Better Minneapolis Podcast

This podcast is a follow-up to our newsletter, The Appeal of Socialism.

Election Updates

Since we didn’t have time to produce an audio edition of the newsletter on Sunday, we recorded one this morning instead. We’re finding that more people are listening to the podcast—often more than are reading the written version—so we’ll continue experimenting with the format.

In today’s episode, we discuss a few recent developments in the local election landscape:

* Mariam DeMello has confirmed that she will continue her campaign for the Ward 11 City Council seat. After losing the DFL endorsement to Jamison Whiting, there was speculation she might withdraw. However, in a recent press release, she announced plans to file and relaunch her campaign.

* Billy Menz has ended his campaign for Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Commissioner in District 1. Unless another candidate files, the DFL-endorsed Dan Engelhart will run unopposed.

The candidate filing period for Minneapolis municipal races runs from July 29 to August 12. After that, we’ll have a complete picture of who’s officially in—and who isn’t.

Experimentation

In addition to interviews, we will start including a review of reader comments in the podcast. We’ve appreciated the thoughtful conversations sparked by the newsletter, and we think others will too. Starting with future episodes, we’ll highlight a few notable comments when we record a podcast tied to a newsletter.

We’re fortunate to have an engaged, insightful, and well-informed audience. Reader feedback often surfaces ideas and angles we hadn’t considered, and we’d like to share more of that thinking with the broader community.

Inside Scoop

We want readers and listeners to feel comfortable reaching out with tips or insights. If you have story suggestions, questions, or feedback, you can always email, call, or text us.

For those who prefer a more private channel, we also use Signal, a secure messaging app used by many reporters and public officials. You can contact us there with confidence that your identity and information will not be shared without your explicit permission.

Signal contact: bttrmpls.33

Thank you again for your support. If you like what we’re doing, don’t keep it to yourself—encourage your friends and neighbors to subscribe.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.betterminneapolis.com/subscribe

The Minneapolis DFL continues to show a troubling tolerance for ethical lapses—a tendency perhaps due to its decades-long dominance in city politics. One of the benefits of political competition is that it forces parties, like companies, to reexamine their practices and standards.

For example, the party still backs Council Member Jamal Osman—an ally of Omar Fateh—despite both men’s proximity to the ongoing Feeding Our Future fraud investigation.

It’s a subject the Minneapolis DFL may prefer to ignore, but the headlines persist. Consider the KARE 11 report from July 22:

MINNEAPOLIS — A 34-year-old Mankato man is the 48th person to be convicted in the massive Feeding Our Future meal fraud case.

Asad Abshir pleaded guilty to money laundering for his role in the $250 million dollar scam. He stole about $750,000, and the fed was able to get back most of that money...Abshir and his brother admitted to running a phony food distribution site in Mankato called Stigma-Free. That’s the nonprofit he and others bought from Minneapolis city council member Jamal Osman.

In a November newsletter, we outlined Osman’s connections to this fraud-adjacent activity:

CM Osman currently serves on the Minneapolis City Council budget committee. Consider this: a budget committee member who, in the DFL’s fantasy world, is expected to have been unaware that his wife’s nonprofit was stealing almost $500,000 in taxpayer money, is entrusted with overseeing fiscal responsibility. Not only did he win his election while this fraud was being committed, but he also secured the coveted endorsement of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Notably, the PAC Minneapolis for the Many has yet to endorse Osman. He recently promoted his endorsement from Council 5 AFSCME. Osman and Fateh have publicly endorsed one another.

Sen. Fateh’s own campaign, as reported by the Sahan Journal in February 2022, returned 11 donations from individuals named in FBI search warrants in the Feeding Our Future fraud case. At the time, his team claimed he was unaware of their involvement in the scheme until the warrants were unsealed. (Four of those same donors also contributed to Mayor Jacob Frey’s campaign.)

According to the Sahan Journal:

The seven donors to Omar listed on the search warrants are Salim Said, Ahmed Ghedi, Abdinasir Abshir, Ahmed Omar, Abdihakim Ahmed, Abdiwahab Mohamud, and Sahra Mohamed. Each donated $1,000 to Omar’s campaign. In addition, Kimyon said the campaign returned two more donations from people not named on the search warrant but who listed addresses or identified themselves as employees of companies named in the search warrants. Finally, Kimyon said the campaign returned two additional donations “out of an abundance of caution.”

In total, Omar Fateh returned $11,000 of the $41,000 he raised in 2021. That means approximately 27% of his campaign contributions that year came from individuals later connected to the Feeding Our Future fraud investigation.

It’s also relevant to note that Fateh’s brother-in-law, Muse Mohamud Mohamed, was convicted in May 2022 on two counts of making false declarations related to absentee ballots he submitted during the election.

The Real Question

People had mixed reactions to Monday’s Better Minneapolis newsletter. In that article, we said Mayor Frey should accept the DFL endorsement of Omar Fateh and move forward. Some readers thought that was a bad idea and want Frey to fight back. Others agreed with our reasoning.

But this isn’t just about one event. The bigger issue is that the Minneapolis DFL has been the only political party in control for decades. When one group holds all the power, it often leads to bad decisions and corruption. We can see the same thing happening in Washington right now.

This problem isn’t limited to politics. Any group—whether it’s the Catholic Church, a labor union, a big company, or local government—can become corrupt when no one is watching or challenging them. In Minneapolis, we’ve seen this with the city budget and the police department. We need more people asking questions, offering different ideas, and holding leaders responsible for their actions.

So the real question is: why does the Minneapolis DFL endorsement matter so much? One way to address this issue would be to hold a nonpartisan primary, where all candidates compete on an equal footing. Even better would be the emergence of a second or third political party, providing voters with genuine choices and bringing more balance to our local government.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.betterminneapolis.com/subscribe

Summary

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, State Senator Omar Fateh was endorsed by the Minneapolis DFL for mayor. The vote was conducted by a visual show of badges following a late rules change, introduced by Council Member Aisha Chughtai at approximately 9:10 p.m., to bypass paper ballots.

According to the convention's credentials report, total voting strength at the time was 699—comprising 608 signed-in delegates and 91 upgraded alternates. For the vote to be valid, a quorum was required. The DFL defines quorum as a majority of registered delegates and upgraded alternates, which would amount to 350 individuals. The chair ruled—by visual assessment—that quorum was met. However, there is currently no way to verify this.

The only definitive count available will be the number of paper ballots submitted in the at-large park board election. As of 10 a.m. Monday, July 21, the Minneapolis DFL has not released those figures. It is unclear why. The vote calculation should not be complex. The lack of transparency raises questions about the legitimacy of the endorsement and the party's ability to organize a credible convention.

Based on our own (unverifiable) visual estimate, it appeared that at least 350 voting delegates remained in the room. Around the time Chughtai's motion passed, the Frey campaign sent a message urging supporters to leave in an attempt to break quorum and end the convention without an endorsement. That strategy appears to have backfired, leaving only the supporters of Fateh, Davis, and Hampton in the hall to cast their votes.

Recommendations

First, Mayor Jacob Frey would be well advised to wait for the final delegate counts and then acknowledge Omar Fateh’s endorsement. It is unlikely that a party willing to rush an endorsement vote will reverse its own decision.

Second, his campaign must do more to earn the support of Minneapolis voters. This will not be easy. He faces three strong challengers, each critical of his record on affordable housing, police reform, and overall city management. To win, he will likely need to persuade an additional 17 to 20 percent of currently undecided voters. Ranked-choice voting may work in his favor, as it has in the past.

Third, the campaign should consider holding a series of listening sessions—one in each ward—to hear directly from residents about where the city is falling short. Frey can and should cite his accomplishments, but more importantly, he must articulate a compelling vision for Minneapolis. Voters need a clear sense of how the city will change over the next four years if he earns another term. Rather than emphasizing broad agreement with his opponents, Frey might consider highlighting meaningful differences.

Reasoning

Even if the results are overturned, Mayor Frey’s best outcome at the convention was always no endorsement. The first round of electronic voting, though possibly flawed, gave him only 31.5% of delegate support. That outcome likely informed the decision by his campaign to pursue a quorum-denial strategy. The reported first-round vote totals were: Fateh 253, Frey 182, Davis 115, Hampton 23, and Short 2. Davis, Hampton, and Short failed to meet the 20% threshold required to advance to a second round.

There are several reasons to question the accuracy of these numbers. The head teller left mid-count due to a migraine. The ballot itself was altered during voting to add the “No Endorsement” option, which had been omitted. The process of upgrading alternates was chaotic and, by some accounts, potentially manipulated. In the final minutes of the convention, Council Members such as Jamal Osman were observed near the front of the upgrade line, possibly negotiating delegate status.

More broadly, the DFL caucus and ward convention system is outdated and unrepresentative. It excludes all but the most dedicated party members. Delegates at the convention represent only a small fraction of the electorate.

Despite these serious flaws—many of which justify public frustration—Mayor Frey’s campaign would be wise to respond with humility and a renewed focus on listening. The endorsement has already been publicized across social and traditional media, including coverage as far away as India. At this point, contesting the outcome is unlikely to resonate with most voters, especially those unfamiliar with the arcane procedures of the Minneapolis DFL. Even if valid, the argument that the process was unfair is unlikely to move the electorate. There may always be an asterisk on this endorsement, but explaining why is unlikely to shift public perception.

The bottom line: Omar Fateh is running an effective campaign. He had more visible support and energy in the room than Frey, regardless of the official count. As we’ve written before, the current convention system does not reflect the majority of Minneapolis voters. A new system, possibly involving a primary using Ranked Choice Voting, would offer broader participation. One model: candidates receiving 60% in the primary could secure the DFL endorsement, with the general election to follow.

Had such a system been in place, it is far from certain that Fateh would have earned the endorsement. His first-round support stood at 44%—well short of the 60% threshold. Neither Davis nor Hampton endorsed Fateh or asked their supporters to shift their votes. Both stated they intended to remain in the race until the end.

The Park Board Fallout

One consequence of the Frey campaign’s walkout from the convention was the loss of its delegates’ votes in the park board endorsement process. The remaining votes—conducted quickly via a show of badges to meet the 10 p.m. deadline—resulted in several endorsements:

* Dan Englehart was endorsed in District 1 over Billy Menz.

* Kedar Deshpande was endorsed in District 3.

* Jason Garcia was endorsed in District 4 over Andrew Gebo, Paula Chesley, and Conrad Zbikowski. (Zbikowski has since filed a complaint, alleging that District 4 did not have a quorum.)

* In District 5, Ira Jourdain was endorsed over incumbent and board president Cathy Abene.

Given the circumstances under which these endorsements were made, we hope all park board candidates choose to remain in the race. The outcomes at the convention may not reflect the results of the general election.

A resolution was also passed urging the city to divest from companies involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The exact language of the resolution has not yet been made available.

Conclusion

Fifteen weeks remain until the general election on November 4. The outcome was not decided at the Target Center. While it’s difficult to assign a specific probability to Mayor Frey’s reelection chances, they remain strong. He has won two prior elections without securing the DFL endorsement.

Still, this election unfolds under different conditions. His campaign will need to work harder to engage voters and counter a field of serious challengers. There are multiple strategic paths available, but contesting Omar Fateh’s endorsement risks becoming a distraction—one that may energize opponents more than it mobilizes supporters.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.betterminneapolis.com/subscribe

Parks Help Cool the City

This week’s interview with Paula Chesley was a reminder of how essential our parks have been to our family over the past two decades. On the day we spoke, the temperature was high and remained so for days. Our conversation included how shrinking ice seasons are making skating more difficult, a subtle but telling sign of how climate change is affecting the city. Parks aren’t just recreational—they help mitigate the “heat island” effect created by miles of concrete and asphalt.

Minneapolis is fortunate to have a robust park system. But "fortunate" isn’t quite the right word. This infrastructure exists because, in 1883, state legislators and city residents chose to create it. The system is a reminder of what effective government can accomplish. Electing people committed to stewardship is essential to protecting that legacy.

A Video Experiment

This interview was recorded at the SPEAK MPLS studio in Northeast. It’s an impressive operation, funded in part by Comcast fees, and it offers training for residents to share their stories via public access television. It’s a model worth studying. As Minneapolis looks to sustain core services without further property tax increases, funding alternatives like this deserve attention. One example might be a modest tax on sugary beverages to support mental health and substance use clinics. We're eager to hear more ideas—from both residents and candidates—about how to maintain essential services while also keeping the city affordable for residents and businesses.

Join Us Tuesday

Our next Happy Hour is Tuesday, July 8, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Paid subscribers will receive a separate email with location details. We look forward to seeing many of you there.

Summary of Interview

In her interview, Paula Chesley explains her decision to run for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board in District 4. She highlights her civic engagement experience, including her work on the East Isles Neighborhood Board and co-founding a local Safety Walking Club. Chesley positions herself as an action-oriented candidate who can bridge political divides and deliver tangible results.

Chesley outlines her top priorities if elected: constituent services, addressing the Park Board’s budget challenges, and creating more green space downtown, including a proposed year-round conservatory. She emphasizes her commitment to listening to residents and being responsive to community needs, like improving park infrastructure or maintaining green spaces. Chesley also stresses the need for diversified park funding to reduce reliance on rising property taxes.

Safety emerges as another key concern, with Chesley noting it was the top issue identified in a survey on her website. She discusses recent conversations with Park Police Chief Jason Ohotto and the changing use of parkways by e-bike and scooter commuters. While Chesley supports the city’s values around recreational access, she also acknowledges practical enforcement limits and budget constraints.

Finally, Chesley sets herself apart from other candidates through her organizing experience, willingness to engage across ideological lines, and pro-labor values. She voices support for maintaining winter amenities like the Lake of the Isles skating rink and proposes creative solutions, such as food vendors, to help offset costs.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.betterminneapolis.com/subscribe

Better Minneapolis has previously raised concerns about the Neighborhood Safety Department. Out of a genuine desire to see the program succeed, I invited Amanda Harrington to join the podcast. Following the high-profile departure of her predecessor, Luana Nelson-Brown, the department enters a pivotal phase.

Director Harrington brings a reasoned approach, a strong public service background, and a clear commitment to reform. These are encouraging signs. Our conversation left me more optimistic about the department’s direction under her leadership.

Notably, Harrington was willing to engage in a direct and candid discussion about the department’s challenges and progress. That transparency is essential and welcome.

Crime at 46th & Hiawatha underscores why residents continue to list public safety as the top concern in this election.

On June 30, the Star Tribune published an article by Susan Du titled, “Drugs and crime are plaguing a Minneapolis transit station. Neighbors say there is only one option.” The story centers on a public walkway connecting the 46th & Hiawatha train station with the surrounding neighborhood. Residents want it closed due to persistent problems with public drug use, break-ins, and trash.

The article surfaces several difficult issues. The response from Ward 12 City Council Member Aurin Chowdhury underscores why many residents are frustrated with current leadership. Chowdhury acknowledged that recent efforts to address crime at other stations like Franklin and Lake had pushed the problem farther down the line. “If you push people around without resources that help lift them out of the situation they’re in, they’re going to go to another place, absolutely,” she said.

While that may be true, it sidesteps the core concern: what is the city doing to secure this specific area and others like it? If resources are lacking, what efforts are being made—by the city, county, and Metropolitan Council—to find them? It’s reasonable for residents to want a more detailed plan from elected officials. Instead, the proposed solution is hiring private security to patrol the station from noon to 8 p.m., which is a limited and temporary response.

Meanwhile, residents continue to pay for multiple overlapping security layers: private contractors, safety ambassadors, Metro Transit security, the Hennepin County Sheriff, and the MPD. We also fund the transit system itself. The Metropolitan Council’s 2025 budget for public transportation is over $723 million. This investment is undermined if people avoid the system because they do not feel safe.

Social Media Warriors

The online reaction to the Star Tribune article was troubling. Instead of engaging in a thoughtful debate about what combination of publicly funded substance abuse programs, housing support, poverty reduction, and security measures might curb the behavior described, many chose to attack the residents quoted in the piece.

In what amounts to a serious breach of privacy, some users investigated tax records of those mentioned. Rather than consider the underlying challenges—addiction, inequality, and gaps in city services—critics aimed to discredit the residents' concerns entirely. Some questioned whether they were even real people. Others scolded them for expecting anything different after buying near a transit line.

The message was clear: if you speak publicly about crime in your neighborhood, you may become the target of a campaign to discredit you. Whether your concerns are valid is treated as irrelevant.

The Debate Over Public Spaces

Ideally, Minneapolis would offer public spaces that are safe, welcoming, and accessible to all. Instead, too many sidewalks and underpasses are fenced off, buildings are surrounded by barbed wire, and millions are spent on security. The public debate over this reality has, in our view, veered off course. Rather than acknowledging that some public areas have been overtaken by illegal activity—causing many residents to avoid them—certain groups have chosen to blame the city for erecting barriers.

The city did not create the conditions of poverty and addiction visible on our streets. While local officials can adjust budgets to strengthen the social safety net, they are not the source of economic inequality. The city has little influence over tariffs, hedge funds, or the impact of large corporations on the economy. The cost of groceries—and many other essentials—lies beyond City Hall’s control. Yet the city is increasingly asked to respond—and rightly so, to a degree—because Minneapolis aspires to be a place where all residents can thrive. It invests tax dollars in social services, even if those efforts fall short of fully meeting the need. Hennepin County also plays a significant role in delivering these services.

Still, the decision to close public spaces merits serious debate. It signals a deeper systemic failure. Frustration over the need to cordon off public areas is valid. But that conversation cannot happen if residents are vilified simply for describing what they see in their neighborhoods. Such attacks entrench division and stifle progress.

To move forward, we need a more honest civic dialogue—one that acknowledges lived realities, respects opposing viewpoints, and seeks solutions rooted in both safety and compassion.

Next Happy Hour

Mark your calendars. The next Happy Hour for paid subscribers will be Tuesday, July 8, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Join us to discuss politics, dogs, your garden, or any other topic that comes to mind.

Summary of Interview with Amanda Harrington, Director of Neighborhood Safety

Amanda Harrington, newly appointed Director of the Neighborhood Safety Department, brings a deep background in social work and public service, including experience with Minneapolis Public Schools and the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. She joined the city during a significant transition—shifting from the former Office of Violence Prevention to the current departmental structure under the Office of Community Safety. Harrington emphasized that the department’s role is to support public safety beyond emergency response, focusing on prevention and restoration services, and integrating efforts with a variety of partners from nonprofits to county agencies.

The department currently oversees two major types of community-based safety initiatives: violence interrupters and safety ambassadors. Violence interrupters operate on a model that treats violence as a contagion and aim to de-escalate conflicts in high-risk areas before they escalate. Safety ambassadors, modeled after downtown improvement efforts, provide a visible, non-enforcement presence in targeted corridors like Lake Street and Franklin Avenue. They assist with livability issues, connect individuals to resources, and will eventually be deployable via a city dispatcher.

Harrington acknowledged past concerns about financial oversight and duplication with county services but highlighted new internal controls, training, and coordination with Hennepin County to reduce overlap and improve accountability. She also addressed public and council skepticism by emphasizing transparency efforts, such as standardized contract expectations and upcoming public data dashboards to track service outputs and community perceptions of safety. The department currently has 17 staff and is close to fully staffed.

Looking ahead, Harrington views community feedback and public trust as critical measures of success. She noted that the department is not under the scope of the police consent decree but emphasized that their work complements those reforms. The ultimate goal, she stressed, is building a functioning “community safety ecosystem” that combines enforcement with broader social support, emphasizing that true safety includes both statistical reductions in crime and residents’ sense of well-being.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.betterminneapolis.com/subscribe

Interview Summary

In a candid interview, Mayor Jacob Frey reflected on his motivation for seeking a third and final term as Minneapolis mayor, emphasizing his desire to demonstrate that democratically run cities can deliver results. After eight turbulent years marked by protests, public safety crises, and national scrutiny, Frey believes the city is turning a corner. He cited progress in housing, public safety, and government reform as signs of recovery and outlined his intent to finish key projects and ensure the next administration inherits a more functional city.

Frey defended his record by pointing to quantifiable successes, including record levels of deeply affordable housing and reforms in public safety. He argued against policies like rent control and defunding the police, insisting they are politically appealing but ultimately ineffective. Instead, his administration has focused on combining increased police staffing with expanded mental health response programs. Frey characterized himself as a progressive committed to results over ideology, willing to challenge both ends of the political spectrum in pursuit of effective governance.

He also addressed local economic challenges, particularly in areas like Uptown, where the city is working to create a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant foundation for small businesses. Initiatives like facade grants, artist storefronts, and added public safety presence are part of a broader strategy to spur economic development. Frey was realistic about the pace of recovery, promising visible progress this summer while cautioning that full revitalization will take time.

Looking to the future, Frey sees completing the shift to a “strong mayor” system as one of the most important—and least appreciated—changes of his tenure. He believes this reform will bring long-term clarity and effectiveness to city governance. Personally, he credits his wife and daughter with keeping him grounded and says his approach to leadership has matured significantly since taking office. As he campaigns for a final term, Frey presents himself as a steady hand, shaped by crisis and focused on practical, long-term solutions.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.betterminneapolis.com/subscribe

My first face-to-face interaction with Dr. DeWayne Davis was this spring at the Queermunity Social Enterprise Café and Gathering Space. Several people encouraged me to hear him speak, and when I saw he was hosting a Meet & Greet, I went. His background as a minister was immediately clear. He speaks with confidence and ease, especially to strangers.

Much of that day's discussion centered on Uptown, a topic we return to at the end of the podcast. One suggestion that stood out was his question about construction: Why doesn’t the city do more to stagger projects to minimize disruption? It’s a reasonable idea, and one worth exploring.

Davis recently returned to the campaign trail after a two-week pause following his mother's death. In our conversation, he reflected on how she and his broader family’s tradition of civic involvement influenced his decision to run for mayor.

His engagement with Minneapolis politics predates this campaign. As Lead Minister at Plymouth Congregational Church, he stepped into a liaison role after the 2015 shooting of Jamar Clark by two police officers. Both officers were cleared of wrongdoing, and then–Police Chief Janeé Harteau issued no discipline. The city was tense. Protesters camped outside the 4th Precinct for 18 consecutive days, and the ripple effects of that moment are still felt.

On July 19–20, delegates at the DFL City Convention will choose among several candidates for mayor. Davis has since left his role as minister at Plymouth Congregational and plans to campaign full-time. Regardless of the convention’s outcome, he’s expected to stay in the race through November.

If this interview—and our broader coverage—adds value to your understanding of Minneapolis, we invite you to become a paid subscriber. Your support makes this work possible. Paid subscribers gain access to the newsletter archive, exclusive chats, and Happy Hours, but more importantly, you help sustain an independent, reader-supported voice committed to reporting on the future of our city.

Look for my interview with Mayor Jacob Frey on Sunday, and with Department of Neighborhood Safety Director Amanda Harrington next Wednesday.

Dr. DeWayne Davis Interview Summary

In this interview, Dr. DeWayne Davis shares his background as the youngest of 15 children raised in the Mississippi Delta by a minister and a Head Start teacher. He traces his path from Howard University and a career in Washington, D.C. politics to becoming a minister in Minneapolis. Davis says he was drawn into community leadership after the deaths of Jamar Clark and George Floyd, engaging with mayors and residents in efforts to heal and organize. He criticizes Mayor Frey as out of his depth and sees the city as stuck, arguing that this moment calls for moral clarity and renewed energy.

Davis centers his campaign on values like dignity, cooperation, and collaborative governance. His top priorities include addressing the affordable housing crisis, expanding economic development beyond downtown, and ensuring public safety through accountable alternatives to policing. He wants to see stronger city leadership on encampments, proposing investments in social services and provider networks to "depopulate" rather than sweep them. He also supports expanding behavioral crisis response and holding city leadership accountable to the terms of the police settlement agreement.

Personally, Davis opens up about his love of libraries, community theater, and the arts—experiences that shaped his worldview growing up in a poor rural town with few resources. He emphasizes the importance of listening and being present with people in their struggles, a value shaped by ministry and reinforced by his family’s legacy of justice work. Ultimately, he believes Minneapolis can be a model of democratic resilience and progress, particularly in the face of rising national authoritarianism, but only if the city recommits to serious, collaborative, people-first governance.

Dr. DeWayne Davis proposes a comprehensive approach to revitalizing Uptown by addressing barriers faced by small businesses, improving city responsiveness, and fostering inclusive economic development. He emphasizes the need for a reorganized and effective small business office—potentially led by an ombudsman—to ensure entrepreneurs can navigate licensing and permitting efficiently. Davis also advocates for stronger collaboration with larger corporations to integrate local businesses into supply chains and for proactive anti-displacement planning during infrastructure projects. While open to business improvement districts, he cautions against favoring only certain types of businesses and urges the city to embrace imaginative, entrepreneurial ventures across diverse industries. Drawing lessons from the North Loop and emerging markets like cannabis, he calls for a more creative and adaptable vision for Uptown’s future.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.betterminneapolis.com/subscribe

The 2017 Election Still Resonates

The 2017 Minneapolis municipal election marked a turning point in politics. That year, Jacob Frey left his Ward 3 council seat to run for mayor—and won. In Ward 8, Council Member Elizabeth Glidden stepped aside, clearing the path for her aide, Andrea Jenkins, to run. Jenkins defeated me—Terry White—by a margin of 73% to 13%. I ran as a Green Party candidate, which at the time still held major party status in Minnesota.

I wasn’t alone. I was part of a small but active group of Greens that included Cam Gordon, LaTrisha Vetaw, and Billy Menz. LaTrisha won her race for At-Large Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioner and later unseated Phillipe Cunningham in 2021 to become the Ward 4 Council Member. Billy lost his first campaign for District 1 MPRB Commissioner to Chris Meyer, but persisted. In 2021, he won the seat he now holds.

When I first ran, a common question stumped me: “How are the Greens different from the DFL?” I believed the Greens were further left, but I hadn’t noticed how far the DFL had shifted. By 2017, significant portions of the party had embraced positions more radical than mine. My environmental policies seemed too tame. Calls for good governance were already giving way to loud appeals rooted in identity politics and resistance to Trump. I hadn’t kept up with the redefinition of what it meant to be a Democrat.

Today, the Green Party is no longer a major party in Minnesota. In 2024, the state legislature raised the threshold for major party status from 5% to 8% in a statewide election. The change has made it even harder for alternatives to the two major parties to gain a foothold, and it has diluted what “DFL” means. In Minneapolis, nearly everyone now runs as a DFL candidate, whether they’re Greens, Democratic Socialists (DSA), or independents. The resulting internal divisions are threatening to fracture the party.

City politics would benefit from some structural changes:

* Enact a primary system to replace the outdated and exclusionary caucus-convention process.

* Consider a proportional representation model, used in many democracies. In such a system, if Greens win 15% of the vote, they get 15% of the council seats. Democratic Socialists could present their platform to voters directly, rather than relying on confusing dual endorsements from both DFL and DSA. Add ranked-choice voting into this muddled mix, and voters are left baffled.

I caught up with Billy recently to talk politics, which we rarely do. These days, he’s more likely to be coaching baseball or biking to a community event. Still, looking back at 2017, it’s clear the ripple effects of that election continue to shape today’s political debates and the structure of public life in Minneapolis.

Interview Summary

Billy Menz, current Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner for District 1, is running for re-election, emphasizing youth programming, riverfront development, and inclusive governance. A longtime teacher and AmeriCorps alum, Menz connects his educational background to his work on the Park Board, advocating for accessible, enriching spaces for children and communities. He highlights projects like Spark Studios, a new tech-focused initiative within recreation centers, and stresses the importance of connecting youth to nature as a way to counteract the harmful effects of digital life. His priorities also include deepening engagement with Indigenous communities and transitioning the Park Board’s role from land ownership to stewardship.

Menz also discusses the Park Board's financial challenges, notably the impact of declining downtown commercial property values on property tax revenue. He explains how this has led to a heavier tax burden on homeowners and potential strain on park programming. Menz supports efforts to collaborate across departments, citing the creation of a stormwater management fee and working with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation on capital projects like North Commons. He’s candid about past controversies, including his decisive vote on the Mall Park redesign, his opposition to the Hiawatha Golf Course redevelopment plan due to racial and historical concerns, and his support for workers during recent union strikes, calling for more transparent and inclusive labor negotiations.

Throughout the interview, Menz maintains that his focus is on public service, not political ambition. While he’s seeking the DFL endorsement, he critiques the party's internal conflicts and calls for more unity and humility in local politics. He underscores the Park Board's role as a democratic institution and cultural cornerstone in Minneapolis, noting how even local parks serve as community hubs and tourist destinations. With his re-election campaign, Menz hopes to continue shaping a park system that is equitable, responsive, and rooted in stewardship for future generations.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.betterminneapolis.com/subscribe

The Minneapolis DFL convention for Mayor, Park Board, and Board of Estimate and Taxation is set for July 19–20. Given the stress, angst, and anger that surfaced at some ward conventions, we expect similar dynamics may emerge at the city convention.

We’re working to schedule an interview with Mayor Jacob Frey. If all goes well, that conversation will be available next Wednesday. Dwayne Davis has suspended his campaign due to his mother’s death, and it’s unclear if or when he’ll re-enter the race. We’ve reached out to Omar Fateh multiple times without a response. If that changes, we’ll aim to include his interview before the convention as well.

This episode focuses on Jazz Hampton. There’s a lot to learn from our conversation, but if there are topics we missed, feel free to leave a comment—we’ll do our best to follow up.

Interview Summary

In this wide-ranging interview, Jazz Hampton shares his motivations for running for mayor of Minneapolis, citing his deep roots in the city, personal values shaped by community-minded parents, and frustration with political gridlock. He believes Minneapolis is at an inflection point, stuck in a cycle of division and needing leadership that can bring diverse voices to the table. Hampton, a lawyer and tech entrepreneur, draws on his background building a nationally scaled justice-focused startup to argue that his combination of legal, business, and civic experience uniquely equips him to manage the city under its strong mayor system.

The conversation explores core priorities of his campaign: public safety, affordable housing, and economic vitality. Hampton advocates for a reimagined approach to policing that reduces officer workload by reallocating responsibilities to specialized responders, while also investing in more sworn officers and rebuilding trust. On housing, he supports incentives for multi-bedroom and family-friendly units, easing regulations on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and addressing the shortage of mid-income housing. Economic recovery, he argues, depends on retaining major employers downtown while also removing permitting delays and fostering small business growth in neighborhoods citywide.

Beyond policy, Hampton emphasizes personal connection and empathy as essential leadership traits. He reflects on how his biracial upbringing, experiences with law enforcement, and broad personal interests—from French language to motorcycles—help him bridge divides. He calls for more civil dialogue in politics, especially in light of recent violence against public figures, and encourages full participation in ranked-choice voting as a way to reflect true voter preferences. Throughout the conversation, Hampton positions himself as both an outsider to political office and someone with the managerial and relational skills needed to lead Minneapolis through a time of challenge and opportunity.

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Uptown will host its first farmers market beginning June 12. I spoke with Dan Sutton and Jack McKann about how it came to be, the challenges of operating as a small producer in an Amazon-dominated economy, and what it might mean for foot traffic in the neighborhood.

Launching something new is never easy. This market took collaboration among volunteers, community groups, and city officials. It’s a reminder of how difficult it is to build—and how easily things can fall apart. It shows the community is serious about a comeback.

The artists, musicians, and farmers behind this effort deserve credit. We plan to attend and hope others will too. (Dogs aren’t allowed; ours, Zelda, would find the food and crowds far too tempting anyway.)

Where to Find More Information

* — UptownMarket.org

* — FB: https://www.facebook.com/uptownmarketmpls

* — Insta: https://www.instagram.com/uptownmarketmpls/

* The first ad by https://markhermanstudio.com/

And here's info about HOTTEA: https://www.pbs.org/video/HOTTEA-642752H-1/

Interview Outline

I. Introduction

* Interview with Dan Sutton (Uptown resident, Round Peg Consultancy) and Jack McCann (TC Farm founder).

* Goal: Launch a new farmers market in Uptown Minneapolis.

II. Background and Genesis

* Inspired by the East Isles Farmers Market.

* Ran for nearly 5 years but was put on hold due to financial loss and construction.

* New vision: a larger, Uptown-wide farmers market to reinvigorate the business district.

III. Community and Organizational Support

* Collaboration with all 8 surrounding neighborhood associations.

* Support from:

* Minneapolis Foundation (led by R.T. Rybak)

* Metro Transit (discounted fares + city-wide advertising)

* Uptown Association

* Seven Points (former Calhoun Square) – donated venue space

IV. Logistics and Launch Details

* Opening Day: June 12

* Duration: 16 weeks, Thursdays 4–8 PM

* Location: Behind Seven Points, including Girard Plaza and adjacent parking lot

* Parking: $7 flat rate in Seven Points garage; metered parking also available

* Pets: Service dogs only at launch (dog area under consideration)

V. Features and Offerings

* Products: Produce, meat, flowers, cottage foods (jams, sourdough), personal care items, some crafts

* Entertainment: Live music, buskers, chef demos featuring local Uptown restaurants

* Art and Branding:

* Yarn installation by HOT TEA (Eric Rieger)

* Poster design by Mark Herman Studio

* Contributions from other Minnesota artists

VI. TC Farm and Minnesota Food Club

* Jack’s background: hobby farm → TC Farm (aggregated CSA model)

* Minnesota Food Club:

* Supports local vendors with logistics, online orders, and cross-marketing

* Vendors can sell online and share customer revenue across products

* Pre-order platform integrated with UptownMarket.org

* Goal: help vendors compete with Whole Foods/Amazon

VII. Vendor Recruitment and Challenges

* Late start in vendor recruitment affects produce planning

* Barriers to entry:

* Time and cost for vendors

* Need for simplicity and low fees to make it sustainable

* Farmer profitability issues: many direct-to-consumer farms earn very little per customer/month

* 8% annual attrition rate among small farmers

VIII. Permitting and Bureaucracy

* City provided ~$42,000 in grants (staff and in-kind marketing)

* Permitting complexity: many overlapping licenses and unclear guidance

* Suggestion: city could benefit from a dedicated small business navigator

* Positive experience with MN Department of Agriculture

IX. Vision and Lasting Impact

* Reignite public and business interest in Uptown

* Drive foot traffic through events (market + movie, market + music)

* Help residents and businesses reclaim community identity and pride

* Gradual build-out with new features added week by week

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.betterminneapolis.com/subscribe