This week’s news you can use: Election helpers, fall street sweeps & more!

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This week’s News You Can Use roundup covers everything from online election resources and fall street sweeping info, to health care and heating tips! Read on for details.This Week’s News You Can Use is a one-stop hub of articles and tips from News You Can Use — a section designated for helpful, everyday information –that you may have missed during the week. If you have a News You Can Use tip, please email editor@tcdailyplanet.net to help spread the word!  Election 2014: Voting Resources:Election time is here and there are new online developments to assist in the voting process.Barb Kucera reports on MNVotes, a new website launched by the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, where Minnesota voters can register online, request absentee ballots, find polling places, track absentee voting status and more.  Mary Treacy highlights two websites: MyBallot and State Smart. My Ballot is sponsored by e-democracy.org, and provides voters with a sample ballot and links to other resources. Continue Reading

Minnesota House candidate Yolandita Colón hopes to bridge party divide

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Yolandita Colón is a bit of an anomaly. On the one hand, she seems to stand for progressive causes like educational equality, meaningful immigration reform, improved housing for all, and human rights and social justice. On the other, she favors lowering taxes for businesses and business owners, and has very conservative stances on social issues such as abortion and same sex marriage.An evangelical minister, Colón isn’t following the typical trajectory for Latina candidates by seeking DFL endorsement. Instead, the 62A State Representative hopeful is running against incumbent Karen Clark as a candidate of the Independence Party. She said her platform will unify her constituents and find common ground between both major parties.“I want to bring unity,” Colón said. Continue Reading

Thoughts on Minneapolis’ proposed Accessory Dwelling Units ordinance

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Minneapolis folks, the draft ordinance for Accessory Dwelling Units is available! It’s like Christmas-come-early for urbanists. Ok, maybe not that extreme, maybe it’s more like President’s Day? I dunno. Either way, the pace that the city council and planning staff have moved this particular topic through to this point is very encouraging, as is the level of support (92%!) so far from Minneapolitans. That’s insane – I can’t imagine 92% of us agreeing on what color pavement our streets should be, so, good job! Continue Reading

How I would save the DEED house (2019 Aldrich Ave N)

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First things first, I wouldn’t actually save this house. Although I certainly would support anyone who might step up, there are other homes in need of my attention and this one doesn’t have enough going for it to be worth taking away from other preservation efforts. What follows is more of an exercise in fleshing out ways that such properties could be saved in the future. Continue Reading

Conservation districts are (still) a bad idea

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Minneapolis Conservation Districts are back in the news, and they look to have some broader support as the ordinance goes to a full city council next week. We’ve covered the topic at streets.mn before, with a dissenting take, some reasons to support them, and a fun podcast for those who hate reading. Even burgeoning news source The Wedge Times-Picayune picked up my annoying Twitter rant yesterday (side note: I’m still awaiting my signing bonus as an official correspondent). Continue Reading