At the last Council meeting of April, I was very pleased to vote in favor of a 20 year spending plan that will ensure the future of our City’s roads and parks. This legislation, which passed unanimously, sets a new standard for our City by making a generational investment in our core municipal responsibilities.
Minneapolis’s parks are one of the elements that set our city apart and we need to treasure the fact that we have a system that ensures every citizen has at least one park within walking distance. Here in Ward One, we treasure our local parks and we’re very aware of the ways in which they serve as a locus for youth development and community-building. However, as we have been hearing for several months, many of our parks and recreation facilities are in varying states of disrepair. Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) leaders were weighing a voter referendum that would have resulted in a significant property tax increase over an extended period of time. Instead, the plan crafted by the City Council and MPRB will provide increased funding for needed maintenance, operations and capital improvements with a far less significant impact on taxpayer resources.
This plan also offers an opportunity to tackle one of the City’s most pressing needs: the upgrade and maintenance of our streets. This past March the Council received a thorough report about the current condition of our City streets, as well as upcoming maintenance and reconstruction needs. It was clear that action needed to be taken and I am pleased that this plan will keep our streets functioning at a higher level of condition well into the future.
I hope you will join District #1 Park Commissioner and MPRB President Liz Wielinski and me for a public Town Hall meeting on Monday, May 9, 7 p.m. at Columbia Manor to discuss this plan and its ramifications in more detail.
Public Works is the City of Minneapolis' largest department and the one that may have the most impact on the day-to-day lives of citizens, from roads and drinking water to stop signs and recycling. National Public Works Week, May 15 - 21,offers us all an opportunity to appreciate the work done around the clock by the many men and women of our Public Works Department.
Public Works employees design, build, operate and maintain:
- 100,000 street signs
- 1,093 miles of roads
- 35,000 street lights
- 1,000 miles of water pipes
- 4,042 retaining walls
- 820 miles of sanitary sewers
- 21 billion gallons of clean water
- 8,000 hydrants
- 411 bridges
And much, much more!
As part of the City of Minneapolis' celebration of National Public Health Week in April, Council Member Reich had the opportunity to award Leroy Leftwich (pictured at right) with a Public Health Hero award for his work teaching young people how to bike and ski.
Mr. Leftwich works with low-income, minority and immigrant students at Pillsbury Elementary School. Every year through Pillsbury's celebrated Pedal Power program (which has also been a Public Health Hero award-winner), he teaches basic biking skills to 30 or so nine and ten-year-old kids who may never have previously been on a bicycle. He is also head ski coach and instructor for Pillsbury's 4th grade class and assistant ski coach for the 5th grade class. Several student members of Pillsbury Pedal Power biked down to City Hall with Mr. Leftwich for the Awards ceremony.
Mr. Leftwich truly embodies our City's health goal of "Thriving Youth and Young Adults" as he opens new worlds for these children.
This past April Council Member Kevin Reich and Minneapolis School Board President Jenny Arneson had the opportunity to join Pillsbury Pedal Power leaders and students on one of their regular rides.
Pillsbury Pedal Power won a Public Health Hero Award in 2014. Pedal Power students learn how to ride and maintain their bicycles and how to maneuver safely on a variety of routes. Leaders and instructors Mark Trumper, Susan Tuck and Leroy Leftwich also offer important education about healthy eating, hydration and other aspects of an active lifestyle. The students in this program combine bicycling fun with a number of community service projects, including such events as a Boom Island clean up.
Minneapolis Bike Week is May 16 - 22. Visit http://www.mplsbikeweek.org/ to learn more about the many events and activities planned across the City of Minneapolis for the week.
Council Member Reich and Council Member Frey will be leading a ride to downtown Minneapolis on Friday, May 20, to mark "Bike to Work" day. All are invited to join them as they wend their way through Northeast and Southeast neighborhoods and then across the Stone Arch Bridge and into downtown Minneapolis. The ride will end at Government Plaza where the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition is hosting a celebration that includes a short program and free coffee and snacks.
The Eastside Ride with CMs Reich and Frey will be departing from the Nice Ride station at 22nd Avenue NE and Central Avenue at 7:45 a.m. All are welcome!
NEMAA's 21st Annual Art-A-Whirl is Friday, May 20 - Sunday, May 22. Here are some details to ensure your visit goes smoothly:
Plan your visit with the help of the free Artist Directory & Guide. Pick up your free copy of the Artist Directory and Guide at the information booths during Art-A-Whirl, or beginning mid April at the California Building, Casket Arts Building, Keg House Arts Building, Northrup King Building, or Thorp Building in Northeast Minneapolis.
Vote for Art! During Art-A-Whirl, NEMAA artists will be handing out "I Bought Art" stickers to visitors who purchase original artwork. Please wear your sticker proudly to show your support of local artists and encourage others to do the same! In addition, some local businesses will offer discounts to anyone wearing this sticker during Art-A-Whirl weekend.Download the Art-A-Whirl App to view a list of discounts. Or - Read more and view the discounts here.
Ride To Art-A-Whirl With Metro Transit for FREE! Metro Transit Bus passes will be available for download beginning in May. Click here to access a link to a FREE Metro Transit pass for easy access to and around Art-A-Whirl.
Ecuador suffered a significant earthquake on April 16, with devastating loss of life and property damage, and the country is currently in a state of emergency. This event is of particular concern to the many Ecuadorians who live and work in Ward One. To learn more about fundraising efforts, visit https://www.gofundme.com/minnesotaporecuado.
An increasing number of Minnesota’s low to moderate income individuals are at risk of sliding down the slippery slope toward financial crisis. The problem is becoming critical for thousands of older or disabled Minnesotans whose income is between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Index. These are people who are on Medicare, do not qualify for Medicaid, and are frequently unable to pay the balance of their health costs after Medicare has paid. Fortunately, there is help for these Minnesotans, who meet eligibility requirements, with the Senior Partners Care program.
The Senior Partners Care program helps Medicare beneficiaries bridge the financial gap between what they owe on medical bills and what is covered by Medicare. Senior Partners Care is not insurance. However, thanks to partnerships with hundreds of hospitals, clinics and providers statewide, seniors and disabled may have all or part of their healthcare debt waived by participating providers.
To qualify, seniors and disabled must have Medicare A and B, no supplemental insurance, meet income and asset thresholds, seek care from participating medical providers and submit an application with a modest annual fee, for approval. For an application or to receive more information on Senior Partners Care call 952-767-0665 or toll free 1-888-541-5488. Or visit us at http://seniorcommunity.org/programs/senior-partners-care/
Audubon Spring WingDing
Saturday, May 7, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Audubon Park, 29th & Buchanan. Enjoy a plant swap, wing contest, food, entertainment and more.
Second Precinct Open House
Monday, May 16, 4 – 7 p.m., 1911 Central Avenue NE. K-9, Mounted Patrol, Bomb Unit, SWAT and more will be on hand at this community event.
Housing Cooperative Workshop
Tues, May 17, 3 – 5 p.m., UROC, 2001 Plymouth Ave. N. Learn more about cooperative housing models and hear from local and national experts. Contact Gretchen Nicholls, Twin Cities LISC, at gnicholls@lisc.org or 651-265-2280 to RSVP or for further information.Southeast Como Blueprint Public Hearing
Monday, May 23, 4:30 p.m., City Hall Room 319, 350 S. 5th Street. To view the draft plan, visit http://www.minneapolismn.gov/cped/projects/ComoBlueprint.
Waite Park Carnival
Friday, June 3, 5:30 – 8 p.m., Waite Park, 34th & Ulysses.
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For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact Lisa Brock at lisa.brock@minneapolismn.gov or 612-673-2201. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 agents at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.
Para asistencia 612-673-2700 • Rau kev pab 612-673-2800 • Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay
612-673-3500.
