SooVAC Gallery
Soo Visual Arts Center has been an anchor in the Ward 10 arts community for almost a quarter of a century. It was pure joy to check out their most recent exhibition before it closed — Untitled 19 — and spend time with their Executive Director and Ward 10 resident, Carolyn Payne. I am a strong believer in the importance of the arts and serve on the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association, which organizes Art-A-Whirl every year. Our arts organizations are suffering with cuts in the non-profit sector. We must proactively work to keep an organization like SooVAC in our ward. Please join me in supporting this community landmark — look out for details about their annual fundraising event in April.
Ward 10 Public Safety:
What Is the Plan? Safety Ambassador Program
Last night, March 24th, Commissioner Bartlett from Department of Neighborhood Safety explained that in 2023 the city received $3 million dollars from the state to launch a safety ambassador program for 11 designated neighborhoods showing the greatest need, this includes the cultural corridors and Uptown. However, funding the program in Downtown costs $2.5 million alone, which is funded — not from these state allocated funds — but through Downtown Council. Knowing the costs involved, the city decided to choose 2 of the 11 designated neighborhoods to pilot the program outside of Downtown: East Lake (Midtown) and Franklin Ave. After six months of operating in these neighborhoods, the city will evaluate the data and decide how to move forward into the other 9 areas. The idea is to start small, improve, then scale up and secure annual funding.
Ward Office Safety Plan
There apparently is none. At this same meeting, our Council Member was not very engaged in the presentation, which was mostly led by the Ward 7 Council Member–despite the fact that our ward makes up the vast majority of the impacted area. While the Ward 7 Council Member pointed out that she voted for the funding increase for police, our Council Member for Ward 10 remained silent as she could not say the same thing. And not only did Council Member Chughtai not vote for the funding increase for police, she also successfully voted against continuing the highly successful recruitment program.
My Plan
As I said at the meeting we need a council member that will have a good working relationship with our precinct inspector and other public safety partners, and a council member that will help get to our force numbers back up.
My plan is to continue building the professional relationships I have already been developing as the Executive Director for the Stevens Square Community Organization, including with our new Inspector, James Novak. A professional working relationship with frequent communication is needed in order to respond to residents’ concerns and needs, and to serve as the bridge between our community and the public safety we deserve. I will also work to build back our police force in order to meet the charter requirement because there simply are not enough officers to respond to our ward’s needs. We also need a full force that is not overworked in order to continue down the path of transformation. Officers must have the time and ability to create rapport with residents in non crisis moments. This rapport and deeper community relationships is one of the foundations for creating the trust and accountability we need — one built on respect and mutual understanding.Businesses need infrastructure plans that do not leave them behind.
Small Business Highlight
Lago Tacos, 2901 Lyndale Ave S
Fried avocados are definitely the specialty here.
Get them as a side, on your salad, or just however you can!
Office Hour Updates
Here is a list of concerns brought to me by your Ward 10 neighbors at last week’s set of office hours.
- The relationship between City Council and the Mayor is counter-productive because they aren’t working together
- Encampments are not a solution; need more partnerships and funding at the grassroots level
- Concern for LGBTQIA+ youth who find themselves shunned by their families and bullied
- Concern about the national backlash against DEI and for the groups that will be effected by the roll-back of protections
- Desire for more transparency about why funds are awarded in certain wards and not others
- Public Safety Incident: car-jacking at 1am of an Uber driver’s vehicle was stolen
Neighborhood Update:
Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association
I was grateful for the warm welcome at the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association board meeting last week and appreciated introducing myself and learning more about their projects.
- May 3rd, Annual Meeting at the Phoenix: residents of the neighborhood will get more information in April. This is a great opportunity to connect with your neighbors.
- There was lots of good discussion about potential neighborhood initiatives, including a couple of public art projects.
