Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/jeff-skrenes/page/5/)
I went into Saturday’s Minneapolis DFL convention as a strong Schiff supporter, and we all know how that turned out by now. So what follows is not neutral, although I’ll do my best to be even-handed. Continue Reading
The City of Minneapolis has recently examined the prospect of purchasing 3019 Logan Avenue North, likely for the purpose of demolition and banking the land for future development. I had argued that, based on the city’s own report of a $15,000 – $50,000 price tag for bringing the house back up to code, rehab was an option worth exploring. The Jordan Area Community Council supported the city’s acquisition, but asked that approved development partners be given a chance to rehab this house if they wanted. That was a fair compromise for this preservationist. Continue Reading
A funny thing happened to me at the Ward 5 DFL convention: I was almost elected chair. Ok, so “almost” is too strong a word, as the vote wasn’t all that close. But I was nominated, and in spite of not having run a campaign for the position, or even having thought about doing so until Saturday, I did get a surprising number of people who voted for me. Continue Reading
I am not a fan of ranked choice voting, and Saturday’s Ward Five convention did nothing to endear me to this new process. Continue Reading
Although I’ve been an active caucus-goer for about as long as I can remember, it was only last year that I decided to take the plunge and get involved in a sub-committee. I picked the resolutions committee, because I was working on a resolution against Northern Metals at the time. I gained a deeper respect for the grinding work it takes to slog through such political minutiae, and decided that I’d put in my time for the next decade or so. Continue Reading
There are times when I’m asked how it is that I seem to have a different reason for keeping a house from demolition each time the prospect comes up. Well, it’s because there are so many more reasons to save a house than there are reasons to tear it down. A case in point is 3019 Knox Avenue North, pictured above. Continue Reading
The DFL held its precinct caucuses this last week, and for the first time in recent memory Minneapolis did not entertain resolutions as part of the process. Although in a previous post I poked fun at resolutions as a confusing part of an evening that has its share of eccentricities, resolutions are an important piece of how political values are set. The reason we were given for the lack of resolutions was that since this is an odd-numbered year with no senate district or statewide conventions, resolutions have “nowhere to go.” But I keep on subtracting four years from 2013, and as far back as I can go, the years always seem to come as odd numbers. And we’ve done these in previous city elections, so what gives? Continue Reading
On Tuesday, April 16, most Minnesota political parties will be holding their precinct caucuses. For the political neophytes, which is most of us, the precinct confusing and counter-intuitive. Well, I’m here to help. By the end of this blog post, you will realize that, far from being confusing and counter-intuitive, the precinct caucus system is actually quite tedious and nonsensical. But at least you’ll know how to slog through one and why they’re important. Continue Reading
Last week the sale of 1522 Hillside Avenue North cleared one of the final hurdles before Nicole Curtis can begin restoration of this historic property. Council member Goodman called the sale a “no-brainer,” and initiated a 20-minute discussion about how to preserve more houses and engage the private market in a better way. The motion for 1522 carried unanimously, but the preceding discussion marked what could be a sea change in city disposition of boarded and vacant properties. Continue Reading
In past elections, this blog has been used as a platform to endorse specific candidates. This year, or at the very least this early on in the campaign season, I’m trying a different approach. Because ranked-choice voting and a lack of an incumbent running for either mayor or the fifth ward, a large number of candidates are expected to stay in the running for those seats for much of the election. Instead of openly endorsing anyone here, I plan to lay out issues that are important to me and hopefully pertinent to north Minneapolis as well. In that way, more candidates will craft their strategies around these issues. Continue Reading