Finding a Green Way to Govern

The City is hosting a second public meeting to share results and seek input on the Minneapolis Citywide Pedestrian Master Plan on: Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Presentation at 6 p.m. Minneapolis Central Library 300 Nicollet Mall Please attend and help us spread the word. More information is available here .

I am concerned by the reports of the incident Monday night in which Minneapolis police officers detained three out-of-town journalists/videographers and confiscated personal possessions including two video cameras, two still cameras, two cellphones, notebooks, fliers, a backpack full of clothing and other personal effects, and even allegedly some cash. However, I’m very pleased to say that after the media attention (see here , here , here , here and here ) and my inquiries, the journalists’ property has been returned to them today. I have heard from the MPD administration that these journalists were detained on suspicion of trespassing on railroad property, and that the personal belongings of these journalists were “held pending review by the Joint Terrorism Task Force.” The journalists have flatly denied that they set foot on railroad land. There are several reasons that I suspect they are telling the truth: - They claim to have been walking to the corner of 6th Ave NE and 27th St NE...

Mayor Rybak has presented his proposed 2009 budget to the Council. I'm thrilled about some of the priorities he has set forth: Welcome new investments in infrastructure. RT is proposing $27.5 million in new transportation infrastructure spending, enough to repave or repair more than one third of all the heavily-traveled streets and parkways maintained by the City of Minneapolis. This includes $2.1 million for the Hiawatha Bike Trail lighting and extension project in 2013, $2.2 million for the U of M bike trail from Bridge 9 to the Transitway through Dinkytown, and $2.1 million for the Riverlake Greenway in south Minneapolis. It also includes the first-ever dedicated bike infrastructure maintenance budget line, which will invest $100,000 per year into keeping our off-street trails and on-street lanes in good condition. Continued attention to preventing youth violence. The budget includes $75,000 in one time funding for implementing our Youth Violence Prevention Action Plan. The ...

From the Star Tribune : Concerns about the strength of the pedestrian portion of the Washington Avenue bridge -- the distinctive double-decked span over the Mississippi River that connects the East and West Banks of the University of Minnesota campus -- have prompted Hennepin County to limit where bikes and pedestrians are allowed on the bridge's upper level. Pedestrians and cyclists will be limited to the 'breezeway,' the sheltered semi-indoor space at the center of the bridge. With the high ped/bike volumes on the bridge, it will be pretty congested until the County finishes its work, hopefully by next spring or early summer. While the U is looking into possibilities for keeping a bike facility on the bridge, it may be helpful for as many cyclists as possible to use Bridge 9 to get from the East Bank to the West Bank. This unexpected closure emphasizes the need I see to build more redundancy into our non-motorized infrastructure network, an often overlooked benefit of new...

From time to time, the Minneapolis Police Department puts out a reminder about the curfews for kids in Minneapolis. Curfew is an important tool for preventing youth violence, and ensuring that children get the sleep they need to do well in school. Make sure your kids are in by the following times: Under 12 Weekdays: Home by 9:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday: Home by 10:00 p.m. 12 to 14 Weekdays: Home by 10:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday: Home by 11:00 p.m. 15 to 17 Weekdays: Home by 11:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday: Home by Midnight