3rd Ward News with Council Member Michael Rainville: Week of April 10
Message from Council Member Rainville
Hello to all my 3rd Ward neighbors,
It was a very busy week at City Hall and in the 3rd Ward. At the Committee of the Whole, a public hearing was held on the proposed ordinance to decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia. Right now it is illegal to have hypodermic needles, crack pipes, etc. in your possession. Last year this charge was used in 225 cases. Many of these charges were dropped if the defendant agreed to go to treatment. With the very robust testimony by the speakers who raised many key questions, any action on this has been delayed to the next Public Health and Safety Committee meeting. I was impressed by the number of speakers who live in high drug-use neighborhoods who spoke to the quality of life issues that public drug use creates.
At the full Council meeting yesterday we voted to confirm the appointments of City Attorney Kristyn Anderson and Chief Operating Officer Margaret Anderson-Kelliher. Commissioner of Public Safety Todd Barnette was not confirmed by a vote of 6-7. The Mayor has said he would veto the action to not reappoint Commissioner Barnette.
Also at the Council meeting we discussed the staff time involved in overturning the ban on adult bathhouses. My comments to my fellow Council Members were that we should be using staff’s and our time to focus on:
- Building more affordable housing
- Improving public safety
- Environmental justice
- Addressing the mental health and addiction crisis
- Addressing the 2027 budget crisis. If we do not cut expenses and continue to raise property taxes, every renter and homeowner will suffer. Especially our low and fixed income neighbors.
At a joint session of the City Council and Board of Estimate and Taxation we received a report on potential new revenue sources for the City. I disagree with all the options that were presented to us.
On Wednesday Council Member Vetaw and I attended career day at DeLaSalle High School. We spoke to the students about the role of City Council members and answered their many questions.
 |
Council Members Rainville and Vetaw speaking with students at DeLaSalle High School
Also on Wednesday, I spoke at the opening night of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival. What a joy it is to have the festival held at the St. Anthony Main theater. There’s no better night out in the 3rd Ward than dinner and a show on Main St.
With Summer quickly approaching, I spent a lot of time this week working with Park Board staff, City staff, police, and Somali Youth Link to add night safety patrols from the Stone Arch Bridge to Boom Island Park.
As always, Henry, Patrick, and I are here to serve you. We can be reached at ward3@minneapolismn.gov. Please report all issues to 311 before contacting us so there is a paper trail and staff are already aware of the issue when we speak with them. You can contact 311 by simply dialing 311, email them at Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov or by submitting a 311 Contact Form.
Your neighbor,
Michael
|
|