Finding a Green Way to Govern

Channel 6 news, KAAL, has run what appears to be an unfortunate story about the Red Sea bar's request for a liquor license upgrade.  I know this business well and have been following this closely and want to use this blog to add some  pertinent facts that didn't make it into the story. The story states that " As it stands now the city isn't accepting public comment on this issue," but fails to note that this is because the formal public hearing on the license upgrade was already held, on November 5th.  Many West Bank stakeholders, both businesses and residents, came to testify on the Red Sea's behalf.  Exactly no one came to speak against the license upgrade.  (It's interesting to note that many of those who came to speak are practicing Muslims and do not generally support drinking establishments.)  Here's the list of West Bank folks who showed up to speak in favor: Todd Smith, owner of the Nomad World Pub Ahmed Hassan, resident and Executi...

I am aware of many concerns related to significant delays in west Seward, in the new Precinct 2 of Ward 6, that voted at Seward Square Apartments. In my view, this situation was created by the Charter Commission’s decision to redistrict west Seward into Ward 6 putting the Ward 6 portion of Seward is in two different legislative districts, necessitating that the two areas be in different precincts of unequal size.  Precinct 6-2 ended up very oddly-shaped as a result, with a long "panhandle" between Franklin and I-94 that stretches all the way to 20th Ave.  More analysis below the fold.

Thanks to everyone for voting on November 6. And thanks to everyone who got involved in the elections, volunteering for campaigns, talking to neighbors, writing, calling, knocking on doors, putting up signs or helping out on election day as a judge, ride giver or as part of an effort to "get out the vote." I believe that your participation in our democracy is vital to health of our city, state and country. Turnout in Minneapolis and in the Second Ward was very high. I am very pleased that both of the constitutional amendments – to ban same-sex marriage and require voters to have a photo ID – failed yesterday. I’m proud that the City Council took a strong, unanimous stand against both amendments, and that the Second Ward voted so conclusively against them. 84% of Ward 2 residents voted against the marriage amendment, and 81% voted against the voter ID amendment I congratulate all those people elected on Tuesday and look forward to working with them all, but especially t...

I want to call this to your attention from the John Hopkins Center for Gun Violence and Research.  It is a report and extensive review of research about reforming gun regulations to address the serious public health problem they pose. It opens with these sentences: "More than 31,000 people a year in the United States die from gunshot...wounds. Because victims are disproportionately young, gun violence is one of the leading causes of premature mortality in the U.S. In addition to these deaths, in 2010, there were an estimated 337,960 nonfatal violent crimes committed with guns, and 73,505 persons treated in hospital emergency departments for non-fatal gunshot wounds." I encourage folks to look it over.