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Meandering Through Time - Letter to the Editor - The Week Ahead - Local Spotlight - In Case You Missed It - Puzzle of the Week - Downtown Living & Community Partners
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MILLING ON MINNEHAHA
By Michael Rainville, Jr.
Minnehaha Creek has been an important fixture in Minneapolis and the western suburbs for over 150 years. Ever since the first settlers came to the area when Fort Snelling was established in 1819, people have been drawn to it. The first person to capitalize on the power of the creek was our friend from my last article, The Oldest House in the City, Ard Godfrey.
During the mid-1800’s, Minnehaha Creek and Falls would have been well known throughout the tourism world. It was very popular to take a steamboat from St. Louis up to St. Paul and explore the creek and lakes of Minneapolis. Thousands of people made that journey every year, including many photographers and artists. This lead to the creation of many paintings and stereoscopic view cards of the falls, which spread throughout the country. The popularity of the art and view cards eventually led to Minneapolis and Minnehaha Creek being called a must-see vacation destination.
Read the full story on Mill City Times… |
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THIS DAY IN MINNESOTA HISTORY
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| 2011: The Minnesota Lynx win their first WNBA Championship, beating the Atlanta Dream in three games. This is the first championship won by a professional sports team in Minnesota since 1991. |
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| Meandering Through Time is a collaboration with the Hennepin History Museum |
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: CITY BALLOT QUESTIONS 1 AND 2
By David Evinger
Dear Residents of Minneapolis,
This is about City Ballot Questions 1 and 2 that we will vote on between now and early November. City Ballot Question 1 is intended to establish the Mayor as the Chief Executive Officer and the 13 City Council Members as a Legislative type branch. This is how most major cities operate. This is how the State and Federal Government operate. If we really want to reduce gridlock and get things done, vote “Yes” on City Ballot Question 1. Nothing is ever smooth in politics, but this change is better than what we have now.
City Ballot Question 2 is intended to defund and disband the Minneapolis Police Department in favor of a Department of Public Safety involving a Public Health approach. The specifics of this approach are not known and are to be determined by the next 13 City Council members plus the Mayor, all of whom may be different people after November. Whatever this new Public Safety/Public Health collection of departments becomes, it will operate under the direction of 14 currently unknown people. This is a formula for chaos. Vote “No” on City Ballot Question 2.
Based on recent polls discussed in the Star Tribune, and information provided in a recent Urban League Program (10/1/2021), 70% to 75% of Minneapolis residents plan to vote “No” on Question 2. But those promoting Question 2 are bright, articulate, and active. They apparently have raised in excess of $30 million (in mostly outside money) to promote their goals. We can expect a deluge of propaganda about Question 2 over the next several weeks. I have no special insight, or behind the scenes information, into what is right or wrong about Question 2. But I can read and I am aware of current circumstances in our special City. I know, like we all do, that the horrific and public murder of George Floyd is why Question 2 is on the ballot. The resulting anger and frustration is understandable. But Question 2 is not the best way to correct the wrongs.
I have had an office in downtown Minneapolis since 1979. This is in Ward 3 with CM Steve Fletcher on the City Council. My wife and I started together downtown and then moved to the suburbs. After becoming empty nesters we moved back downtown into the Loring Park Neighborhood. We chose this area because of its history and beautiful diversity. We also believed that we could make a positive contribution to this community. We have been in Loring Park for three years, but for the past year and a half it seems that we bit off more than we can chew. The challenges are far greater than we anticipated. Loring Park is in Ward 7 with CM Lisa Goodman on the City Council.
Crime across Minneapolis has gone through the roof in the past year and a half. The staggering reduction in Police Officers is directly related to increased crime. The thugs know full well that ordinary people can be abused, beaten, and intimidated—murdered with total disregard. Property rights do not exist. There is little chance of getting caught, and an even smaller chance of suffering consequences. Question 2 is not at all designed to reduce crime. During a recent Urban League Program (10/1/2021), Sondra Samuels pointed out that over 80% of the recent homicides involve Black on Black. Over 30 Black babies have been shot, and many have died. Most of this is happening in our Black communities, but other communities are not immune. A recent Star Tribune article (9/8/2021) states that gunfire in the Loring Park Neighborhood has increased 400%. Some special stores and small businesses have been burglarized six times since January. Samuels passionately states that focusing on disbanding and defunding the police is one dimensional. We need to improve the Police Department and we need to improve and provide better services. Samuels described it as a BOTH/AND approach. She urges a “No” vote on Question 2.
The actual words used in Question 2 are available for all of us to read. The words are curious, grandiose, and just plain unclear. In Question 2 the Police Department is replaced with a “Department of Public Safety that employs a comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions by the Department of Public Safety, with those specific functions to be determined by the Mayor and City Council.” What in heaven’s name is a “comprehensive public health approach”? I personally like Obamacare, but is this part of a new national health plan? It sounds wonderful (grandiose), but what does it mean? And what is meant by “delivery of functions”? How does a department of people actually deliver a function. Curious! Unclear!!. The Question 2 verbiage refers to “specific functions”, but does not say one word about what the specifics are. This, I would say, is deceptive. There is an article from July 2021 where Kandace Montgomery and Misty Noor (two important people behind Question 2) talk about the Departments that will replace the Minneapolis Police Department. They say that they have been “Freedom-Dreaming” for more than a year about what these Departments might be. No specifics. No plan. They say that they want “to expand mental health crisis assistance, to generate resources for healers, elders, clergy and community leaders”, but give no specifics. What is the plan behind Question 2? What is the budget for the plan? How can we have a community discussion about these things, let alone vote on Question 2, without this clarifying information.
Other language in Question 2 is apparently confusing even to those who support it. This particular language says that the new Department of Public Safety “could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety”. The “if necessary” language is the most troublesome and confusing. CM Steve Fletcher from Ward 3 and Mayoral candidate Sheila Nuzhad say out loud that a yes vote on Question 2 will allow them to abolish the police. At the recent Urban League Program, D.A. Bullock of Reclaim the Block said that the “if necessary” language does not allow the abolishment of the police. In a recent Star Tribune article (9/26/2021), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison acknowledges the concerns about the “if necessary” language. But Ellison says that police clearly are necessary and that “we still need armed officers to respond appropriately to dangerous situations.” These inconsistencies between proponents of Question 2 establish the confusing nature of the language. Voters will be confused. To avoid the confusion the “if necessary” language should be removed. None of the proponents of Question 2 agree to remove the “if necessary” language. At least nine City Council Members stood in a Minneapolis Park several months ago and promised to work to abolish the Minneapolis police. Question 2 is a recipe for chaos.
Question 2 on the Minneapolis City Ballot, and the “Abolish and Defund” the police rhetoric used around the country, pander to both the very far right and the very far left. Each side uses this to stir up their base. Residents of Minneapolis, we need to be smarter and work to improve our situation. Going to extremes is almost never the correct approach. Vote “No” on City Ballot Question 2.
Sincerely,
David Evinger |
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OPENING TOMORROW: WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME
Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the U.S. In this hilarious, hopeful and achingly human new play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives. Nominated for two Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize finalist, Schreck’s boundary-breaking show breathes new life into our Constitution and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans. The Guthrie is proud to be the first stop on the national tour of this timely and galvanizing work.
View complete details online… |
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CANOPY AND OUT OF THE BOX OPERA PRESENT “HELLO ITALY!“
Out of the Box Opera will present HELLO ITALY, the third in its series of unique interactive entertainments at the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District Hotel, 708 Third Street S, on October 14, 15 and 16 (shows at 6:00p, 7:00p and 8:00p). The three-night stand will include an immersive opera experience featuring Italian classics presented by Out of the Box and a specially curated Italian menu from Umbra.
Out of the Box Artistic Director David Lefkowich says: “Italian opera is the heart and soul of what opera is all about. It features big emotions – love, loss, jealousy, and hate – all expressed through rich, evocative music. You don’t need subtitles to know what is going on in the classic operas. Just listen to the singing and it is all right there.” The show will feature pieces from the great composers – Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Rossini – and great shows – La Traviata, La Boheme, Lucia and Barber of Seville. Lefkowich adds: “The music in this show is what puts the “grand” in “grand opera.”
Read the full story, ticket info, on Mill City Times… |
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The city is coming back to life, fast! Dozens of things to do this week in Downtown & the Central Riverfront neighborhoods. |
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OWÁMNI FALLING WATER FESTIVAL / 3RD AVENUE BRIDGE EVENTS ALONG THE RIVERFRONT
By Doug Verdier
On October 9th we visted both the 3rd Avenue Bridge project display on Main Street near the East side of the bridge, and the Owamni Falling Waters Festival at Father Hennepin Bluff Park and Water Works Park. There was a lot going on all afternoon at all three locations!
On the Father Hennepin side, the Owamni Falling Waters Festival featured Native American music performed in the band shell, dance exhibitions, a large variety of craft booths and food as well as games. We stayed for a drum circle performance by Native drummers in the band shell and watched a really active game that looked like lacrosse next to that area. We missed the dance performance, I’m sorry to report. There were lots of visitors to both parts of the Festival, so I’d consider it a success.
Read the full story on Mill City Times… |
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DMNA INSTALLS DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD SIGNAGE
The Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association recently announced the installation of Downtown East and Downtown West perimeter signage, as well as the installation of over 130 streetlight banners for the Mill District and the Gateway District. This new signage project is a DMNA initiative, led by community volunteers, and designed by volunteer graphic designer Kendra Jamieson. |
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TIME-LAPSE VIDEOS OF THE CRANE COMING DOWN AT THE ELEVEN
By Ric Rosow
In the 4th week of September the final crane was taken down from the ELEVEN. I photographed the event on September 22, 23 and 24.
Below is a time-lapse video from photos taken on September 22nd, created from 741 photos, the majority of which were taken from 8:55 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. every 20 seconds. The final five seconds of the video were taken between 4:12-4:36 p.m. Taking down the crane was a time consuming and labor intensive process. The crane workers disassembling the crane worked long hours, high on the crane, often walking on narrow beams. They appeared to use sledgehammers to assist in removing bolts.
Read the full story + 2 videos on Mill CityTimes… |
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ANN BANCROFT FOUNDATION CALLING ALL GIRLS SEEKING SUPPORT TO FUND THEIR DREAMS
By Kim Eslinger
On October 4th the Ann Bancroft Foundation (ABF) announced it will extend its 2021 fall grant cycle to October 17, 2021 to give girls more time to apply for grants and to connect with a mentor to develop their application following challenging school and activity starts throughout much of the state. Grants from Ann Bancroft Foundation are open to all Minnesota girls in grades K-12 and designed to give girls the strength to achieve their full potential while building confidence and self-esteem along the way. The goal is to create a community where girls embrace their confidence and show the world what they are made of.
Read the full story, learn how to apply on Mill City Times… |
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THE GROVELAND #120 | LORING PARK
This spacious, well-cared for 2 level condo that marries the best of city living with a tranquil location. This home has a large kitchen with central island, featuring hardwood and tiled floors and 9 foot ceilings. 2 large bedrooms and three bathrooms! Owner’s suite including a walk-in closet, en suite full bathroom with separate tub and shower, and a private balcony. The private balcony is not the only outdoor space, as the home also features a walkout patio overlooking lush gardens.
Building amenities include a rooftop deck, beautiful plaza-level outdoor spaces and community room, 2 gyms, and heated guest parking. Conveniently located adjacent to cultural institutions like the Walker Art Center and Minneapolis sculpture garden. Walking distance to the Loring Park, Uptown, and Lowry Hill neighborhoods, full of shops and restaurants. A serene abode perfectly located in the city.
2 bed | 3 bath | 2 parking | 1,908 sf | $575,000
View complete listing details & photos online… |
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| THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS |
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CYNTHIA FROID GROUP
Residential Real Estate professionals serving Downtown Minneapolis & Riverfront Neighborhoods: Mill District, North Loop, Loring Park, Elliot Park and the East Bank. Visit their website at https://www.cynthiafroid.com/
BE THAT NEIGHBOR
Fostering a more caring & connected community, one neighbor at a time.
Visit Be That Neighbor at https://www.facebook.com/BeThatNeighbor/
HENNEPIN HISTORY MUSEUM
Hennepin History Museum is your history, your museum. We preserve and share the diverse stories of Hennepin County, MN. Come visit! Visit their website at https://www.hennepinhistory.org
MEET MINNEAPOLIS
Maximizing the visitor experience of Minneapolis for the economic benefit of our community, making Minneapolis the destination of choice among travelers. Visit their website at https://www.minneapolis.org
MSP FILM SOCIETY
Promoting the art of film as a medium that fosters cross-cultural understanding, education, entertainment, and exploration. Visit their website at https://mspfilm.org
GREAT RIVER COALITION
Enhancing the Minneapolis riverfront environment—for people and pollinators. Our flagship event, the 5K Bee Run™– Earth Day Fun Run/Walk/River Cleanup, draws hundreds of participants to the Mississippi River each year. Visit their website at https://www.greatrivercoalition.com/
FRIENDS OF THE FALLS
Re-purpose the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam to a world class destination and visitor center. https://thefalls.org/friends-of-the-falls/
ZESA FITNESS
Balance is Strength/Strength is Balance. ZeSa Fitness is the all-encompassing balance, strength and cardio workout that suits and challenges everyone from beginners to fitness enthusiasts and elite athletes. Visit their website at https://www.zesafitness.com/
This newsletter made possible in part through the generous support & collaboration of our community partners. |
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