One of the more popular ways for progressive candidates to excite a crowd or for pro-housing advocates to frame their arguments is to assert “Housing is a human right.” We should stop saying this, and call out candidates when they say it. It’s a lie. Housing isn’t a human right—at least not in practice. I […]
It’s no longer news that business incentive programs are controversial. A landmark New York Times investigation back in 2012 found that state and local governments gave up more than $80 billion each year to companies. Further back but closer to home, a 2008 report from Minnesota’s Office of the Legislative Auditor concluded that the now-defunct […]
Under the U.S. constitution, states are the most powerful level of government. The constitution delegates all power not explicitly reserved in it to the states. In practice, the federal government has devised ways to coerce states, such as by withholding funding, and the Supreme Court has interpreted parts of the constitution like the commerce clause […]
After a friend first told me about the Minneapolis Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC) a few years ago, it took another two or three gentle suggestions before I was willing to seriously consider applying. Despite being car-free by choice and a Minneapolitan for my entire adult life, I saw myself as neither a pedestrian nor someone […]
How can we organize our neighborhood governing bodies to reflect their community demographics?
The GOP majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate have proposed budget cuts to public transit funding by as much as 40 percent, that could have catastrophic consequences for Metro Transit riders. Local advocacy groups Transportation Forward and Transit for Livable Communities are holding a rally tonight at 6pm at the Rice Street / Capitol Green Line Station. Independent from […]
Several state employees within St Paul are working on transit/earth fairs and community rides in April and May: April 11th: Electric Bike Panel, Lafayette Park April 20th: Lafayette Park Community and Transit fair April 21st: Bike to Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary from Lafayette Park May 17th: State capitol transit and health fair May 17th: Bike […]
Recently state representatives Mark Uglem and Frank Hornstein introduced a bill to the Minnesota Legislature to criminalize talking on a handheld cell phone while driving. The benefits of this bill are sold to be increased safety, particularly from having two hands ready and on the wheel at all times, and easier enforcement of the texting […]
The podcast this week is a conversation with Dana DeMaster, a program evaluator who focuses on poverty and public health programs at the State and County level. Dana is also on the streets.mn board, and a long-time advocate for better bicycling in Minnesota. We sat down a while ago to discuss how cities and counties deliver […]
Co-written by Janelle Nivens and Sarah Tschida Cross-posted on Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition On a recent Friday morning, 30 people attended “Minneapolis, a City for Walkers? A Conversation About Prioritizing Pedestrians” at The Turtle Bread Company in south Minneapolis. Hosted by Minneapolis Council Member Elizabeth Glidden (Ward 8), this program featured guest speakers Robin Hutcheson, Minneapolis […]