“Hennepin Avenue is back, and better than ever,” Mayor Jacob Frey proclaimed on Oct. 31, 2025. A month later, the reconstructed thoroughfare started visibly struggling with open drug use and unaddressed trash.
“The level of open drug use, visible addiction, and daily disorder is easier to find than ever,” Kevin Norman, an East Isles resident wrote to city leaders on Nov. 26, 2025. “I walk this corridor often, and it’s heartbreaking for the people who are struggling and discouraging for the residents, families, and businesses who depend on this street being safe and welcoming.”
Businesses in the area are also feeling the impact.
The co-founder and general manager of Queermunity, Hilary Otey, said 311 has been slow to respond to requests, including sending the Behavioral Crisis Response Team to the area.
A security guard at Chase Bank, Mike Savage, said the Minneapolis Police Department has also been slow to respond.
“I have only had police arrive for one call,” Savage said. “I even called about issues with a violent person who has made several violent death threats who was outside our building doing drugs and blocking our entrances and still haven’t had a single officer show up.”
Southwest Voices has reached out to the City of Minneapolis and area Councilmembers Aisha Chughtai and Elizabeth Shaffer, and is waiting for comment. We will be covering this topic in greater detail in an upcoming edition.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here