Saundra McCoy: Minnesota cold

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It is apparent that Twin Cities residents have taken into account the recent temperature change. It was only two weeks ago when high temperatures were in the 60s, and now with the arrival of Halloween we are witnessing temperatures in the 30s. We wait anxiously for the first snow to fall, which past history warns us can be any minute now. There are those who don’t mind the snow, but that is hard to say about the cold. Although, Minnesotans are accustom to it, we still prepare. Continue Reading

Rebecca Gagnon: From birth to college, MPS must provide quality every step of the way

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One morning a week for the past 5 years I’ve volunteered at a pre-K program in North Minneapolis sponsored by my church. For 2 ½ hours, myself, another volunteer and a teacher work with 10 to 15 four and five year olds to prepare them for kindergarten and provide them a solid footing to graduate from high school. Quality early childhood programs are a proven best practice to closing the achievement gap. MPS’s High Five pre-K program has expanded significantly since its inception almost a decade ago, and 82% of our students entering kindergarten with a High 5 experience are meeting or exceeding the standard benchmark for literacy. It is unconscionable that we continue to have a wait list of over 500 students and inadequate funding and space to meet the need.This is a Community Voices submission and is moderated but not edited. Continue Reading

Lee Samelson: Will Republicans get away with their economic sabotage?

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Since Barack Obama took office, Senate Republicans have used over 440 filibusters to block or kill even some of the most routine legislation. Come on Mainstream media, call it what it is: Republican economic sabotage and obstruction!This is a Community Voices submission and is moderated but not edited. The opinions expressed by Community Voices contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the TC Daily Planet.An example was in January, when they filibustered an extension of unemployment benefits which John Boehner refused to let the House of Representatives even take a vote on.Of course it is far more ideal for people to be successfully employed in work rather than living off of unemployment insurance or off of “government welfare”. However the Republicans routinely vote against jobs bills and infrastructure projects that would actually enable those jobs to become available. The Restore the American Dream for the 99% Act would have boosted employment by almost 2.3 million jobs in 2012 and almost 3.1 million jobs in 2013 if Republicans in Congress had not blocked it! Continue Reading

Lynnell Mickelsen: Why all the conspiracy theories and pearl-clutching in this year’s school board race?

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This has been the hottest school board race I’ve seen in 25 years of living in Minneapolis, with lots of conspiracy theories and pearl-clutching.This is a Community Voices submission and is moderated but not edited. The opinions expressed by Community Voices contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the TC Daily Planet.Many of my neighbors and friends see the furious posts on Facebook, with all the hysterical warnings about the imminent destruction of public education as we know it, and are honestly confused. They ask me what the hell is going on in this race.So here’s what I tell them.We put the school board race at the bottom of the ballot and often treat it like a homecoming king and queen contest. But Minneapolis Public Schools currently spends $784 million a year and employ 6,991 people….which I believe is more employees than the city of Minneapolis.Want to know more? Check out TC Daily Planet coverage of the 2014 Minneapolis School Board race.So we need to remind ourselves that we’re electing people to govern an operation that spends more than three-quarters of a billion dollars a year. Continue Reading

Father and son give the audience at Honey a sweet tooth with their live performance in Minneapolis

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“One more, one more, one more,” the crowd at Honey chanted after music artist Ellis Cleve performed his final song, which was a cover to Montell Jordan’s classic hit, “This Is How We Do It.”This is a Community Voices submission and is moderated but not edited. The opinions expressed by Community Voices contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the TC Daily Planet.Last Saturday, Oct. 25, St. Paul native Cleve performed with a full live band at Honey, in Minneapolis. Cleve’s band included a piano, guitar, a set of drums and bass player with one individual being responsible for each of those elements to make his music come to life. Continue Reading

John Denney: Don’t waste your vote, vote for a candidate who is guaranteed to represent you

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My name is John Denney and I am the Independence Party candidate running for Congress in the Sixth District of Minnesota. Unlike my opponents, Tom Emmer (R) and Joe Perske (D), ethics are the centerpiece of my campaign and only I can offer Minnesota voters a Guarantee they cannot refuse. So, while I agree with Chris Brazelton that Mr. Perske presents a “viable alternative” to Mr. Emmer, I must say that settling for a “viable alternative” will not cut it. I am the best choice for Minnesota on election day, I guarantee it.This is a Community Voices submission and is moderated but not edited. The opinions expressed by Community Voices contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the TC Daily Planet.Top Goal: Gain Appointment to Ethics CommitteeMy top goal upon election is to earn an appointment to the House Ethics Committee. Continue Reading

Tom Heuerman: The dearth of competency

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The everyday headlines about the lack of competence in our schools, churches, government, and organizations and institutions shake our confidence and belief that anyone can get things done right. Our personal and national zest for greatness appears exhausted and almost everywhere we look we see decline threaten our democracy and way of life.This is a Community Voices submission and is moderated but not edited. The opinions expressed by Community Voices contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the TC Daily Planet.Incompetence surrounds us. I fought for excellence and against incompetence at all levels throughout my 18 year career at the Star Tribune newspaper. Organizations were designed to keep good people down and the design works well. Continue Reading