MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis city council member Andrea Jenkins led a community town hall meeting Thursday evening to address homeless encampments across the city. The meeting was not open to the public but some community members invited by the city were in attendance.

Several weeks ago, Jenkins formed a community think tank comprised of city staff and neighbors who met over the course of three meetings.

Thursday’s town hall follows a string of violence at homeless encampments, including a deadly shooting in which two people were killed on Sunday, Oct. 27.

“I would imagine it’s terrifying, and sometimes what people say is they feel safer in these encampments than they do in shelters,” Jenkins said ahead of Thursday’s meeting. “But I I don’t hear any people being shot in shelters and lots of people being shot in encampments.”

Jenkins said she wants to give people an opportunity to express their concerns and offer solutions. 

“We want to hear some of the thoughts that people feel like can help us resolve some of these issues that are impacting our neighbors and our communities and most importantly, the unhoused individuals that are out here on the street suffering,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins admitted that within the think tank meetings, differences of opinions emerged. Their conversations revolved around three main topics: housing options, safe spaces and supportive services.

Council Member Jason Chavez said council members are exploring two new ordinances, based off of successes in other cities including Duluth and Denver.

According to Chavez, a Safe Parking Ordinance would provide a safe location for people to park and sleep in their vehicles overnight. A Safe Outdoor Space ordinance creates a location designated as a safe outdoor shelter site designated by the city. To utilize the space, people would have to complete a screening process.

In South Minneapolis, an encampment stretches across several blocks. Angelique Beaumaster, who is currently unhoused, said the solution begins with people who are in the encampments feeling heard by elected officials. 

“Sit down like they did once before and talk to people who are actually out here,” Beaumaster said. “Talk to people who are out here, who want a solution, who want help.”

In September, Minneapolis city council members passed the Encampment Removal Reporting Ordinance. The measure requires the city to submit two quarterly reports regarding its response to encampment removals and evictions. 

MINNEAPOLIS — At a time of great political division, Minnesotans have united around one man, known by two simple words: Naz Reid.

The Timberwolves star has been popular among fans for years, but when he won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year this spring and helped propel the team to a deep palyoff run, fans went from clamoring for free ‘Naz Reid’ beach towel to paying $20 for ‘Naz Reid’ tattoos. 

Kai Glinsek is a diehard Timberwolves fan who helped kick off the ‘Naz Reid’ frenzy last season when he put up a ‘Honk if you love Naz Reid’ sign outside the Parkway Pizza location he manages in Northeast Minneapolis. He said he was inspired to put up the sign because of the hope Naz seems to give so many.

“He keeps being the unsung hero, and he’s also so constant,” said Kai, in between several honks as cars passed. “It’s hope.”

Reid sat down with KARE11 to talk about the support he has received and why he is now dedicated to paying it forward.

“I remember my first game, my rookie year, when we played the Nets and everybody was just rooting for me,” Reid said. “This past year it’s only gotten crazier and bigger and more exciting. Getting the love and support from the city is huge and being able to give back is more important. It’s bigger than me.”

The interview came just before the 2024-25 season tipped off, as Reid joined forces with NMDP, formerly known as Be The Match, on World Marrow Donor Day, to bring hope to Blood Cancer Patients in need of a stem cell transplant.

“Obviously everyone knows me, the basketball player, but they don’t know this side of me,” Reid said. “I want people to understand that I’m here to help. I know what it feels like to have someone who is in need.”

For Naz, that someone is Rudy Roundtree, his long-time mentor who died of leukemia in 2022 after being unable to find a match for a stem cell transplant of his own.

Reid: “I know what it feels like to be in a situation where you can give, but you can only give so much, so you kind of need a helping hand.”

Erdahl: “Tell me about Rudy.”

Reid: “He’s like a father figure. He’s been with me since I can remember. Tough times, fun times, happy times, happy moments, he was just a joy and exciting to be around. You just had to be there to understand.” 

Rudy’s widow, Sheila Roundtree certainly understands. 

“It’s emotional for me because I saw the beginning to now,” Sheila said.

Though she is proud every time Naz takes the floor, watching him take the stage at the NMDP event brought her pride to another level.

“To see him in this spotlight means so much to me,” she said. “I also am a (cancer) survivor, so we wanted to pick a cause that was true to our heart and this is it.” 

And it isn’t the half of it. Just like his role on the court, Naz is happy to share the spotlight. He has spent time highlighting top NMDP donors, taking photos during fundraising drives and meeting families impacted by blood cancer.

Earlier this year, Reid connected with Cayden Addison who, at 8 years old, has spent more time in the hospital battling a rare form of leukemia, than many Americans will spend in their lifetime.

“We’ve gone through chemotherapy already, we’ve tried different forms of treatment and unfortunately they weren’t successful,” said Courtney Addison, Cayden’s mom. “It’s very difficult because that’s my baby, and it’s really important that we find a match for him.”

That’s where Naz comes in, his visit with Cayden wasn’t just about lifting his spirits. He is also sharing his story in hopes of finding him a match, and this fall he also hosted an NMDP event at the University of Minnesota, with the hope of encouraging a key-demographic of potential stem cell donors to join the NMDP registry.

After hearing of the U of M event, Kai Glinsek was inspired to sweeten the pie for those prospective donors, by providing Parkway Pizza to all who attended.

“I wanted to jump all over this because I lost my mom about five months ago to pancreatic cancer, and then during that time while she was battling I also had testicular cancer,” Kai said. “So when I found out that Naz was doing something that could help a lot of people that struggle with cancer, I had to jump at it.” 

“Everybody at the frat just loves Naz Reid,” said Axel Arnold, who donated stem cells last year, and helped host a special donor registry event at Sigma Alpha Epsilon a few days after Reid’s visit.

Erdahl: “What does it mean to you to now be that person for so many others, to raise awareness and bring people along on this journey?”

Reid: “It’s huge, it means a lot to me. I want people to be supported the way I’m supported. I want people to be known the way I’m known, so whatever I can do in any way, shape or form I’m here to do it.”

If you’d like to join the NMDP donor registry or donate to help with research, click here.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is considering closing multiple ice rinks because of climate impacts and finances.

In a statement, the board said they need to address a $1.5 million funding gap. To fix it they plan on reducing the number of ice rinks from 22 to 17 locations over two years, reducing recreation center hours during non-peak times by one hour per weekday, four additional federal holidays, and Sundays at five locations.

The board recommended shutting down rinks at Webber, Powderhorn, and Windom Parks at the end of the 2024/2025 season and Lyndale Farmstead in 2025/2026, with a possible fifth location.

The board’s Communications and Marketing Manager Robin Smothers said Powderhorn and Webber were chosen because they are built on water bodies, which makes it more challenging to open and maintain than rinks built on land. She said the land rinks were selected based on proximity to other rinks and construction challenges.

For people who go to Windom Park, the news was hard to hear.

“My kids learned to skate here,” said Molly Phillips. “The parks department says they’re keeping Logan Park, but my kids can’t walk to Logan Park. So, I think it will lead to a lot more kids sitting at home instead of engaging with their community.”

Phillips said the ice rink is more than just a sheet of ice, it’s a place where the community can come together.

“My family has a tradition we call Sunday soup and skate where we make a big pot of soup, we bring it to the rink, and we ladle it out and we meet our neighbors,” Phillips said.

She said her family goes to the rink almost every day in the winter, except for last year, when Minnesota experienced an unusually warm winter.

The Windom ice rink is also a favorite spot of Johnny Sundahl and his son Odin. Odin skated at the rink last year, while his mom and dad just tried to keep up.

“I think it’s a bummer if it’s going to go away just because when I said people get together here in the wintertime that’s one of the biggest activities that people do. You’ll see families skating around, you’ll see the hockey players, figure skaters practicing and afterwards everyone will gather around the fire and make s’mores,” Johnny said.

Odin said skating outdoors is a feeling like no other.

“It just gives you a sense of free. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, you just feel happy, like you’re defying gravity. It’s awesome,” Odin said.

They’re both hopefully the city decides to keep their rink open.

“It would keep a lot of memories; it would mean more people keeping a bond with each other,” Odin said.

Johnny said the warming house is a place where the community can get together.

Phillips agreed it’s a special place.

“What’s really cool about this rink to is the warming house has skates for anybody to use,” she said.
“So, even if you don’t have the budget to outfit your family in ice skates you can access this rink.”

University of Minnesota Tourism Director Xinyi Cin said more abnormal winters can change people’s behaviors.

“It could lead to actually crowding in the other sites that do still remain open. It might also discourage people so much that they just decide to do a completely different activity. To some extent we are in a wait and see that kind of observing pattern,” she said.

She said climate change isn’t going anywhere and said fewer outdoor rinks could potentially lead to other issues.

Cin said a 2024 spring survey showed that 91% of businesses that responded said the abnormal winter negatively impacted their business. Cin said it will be crucial for everyone to help these businesses adapt and stay resilient.

“I would also be curious to hear for example what do businesses in our neighboring states… that also have a lot of snow. How are they adapting? Can we learn from each other?”

The final list of rink closures isn’t final yet. The final budget won’t be approved until December 10, so the number of rinks and which locations can change.