4/1/2024 -- Public Weighs In On George Floyd Square

Minneapolis

The Future of George Floyd Square

The Summary: Nearly four years post the George Floyd murder, Minneapolis is contemplating the long-term future of "George Floyd Square," seeking community input.

Community Engagement: The city hosted a gathering this past week for community members to share feedback on the square's future. Community members express a range of emotions and opinions, from frustration over delays to appreciation for the unity and solidarity felt at the square.

Square Redesign: The focus is on redesigning streets and sidewalks and finding a "community-centered owner" for the former gas station site at 38th and Chicago, now known as the "People's Way." Mayor Jacob Frey has pledged no traffic at the spot of Floyd's death, leaving other decisions open for public input.

Next Steps: Minneapolis will continue to hold community engagement sessions with the hopes of having a plan for the square by the end of 2024.

Transportation

Rideshare Companies Start Making Plans To Enter Twin Cities Market 🚗

The Summary: With Uber and Lyft's looming departure from Minneapolis on May 1st, two rival apps are exploring entry into the market, potentially offering alternative options for drivers and riders.

Emerging Competitors: Both the Drivers Cooperative and Hitch have initiated efforts to attract drivers and passengers, although neither has applied for a license to operate in Minneapolis yet. At an event backed by the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association, a few hundred drivers signed up for these alternatives.

Support for New Entrants: MULDA President Eid Ali expressed support for alternative service providers, emphasizing the importance of multiple options for riders and the overall health of the transportation infrastructure.

Ongoing Developments: As of the latest update, two rideshare companies have applied for a TNC license in Minneapolis, with the approval process typically taking two to six weeks.

Government

Top 3 Takeaways from Tim Walz’s State of the State Address ✔

Last week, Tim Walz gave his annual state of the state address from the recently remodeled Owatonna High School. Here are the top five takeaways from his address:

1. Focus on Public Safety: In the wake of recent tragedies involving firearms, Walz underscored the importance of addressing gun violence. He urged for comprehensive measures to enhance public safety, stressing the need for legislative action to prevent future incidents.

2. Defending Abortion Rights: Walz condemned recent moves in other states to restrict access to abortion rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. He criticized these efforts as detrimental to reproductive rights and highlighted the importance of defending reproductive healthcare access.

3. Pursuit of Bipartisanship: Despite partisan differences, Walz called for bipartisanship in addressing key issues facing Minnesota. He highlighted the need for collaboration in passing a bonding bill for infrastructure projects and addressing critical needs such as emergency medical services.

What Else We’re Reading…

"It's time to pass the baton, man. It's time to pass it." -Alex Rodriguez

The drama is continuing to unfold between Timberwolves majority Glen Taylor and minority owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore (catch up in our last newsletter). Since then, Marc Lore and A-Rod went on the Dana Moore Podcast where they expressed strong words and disappointment in Glen Taylor’s decision to no longer sell the team.

According to A-Rod: “We’ve done everything we needed to do…when it’s time for him to hand the ball over to us, he say’s wait a minute…I [Glen Taylor] want to change everything.”

Sports

⚾ Twins Win: The Minnesota Twins won their opening series on the road against the Kansas City Royals. However, Royce Lewis injured his quad in the first game and is expected to be out for at least a month.

🏀 Still Dancing: The Gopher women’s basketball team became one of the final 8 teams remaining in the WNIT after defeating NDSU. They will face Wyoming tonight at 7pm.

🏆 MSU Mankato Crowned: Both the men’s and women’s Minnesota State Mankato basketball teams were crowned the NCAA Division II National Champions over the weekend. The men’s team won in dramatic fashion with a buzzer beater three pointer.

Quick hits

Headlines From Around The Twin Cities ✔

❯ The Saint Paul Saints received pushback after naming their pig mascot “Ozempig.” The team has said the name is here to stay (MPR)

❯ Construction on Hennepin Avenue is set to begin in Uptown on Monday (WCCO)

❯ Have you noticed more people raising chickens in their backyards? Since the pandemic, more Minnesotans have started owning chickens as pets (Axios)

❯ A Minneapolis woman won over $100k on Wheel of Fortune recently (CBS)

❯ Two Burnsville police officers were injured in an hourslong standoff on Saturday (Star Tribune)

Beyond the Twin Cities

Headlines From Greater Minnesota ✔

❯ The oldest Dairy Queen in the state is up for sale in Rochester for $1.4M (Bring Me The News)

❯ Minnesota Republicans are calling for religious exemptions in hiring transgender employees (Kare11)

❯ A new report says tax breaks for Minnesota hospitals, including Mayo, outweigh community benefit (Star Tribune)

The Final Word: Is it that hard to pronounce Minneapolis?

I’ll admit, I watched the Bachelor this season and during the final episode they showed a blooper of Joey (the bachelor) trying to pronounce Minneapolis. Of all the cities in Minnesota, I figured this would be one of the easier ones to pronounce.

-Patrick