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“White Pastoralism” and the Fake Outrage That Never Ends

On July 11, 2018, a local man with a passion for pigeons would cross paths with a Minneapolis planning official at a Wedge neighborhood VFW hall. It was a packed and raucous public meeting hosted by City Council President Lisa Bender. The purpose: to gather feedback from her constituents on the city’s 2040 long range plan.

During a question and answer session about an hour into the meeting, one of Bender’s constituents named Zack Mohlis used a phrase that would live in infamy: “white pastoralism.” Those two words would forever and inexplicably link him with Minneapolis director of Long Range Planning, Heather Worthington.

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Steve Fletcher is as confused as I am about Neighborhoods 2020

Here’s how the debate about neighborhood association reform and funding in Minneapolis has unfolded so far:

  • City’s NCR department recommends some good ideas
  • Engagement is done almost exclusively to neighborhood association board members/staff
  • Neighborhood associations hate it with a passion
  • In response, the framework was watered down to eliminate good ideas
  • Council passes framework on a split vote

And it’s left me confused trying to figure out what the debate is even about anymore. Neighborhood associations still hate it, even though it’s so tepid I can’t imagine what it is they don’t like about it. In watching the council conversations, I have a hard time figuring out what we’re trying to achieve.

I do want to give thanks to Ward 3 Council Member Steve Fletcher for being as confused as I am. I found this three minute video very reassuring:

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More urgency needed on oversight of neighborhood orgs

The City Council’s PECE Committee held a public hearing last week to debate neighborhood organization oversight and funding.

About a week before the meeting, the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department revised their “Neighborhoods 2020” recommendations to remove all the the parts of the diversity action plan proposal that would actually require accountability from city-funded neighborhood organizations.

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Minneapolis considers ban on new drive-throughs

[This local news coverage made possible by readers like you.]

Next Thursday, the Minneapolis Planning Commission will discuss a proposed ordinance from Council President Lisa Bender that would prohibit new drive-through facilities throughout the city.

If adopted by the City Council, it would prevent the construction of new drive-throughs for banks, drugstores, and fast food restaurants (or any other “facility which accommodates automobiles and from which the occupants of the automobiles may make purchases or transact business”).

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“Save Lake Calhoun” petition shows lakeside homeowners united against Bde Maka Ska

map of calhoun supprting lakeside homeowners

In an effort to stop a process to change the name of Calhoun Parkway, Tom Austin of “Save Lake Calhoun” has submitted a petition signed by over 300 lakeside homeowners to the Minneapolis Park Board. You’ll remember Tom Austin from his recent Star Tribune opinion piece in which he railed against the “elites” forcing a lake name change on “everyday Minnesotans.”

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East Calhoun residents speak out against keeping name of pro-slavery historical figure John C. Calhoun

[This local news coverage made possible by readers like you.]

On Thursday, a Minneapolis neighborhood organization held the first of three meetings about the possibility of no longer naming their neighborhood for John C. Calhoun — a 19th century political figure from South Carolina who was a vigorous proponent of slavery.  Among 15 residents who spoke, there was strong sentiment against continuing to use “Calhoun” in the name of the East Calhoun Community Organization (ECCO).

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Richfield Considers Lowering Parking Minimums

[This local news coverage made possible by readers like you.]

On Monday, the Richfield Planning Commission split 3-3 on a recommendation by planning staff to reduce parking minimums in mixed use zoning districts. In areas near transit, the plan would reduce minimum requirements from 1.5 to one space per unit. Outside of areas with high frequency transit, parking minimums would be made consistent with existing rules in high-density zoning districts — 1.25 spaces per unit.

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Hope for Edina

[Below are the words of Edina resident Hope Melton, adapted into a Video Letter to the Editor — without her permission, because I am a news pirate.]

At Wednesday night’s Edina Planning Commission meeting — in the face of some of her neighbors’ complaints about unwanted population growth — Hope Melton spoke in favor of her city’s comprehensive plan. She began by pointing to a report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):

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