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Minneapolis leaders to vote on ordinance extending landlord eviction notice

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Minneapolis leaders to vote on ordinance extending landlord eviction notice


Tenant’s rights advocates say 90% of evictions are due to unpaid rent, but renters in Minneapolis could soon get more time to come up with their rent money or risk being removed from their home.

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What we know

Earlier this year, a new state law went into effect requiring landlords to give tenants 14-day notice before they file for eviction.

Now the Minneapolis City Council is considering going even further, giving renters 30 days because rental assistance in Hennepin County can take two to three weeks to arrive.

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“Right now we know that when folks need rent assistance and more support, 14 days is not enough – 30 days is a better opportunity for us to be able to help a renter who is struggling,” said Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez, who proposed the ordinance.

Supporters of the proposed ordinance say people who are evicted in Hennepin County are more likely to end up in a shelter or unhoused.

“This is a homeless prevention tool and it also is a pro renter ordinance that makes sure that there are more resources for residents, rather than less,” Chavez said.

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Ordinance opposition

Opponents say housing providers will feel the financial squeeze from longer timelines and could mean they won’t receive rent for two to three months.

“That mom-and-pop owner is trying to make mortgage payments without the rent, and they could potentially lose the property,” said Cecil Smith, president and CEO of Minnesota Multi Housing Association.

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They say a better solution would be getting rental assistance for those who need it in a more timely manner.

“If this is an emergency, if people need to make rent and pay rent, then let’s expedite the process, but not extend timelines where you’re potentially putting housing providers at financial risk through no fault of their own,” said Smith.

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Brooklyn Center and St Louis Park have passed similar ordinances.

The Minneapolis City Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance on Sept. 18.



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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis director of Neighborhood Safety resigns

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Minneapolis director of Neighborhood Safety resigns


Luana Nelson-Brown, who was in charge of the city’s violence prevention department, announced her resignation this week.

Nelson-Brown was appointed director of the Neighborhood Safety Department, formerly known as the Office of Violence Prevention, in 2023. That office coordinates Minneapolis’ safety-beyond-policing efforts, including boots-on-the-ground violence interrupters and the city’s once-lauded Group Violence Intervention (GVI) program.

The GVI program has suspended interventions with individuals involved in group violence since 2023, and the program manager running it has recently separated from the city as well. In recent months, Nelson-Brown has been under increasing scrutiny from City Council members wanting to know why her department hasn’t deployed violence interrupters to crime hotspots in their neighborhoods and why work that Neighborhood Safety previously did has gone dormant.

Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette informed council members on Tuesday that Nelson-Brown had accepted a new job outside the city and will be leaving her position on Saturday.

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In a statement, Barnette praised her work. “During her tenure, Director Nelson-Brown worked to strengthen the organizational structure of the department and improved key processes and procedures. Several key positions have been filled in the past few months and under her leadership, the new team continues to refine organizational procedures that strengthen the department’s mission of neighborhood and community safety. … I thank Director Nelson-Brown for her service to NSD and wish her all the best as she begins a new endeavor.”

Barnette said he would serve as the interim director of neighborhood safety starting Sunday.

In a statement, Nelson-Brown said, “It has been an incredible privilege to lead the transformation of this department, building it from a collection of programs into a fully functional entity with strengthened processes and procedures that align with the City’s mission of prevention, response, and restoration. I am confident that the strong relationships we’ve established with our safety partners will continue to carry forward in this important work.”



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Minneapolis police working to determine if 2 late-night shooting deaths are connected

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Minneapolis police working to determine if 2 late-night shooting deaths are connected


Minneapolis police need your help in finding who is responsible for the deaths of two men who were found shot late Monday night as they work to determine if the deaths are related to one another.

According to police, officers were first called to the 3400 block of 3rd Avenue South around 9 p.m. for a report of shots being fired.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man who had at least one life-threatening gunshot wound and gave him aid. However, the man died at Hennepin Healthcare.

Roughly 10-15 minutes later, police were called to an alley on the 3100 block of Harriet Avenue for reports of a body being dumped from a vehicle. There, officers found a man in his 30s, who they say had multiple life-threatening gunshot wounds. That man also died at Hennepin Healthcare.

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While Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the two men were shot in separate incidents, he says investigators are still working to determine if the shootings are related to one another.

No other details about the men or how they died were immediately provided. If you have information that may help police, you’re asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or by CLICKING HERE. You may also leave a voicemail at 612-673-5845 or send a message to THIS ADDRESS.



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Acadia Cafe in Minneapolis faces another setback after glass-throwing incident

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Acadia Cafe in Minneapolis faces another setback after glass-throwing incident


MINNEAPOLIS — Acadia Cafe, the historic Cedar-Riverside music venue in Minneapolis, is no stranger to adversity. After 17 months of rebuilding from a bus crashing through its front window, the business is now facing another challenge. 

Forrest Welliver, the manager of Acadia Cafe, said on Saturday night, a customer, upset over a cover charge, threw a soda bottle through the window. The cold temperatures combined with scattered broken glass forced the venue to cut the night short.

“We were on pace to have a very successful evening, and unfortunately, it was just derailed,” Welliver said. “In their frustration, they decided to throw a soda bottle through the window, and that kind of cut the night short.”

For now, the window is covered as they await permanent repairs. In 2022, a University of Minnesota bus crashed through the building, causing significant damage. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident, but it took months for the business to reopen. 

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Despite these challenges, Welliver is focused on rebuilding Acadia’s business and ensuring the venue remains a staple of the local music scene. 

“It’s definitely been difficult to get that regular routine business. So many of our fan favorites, because we were closed for so long, have moved to greener pastures,” he said.

Acadia Cafe has a new bar, an updated menu and live shows nearly every night. 

“Music venues and small stages are closing more than they are opening, so we’re doing everything we can to keep the music alive, keep the community engaged, and build a sense of camaraderie,” he said.

Despite the tough circumstances, Acadia Cafe is not backing down. With its new offerings and dedication to the community, the venue is ready to face whatever comes next.

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“We stay optimistic. Every setback is just an opportunity to do things better here,” Welliver said.



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