Minneapolis, MN
Doctor who grew up in the Cedar-Riverside area of Minneapolis wants to open an opioid clinic
Plans for opioid treatment center in Cedar-Riverside neighborhood
Dr. Sadik Ali is passionate about helping those fighting opioid addiction.
“For me, it’s very personal,” he said. “I have family members who’ve been affected by this. I have relatives that have died from an overdose. That’s when it hit home for me.”
Ali, an internal medicine specialist who works in Mankato but grew up in Cedar-Riverside, wants to open what he calls the ‘Model C’ center on a property along 20th Avenue South.
“We call this ground zero,” he declared. “This is the epidemic; the epicenter of substance use disorder in our community. It’s tearing it apart. It’s an existential crisis.”
Ali says he’s investing his life savings into the project.
Its estimated cost — more than $34 million.
The goal is to open a 31-bed detox unit; a clinic that would dispense medication for opioid use disorder for 300 people initially — and later twice that. There would also be a counseling facility that would place about 16 people on an abstinence recovery track.
“I feel there’s not enough we can do on the prevention side to educate people just how deadly and how bad this problem is,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told Ali during a Zoom meeting. “You’re talking about trying to help people that are affected in these groups trying to keep people alive. That keeps getting worse each year.”
City data shows 244 opioid-related deaths in 2022.
That’s about triple the number from 2017.
O’Hara says treatment, not arrests, is the solution for those fighting addiction.
“For people who are addicted and who are suffering through all this, their answer to their problem is not going to be in handcuffs,” O’Hara noted. “We’re not going to be able to arrest our way out of people who are addicted.”
He told Ali he should engage with local elected officials and the public to keep them updated about the project.
Ali says he’s trying to get funding from grants and other sources, but says for now, money for the center is coming out of his own pocket.
He notes he’s still waiting for the required licenses from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the state and federal regulators.
Ali says he hopes to open the first stages of the clinic sometime in May.
“This is something that wakes me up every morning and gives me a purpose,” he declared. “It’s about saving lives and making a difference in our community.”
Minneapolis, MN
MSP Airport food service workers reach tentative deal, avert Thanksgiving week strike
More than 200 food service workers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport say they’ve reached a tentative agreement with their employer, averting a strike.
The food service workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 17, said their contract with HMSHost had expired last December. Both parties had been negotiating for a new one for 11 months.
On Monday, workers said they would go on strike three days before Thanksgiving if they didn’t reach a deal. A no-strike clause with HMSHost had expired in May.
Friday, the union announced that they had reached a tentative agreement with HMSHost, calling it “historic.”
The agreement includes the highest wage increases they’ve seen at the airport, according to the union. Workers were also fighting for lower health insurance costs and better paid time off wages for workers who receive tips.
AAA said about 6.1 million Americans are planning to fly during the week of Thanksgiving, which is 2% more than last year.
WCCO has reached out to HMSHost for comment.
File photo of MSP airport. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is bracing for a busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period lasting through early December.
Holiday travel at MSP
Local perspective:
MSP is preparing for a busy travel period, with more than 441,000 people expected to pass through security checkpoints over 12 days. Wednesday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Nov. 30, are projected to be the busiest days, with an estimated 47,000 to 49,000 people walking through the doors each day.
“We will see passenger activity pick up a week out from Thanksgiving as many get a jump-start on their holiday travels,” explained Brian Ryks, CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates MSP.
Travelers using the airport between Nov. 20 and Dec. 1 should prepare for busy roadways and terminals due to an increased number of drivers picking up and dropping off passengers for the holidays, the airport says.
To help manage the congestion, MSP has opened a new FLEX Lane at Terminal 1 for an additional area to pick-up and drop-off passengers. This new zone is located across from the primary drop-off curb, and offers terminal access through doors 5–8.
Big picture view:
AAA is predicting a record-setting Thanksgiving travel season, anticipating at least 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home. The majority, an estimated 73 million people, plan to travel by car, up 1.3 million people from last year.
Air travel is also expected to rise, with roughly 6 million travelers taking domestic flights, a 2% increase over the previous year, according to AAA.
Holiday travel tips
MSP provided tips for those planning to travel during the holidays:
- MSP passengers can reserve a spot in the security line for free using MSP reserve.
- Travelers can pre-book parking online, though it must be made at least 12 hours prior to the scheduled arrival time.
- Travelers using Terminal 1 can view the checkpoint wait-time boards upon arrival. All gates can be accessed from either checkpoint, though the North Checkpoint often has shorter wait times.
- Drivers can use the new FLEX Lane option, or use either level of the terminal to pick up or drop off passengers.
- To help reduce congestion, drivers are encouraged to wait at the free cellphone lots, located on Post Road, until their party is ready to be picked up.
The Source: This story uses information from MAC and AAA press release.
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