BRIEFS May 5, 2022

Posted

New state policing rules proposed
The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board has proposed a rule change that would expand their authority to take disciplinary action against licensed peace (or police) officers in the state. The board may already revoke a police license if an officer is convicted of felonies, some misdemeanors, if they lie or cheat on a board test, lie to the board, commit sexual assault or harassment, or use unjustified deadly force. If the new rule is approved by an administrative law judge later this year, the board could also act if it found an officer used excessive force, engaged in driving under the influence, or committed domestic abuse, assault, felony drug crimes, soliciting prostitutes or theft, even if they weren’t convicted of the crimes.

Party endorsements for local races
Several candidates have been endorsed for state level races by the two major parties so far this year. At the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) conventions, candidates endorsed for state legislative races in Southwest Minneapolis include Esther Agbaje State Rep (59B), Bobby Joe Champion for State Senate (59), Scott Dibble for State Senate (61), Frank Hornstein for State Rep (61A), Jamie Long for Rep (61B), Omar Fetah for State Senate (62), Hodan Hassan for State Rep (62A) , Aisha Gomez for State Rep (62B), Zaynab Mohamed for State Senate District (63), and Emma Greenman for State Rep (63B). The

Kenilworth Channel repair
Planting and work stabilizing the shoreline has resumed in the lagoon connecting Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isle. During the next 4-6 weeks, while work is being completed, the channel will remain open for use, but people are being asked to stay away from work areas. This is part of the project that started last year that removed the deteriorating wooden walls in the channel.

Light Rail construction
Following a delay to study possible construction-related damage to a Cedar Isles condo building close to where tunneling work was being done, the Southwest Light Rail work is expected to resume in May. The engineering firm, Socotec, reported that problems were likely due to temperature changes, not the rail project. Since then, the Metropolitan Council, who is managing the construction, announced that tunnel excavation has resumed and that Cedar Lake Parkway could be closed beginning May 16. The closure is needed to construct the part tunnel that extends under the parkway. Construction at and around Bryn Mawr Station will continue with excavation, installation of the pedestrian bridge and work on the station platform, as well as retaining wall work south of Wayzata Boulevard and Penn Ave.

Rent Stabilization workgroup
In April, the city council passed Council President Andrea Jenkin’s motion to create a Housing/Rent Stabilization Workgroup. The workgroup will consist of 25 people, 12 appointed by the City Council and Mayor and 13 by the Community Planning and Economic Development Director, Andrea Brennan. Six of the council appointed positions are reserved for renters, three for rental property owners, and three for housing developers. Council Member Aisha Chughtai made a substitute motion that would have brought a rent stabilization policy to voters this election instead of 2023, but that was defeated on a 7 – 5 vote.

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