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Minneapolis council’s costly encampment response plan passes, likely to be vetoed

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Minneapolis council’s costly encampment response plan passes, likely to be vetoed


Minneapolis City Council’s costly encampment response plan passes, likely to be vetoed

A controversial plan addressing homeless encampments, while getting enough votes for approval, may never see the light of day.

The Humane Encampment Response ordinance does and calls for many things, creating a heavy lift for the city of Minneapolis and needs a lot of public dollars — including providing portable bathrooms, hand washing station, needle disposal supplies, and more.

It also sets up a seven-day pre-closure notice and provides free storage, which city staff says alone would cost millions. The ordinance also includes ensuring people have access to services and shelter. 

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RELATED: Minneapolis City Council passes housing crisis policies as mayor expedites encampment closures 

“We seek to address the public health and safety concerns,” Aisha Chughtai, one of the three council members, said during Thursday’s city council meeting. “It also ensures that unsheltered individuals are given the basic dignity of time to make plans before a closure.”

Her colleague, Linea Palmisano, was first to express opposition. 

“I don’t know how we could suggest that we keep people in a situation where addiction, violence, trafficking — drug and sex trafficking and child trafficking — how that can be a humane response to encampments,” Palmisano said. 

At the posting of this article, we did not receive a statement from council member Aurin Chughtai, who said she’s supplying one — we asked how she responds to those who feel the ordinance encourages encampments to form and why it does not include steps to address crime that unfolds in encampments.

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The one who needs to sign off on the ordinance, Mayor Jacob Frey, is clear on his stance. 

“I intend to veto it,” Frey told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, which will be effective as there was not enough support from council members to override it. 

“I don’t know how anybody could argue with a straight face that that is safe, and that’s the right way to do this,” Frey said, adding, “I don’t want to turn back that progress on an ordinance that would essentially make homeless encampments much easier to start open and then much harder to close.”



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Minneapolis, MN

What is a data center?

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What is a data center?


What exactly is a data center and why are so many being proposed across Minnesota? Professor Manjeet Rege, chair of Software Engineering and Data Science and director of the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of St. Thomas, joins us to explain how these massive facilities store and process the world’s data and what the economic, environmental, and infrastructure questions are as Minnesota considers hosting more of them.



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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis Ranked Among U.S. Cities With The Most People In Financial Distress

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Minneapolis Ranked Among U.S. Cities With The Most People In Financial Distress


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.

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“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.





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Whitefish council creates proclamation in solidarity with city, citizens of Minneapolis

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Whitefish council creates proclamation in solidarity with city, citizens of Minneapolis


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.

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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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