Defunding. The Star Tribune’s Liz Navratil reports: “Minneapolis City Council on Friday morning adopted a budget that trims roughly $1.5 million from the city’s police department — the first substantial cuts since George Floyd’s death. … The budget now heads to Mayor Jacob Frey, who must decide in the coming days whether to approve it or veto it.”
Getting back to normal, sort of. WCCO reports: “Onboard fare collection for Metro Transit buses will resume next month as riders will again be able to board buses through the front door. … Starting Aug. 1, riders will be allowed to board buses through the front door and pay for trips, Metro Transit announced Friday, adding that there’ll be barriers in place to protect riders and bus drivers.”
Getting cars back in our parks where they belong. The Star Tribune’s Tim Harlow reports: “The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will let cars once again drive on parkways that it had shut down this spring to give bicyclists and pedestrians more room to recreate safely during the pandemic. … E. Bde Maka Ska Parkway will be closed to all users on Wednesday and reopen Thursday when the Park Board completes a maintenance project. All remaining parkways closed because of the coronavirus are expected to be open by Aug. 5, the Park Board said in a news release.”
Protest for protest. WCCO reports: “Minnesotans marched Thursday in protest of the Trump administration’s use of federal officers on the West Coast. … The group met at the federal courthouse in downtown Minneapolis earlier in the evening before marching through the city. … They say the president’s decision to send federal agents to Portland, Oregon is an attack on the movement to end police violence.”
In other news…
Looking at Antone Melton-Meaux’s law-firm record: “Labor Blasts Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Challenger For His Work At Anti-Union Law Firm” [HuffPost]
Also in the Fifth District campaign: “Ilhan Omar Campaign Mailer Accuses Opponent of Being ‘in the Pocket of Wall Street’ and Only Quotes Jewish Donors by Name” [Vice]
Minneapolis has a non-primary on primary day: “Who else is running in the Ward 6 special election?” [Minnesota Daily]
Bucking the law: “Fans saddle up to protest COVID-19 restrictions on Minnesota’s largest outdoor rodeo” [Star Tribune]
Yuck: “Roseville Man Accused Of Leaving Threatening Notes At Homes With ‘Black Lives Matter’ Signs, Inclusive Messages” [WCCO]
One week till new law day: “New laws set to take effect in Minnesota Aug. 1” [KSTP]
The attacks on Omar by the Military Industrial Complex are insanely transparent.
Omar’s anti-Semitism is insanely transparent.
Well the new Mpls city attorney has an anti union reputation but that does not appear to bother most of her supporters. She is a nice person but has not performed up to par; time for someone else to try.
If her ad is colored by antisemitism, I don’t see it. The article’s argument is weak, and relies on the rather obvious facts that, a) a lot of hedge fund managers happen to be Jewish, and b) the Jewish hedge fund managers may (or many not) be more motivated to get Omar out of office. So what?
Was Omar’s campaign supposed to curate a Jewish/non-Jewish mix to call out from the hedge fund managers who donate to Melton-Meaux? Did you know the Jonathan Gray is Jewish? Did you know his name isn’t John?
The real issue is that Omar is openly anti-Zionist. To conflate that with antisemitism is beyond dishonest; it’s a vile smear the aught to be called out every time.
I suggest you grow up a little, and hold yourself to a higher standard. Antisemitism is real and causes real fear. But ask yourself, which alleged antisemitists am I really afraid of? The questionable liberals, or the actual white supremacists in and out of office?
The Israel Lobby wants another Israel-Firster in Congress–thus the support for Melton-Meaux. . . .
The election in the 6th Ward is indeed not a primary; it’s the one and only election for that City Council seat. I am sorry that none of the candidates in this set of interviews, nor in the previous set, were asked about the two most important issues for the West Bank: 1) what to do about the opioid crisis responsible for the deaths of neighborhood young people; 2) what to do about the City’s harmful plan to redevelop parking lot ‘A’ behind Red Sea, an insider (read corrupt) deal that does not give residents and existing businesses what they want or need.
I believe that Bihi supports that corrupt plan; AJ Awed opposes it. Am not sure about the others.