Finding a Green Way to Govern

I'm deeply disturbed by the revelations about the Federal Bureau of Investigation's infiltration of local peace and justice organizations, through an undercover agent who went as "Karen Sullivan." It is inappropriate, unnecessary, and simply wrong for the FBI to target nonviolent peace and justice organizations for this level of harassment and intimidation. Worse, it chills Constitutionally-protected rights to free speech and association. I call on US Attorney Fitzgerald to leave these folks - who are simply working for a fairer and less violent world - alone.

Minneapolis has won another "best-of" to add to our list of plaudits: we've been named "Gayest City in America." Here's their rationale: "Over the past decade, Minneapolis has become the gay magnet city of the Midwest. It makes sense: People here are no-nonsense, practical, and don’t deal well with hypocrites. This is where the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America took a historic leap forward and voted to accept gay and lesbian pastors, including the Reverend Mary Albing, the denomination’s first openly lesbian pastor. And Minnesota senator Al Franken introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act to protect LGBT youth from school bullies. But that’s not all. Minneapolis also has the very hot Mayhem rugby team (MayhemRFC.com) and a thriving bear community with events like Bob’s Bear Bash, every Wednesday night at the Saloon (SaloonMN.com)." They didn't even mention some of our GLBT-supportive policies, such as the City-staffed domestic partner...

Tragically, Minneapolis has our first homicide of the year: Chrissie Bates, a 45-year-old transgender woman. I don't usually write about homicides that occur outside the Second Ward, but I thought it was worth pointing out that some of the local news media did a stellar job reporting on this event with clarity and sensitivity, while others did not. The good and the pretty good: City Pages and the Star Tribune . Both outlets used the personal pronoun "her" when describing the victim, as in the phrase "in her apartment" from the Star Tribune article. But the City Pages, and particularly reporter Erin Carlyle, did far and away the best job. They have, at the time of this writing, posted not one but two informative articles, quoting extensively from neighbors and public employees. As importantly, Erin and the City Pages embraced who Chrissie was, unapologetically, clearly, and as if her identity was not a question or assertion. For example, where the Star Tribune ...

Some legislators in the Minnesota Legislature have put forward a list of pro-gun, pro-violence bills designed to make Minnesota like Arizona - if not worse. That's right, some of our state law makers apparently want Minnesota to emulate the state that is rated second-worst in the nation by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the state called "the Tombstone of the United States of America" by Pima County, AZ Sherrif Clarence Dupnik. 1) Shoot First . This bill would allow people to shoot anyone you don't know if they set foot on your property - including a fenced yard . This appears to mean that any political candidate, volunteer, canvasser, delivery person, or mailman who happens to walk onto the wrong property at the wrong time could be legally shot and killed. It will also eliminate the "rule of retreat" that means if a person can safely walk away from a situation, they are not entitled to kill someone just because they seem threatening. It would ...

One of my goals on the Minneapolis City Council is to help reduce solid waste and manage it more effectively. I am very concerned about the amount of our waste going to landfills and to the downtown garbage burner. To help address this, several months ago I authored an ordinance amendment that strengthened our recycling ordinances related to multifamily residential properties. This passed the City Council unanimously. I have also supported and helped develop pilot programs to explore organic waste curbside pick up programs and a more simplified recycling sorting system. Last year I began work on an ordinance that would require recycling at commercial properties. As part of this work I researched what other cities do, and met with business owners, city staff and county officials. The Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a survey of businesses on recycling. The results indicated that over 90% of businesses currently recycle, with the supermajority recycling paper, cardboard...

A draft of the new Urban Agriculture Policy Plan is now available for Public Review and comments until January 31. This plan represents a significant part of the work of the Homegrown Minneapolis effort I have been helping lead for many months as co-chair of the Homegrown Minneapolis Implementation Task Force. If you are interest in more opportunities for growing, or processing or eating , more food produces in the City please take some time to read the draft plan. The plan is a land use policy guide for urban agriculture in Minneapolis and and contains recommendations related to land use, zoning, access to land, design options and allowing farming in the city. The development of the Urban Agriculture Policy Plan was a directive from the City Council when the Homegrown Minneapolis Report was adopted in June of 2009. Two community meetings will be held to discuss the content of the plan: Tuesday, January 11, from 6:30PM to 8:00PM at the Sabathani Community Center (3rd Floor) 310 E. 38...