March Civic Buzz

This event has passed. Watch the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fn6ert9kbQ March’s Civic Buzz (and discussion topic) will be Government Structure; Minneapolis’ new Strong Mayor system, 2 years in. Our plan is to take a look at what changes have been wrought by the new Executive Mayor – Legislative Council system, since that amendment to our Charter…

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Star Tribune Editorial November 6, 2023

From the Star Tribune Editorial Board Thank you, League of Women Voters League of Women Voters of Minnesota’s 2,300 members across the state are doing work vital to our democracy. As the frenzy of election season draws to a close, we’d like to take a moment to recognize the tireless work that many do to…

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February 2024 Civic Buzz: Homelessness in Minneapolis and Hennepin County

This event has passed. Watch the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMeQfB_dja0 Homelessness is in the headlines in Minneapolis, across the State of MN and in much of the United States. In Minnesota, after being relatively stable from 2017 to 2022, the number of unhoused people in 2023 jumped by 6% overall and 27% for families with children. What…

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November Civic Buzz: Elder Healthcare – Info and Advocacy in MN

This Event has passed. Please watch the replay by clicking here Elder Care is a complicated and emotional subject, which will touch most of our lives, whether for ourselves or our loved ones. It can be extremely difficult to navigate the labyrinthian systems for care and payment, all while dealing with the emotional and physical issues…

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October Civic Buzz: Voting Rights with Secretary Simon

October Civic Buzz: Voting Rights with Secretary Simon This Event has passed. Please watch the replay by clicking here MN Secretary of State Steve Simon on Voting Rights – the many new voting laws passed in the most recent legislative session, and what’s left to do. Steve Simon is Minnesota’s 22nd Secretary of State. He was…

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New Community Safety Commissioner and Budget for Police Reform Announced

Two events initiated by Mayor Frey in mid-September highlighted public safety initiatives in the city. Frey nominated Todd Barnette, Hennepin County Chief Judge, to become the next community safety commissioner. According to Frey, he has “established himself as a leading voice in Minnesota public safety and criminal justice communities.“ Barnette served as an attorney in…

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Understanding the State and Federal Public Safety Findings

The LWVMpls Reimagining Public Safety Committee has been following the city, state, and federal efforts to reform the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and generally improve public safety in our city. This summer there have been three major milestones reached in this process: the release of the United States Department of Justice’s (DOJ) report on its…

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2023 Minneapolis Local Election Education – Check It Out!

The League of Women Voters Minneapolis is once again providing a series of six articles for voters, this year on the 2023 Minneapolis Election. In 2023 all 13 Wards will elect a City Council Representative, so our focus will be to educate the community on the importance of this local election and encourage community members to VOTE LOCAL. Each article will be distributed the first Monday of the month, beginning in April, for publication in the subsequent month’s online and print edition. The articles will cover topics such as the Role of the City Council, Rank Choice Voting, What is on Your Ballot? and more… Articles will also be available on the League website by going to the For Voters Page!

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May Civic Buzz: Police Reform and Public Safety

September – Climate Change; the Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan Civic Buzz Sept 7th, 7-8:30 (on Zoom) with guest Kim Havey, the Minneapolis Health Department’s Director of Sustainability, and White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council member. Director Havey will discuss the Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan, passed in July 2023 by the Mpls City Council. His department…

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