In this issue: Council Member Cashman speaking from the dais in a green sweater against a dark background -
Recent analyses have demonstrated that while violent crime in general continues to fall across Minneapolis and across the country, a notable exception to that trend was the rise in homicides from 72 in 2023 to 76 in 2024. We know that juveniles continue to play a major role in violent incidents, and it’s a major reason why these programs are undergoing added scrutiny. -
A lawsuit was filed against the City of Minneapolis stemming from the alleged mismanagement of contracts and the invoicing process within this still-growing department. -
At this time, nearly half of the staff positions in this department, including both the Department Director and GVI and YGVI program management role, are vacant. This suggests to me that there is work to be done to shore up operations and employee experience within this part of the City’s administration, so that the programs and partners carrying out this critical work in our communities can be successful. City Council has an oversight responsibility in our government structure, and I do think it is appropriate to take a deeper look at what is going on here, rather than to simply pretend that all is well. It continues to be a top priority of mine to see our violence prevention programs work effectively as a part of our comprehensive safety system. While Hennepin County is well-positioned with staffing levels and the necessary expertise to accept this body of work for 2025, I ultimately chose to oppose the measure; it was subsequently rescinded. It is a necessity that our Group Violence Intervention funding and contracts be in place and ready to launch in the spring before the anticipated uptick in summer crime, and based on my conversations with NSD staff, I believe they can make this happen despite current vacancies. Furthermore, the GVI and YGVI programs are just one piece of our larger violence prevention system, and I did not want to take the risk, however small, of disrupting the connectivity of the complementary initiatives in motion within the city enterprise.
In late 2023, Council dedicated funding for technical assistance to organizations and places of worship aimed at hate crime prevention. Yesterday Council approved the program guidelines, authorized form documents, and delegated authority to staff in CPED to distribute the funds via grants to eligible applicants. Soon, important Ward 7 institutions like Temple Israel and the Basilica of St. Mary will be eligible to take advantage of this opportunity to help ensure that their congregants feel as safe and secure as possible in those sacred spaces. I have worked to advance a street improvement project for GFS that honors the community who built an international racial justice movement in this space following a horrific public murder in 2020. The community deserves a pedestrianized space to gather for years to come. This is especially important given we have a racist President who is rolling back all of the hard fought justice reform work in recent years. Knowing that Trump is considering an appointment of Bob Kroll, the former President of the Police Officer's Federation of Minneapolis, to a U.S. Marshal position and pardoning Derek Chauvin, I think we need to be prepared for community protest and ensure our infrastructure can protect protesters from dangerous vehicles. Importantly, the former Speedway, now referred to as the People's Way, also has four community ownership proposals that we are in the process of reviewing. They will be presented in community on Feb. 24 at Sabathani Community Center. I look forward to delivering important investments in memorializing this space this Spring as we approach the five year anniversary of George Floyd's death. Council action on the boulevard ordinance will continue at the February 25 Committee of the Whole meeting. The authors, including myself, will keep working with Public Works, the Health Department, and the City Attorney’s Office on improving the language to make growing our own food less restrictive and more permissive. Council authorized grant agreements to fund business district revitalization activities for 2025-2026, and I was glad to see grant awards for nearly $38,000 going to two Uptown projects – the Uptown Farmers Market led by East Isles neighbors and the Uptown Association’s arts and marketing campaigns. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with community and business owners to build upon revitalization efforts like these for the Hennepin and Lake commercial corridor. No honorary resolutions were presented this Council cycle. Public hearings are officially confirmed when meeting agendas are published in the roughly 48 business hours prior to a scheduled meeting, so I recommend checking back on the respective links to verify the timeline. Find out more about participating in scheduled hearings and submitting a public comment or watch meetings on the City’s YouTube channel. City Planning Commission: February 24, 2025 | 4:30 pm | Public Service Center (250 S 4th St, Room 350) - 1302 Douglas Ave and 1716 Fremont Ave S – Application for a new residential structure with 8 dwelling units. (PLAN18994)
In each Ward 7 Newsletter, we include a question for constituents to weigh in on. Questions may be related to upcoming policy decisions, future planning, issue prioritization, community project ideas, and more. Today's question: We all know there is a lot to love about Ward 7. In honor of Valentine's Day, tell us something you love about your neighborhood. We'll share some of your responses on our social media channels next week. A graphic with a brightly colored abstract painting and the words "PRIDE Cultural Arts Center Open House" When: Saturday, February 15 from 12-4 p.m. Where: 1201 Harmon Place, Suite 104 A graphic with meeting details and a map of the blocks included in Critical Parking Area 15 in Loring Park The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is evaluating Critical Parking Areas throughout the city. These areas are commonly known as “resident permit zones.” In partnership with Citizens for a Loring Park Community, the Ward 7 Council Office and Public Works staff invite community members to join us at Brühaven Craft Co. (1368 LaSalle Ave) to ask questions and provide feedback about Critical Parking Area 15 visible on the map provided. This is the first of two meetings on this topic. Current Critical Parking permit holders are encouraged to attend. When: Wednesday, February 19 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Where: Brühaven Craft Co. (1368 LaSalle Ave) An aerial drawing of a potential redevelopment layout on the former Kmart site at Nicollet Ave and Lake St Final New Nicollet Redevelopment Open House The City is creating new places and opportunities on the former Kmart site in South Minneapolis. The final open house will showcase the ways extensive community input is shaping the project. Attendees can give feedback on the Development Framework and learn about next steps. Language interpretation will be available for Spanish and Somali. Free food and kids’ activities will be provided. Find the Development Framework starting Feb. 25 on the New Nicollet Redevelopment webpage. When: Tuesday, February 25 from 5-7 p.m. Where: Whittier International Elementary School, 315 W. 26th St. The Peoples’ Way The City recently held an open Request for Proposals for partner organizations with whom to redevelop the Peoples’ Way site at 3744 Chicago Ave. Four eligible applications were received: - Minnesota Agape Movement
- P3 Foundation (David’s Place)
- Rise & Remember
- Urban League Twin Cities
The City seeks community feedback in selecting a partner. The applicants will be presenting to the community, and all members of the public are invited to attend and share feedback. Food and refreshments will be provided. If you cannot come to the applicant presentations, you can choose from several events to meet with staff. Read more on the City website. When: Wednesday, February 26 from 5-8:30 p.m. Where: Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St. A photo of a dark gray kitten in the center of a wreath of dark and light pink tulips; credit: KME Photography In Minneapolis, all dogs, cats and ferrets four months or older must be current on rabies vaccinations, and owners must have a license. Pet licensing helps the City know where an animal lives and its vaccination status if lost. License fees for non-sterilized pets have been cut in half. The move is one of many that make pet ownership more affordable while helping safeguard both pets and the community. Sign up for vaccine appointments: We’re once again offering low-cost vaccinations by appointment every other Tuesday. Microchipping and one-year rabies and distemper vaccinations are $10 each. Vaccinations help stop easily prevented disease and illness in our community’s pets. A green, blue, and white event graphic with meeting details and a photo of Council Member Cashman Join us for our second Bryn Mawr “Coffee with Katie” event, this time at ModernWell! Are you a current or aspiring gardener? The City has been working on amendments to the ordinance governing use of boulevards with the goal of expanding the ability for the public to use them for gardening spaces. This month we will be joined by Grace Rude from the City’s Homegrown Minneapolis program to talk about these changes and answer your questions. “Coffee with Katie” is a monthly opportunity for Ward 7 constituents to share ideas and concerns with Council Member Cashman and one another. Attendees are invited to come and go as their schedule allows. Coffee and tea from a local business will be provided. When: Sunday, March 2 from 12-1:30 p.m. Where: ModernWell (2909 Wayzata Blvd) A photo of Council Member Cashman speaking in the City Hall rotunda with the Mayor and community members Sometimes the news can get us down, but there is a lot to be excited about in Minneapolis! This year we will be sure to call out some good news in each of our newsletters. Do you have some good news to share? Let us know by emailing ward7@minneapolismn.gov and including “Good News Round-up" in the subject line. - We are celebrating the signing of the City's new utility franchise agreements with Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy! This marks a major milestone for the work completed over the past year by the Ward 7 Office and those in other City departments.
- Minneapolis is taking center stage today with the premiere of the newest season of Netflix’s popular reality dating series “Love is Blind.” Grab your pals and check out one of the watch parties happening across town.
A photo of Council Members Cashman and Osman and 5th Precinct Inspector Nelson in front of seated attendees The Ward 7 team continues to get out in community to talk to neighbors and stakeholders where they are. Here are a few highlights from the past couple of weeks. - Joined the Lowry Hill, Cedar-Isles-Dean, and Bryn Mawr neighborhood association’s monthly meetings to share updates and collect feedback.
- Spoke to over 100 neighbors at Loring Green East about my work on the Council and initiatives specific to Downtown and Loring Park.
- Hosted a community town hall with an estimated 200 attendees in partnership with Ward 6 Council Member Jamal Osman to talk about safety and livability solutions in the Stevens Square-Loring Heights neighborhood and the Nicollet Ave corridor.
- Toured Homeward Bound Shelter in the Seward and the Mary F. Frey Opportunity Center in Elliot Park to learn more about their operations and needs.
- Participated in roundtable discussions at the City’s Community Connections Conference.
- Attended the opening event for the Kickernick Gallery’s newest exhibition.
To find out about what’s going on in your part of town, check out the nine neighborhood organizations working to keep folks connected and engaged in Ward 7: | 
