Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis City Council passes ordinance to strengthen renter protections
The Minneapolis City Council passed a new law to make sure landlords’ properties are up to code before their license is renewed.
The city council said they passed this law to hold landlords accountable, citing unsafe homes and delayed repairs that often happen in low-income areas with renters of color and student renters.
Some college students explained that decent housing in Minneapolis is hard to come by.
RELATED: Minneapolis City Council to hear new policy that would protect renters
“I don’t have air conditioning in my room. I live in the lower floors. It’s usually pretty hot. It was definitely a little dirty when we moved in,” Cole Coolidge, a college student, said. “This is the first house I’ve ever had, so I didn’t really know what I was getting into.”
A college student, who asked not to be on camera, said her first two apartments in the city were a nightmare.
“My fridge was broken for two weeks; they weren’t in a rush to fix it,” she said. “It wasn’t until my mom called because she’s my co-signer that they fixed it.”
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The Minneapolis City Council has passed a new ordinance to tighten oversight on landlords.
Under the new policy, any rental property rated as tier three, meaning it has 40 or more code violations, will have to go before the city council to renew its license.
City data shows that at least 2,250 rental units have been flagged for violations that impact a tenant’s safety or quality of life.
RELATED: Minneapolis City Council passes ban on landlords using algorithms to set rent
“This policy is to hold landlords accountable,” council member Jamal Osman said in an Oct. 9 meeting. “We require you to have basic things for the safety and health of our residents.”
Some critics believe this ordinance will be ineffective and potentially lead to fewer housing investments in the city.
“We are concerned that this ordinance could lead to unpredictable and potentially detrimental consequences like increased resident displacement and also stifle housing production and improvements,” Cathy Bennett, Twin Cities Housing Alliance housing policy expert, said in a Sept. 30 public hearing. “Our opposition to this ordinance does not diminish our call for serious and swift action against unsafe housing by enhancing the existing regulatory process.”
According to the city council, if a landlord’s license is revoked, the property owner can appeal the decision.
If the appeal is not successful, renters may qualify for Tenant Relocation Assistance, which could provide a payment equal to three months’ rent to help with relocation.
The new ordinance will go into effect in January 2027, giving landlords one year to ensure their properties are in compliance.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis is ranked among the American cities with the most people in financial distress nationwide, according to a recent analysis by WalletHub.
The personal finance website, which defines financial distress as having a credit account in forbearance or with deferred payments, looked at the country’s 100 largest cities without data limitations across nine metrics, including average credit score, change in bankruptcy filings year-over-year, and share of people with accounts in distress.
Minneapolis came in 44th on the list, between Stockton, California, at 43rd and Fresno, California, at 45th, according to the ranking.
Nationwide, the cities with the most people in financial distress were Chicago at No. 1, Houston at No. 2 and Las Vegas at No. 3, the ranking said.
“Getting out of the downward spiral of financial distress is no easy feat,” according to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.
“You may get temporary relief from your lenders by not having to make payments, but all the while interest will keep building up, making the debt even harder to pay off. People who find themselves in financial distress should budget carefully, cut non-essential expenses, and pursue strategies like debt consolidation or debt management to get their situation under control.”
Read more from WalletHub.
Minneapolis, MN
Whitefish council creates proclamation in solidarity with city, citizens of Minneapolis
WHITEFISH, Mont. — The Whitefish City Council in February presented and signed a proclamation expressing solidarity with the city and citizens of Minneapolis.
The proclamation states that Whitefish mourns the loss of life that occurred in Minneapolis and stands in solidarity with its residents.
It reaffirms the city’s commitment to equal treatment under the law and emphasizes that peaceful protest is a fundamental American right.
The proclamation was supported by five of the six council members.
Mayor John Muhlfeld said the action was meant to reaffirm the city’s values.
“A mayoral proclamation that is supported by five of six City Council members supporting solidarity with the city and citizens of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and reaffirming our supportive, just, equal and welcoming community,” Muhlfeld said. “I think this is somewhat overdue. Our town’s been through a lot over the years, This is more importantly to reaffirm our values as a council with our community because we care deeply about you.”
Over the last year, Whitefish has faced criticism amid rising tensions surrounding the Department of Homeland Security.
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View the full proclamation below.
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