailed Fall Semester Plan to promote safe music learning and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Full details on the plan as well as Frequently Asked Questions can be found at https://www.macphail.org/coronavirus/ 

MacPhail Center for Music is committed to transforming lives and strengthening communities through music learning experiences that inspire. Each year, MacPhail offers programming to 16,000 students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, at locations in Minneapolis, White Bear Lake, Chanhassen, Apple Valley and Austin, as well as 104 community partnerships across the Twin Cities. An industry leader in online music education, MacPhail’s Live Online and Online School Partnerships programs have reached students for the past ten years. MacPhail has a 113-year history of excellence, promoting life-long learning and building long-term relationships between students and teachers. For more information, visit macphail.org 

It’s Harvest Time!

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Last week brought the last full moon of summer, called the Corn Moon by the Algonquin people. Lakota Sioux call it the "moon when the plums are scarlet." We’re in the season of harvesting – whether corn, plums, barley, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc. It’s also time to forage for some delicious fruits and vegetables in our urban and rural areas. We asked some of our favorite foragers about what they’re gathering now.

Bob Rice harvesting wild riceBob Rice of Pow Wow Grounds is harvesting wild rice (known as manoomin in the Ojibwe language) for use in the shop’s muffins and wild rice soup. He’s been foraging wild rice for 45 years - it is hand harvested and processed using homemade machinery. 

Tom Foerster, volunteer park steward, foraged this weekend on the East Bank for black walnuts, acorns, crabapples and wild grapes.

He will make flour from the acorn harvest, after leaching tannins from the nuts. The gluten free flour makes a nutritious and delicious bread or pasta. I even saw a recipe for Acorn Brittle – yes please!

Black walnuts and acorns

Wild grapes and crabapples

Tim Clemens, of Ironwood Foraging Company, recently foraged for the last of summer mushrooms, the first of fall mushrooms and wild rice.  He was lucky to find Chanterelles, Cornflower Boletes and a mix of Leccinum/Suillus species of mushrooms. Curious about foraging but would like to start with a master? Tim conducts many workshops – check it out.

Wild rice harvested by Tim Clemens 

Chanterelles

What are you harvesting? Let us know!

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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: Carlos Palacios, Owner, Café Palmira

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided by Café Palmira 

How does your morning coffee make its way from grower to your cup? We talked to Carlos Palacios, Owner of Café Palmira about his direct farm to market model.

Q:  Your company, Café Palmira is a Minneapolis-based business that imports high-quality Arabica coffee beans direct from your family farm in Guatemala. Tell us about the notion of selling directly from your farm.

A:  It started when I moved to Minnesota with my family 15 years ago. I was looking for a way to bring our coffee here so that Twin Cities’ customers could taste a really good coffee. It took me years to find the perfect way to do it. I wanted the coffee to taste as fresh as when we drink it in Guatemala. I was able to locate great local roasters, so I started the business in 2008. 

Find Carlos Palacios, Owner of Café Palmira, Saturdays thru October at the Mill City Farmers Market in front of the Guthrie Theater.

Q:  Tell us about shade-grown coffee.

A:  Our Arabica beans have grown under a canopy of trees, which is much better for the environment than other farming methods. The trees create a protective barrier to attract birds and other wildlife which keeps insects away from the plants. For that reason, we do not need to use pesticides. Our farm is at an elevation of 1,800 to 2,000 meters (about 5,900 to 6,500 feet), and that makes the perfect weather for growing coffee.

Q:  Has the farm acreage grown since you began operations?

A:  Yes, but that is a roller coaster experience with ups and downs. We suffered a coffee rust not long ago – the fungus decimated our plants and we had to start all over again. 

Q:  Has the success of your business inspired other Guatemalan farmers to sell directly to markets?

A:  Yes, but it is difficult because although they are inspired, it is takes years to find markets outside of the country. A loyal clientele takes time to develop.   

Q:  Please tell us your immigration story.

A:  My wife, Katie Anfinson, was a Peace Corps worker in Guatemala. We dated for a few years, got married and then moved to the U.S. – first to Massachusetts and then to Minnesota. We started bringing the coffee in our luggage to allow people an opportunity to try it. Roasting the beans in Minnesota gives the freshest coffee taste. We began selling my family’s coffee directly to coffee shops, co-ops and individual customers “to eliminate the middle man.” 

Q:  Is there a time when you will take visitors to your farm to help with the harvest? I imagine this as a form of eco-volunteerism/learning experience.

A:  I always think about bringing people to the farm. My family has been growing beans for decades at the northwestern side of Guatemala, in a region called Huehuetenango. It is in a beautiful place up in a mountain but it is really far from the city with difficult access. It is located right at the border of Mexico and takes about eight hours travel time from Guatemala City to get there.

Q:  Is it important to you to give back to the community?

A:  It is always important for me to give back. I have a community in the Twin Cities and in Guatemala. My community in Guatemala lives on the farm and does all the labor. I am protective of my workers. I alone do the job of bringing the beans to Minnesota. I don’t have a middle man involved in the process so I can pay better wages to my workers.

Q:  Has COVID-19 impacted your operations?

A:  Yes, of course. We are managing the situation the best we can, especially doing more door to door deliveries. Roasters have not purchased the same amount of green beans from us since so many coffee shops have closed or reduced their hours of operation. 

Q:  How can we stay in touch with you?

A:  We sell our coffee, medium and dark roast, at the Mill City Farmers Market, St. Paul Farmers Market, Kingfield Farmers Market and the Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market. We will also deliver to your door.  Please follow us on Facebook and call or email us with questions or to order at 651-285-3884 and cafepalmira@yahoo.com.

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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. 

All Along the Watchtower

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Fourteen thousand years ago, sand, gravel and boulders were deposited near the banks of the Mississippi River amongst the otherwise flat plains. As St. Anthony Falls eroded upstream, its surrounding landscape stayed the same. Today, we call one of these clusters of knolls “Tower Hill,” one of the most scenic sites in Minneapolis.

Tower under construction, 1912When the small towns of St. Paul, St. Anthony and Minneapolis were still in their infancy, not too many people ventured far from the town centers. With the addition of University Avenue, a more straightforward connection between the towns was established. However, unless you were wealthy enough to own a horse, development between the towns was few and far between. One of these rare developments was a wooden tower at the highest point of a four-acre plot of land in what is now the Prospect Park Neighborhood. The man who owned it allowed visitors to climb to the top and enjoy the spectacular views of the riverfront for ten cents a person. Because of this wooden tower, people started calling the area Tower Hill.

The land was first platted in 1883, but since the area was very rural and thick with trees, not everyone was up to the task of settling the area. The first permanent residents were mainly dairy farmers whose cows could be seen roaming the steep hills. With its close proximity to the University of Minnesota, the next group of people who settled the area were very learned and quite opinionated. The residents saw the potential of the area, but with major railroad lines a short distance away, they were worried that industry would intrude upon their neighborhood.

The completed "Witch's Hat" water tower in 1915In 1901, Jacob Hofsted, Harry Benton and Charles Ramsdell created the Prospect Park Improvement Association (PPIA) to "defend the areas with its hills and trees, its nearness to the restless Mississippi and its view of the Minneapolis skyline from the encroachment of industry." With the threat of Tower Hill turning into a gravel pit, the PPIA called for the city to create a park on that plot of land. It took five years of constant pressure from the PPIA for the Minneapolis Park Board to unanimously decide to buy the plot for $19,500, or over $560,000 after inflation, a testament to the value the residents created for their neighborhood.

On January 18th, 1908, St. Anthony Heights Park was officially open, and it took another sixteen months and many petitions from the neighborhood to rename the park “Tower Hill Park.” From the get-go, the Park Board decided to keep the park as natural as it can be. Upon the only level ground within the park, a tennis court was installed, and the steep, gravel cliffs were smoothed out to create a sightlier experience. Superintendent Theodore Wirth suggested that an observation tower between fifty and sixty feet should be built on the summit of the hill with multiple paths to lead up to it. He got his wish in 1913 when the City of Minneapolis waterworks department decided to build a water tower in the park.

Sitting 971 feet above sea level, the water tower was completed in 1914 and features a spacious belvedere and steep, conical roof. The unique design of the water tower lead to its colloquial name, “the Witch’s Hat.” The Minneapolis City Council foresaw the popularity of the Witch’s Hat water tower and requested that the park have a caretaker present five days a week which would allow park visitors to climb the tower and enjoy the views.

Street car on the Franklin Avenue Bridge with the Tower in the background, circa 1923.

Photo from the winter of 1962.

Other than repairs to the tower after a lightning strike in 1955, the park received no improvements for sixty-five years. In 1979, work was done to protect to steep park from further erosion, and in 1995, improvements were made that contributed to the park receiving an award from The Committee on Urban Environment. In 1997, the park was put on the National Register of Historic Places as “Prospect Park Water Tower and Tower Hill Park,” and in the midst of the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, stingless wasps were introduced to the park in 2011. In recent times, the Witch’s Hat water tower is open to the public only twice a year, during the Friday after Memorial Day and during the city-wide event Doors Open Minneapolis.

To add to the already legendary status the tower has garnered in Minneapolis, there is a local rumor that it served as inspiration for Bob Dylan’s famous tune All Along the Watchtower, as he had a view of the tower from his home in Dinkytown. In my opinion, that checks out. 

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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.

August 2020 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

Letter to the Editor: An Upper Harbor Terminal Housing Plan

By Dennis Paulaha, PhD, Great River Coalition

Although I am an economist, I would like to offer a somewhat personal plan for the Upper Harbor Terminal land owned by the city—48 acres of land in North Minneapolis with one mile of frontage on the Mississippi River.

Minneapolis, like every other city in the country, has an affordable housing problem and a racial inequity problem.

Both problems could be alleviated, although not eliminated, by building low cost single-family homes. 

The problem is, the private sector is not going to, or, more accurately, cannot provide low-cost new single-family housing. There are a number of reasons, all of which are valid, as to why that can’t happen. One of the most important is that a major expense when building any house is the cost of the land.

For example, the Minneapolis 2040 Plan is based on the idea that private developers can tear down single-family homes they pay $500,000 and more to purchase, and replace them with affordable rental units, not single-family homes, not even condos.

But because renters cannot accumulate home equity, a long-term solution to affordable housing and racial inequity should consider plans that allow families to build wealth with ownership.

And that is where the Upper Harbor Terminal land offers a unique opportunity to the city of Minneapolis.

I lived in North Minneapolis until I was 10. Then we moved to Robbinsdale, into a small cape, and my father turned the attic into a third bedroom. It was a small development that covered only two square blocks and it was a mixture of two-bedroom capes and three-bedroom ramblers. I lived there until I left for college. My parents lived out their lives in that house.

At the time, the houses in Edina were bigger, but nothing close to today’s new houses, whether they are in a suburb or rebuilds in the city of Minneapolis.

There are, however, no houses like the one I grew up in being built anywhere in the country. There are people building and selling what are called tiny houses, which are not much larger than camping trailers. But builders cannot afford, because of land costs, to build two bedroom capes and three bedroom ramblers.

And that is where the Upper Harbor Terminal land comes in.

The city owns the land, so the city could allow the property to be used to create a modern day (but smaller) version of older Minneapolis neighborhoods or suburbs.

Architects might be willing to donate time to re-create modern-day versions of homes that were built in Minneapolis neighborhoods from the 1920s through the 1940s and in suburbs all across America in the 1950s.

The City of Minneapolis could maintain ownership of the land.

And the houses could be sold to people based on an income limitation, which could exclude people who can afford more expensive homes.

I believe some discussions took place during the Minneapolis 2040 Plan debates regarding small houses, but Heather Worthington from the Minneapolis Planning Department was quoted as saying such ideas would be an admission of failure by the city.

I do not think small single-family houses should be considered a failure.

The real failure is a solution that ignores ownership.

Of course, the number of small single-family homes that can be built on 48 acres is much smaller than the number of living units that can be built in condo towers.

But condo units are not always a best choice for families with children, and there are already a huge number of towers being built or approved in the city—expensive condo towers downtown and in the suburbs, and rental units throughout the city, especially in Uptown and Northeast.

Years ago, small single-family homes were called starter homes, the idea being that young families could buy a small home and as they accumulated equity and their incomes increased, they would have the financial ability to move up to something bigger and better.

That is what has been lost in the city and it is what is missing from city plans.

And because renting does not provide the financial base that can be used by families to move up in the world, as well as to finance their children’s education, the loss of starter homes has significant economic. impacts, especially when identifying the most important causes of racial inequities in the city.

Again, 48 acres of small single-family homes will not eliminate the affordable housing problem or the racial inequity problem, but it could be a step in the right direction. It could be a model showing how various chunks of land throughout the city can be used to improve the lives of people and the economy of the city.

Sustaining Support for Small Businesses

Article by Becky Fillinger

August was #NationalBlackBusinessMonth. Mill City Times recognized a series of black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in Facebook postings. Before we say goodbye to the month-long recognition campaign, let’s recap the entrepreneurs and businesses for our newsletter readers. All of the establishments are worth a visit - virtually and in person. 

Wendy Puckett, Owner, Wendy’s House of SOUL. A menu to feed your soul!

Tish Watson, Owner, weRow – Indoor Fitness Rowing. Shake up your routine!

Kate Hertzog, Owner, House of Talents - Connecting talented artisans in developing countries to consumers worldwide.

Nicole Jennings, Owner, Queen Anna House of Fashion - Stylish, original designs and curated collections.

The Allen Family, Owners, El Norte Kitchen - Pop-up kitchen offering the best of Southwestern style comfort food.

Sammy McDowell, Owner, Sammy’s Avenue Eatery Great food and generous host of a Ghost Kitchen for black-owned restaurants.

The Minneapolis Forward: Community Now Coalition, organized by Mayor Frey, is deploying strategies that prioritize BIPOC/minority-owned businesses. Many of these businesses were struggling before the pandemic and were further harmed after the unrest following George Floyd’s death. Meet Minneapolis partnered with Carmichael Lynch to launch the #WeNeedUs! campaign. We Need Us is Phase Three of their recovery plan for small local businesses. Their strategy is to encourage support of local businesses by our local community as they determine the appropriate time to resume normal regional, national and international sales and marketing initiatives.

Billboard photos: Carmichael Lynch

We can all help out by supporting the places we love so they’ll be there for us tomorrow. Put together your own list of favorite small businesses. Share the list with us at Mill City Times and with your friends. Wear a mask and visit in person, grab some takeout or buy a gift card. Friends, we can do this!

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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. 

Local Music Legend J.D. Steele Joins the Board of Be That Neighbor

Article by Becky Fillinger

Local nonprofit, Be That Neighbor, welcomes a new board member – J.D. Steele! J.D. is the director of the MacPhail Community Youth Choir and teaches in the school’s Partnerships Program. He is also a member of the highly acclaimed vocal group, The Steeles.

J.D. Steele and Claudia Kittock

Claudia Kittock, Board President, has a long association with J.D. “J.D. Steele and I met when our charity hired him to direct the Mill City Singers. We have worked together for almost 5 years and all of it has been a joy. J.D. is that rare human who is able to combine amazing artistry with genuine humanity. He is what he appears to be - a wonderful singer, gifted director, and fabulous friend. When the board discussed adding another board member, J.D. was the perfect choice. He brings enormous creativity and a lifelong belief in our mission of being the type of neighbor you would want to have. We are honored to have him join our work. He makes us so much stronger.”

J.D. notes, “It is great to be part of an organization like Be That Neighbor – one that is grass-rooted in change. I look forward to expanding our presence and having an impact on the Twin Cities.”

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. 

Letter to the Editor: There Is No Market-Based Solution to The Affordable Housing Problem

Dennis Paulaha, PhD, Great River Coalition

When we talk about affordable housing, and the affordable housing problem, we have to be careful.

If we look at single-family houses, we can say every single-family home in Minneapolis is affordable to someone. Not everyone can afford to buy and maintain a $10 million house with $70,000 a year property taxes, but someone can. In fact, more than one person or family can afford to buy that house, although not every one of them will choose that particular house over some other alternative.

The same is true for every single-family home in Minneapolis; regardless of its price, each is affordable to someone.

Of course, the other truth that matters is, not everyone can afford to buy a single-family house in Minneapolis.

In other words, we know there are thousands of individuals and families in Minneapolis, or who would like to move to Minneapolis, who cannot afford to buy any single-family house in the city.

The question is: Should we worry about individuals and families who cannot afford to buy a single-family house but can afford to pay market rents?

Some, especially city officials, say, no. They say, as long as individuals and families can afford to pay market rents, there is no problem. In fact, the belief that renting is in some way equivalent to owning is at the core of the Minneapolis 2040 Plan, a plan that assumes being able to rent an apartment is as good as being able to buy a single-family house, a plan that, because of that belief, intends to replace single-family homes, each of which is affordable to someone, with rental units, a plan that intends to force thousands of families into being renters for life, which, as the studies show, is the single-most important factor in creating the downward spiral that has kept blacks and other minorities poorer than whites.

Which means a plan that gives thousands of families no choice but to be renters for life by eliminating thousands of single-family homes is a plan to intentionally push thousands of families, black and white, into long term poverty by eliminating the opportunity for them to accumulate equity through ownership.

As such, to an economist, it is a solution to a problem that is not only unconscionable, but by destroying the wealth of the city and forcing middle-income families to move to suburbs or to other cities, is also bad for the economy of the city.

Very simply, ownership matters, and finding ways to increase ownership should be a major part of any responsible city plan.

THE REAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM

The affordable housing problems all cities should be focused on must address three groups of people. People who have jobs but cannot afford to purchase single-family homes, people who have jobs but cannot afford to pay market rents, and the homeless.

And none of them will be helped with plans that, either implicitly or explicitly, are based on the idea that if not everyone can afford to buy a single-family home, single-family homes should be torn down and replaced with little apartment buildings.

That’s a little extreme sounding, but it’s pretty much what the Minneapolis 2040 plan is doing. It is based on the idea, or fact, that not everyone can afford to buy a house in Minneapolis, which, of course, is true, not only in Minneapolis, but in every other city in America and the world. But that is not a reason to push for the tearing down of single-family homes, each one of which is affordable to someone, and each of which can build wealth through equity for an owner, and replace them with rental units in which renters cannot accumulate equity.

Most important is the fact that “market solutions” to the affordable housing problem for people who cannot afford to either purchase a home or pay market rents are non-solutions, or, at best, false solutions that will help a small number of individuals and families.

A better way to look at affordable housing is to begin by protecting single-family homes and to then focus on increasing incomes that are not high enough to afford either purchasing single-family homes or to pay market rents.

That is where the real problem lies.

And it is a problem that will be made worse, not better, by city plans based on the assumption that the private sector can solve a problem it cannot possibly solve.

In a February 16, 2020 article by Natalie Hall in MplsStPaul Magazine, a quote by Rep. Illhan Omar makes the homeless problem clear. “On a single night, over 10,000 people in Minnesota were homeless last year – the highest number ever recorded. 6,000 of them were youth – which means children are showing up at school without a place to go home to.”

The article also pointed out that all public housing units in Minneapolis are already occupied, and when the city created a waiting list, 17,000 people signed up in six days, many of whom will have to wait ten years for an opening.

It is easy to find articles describing the horror of homelessness.

It is even easier to find articles describing and lauding the huge number of apartment towers being built in Minneapolis, whether it is in Uptown, the “hot” Northeast, or the newly “hot” Southeast. And.although some promise token “affordable” units, most units are far from affordable to those earning less than 30 percent of the city’s median wage.

Which, to an economist, means the $1 trillion Homes for All Act introduced by Rep. Omar and discussed in the MplsStPaul article is, whether or not it passes, a recognition that the nationwide affordable housing problem requires solutions that include direct actions by federal, state, and city governments.

Third Avenue Bridge and Water Works Park Progress Photos from Doug Verdier

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project. He has also been documenting the Third Avenue Bridge rehab project.

Lots of activity to watch this past week along the riverfront. Third Avenue Bridge repair activities included work on the bridge piers, which extend into the river below and support the foundation of the bridge. On the West side of the river, landscape workers continued planting shrubs and trees throughout the new park, and irrigation installation continued. 

Tons of crushed rock were poured through yellow tubes into the area near the base of one of the piers to be used in forming a platform around the pier. This photo was taken at the beginning of the operation. Later, rock was poured by front loaders over the edge of the bridge. Once sufficient rock was in place, it could be spread around the pier base.

Machinery was lowered by crane onto the area where the crushed rock was poured to spread the rock around the base of the pier to create a work area for subsequent repair to the base of the pier.

A closer view of one of the machines used to spread the rock. A worker in front of the machine gives perspective to the size of the pier and the work area created by spreading the crushed rock.

On an adjacent bridge span, workers use a barge to position a machine to remove damaged concrete facing of the pier base. This section of the bridge is accessible by barge.

A closer look at the barge supporting the machinery used to remove the outer layer of concrete from the pier base.

Rebar can be seen on this pier base where outer concrete has already been removed.

Back at Water Works Park, the South Plaza area now has white pine trees and other plantings in place. Irrigation lines were previously imbedded beneath the surface area to ensure watering. The area is then mulched.

More plantings being done near the Bank of America City Steps along First Street.

During excavation of the former buildings on site, these artifacts of the mills that once operated at the location were saved for possible future display yet to be determined.

August 28 Ward 7 News from Council Member Lisa Goodman

For the past few weeks, I have been able to see the city of Minneapolis through the eyes of an old friend and coworker who was here visiting family and friends. He was here as a result of being one of millions of people laid off from a job he loved, due to the COVID pandemic. He was so proud of how far the city has come in so many ways since he left town. I got to see an “outsider” perspective of the resiliency of Minneapolis attempting to recover from civil unrest and to do better by varied communities of color that make our city the wonderful place it is.

We had the good fortune of touring an historic building being saved after a fire and made into affordable housing. We walked around east downtown where he used to live, and he was so happy to see the new Finnegan’s Brewery and all the mixed income development in a neighborhood that had almost no development when he left. We looked at some of the many boards created by artists in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder and felt hopeful that real change, systemic change, was around the corner and something we could do with public safety transformation here in Minneapolis and that it would start the nation on the path to real change in law enforcement.

Wednesday night, his last night in town, we witnessed a very different picture. A murder and suicide happened downtown, and two people lost their lives. That in and of itself is a tragedy, but what happened next was a travesty - violence, rioting and opportunistic looting - these are not acceptable responses to anger and trauma. It must be said that the level of distrust between law enforcement and many members of our community partially led to this situation as did being cooped up by COVID, unemployment, homelessness and uncertainty in these times we live in. The fact that this all began through misinformation being put out on social media is completely irresponsible, both by those who put out the message and by those that chose to react with abject destruction of property. 

What we have all witnessed occurring in our downtown and to our beloved neighborhood businesses is exactly the reason I believe we need a fully funded, well trained and transformed public safety system. We need a system that can respond to 911 calls, many of which are in and of themselves violent, and to conduct investigations so those who commit serious crime are found, tried and punished fairly but most importantly we need a public safety system that is proactive and engaged in the community. We need foot patrols that walk a beat, know neighbors by name, stop by businesses to listen to concerns and address them in advance of violence. We need intervention and redirection by community partners like MAD DAD’s, a Mother’s Love and YouthLink to communicate with people before violence happens and we need to partner with others who can best respond to traffic issues, mental illness calls and other concerns that might not need an armed law enforcement response. We need more public safety, not less. I have always believed that public safety is the most important public service element cities are responsible for and if we are not all safe, if we don’t all feel safe, than we have nothing.

I know no one wishes to hear this but I need to be honest: prior to this week, I had already heard from many small and large business owners, their employees and residents are seriously contemplating whether they wanted to live, work and own businesses in our city. Downtown businesses employ more than 175,000 people, many of whom also live in the city and want to be there because they can easily bike, walk or use transit to get to their jobs. My fear is that this is exactly the sort of unrest that will tip the scales. It isn’t only that businesses don’t want to invest in our downtown or Uptown but that there is a broader belief that downtown, in particular, isn’t safe. This affects all aspects of what our city has to offer and ultimately it hurts everyone.

Downtown Minneapolis is the economic hub of the state of Minnesota. We have a thriving theater district, a historic warehouse district along with restaurants and sporting venues, small businesses and big ones, hotels and event locations that will all suffer, if jobs cease to exist or move out of the city. Our neighborhood commercial and cultural corridors like 38th and Chicago, Lake Street and the incredible American Indian corridor of Franklin Avenue have suffered as a result of violence that has spun out of control as we hope they will have the resiliency to come back.

There is no excuse for people looting stores and setting businesses on fire. This does not honor the memory of George Floyd or any of the dozens of black and brown people who have been killed by law enforcement this year. Systemic racism is the challenge of our generation and our children's generation. We must step up and call out racism and work to cure it. We can do this, we must do this, and we can’t allow violence, arson and looting to be the path we are on to cure this public health crisis.

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Summary of Damage Assessment and Outreach

Below are some summary points of business support activities and below that a copy of the communication we sent to businesses. 

1. Following the Mayor’s emergency declaration, City staff were out immediately this morning to assess the damages.  This canvas identified damages to 61 properties throughout the city. We are also receiving data from our partners at the DID, Warehouse District, though 311 and 911, and other community organizations of damages that we will cross reference with our data in the coming days.
2. We will provide details on these properties and locations when we confirm the cross reference. 
3. City staff has reached out to the businesses who sustained fires, Britt’s, Walgreen’s, Tire’s Plus, and China Wok, to offer support and assistance. We plan to connect with all affected properties in the coming days.
4. We continue to work with our partners downtown and in the neighborhoods to provide supports and sent messaging out to businesses and community organizations this afternoon with tips and information around supports.
5. The City has technical resources available to affected businesses through our Business Technical Assistance program.  Please connect with the Small Business Team at 612-673-2499.

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Mayor Frey and Chief Arradondo Overhaul Policy on Police Using Force

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced an overhaul of the Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) use of force policy. The new policy requires that officers use the lowest level of force needed to safely engage a subject and that officers first consider all reasonable alternatives before using deadly force. The changes also prohibit behavior that incites or escalates a situation.

Frey and Arradondo are also advancing a ban on shooting at moving vehicles and effecting a fundamental shift in department policy by replacing long-held standards for what is “legally allowable” with overarching principles and best practices to oversee use of force.

Some of the changes were made possible by new latitude afforded by the recent Minnesota Police Accountability Act, including the restrictions on deadly force. 

Read more and watch the announcement here.

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City Council Expands Revised Structure to Five Modified Committees

The City Council continues to update its committees and schedule to respond to changing needs during the local public health emergency. Beginning the week of Sept. 7, the two-week City Council cycles will consist of five standing committee meetings and the regular meeting of the full City Council. The standing committees are:

• Budget Committee.
• Business, Inspections, Housing & Zoning Committee.
• Policy & Government Oversight Committee.
• Public Health & Safety Committee.
• Transportation & Public Works Committee.

The full City Council will continue to meet at 9:30 a.m. every other Friday.

This is the latest change in the City’s policy-making process since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dates and times of upcoming meetings are available on the City’s website at lims.minneapolismn.gov.

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Census Deadline Approaching Fast – Get Counted

Have you completed the census yet? The deadline to get counted in the 2020 census is Sept. 30, and Minneapolis still has several neighborhoods that are severely undercounted. 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.

In 2010, the City of Minneapolis had a census response rate of 72.8%.

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.

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Highlights of Recovery Efforts Helping Business Community

As these unprecedented times test our resilience, staff across the City are working on strategic resources to begin the long path toward recovery. Since the start of the pandemic, the City’s economic development team has helped our business community start to recover through expertise, funding and adapting processes.

Overall, the City’s economic development team has connected with more than 2,000 businesses, provided more than 3,000 hours of direct customer assistance directly or through service contracts, changed licensing and regulatory processes to save businesses $1.4 million, and helped business access more than $3 billion in funding since the start of the pandemic.

Some highlights of our work:

Expertise

• The Small Business Team has fielded 650 calls since the beginning of April to connect businesses to resources. The team has reached out to cultural malls and damaged commercial areas and done research as part of establishing the Small Business Administration’s disaster declaration.
• Increased resources to community-based partners and modified program guidelines provided technical assistance supporting 645 businesses. The service helped navigate employee issues, triage outstanding expenses, negotiate payments with creditors and apply for relief funds.
• Our partners helped food establishments adapt their business models with online ordering and delivery, online sale of gift certificates, etc.
• The City committed a total of $500,000 to 10 community-based business organizations in pandemic specific funding.

Funding

• Made 173 loans totaling $1.55 million to businesses in targeted areas to increase equitable results. Around 70% of loan recipients identified as non-white with borrowers identifying as Black/African American as the largest overall recipient group at 42% of total loans.

• The program provided $5,000 or $10,000 loans of flexible funding to meet immediate working capital needs such as payroll and employee benefits, rent or mortgage payments, accounts payable and payments due to supply chain.
• Besides direct funds, our business teams helped businesses access funding from County, State and federal resources for a total (including the City funds) of almost 14,000 businesses receiving more than $3 billion.

• The City business assistance teams relaxed permit fees and fee collections, saving businesses a collective $1.4 million.

Improved processes

• The City streamlined reopening for 112 businesses expanding outdoors and reopening in early June by creating a guide; modifying processes and ordinances; and coordinating with the State of Minnesota, Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit.
• City staff rooted the opening plan in racial equity and identified those impacted most by having roundtables with restaurants, labor leaders and community-based groups; and completing a racial equity impact assessment to flag barriers to the business owners and needs of the workers.

See more ways the City is working to move recovery efforts forward.

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COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program Opens to Help with Housing Expenses

Minnesota’s COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program has opened to cover housing expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities, or other housing-related costs. This program will help keep folks in their homes and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners in communities across the state.

People in Minnesota interested in applying for assistance can call the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 211 Resource Helpline at 651-291-0211, 211unitedway.org or texting “MNRENT” or “MNHOME” to 898-211. The 211 Helpline has dedicated multilingual staff to answer questions about the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

For questions regarding the application process, check the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program frequently asked questions.

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Expanded Bus, Light Rail Train Service Coming in September

Upcoming schedule changes will serve riders with more options and space when traveling on buses and trains. The changes taking effect Saturday, Sept. 12, will mean that many local bus routes, the METRO A Line and the METRO C Line will have about as much service as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. The METRO Blue Line and METRO Green Line will offer 10-minute service throughout most of the day. Because of a significant drop in demand, around 50 express bus routes will remain suspended and the Northstar Commuter Rail Line will continue to operate on a limited, weekday-only schedule. In July, ridership on local bus routes and the METRO A Line and METRO C Line was down about 50% compared to the same month last year. Light rail train ridership was down about 75%. Increases in local bus and light rail train service will help riders keep a safe distance on buses and trains as more people return to transit.

Learn more about the changes.

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Voters: Apply Now to Get Your Ballot for the General Election

Want to make sure your ballot will be returned on time to count for the general election on Nov. 3?

Apply now and get your ballot right when early voting opens. Ballots will be mailed out starting Sept. 18. This will ensure plenty of time to receive your ballot, vote and then return your ballot using the postage-paid envelope.

Apply on the Minnesota Secretary of State's website. 

Learn more about how the City is working to ensure a safe election season during the pandemic.

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City Leaders Continue Conversations with Community about Future of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue

The City is committed to supporting and investing in racial justice and healing in the area of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue. City leaders have met with community leaders who have authored a racial justice resolution outlining a series of demands for the City to consider before barricades would be removed from the intersection.

While City staff and elected officials have had conversations with community about a potential phased reopening plan for 38th Street the week of Aug. 17, those plans are on hold to allow for continued discussions with community members.

City leaders and staff have been actively engaging with community members since late May following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in the custody of Minneapolis Police. They have attended daily meetings on the street and held several town halls. The City has heard numerous perspectives about this intersection, both short- and long-term desires and needs. City officials including Mayor Jacob Frey, Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins and Council Member Alondra Cano met for two hours with justice resolution authors to discuss demands.

To provide safe access for visitors to the intersection, the City placed barricades to through traffic, while also ensuring access for emergencies and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Since May, the barricades have remained in place. Moving toward a phased reopening is necessary to improve community access, mitigate neighborhood and business impacts, and support public safety. The City has expressed the need for a phased reopening to community members and organizers.

Conversations between City and the community are continuing with a commitment to work together toward longer term investments in racial justice, in addition to numerous efforts currently underway: 

• The City Council recently passed a resolution declaring racism a public health emergency and has committed to a series of action steps to dedicate more resources to racial equity work.
• The revised 2020 City budget includes $100,000 to support initial community engagement in the co-creation of a vision for a permanent memorial for Floyd. It also includes $150,000 for the Creative City Making program to hire a diverse team of artists and healers to create, implement, and lead community engagement processes to guide the City’s community healing and rebuild with racial equity efforts for areas most impacted by civil unrest.
• The City Council adopted an ordinance establishing 38th Street as one of seven cultural districts in Minneapolis. As outlined in Minneapolis 2040, the City’s comprehensive plan, the goal of cultural districts is to advance racial equity, prevent displacement, preserve cultural identity and fuel economic growth in areas with a rich sense of cultural and/or linguistic identity rooted in communities significantly populated by people of color, Indigenous people and/or immigrants. The ordinance allows the City to prioritize deploying resources to these areas.
• A recommendation to rename Chicago Avenue between 37th Street East and 39th Street East to honor Floyd is also moving through the City approval process.
• The City will accelerate funding to reconstruct the street and intersection to build the community vision in conjunction with the Metro D-Line bus-rapid transit project.

The City Council’s Policy & Government Oversight Committee heard a staff report Aug. 20 on the status of the intersection and future work.

Find updates on the City website.

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COVID-19 Situation Update as of August 26, 2020

Situational updates: Minneapolis

• There are 8,768 cases in Minneapolis and 218 deaths. The City shares Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• Minneapolis has seen a decrease in the seven-day rolling average of new cases from 19.2 cases to 15.5 cases per 100,000 between August 1 and August 19. This decrease coincides with the implementation of both Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17 for bars and restaurants and Governor Walz’s Executive Order for statewide mask use.
• Colleges and universities are preparing for the start of the fall semester by developing COVID-19 safety plans for housing, classroom instruction, and other on-campus experiences. The state health department recommends they balance the need to return students to in-person instruction with the importance of reducing transmission opportunities. The University of Minnesota decided to delay the opening of dormitories and the start of in-person undergraduate classes by at least two weeks at its Twin Cities campus.
• 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.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17 regarding bars and restaurants remains in effect. The regulation closes bar areas in restaurants, nightclubs, and indoor spaces of entertainment. Food and beverages can be served tableside while patrons are seated and patrons can approach the bar to order as long as they don’t congregate.

Situational updates: Minnesota

• There are 71,236 cases in Minnesota out of over 1.4 million tests completed. There have been 1,793 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 22,044 cases and 873 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The Health Department is using a color-coded map with multiple layers to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases in Minnesota. The State is at 11.1 cases per 100,000 and Minneapolis is at 15.5 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 Minneapolis 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:

• Health inspectors continue to assist with permitting and inspecting larger public events that will serve food. Health inspectors ensure events are following the governor’s executive orders, including having an approved COVID-19 Preparedness Plan and meeting food safety standards. Attorney General Ellison’s office has asked to be notified of large events as they are enforcing the Governor’s executive orders. On Sunday, August 23, health inspectors provided 1,000 masks to the Black Entrepreneur State Fair organizers to distribute to event goers.
• Health inspectors are normalizing COVID-19 education and review of Preparedness Plans into routine inspections.

Case investigations:

• MHD is conducting over 50 case investigations and contact follow-ups per day for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, there are 26 investigators, including six non-MHD enterprise staff. Of the 8,768 cases in Minneapolis, 85.3% have been interviewed, 2.1% have refused, 9.3% have been lost to follow-up, and 3.3% are new cases that still need to be interviewed. Twenty-eight percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents are in a language other than English.

Communications:

• MHD is working with City Communications to amplify the #MaskUpMpls media campaign to encourage mask wearing, especially among young adults. New campaign materials featuring Minnesota Lynx player, Napheesa Collier, will launch later this week. The media campaign will include a promotional video, social media, and donated billboard space. Magnets and branded Lynx and Timberwolves masks will be distributed at a youth-focused community event in partnership with Man Up Club in North Minneapolis on August 29. City Communications will send out a media advisory to bring awareness to the campaign.
• MHD and Communications staff are working with the state health department to develop messaging to promote flu vaccinations among BIPOC communities and other at-risk groups. This season, getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever as it will not only protect against seasonal flu, but it will also help preserve scarce medical resources for health care providers and COVID-19 patients.

Community testing:

• MHD continues to work with community partners and clinics to host free COVID-19 testing events. So far this week, more than 650 people were tested at two events focused on low-income families and BIPOC communities.
• A pilot program to give free flu shots was held at a COVID-19 testing event on August 25. One third of the participants elected to receive a flu shot.
• The next testing event is planned for Friday, August 28 from noon to 7:00p.m. at New Salem Baptist Church (2507 Bryant Ave. N). While this event is focused on the north Minneapolis community, all are welcome. The testing is free for everyone. Online pre-registration is available, but not required. Flu shots will not be offered at this event.
• Testing events are promoted in a variety of ways including through cultural radio programs, social media, the City's COVID-19FAQ webpage, news webpage, twice weekly e-newsletters, and through City Council constituent newsletters.

Food security:

• MHD and NCR continue to co-host a weekly free food distribution event at Powderhorn Park (Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2p.m.) for 400-700 households, primarily serving the Latinx community.
• City staff are working to support pop-up food distribution sites and other community organizations as they address equity, accessibility, and other systemic barriers to food security and distribution. City staff are identifying potential operating options and regulatory frameworks for pop-ups that want to continue operating long-term. Pop-ups have varying organizational partners, structures, resources, and strategies. Each will need to consider what options work best for them and the community they are serving. The City is committed to working with pop-ups to ensure they can continue to provide low-barrier food support to their communities.

Encampments:

• This week, MHD staff placed hygiene stations and trash receptacles at two encampments located on City-owned land: one behind the former Kmart site on Lake Street and another at 9^thAvenue and 13^th Street. Staff will continue to monitor health and safety needs at these sites and other encampments across the city.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• MHD continues to respond to requests for masks and other supplies. In the past week, staffdistributed4,645masks and 110bottlesof hand sanitizer to neighborhood organizations, small business owners, faith communities, and community-based organizations. Specific efforts included distributing masks at the Black Entrepreneur State Fair, the Powderhorn Park weekly free food distribution, and City-sponsored community testing events.

Schools:

• Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS)has outlined five phases for students returning to full-time classroom learning. MPS will start the school year under Phase 2: Distance Learning with Student Supports.
• Health Department School-Based Clinic staff will provide services by appointment, either in-person or through virtual consultations (telehealth care). Clinics are located within Edison, Henry, Longfellow, Roosevelt, South, Southwest, and Washburn High Schools.
• School based clinics provide health education, medical, and mental health services to students. Services include physicals, immunizations, treatment of illnesses, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, family planning care, prescriptions, nutrition services, mental health assessment and ongoing counseling.

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

MPRB Presents September Movies in the Parks - Drive-In Style!

Brought to you by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board!

Movies in the Parks - Drive-In Style!

A League of Their Own - Friday, September 4 at Bohemian Flats

Registration Opened Wednesday, August 26 at Noon
Click here to purchase tickets

Grease - Friday, September 11 at Bohemian Flats

Registration Opens Wednesday, September 2 at Noon
Click here to purchase tickets

Top Gun - Friday, September 18 at Bohemian Flats

Registration Opens Wednesday, September 9 at Noon
Click here to purchase tickets

Space Jam - Friday, September 25 at Bohemian Flats

Registration Opens Wednesday, September 16 at Noon
Click here to purchase tickets