Better Minneapolis
@betterminneapolis.bsky.social
Newsletter of ideas on how to make Minneapolis a Better place to live. linktr.ee/bttrmpls
Two Ward 12 residents share what daily life looks like near 46th & Hiawatha—open drug use, theft, safety concerns, and years of struggling to get help from local officials.
Their stories show why coordinated action across city + county systems is long overdue.
Their stories show why coordinated action across city + county systems is long overdue.
Life at 46th & Hiawatha: A Conversation on Ongoing Safety Concerns
Residents Nancy Ford & Amy Johnson discuss the challenges of living near the 46/Hiawatha transit station
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Two Ward 12 residents share what daily life looks like near 46th & Hiawatha—open drug use, theft, safety concerns, and years of struggling to get help from local officials.
Their stories show why coordinated action across city + county systems is long overdue.
Their stories show why coordinated action across city + county systems is long overdue.
In this interview with Becka Thompson: Upheaval at the Park Board, the realities of campaigning, and the growing strains on Minneapolis’s budget.
What the state needs far more of is independent auditing and stronger investigative journalism.
What the state needs far more of is independent auditing and stronger investigative journalism.
Interview: Becka Thompson — Reflections on the Park Board and City Budget
The Gap Between City Spending and Revenue Is a Cause for Concern
www.betterminneapolis.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
In this interview with Becka Thompson: Upheaval at the Park Board, the realities of campaigning, and the growing strains on Minneapolis’s budget.
What the state needs far more of is independent auditing and stronger investigative journalism.
What the state needs far more of is independent auditing and stronger investigative journalism.
The takeover of UCare by Medica is another sign of how sick our health care system has become. If Dems could figure out a sustainable and affordable system, they would never lose another election. www.fox9.com/news/ucare-s...
UCare shutting down, Medica taking over healthcare plans
UCare will shut down in 2026 and Medica will take control of its existing health plans in the Medicaid, family and individual markets. UCare was created more than 40 years ago primarily to offer healt...
www.fox9.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:25 PM
The takeover of UCare by Medica is another sign of how sick our health care system has become. If Dems could figure out a sustainable and affordable system, they would never lose another election. www.fox9.com/news/ucare-s...
Reposted by Better Minneapolis
Many Minnesota homeowners will see higher than usual tax levy increases, which local officials blame on rising expenses and cost shifts from the state and federal government.
Property taxes are rising across Minnesota. See where homeowners could feel it most.
Homeowners will see higher than usual tax levy increases, which local officials blame on rising expenses and cost shifts from the state and federal government.
bit.ly
November 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Many Minnesota homeowners will see higher than usual tax levy increases, which local officials blame on rising expenses and cost shifts from the state and federal government.
A Primer on the Forward Independence Party
We sat down with co-chairs Phil Fuehrer & Bill Halter to talk about Minnesota’s newest major-party contender.
Plus:
• What we heard at the DFL listening tour
• Why Hennepin Co. taxes are jumping 10%
• How third-party candidates could shake up 2026
We sat down with co-chairs Phil Fuehrer & Bill Halter to talk about Minnesota’s newest major-party contender.
Plus:
• What we heard at the DFL listening tour
• Why Hennepin Co. taxes are jumping 10%
• How third-party candidates could shake up 2026
Interview: A Primer on the Forward Independence Party
Phil Fuehrer and Bill Halter, co-chairs of the recently merged party, discuss what’s ahead
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
A Primer on the Forward Independence Party
We sat down with co-chairs Phil Fuehrer & Bill Halter to talk about Minnesota’s newest major-party contender.
Plus:
• What we heard at the DFL listening tour
• Why Hennepin Co. taxes are jumping 10%
• How third-party candidates could shake up 2026
We sat down with co-chairs Phil Fuehrer & Bill Halter to talk about Minnesota’s newest major-party contender.
Plus:
• What we heard at the DFL listening tour
• Why Hennepin Co. taxes are jumping 10%
• How third-party candidates could shake up 2026
Crazy security at DFL listening session. If you haven’t preregistered you will need ID to enter. Annoying. I often leave the house without it.
Of course, it is in the city, which according to most suburbanites is one step away from total chaos.
Of course, it is in the city, which according to most suburbanites is one step away from total chaos.
November 14, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Crazy security at DFL listening session. If you haven’t preregistered you will need ID to enter. Annoying. I often leave the house without it.
Of course, it is in the city, which according to most suburbanites is one step away from total chaos.
Of course, it is in the city, which according to most suburbanites is one step away from total chaos.
Adding “the information contained in this email is confidential” in no way means that the email will be kept confidential.
November 13, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Adding “the information contained in this email is confidential” in no way means that the email will be kept confidential.
Can the DFL find its voice again?
Ahead of 2026, the party faces internal rifts, healthcare debates, and questions about who it really represents.
The Listening Tour lands in Minneapolis this week—and we’re listening closely.
www.betterminneapolis.com/p/the-dfl-li...
Ahead of 2026, the party faces internal rifts, healthcare debates, and questions about who it really represents.
The Listening Tour lands in Minneapolis this week—and we’re listening closely.
www.betterminneapolis.com/p/the-dfl-li...
The DFL Listening Tour Arrives in Minneapolis
The DFL Driftless Region
www.betterminneapolis.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Can the DFL find its voice again?
Ahead of 2026, the party faces internal rifts, healthcare debates, and questions about who it really represents.
The Listening Tour lands in Minneapolis this week—and we’re listening closely.
www.betterminneapolis.com/p/the-dfl-li...
Ahead of 2026, the party faces internal rifts, healthcare debates, and questions about who it really represents.
The Listening Tour lands in Minneapolis this week—and we’re listening closely.
www.betterminneapolis.com/p/the-dfl-li...
My wife and I decided we’re get each other healthcare for Christmas. And socks.
November 9, 2025 at 8:21 PM
My wife and I decided we’re get each other healthcare for Christmas. And socks.
The 2025 Minneapolis election is over — and the status quo won.
What does that mean for crime, investment, and the city’s political divide?
We break it down ward by ward — plus what to expect from the new council. www.betterminneapolis.com/p/2025-minne...
What does that mean for crime, investment, and the city’s political divide?
We break it down ward by ward — plus what to expect from the new council. www.betterminneapolis.com/p/2025-minne...
2025 Minneapolis Election Review
The Status Quo Wins
www.betterminneapolis.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 PM
The 2025 Minneapolis election is over — and the status quo won.
What does that mean for crime, investment, and the city’s political divide?
We break it down ward by ward — plus what to expect from the new council. www.betterminneapolis.com/p/2025-minne...
What does that mean for crime, investment, and the city’s political divide?
We break it down ward by ward — plus what to expect from the new council. www.betterminneapolis.com/p/2025-minne...
The balance of power at City Hall could look very different after tomorrow.
Our pre-election predictions take a ward-by-ward look at who’s likely to win — and what it means for Mayor Frey’s agenda.
Our pre-election predictions take a ward-by-ward look at who’s likely to win — and what it means for Mayor Frey’s agenda.
2025 Minneapolis Pre-Election Predictions
An Incomplete List of What We Expect
open.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:50 PM
The balance of power at City Hall could look very different after tomorrow.
Our pre-election predictions take a ward-by-ward look at who’s likely to win — and what it means for Mayor Frey’s agenda.
Our pre-election predictions take a ward-by-ward look at who’s likely to win — and what it means for Mayor Frey’s agenda.
For our last pre-election interview, we talked with Meg Forney, candidate for At-Large Park Board. She’s focused on equity and accessibility, restoring Minneapolis’s tree canopy, and finding new ways to fund parks beyond property taxes. www.betterminneapolis.com/p/interview-...
Interview: Meg Forney, At-Large Park Board Commissioner
Meg is running for re-election in an eight person field
www.betterminneapolis.com
November 2, 2025 at 6:19 PM
For our last pre-election interview, we talked with Meg Forney, candidate for At-Large Park Board. She’s focused on equity and accessibility, restoring Minneapolis’s tree canopy, and finding new ways to fund parks beyond property taxes. www.betterminneapolis.com/p/interview-...
Uptown’s comeback depends on more than construction timelines — it needs clear communication and a renewed sense of safety.
We talked with the Jungle Theater’s Christina Baldwin and Rachel Murch-D’Olimpio about the challenges and hope behind keeping the arts — and Uptown — alive.
We talked with the Jungle Theater’s Christina Baldwin and Rachel Murch-D’Olimpio about the challenges and hope behind keeping the arts — and Uptown — alive.
A Conversation with the Jungle Theater
In Uptown, Perception Sets the Stage for Success
www.betterminneapolis.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Uptown’s comeback depends on more than construction timelines — it needs clear communication and a renewed sense of safety.
We talked with the Jungle Theater’s Christina Baldwin and Rachel Murch-D’Olimpio about the challenges and hope behind keeping the arts — and Uptown — alive.
We talked with the Jungle Theater’s Christina Baldwin and Rachel Murch-D’Olimpio about the challenges and hope behind keeping the arts — and Uptown — alive.
Election season is heating up in Minneapolis. Flyers, forums, endorsements — it’s a lot to track. So we’re asking you: who’s got your vote this time?
Take our (entirely unscientific) reader survey and help us see how the race has shifted since December. forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
Take our (entirely unscientific) reader survey and help us see how the race has shifted since December. forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
Microsoft Forms
forms.office.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Election season is heating up in Minneapolis. Flyers, forums, endorsements — it’s a lot to track. So we’re asking you: who’s got your vote this time?
Take our (entirely unscientific) reader survey and help us see how the race has shifted since December. forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
Take our (entirely unscientific) reader survey and help us see how the race has shifted since December. forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
We spoke with Jim Rubin, the longtime Minneapolis landlord featured in Precarious State. Our decision to do so isn’t about agreement—it’s about listening. If we want real progress on housing, we have to talk with everyone doing the work.
Interview: Jim Rubin, Rental Property Owner & Central Figure in "Precarious State"
Safety, Housing, and What It Will Take to Rebuild
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:37 PM
We spoke with Jim Rubin, the longtime Minneapolis landlord featured in Precarious State. Our decision to do so isn’t about agreement—it’s about listening. If we want real progress on housing, we have to talk with everyone doing the work.
Reposted by Better Minneapolis
A stat we don't talk about enough: Newspapers have lost 77% of their jobs over the last 20 year, more than any of the 532 other industries tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
October 27, 2025 at 11:54 PM
A stat we don't talk about enough: Newspapers have lost 77% of their jobs over the last 20 year, more than any of the 532 other industries tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
New Better Minneapolis episode: Tane Danger turns the mic on Terry White to talk about what he’s learned from a year of civic conversations, ranked-choice voting, and what it takes to rebuild trust in local democracy. www.betterminneapolis.com/p/guest-host...
Guest Host Tane Danger Takes the Reins
Talking Civic Life and Laughter in Minneapolis
www.betterminneapolis.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New Better Minneapolis episode: Tane Danger turns the mic on Terry White to talk about what he’s learned from a year of civic conversations, ranked-choice voting, and what it takes to rebuild trust in local democracy. www.betterminneapolis.com/p/guest-host...
One downside of electing a candidate as old as Trump: he will be dead before his legacy catches up to him.
October 24, 2025 at 11:13 PM
One downside of electing a candidate as old as Trump: he will be dead before his legacy catches up to him.
Longtime Minneapolis Park Board leader Bob Fine joins Better Minneapolis to talk about the city’s changing parks, public trust, and what real accountability looks like in local government. Don’t miss this conversation with one of Minneapolis’s most seasoned public servants.
Interview: Bob Fine, Candidate for Board of Estimate & Taxation
A veteran public servant makes the case for fiscal discipline, independent oversight, and a steady hand on city finances
www.betterminneapolis.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Longtime Minneapolis Park Board leader Bob Fine joins Better Minneapolis to talk about the city’s changing parks, public trust, and what real accountability looks like in local government. Don’t miss this conversation with one of Minneapolis’s most seasoned public servants.
Who funds the “Working People’s Project”? Seems like another PAC has entered the race.
October 23, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Who funds the “Working People’s Project”? Seems like another PAC has entered the race.
In today's newsletter, I argue that opposing Trump isn’t a strategy — Democrats need to reconnect with moderates. Minneapolis shows what happens when symbolism replaces results: stalled safety projects, alienated voters, and fading trust. #NoKings www.betterminneapolis.com/p/nokings-wh...
#NoKings: What Happens Now?
Opposing Trump Isn’t Enough, Democrats Need to Appeal to a Wider Audience
www.betterminneapolis.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
In today's newsletter, I argue that opposing Trump isn’t a strategy — Democrats need to reconnect with moderates. Minneapolis shows what happens when symbolism replaces results: stalled safety projects, alienated voters, and fading trust. #NoKings www.betterminneapolis.com/p/nokings-wh...
What’s really happening in Minneapolis—beyond the headlines? In our latest episode, Eric Roper joins us to talk housing, safety, and the soul of the city.
It’s complicated—and that’s exactly why it’s worth your time.
It’s complicated—and that’s exactly why it’s worth your time.
Layers of Minneapolis: An Interview with Star Tribune Columnist Eric Roper
Minneapolis isn’t a hellscape—but it can’t afford to look away from its challenges
www.betterminneapolis.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:45 PM
What’s really happening in Minneapolis—beyond the headlines? In our latest episode, Eric Roper joins us to talk housing, safety, and the soul of the city.
It’s complicated—and that’s exactly why it’s worth your time.
It’s complicated—and that’s exactly why it’s worth your time.
Tomorrow morning, my full interview with Eric Roper will be available. #Minneapolis
October 18, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Tomorrow morning, my full interview with Eric Roper will be available. #Minneapolis
Reposted by Better Minneapolis
New Better Minneapolis interview: At-Large Park Board Commissioner Tom Olsen talks parks, climate, youth programs & what stewardship means for the nation’s #1 park system.
Interview: Tom Olsen, At-Large Park Board Candidate
Stewardship, Youth, and Climate with Tom Olsen
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:55 PM
New Better Minneapolis interview: At-Large Park Board Commissioner Tom Olsen talks parks, climate, youth programs & what stewardship means for the nation’s #1 park system.
Reposted by Better Minneapolis
Thanks to Terry White for having me on Better Minneapolis!! I'm always happy to talk about our wonderful park system!
youtu.be/4tpDR2BH-sY?...
youtu.be/4tpDR2BH-sY?...
Interview: Tom Olsen, At-Large Park Board Candidate
YouTube video by Better Minneapolis
youtu.be
October 17, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Thanks to Terry White for having me on Better Minneapolis!! I'm always happy to talk about our wonderful park system!
youtu.be/4tpDR2BH-sY?...
youtu.be/4tpDR2BH-sY?...