Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

Looking back on 2012, a significant highlight for the City and the 1st Ward is the Public Safety story. Violent crime and property crime combined (identified as Part I crime) were flat citywide, at levels comparable to the mid-1960s, while burglary fell 6% citywide compared to 2011. The numbers for the 2nd Precinct tell an even better story. Our Precinct led the City in declining rates in Robbery (down 21%) and Burglary (down 6%), as well as the overall lowest Part I crime rate, down 6%. At the same time, the 2nd Precinct also leads the City in officer productivity, with a 66% increase in 2012. A good example of this work was the response to a crime spike in the Logan Park and Holland neighborhoods this past summer. The 2nd Precinct, in concert with strategic partnerships that have been fostered, put in place initiatives that led to an 80% drop in robbery within a couple of months. The ability to respond swiftly and successfully to crime issues speaks to the effectiveness of the leadership and personnel of our Precinct. In terms of leadership, we will see what I expect to be some significant but not disruptive changes for 2013. After 3 ½ years at the 2nd Precinct, Insp. Bryan Schafer will be heading up the 1st Precinct. His successor is Insp. Kathy Waite, who has worked at the 2nd Precinct leading the Investigation Unit, Community Response Team and the Crime Prevention Specialists. Insp. Waite has an impressive management history, most recently with the Special Operations Division, managing the Canine Unit, Traffic Unit and Disaster Strike Team. Additionally, she has been a SWAT Crisis Negotiator since 1999 and has been in charge of managing the Logistics Team for special deployment. In February I am co-hosting an event with the NE Chamber of Commerce and 2PAC to bid farewell to Inspector Bryan Schafer and introduce Inspector Waite to the community. This family-friendly event offers an opportunity to hear about 2nd Precinct crime statistics in more detail, thank Inspector Schafer for his service and learn about plans for the future of the precinct. Stay tuned for more details. ~ Kevin Reich --- Contact Kevin Reich 350 S. 5th Street Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 612-673-2201 Kevin.Reich@minneapolismn.gov

Nicollet -Central Transit Open House

An open house is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in the MPHA Parker Skyview Community Room, 1815 Central Avenue NE to provide an update on the Nicollet-Central Transit Alternatives Study. This open house will give the public the opportunity to learn about modern streetcar and enhanced bus options being considered on the Nicollet-Central Corridor, and share their ideas on improving transit service. The results of the study’s initial screening of transit alternatives and an overview of the next phase of the study will be presented. For more information, visit the project website at http://www.minneapolismn.gov/nicollet-central/ and to learn about modern-day street cars, you can visit: http://www.modernstreetcar.org/.

MWMO: Marshall Terrace’s Most Valuable Business Partner

MWMO Executive Director Doug Snyder and Board Chair Kevin Reich The Concerned Citizens of Marshall Terrace (CCMT) awarded their new neighbor, the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO), with their “Most Valuable Business Partner” award this past December. MWMO’s new headquarters celebrated its grand opening at 2522 Marshall Street NE in October. The headquarters was designed to be a demonstration area for many of the organization’s water quality improvement principles and encompasses a cistern, rain gardens, and many other educational features.  Council Member Kevin Reich, who chairs the MWMO board of directors, and Doug Snyder, the MWMO Executive Director, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

RiverFirst Priority Projects

Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) held a community forum last month to explore and comment on eight RiverFirst Priority Projects, including the 26th Avenue N and 22nd Avenue NE Greenways, Scherer Park, Riverfront Trails and Bridges and Phase I of West River Road Extension.  RiverFirst is a 20-year vision for Mississippi riverfront parks that builds on our community’s rich river heritage and passion for parks, nature and wildlife to create places on “America’s fourth coast” where neighborhoods and businesses can grow and people from near and far can experience one of the four great rivers of the world through world-class recreational and cultural activities. For descriptions and information about the Priority Projects, go to http://riverfirst.com/projects/priority-projects/ and http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?pageID=1352.

SE Como Home Buyer Loan Program

The Southeast Como Neighborhood in Southeast Minneapolis has announced that it is offering $5000 forgivable Homebuyer Incentive Loans toward down payment and closing costs. The loans come from Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) funds and are available to anyone who purchases a 1-4 unit property in the SE Como neighborhood. There are no income limits; the only eligibility requirement is that the buyer be an owner-occupant of the property. The loans are at a 0% fixed rate and forgivable in annual increments over 7 years.  For more information, contact Rachael Rupp at 612-335-5830 or rrupp@mncee.org or visit http://mncee.org/find-programs-financing/se-como-home-ownership-program/.

Tax Preparation Assistance

With the start of the 2013 tax season, AccountAbility Minnesota (AAM), a community-based non-profit organization, offers free tax preparation and financial services to low- and moderate-income taxpayers and sole proprietors in the Twin Cities area. Tax clinics for individuals making $30,000 or less per year and families making $50,000 or less per year will be held at East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 2nd Street NE, January 24 – April 15, at the following times: ·         5:45 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays ·         9 a.m. Saturdays Volunteer tax preparers will complete returns on a first-come first-served basis, so plan on arriving on time or even 15 minutes early. Allow two hours for your return to be prepared and reviewed. For information on what documents to bring to the tax clinic and any questions, call 651-287-0187 or visit www.accountabilitymn.org.

NE Life Size Book Project

Don’t miss this opportunity to work with Artshare and award-winning bookmakers Bridget O’Malley and Laura Brown to create an art book about Northeast Minneapolis.

Register for four free Saturday workshops by calling 612-432-1512 or emailing artsharene@gmail.com. Workshops are 1-3 p.m. on Jan. 26 and Feb. 16 at the NE Library and Feb. 2 & 9 at Edison High School. It’s suggested that participants plan to attend all four workshops. The finished product will be put on display at the Northeast Library and participants will receive their own copies to keep as a memento.

Save the Date:

Winter Street NE Reconstruction Public Meeting
Wednesday, January 23, 5:30 p.m., Van Cleve Recreation Center, 901 15th Ave SE.
Informational meeting regarding assessments for the reconstruction of north/south streets from Ulysses St NE to 16th Ave SE between East Hennepin and the RR tracks and Winter St from cul-de-sac to 15th Ave SE.

Winter Warm Up
Friday, January 25, 7 – 11 p.m., Grace Center, 1500 6th St. NE.
This fundraiser to support Northeast Middle School’s theater program and their spring production of “Peter Pan” will feature food, drink and music by the band Buster Phelan. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For further information, click HERE.

Block Leader Training
Wednesday, January 30, 6 – 8 p.m., 2nd Precinct, 1911 Central Ave NE.
Join other residents throughout the city to develop skills for effectively working with your neighbors. For further information, call 612=673-2874 or email susan.bradshaw@minneapolismn.gov or nicholas.juarez@minneapolismn.gov.

8th Annual Twin Cities Snowshoe Shuffle
Saturday, February 2, 8 a.m., Long Lake Regional Park, 1500 Old Hwy 8, New Brighton.
All proceeds from this 5K/10K snowshoe race/walk benefit Camp Bovey, a summer youth program of East Side Neighborhood Services. New this year is a 2K dog walk, “Canines for Camp”. For more information or to register, visit www.snowshoeshuffle.org or call 612-781-6011.

5th Annual NE Mpls Presidents Day Walk
Saturday, February 16, 10 a.m., Edison High School, 700 22nd Ave NE. 
This year’s event includes Presidential Pets and White House Animals. Join your neighbors to walk Northeast’s “presidential” streets.