BRIEFS March 17, 2022

b
On a 129-1 vote, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed legislation that funds and requires the Office of the Legislative Auditor to conduct a review and evaluation of the Metropolitan Council’s Southwest light rail project. The 14.5-mile passenger light rail that runs from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie was expected to open in 2023 and cost about $2 billion to build, but the opening has been pushed back until 2027 and is millions of dollars over budget. The author of the legislation of the legislation in the House is Representative Frank Hornstein, who said, “Minnesotans need answers to why this project is delayed and significantly over budget.” The legislation next goes to the Senate where Senator Scott Dibble is the sponsor.

2022 Open Streets
The city council has approved five Open Streets events for this year with the caveat that the events, like last year, could be canceled with at least eight weeks’ notice ahead of time depending on the health risks related to the pandemic. The five events are as follows: Lyndale, from W. 22nd St. to W. 42nd St. will be held on Sunday, June 5; Franklin from Portland Ave. S. to 26th Ave. S., Sunday, July 10; Lake Street from 2nd Ave. S. to 22nd Ave. S, Saturday, Aug. 13; West Broadway from Penn Ave. N. to N. Lyndale Ave., Saturday, Sept.10; and Minnehaha from E. Lake St. to E. 46th St. on Saturday, Oct.1. During the festive events, the streets are closed to motorized traffic and open for use by people walking, rolling, and bicycling. They are free and provide an opportunity for people to engage in physical activity, meet their neighbors, and discover new businesses in different neighborhoods around the city.

Museum of Russian Art supports Ukraine
The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA), located at the corner of Diamond Lake Road and 35W at 5500 Stevens Ave., is showing support for Ukraine with a blue and yellow display on its exterior. According to their website the museum is “North America’s only museum devoted to exploring the art and culture of Muscovite Russia, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, its former republics, and post-Soviet Russia,” and it “stands with the people of Ukraine and urges Russia to cease hostilities immediately and withdraw.” On Thursday, March 10 from 7-8 p.m. TMORA co-hosted a webinar titled Ukraine: Genocide, Repression and War. They also want people to know that the following organizations are all accepting donations to help the people of Ukraine: GlobalGiving, International Rescue Committee, Doctors Without Borders, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. For more about the museum see https://tmora.org/.

City hires director of Race & Equity
The city of Minneapolis has hired Tyeastia Green to be their new executive director of Race & Equity. Green will be leaving her job as director of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging for the city of Burlington, Vt. and returning to her the state she grew up in, to take the position starting on March 28. Green will lead the Division of Race & Equity that works under the city coordinator and has been without a director since the departure of Joy Marsh Stephens in August of 2021. It is focused on dismantling systemic disparities and institutionalized racism in Minneapolis to improve the lives of residents. “Minneapolis is home to me,” Green said in a statement issued by the city. “I’m looking forward to taking on this role and making sure that equity is built into the fabric of the city’s operations. We need to ensure that race isn’t a determining factor in any measurable outcome.”

Parks extend hours during teacher strike
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board extended hours and recreation activities for children in grades K-8 at 10 recreation centers during the Minneapolis Public School teachers strike. The 10 “hub site” recreation centers are open Monday-Friday, 12-9 p.m. From 12-3 p.m. sites offer free, fun, engaging and structured activities for up to 45 youth in grades K-8. Registration is required, which can be done in-person or online. Youth not registered for the 12-3 p.m. activities can drop in any time after 3 p.m. The 10 sites are: Bryant Square Recreation Center, 3101 Bryant Ave. S.; Creekview Recreation Center, 5001 Humboldt Ave. N., East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center, 2307 S 17th Ave.; Longfellow Recreation Center, 3435 36th Ave. S.; Luxton Recreation Center, 112 Williams Ave. SE; Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway; North Commons Recreation Center, 1801 James Ave. N.; Northeast Recreation Center, 1530 Johnson St. N, Sibley Recreation Center, 1900 E. 40th St.; Whittier Recreation Center, 425 W. 26th St. The 37 other recreation centers will maintain normal hours of 3-9 p.m.