Nokomis
New Year’s Day tragedy on the West Bank
BY DEBRA KEEFER RAMAGE It started with an explosion, at approximately 8:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day. By the time the firefighters arrived, the building was in flames. There were injured victims lying around outside the building, having jumped from second- and third-floor windows. The crew fought the blaze inside for…
Five15 on the Park gets public financing amidst community concerns
BY CHRIS STEGEMAN As citizens, we establish neighborhood organizations to advocate on our behalf and hold meetings to ensure that our public health and safety needs are being met. What are we left with when the city’s agenda pushes forth a project against the sentiment of neighborhood organizations, particularly in…
Hiawatha Death Star kills again
The Stadium Financing is unfair
Majority of City Council side with equity
BY NICK ESPINOSA AND ANTHONY NEWBY One hundred fifty community members braved a record cold snap to demand that the new City Council prioritize closing Minneapolis’ worst-in-the-nation racial equity gaps as they begin their new term. After the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony for the new council, hundreds kicked off…
Nuclear Iran
BY RICHARD TAYLOR “Omission,” George Orwell once noted, “is the greatest form of lie,” an observation relevant to the U.S. conflict with Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons program. The omissions provide ironic support to Obama’s statement,” I wouldn’t say [chances of success of the interim agreement] are more than…
Walker Community Church 2.0 rising
BY DEBRA KEEFER RAMAGE On Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, neighbors of 3104 16th Ave. S. may have seen something that hadn’t occurred for 18 months—churchgoers, some toting musical instruments, trickling into the building. Just two days earlier, the trustees and Rev. Walter Lockhart had received the certificate of occupancy from…
Legislative agenda 2014
We sent the following letter to State Senators Jeff Hayden and Patricia Torres Ray and Representatives Jim Davnie, Jean Wagenius, Karen Clark and Susan Allen: An Open Letter to our state representatives and senators: You represent the most progressive districts in the State of Minnesota. As your constituents we have…
In response to John Delmonico
BY ED FELIEN On Dec. 23, 2013, John Delmonico, president of the Minneapolis Police Federation (MPF), wrote an op-ed piece for the Star Tribune arguing that the Minneapolis Police Department should not seek outside investigators when MPD officers use deadly force. The proposal of Chief Harteau to use the Bureau…
The 407 million dollar question for Hennepin County
BY LARA NORKUS-CRAMPTON, RN Is Hennepin County quietly rebuilding the aging downtown HERC Garbage Incinerator? Would this be the best investment of hundreds of millions of public dollars? Why not invest more in recycling programs? Shouldn’t the public be part of this discussion? A recent item appeared in the 12/10/13…
Queen of Cuisine “Chatter-worthy”
Charley’s Garden “Winter dreaming follows rhythms of land and sky”
LCC elects new officers
On Nov. 21, the Longfellow Community Council (LCC) elected a new president and vice president to its Board of Directors. Andrew Johnson, the former LCC president, won the Ward 12 City Council election in November, leaving a vacancy in the organization. Eric Day, LCC’s current vice president, was unanimously elected…
Burn, Baby, Burn
BY LARA NORKUS-CRAMPTON A recent report from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) makes a strong case that much more municipal solid waste could be recycled and composted. Commissioner John Stine made eloquent statements about the quantity of recyclable and compostable materials that were being inappropriately shipped to landfills. Not…