"My heart and prayers goes out the families and victims of the tragic shootings that occurred Kentucky and Pittsburgh respectively. We as a society cannot continue to accept these wicked acts of violence that rip at the fabric of our country. We need more civil discourse, less rhetoric and more empathy for our fellow human beings." - Andrea Jenkins
 Last week we learned that the Trump Administration is trying to erase the very existence of transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people communities through the redefining of gender as unchangeable at birth, based solely on perceived sexual anatomy, genetic testing, and original gender markers on birth certificates. Prevailing research demonstrates this proposed definition of gender is based on fundamentally incorrect science This is fundamentally incorrect in terms of science and prevailing research, and it This is part of a broader campaign to further roll back the progress that was made in recent years under the Obama Administration.
As a Transgender American I know first-hand the type of trauma and uncertainty this type of pronouncement can impart on a community, particularly teenagers and young people, causing them to become depressed, or even worst consider suicide. The City of Minneapolis has long been a leader in protecting the rights of the Transgender and Gender non-conforming community.
In 2016, the Minneapolis City Council, passed a strong resolution in support of the transgender community, and in 2017 they established the Transgender Equity Council. We just recently (October 4th, 2018), the City of Minneapolis hosted it’s fifth annual Trans Equity Summit, focusing on Access to Health and Wellness, and including a Trans-specific Job Fair. The city also established a police policy protecting transgender and gender nonconforming people while interacting with police officers and while in custody.
Most recently myself and Councilmember Phillipe Cunningham convened a Press Conference last Sunday in support of the Rally for Transgender rights, https://www.kare11.com/article/news/minneapolis-council-members-join-crowd-for-rally-for-transgender-rights/89-608917501
The City of Minneapolis continues to recognize and honor the humanity of the Trans and Gender non-conforming community and will work to improve access to healthcare, employment, housing and safety in Public spaces.
What: Afternoons with Andrea: Election Debrief with Senator Jeff Hayden, Aisha Gomez and a surprise special guest!
When: Join us next Friday, November 9th from 12 pm to 1:30 pm.
Where: At Butter Bakery Cafe, 3700 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409.
 On Nov. 6, Minneapolis voters will head to the polls for the 2018 election.
Absentee voters should be reminded not to put their ballots in the mail now because they could arrive after Election Day. Instead they can drop off completed absentee ballots by 3 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 6, at the Downtown Early Vote Center at 217 S. Third St. or at the Elections & Voter Services Office in Room 201 of City Hall, 350 S. Fifth St.
State law allows voters to bring materials into the polls to help complete their ballots — and the sample ballot is the single, best tool available for this purpose. By downloading and printing their sample ballots (which are customized to their specific ward and precinct), voters can practice marking their ballots. They can bring this marked-up sample ballot as a reference to the voting booth when completing their official ballots. This is the best way to reduce the time spent waiting in lines. Sample ballots are available at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot.
Find more information about voting in Minneapolis at vote.minneapolismn.gov.
 On Nov. 2, 2018, the City Council approved expanding an innovative strategy to preserve naturally occurring affordable housing in Minneapolis by helping property owners obtain property tax reductions for agreeing to keep a portion of rental units affordable.
The expanded Minneapolis 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program follows on the heels of a successful 4d pilot program the City that launched in May. As part of the pilot, property owners committed to preserving 207 units of affordable housing through 10-year affordability commitments.
The expanded 4d program has the potential to preserve 700 or more additional units of naturally occurring affordable housing in 2019.
Participants in the Minneapolis 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program agree to keep a minimum of 20 percent of units per building affordable to households making 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) for 10 years. The qualifying units are eligible for a 40 percent reduction in property taxes. Property owners of all buildings or tax parcels with two or more units are eligible to participate.
In addition to reduced property taxes, program participants benefit from payment of the first year State of Minnesota application fee for certification of the 4d property tax classification; a $100 grant per affordable unit (capped at $1,000 per property); free or low-cost energy assessments; and City cost sharing for solar energy installations and energy efficiency improvements.
The Minneapolis 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program is one of several strategies the City is deploying to address the City’s affordable housing crisis.
Bloomberg Philanthropies named Minneapolis among its American Cities Climate Challenge winners for resources and technical support to help achieve ambitious climate goals.
Bloomberg will provide winners with robust technical assistance and a support package valued at $2.5 million per city. The resources include a philanthropy-funded team member to facilitate the development and passage of high impact policies, training for senior leadership to assist with implementation of their proposed climate plans, and public engagement support.
Minneapolis plans to improve transit reliability and user experience; encourage new mobility options such as bikeshare, electric bikeshare, more electric vehicle charging, and electric vehicle education and incentives; and implement a comprehensive citywide solar strategy including a focus on onsite and community solar garden subscriptions for low-income residents.
The Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge builds on the America’s Pledge initiative, which aims to keep the U.S. in the Paris Agreement.
 Nov. 2, 2018, the City Council passed a measure today reforming the way the City works with landlords and renters when complaints are made about disruptive criminal and nuisance conduct to provide more protections for tenants and resources for landlords to resolve problems.
Highlights of the amendments to the City’s Conduct on Licensed Premises ordinance include:
- A violation of the ordinance cannot stem from 911 calls reporting domestic violence, domestic abuse, a health-related emergency or any other similar tenant assistance response.
- When a Minneapolis Police Department crime prevention specialist determines that an incident at a rental property requires City intervention after reviewing a police report, a letter is sent to both the landlord and the tenant about what needs to be done to resolve the problem issues.
- A new interdisciplinary panel convened by the City’s Regulatory Services Department will review the issues and help determine a community-centered approach that encourages landlords and tenants to resolve problems with a goal of discouraging unnecessary tenant displacement.
The changes were prompted by a study conducted by the Civil Rights Department’s Office of Police Conduct Review commissioned by the Police Conduct Oversight Commission recommending changes to prevent tenants from unfairly being evicted from rental housing determined to be “nuisance” or “problem properties.” Following the release of the study, a large work group made up of City staff from several departments worked with community stakeholders to come up with the new process.
The Minneapolis Planning Commission has approved the Minneapolis 2040 plan, and the full City Council will hold a public hearing Nov. 14. Residents can provide feedback on the City’s draft Comprehensive Plan, which will guide the city’s development over the next 20 years, at the public hearing or online.
Minneapolis 2040 public hearing 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 City Hall, Room 317
The Comprehensive Plan is based on 14 goals adopted by the City Council, including reducing disparities, providing access to affordable housing and living-wage jobs, creating a sustainable community, and remaining a healthy and diverse economic center. The final draft of the plan is the product of a two-year engagement process and integrates more than 10,000 public comments collected during a robust, four-month community engagement period.
The City Council will vote on the Comprehensive Plan in December before submitting the plan to the Metropolitan Council. The Metropolitan Land Planning Act requires municipalities in the Twin Cities area to provide the Metropolitan Council with updated comprehensive plans every 10 years. It must be consistent with the Metropolitan Council’s regional development guide, Thrive MSP 2040, that sets the direction for the region’s growth and development.
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 October 25, 2018, the City of Minneapolis received a Gold Award for Excellence in Economic Development for its Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP) in the Economic Equity and Inclusion category from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
The honor was presented at an awards ceremony on October 1 during the IEDC Annual Conference in Atlanta. Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins and B-TAP Program Manager Daniel Bonilla accepted the award.
“The City of Minneapolis is actively working to advance racial equity. Our Business Technical Assistance Program is a valuable tool to give a voice to entrepreneurs of color through wealth development,” said Jenkins.
B-TAP provides consulting and training to emerging and existing entrepreneurs. Over 80 percent of the participants are minority or low-income business owners. The program funds local nonprofit community development organizations to help entrepreneurs assess the feasibility of ideas, sustain operations or plan an expansion. These organizations work with specific populations or in specific geographic areas, such as African immigrants, Latinos, women and in North Minneapolis. The support helps business owners develop skills to sustain or grow their businesses, increase profitability, and create jobs.
 Garbage day in the week of Nov. 12 is the last 2018 collection for leaves, brush and other yard trimmings. Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curbs next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on garbage day.
Yard waste must be in compostable bags – paper (Kraft) or compostable plastic – or unbagged in a reusable container 26-32 inches high, no more than 26 inches wide, with sturdy handles. Reusable containers are lifted and emptied by hand; they must be easily managed. Yard waste is not allowed in City-provided containers.
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Preparing yard trimmings and leaves
Preparing brush
- Less than 40 pounds.
- Less than 3 feet long.
- Branch size less than 3 inches in diameter.
- Must be bundled with string or twine (no wire or tape).
Reusable containers
- Less than 40 pounds full.
- Between 26 and 32 inches high.
- No more than 26 inches in diameter.
- Must have sturdy handles.
Which bags can be used in the program?
- Compostable plastic bags labeled with the BPI logo.
- Paper (Kraft) bags.
Bags marked “biodegradable” or “degradable” do not meet the State law and are not accepted.
It’s against the law and bad for our lakes to rake leaves into the street.
Anyone who has questions about leaf and brush pickup can call 612-673-2917 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. People can also find more information here.
 Northbound I-35W to 31st St./Lake St. ramp reopens Nov. 5
The ramp from northbound I-35W to 31st St./Lake St. will reopen to general traffic on Mon, Nov. 5. The ramp was closed in June. The ramp will close again in 2020 for reconstruction.
I-94 overnight closures Nov. 6 and Nov. 7
Work needs to be done on a highway bridge over I-94 and to complete pavement work on I-94. To complete this work, crews need some overnight closures of I-94 on the following dates:
- On Tue, Nov. 6, an overnight closure of westbound I-94 between I-35W and I-394 starting at 10 p.m. The highway will reopen by 5 a.m. on Wed, Nov. 7. The detour will be Southbound I-35W, westbound Hwy 62, northbound Hwy 100 and eastbound I-394.
- On Wed, Nov. 7, an overnight closure of eastbound I-94 between I-394 and I-35W starting at 10 p.m. The highway will reopen by 5 a.m. on Thu, Nov. 8. The detour will be Westbound I-394, southbound Hwy 100, eastbound Hwy 62 and northbound I-35W.
26th St. bridge reopens, 28th St. bridge closes Nov. 8
The 26th St. bridge over I-35W is tentatively scheduled to reopen Thu, Nov. 8 before the closure of the 28th St. bridge. The 26th St. bridge has been closed since June 1, 2018.
The 28th St. bridge over I-35W is tentatively scheduled to close for reconstruction on Thu, Nov. 8. The bridge will be closed until June 2019. During the closure, the following detours will be in place:
- Motorists will be detoured to southbound Blaisdell Ave. to eastbound Lake St. to northbound 4th Ave. S.
- Pedestrians can use 1st Ave. S., 26th St. and 5th Ave. S.
Upcoming I-35W weekend closures
Demolition of the 28th St. bridge starts Fri, Nov. 9 and requires a weekend closure of I-35W between I-94 and Hwy 62. The weekend closure is tentatively scheduled from 10 p.m. on Fri, Nov. 9 through 5 a.m. Mon, Nov. 12. Crews will work 24 hours a day during the weekend closure. The detour route includes Hwy 62, Hwy 100 and I-394.
Another I-35W weekend closure is tentatively planned for Nov. 16-19 to do underground utility work that cannot be done in conjunction with the 28th St. bridge demolition.
For more information about the 35W Project, use the following link: www.mndot.gov/35w94
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