Truly appreciate your clear and accurate reporting. We have been small business owners in Minneapolis for over 20+ years. I am heavily involved with other small local business owners on the Hennepin Avenue corridor. The level of fragility was bad during construction, Covid and George Floyd but now there is an entirely new level of fatigue and failures facing this once THRIVING corridor. This area is a symbol of the socialist leadership experiments in our city and the complete and an utter failure of our city governing. The ICE invasion was beyond horrific on the toll for humanity but has highlighted in a whole new magnitude just how incredibly fragile things were before this final nail in the coffin was delivered with eight + weeks of commerce disruption by voluntary strikes and fear.
The rampant drug use is out of control on our streets happening day and night! The brazen combative behavior by these individuals because they know they will not be arrested, and if they are taken in, they are immediately released into the same area again is beyond scope. Staff and business owners are ill equipped to handle these individuals on a daily basis and no have no resources to help these people.
Defecating, broken doors, lit fires, peeing in elevators, busted car windows, loitering in spaces meant for paying customers and daily harassment. The list goes on and on, these are not conditions that employees or business owners can sustain much longer. This is obvious in the apparent number of businesses that keep slamming their doors shut with no one to replace them.
We are not caring for humanity by allowing this type of behavior to grow and expand. We are standing by and therefore enabling people to literally and physically kill themselves right in front of our eyes. As well as simultaneously killing our small businesses and the ability for people in this area to have jobs that will sustain their quality of life.
We have individuals driving into the area and feeding the unhoused drug addicts and then leaving all the garbage behind to clean up along with the drug paraphernalia and waste generated by this growing number of discarded humans and somehow call this a humane approach?
Significant unanswered fraud, open drug use, elimination of entire tax surplus, HCMC circling the drain are all facts that should be bringing people to the political table to demand more from our leadership. Anyone living in Minneapolis who is not incredibly ALARMED means you are living with your head buried in the sand.
Hennepin County and Minneapolis leadership is failing us so significantly it should be criminal, while taxes continue to rise and no REAL help is in sight to address the issues facing this once beacon of a city that you and others moved to for the right reasons.
I have a similar view to Paul’s as to why people are moving here now versus what may have drawn people in the past. I’ve noticed that recent transplants popping up in my local groups seem to be very far left and are excited that Minneapolis seems to be ground zero for “the revolution.”
My POV may be skewed as I live near Uptown, but if this is why people are moving here, while long-time residents move out, this does not bode well for a change toward prudent local government or financial stability of our city, county, and state.
The Nicollet bridge hits home for me. Literally. I can see it from my house. I go over it and under it every day.
When MnDOT unexpectedly had to replace the 35W bridge, they did so in about 13 months. Design, planning, and construction. It’s nearly a quarter mile long and 10 lanes—much, much larger than the Nicollet bridge.
The city has spent several years designing and planning to replace the Nicollet bridge. All they have to do now is construct. Why is it expected to take 2 years? (They began construction late last year, btw, when they rebuilt stormwater collection and sewers under the bridge.)
Couldn’t agree more with your thoughts about competent governance. I’m neither a big government guy nor a small government guy. I just want my government to deliver quality services efficiently. Given the current state of affairs, I’m extremely reluctant to give the city more responsibility for things like shoveling sidewalks.
One area of extreme concern is the failure of our city, with lazer focus on Mayor Frey, who I am truly a fan of, to make sure the 3rd Precinct police station finally gets a permanent home, and so a MOVE into the site we paid good money for at 2633 Minnehaha Ave.
While this seems to be talked about very little by the admin, and the public had been quiet on it some, particularly leading up to the local elections in Nov, out of fear that a wholly unqualified person could slip into the mayor's spot, but NOW, the people within those 26 neighborhoods would like to get assurances that the 3rd Precinct will move into 2633 Minnehaha Ave by this fall, and no later.
This nearly SIX YEAR period, of morale issues for our staff at the 3rd, and in having no place for residents to actually make contact with our public safety staff because the 3rd has been " temporarily" located in this odd, and mostly unaccessible, functionally obsolete building, ( this inappropriate work setting for a police station) which happens to be dead center in downtown and no where near the 26 neighborhoods it serves, is straight up mortifying to me, as a taxpayer and a resident within the 3rd Precinct area.
Now that our city may be getting a reprieve from the assaults brought on by the federal government, we want to hear that our leaders are committed to a date, by this fall, for the 3rd Precinct to be IN PLACE at the South Mpls Community Safety Center.
In terms of the Nicollet Bridge potential issues, well, there is simply no appropriate, even close to touching it, comparison, as to the impact.
Now that the local elections are wrapped up, the siege by the Trump Admin may be subsiding, the powers that be in our city are going to be pelted on this...
" Where is our 3rd Precinct?! ....WHY the delay, with these vague/ non committal dates continuing to be pushed out. "
Officers from the 3rd Precinct are now operating out of a downtown building. Because of this, people within the precinct’s geographic area do not have the same level of access to community safety services compared to those in other areas of Minneapolis.
See past work and background
What a police precinct provides
24-hour walk-in access to get community safety aid and referrals for other services
Community use of the building space for a variety of needs
A police building based within the community helps to build a connection and community partnership. It also makes it easier for people to access City services."
Of course not, the City Council remains largely anti-police and anti-business. They may even have already reallocated the funds for this project as well due to their belief that it is unnecessary.
None of the funds have be re allocated. A contractor has been selected. I stay in contact with the Inspector at the 3rd Precinct.
I would say 5-6 on the council, for sure, are solidly anti police. So, we will always be watching CMs Osman and Whiting on all things policing, in hopes that we will get to SEVEN on the important votes.
Thankfully, despite this specific voting block on the council having wasted our time, ( and our staff's time) which is our time and money, as they displayed a very anti business platform, ( for all to see) particularly related to corporate owned chains, CMs Whiting and Osman, and even, shock of all shocks, the new, DSA guy Stevenson, ultimately made the right call on the liquor license issue.
But for policing, it falls squarely now on
FREY, Barnette, and O'Hara, to make sure the 3rd Precinct police station is in at 2633
This is a more realistic view on the current DFL. What we need to do succeed vs we hate Trump. Unfortunately I believe this will fall on the deaf ears of our current City Council. Many have held office for more than one term yet none have sought to enhance their business knowledge despite being told it is lacking. Many of us are capable of forgiveness but at some point we will just have to draw a line and say enough. There seems to be a lack of understanding of their own actions having consequences. This week's public grandstanding telling businesses to tow the line or face consequences may have been a fatal mistake. Combined with the decision not to fund renovations at the Target Center will definitely send a message to all club owners of us truly being an anti-business state, the owners are wealthy after all and it is considered big business. Chicago could lose their beloved Bears so why can't the Timberwolves follow the Lakers and North Stars. We need our City Council to more than get by, we need them to succeed. If they are incapable of seeing the larger picture and follow plans that benefit most they need to either step down or be replaced because the majority will have had enough.
somewhat similar to you Terry. we moved here a couple of decades ago. Partly to be close to family, partly because of professional potential, also for the good schools, and Metro perks (concerts, restaurants, parks, Etc).
I wonder if now people are more likely to move here for activism, symbolism, and the fact that we are in our beacon of the left flank. If so, moving here to be part of the resistance movement is different than moving here for good jobs.
Great overview! As an introvert and former accountant, I'm on board with boring, competent and consistent. But the serious problems noted here with healthcare, underfunded public schools, drug abuse and crime preclude the arrival, a mere ten years ago, of a handful of young DSA idealists and have nothing to do with "socialism" which few Americans can intelligently or clearly define.
DHS leadership and staff are not socialists and neither is Governor Walz or any of the the other top Democrats, nonprofit leaders, or key government officials that must be, to a large degree, held responsible for the fraud scandal. As for the problems of underfunded healthcare, education and public safety, in my view those are outcomes of a U.S. economic system that is failing at every turn.
I am proud that my city stood up against ICE's massive overreach, I doubt this makes us a magnet for the infinitesimally small amount of U.S. socialists to race here to reside, not that I would oppose that. The challenge is to work together across party lines on a grassroots basis to address the dysfunction that Terry White details. I belong to a MN org "Health Care for All" for example. There are numerous groups who care deeply about education, mental health and drug abuse to support or join. For me the deep roots of the issue is not at all exclusive to Minneapolis, and that makes fundamental change excruciatingly difficult.
Locally, in the Minneapolis city council Wonsley, Chavez, Chuhgtai, and Stevenson are all socialists. CM choudry no longer had the DSA endorsement. But might as well.
A couple of other non socialists like Prez Payne often but not always vote with the socialists.
Well said, Terry. There are far too many elected officials who fail to understand the job of good governance, and spend their time pandering to activists and delivering performative soundbites to the media. From my perspective as an independent, Mpls is in trouble due to the outsized influence of democratic socialists driven by an idealogy that ignores the principles of competent governance. I have lived here for more than half a century and it saddens me greatly that I am thinking it may be necessary to move because I am not willing to pay exhorbitant taxes while watching the city decline due to mismanagement.
At the national level, people voted for republicans because they wanted a secure border, energy independence, an end to waste, fraud and abuse, and respect for law and order. They still want those policies, will vote accordingly, and view democrats as being without a successful track record in much of anything besides vast spending on mismanaged social programs.
Bravo Terry!
Truly appreciate your clear and accurate reporting. We have been small business owners in Minneapolis for over 20+ years. I am heavily involved with other small local business owners on the Hennepin Avenue corridor. The level of fragility was bad during construction, Covid and George Floyd but now there is an entirely new level of fatigue and failures facing this once THRIVING corridor. This area is a symbol of the socialist leadership experiments in our city and the complete and an utter failure of our city governing. The ICE invasion was beyond horrific on the toll for humanity but has highlighted in a whole new magnitude just how incredibly fragile things were before this final nail in the coffin was delivered with eight + weeks of commerce disruption by voluntary strikes and fear.
The rampant drug use is out of control on our streets happening day and night! The brazen combative behavior by these individuals because they know they will not be arrested, and if they are taken in, they are immediately released into the same area again is beyond scope. Staff and business owners are ill equipped to handle these individuals on a daily basis and no have no resources to help these people.
Defecating, broken doors, lit fires, peeing in elevators, busted car windows, loitering in spaces meant for paying customers and daily harassment. The list goes on and on, these are not conditions that employees or business owners can sustain much longer. This is obvious in the apparent number of businesses that keep slamming their doors shut with no one to replace them.
We are not caring for humanity by allowing this type of behavior to grow and expand. We are standing by and therefore enabling people to literally and physically kill themselves right in front of our eyes. As well as simultaneously killing our small businesses and the ability for people in this area to have jobs that will sustain their quality of life.
We have individuals driving into the area and feeding the unhoused drug addicts and then leaving all the garbage behind to clean up along with the drug paraphernalia and waste generated by this growing number of discarded humans and somehow call this a humane approach?
Significant unanswered fraud, open drug use, elimination of entire tax surplus, HCMC circling the drain are all facts that should be bringing people to the political table to demand more from our leadership. Anyone living in Minneapolis who is not incredibly ALARMED means you are living with your head buried in the sand.
Hennepin County and Minneapolis leadership is failing us so significantly it should be criminal, while taxes continue to rise and no REAL help is in sight to address the issues facing this once beacon of a city that you and others moved to for the right reasons.
I have a similar view to Paul’s as to why people are moving here now versus what may have drawn people in the past. I’ve noticed that recent transplants popping up in my local groups seem to be very far left and are excited that Minneapolis seems to be ground zero for “the revolution.”
My POV may be skewed as I live near Uptown, but if this is why people are moving here, while long-time residents move out, this does not bode well for a change toward prudent local government or financial stability of our city, county, and state.
The Nicollet bridge hits home for me. Literally. I can see it from my house. I go over it and under it every day.
When MnDOT unexpectedly had to replace the 35W bridge, they did so in about 13 months. Design, planning, and construction. It’s nearly a quarter mile long and 10 lanes—much, much larger than the Nicollet bridge.
The city has spent several years designing and planning to replace the Nicollet bridge. All they have to do now is construct. Why is it expected to take 2 years? (They began construction late last year, btw, when they rebuilt stormwater collection and sewers under the bridge.)
Couldn’t agree more with your thoughts about competent governance. I’m neither a big government guy nor a small government guy. I just want my government to deliver quality services efficiently. Given the current state of affairs, I’m extremely reluctant to give the city more responsibility for things like shoveling sidewalks.
We typically take 54th/ diamond Lake. I imagine that it's going to get heavily swamped with traffic once the nicollet bridge is closed 😞
Few months would be fine. 2 years? That's crazy
One area of extreme concern is the failure of our city, with lazer focus on Mayor Frey, who I am truly a fan of, to make sure the 3rd Precinct police station finally gets a permanent home, and so a MOVE into the site we paid good money for at 2633 Minnehaha Ave.
While this seems to be talked about very little by the admin, and the public had been quiet on it some, particularly leading up to the local elections in Nov, out of fear that a wholly unqualified person could slip into the mayor's spot, but NOW, the people within those 26 neighborhoods would like to get assurances that the 3rd Precinct will move into 2633 Minnehaha Ave by this fall, and no later.
This nearly SIX YEAR period, of morale issues for our staff at the 3rd, and in having no place for residents to actually make contact with our public safety staff because the 3rd has been " temporarily" located in this odd, and mostly unaccessible, functionally obsolete building, ( this inappropriate work setting for a police station) which happens to be dead center in downtown and no where near the 26 neighborhoods it serves, is straight up mortifying to me, as a taxpayer and a resident within the 3rd Precinct area.
Now that our city may be getting a reprieve from the assaults brought on by the federal government, we want to hear that our leaders are committed to a date, by this fall, for the 3rd Precinct to be IN PLACE at the South Mpls Community Safety Center.
In terms of the Nicollet Bridge potential issues, well, there is simply no appropriate, even close to touching it, comparison, as to the impact.
Hi Terry, I am interviewing Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette tomorrow. I will ask about a timeline for 3rd precinct.
Now that the local elections are wrapped up, the siege by the Trump Admin may be subsiding, the powers that be in our city are going to be pelted on this...
" Where is our 3rd Precinct?! ....WHY the delay, with these vague/ non committal dates continuing to be pushed out. "
Unacceptable...
Update on Third Precinct: No Change | Minneapolis Times
https://minneapolistimes.com/update-on-third-precinct-no-change/
Off the City's website...
"The need for a 3rd Precinct building
Officers from the 3rd Precinct are now operating out of a downtown building. Because of this, people within the precinct’s geographic area do not have the same level of access to community safety services compared to those in other areas of Minneapolis.
See past work and background
What a police precinct provides
24-hour walk-in access to get community safety aid and referrals for other services
Community use of the building space for a variety of needs
A police building based within the community helps to build a connection and community partnership. It also makes it easier for people to access City services."
Of course not, the City Council remains largely anti-police and anti-business. They may even have already reallocated the funds for this project as well due to their belief that it is unnecessary.
None of the funds have be re allocated. A contractor has been selected. I stay in contact with the Inspector at the 3rd Precinct.
I would say 5-6 on the council, for sure, are solidly anti police. So, we will always be watching CMs Osman and Whiting on all things policing, in hopes that we will get to SEVEN on the important votes.
Thankfully, despite this specific voting block on the council having wasted our time, ( and our staff's time) which is our time and money, as they displayed a very anti business platform, ( for all to see) particularly related to corporate owned chains, CMs Whiting and Osman, and even, shock of all shocks, the new, DSA guy Stevenson, ultimately made the right call on the liquor license issue.
But for policing, it falls squarely now on
FREY, Barnette, and O'Hara, to make sure the 3rd Precinct police station is in at 2633
by the fall..and they prioritize this.
This is a more realistic view on the current DFL. What we need to do succeed vs we hate Trump. Unfortunately I believe this will fall on the deaf ears of our current City Council. Many have held office for more than one term yet none have sought to enhance their business knowledge despite being told it is lacking. Many of us are capable of forgiveness but at some point we will just have to draw a line and say enough. There seems to be a lack of understanding of their own actions having consequences. This week's public grandstanding telling businesses to tow the line or face consequences may have been a fatal mistake. Combined with the decision not to fund renovations at the Target Center will definitely send a message to all club owners of us truly being an anti-business state, the owners are wealthy after all and it is considered big business. Chicago could lose their beloved Bears so why can't the Timberwolves follow the Lakers and North Stars. We need our City Council to more than get by, we need them to succeed. If they are incapable of seeing the larger picture and follow plans that benefit most they need to either step down or be replaced because the majority will have had enough.
somewhat similar to you Terry. we moved here a couple of decades ago. Partly to be close to family, partly because of professional potential, also for the good schools, and Metro perks (concerts, restaurants, parks, Etc).
I wonder if now people are more likely to move here for activism, symbolism, and the fact that we are in our beacon of the left flank. If so, moving here to be part of the resistance movement is different than moving here for good jobs.
Great overview! As an introvert and former accountant, I'm on board with boring, competent and consistent. But the serious problems noted here with healthcare, underfunded public schools, drug abuse and crime preclude the arrival, a mere ten years ago, of a handful of young DSA idealists and have nothing to do with "socialism" which few Americans can intelligently or clearly define.
DHS leadership and staff are not socialists and neither is Governor Walz or any of the the other top Democrats, nonprofit leaders, or key government officials that must be, to a large degree, held responsible for the fraud scandal. As for the problems of underfunded healthcare, education and public safety, in my view those are outcomes of a U.S. economic system that is failing at every turn.
I am proud that my city stood up against ICE's massive overreach, I doubt this makes us a magnet for the infinitesimally small amount of U.S. socialists to race here to reside, not that I would oppose that. The challenge is to work together across party lines on a grassroots basis to address the dysfunction that Terry White details. I belong to a MN org "Health Care for All" for example. There are numerous groups who care deeply about education, mental health and drug abuse to support or join. For me the deep roots of the issue is not at all exclusive to Minneapolis, and that makes fundamental change excruciatingly difficult.
Locally, in the Minneapolis city council Wonsley, Chavez, Chuhgtai, and Stevenson are all socialists. CM choudry no longer had the DSA endorsement. But might as well.
A couple of other non socialists like Prez Payne often but not always vote with the socialists.
Well said, Terry. There are far too many elected officials who fail to understand the job of good governance, and spend their time pandering to activists and delivering performative soundbites to the media. From my perspective as an independent, Mpls is in trouble due to the outsized influence of democratic socialists driven by an idealogy that ignores the principles of competent governance. I have lived here for more than half a century and it saddens me greatly that I am thinking it may be necessary to move because I am not willing to pay exhorbitant taxes while watching the city decline due to mismanagement.
At the national level, people voted for republicans because they wanted a secure border, energy independence, an end to waste, fraud and abuse, and respect for law and order. They still want those policies, will vote accordingly, and view democrats as being without a successful track record in much of anything besides vast spending on mismanaged social programs.