T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan www.mplsobserver.com Vol. 2, No. 11 October 21, 2002
This is a preview issue of The Observer. To see a complete sample issue, visit www.mplsobserver.com, where you can also learn how to subscribe ($12/yr.). ********************************************************** THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER: * Money Transfer Services on the Brink * Foreign Student Population Down at the U * Local High Schooler Leads Statewide Council * New Bike Trail Will Connect Bryn Mawr with Downtown * We're Number 1--Again Plus: The dangers of activism, the lure of bagels, and the betrayal of the library referendum. ********************************************************* MONEY TRANSFER SERVICES ON THE BRINK The federal government last month admitted that it had wrongly seized the assets of two Somali businessmen who operated money transfer services, but while that case remains to be settled, the options of Somali immigrants desperate to send money home continue to dwindle. Only two money transfer companies remain in business to serve the thousands of Somali immigrants in the Twin Cities, notes David Schimke in City Pages (www.citypages.com), and even they are having difficulty staying in business. The firms transfer money through local banks, but since 9/11 few major banks will work with them, explains Amal Express owner Yakub Issa. "We handle up to a million dollars a week," Issa says. "It's too much for small banks. They don't have the mechanisms or security in place to move swiftly. So we get behind, our customers get frustrated, and we lose money. I don't think we will be able to work with these smaller banks for more than one or two months without going out of business." The city's other major money transfer business, Dahab-shil, which has closed five of its six offices during the past year, has been working with Wells Fargo, but that relationship is scheduled to end October 31, and the bank has apparently shown no inclination to renew its contract. "If nothing changes, says Dahab-shil manager Mohamed Nor, "the flow of money will stop and people back home won't have anything." THAT'LL TEACH 'EM Twin Cities Indy Media (www.twincities.indymedia.org) reports that local activist William Harris and two friends were allegedly roughed up by plainclothes police officers October 12 while--what else?--posting flyers for the October 22 Day of Protest Against Police Brutality. FOREIGN STUDENT POPULATION DOWN AT UNIVERSITY Enrollment of international students at the University of Minnesota has declined by more than 20 percent over last year, heightening concern among school administrators that the so-called war on terror is hitting closer to home than they would like. WASHBURN HIGH SCHOOLER ELECTED TO STATEWIDE POST Henry Williams, a Washburn High School senior, has been elected president of the Minnesota Association of Student Councils. Williams, 17, is the first city student to win election to the post in 11 years. ********************************************************** The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. �2002 Independent Media, 4152 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406; www.mplsobserver.com. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Independent Media. Subscriptions: $12/yr. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get you off the list and refund the unused portion of your subscription. Editor: Craig Cox Deputy Assistant Senior Executive Editor: Sharon Parker Contributing writers: Chris Dodge, Leo Mezzrow Online technical assistance: Christopher Pollard Equine consultant and correspondent: Nora Cox Perspective: Martin Cox Thanks to: Bob Cooper, Michael Welch ******************************************************* Fight media consolidation! Support the independent press! Pick up your neighborhood newspaper! ******************************************************* _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
