NEIGHBORHOOD MATTERS
JUNE 2020
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“It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.”
― Doe Zantamata
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All Union Park District Council meetings will be hosted online using ZOOM to do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Anyone is welcome to participate remotely!
To view the events calendar, click here!
If you or someone you know is being impacted by COVID-19, please reach out to either of our staff (Brandon Long, 651-645-6887, brandon@unionparkdc.org Abdulrahman Wako, 651-645-6887, wako@unionparkdc.org ) to help navigate/find resources that may be needed during this time and click the image below to see our COVID-19 resource page.
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Union Park Solidarity Fund
The Union Park Solidarity Fund is a grassroots fundraising effort to provide economic relief for renters in Saint Paul, MN's Union Park Neighborhoods who are otherwise unable to access state/federal resources due to academic status, and for low-wage renters who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today more than ever, we need your support to help us meet the needs of many who are experiencing income shortages due to the COVID-19.
The Union Park neighborhood is not only home to the largest affordable housing complex this side of Chicago (Skyline), but it is also full of young student renters who do not qualify for federal or state assistance.
 We know that our communities are strong, and have survived and will survive and flourish through hard times. We know that we can show up for one-another and redistribute resources in a spirit of abundance. We hope to facilitate mutual aid between neighbors because we are all connected, and we truly all do better when we all do better.
Please donate today so our families can access emergency financial assistance. Our staff are currently assisting affected families and individuals and need emergency resources for those who don’t have access to any public support.
We are hoping to raise $15,000 to assist 30 residents/families in need with their rent. The West Side Community Organization is engaged in a similar effort and has so far raised $30,000 for rent relief. We are currently at just under $4,000 so we have a great start but we can really use your help! We can't do it without you!
We will open this fund to applications in the coming weeks, eligible applicants will be awarded funds through a lottery process.
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COVID-19 Resources
Free Testing
There will be free testing for COVID-19 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout June from noon to 6 P.M. Anyone can get tested, regardless of symptoms or whether or not they have insurance.
Key Messages:
- Pre-registering for a time slot helps us keep wait times short and give people plenty of space.
- The registration form is available in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali. There will be Hmong, Spanish and Somali interpreters on site. For other languages there will be phone interpreters through Language Line.
- Registration is available on site but you will STILL NEED to sign up for a time slot when they arrive on site if there are still slots available.
Testing Sites Locations:
- Jimmy Lee Recreation Center, 270 Lexington Parkway North, St. Paul, MN 55104
- Drive-through testing available
- Holy Trinity Church, 2730 East 31st Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406
- Sabathani Community Center, 310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55409
- Drive-through testing available
- New Salem Baptist Church, 2507 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411
$325 per child for families who are eligible for free and reduced school lunches
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is a temporary benefit available for families receiving free and reduced price meals when school is open.
Deadline to apply for extra benefits is June 30, 2020. Families already receiving SNAP of MFIP benefits should have seen this on their card. If you haven’t yet contact your caseworker.
- Complete the online application between June 8, 2020, and June 30, 2020.
- Second Harvest Heartland SNAP Outreach can help you complete this application, just call (651) 209-7963 or (844) 764-5513.
- Hunger Solutions can also help you complete this application or if you have questions about P-EBT or other food resources, you can call the Minnesota Food HelpLine 888-711-1151.
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Executive Order to Wear Face Masks
The mayor of St. Paul signed an executive order on May 27th about wearing face masks in public.
Regulations
- Individuals At City-Controlled Property: Must wear a face covering at all times when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not maintained.
- Businesses Licensed By the City of Saint Paul: Must require all Individuals to wear a face covering at all times when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not maintained.
- All Businesses: Strongly encouraged to include in their COVID-19 Preparedness Plan under Governor Walz’ Executive Order 20-56 a requirement that all individuals wear a face covering at all times when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not maintained.
Terms
- Individual: all persons except young children at risk of suffocation and persons who cannot medically tolerate wearing a face covering.
- Controlled Property: includes park facilities, libraries, and City offices and workplaces.
- Face Covering: includes manufactured or homemade cloth face coverings. Face coverings must fully cover an individual’s nose and mouth. Face coverings are not required to be medical-grade masks.
Enforcement
- Any Individual who fails to comply with this requirement will be asked to leave any city-controlled property. Any individual who subsequently refuses to leave said property upon request will be deemed to be trespassing and may be subject to criminal penalties as provided by law.
- Any business licensed by the City of Saint Paul found in violation of this requirement may face adverse licensing action and penalties under Chapter 310 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code.
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Midway United Fund
NUFC Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grants.
 In August 2016, the Saint Paul City Council passed Resolution 16-1407: “Committing to Community Benefits at the Snelling-Midway Redevelopment Site.” For three years, residents and community leaders collaborated to create a resource the neighborhood surrounding Allianz Field can draw from to improve and strengthen the area for years to come: Neighbors United Funding Collaborative was the result of this three-year process.
For six months the Community Benefits Fund Task Force (composed of both Union Park District Council and Hamline Midway Coalition) gathered from residents and business owners’ thoughts, ideas and aspirations for the creation of this community benefits fund and what it might support, including nearly 900 neighborhood comments during community outreach.
Focusing on preventing displacement and supporting small and immigrant/POCI-owned businesses was a priority for just over half of the inputs (478). More aesthetic categories like placemaking, beautification, public art, and sanitation were a priority for just under half of the inputs (402).
The community’s priorities were then organized as follows:
- Support local business
- Placemaking and wayfinding
- Investing in public art
In these uncertain  and unprecedented times, the NUFC is proud to announce the creation of its first big initiative, Midway United, as its first round of neighborhood grants. Midway United is an emergency relief fund for Midway and Union Park small businesses and retail-based nonprofits facing immense challenges in the realities of COVID-19. The fund will make grants available to qualifying small businesses and some non-profits within a half-mile of Allianz Field. Each approved application will receive $2,500 in grant funds to use for any business expenses. The first round of applications were submitted from May 4th to May 11th and with more financial support from donors big and small we hope we can open another round. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, click here.
“Our small businesses are hurting due to the Pandemic. We are very proud of our turnaround for these funds to assist in the critical financial needs facing so many businesses closed, largely without income, for nearly two months. The health of our small business community is crucial for the well-being of the community and we recognize the need to act quickly,” said Brandon Long, Executive Director of the Union Park District Council.
The NUFC is honored to have already received over $1,000,000 in donations from organizations like Minnesota United, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, Hamline University, Concordia-Saint Paul, and the Dark Clouds Supporters Group. Individuals and groups interested in contributing to the fund can learn more here and contact info@midwayunited.org.
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Additional Resources for Small Businesses
Join Pay It Forward, a program providing free assistance to local businesses by helping them navigate COVID-19 grant and loan relief opportunities. The program connects volunteer financial professionals with small business owners in Saint Paul and suburban Ramsey County who are seeking assistance. You can apply to be a volunteer, or if you or someone you know would like guidance you can request a mentor.
SMALL BUSINESS FUNDS
Ramsey County is providing emergency assistance to small local businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are being accepted for the Small Business Relief Fund, providing grants of $7,500 to small businesses most in need of support. The first round of awards, open through June 12, includes 670 grants being awarded to help businesses with 20 or fewer employees pay for critical expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and costs associated with the reopening. Subsequent grant periods will be announced in the weeks ahead.
Funding for the Small Business Relief Fund is provided through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Relief Fund will be administered by the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers’ Open to Business program.
Free Legal Advice
Additionally, Fredrikson & Byron , a law firm partner of NDC, are offering free legal advice to Twin Cities business owners who have experienced property damage due to civil unrest. They will provide free, brief advice for any business regardless of income, but will follow their income guidelines assessment to determine whether a business owner qualifies for full pro bono representation. Business owners can request their advice in by either:
- Calling 612-492-8078 and leave a message in English or Spanish
- Filling out an online form
Please give as much information as possible, including any parties related to your request, such as the landlord's name and the bank of loan holder, when you do either of these options!
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Nominate a Neighbor for Assistance or Appreciation!
We know that Minnesotans are sometimes too shy to ask for help or assistance—and we know that everyone could use some extra cheering-up during this time. Use this form to nominate a Union Park neighbor for a helping hand or act of appreciation! A board or staff member will follow up with details, and UPDC staff and volunteers will help coordinate efforts to make an act of kindness happen. Questions? Email ellen@unionparkdc.org.
Assistance: Meeting basic needs. Nominate a neighbor for an extra bag of groceries, homemade masks, or kids' activity supplies.
Appreciation: An extra act of kindness. Great for essential workers, those living alone, or someone with a special occasion coming up. Nominate a neighbor for a sidewalk chalk decoration, a small birthday surprise, or a thank-you for being an essential worker.
Remember—if you think a neighbor is in need of emergency help, call 911. The non-emergency number for St. Paul is 651-767-0640.
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Parks, Trails, and Some Recreational Amenities are Open
- Our parks, trails, open spaces, dog parks and athletic fields are open, with restrictions.
- Some golf courses are open, with restrictions.
- Some tennis and basketball courts are open as part of our Recreation Engagement Crew (R.E.C.) Pilot Program. Due to limited staff availability, we cannot open all court locations at this time. We will begin to reopen more locations when it is determined that we can do so safely.
- Prior to your visit, please click the links above for the most up-to-date information and guidelines.
Some Recreational Amenities are Closed
- Public buildings, including recreation and community centers, municipal athletic facilities, Great River Water Park, and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
- Sports courts that are not part of the Recreation Engagement Crew (R.E.C.) Pilot Program
- Skate parks - opening soon
- Restrooms - portable toilets are available
- Drinking fountains - please bring a water bottle
Fall Youth Sports Registration
We are moving our fall youth sports registration period from June 1-30 to July 1-31.
Digital and Alternative Programming Opportunities
We continue to explore alternative programming options and new ways to engage with the community during this time. Check out a few of our current offerings below, and stay tuned for more opportunities to come.
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S.A.F.E. Housing Tenant Protections
 The S.A.F.E. Housing Tenant Protections are five stable, accessible, fair, and equitable policies for the City of Saint Paul that cover:
- Tenant Rights and Responsibilities Information
- Security Deposit Limits
- Tenant Screening Guidelines
- Just Cause Notices (read more below)
- Advance Notices of Sale
This Ordinance will be voted on by city council on June 17th. You can also let the city council know your opinions on the ordinance by submitting a short public comment on Legistar and/or by emailing your city council member: Mitra Jellail Nelson, Dai Thao
Just Cause Notice FAQs
What problem is just cause even trying to solve?
-People think that tenants only lose their homes during a formal eviction process. But informal evictions - where someone is forced to leave their home on short notice when a lease isn’t renewed - can account for twice as much displacement as the formal, legal eviction process. Right now, a tenant can be forced to leave within 30 days without any idea of why it happened, creating even greater instability. Just cause notice simply requires that a tenant is notified of the reason why their lease is not renewed. The reason must be included in the city’s list of just causes.
Won’t this prevent landlords from kicking out bad tenants?
-If a tenant is not doing anything wrong, they should not be forced to leave their home. If they are doing something wrong that is spelled out in their lease, such as not paying rent or engaging in criminal activity, they can still be evicted or asked to leave at the end of that lease.
Won't just cause notice hurt other good tenants?
-Just cause notice does not impact the formal eviction process for situations that are more imminently dangerous and does not impair a landlord’s duty to maintain a safe place for people to call home. If a tenant is causing significant or dangerous problems for other tenants in the building, it would be a rationale for either an eviction action or would be just cause for a nonrenewal of the lease agreement at the end of the tenancy.
Isn’t just cause notice forcing landlords into a contract?
-Just cause notice does not force anyone to continue renting to a tenant. It simply requires that they provide the reason for non-renewing a tenant’s lease. Just cause notice does not force anyone to continue renting to a tenant. It simply requires that they provide the reason for non-renewing a tenant’s lease.
Won't a landlord just jack up rent to push the tenant out?
-Tenants already face arbitrary and extreme rent increases from bad actors in our housing system. Just cause notice is not designed to single-handedly solve that issue. It's meant to reduce displacement and improve housing stability. Retaliatory rent increases are also illegal! If rents are still being raised dramatically as a way to force residents out of their home, it's likely the city needs to pursue policies even more aggressive than just cause notice, such as rent stabilization.
Why should landlords have to document why they don't renew a lease? It seems like too much work.
-It is not too much to ask for a landlord to document wrongdoing if the result is losing their home. Just cause notice is fundamentally about shifting the burden of proof onto landlords, who already wield tremendous discretionary power over the housing of a future tenant. Tenants deserve protection against the inherent power imbalance between a landlord and tenant, and just cause notice helps rectify that through simply asking landlords to provide clear documentation of a just cause for termination. Landlords operate a business, just as restaurant owners have to follow regulations, landlords do as well.
Is there any data showing that this policy is effective?
-Yes, sixteen cities and three states have just cause policy notices, including Seattle, Oakland, San Diego, Berkeley, New York City, Oregon, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. In Minnesota, many for-profit and non-profit landlords are already covered by just cause requirements, including owners of legally binding affordable housing and manufactured home parks. Studies of cities in California that have had Just Cause policies for more than a decade show that people being displaced from their homes has dropped by as much as eighty percent, helping to increase housing stability.
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Jewish Family Service of St. Paul Community Support Program
 The Community Support Program assists individuals in managing emotional distress caused or intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. JFS therapists are offering three 20-minute phone calls to improve the caller’s sense of well-being and feel more emotionally secure.
During these challenging times, we are all constantly adjusting the way we live in order to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our communities safe. While our actions are slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we are also facing increased stress, worry, sadness and fear. One of the most difficult aspects of the current crisis is figuring out how to cope as we are faced with such different circumstances, concerns and needs. 
As we navigate through each phase of the pandemic, new feelings of anxiety, angst, and isolation may arise. Through Community Support Program phone calls, JFS therapists will help clients gain a better sense of control, identify coping skills, and feel more emotionally grounded.
Contact Sara Wellington, Therapist and Mental Health Counselor at (651) 239-4756 or swellington@jfssp.org. There is no fee for this service; however, donations to the program are appreciated.
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Our virtual phonebank campaign to encourage Minnesotans to participate in the 2020 Census, is picking up steam. This is an effective, efficient process for reaching people at this time when in-person engagement activities are discouraged. Since launching the virtual phonebank on April 29, we’ve made over 38,000 phone calls and had over 5,700 conversations about the census.
We are making great progress. But we must and can do more. Census workers won’t start knocking on doors until mid-August, and more than 30% of households in our state still need to complete the census. We need your help in reaching these people sooner than later.
To make the most of the virtual dialer, we need to increase our capacity. We need more people to make calls into communities they care about, and we need more numbers to dial. That’s where you come in.
- Sign up for shifts on the virtual dialer. People like you – people who care about the census – are the best volunteers we could ask for. Each week, we have afternoon shifts Monday through Friday, and evening shifts Sunday through Thursday. This is something you can do from the comfort and safety of your own home. Please join us for a few hours on the phones; your commitment will help us talk to more Minnesotans. This online form makes it quick and easy to sign up.
If you are interested in joining the Neighborhood Involvement Committee in making calls virtual as a group please email Wako@unioonparkdc.org
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Recycling and Trash Cart Replacement
If your recycling or trash cart has been damaged  or gone missing, it can be repaired or replaced.
For recycling cart repair or replacement please contact Eureka Recycling, 651-222-7678.
For trash cart repair or replacement, please contact your trash hauler directly, which can be found here.
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Get Updates and Stay Informed!
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