Updates from Andrew

Yard waste pickup began this week. Rules can be found here

Spring Sweeping will begin the week of April 19th. Please watch for signs on your block or check the schedule to avoid a ticket or tow.

Developments in Ward 12:

• Please join me in welcoming Agrarian Seed and Garden to the ward! They are a new garden center in the Nokomis East neighborhood, located in the former Plantique building (5152 Hiawatha Ave)
• Lunds & Byerlys announced their opening date of May 20^th for their new Nokomis grocery location (Cedar Ave & Minnehaha Parkway)
• Construction began at 38th & Hiawatha on a 102-unit apartment building with 2,200 square feet of commercial space that was approved in February 2019

 
Trial updates:

I hope you are taking care of yourself. There is so much collective trauma associated with the trial, and it’s okay to not feel okay, or to have difficult days. Here are resources to help with taking care of your mental health during this moment we are in. Mental health also relates to physical health, so getting regular exercise, a full night’s sleep, eating nutritious foods, and avoiding alcohol and drugs are beneficial in dealing with stress. You may also find it helpful to take regular breaks from news media and social media, and to connect with friends and neighbors. Please remember to be kind to yourself and others.

The City announced this week awards of roughly $1 million to seven community organizations to provide positive outreach and support services during and after the trials of the former officers. These community organizations will support two-way communication between community and the City; provide informal de-escalation, mediation, and conflict resolution if needed; and share information about existing City and community resources.

You can watch this week’s briefing with updates here. You can also find information and updates related to the trial and preparation efforts on the City’s website here.
 

Crime updates:

Before I share the most recent statistics from MPD, it’s important to provide a few reminders when interpreting data:

1. Behind every number are real people and victims. There is no “normal” level of crime and even with positive trends we must continue working towards zero crime.
2. If we look at very short time periods, small geographic areas, and individual categories, we are likely to see a larger standard deviation. In other words, more statistical "noise" and substantial swings. Such data have their uses, but generally are not ideal for drawing conclusions about overall crime trends.

 So how are things looking?

Citywide, we can compare 2020 numbers through week 13 to 2021 through week 13. We are comparing the same time periods (a quarter of a year), which is important because it allows us to compare crime levels now to crime levels mostly before the pandemic began (in mid-March last year) and before George Floyd was killed (and the subsequent events that followed). National experts have reported that the pandemic is likely the biggest factor behind a significant rise in crime in cities across the nation last year. Another important note is that we have approximately 200 fewer officers today than last year due primarily to officers filing medical leaves (MPD is currently training additional recruit classes of officers).

When looking at this citywide dataset, overall violent crime is down this year 1.7% and overall property crime is down 17.4% (the lowest level in the past five years).

Year-to-date crime levels for Ward 12 are identical for violent crime, and down 9.4% for property crime.

As mentioned in #2, individual categories will deviate from the larger macro trends. For instance, group violence continues to be up significantly. And catalytic converter thefts are up significantly across Minneapolis and the Twin Cities metro. You can explore crime data here.

I know for some it may not feel like overall levels of crime are down compared to last year at this time, particularly for victims of crime, for users of certain websites and apps that dramatically increase the visibility and awareness of crime, and when some areas and categories continue to see elevated levels. Many are also on edge after the traumatic events of last year and worried about the trial outcome and what it may mean for our city. These are all real things and deserve acknowledgement. It is okay to feel how you feel. It’s also important to acknowledge that overall crime is trending lower, which is a positive thing, particularly considering the unprecedented challenges we faced last year that continue into this year. With additional investments in crime prevention, intervention, and alternative responses, we will continue working to eliminate crime and increasingly do so through addressing its root causes. More details on community safety work can be found here.
 

American Rescue Plan Act:

Cities across the nation have been reeling from the budgetary impacts of the pandemic. In Minneapolis, unprecedented revenue shortfalls forced budget cuts in every department at a time when the needs throughout our city grew. That is why, after a year of lobbying, we are so thankful to Congress and President Biden for passing the American Rescue Plan Act, which includes direct aid to cities. Minneapolis will receive approximately $281 million, allowing us to reverse some of the service reductions and help support many of the critical needs throughout our community as a result of the pandemic. Staff are currently working to formalize funding recommendations and a process to help get these funds to where they are most needed. I will keep you updated as this continues to develop.

 
U-Haul proposes self-storage facility and truck rental:

A few years ago, U-Haul proposed building a five-story self-storage facility and locating truck rental at 42nd and Hiawatha (the south east corner), however their plans did not meet the site requirements, so they were not approved. Now they are back again with revised plans. There will be a community meeting next Tuesday, which will be one of two opportunities for residents to weigh-in. If you have an opinion, please attend the meeting.
 

Charter amendment proposals:

Since the last newsletter, two developments have occurred:

1. The Charter Commission has approved putting a proposed charter amendment on the ballot this fall for voters to decide. The amendment would, among other things, provide whoever is Mayor with more power as a way to clarify roles. They are continuing to work on elements related to this proposal and I plan to share my thoughts in a future newsletter after their work is finalized. To review their language and supporting documents, click here.
    
2. A coalition of community organizations announced that they have achieved the number of petition signatures required to guarantee a charter amendment on the ballot this fall related to public safety. To review the language of their amendment, click here. Their language is similar to a proposed amendment brought forward by three council members which is currently being reviewed by the Charter Commission.

Proposed rent stabilization amendments are also being reviewed by the Charter Commission.

I will keep you updated as these continue to move through the process.

Finally, with each April comes two fun events. First, the 30 Days of Biking initiative. If you own a bicycle and are physically able to ride, it’s a good time to get out and see our city, enjoy the warmer weather, and be active. Second, Earth Day on April 22nd. It's the perfect time to set positive goals on how you can reduce your environmental footprint and help clean-up. I hope you will join me in these events if you are able to.

Hoping you enjoy the spring warm-up!