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U of M installs fencing on Washington Ave. Bridge
The temporary rental fencing is a big win for the suicide awareness group that advocated for it, but not a permanent solution.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Washington Avenue Bridge on the University of Minnesota campus, which is used by 20,0000 pedestrians and 7,000 bicyclists every day, now has temporary chain link fencing across the entire span — a safety measure meant to prevent and reduce suicide.
“For the first time in decades there is an opportunity here to prevent suicide and save lives,” said Erich Mische, CEO of suicide awareness group SAVE, which fought for the barrier as part of Kayla’s Hope, an initiative started in the name of Kayla Gaebel — a young woman who died by suicide — to fund suicide prevention barriers.
“It interrupts the suicidal impulsivity. That’s the whole purpose behind a physical barrier,” Mische said. “Someone who is contemplating suicide, there is a period of time where if you can interrupt that impulsivity, you can save their life. They will rethink that decision.”
A University spokesperson said the chain link fencing, which is a temporary rental, comes at an estimated cost of $75,000.
The bridge itself is owned by Hennepin County. So figuring out funding — and approval — for a more permanent solution has been a challenge these advocates have run into.
“And that’s why we kind of now turn our attention and focus to urging Hennepin County to take the next step to do the next thing that needs to be done to strengthen what the University has done and make sure we’re doing all we can to prevent suicide,” Mische said.
But Mische shared the reaction of Kayla’s mother — who shared her story with KARE 11 News in the past — after U of M President Rebecca Cunningham approved the current measure.
“I called MJ after the conversation with Dr. Cunningham, and there was a little bit of silence, then followed by an enormous amount of gratitude to Dr. Cunningham and the University of Minnesota for taking this step,” Mische said.
Dr. Cunningham in a statement said, in part: “The University of Minnesota prioritizes the health of our students, faculty, staff and visitors… and we will continue to explore how we can work together to fund and implement long-term solutions in the future.”
The next step will be for Hennepin County to consider an enhancement to this current solution which could come at a cost of up to $1 million. The University estimates a more permanent solution would cost $8 or $9 million.
Out of over 1,800 applicants, 1,170 were denied.
ST PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota cannabis license lottery did not happen as scheduled Tuesday, after a judge ordered a temporary restraining order to halt it. That legal process isn’t the only one playing out with the Office of Cannabis Management, though.
Another lawsuit alleges that OCM “has improperly, arbitrarily and capriciously denied licensing applications because the statutory requirements regarding application denials were not followed.” Filed Friday, that lawsuit comes from six business owners and individuals.
“The OCM process also kicked out a bunch of people, like the six people that we filed suit on behalf of who should be in the lottery, who are bona fide Minnesota entrepreneurs,” Jen Randolph Reise, head of business and cannabis law at North Star Law Group, said.
OCM has alleged in other litigation that some applicants are “bad actors,” submitting multiple applications to overwhelm the system.
According to the OCM, the plaintiffs in that lawsuit are the “face of a scheme to use hundreds of straw applicants to gain unfair advantage in the lottery” and allege they are “using the judicial process to thwart the ambitions and dreams of legitimate social equity candidates who have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a head start in this industry.”
In total, 1,800 people submitted an application. 1,170 applicants were denied.
Reise said she agrees that there likely are bad actors among those denied, but said that shouldn’t affect their clients.
“They’re not bad actors,” she said. “Most of them didn’t even make mistakes, they just got these denials from OCM that are inscrutable and cannot be challenged.”
Reise clarified that some have made mistakes, but said they were small, like missing a field on the application.
Courtney Ernston, the head of this litigation, says their goal is not to slow down this process further – rather, give applicants a chance to have their applications reviewed again.
“We want to make sure that not only is this fair for the current social equity applicants but to make sure that OCM doesn’t do this again in the future,” she said.
OCM declined an interview to discuss these lawsuits. A spokesperson said it’s unclear what impact the lawsuit and judge’s decision will have on the start of the cannabis rollout in 2025.
More than 200 stakeholders contributed to the 2035 plan, agreeing on four strategic priorities.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis Downtown Council this week released a 10-year plan for the area dubbed Downtown by Design.
The organization has released 10 and 15-year plans since its 1956 inception.
The last plan came out in 2010 when Ben Shardlow was still in school for urban planning. He says reading it inspired him to work for the MDC. Today, he is chief of staff and has worked there for 12 years.
He says the 2010 plan was largely successful. It included building a new Vikings stadium, improving transit options and improving pedestrian experiences.
“All of those things have been implemented over the last 15 years,” Shardlow said.
More than 200 stakeholders contributed to the 2035 plan, agreeing on four strategic priorities: Neighborhood Cultivation, Foundational Safety, Hassle-Free Systems and Irresistible Vibe.
The full plan can be viewed online.
“That involves some office buildings being converted to residential use, more retail that’s more resident oriented,” Shardlow explained. “Are the coffee shops open on the weekend? Is there a hardware store? Where do I get my dry cleaning? So it does get down to that kind of nitty-gritty detail, just making sure that all the conveniences you’d expect living downtown are available.”
The plan includes converting 3 million square feet of commercial space into residential units. It also calls for a redesign and “full reconstruction” of 1st Ave. N.
Nearly 60,000 people live downtown, and that’s nearly double 2010’s population of 35,000. Doubling the residential population was another goal within the old 2010 plan.
With more residential and retail growth expected over the next decade, Shardlow says Hassle-Free Systems will also be priority.
“We are just celebrating the fact that there is so much improved transit service coming to downtown,” Shardlow said. “$6.7 billion worth of investment in Light Rail and Bus Rapid Transit extensions.”
Downtown leaders and stakeholders would also like to see improved navigation systems in the skyways.
Another part of the plan involves transforming the riverfront and reimagining the 8-acre post office site on First Street near the Mississippi River into a place for public enjoyment.
“There’s a rendering in the plan that shows the rooftop turned into kind of a park in the sky, which is just one idea, but it’s fun to see and fun to visualize and fun to imagine the possibilities,” Shardlow said.
Elsewhere downtown, there are plans for a permanent ice rink to help make Minneapolis more of a “winter city.” The location is yet to be determined.
Pursuing the Michelin Star guide “to showcase Minneapolis’ world-class restaurant scene” is also on the agenda.
There are many initiatives and projects. Some are ideas while others are already underway. Regardless of the status, it will be important to keep everyone safe.
Shardlow says Foundational Safety means advancing a modern, layered public safety system that accounts for prevention and outreach in addition to law enforcement.
“There is a new Safety Communications Center that’s under construction in the new first precinct facility over by the Minneapolis Convention Center,” he said. “It’s a really important central dispatch for all of the non-law enforcement services we have out on the street, where [there are] ambassadors that are focused more on hospitality or street outreach workers or social workers. We’ve really come a long way in building that kind of more integrated layered safety workforce.”
The pop star started fostering the pup during her tour stop in Minneapolis in October.
MINNEAPOLIS — It’s hard to say no when faced with adorable puppy dog eyes.
Pop star P!nk would agree, as she announced Wednesday that she is adopting her Minneapolis foster pup. P!nk got the puppy from local rescue The Bond Between in October and intended to keep him for a few weeks to raise awareness of fostering and have some company during her tour.
The dog, named Graham Cracker, won over the singer within a month. In an Instagram post Wednesday, P!nk thanked The Bond Between and promoted the rescue’s fundraising efforts for “Give to the Max Day.” The nonprofit says they raised over $900,000.
Rachel Mairose, the organization’s founder, initially couldn’t believe a representative from P!nk’s team had reached out about fostering one of their rescue puppies.
“My initial reaction was this is a scam… this can’t be real,” Mairose said with a laugh.
The Bond Between, a local nonprofit, has helped over 30,000 pets find homes, but the story of Graham Cracker — a puppy born in the woods under a collapsed deer stand in Arkansas — stands out.
Mairose sees this as more than just a celebrity story though. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness about shelter animals and fostering.
“I think when people like P!nk give their name and platform to organizations that need help, it just goes to show what kind of human they actually are,” she said.
The organization currently supports approximately 500 animals. Their primary need remains consistent: more foster families willing to take in animals.
If you’re looking to foster or adopt a pet check out The Bond Between’s website at this link.
