Press Conference Addressing Screenshotghazi

See the City Pages coverage of last weekend's controversy.

Getting Out of Hand

It's usually not reasonable to expect celebrities to be responsible for the actions of their fans, or for anyone to be held responsible for a few crazies in their comment section. But I think the demonization of Lisa Bender is getting out of hand. Seriously.

UPDATE: Comments taken from these posts (from Feb 25, 26): 1, 2, 3.

#Girard

Nearly 16 days after dropping hints about "disturbing emails" allegedly written by Minneapolis Council Member Andrew Johnson (an unlikely suspect when you consider he is the Council's foremost advocate for open data, and therefore likeliest to be aware of the public nature of his email correspondence), Nicole Curtis is promoting her new, very mysterious scandal-hashtag #Girard. Details won't be forthcoming.

The Desire for a More Expansive Historic District

Preserve our historic priorities.

Last September, Council Member Lisa Bender's office held an informational meeting regarding a proposed Lowry Hill East historic district. It was a homeowners-only affair, intended for those whose properties would be included, though there were plenty of party crashers: eager homeowners from outside the proposed boundaries, a guy from Kingfield, and at least two renters.

Lowry Hill East 1970s Downzoning Timeline

From the Wedge newspaper. November, 1975.

Bikers and Pedestrians are the New "Vulnerable Adults"

Last week, former Council Member Meg Tuthill pushed back against new development with an interesting theory:

Tuthill and her husband, Dennis, moved to the Wedge over 40 years ago, a time when older homes were being demolished and replaced by two-and-a-half story walkup apartment buildings. Now, she's concerned redevelopment could make the neighborhood less bike and pedestrian friendly.*

Revisiting LHENA Loans

Allocating LHENA's money pot on Nov. 19th, 2014. The math didn't add up.

Three months ago, at a community vote, LHENA added need-based criteria to some unusually generous (forgivable) home improvement loans. The Healy Project faction of the Board was not happy with this change, which seemed like a good sign.