Earth Day in W10
I’m so proud of our community and our commitment to caring for our neighborhoods. There were more clean ups on Earth Day weekend than I could physically make it to, but it filled me with joy to see all the neighbors out in the Lowry Hill East and Bde Maka Ska neighborhoods.
This is our only home and I am dedicated to living here more sustainably.
Rebuild Uptown Together
Last month I was glad to attend Uptown Association’s community conversation about how we can rebuild Uptown together that was hosted at Seven Points. The Uptown Association is facilitating conversation and serving as a forum for educating the public about the possibility of an Uptown Business Improvement District (BID). Some of the Uptown businesses have formulated a plan to consolidate the three Special Service Districts (SSD) that exist into one BID.
Special Service Districts are geographically confined corridors where businesses pay extra taxes and are then eligible for a certain number of services. A Business Improvement District is often larger in area, and also in scope of service.
They hope to transition the SSDs into one BID in order to expand the area eligible for services, have more direct management over these services, and allow for customization of taxation and service as needed. The expanded services they would like to bring to the commercial districts on Hennepin and Lyndale include sidewalk maintenance, extra trash and graffiti removal, public safety, and marketing, among other possible uses of their pooled tax fund.
The next steps are to form a separate BID board and a work plan, create a budget, go door to door conducting outreach in the designated area, and get the approval of 25% or more businesses in the proposed area that the BID will cover. Their final step will be to go before City Council and receive a majority of votes approving the plan.
Upcoming Ways To Connect
Come out to support the campaign and share your vision for Ward 10 and Minneapolis with me. I am very grateful to former Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton for her support in organizing this event. Growing up, the election of Mayor Sayles Belton meant a lot to me. It made me believe that someone who looked like me could lead this city. Her trailblazing vision and courage is still a bright fire and I am humbled to earn her support.
Join us at Pimento Jamaican Kitchen on Wednesday, May 21st from 5:30-7:30.
This is What Community Looks Like
Thank you to all who were able to come and celebrate our caucus victory with me.
Now we win on May 31st at the Ward 10 Convention!
