In the 2017 election, the Minneapolis government experienced the largest shakeup in local government in recent history. Along with new mayor, Jacob Frey, the city council received five new members as well. With a new progressive majority on the City Council, local advocates are looking forward to the next four years but also realize they can’t be complacent in holding candidates accountable. Alex Boutrous, president of the Minnesota Young DFL (MYDFL) is feeling positive about the potential for change. “We have this very young and progressive council who is really committed to doing this work and really moving our city forward in creative ways,” said Boutrous. Continue Reading
On Nov. 15, 2016, one year after the death of Jamar Clark, Nekima Levy-Pounds stood before the Minneapolis Police Department’s Fourth Precinct and announced her candidacy for mayor. Continue Reading
On April 4, residents from across the city arrived at high schools and recreation centers for Minneapolis’ 2017 DFL caucus. They came in support of candidates for mayor, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, City Council and even the Board of Estimate and Taxation to decide who would get the benefit of the DFL political machine this November. Continue Reading
The morning after the 2016 presidential elections, Samantha Pree-Stinson, a resident of Northeast Minneapolis was confronted by a truck of all male passengers spewing racial slurs directly at her. Continue Reading
We focused on these seven candidates – Jillia Pessenda, Samantha Pree-Stinson, Phillipe Cunningham, Raeisha Williams, Jeremiah Ellison, Andrea Jenkins and Erica Mauter – because they bring in terms of race, gender identity and sexual orientation, an unprecedented level of diversity to the 2017 elections. Continue Reading
In less than two years, the Fight for $15 movement has drastically altered the political landscape in Minneapolis and won over residents, with over 68 percent asserting their unwavering support of a $15 minimum wage ordinance for all workers by 2022. Continue Reading
The majority of the Minneapolis City Council is out of step with the people of the city. Led by Council President Barb Johnson, the majority say they can’t imagine a $15 per hour minimum wage for Minneapolis. Compare that to the 82 percent (poll) of likely voters who think $15 is a good idea, according to a recent polling performed by SEIU of likely voters in Minneapolis. Continue Reading
Earlier this month, the Minneapolis City Council adopted a resolution that originally would have banned city-funded travel to Indiana, but quickly changed it to a resolution calling on Indiana and 27 other states to adopt protections for LGBT people.Council President Barb Johnson was planning to offer a resolution that would have stopped city employees from traveling to Indiana on the city’s payroll due to that state’s new “religious freedom” law. A copy of that resolution can be found here: [PDF]. However, on Thursday, Indiana’s legislature passed, and Gov. Mike Pence signed, an amendment that for the first time in Indiana’s history offers some protection for LGBT people. The amendment keeps intact nondiscrimination laws in Indiana municipalities, but does not extend nondiscrimination across the state.The changes to the religious freedom law states that the statute does not:(1) authorize a provider to refuse to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing to any member of the general public on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or United States military service; (2) establish a defense to a civil action or criminal prosecution for refusal to provide such services; or (3) negate any rights available under the constitution of the State of IndianaJohnson offered a substitute resolution on Friday that acknowledges the change to Indiana’s law, but also criticizes it for not going far enough.It says [PDF]:Whereas, the State of Indiana, along with twenty-seven other states in the nation, offer no protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens, leaving these people exposed to discrimination in a variety of ways everyday of their lives;Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by The City Council of The City of Minneapolis: That the Minneapolis City Council hereby affirms the City’s commitment to civil rights and ensuring equity for all people in Minneapolis and beyond and calls on the State of Indiana as well as the other twenty-seven states in the nation which offer no protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens, to establish this group of people as a protected class and put into place these protections as quickly as possible and to then vigorously enforce and protect the civil rights of all people within their borders regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected class status and to prevent discrimination against any protected group.Minneapolis city attorney Susan Segal explained the changes:“With this addition to the law, I think that it largely corrects the concerns and objections that have been raised nationally. There still is not affirmative protections in Indiana law but that’s the situation that was before they passed the statute,” she told the council. Continue Reading
On Wednesday, January 21, a discussion item on the agenda of the Minneapolis City Council's Public Safety, Civil Rights & Emergency Management Committee will be Mi Continue Reading
