[Mpls] Diversity Problems in Como Neighborhood

[Lori Marker]

Ward II debate over student inclusion in Neighborhood Associations is needed.  I feel that students should have a percentage of votes on the board depending on demographic data on student population size, which is easily accessible from U of Mn Campus Health and Safety Dept.  I believe that Neighborhood Associations should put Bylaw safeguards in place if they feel the student population could co-opt their boards.   My concern is not about inclusion or exclusion but rather on the decrease in population diversity because of the student population increases.  I live in the (SE COMO) neighborhood of Ward II precinct 3.  The trend that is veiled in this debate is the decrease in the non-white population and non-student populations around some University of Mn Neighborhoods. I randomly chose neighborhoods to validate and compare my observations that the Como Neighborhood is loosing minority populations faster than other neighborhoods, and this is attributed to the increase in student populations Census data from Mpls Planning Web Site Non-White population            % change    1990              2000 Como Neighborhood               122.7         930                1141 Lindhurst                                 148.1         212                314 Loring Park                             168.2         847               1425 Hiawatha                                 208.1         335                697 Nicolet Is.                               245.7           46                113 The results show that in neighborhoods that are not contiguous to the University's large student population have greater diversity in non-white populations. Como Neighborhood  from US census tract data 1960    1970       1980    1990    2000estimated     %change 80-90 Enrollment in college  709     911         1643    2072         2618                 26.11 All Person 6293    4798       4859    5407         5706                 11.28 My question is how do we deal with these trends in adverse population shifts? We need to be thinking of these questions in the upcoming 2002 Legislative Session when redistricting will dominate the session.  Redistricting will become a local neighborhood issue and a Minneapolis list serve hot topic. Go CAM GO!!! Lori Marker, Ward II precinct III