2018 was a big year. The year of Minneapolis 2040. The year of the Red Yard Sign. The year Wedge LIVE was declared “Best Website in the Twin Cities.” The year that an elected official tried to shut down this website by attempting to trademark the name “Wedge Live.” The year that same elected official couldn’t stop barking “Balls!” during meetings at city hall.
Let’s take a look back at some of 2018’s top local moments.
January
Minneapolis prepares for Super Bowl LII
Zoning reform becomes hot topic
February
Saying goodbye to the Uptown Arby’s
Uproar in Uptown over apartments
March
First draft of Minneapolis 2040 teases the end of single-family zoning
DFL convention season becomes a procedural morass
Lumberjack fashion
April
Wedge LIVE recognized as Best Website in the Twin Cities
Fit young planners begin accepting feedback on Minneapolis 2040
May
Richfield residents fight back in defense of single-family zoning
Cat density becomes hot topic
June
Richard Painter’s Senate campaign commercial
Related: U.S. Senate Candidate Richard Painter Delivers 11 Classic Movie Monologues
Neighborhood author hits it big with “Tearable Puns”
Hennepin Ave begins reconstruction
Zoning battle escalates to yard sign battle
you could get one of my signs. pic.twitter.com/eFWgSu6SWs
— Wedge LIVE!™ (@WedgeLIVE) June 18, 2018
“_______ is not Uptown” bumper stickers
Bumper stickers are not yard signs. Enough said. pic.twitter.com/oyX6LxUOvd
— Wedge LIVE!™ (@WedgeLIVE) June 27, 2018
July
Random guy popularizes the phrase “white pastoralism” — very aggrieved white people spend months misattributing the quote to the city’s director of Long-Range Planning, Heather Worthington
Comment about "white pastoralism" from noted Wedge renter @zmohlis.
— Wedge LIVE!™ (@WedgeLIVE) July 12, 2018
I used the phrase "white pastoralism" to describe the way 19th century white Victorian nostalgia is often used as justification for historic preservation, which needs to change in a changing Minneapolis which needs to represent the cultural heritage of all residents.
— Zack Mohlis (@zmohlis) July 12, 2018
We've got a "white pastoralism" reference. Credit to @zmohlis for launching that term into the mainstream. (Please stop blaming any official from the city for saying it. Didn't happen.)
— Wedge LIVE!™ (@WedgeLIVE) November 15, 2018
Vacation homeowner registers protest at the Planning Commission
Planning Commissioner Nick Magrino heckled mercilessly
Planning Commission endures series of marathon 5 hour meetings
Mitra Jalali Nelson gives us hope for St. Paul
Exclusionary zoning has roots in the Jurassic
August
Wedge LIVE brings world-famous cat tour to Whittier
The moment I found out an elected official was coming to take my property
Political advertising achieves new lows
September
“Marginalized group” holds anti-2040 plan press conference
Mayor Frey stars in soothing meditation video
Mitra Jalali Nelson sworn in as last, best hope for St. Paul
October
SHOCKER: Anti-bulldozing legal battle is run by guy who bulldozed his house to build a bigger house
“Don’t Bulldoze” yard signs in protest Mpls 2040 plan, instead of the McMansion teardown next door.
Red yard signs grow increasingly apocalyptic
Unsung hero of the 2040 plan debate
I’m just noticing that @mpls2040‘s most unsung hero is @bluedelliquanti waving a transit card around like the tiniest protest sign. pic.twitter.com/vURjpCssQw
— Wedge LIVE!™ (@WedgeLIVE) November 11, 2018
Balls
2018’s most controversial Halloween costume
November
Angela Conley has her face carved into pumpkin by Wedge LIVE — making her a virtual lock to defeat incumbent Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin
SHOCKER: Cam Gordon reveals Canadian ancestry
Hennepin County elects first ever Commissioners of color: Angela Conley and Irene Fernando; Dave Hutch defeats Trumper Sheriff Rich Stanek
Mayors prepare for plowing season
First-year Council Member Phillipe Cunningham coins a new catch phrase in war of words with Southwest Minneapolis
Signs keep getting bigger
Yard sign news pic.twitter.com/wRaANXnEEx
— Wedge LIVE!™ (@WedgeLIVE) November 15, 2018
The ultimate *Racism is Over* testimony against the 2040 plan
Amazing Split-Screens
Cam Gordon tries to email Lisa Goodman
Meanwhile in St. Paul: Residents fight sidewalks
Hennepin Ave re-opens; Uptown gets a mid-block crossing
Live from City Hall: Resident wears body armor at the podium
Council takes $1 million from Mayor’s recommended police budget; puts that money into community-based violence prevention efforts
Here’s @tony_the_scribe. Says based on tonight’s testimony you’d think the only thing cops do is play sports with kids. Then reads from a list of people killed by police. pic.twitter.com/VNZSOzDC5k
— Wedge LIVE!™ (@WedgeLIVE) December 6, 2018
December
2040 plan approved by overwhelming City Council vote
Locally controversial 2040 plan becomes nationally heralded 2040 plan
Local newsman prevails in legal wrangling against elected official who tried to steal the name “Wedge Live”
