2/24/2025 -- Safety Traffic Cameras Coming Soon To Minneapolis

🚗 A car stuck in the ice in White Bear Lake is becoming a viral attraction.

Safety

Minneapolis to Launch Traffic Camera Pilot Program in August 2025 to Enhance Road Safety

The Summary: Minneapolis is set to launch a traffic camera pilot program in August 2025, aimed at reducing speeding and improving pedestrian safety. The program, approved by lawmakers in 2024, will run until 2029.

Camera Locations and Criteria: Minneapolis Public Works has identified 51 potential locations for camera installation. State law requires cameras to be within 2,000 feet of a school, address traffic safety concerns, and be fairly distributed across the city. Community feedback will help determine final placements.

Enforcement and Penalties: First-time violations will result in a warning. Subsequent speeding citations will cost $40 for driving 10+ mph over the limit, doubling to $80 for 20+ mph over.

Privacy and Legal Considerations: Cameras will only capture license plate images and cannot identify individuals. Violations won't appear on driving records or lead to license suspension.

Expected Impact: According to a 2023 MnDOT study, similar camera systems have shown reductions in deaths, injuries, crashes, and speeds. Studies have found a 19-56% reduction in severe or fatal crashes using this technology.

Minneapolis

Mayor Jacob Frey Vetoes City Council's Plan for Pedestrian Plaza at George Floyd Square

The Summary: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed the City Council's plan to explore creating a pedestrian-only mall at George Floyd Square. This decision marks the latest development in an ongoing disagreement between the mayor and the council regarding the future of the intersection.

Competing Visions: The mayor supports a plan for road reconstruction that would allow traffic to return while incorporating flexible design elements. In contrast, the City Council voted 9-4 to direct staff to evaluate concepts for a pedestrian mall, which would close part of Chicago Avenue to vehicles.

Mayor's Rationale: Frey argues that pursuing the pedestrian mall plan would delay progress for at least a year and potentially never be accomplished due to lack of community support. He also believes it would require significant time and resources.

Alternative Proposal: Frey is urging the council to approve the city staff's plan, which includes repaving roads open to cars, adding bike lanes and green spaces, and designating areas for future memorials.

What Else We’re Reading…

Trump Administration Shuts Down National Police Misconduct Database, a Reform Effort Inspired by George Floyd's Death

President Trump's administration has shut down the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), a resource that tracked misconduct by federal police officers. The database was initially proposed by Trump in 2020 following the death of George Floyd, but it was not implemented until 2023 under President Biden. The NLEAD aimed to prevent officers with misconduct records from moving between agencies undetected, but its elimination has been criticized for undermining police accountability and public safety reforms that were sparked by Floyd's death and other high-profile cases of police brutality.

GAME: Mini Crossword

Sports 🏒

🏒 Hill-Murray and Dodge County were crowned state champions in girls high school hockey.

🏒 The Minnesota Wild defeated the Detroit Red Wings thanks to a goal from Marco Rossi with just one minute remaining in overtime.

🏀 The Gopher Men’s Basketball team lost a tough one at home against Penn State, the worst team in the Big 10.

🏒 The Gopher Men’s Hockey Team picked up a big sweep of Ohio State to catapult them into first place in the Big 10 standings.

🏒 The Gopher Women’s Hockey Team swept Minnesota Duluth to close out their regular season. They head into the postseason ranked #4 in the country.

Quick hits

Headlines From Around The Twin Cities & Greater Minnesota ✔

❯ The alleged ring leader of St. Paul copper thefts has pled guilty (WCCO)

❯ Some pranksters have changed the name of the Mall of America on Google Maps (Daily Boulder)

❯ Two passengers from the crashed Delta flight have filed lawsuits (Kare11)

❯ Minnesota has joined a new lawsuit challenging constitutional authority of Elon Musk and DOGE (Minnesota Reformer)

The Final Word: Support For Paperback Exchange 📚

Last week I told you about the The Paperback Exchange, a beloved Minneapolis bookstore that suffered a devastating loss when a water main break flooded its basement and part of the main floor, destroying over 100,000 books. The bookstore has been forced to close temporarily, leaving its five employees without work.

An official GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover immediate expenses and potentially revive the business.

-Patrick