[Mpls] This Week in The Minneapolis Observer

[Craig Cox]

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. 46
July 7, 2003

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THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER:
* Activists Storm Mayor's Office Demanding Action on Brutality Complaint
* Three Developers Vying for Nicollet Hotel Site
* Northeast Residents Balk at Lupient Park
* A Phoenix on East Lake Street?
* Hop Aboard, Tickets Optional
* Local Grade School Teacher Wins National Award
Plus: Parking changes, gays and war, Linda Berglin on MinnesotaCare, new Midtown Market, Don Samuels for mayor, growing grass, and the proper size of a loaf of bread.

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ACTIVISTS STORM MAYOR'S OFFICE DEMANDING ACTION ON BRUTALITY COMPLAINT
Northside community activists interrupted an executive committee meeting June 25 to demand action against police officers who allegedly beat a black teenager, reports Dwight Hobbes in Insight News (http://www.insightnews.com).

The group, which included long-time civil rights leaders Matthew Little, Spike Moss, and Ron Edwards, demanded that Mayor Rybak investigate the beating of Little's 14-year-old grandson. "We're tired of this and we want something done," said Moss.

Rybak agreed to meet with the group at his regular noon open house, where Moss demanded that the top black attorney in the Hennepin County District Attorney's office be assigned to investigate the case, that the officer be fired if found guilty, and that the officer who evicted the youth's mother from the Fourth Precinct headquarters be fired as well.

Rybak distributed a two-page document describing steps he is taking to deal with police-community relations. "The only fair way to treat the citizens of Minneapolis and the majority of cops who are doing the right thing is to have better tools to identify the cops who violate procedure or simply show lack of respect on the street," he said.

THREE DEVELOPERS VYING FOR OLD NICOLLET HOTEL SITE
Three major local developers are preparing to submit plans for a transit, housing, and retail project on the site of the old Nicollet Hotel adjacent to the downtown library.

NORTHEAST RESIDENTS BALK AT LUPIENT PARK
Northeast Park Neighborhood residents will christen their year-old water park Jim Lupient Water Park July 12, but they're less certain about expanding the Lupient brand to the entire Northeast Park.

A PHOENIX ON EAST LAKE STREET?
The developer of West River Commons, which was destroyed by fire June 24, says he is committed to rebuilding the project.

HOP ABOARD, TICKETS OPTIONAL
Light-rail officials announced last week that the new train, which will begin operation between downtown and the megamall, will employ a "barrier-free proof of payment," in which riders pay their fare and climb aboard without showing any proof of payment.

CITY CHANGING PARKING METER ENFORCEMENT
City officials last week announced new restrictions on short-term parking meters and stepped-up enforcement of existing parking rules at all city meters.

CONFERENCE WILL HIGHLIGHT GAYS AND PEACE MOVEMENT
Spirit of the Lakes Church will host a conference July 26 to explore peace and justice issues among the GLBT community, reports Queue Press (http://www.queuepress.com).


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The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. �2003 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
Equine consultant and coffee shop correspondent: Nora Cox
Perspective: Martin Cox
Thanks to: Karen DeSplinter and Brian Melendez

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