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Union presents new plan to revitalize downtown Minneapolis
The union’s proposal includes the possibility of legislative requirements for minimum training hours.
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota union has presented its proposal to revitalize downtown Minneapolis. SEIU Local 26, made up of members of commercial, security and retail employees, says improving the area starts with its members.
“Downtown Minneapolis is at a crossroads, and really, downtowns across the country are at a crossroads,” said Greg Nammacher, President of SEIU Local 26.
Alongside Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and members of the Minneapolis City Council, the group outlined its proposal. It includes four main points.
The first emphasizes service work, including opportunities for full-time employment, better pay, adding pensions and increasing standards of security training.
“We have bills to pay, family to take care of,” Atayde Rios, a janitor and member of the union, said. “Rent and other expenses.”
Secondly, the group wants to adopt a municipal standards board for Minneapolis. That board would present ideas and concerns to the Mayor and City Council.
“This is an incredibly important way for workers voices to join the table,” Nammacher said.
Also included is the push to convert office space to residential space. Joshua Musikantow is a member of the union and a security officer at an apartment building downtown.
He said many members of his industry can’t afford to live near where they work, leading to longer commutes.
“I think it’s time to imagine a revitalized downtown Minneapolis, where the people who work there can live there as well,” he said.
The last point pushes for more security training and community-based alternatives. The union’s proposal includes the possibility of legislative requirements for minimum training hours.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity right now to work in collaboration with workers, with labor, with business owners to do this right,” Frey said.
The Minneapolis Regional Chamber and Minneapolis Downtown Council released a statement Wednesday afternoon in response to the SEIU Local 26 report. In part, the groups said, “While there’s no question that upholding labor standards and ensuring fair working conditions is important, we believe it is crucial to carefully evaluate the potential impact of changes on our local businesses and economy. Our region has a diverse business landscape. We must work together to ensure that any changes don’t introduce regulatory complexities that could disproportionately burden small businesses, hindering their ability to thrive and create jobs.”
Also responding Wednesday afternoon was Hospitality Minnesota. In part, Angie Whitcomb, CEO of Hospitality Minnesota, said “While we share a commitment to fair labor practices, we disagree with the notion that the right mechanisms to protect workers are not already in place today. The city maintains strong worker protections ranging from a new minimum wage, earned sick and safe time, and robust wage theft protection laws.”
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
Last week, prosecutors charged John Sawchak with attempted 2nd-degree murder and other felony charges after he allegedly shot his neighbor Davis Moturi.
MINNEAPOLIS — Following the shooting between two neighbors, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to request that the city’s auditor conduct an independent investigation into the incidents and cases between Davis Moturi and John Sawchak.
Moturi was allegedly shot by his neighbor, Sawchak, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 but Minneapolis police did not arrest Sawchak until days later.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara defended not arresting Sawchak sooner, calling it a “high-risk” situation. O’Hara later said the victim, who had complained about harassment from Sawchak for months, was failed by police. Sawchak was arrested this past weekend after an hours-long standoff.
Moturi suffered a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion in the shooting. “Mr. Moturi’s life matters and I’m sorry that for nearly a year, MPD did not treat it like it did,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley in a news release, “Today’s vote affirms that the City Council is committed to taking meaningful actions towards accountability and restoration, starting with this independent review.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released this statement:
“Mayor Frey fully supports an independent review of this incident. The mayor and City are committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining past actions and finding where there may be ways to improve and grow. The mayor extends his condolences to Davis Moturi, his wife, Caroline, and their family and friends. The safety of our residents is a top priority and any form of violence or hate speech is completely unacceptable and does not align with who we are as a community. Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.”
“This Valentine’s Day, 2025, will mark the five-year anniversary of the premiere of ‘Love is Blind,” Vanessa said on the Season 7 finale. “And, it is gonna be the launch of Season 8, which takes place in Minneapolis.”
The episode also revealed three of the new cast members, one of whom, “Alex,” told Lachey Minneapolis is “not like a major city, but it’s also not a small town,” which he said is just one of the obstacles in his way of finding the one.
“I just never found the right person that clicked for me,” he said.
Meantime, you can bone up on Seasons 1-7 streaming now on Netflix.
MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing?
“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions.
KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have.
