Mel Reeves

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Biography

About me

Mel Reeves is a free lance journalist and editor. HIs column, Mellaneous, is regularly published in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

South Minneapolis grandmother spared eviction by Occupy campaign

By Mel Reeves, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Supporters rally outside Gayle Lindsey’s home; Below, Gayle Lindsey with megaphone (Photos by Chris Juhn)

After a public pressure campaign led by Occupy Homes MN ’s Foreclosure and Eviction Free Zone, Gayle Lindsey, a nursing assistant and grandmother in South Minneapolis who was facing imminent eviction, has won an 11th-hour loan modification on her mortgage from M&T Bank. Lindsey bought the home in 2001 and was given an adjustable-rate loan that rose by a few hundred dollars last year.

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The Penumbra does it again — Austeen Van shines in SPUNK

By Mel Reeves, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Austene Van and T. Mychael Rambo share a dance, Javeeta Steele (background) sings in SPUNK playing now through April 14 at the Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul (Photo by Rich Ryan courtesy of the Penumbra Theatre)

The saying that “the more things change the more they remain the same,” can be aptly applied to the Penumbra, which can always be expected to put on top-notch theater. Its production of SPUNK is consistent with what folks have come to expect.

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Security workers' strike leads to contract agreement

By Mel Reeves, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

(l-r) Harrison Bullard and coworker (Photo courtesy of SEIU Local 26)

After going on a one-day strike, security officers from SEIU Local 26 came to a contract agreement with local security companies. “We were striking for better healthcare benefits, job security and better pay. You could say we were fighting to move our members out of poverty,” said Harrison Bullard, executive vice president of SEIU local 26.

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OPINION | Missing from conversation: Black youth, the most likely victims of gun violence

By Mel Reeves, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

President Barack Obama’s visit to Minneapolis last week to discuss gun control and solutions to limit gun violence left more questions unanswered about the country’s commitment to ending gun violence. It also further exposed the disconnect between the Black community’s desire to see gun violence addressed in urban neighborhoods and the White House’s desire to respond to mass shootings such as occurred in Newtown, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado.

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FREE SPEECH ZONE | Occupy the Hood 2nd Annual Martin Luther King Day march/rally for jobs, justice, housing

By Mel Reeves, Free Speech Zone

The MLK birthday too often celebrates the MLK of the “I have a dream” speech. But Dr.

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OPINION | Stadium equity plan not yet a reality: Is a 32 percent people-of-color workforce goal overly optimistic?

By Mel Reeves, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

The plans are in full swing for the new $975 million Vikings stadium. And yet again many in the Black community hold out hope that the economic stimulus the stadium promises to provide will benefit them as well.

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OPINION | Sandy Hook tragedy exposes a tragic double standard

By Mel Reeves, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

There were some things about the coverage of the Sandy Hook shootings in Newtown, Connecticut that gave me pause and should give all of us pause.

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OPINION | Green Central enters new school year amid controversy

By Mel Reeves, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

“The Developmental Dual Language [DDL] program at Green [Central School] is a new approach, and starting new things — moving out of a comfort zone — is always a little threatening.

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OPINION | Target is targeted for hiring practices

By Mel Reeves, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

At first glance it may seem that Take Action Minnesota’s efforts to encourage companies, particularly the Target Corporation, to hire ex-felons is misdirected.

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As Vikings stadium bill gets lawmakers’ attention,"People’s Hearing" takes on Minnesota housing crisis

By Mel Reeves, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Last week, on the same day that the Minnesota legislature held its public hearing on whether the Minnesota Vikings football team should have a new stadium built with the help of public funds, a hou

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