Opinion | Southwest Connector

A press conference was held on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center by Indigenous tribal members opposed to the demolition of the Roof Depot site for the city's public works site expansion. The 7.5-acre property is owned by the city, but the community's vision for the site includes an indoor urban farm. They were working to purchase the property in 2015 when the city threatened eminent domain and purchased it at a higher cost. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Lacking rationale for Hiawatha Expansion Project, council members foment fear to rouse base

On Thursday, March 9, Minneapolis City Council passed recommendations to the State Legislature asking for stricter guidelines to remove protesters from council meetings, and to criminalize people who … more

By Daniel Schmidt | 4/6/23

A winning outcome: 'no endorsement' in Ward 13 convention

by Ward 13 parents Steph Smith, Sara Spafford Freeman and Ellen Walthour and Ward 13 candidate Kate Mortenson In Ward 13, the turnaround from Caucus to Convention is less than two weeks from … more

3/27/23

Cal Ortiz with Harold Green, the storm drain at the southwest corner of 27th Street and Dupont Ave. South. (Eric Ortiz)

The joy of unclogging storm drains

I have some big news to announce. We have a new addition to our family. His name is Harold Green, and he is a storm drain at the southwest corner of 27th Street and Dupont Avenue South in … more

By Eric Ortiz | 3/16/23

Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice steering committee.

Awareness

Without awareness, does anything or anyone really exist? I am aware that I enjoy sitting in the front room of my house. In the front room of my house I enjoy sitting in a rocking chair and looking … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 3/16/23

Protestors attended the Feb. 23 city council meeting to show their support for the community plan for the Roof Depot site, many stood in the hallways when the city council limited how many could be in the chambers. There was no public comment during the meetings, and city council members approved demolishing the Roof Depot building and continuing with the plan to build a new public works facility there. (Photo submitted)

An open letter to ward 11 council member

Ward 11 Council Member Emily Koski, As neighbors in the Ward 11 communities you represent, we have great concerns about your actions on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. First, you repeatedly voted against … more

3/16/23

Painting of civil rights and human rights activist Ella Baker in the Ella Baker Global Studies and Humanities Magnet School office in Minneapolis.

Youth can be community problem solvers

I am going back to school. Not as a student. But as a guide.First, I was invited to speak at my kids’ school, Risen Christ, for vocation day. I spoke to third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and … more

By Eric Ortiz | 3/1/23

Protestors attended the Jan. 26 city council meeting to show their support for the community plan for the Roof Depot site, as well as the Feb. 23 meeting. There was no public comment during the meetings, and city council members approved demolishing the Roof Depot building and continuing with the plan to build a new public works facility there. (Photo submitted)

Mayor Frey – what are you hiding?

At the corner of 28th St and Longfellow Ave in East Phillips neighborhood, south Minneapolis, the Roof Depot building quietly awaits its unknown fate.The city wants to demolish the Roof Depot to … more

By Daniel Colten Schmidt | 3/1/23

A car drives on a snowy street during a winter day in Minneapolis. The chaos of streets narrowed by snow and potholes the sizes of swimming pools can create a cycle of trauma. (Eva Ortiz)

Want to be on the community solutions team?

One of my favorite movies is “Groundhog Day.” In the 1993 film, Bill Murray plays a cynical television weatherman from Pittsburgh who goes to Punxsutawney, Penn., to cover the annual … more

By Eric Ortiz | 2/17/23

Michele Rae, RPh, MA, NBC-HWC is the founder of The Center Within, LLC and author of “Living From the Center Within: Co-Creating Who You Are Becoming.” She provides holistic coaching designed to accelerate and support personal, professional, and organizational transformation.

Healthy hearts matter

February is a month that includes Valentine’s Day and is American Heart Month, a time when all you are encouraged to focus on your cardiovascular health. I have been contemplating the many … more

By Michele Rae | 2/17/23

Margi MacMurdo-Reading  of Gardening Angel Design

I rely on the Connector, Messenger for my business

I've been a garden designer and landscape business owner since 1995, but I took a 10-year hiatus in New Zealand from 2004-2015, when I returned to Minneapolis I had to start over from scratch. I … more

1/31/23

North High School assistant football coach and MPD officer Ricky Plunkett, right, talks with quarterback Deshaun Hill during the 2021 season.

‘Boys in Blue’ shows how to turn pain into power

The world is not black and white. But sometimes, it gets reduced to that.All cops are bad.All criminals are bad.All [insert any group] are bad.Those kinds of blanket statements are not helpful. … more

By Eric Ortiz | 1/19/23

Hercules, an Olde English Bulldogge, had his tail cut off by a breeder at a young age before he joined the Peter family.

Dogs don’t need cosmetic surgery

I’ve had three family dogs that I can remember in my lifetime. Hunter was a yellow Labrador, Hercules an Olde English Bulldogge, and now, Smokey, our German Shepherd mix. When I was growing up, … more

By Chloe Peter | 1/19/23

Return to sender

One day as I am writing a draft of this column, I become aware that the U.S. mail has arrived at my house. I bring in the mail. An envelope jumps out at me with the words RETURN TO SENDER. Sad! Those … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 1/19/23

Money can buy the right to speech

I enjoyed Donald Hammen's last article in the Messenger. To me, yes, money is speech in many circumstances, but not all. What most prominently comes to mind is Twitter. In many ways, this platform is … more

1/3/23

WARD ELEVEN ALLIED VOICES FOR EQUITY INVITE YOU TO FEB. 8 MEETING

Money can buy the right to speechI enjoyed Donald Hammen's last article in the Messenger. To me, yes, money is speech in many circumstances, but not all. What most prominently comes to mind is … more

1/3/23

Add more holidays to your life and honor what is significant to you

My children and I tested positive for COVID-19 about a week before Thanksgiving, which meant we had to miss a larger family gathering that my in-laws were hosting. We made the best of it on … more

By Eddie Glenn | 12/13/22

Wedge resident Dave Whorton talks to community members before a neighborhood public safety walk. (Photo by Eric Ortiz)

It’s time to learn to walk again

Walking is one of those big early milestones in life. When you’re a kid, you have to walk before you can run. As you get older, walking is how we move through the world from task to task each … more

By Eric Ortiz | 12/13/22

My vacation was full of transcendent experiences of natural beauty, including these redwoods, but I was most inspired by the work of other people doing good. (Photo by Larry LaVercombe)

The value of three documentaries I watched on a plane

In flight and bookending our Sonoma County vacation, where we enjoyed winding wine-country roads, redwood forests, and sunbathing seals at the mouth of the Russian River, I watched three … more

By Larry LaVercombe | 12/13/22

A more sustainable season

Extra waste from the holiday season is a big problem in America. The average American throws away 25 percent more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday season, according to … more

By Chloe Peter | 12/1/22