Editor’s note: Walk the Talk is Streets.mn’s carefully curated, highly partisan collection of both serious and fun-loving events, community meetings and opportunities for engagement that we think will interest our readers. Email your ideas to Hawken Habig, one of our daily editors, at [email protected].
National Night Out — Tuesday, August 6
Today is National Night Out! (In some towns and neighborhoods, it’s Night to Unite!) What began in 1984 as a way to bridge the gap between communities and their local law enforcement is now an annual tradition practiced in thousands of cities and towns across all 50 states, including Minnesota. Events are planned on a “neighborly” level (so to speak), meaning I don’t have a lot of links to throw around for this one. Some cities, including Duluth and Red Wing, have a public registry where you can find the nearest block party event; additionally, some larger events are being hosted for a broader constituency, such as at Union Depot in St. Paul, The Commons in Minneapolis or Washington Park in Stillwater. Alternatively, ask around with your neighbors or just take an evening stroll until you find a local celebration! Click here to learn more about National Night Out; scroll to the bottom and click on Minnesota for a list of participating cities.
Cities Meet for Blue Line Extension Approval — August/September
The Metropolitan Council recently released its preliminary plans for the updated routing of the 13.4-mile Blue Line Extension through the north metro. If approved, the light rail would head past Target Field Station through the North Loop along 10th Avenue and Washington Avenue, before veering west/northwest on Broadway and eventually Bottineau Boulevard. The next step is for the various municipalities along the route to approve or disapprove of the plans by October 10. Each of the cities will hold a public meeting before voting:
- Crystal: Tuesday, August 20, 4–6 p.m.
- Robbinsdale: Wednesday, August 21 from 6-8 p.m. (Also: an online survey)
- Brooklyn Park: Monday, September 9, 4–6 p.m.
- Minneapolis: September TBD
You can also provide comment at a joint public meeting with the Met Council, Hennepin County Railroad Authority and Hennepin County on Monday, August 26, 6–8 p.m. at the NorthPoint Conference Center. The cities will also accept comments via email: Check here to find a full list of contacts. This is an important moment for the future of the Blue Line: The project will undoubtedly be faced with opposition from city leaders and community members over potential costliness, displacement and environemental impacts, so it is important to show up and support the project moving forward in a manner that addresses such concerns.
Central Honors Philando — Sunday, August 18, 1-5 p.m.
Join together at Toni Stone Field on Sunday, August 18 for Central Honors Philando, a community gathering and celebration of life for Philando Castile, who was killed eight years ago by a police officer during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights. Central Honors Philando serves to strengthen the community and remember the life of Philando, including through the Philando Castile Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to a St. Paul Central High School senior and funded via event proceeds. The event features family-friendly activities including food, games and live music, and tabling from local advocacy groups such as Our Streets and ReConnect Rondo. More on the event and its origins may be found here; and be sure to check out Adrian Perryman’s excellent coverage of the event in 2022!
State Rail Plan Passenger Rail Survey
I’ve been relentlessly promoting Minnesota’s new and (hopefully) improved State Rail Plan since its development was announced last year — but alas, the best is yet to come! The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is now gathering public input on its passenger rail portion of the plan, which will serve to guide the implementation of future rail lines in the state. A short survey on the subject is available here; and you can still provide comment to MnDOT via this interactive map.
Additionally: State Rail Plan reps are slated to make an appearance at this year’s Minnesota State Fair. If you’re going to the fair already, this might be a good time to pester MnDOT at their booth located on Cosgrove Street between Wright Avenue and Dan Patch Avenue!
Metro Transit Listening Sessions Tour — August 16-26
Metro Transit has been stepping up its public engagement game as of late, be it through General Manager Lesley Kandaras’ recently accomplished goal of riding every route in the system, or their series of Listening Sessions across the Twin Cities earlier this year. In case you missed your shot at addressing your concerns, the Listening Sessions will return! GM Kandaras, as well as Chief Operating Officer Brian Funk and Metro Transit Police Chief Ernest Morales III, will be visiting several light rail stations for the latter half of this month to talk with riders and address matters of public safety on transit. Below is a list of locations and times:
- Friday, August 16, 5-7 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium Station
- Saturday, August 17, 7-9 p.m. at 46th Street Station
- Tuesday, August 20, 6-7:30 a.m. at Nicollet Mall Station
- Thursday, August 22, 6-8 a.m. at Snelling Avenue Station
- Sunday, August 25, 5-7 p.m. at Central Station
- Monday, August 26, 6-8 a.m. at Stadium Village Station
Also, feel free to give feedback via email at [email protected] or via phone at 612-373-3333.