The Print Edition of Wedge LIVE!
The Minneapolis City Planning Commission held a preliminary discussion about inclusionary zoning on Thursday night. Inclusionary zoning is a requirement that new apartment construction include a certain percentage of affordable units. Continue reading “Inclusionary Zoning Debate Kicks off at City Hall”
It has nothing to do with schools, but here’s an under the radar story from last year that explains what’s wrong with Rebecca Gagnon, who is running for re-election to the Minneapolis school board. It’s a story about billboard regulations. How does a school board member get mixed up with billboard regulations? Up until this year, Gagnon had been the school board’s representative on the City Planning Commission. Continue reading “Rebecca Gagnon: Wrong for Minneapolis School Board”
It will be no surprise that I am endorsing Irene Fernando over Blong Yang for the open seat on the Hennepin County Board in District 2. There are many reasons you should vote for Irene Fernando, which you can read in the second half of this post. You’re fortunate if you have the chance to vote for her. But first, I have unpleasant memories of Blong Yang in his previous job that I must share with you. Continue reading “Irene Fernando for Hennepin County Board, District 2”
Some news and notes in the wake of the city’s revised draft of Minneapolis 2040
Continue reading “Quick Takes on the Revised Minneapolis 2040 Plan”
Mark Haase is running against longtime incumbent Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman. If you’re overlooking an important local race in 2018, it’s probably this one. This one has the highest stakes. Elected prosecutors have a lot of power, and a lot of discretion in how they choose to use that power. Continue reading “Mark Haase for Hennepin County Attorney”
Lisa McDonald, a spokesperson for a group opposing the Minneapolis 2040 comprehensive plan said at a press conference earlier this week, “the City has failed to engage the community in any meaningful way.” McDonald, who is also a former Minneapolis City Council Member, claimed Minneapolis officials “wrap their work in secrecy” and that there hasn’t been an “honest accounting and summary of what citizens really said in online comments, emails, and meetings.”
Continue reading “Over-Processed Minneapolis 2040 to Begin Next Step In Process”
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| Dave Hutch is available on your ballot. “WEDGE” hat is available in the Wedge LIVE store. |
Hennepin County Sheriff is a non-partisan office. But that only applies to what’s printed on the ballot; the candidates really do have political affiliations.
Rich Stanek is the Trump-supporting, ICE-cooperating, Republican incumbent, who once admitted to using racial slurs while on the job. The admission about racial slurs came in a deposition when he was sued for police brutality (the case ended in a settlement). In 2006, Stanek used $30,000 in sheriff’s office training funds to produce a “not-so-thinly-veiled campaign video,” depicting events in the aftermath of the I-35 bridge collapse. In 2016, Stanek sent officers to North Dakota to assist in putting down the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Continue reading “Dave Hutch for Hennepin County Sheriff”
There’s a lot of talk this year about Hennepin County never having had a person of color serve on the board. It’s a big deal, if not surprising. It needs to change. But if you haven’t entirely tuned into the campaign in District 4, you might have the false impression that the arguments here are entirely about identity. They’re not. Continue reading “Angela Conley for Hennepin County Board, District 4”
The forces of the housing status quo are sharpening their knives in advance of the release of Minneapolis 2040 Draft 2 (“Ban Cars Boogaloo,” as Lisa McDonald might call it). As we begin a new chapter in this never-ending conversation, let’s go back to the beginning. Continue reading “Where is everyone going to live?”
We’re less than two months from election day on November 6. As you’re likely aware, this is a pretty important national election. A great way to get involved during this critical time is with a local campaign. Turning out voters for local DFL candidates (as the Democratic Party is known in Minnesota) means you’ve likely turned out votes for Democratic candidates all the way up the ballot: for governor, the state legislature, and US House and Senate races.
If you live in Minneapolis, the most consequential 2018 races are for offices in Hennepin County. If you care about policing, there’s the sheriff’s race. If you care about criminal justice issues, there’s the county attorney. If you care about housing, transit, health care, and human services, there are two competitive races for the Hennepin County Board, which controls a massive budget of $2.4 billion (for context, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey recently proposed a 2019 budget of $1.6 billion). You should find a reason to feel strongly about one or more of the candidates below. They need your help over the next two months.
Please note: this list is for informational purposes only. These are not endorsements. Some of the candidates listed below are terrible. Wedge LIVE endorsements will be announced at a later time. For more information about these candidates, and those in next door Ramsey County, consult MSP Votes.
Irene Fernando (DFL endorsed) – Volunteer – Donate
Blong Yang – Volunteer – Donate
Angela Conley – Volunteer – Donate
Peter McLaughlin (incumbent) – Donate
Mike Freeman (incumbent) – Donate
Mark Haase (DFL endorsed) – Volunteer – Donate
Dave Hutch (DFL endorsed) – Volunteer – Donate
Rich Stanek (Republican, incumbent)
Kimberly Caprini (DFL endorsed) – Donate
Rebecca Gagnon (incumbent) – Donate
Josh Pauly (DFL endorsed) – Volunteer – Donate
Sharon El-Amin – Volunteer – Donate