Minneapolis city council candidate Alondra Cano on education disparities, the Phillips neighborhood, and the Vikings stadium

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The Minneapolis City Council may see some significant changes in the coming election, as incumbents have been challenged strongly by newcomers. In the city’s 9th ward, neighborhood activist and Minneapolis Public Schools communications staffer Alondra Cano is running against five other candidates. She recently sat down with KFAI’s Janis Lane-Ewart, who asked about the most important issues facing the city. Cano put educational disparities at the top of her list. [Audio below] Continue Reading

OPINION | Viking stadium construction puts parking over people

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More than a year has passed since the Minnesota State Legislature passed a plan to build the Minnesota Vikings a new football stadium. At that time HIRE Minnesota said in these pages, “If all the right steps are taken, hundreds of people of color will obtain jobs.”Today it looks like the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority is about to stumble. Big time.HIRE Minnesota, a community-based coalition, has fought for years to increase accountability, transparency and results from major public agencies that spend our taxes. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) is managing the Vikings stadium project, an investment of $975 million over the next few years.As the MSFA finalizes plans for this mega-complex, the agency is suggesting it can throw a few hundred thousand dollars towards workforce development and think they can achieve “a lasting legacy of a larger minority and woman construction workforce.”We know from recent experience that big goals can be met so the construction workforce reflects the face of our community. But we know it takes commitment, a real investment, and an active and engaged public.The MSFA indicated initial commitment to a diverse workforce by issuing a request for proposals to assist the major contractors on the project in meeting state goals of 32 percent for people of color and 6 percent for women. Continue Reading

“OPINION | Maybe “We Get To Vote” after all: News on the Vikings stadium deal

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Where will you be at 8 o’clock a.m. the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 20? I’ll tell you where you want to be: You want to be at the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis, witnessing a little slice of history.Last month, Southside Pride reported that Minneapolis mayoral candidate Doug Mann and his wife, Linda, had a plan to petition for a writ of mandamus to force the city to hold a referendum on the use of city tax revenues to pay for the Vikings stadium. The mandamus petition, filed with the District Court on July 16, could have a huge impact on the city’s political landscape. Surprisingly (or perhaps not) the mainstream media ignored this event. Continue Reading

Mayoral Candidate Doug Mann on the Vikings stadium, social justice, and housing in Minneapolis

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Minneapolis licensed practical nurse Doug Mann has been a perennial candidate in local races, running for school board eight times since 1999 and for City Council in 2005.This year he’s one of a slate of more than 10 candidates vying to be the city’s next mayor. Earlier this month he filed a court order to force the city to hold a referendum on the Vikings stadium. Doug Mann spoke with KFAI’s Trisha Collopy about the price of opposing the Vikings stadium and his plans to bring housing equity to the city. [Audio below]

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How to improve the urbanism of the new Vikings stadium

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The Stadium Implementation Committee meets July 18 and several more times in to September to advise on key design decisions related to the new Vikings stadium in downtown Minneapolis. This post is primarily concerned about the relationship of the stadium to its surrounding urban environment. In late May Oslund & Associates presented the landscape plan for the stadium, and the following are my questions, concerns and recommendations about this plan. I hope the Stadium Implementation Committee considers the following. Continue Reading

Ryan Companies proposes five-block development

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The day following the unveiling of the new Vikings stadium design, Mayor R.T. Rybak and Ryan Companies announced plans May 14 for a new public park and private development to connect the stadium to the downtown core.Surface parking lots currently occupy much of the space for the proposed five-block re-development.“Nothing has ever happened in east downtown,” Rybak said, adding “dog days are over in east downtown.”As part of the $400 million redevelopment, the Star Tribune will relocate from its headquarters at 425 Portland Avenue. “These headquarters are no longer suited to our current business,” said Mike Klingensmith, Star Tribune publisher.“The Star Tribune continues to evaluate several exciting alternatives for a new headquarters,” he said, assuring “our commitment to this city.”Ryan Companies vice president Rick Collins said plans call for the proposed public park to be surrounded by privately-financed buildings with 300 residential units on lower floors and office space above for 5,000 employees. He said Wells Fargo is a potential anchor tenant for the office space. “The urban park is critically important to making this development work,” he emphasized.Also critical to Ryan’s plans: winning the open bidding process to build a parking ramp for the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority that is part of Vikings stadium development plans.If all goes well, Collins said, ground-breaking could begin in 2014 with phased completion in 2015-2016. He estimated 2,000 constructions jobs would be created.“If what they’ve designed comes together, it’s going to be spectacular,” said David Ybarra, president of the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council. Continue Reading

Plans take shape for Vikings stadium, adjacent park, private development

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The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and the Minnesota Vikings unveiled the design of the Vikings’ new football stadium May 13.The public event took place on the stage of the Guthrie Theatre — part Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority meeting, part Vikings pep rally, and part slideshow of the stunning stadium design.“We’re working with the Vikings every day to design and construct the stadium,” said MSFA chair Michele Kelm-Helgen. She noted that an estimated 7,500 construction jobs will be created from stadium construction.“Thousands of Minnesotans are going to go to work to build the stadium,” said Governor Mark Dayton, who received a standing ovation from the crowd at the event for his leadership last year in winning stadium funding approval from the legislature. “This is first and foremost an economic development project,” Dayton said.Noting that the Vikings play only 10 home games a year, Kelm-Helgen emphasized that “the other 350 days a year we will have a beautiful, new, multi-purpose stadium owned by the state and operated by the Stadium Authority.”Bryan Trubey, design principal for HKS, walked the crowd through a slideshow featuring images of the new stadium. “This is a complex, almost living, breathing structure,” he said.“Rule number one,” he joked, “get the snow off the roof.”The design features steeply pitched roof lines with a see-through roof. “We think clear is the new retractable,” Trubey said. Glass walls will offer views of the downtown skyline.The MSFA approved the design, forwarding it to the Minneapolis City Council for review.Ground-breaking for the 65,000-seat, $975 million stadium is set for October 2013. Continue Reading

Property tax relief, new fourth tier rate highlight conferred tax bill

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UPDATE: The Senate passed the omnibus tax bill 36-30 Monday, a few minutes before midnight. The bill now goes to the governor for consideration.There were a few surprise provisions when the omnibus tax bill returned for House final approval early Monday. The funding goals remained constant since the start of session — but the revenue raisers had been tweaked; some projects that were in the defeated bonding bill found their way into the tax bill, as did a possible solution to the anticipated state funding shortfall for the stadium to house the Minnesota Vikings.A negotiated agreement would produce $2 billion in new revenue over the next biennium. This would come largely through a new tax on the state’s highest earners and other taxes, including an increase on cigarettes and closing of corporate loopholes. The money would go toward DFL priorities of solving the state’s $627 million deficit; paying back some of the money owed to the schools and providing $400 million in property tax relief.The House passed the bill 69-65. Continue Reading