Better Minneapolis Podcast

Who is the Next Target of the Thought Police?

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.” — George Orwell, 1984

Orwell warned that freedom begins with the right to state the obvious. Deny that right, and truth itself collapses. The cancellation of the Jimmy Kimmel show is not just a celebrity headline—it is a signal of how easily commentary can be policed. When public voices are muted, even briefly, it should force us to ask: who is drawing the lines, and on what authority? The reach extends far beyond late-night television.

It leaves smaller voices wondering which of their own remarks might be judged unacceptable. If a nationally known comedian can be shut down, what about an ordinary columnist, podcaster, or news reporter?

This pressure is not theoretical. We see it in the reluctance of legitimate news organizations to speak out and cover stories that could draw fire from authorities. The chilling effect is real: less reporting, narrower debate, fewer perspectives.

For individuals, the consequence is self-censorship. People scrub their timelines, delete past commentary, and measure every word against the risk of losing employment or reputation. What gets lost is not just a job but the diversity of perspectives that make civic life healthier.

If the goal of a democratic society is open debate, the growing reach of the “thought police”—whether political, corporate, or cultural—undermines that purpose. When fear replaces candor, we all end up with less information, less trust, and a thinner public conversation.

We will not hold back or self-censor our reporting. That independence is only possible with the support of readers like you. If you value Better Minneapolis, now is the time to become a paid subscriber. Staying free from corporate interests and the whims of billionaires is one way to keep the democratic experiment alive—an experiment proving more fragile than most of us ever imagined.

For much of our lives, free speech felt like a given. It no longer is.

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Summary of Warren Interview

Pearl Warren, a longtime North Minneapolis resident and candidate for Ward 5, frames her run around lived experience and front-line service. A financial coaching manager at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and former youth outreach coordinator in Brooklyn Park and with the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board, she says she’s spent “20-plus years” watching the North Side change—and too often decline. A collapsed sewer line at her home and a frustrating maze of private contractors, rather than city crews, pushed her from advocacy to candidacy.

Warren’s top priorities are “safe, suitable, and sustainable” housing; public safety; and economic development. She criticizes substandard rental conditions and inconsistent inspections, noting she’s helped tenants file HUD complaints. She wants clearer expectations for property owners, better coordination with city and health inspectors, and more local ownership, warning that out-of-state investors buy “fleets” of homes, do minimal rehab, and outsource maintenance with little accountability.

On safety, Warren ties crime to scarcity and disconnection. She says Ward 5 residents need nearby jobs, basic amenities, and visible upkeep—clean lots, good lighting, and maintained streets—to foster pride and reduce offenses. She supports a stronger police presence and praises current relationship-building by officers, including youth engagement through the Police Activities League. She distinguishes “intervention” from “interruption,” arguing that proactive outreach that links people to services works better than reacting after tempers flare. She also calls for tougher gun-purchase safeguards and more attention to mental health and co-occurring addiction.

Economic development, in her view, is inseparable from safety. Ward 5 lacks sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, and everyday services; dollars leave the neighborhood. She backs constituent-driven business recruitment and long-term commitment from firms that will “live, work, and play” with the community. She applauds new grocery options like Colonial Market and the North Commons Park restoration, but is skeptical of the Blue Line route and displacement plans. She faults the current council member’s extended absence for leaving residents without consistent advocacy and promises timely responses to calls and emails.

In closing, Warren presents herself as a pragmatic connector: a housing professional with HUD certification, a former educator, and a mother and grandmother rooted in the North Side. She invites residents to volunteer, donate, and get informed via her campaign site and email, and she notes ongoing voter-registration and early-voting outreach. Her pitch is straightforward: restore basic services and standards, rebuild neighborhood commerce, and pair visible policing with proactive intervention so Ward 5 families can feel safe—and choose to stay.

You can find out more about her campaign on her website:

https://www.warrenforward5.com/

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Threat Increases on the Rise

The Minnesota Star Tribune reported on several new security measures we can expect if we want to hear high-profile and controversial politicians like Rep. Ilhan Omar speak. Her recent town hall at Elim Lutheran Church in Robbinsdale required bag searches and wanding for weapons before entry. Similar to the heightened security we’ve experienced at airports since 9/11 and the shoe bomber, security has become the new normal.

Unfortunately, the trend is moving in the wrong direction. The U.S. Capitol Police expect to conduct 14,000 threat-assessment cases this year, up from 9,625 in 2021. These cases are opened when someone threatens members of Congress, their families, or staff.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk will be felt in the U.S. for a very long time, possibly for years. The trial of the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, is sure to raise the stakes. Already, camps—some violent—are forming to assign blame for what occurred. If there was any hope of more moderate, reasoned voices gaining prestige in the country, it seems even less likely for the foreseeable future.

It occurs to us that politics has become a vehicle for funneling personal grievances. From job losses to rising grocery prices to religious extremism, grievances are increasingly directed toward the political system and those who represent it. Certainly, politics plays a role in all of these issues, but perhaps we place too much emphasis on the impact individual leaders can have.

One small indicator of the heightened security is the cost of hosting events. I spoke with Miriam DeMello about the use and cost of private security and off-duty officers. It was one of many topics we discussed in our hour-long conversation.

Interview Summary

Miriam DeMello, candidate for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 11, brings both professional experience in city government and personal ties to the community. A lifelong resident and graduate of Minneapolis Public Schools, she has worked in the public sector throughout her career, including with the Saint Paul mayor’s office and on the Minneapolis Charter Commission. She entered the race out of concern that the city is moving in the wrong direction, citing public safety and affordability as core issues.

DeMello’s campaign emphasizes a moderate Democratic approach focused on basic city services rather than broader national issues. She expressed concern about the rising cost of living in Minneapolis, particularly property taxes, which she argues burden homeowners, renters, and businesses alike without delivering better city services. She suggested looking for ways to trim unnecessary spending—including potentially examining city salaries and program effectiveness—before raising taxes further.

Public safety is central to her platform. DeMello supports rebuilding the Minneapolis Police Department to the staffing levels required by the city charter, but insists on rigorous screening and training for recruits. She also favors having officers visible in neighborhoods and schools to build trust and deter crime, while acknowledging the costs associated with overtime and event security. She views safety as foundational: if residents do not feel secure, they will leave the city, weakening neighborhoods and businesses.

On housing, DeMello voiced skepticism about rent control and the Minneapolis 2040 Plan. While she supports building more affordable housing, she prefers approaches that preserve neighborhood character and expand single-family homeownership. She pointed to vacant properties as an opportunity for redevelopment and argued for creative solutions that go beyond apartment construction. She also called for stronger youth support services, noting the recent Annunciation School tragedy underscored the need to intervene earlier in young people’s lives.

DeMello distinguished her campaign from others by highlighting her grassroots funding and independence from large donors. She expressed frustration with the DFL endorsement process, describing it as exclusionary and overly costly, and noted that community members encouraged her to stay in the race to provide a moderate alternative. She also stressed the importance of accessibility, pledging timely responses to residents and openness to dialogue on contentious issues like gun control, zoning, and budget priorities.

In closing, DeMello positions herself as a candidate rooted in Ward 11’s shared values of safety, affordability, and good governance. She frames her run less as a political ambition than as a response to neighbors who feel underserved by the current direction of City Hall. Her campaign underscores a call for pragmatism and attention to everyday city concerns.

For more information, visit:

https://www.mariamdemello.com/

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On Tuesday, September 9, candidates for mayor will gather for a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. With fifteen candidates in the race, the event provides an opportunity to hear from contenders who have so far received little attention. We are especially interested in how the lesser-known candidates describe their priorities for the city and whether they bring solutions to the discussion that the main contenders might incorporate into their platforms.

The forum comes at a time when the council is also wrestling with difficult questions of governance. On Monday, city council members voted 6–4 to authorize a lawsuit against developer Hamoudi Sabri, who has permitted an encampment on the parking lot of one of his properties on East Lake Street. The decision followed a sharp debate over whether the city should intervene. Council members Katie Cashman, Robin Wonsley, and Ward 5’s Jeremiah Ellison were absent from the vote.

Candidate positions on the Sabri case will be worth noting. At issue are not only property rights and homelessness, but also how the city enforces its own rules—and how willing elected officials are to take a public stand.

Vision Statement from Anndrea’s website:

As a City Council Member, my vision is to cultivate a thriving, equitable, and united community where every resident of the 5th Ward feels empowered, valued, and secure.

Through anti-displacement initiatives, I will prioritize community ownership, celebrate art and culture, and ensure housing stability by championing renters’ and small business protections and expanding financial assistance programs. Together, we will build a future where no one is left behind.

Interview Summary

I sat down with Anndrea Young, a lifelong Northsider now running for the open Ward 5 seat. Young grew up in the ward, organized with the Heritage Park Neighborhood Association, and later served as its executive director. After college and a stint in Nashville’s entertainment industry, she returned during COVID and re-immersed in North Minneapolis coalition spaces. Her campaign theme—“Invest in Five”—frames a familiar promise: development without displacement, safer streets, and a City Hall that picks up the phone.

Young describes Ward 5 as overlooked by city institutions yet rich in social fabric—artists, advocates, and neighbors who actually know each other. Housing is her first priority. She backs “deeply affordable” units (30% AMI), shelter options for encampments, and more homeowner education. On rent control, she signals support in principle but leaves room for pragmatism, suggesting the city should keep annual rent hikes low and learn from St. Paul’s experience. She’s critical of weak rental inspections and follow-through—pointing to buildings that deteriorate while residents struggle to navigate escrow and legal remedies.

Transit-led displacement is the second thread. Young has been active around the Blue Line extension and helped advocate for $10 million in anti-displacement funding along the corridor. She supports the train for access and jobs but wants guardrails, so existing residents aren’t priced out when the line arrives. Her approach to the Sabri encampment controversy shows the tension she’s trying to manage: personally open to unconventional solutions, but says she’d vote the way Ward 5 residents want—even if that means backing a city lawsuit. That “listen first” stance also shapes her position on George Floyd Square; she favors a pedestrian space but would defer to affected neighbors.

Public safety is the third leg. Young rejects “over-policing,” favors continued investment in violence interrupters and mental-health responses, and wants MPD to do more relationship-building on foot or bike. She praises community-based programs but says the city must verify that funded groups actually deliver. Economic recovery ties in: she sees opportunity in Upper Harbor Terminal and a broader push to change the narrative about North Minneapolis so restaurants, tourism, and employers follow—while keeping current residents anchored in place.

If Young has an edge in a six-way race, it’s her argument about presence and service. She criticizes the incumbent’s absences and says the most common voter question at the door is simple: “Will you show up?” The test for her platform will be execution—balancing growth with stability, adding safety without defaulting to spectacle, and matching constituent rhetoric with basic, responsive casework. Ward 5 voters will decide whether her “Invest in Five” agenda is the right blend of skepticism and ambition.

https://anndreayoung4ward5.com/

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Taming the Torrent of News

The torrent of news has been relentless, and much of it discouraging.

In our South Minneapolis neighborhood, trees are wrapped in blue and green ribbons to honor the victims of the Annunciation shooting. Our home is about a mile from the church, and several neighbors sent their children to the school. While the rest of the country will move on, this tragedy will remain close to home for a long time.

The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul have announced they want authority to strengthen gun laws at the city level. It’s a reasonable idea. Yet even if the legislature grants their request, there is little reason to believe it would stop the cycle of mass shootings.

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It was only June 14 when Melissa and Mark Hortman were killed and members of the Hoffman family were wounded in Brooklyn Park. The killer drove from Champlin that night. On July 29, another man traveled from Las Vegas to Midtown Manhattan, wearing body armor as he murdered four people. Even cities with the strictest laws, such as New York and Chicago, have not been spared. Over Labor Day weekend alone, 54 people were shot in Chicago.

The Annunciation killer was living in Richfield when he legally purchased his weapons. For Minneapolis and St. Paul to gain authority over gun laws, the state legislature would have to approve it. That seems unlikely with Republicans holding a one-vote majority in the House—a majority created by Hortman’s death.

Republicans are instead focused on rolling back laws protecting gender-affirming care. A special session, if called by Governor Walz, is unlikely to produce meaningful progress on gun control. The grim irony is that gun violence shifted the political balance in the legislature, and that new balance now blocks reform.

Distractions large and small in Minneapolis politics

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are engaged, and social media is overflowing with posts about it. To many Americans, this is the most important news in the world. The wedding could be bigger than Jeff Bezos’s. As a culture, we are easily distracted—by celebrity rings, by the latest outrage—while municipal policy struggles to get any attention.

Even those of us who follow local politics closely find it challenging to distinguish between sincere efforts and publicity stunts. The latest example is the Minneapolis DFL’s appeal of the state party’s decision to revoke Senator Omar Fateh’s endorsement.

The city party argues that convention delegates had the authority to overlook irregularities and still endorse him. In their view, if enough people ignore the rules, that act becomes the new rule. Whether this argument will persuade the state DFL executive committee is unclear. It may simply be an attempt to keep their chosen candidate in the headlines while claiming that powerful elites are silencing the will of the “people.”

For most residents, this kind of infighting is irrelevant. When I try to explain the details, our editor raises her hand for silence. Our infrastructure needs repair. People want institutions that function at a basic level. Schools must be safe and capable of teaching students to read and do math at grade level. Travel across the city needs to be reasonable. Streetlights ought to stay lit instead of being stripped for copper. And carjackings at 8 a.m. on Lake Street cannot end with two young women dead and a child badly hurt.

The engagement of celebrities and the maneuvering of political insiders are not the same. But both feed into what Steve Bannon calls “flooding the zone”—a constant stream of spectacle, distraction, and outrage that leaves little energy for the fundamentals of governance. Minneapolis does not need more distractions. It needs leaders who will focus on the basics of safety, affordability, and infrastructure.

Ward 5 City Council – Where’s Jeremiah?

We spent Wednesday evening watching the Ward 5 city council forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters. It was the first time we had seen or heard most of the candidates speak. Five of the six DFL candidates participated: Pearll Warren, Anndrea Young, Maurice Ward, Miles Wilson, and Ethrophic Burnett. Jovan Northington is also running, though absent from the forum. None of the six has received the Minneapolis DFL endorsement.

The Ward 5 race, like Ward 2, has received far less attention than Wards 7 and 10. Yet its importance is no less. The Northside deserves a qualified representative, and every council vote carries equal weight in determining the city’s future. On Wednesday, we will feature an interview with Anndrea Young.

Meanwhile, the current council member, Jeremiah Ellison—son of Attorney General Keith Ellison and often recognized for his trademark knit hats—has accepted a Harvard fellowship and moved to Cambridge. He has said he will return to Minneapolis for council meetings, funded by his $109,000 council salary.

Ward 5 deserves more. The Northside needs a council member who will be fully present, bringing attention and resources to the ward. Whoever replaces Ellison should define “full-time” as more than an occasional flight home.

Pounding the Pavement

We’d like to hear from you. Send us a short video on what you believe should be priorities in this election. We’ll compile them into a video podcast. The deadline is Sunday, September 21. If you’d like to share your ward number and candidate choice, feel free.

The schedule of League of Women Voters forums can be found here—if you see us at one, please introduce yourself.

We also enjoy meeting readers for coffee. This week, we visited The Get Down Coffee Co. What we often find during these trips is how many residents remain uninformed about local issues. Many don’t know their ward or council member, and ranked choice voting still confuses them. The Minneapolis DFL could strengthen its reputation by helping voters understand these basics instead of focusing its energy on controlling endorsements.

There are many ways to contribute to the city’s future. Canvassing door-to-door is a terrific way to meet neighbors and shape Minneapolis’s direction, even for candidates outside your own ward. Ward 5, with six candidates, is a strategic piece of the next council and could benefit from that kind of support.

Volunteering for a candidate is one of the most direct ways to make a positive contribution. It’s also a way to feel empowered. Instead of getting stuck in frustration over national politics, we can take steps locally to improve life in Minneapolis—and campaign work is one of them. The headlines and distractions will still be waiting when you get home. Pick a candidate, knock on doors, and meet your neighbors.

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Your Voice Matters — Send a 2-Minute Video

Early voting for the municipal election begins September 19. You’ll hear plenty from candidates over the next 13 weeks. We’ll be interviewing as many candidates as possible—but we also want candidates to hear from you.

Record a short video (up to 2 minutes) telling candidates what they must pay attention to if elected. If you’re comfortable sharing who you’re supporting and why, include that too. This is your chance to shape the conversation and inform your neighbors.

Email your video to [email protected] by Sunday, September 21, 11:59 p.m. CT. We’ll compile submissions into a video podcast for our September 24 newsletter.

A few tips:

* Film in a quiet, well-lit spot. Phone video is perfect.

* Start with your first name and (optional) ward.

* Landscape or portrait is fine—use whatever is easiest.

* File types: .mp4 or .mov preferred.

If technology is a hurdle, please tell us. We’ll set up a brief Zoom and record your thoughts for you.

By sending a video, you consent to us editing for length and publishing across our newsletter and channels. If you prefer we omit your name, note that in your email subject line (e.g., “Video submission — no name”).

Jamison Whiting Interview Summary

Jamison Whiting, a Washburn graduate and longtime Ward 11 resident, is running for Minneapolis City Council. In this interview, he frames his campaign around “municipal basics” delivered well—public safety, strong schools and parks, and housing affordability—while urging a less toxic City Hall. Whiting brings two anchors to the race: his day job as a Minneapolis city attorney working on police reform and his role as a football coach at Washburn, which he says keeps him grounded in youth and community.

Whiting roots his story in Ward 11—east of Lake Nokomis, bounded by Lyndale on the west and Hwy 62 on the south—and in family ties to Minneapolis Public Schools. The conversation turns sober with the Annunciation tragedy; he calls it “deeply personal,” argues that assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines should be banned, and urges city leaders to be vocal advocates at the state and federal levels. He notes Governor Walz’s move toward a special session and stresses centering the voices of impacted families.

Public safety is his top issue. Whiting supports rebuilding MPD with well-trained, accountable officers—ideally more who live in the city—while shifting non-criminal calls away from police. He highlights a forthcoming “joint response” model that pairs an officer with a mental-health professional to lower tensions on scene and match expertise to need. He says violent crime is trending back toward pre-COVID levels, though property crime and “crimes of opportunity” remain stubborn, and he emphasizes that both the reality and the perception of safety matter.

His second plank is youth investment through schools and parks, which he ties to prevention and community stability. He’s endorsed by Ward 11’s two school board members and praises neighborhood amenities from Nokomis to Minnehaha Creek. On housing, Whiting cites Ward 11’s high homeownership and rising costs, warns that affordable-housing providers face mounting insurance and operating pressures, and opposes rent control. He argues the city must create policy certainty to spur construction across the affordability spectrum—especially “missing middle” options that let adult children stay in the neighborhood.

Whiting closes by calling for a more civil, results-focused City Hall and linking economic vitality to public safety and quality of life. A DFL-endorsed candidate, he’s focused on doorknocking, fundraising, and turnout ahead of a September 30 forum at Diamond Lake Church. His pitch is straightforward: if Minneapolis wants to be the “shining blue example,” it needs to get the basics right—safely, affordably, and with respect for the people who call Ward 11 home.

Jamison’s website:

https://www.jamisonwhitingformpls.org/

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Everyone Agrees Encampments Aren’t the Solution

When listening to candidates for city office, it’s often hard to tell what—if anything—will change in how Minneapolis addresses homelessness. Nearly everyone agrees that encampments are unsafe for both residents and neighborhoods. The harder question is: what comes next?

Most candidates say that more deeply affordable housing is needed. But where should it go? And how will it be paid for? Those details are rarely discussed.

That’s why the city needs leaders committed to working with county and state partners to solve the problem. It’s easy to issue press releases about individual “rights.” It’s much harder to do the math—and make the deals—that turn rights into real housing.

Audit Hennepin County

The Star Tribune recently reported that homelessness in Hennepin County has dropped 33% since pandemic highs. That is a notable accomplishment. However, when you examine the math, questions arise.

Hennepin County says it spends $190 million annually to keep homelessness “rare, brief, and nonrecurring.” In 2024, when 2,650 people were unsheltered, that translated to $71,698 per person. In 2025, with a reduced population of 1,965, the cost per person rises to $96,692.

This is only the county’s spending. It does not include city or state funds. Out of the county’s $2.68 billion annual budget, homelessness services consume about 7%. That raises a fair question: how many other county programs—from roads to health care—are producing fewer results than the money suggests they should?

Consider the housing market. According to Apartments.com, Minneapolis rents rose 2.8% last year, with the average one-bedroom at $1,391. More than 8,200 apartments are currently available. Covering rent for every unsheltered person for a year would cost roughly $33 million at market rates. Add another $40 million for job training and health care, and the total would be about $75 million—still far less than the $190 million the county currently spends.

An audit is needed to explain how the county is spending nearly $200 million annually on fewer than 2,000 people. Without transparency and results-based accountability, well-intentioned programs turn into waste. Budgets are already tightening, and federal Medicaid cuts will make that worse. These figures suggest the homelessness problem is less about funding and more about management.

Solving homelessness in Minneapolis is not just about Mayor Jacob Frey or the absence of safe outdoor spaces. It is about whether state, county, and city leaders can work together to stop the leakage in overlapping programs. Raising taxes by double digits while mismanaging budgets is not sustainable. Calls for social justice are welcome, but at this moment, we also need politicians who can do the math.

Interview Summary

Mark Andrew served as a Hennepin County Commissioner from 1983-1999 and was the Chair of the Minnesota DFL from 1995-1997. He spoke with me about his long career in public service and the city’s current challenges.

A Minneapolis native, Andrew recalled his years on the Hennepin County board, which funds many of our social programs, including those focused on homelessness, mental health, and youth services. He described the city’s role as handling “bricks and mortar” services like police and zoning, while the county is charged with human services.

On gun violence, Andrew expressed frustration with federal inaction and cuts to mental health funding. He called it “beyond hypocritical” for leaders to demand more treatment while stripping resources from programs that could prevent tragedies. He also argued that media coverage often ignores victims, focusing instead on perpetrators. Without reforms at the federal level, he warned, meaningful gun control is unlikely.

Turning to politics, Andrew reflected on his 2013 mayoral campaign and criticized the recent Minneapolis DFL convention, which he described as unusually corrupt and damaging to the party’s credibility. While both caucuses and primaries have flaws, he agreed that primaries at least allow more people to participate, even if they favor well-financed candidates. He stressed that the party’s rigid factions threaten its ability to govern effectively.

Andrew’s message was clear: Minneapolis needs accountability, coalition-building, and real investment in human services. Without them, the city will keep recycling the same debates on crime, homelessness, and party politics without moving closer to solutions.

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Stoking Controversy One Porch at a Time

A new entrant has joined the Ward 10 City Council race. She faces an uphill battle: a late start, little name recognition, and limited funding. Still, incumbent Aisha Chughtai may have given her opponents an opening. At Uptown Porch Fest, Chughtai used a performance by Space Monkey Mafia as a platform to attack Mayor Jacob Frey:

“We are going to transform this city. F**k Jacob Frey, f**k fascism and f**k Donald Trump.”

The remarks, reported by Star Tribune journalist Tim Harlow, drew sharp criticism. Lydia Millard, Chughtai’s main challenger, called the comments “toxic.”

Why lash out? It may reflect immaturity (Chughtai is the youngest person ever elected to the Minneapolis City Council), frustration, or a calculated strategy. Many progressives remain horrified by Donald Trump. But as a city council member, Chughtai has little influence over Trump. Linking Frey to Trump feels like a transparent attempt to redirect anger at the president toward a local opponent. Chughtai calls Omar Fateh her “friend and brother.”

That tactic ignores Frey’s history with Trump. In 2019, he opposed Trump’s rally at the Target Center, insisting the campaign pay $530,000 for public safety costs. While the city recovered only $100,000 from the arena operators, Frey’s stance brought him abuse and online attacks from Trump supporters.

Yet some DFL activists seem intent on branding any Democrat who resists party orthodoxy as “MAGA.” They overlook an obvious fact: disliking Trump is not the same as approving of the Minneapolis DFL or the national Democratic Party. Polls show voters’ deep dissatisfaction. Residents want more than slogans—they want workable plans to address the city’s problems.

Chants against ICE or denunciations of Trump do little to solve Ward 10’s immediate issues: empty storefronts, open-air drug markets, and gun violence. Building consensus around real solutions is hard work. Chughtai appears to have stopped trying, a vacuum her challengers are moving to fill. Millard and newcomer DeShannon Grimes have been listening to residents, and what they hear is that Chughtai only engages those who already agree with her.

Ward 10 voters will make their choice in November. Whether profanity helps or hurts Chughtai remains to be seen. What is clear is that outrage over national politics won’t repair Minneapolis. It plays well to a friendly crowd, but it does nothing to address the city’s problems.

Interview Summary

Shannon Grimes, a Minneapolis resident since 2003 and longtime Uptown renter, is running for City Council in Ward 10. Originally from Milwaukee, she moved to the city for a job with Saks Fifth Avenue and now works as a realtor while also fostering rescue dogs. Her decision to run stems from concerns that Uptown is being neglected—businesses are leaving, amenities are declining, and residents no longer enjoy the walkable, vibrant neighborhood it once was. She recalls being able to shop, dine, and enjoy entertainment locally, but now finds herself and others driving elsewhere for basic needs and leisure.

Grimes identifies three top priorities: reviving Uptown’s business core, addressing homelessness and drug use, and ensuring fair rent and taxes. She advocates for business incentives, including rent subsidies or build-out assistance, to help entrepreneurs open and stay in Uptown. She also calls for creative use of vacant buildings, such as converting them into hotels or safe havens for unhoused individuals, which could both boost the local economy and address social issues. On homelessness, she stresses that pushing people from place to place isn’t a solution; instead, she envisions safe, local facilities that provide shelter and support.

She also champions rent stabilization, drawing inspiration from Saint Paul’s program, and insists that rent should match neighborhood amenities. With rising rents, costly parking, and fewer local services, she feels residents aren’t getting fair value. Grimes links declining livability to policy missteps, such as street reconstructions that reduced parking and deterred visitors, and she argues for more responsive city planning that includes business input. She also wants to address broader city concerns, like improving police-community trust, enhancing public safety through both MPD and prevention groups, and ensuring equitable resource allocation across neighborhoods.

Grimes contrasts herself with current Ward 10 leadership, criticizing incumbent Aisha Chughtai for being inaccessible to many constituents and lacking visible engagement with local businesses. She says Uptown’s diverse population deserves representation that includes all communities, not just select groups. While acknowledging challenger Lydia Millard, she questions the specificity and feasibility of Millard’s proposals. Grimes plans to run a grassroots campaign through door-to-door canvassing, business visits, and active outreach on social media, aiming to restore Uptown as a safe, vibrant, and economically healthy neighborhood.

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The map is set for this year’s Minneapolis election. As of August 15, fifteen candidates are running for mayor—alongside the DFL contenders are parties or principles with names like Protecting Tomorrow’s Dreams, For the People, Nobody’s Party, Renaissance, Momunist, and Why Not Wagner.

Ranked-choice voting (RCV) makes such a crowded field possible. The system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, ensuring that if their first choice is eliminated, their vote transfers to the next. That change removes the “spoiler” effect and gives lesser-known candidates space to run without the risk of splitting the vote.

The “spoiler” problem is familiar to anyone who remembers the 2000 presidential race. Ralph Nader, running as the Green Party candidate, received nearly 100,000 votes in Florida—more than enough to cover George W. Bush’s 537-vote margin over Al Gore. With RCV, those Nader votes could have transferred to Gore in later rounds, likely changing the outcome of the election.

While Minneapolis politics may not decide the presidency, the same dynamics apply. In a traditional system, voters sometimes choose a front-runner they can tolerate rather than the candidate they most prefer. RCV allows them to vote honestly while still influencing the final result. But it works only if voters understand how to use it.

That’s why we spoke with Jeanne Massey, who led the campaign to bring RCV to Minneapolis in 2006 and now heads FairVote Minnesota. In our conversation, she explained how the system works, why Minneapolis elections no longer need low-turnout primaries, and how RCV has opened the door for a more diverse and competitive set of candidates.

Current Race Status

Depending on which poll you read, State Sen. Omar Fateh and Mayor Jacob Frey are either neck-and-neck or Frey holds a commanding lead. On Polymarket today, Frey is projected to win with 59% odds. He has both a substantial fundraising advantage and a disciplined campaign operation. Still, in a ranked-choice election, even a front-runner benefits from being a popular second choice. In 2021, the bottom 16 of 19 mayoral candidates together drew 17% of the vote—enough to swing a close race.

With the filing period now closed, several late entrants have reshaped the council contests:

* Ward 10: DeShanneon Grimes joins Lydia Millard and incumbent Aisha Chughtai. (Interview with Grimes will be posted August 20.)

* Ward 5: Six candidates are now in the race.

* Ward 7: Corey Ryan Vest has filed.

* Ward 8: Republican Bob Sullentrop and Independent Philip Galberth join the field.

* Ward 11: Frequent newsletter commenter Jim Meyer joins Jamison Whiting and Mariam DeMello.

* Ward 13: Bob “Again” Carney Jr. challenges Linea Palmisano, running under the “Climate Revolution Elephant” banner.

A full list of filings is available on the city’s website. In nine of thirteen council races, ranked-choice voting will likely influence the outcome.

Summary of Jeanne Massey Interview

In this interview, FairVote Minnesota Executive Director Jeanne Massey discusses the history, mechanics, and implications of ranked-choice voting (RCV) in Minneapolis. She explains that conversations began in 2004 after the League of Women Voters endorsed the method to address “spoiler” problems in elections like Bush v. Gore. Minneapolis adopted RCV through a 2006 charter amendment, supported by council members and a citizen petition. Massey highlights how RCV eliminates low-turnout primaries, encourages broader voter participation, and reduces incentives for negative campaigning by prompting candidates to seek second-choice votes.

Massey describes the ballot process, noting that voters rank their preferred candidates, and if no one wins a majority, an “instant runoff” reallocates votes until a winner emerges. While Minneapolis still uses a manual spreadsheet tabulation due to lack of certified equipment, she emphasizes transparency, safeguards, and accuracy in the city’s process. She also addresses common criticisms—such as long ballots or the complexity of forums with many candidates—by advocating for better forum design rather than reinstating primaries.

The conversation turns to RCV’s effect on diversity in politics, with Massey asserting it has increased the number of women and candidates of color running and winning. She outlines FairVote Minnesota’s push for statewide adoption, beginning with a “local option” bill to establish uniform standards, enable even-year city elections alongside state races, and allow certified equipment for faster counts. She notes national examples, including statewide use in Maine and Alaska, and potential for proportional RCV with multi-member districts, as seen in Portland, Oregon.

Massey sees RCV as part of a broader reform agenda to make elections more representative, inclusive, and fair. While acknowledging public education is crucial, she maintains voters understand and prefer RCV once they experience it. Looking ahead, she envisions both expanded local adoption and a future statewide system, possibly including proportional representation, to ensure more voices are heard and more voters see candidates they supported elected to office.

For more information about ranked-choice voting, visit:

Rank Your Vote site: rankyourvote.org

Experience in MN: fairvotemn.org/dashboard

If you’d like to contact us directly, you can email or through the secure messaging app Signal at bttrmpls.33.

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In this interview with Carol Becker, we cover Minneapolis’s budget process, the political dynamics between the mayor and city council, property tax impacts, and broader housing and transit issues.

Carol writes regularly for the Minneapolis Times, and her Star Tribune op-eds often draw significant public reaction. With the mayor’s budget proposal due next week and Metro Transit’s recent performance report showing a 7% drop in ridership, we thought Carol could offer a timely and valuable perspective.

It will be interesting to see whether Mayor Frey and the city council can work together in an election year, or if the tension between them will lead to an even messier budget process than last year’s.

Becker outlines the annual budget cycle, beginning with early-year accounting closures, followed by months of departmental planning, revenue forecasting, and mayoral decision-making. She contrasts “base service level” budgeting with zero-based budgeting, noting the latter’s potential for deeper scrutiny but higher workload. Becker stresses that the budget is a political document setting city priorities and cautions that meaningful influence happens in June and July, not in December.

A major theme of our discussion is the relationship breakdown between the mayor and council in 2023, when the council proposed 70 budget amendments—many, Becker says, driven by ward-specific or “self-dealing” priorities, some outside the city’s scope. She criticizes the tendency to fund projects better suited for state or county oversight.

The Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET), on which she served, sets the maximum property tax levy. Becker recalls balancing essential services with affordability, noting that property tax increases often hit homeowners harder than the official levy percentage suggests, due to shifts in property values—especially with declining commercial and apartment assessments shifting the burden to single-family homes.

Becker links housing affordability challenges to city development patterns since 2009, which she says overwhelmingly favor rental units over ownership housing, especially larger units for families with children. She criticizes the lack of homeownership initiatives, the impact of private equity buying North Minneapolis housing, and policies like rent control, which she argues deter construction. While acknowledging Mayor Frey’s investment in affordable housing, Becker says the next priority should be building ownership housing for families to reduce poverty and stabilize communities. We discuss how the shortage of family housing in Minneapolis has driven many families to seek homeownership in the suburbs.

The discussion closes with transit, where Becker explains that the Metropolitan Council, not the city, runs the system, with the city’s role limited to public safety around stations. She questions the efficiency and environmental benefits of lightly used diesel buses and the high per-ride costs, suggesting that alternatives like direct subsidies for low-income riders could be more cost-effective.

The Southwest Light Rail project is over-budget and behind schedule. The Met Council is an unaccountable, governor-appointed body. The conversation ends on a philosophical note with a brief discussion of Plato’s views on democracy and the merits of “smart bureaucracy” versus democracy.

We end by acknowledging that both democratically elected boards and appointed boards have their challenges in producing effective governance.

If you have any issues playing the video, it can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@BetterMinneapolis/videos

As always, you can email [email protected] with questions or comments.

You can also reach us through the Signal Private Message app: bttrmpls.33

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After-Action Report on June 3 Raid

At its August 5 meeting, the City Council reviewed a report from the City Auditor on the June 3 immigration raid at Lake and Bloomington. The report, requested by the council, found that MPD followed the city's separation-of-powers agreement. It also noted a breakdown in communication and recommended the agreement—originally written before the creation of ICE—be updated to reflect current realities.

Several council members, including Chavez, Cashman, Chowdhury, and Wonsley, expressed frustration with the findings. Council Member Vetaw was alone in emphasizing a basic legal fact: cities cannot prevent federal agents from entering their jurisdiction.

Much of the meeting was devoted to condemning federal immigration policy and highlighting its impact on families—a message that, while heartfelt, did little to clarify the city's role or responsibilities during such events.

The discussion raised important questions about the council’s capacity to respond effectively in crisis situations. Emotional appeals, internal disputes, and a pattern of sharing unverified information online continue to undermine public confidence.

We agree with the auditor's recommendation to revisit and modernize the existing agreement. Better communication protocols will be essential in responding to future raids. Clear, timely messaging would help reduce confusion and prevent the spread of rumors, especially those fueled by social media.

Podcast: Reader Feedback on Recent Posts

In today’s podcast, we also respond to feedback on our recent newsletters. The conversation has been active, and we welcome it. We’ll continue to highlight areas where public dollars deserve more scrutiny and where political orthodoxy is getting in the way of better governance. Feedback on the below newsletters is covered.

On Protecting Workers and Supporting Labor

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

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