Better Minneapolis Podcast

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 c...

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,...

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,...

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...

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 su...

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...

Council Member Andrea Jenkins has long been a distinctive voice in Ward 8 and across Minneapolis. In this interview, we discuss a range of issues that continue to shape the city. Though she’s not seeking re-election, Jenkins speaks with clarity and conviction about the challenges facing residents—and the limitations of what City Hall can realistically deliver. While attention is currently fixed on...

In this interview, we explore the values and perspective of Mariam DeMello , a candidate for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 11. She begins by noting that she is not a political insider—and expressed surprise that, until recently, there was only one person running to replace outgoing Council Member Emily Koski. DeMello’s opponent, Jamison Whiting , declined an interview request, stating that his...

City Spending & Transparency Steve Brandt, President of the Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation, recently proposed a 1% city income tax on households earning more than $200,000 per year. In an April 27 opinion piece published in the Star Tribune , he argued this measure could raise necessary funds without further increasing property taxes. In an interview with Better Minneapolis , Brandt ac...

The DFL Ward 2 Endorsement Convention is this Saturday, May 3 Shelley Madore is seeking the DFL endorsement in Ward 2 this weekend. In a more functional party, that statement might be unremarkable. But the Minneapolis DFL has managed to complicate even the most basic part of the process: setting a date. The convention date was changed multiple times—from May 3 to June 7, then June 1, before revert...

Rep. Ilhan Omar, representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, has injected herself into this year’s Minneapolis city council elections, endorsing eight candidates. All but one, Soren Stevenson (Ward 8), are incumbents. Robin Wonsley is not a DFL member; she identifies as a Democratic Socialist, a distinction highlighted on her campaign website. An Ineffective and Divisive Record On paper,...

In this interview with Becka Thompson, we learned a lot about why she decided to run for the Ward 12 City Council seat, as well as the experience and skills she hopes to bring to the role. In addition to being elected as the District 2 Park Board Commissioner, Becka serves on the City Planning Commission alongside the Ward 12 incumbent, Aurin Chowdhury. Becka’s background in math could be a valuab...

Consistent Commitment Minneapolis needs people who are committed to its revitalization. From picking up trash and removing graffiti to attracting new businesses and jobs, everything requires consistent, hard work. I was excited to interview Adam Duininck for several reasons. First, as Uptown explores creating its own Business Improvement District, there are important lessons to learn from the year...

For today’s podcast, I interviewed two Uptown business owners: Chris Ikeda, owner and operator of the Lake & Irving restaurant, and Zach Pettus, owner and operator of CycleBar. We met at recent public meetings hosted by the Uptown Association—successful events attended by hundreds of local residents, business owners, and developers, all united by a common goal: to bring back Uptown. Staying Power...

Regardless of a candidate’s positions, we strive to assess their character. By this, we mean evaluating their ability to withstand pressure from lobbyists, irate residents, or even their own party members. The ideal elected official—though no one is perfect—would be someone who carefully assesses the facts, listens to their constituents, and makes decisions that align with the values they’ve promi...

Adding up the Independent Votes If you’re looking for a shift in the direction of the City Council, electing Dan Orban in Ward 9 might be part of the equation. Unlike most other candidates for City Council, Dan is running as an Independent and will not be seeking the DFL endorsement. According to the city’s website, “Ward 9 is one of the most densely populated wards as well as one of the most dive...

How to Cook Fish A question we often pose during political conversations is this: If you met someone who was an excellent cook and they gave you their favorite fish recipe—but they held different political views from your own—would you still cook the fish? We like this question because it highlights the deep distrust many of us feel toward those in a different political camp. The recipe is the rec...

Withstanding the Bitter Winds of Washington, D. C. During election cycles, residents can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the many candidates and organizations competing for their attention. In many ways, this is understandable. Issues such as reducing crime, addressing encampments, and fostering a thriving business environment are complex, leading to multiple perspectives on how best to approach the...

Andrea Jenkins announced in her March 3 newsletter that she will be stepping down from her Ward 8 City Council seat after this year. Her departure ensures that at least three new council members will take office next year. Ward 5 Council member Jeremiah Ellison is stepping down, and Ward 11 Council member Emily Koski is running for mayor. As of now, the only candidate running for her seat is Jamis...

For today’s newsletter, I sat down with Judy Longbottom at the Walker Library. A longtime business owner in Uptown, Judy remains optimistic about staying put and rebuilding. And she’s not alone—many others have invested more than money in this neighborhood. Uptown has shaped them just as they have shaped it. Topics discussed include: * The impact of Hennepin construction * The Promise Act and how...

Winner Takes All, and We All Lose Whether we vote by ward, at-large, or use ranked-choice voting, one of the primary obstacles to electing governing bodies that truly represent their constituents is the winner-take-all nature of our current election system. In today’s podcast, I interview Lee Drutman, a senior fellow at New America—a Washington think tank—and author of the book Breaking the Two-Pa...

How to Play Principal Clarinet As a college freshman, my goals were, at best, unspecific. They boiled down to becoming a writer someday. When my uncle asked how I planned to make a living, I boldly told him that I would dig ditches if that’s what it took. Five years later, I fulfilled that prophecy, working for a friend’s landscaping business in Santa Fe. Graduating with a B.A in English Literatur...

In this episode, we speak with Ward 13 Council Member Linea Palmisano on the contentious budget process that saw the mayor’s veto overridden and over 70 amendments proposed. From the community-driven capital project planning to the complex interplay of taxation and downtown property values, this discussion sheds light on the fiscal challenges facing Minneapolis. Linea critiques last-minute budget...

Today we are taking a break from City Hall to focus on other local issues. Lara Bergman is a candidate for the District 6 Minneapolis School Board seat. Her opponent is Greta Callahan, president of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT). We reached out to Greta for an interview and are waiting to hear back. Lara’s Background Lara comes to this moment as an early childhood educator, Minneapol...

Interview Background Better Minneapolis has seen Commissioner Barnette speak multiple times. We’ve watched him get heckled at community safety meetings, provide updates to a sometimes-hostile city council, and read various interviews. However, sitting down with him to discuss a range of topics gave us deeper insight into his role and the tasks he’s been assigned. Before the interview, we had to lo...