...focusing instead on building dense, connected places for the people who already live there or nearby, or could live there or nearby, and would walk/bike/roll/take transit, is the shift we need to make

Decades of discourse & related development initiaves around downtown Mpls have been centered on drawing people in from the outside (commuters, game day goers, conferences, nightlife, etc.) & while I don't want to discount the value those things can have...

North Loop Viaduct – Sensible Urbanism and Finances When discussing the benefits of better urban planning, the financial benefits to the area must also be taken into account.

Start by examining the costs, revenues, and opportunity costs of parking spaces vs. urban infill ... and you might just end up at highway/off-ramp removal as a solution! @streets.mn

streets.mn/2026/03/09/n...

Minnesota lawmaker Katie Jones rode in a cargo e-bike to the hospital for her baby's birth. Her husband, Peter Schmitt, pedaled the two miles there.

On the return journey, their son Hans – all 8 pounds and 1 ounce of him – was bundled up and handled it just fine, Jones said.

What Would a City Designed for Blind Commuters Look Like? Getting around New York City for visually impaired and

There are important lessons for all cities and all transit systems here:

www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

On top of the critical health, equity, livability, environmental reasons, in a state & region with current & probably future budget challenges here's the economic case for highway removal. Minneapolis coming in at $14b development potential...

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Among the bright spots of a rough winter has been the ascent of the Gophers women's bball team...with a legit shot at hosting NCAA tourney rounds 1&2 at home, this bracket is going to be close at hand the next 5 days
bigten.org/wbb/article/...

Close to 650 federal agents remain in Minnesota weeks after border czar announced end of operation There are still more than quadruple the 150 agents Tom Homan said there would be in the state by the end of last week.

Amid language like "drawdown" and "bring to an end," it's imperative to continue to keep the facts front and center about the ongoing ICE presence & the massive impacts it continues to have on neighbors' lives, livelihoods, health, education, safety, & much more.

www.startribune.com/close-to-650...

Streets Are Third Spaces: A Call to Reclaim Them This year has underscored the urgency of neighborly connection amid federal violence on our streets. The urbanist solution? Close your block in a way that repairs and reconnects.

This beautiful @streets.mn piece by @eriknoonan.bsky.social is a witness, a document, and a call to action. Our streets can and must be human-centered third spaces.

streets.mn/2026/03/03/s...

What's Left After the Violence? (w/ José Antonio Zayas Cabán) (w/ José Antonio Zayas Cabán) Podcast Episode · Wedge LIVE! · March 3 · 1h 8m

Nice to see this @wedge.live pod from @ourstreetsmn.org ED @yeswaydrjose.bsky.social top of my feed when I woke up this morning! And I can't wait to get out to an Open Streets...

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

That is the question.

From @victoriachang.bsky.social's book, The Trees Witness Everything: bit.ly/treeswitness

#poem #booksky #writing

video from iceout.org earlier today at the whipple outside minneapolis shows a hennepin county sheriff’s deputy shoving the head of a protestor who was already tackled into the ground

we need someone to challenge dawanna witt for sheriff. this brutality happening under her watch is unacceptable

Neighbors for a Better 94 Better 94 is a community effort to ensure that today's highway failures don't become tomorrow's enduring tragedies.

Time to press pause (well past time, actually ...)

better94.org/Take-Action/

& it's been super-cool to see how it's naturally forcing drivers to slow down and attend to surroundings and surrounding people--including me & my kids on our bikes

Traffic circles aren't the answer to everything, but I've seen them be a key tool for traffic-control and traffic-calming. In my neighborhood Minneapolis installed one as part of its neighborhood traffic-calming program--a promising but perennially underfunded initiative.

Transportation Advisory Board - Metropolitan Council

The Met Council Transportation Advisory Board is seeking applicants to fill a vacant 26-27 term for Transit Mode Representative. I served for two years & enjoyed the experience. The seat has gone vacant 3 months. Spread the word & DM me if you'd like to know more!

metrocouncil.org/Council-Meet...

Are Roundabouts Just For Rich People? — Streetsblog USA And if not, how do we get more of them in the low-income neighborhoods that need life-saving infrastructure the most?

Great piece on roundabouts from @keawilson.bsky.social & how to make them more widely implemented. Relatedly, at smaller intersections there's also tons of opportunities to create low-speed, all-yield semi-shared space through quick-build traffic circles.

usa.streetsblog.org/2026/02/26/i...

Donate to Help Olson Middle School Families, organized by jake virden The Olson Middle School community in North Minneapolis is coming together to raise funds… jake virden needs your support for Help Olson Middle School Families

In Minneapolis, the needs are widespread. A fundraiser for the school a friend teaches at in North Mpls. Spread the word! www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Olson...

Streets of an Occupied City As Minneapolis and St. Paul community members resist the occupation of federal immigration enforcement agents, streets and buildings have become one place where that resistance becomes public.

streets.mn/2026/02/20/s...

Minnesota school districts say federal agents still causing daily disruptions School leaders say that ICE activity is continuing to interrupt daily life for students, staff and families despite the announced end of the two-month surge of federal immigration agents.

My kids' school is just one of countless schools where kids are still staying home, trapped inside & in fear & their families at risk of eviction.

But you can help by chipping in to our fundraiser: www.gofundme.com/f/support-mi...

www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...

This interview with James Ciano -- so important & so powerful

www.poetryfoundation.org/podcasts/ser...

A photo of the Cloudwatcher book cover with text reading Forthcoming April 7

Cover Art: SeamlessOo Cover Design: Gopa and Ted2, Inc.

Forthcoming April 7: CLOUDWATCHER by MICHAEL BAZZETT, winner of the 2025 Stern Prize from The American Poetry Review!

In today's #coverfeature, BAZZETT tells us about the uncanny resemblance—and rightness—between his speaker, self, and cover figure:

Streets of an Occupied City: https://streets.mn/2026/02/20/streets-of-an-occupied-city/

As Minneapolis and St. Paul community members resist the occupation of federal immigration enforcement agents, streets and buildings have become one place where that resistance becomes public.

March is right around the corner, and with it March rent. So many of our neighbors need help to be able to stay in their homes and keep food on the table right now. Here are some amazing mutual aid efforts being organized by Ward 8 neighbors. Please contribute and share as you are able.

I just mapped the Metro Transit route from the public library where I'm working to a doctor's appointment at HCMC, and Google Maps suggested a flight to Ho Chi Minh City at the cost of $1192 and 21 hours of time. Guess it's time to start using the Transit App. Or travel more widely!

loft.org/events/minne...

#23 IN THE NATION!! I've had so much fun cheering for the @goldengophersports.bsky.social women's bball team the last 3 years & this ranking reflects their serious rise & balanced attack. 2 more home games. Dollar-for-dollar it's the best bball in the Cities.

Palette Poetry - The 2026 Rising Poet Prize—$3,500 Awarded Back by popular demand, the Rising Poet Prize is returning this spring! Palette Poetry invites all poets who have not yet published a full-length collection to send us your best poems. We are looking ...

Palette Poetry's Rising Poet Prize open for submissions. Looks like a really cool opportunity. I guess by applying I can nurture the notions that I'm both a "poet" and "rising"??

palettepoetry.submittable.com/submit/34820...

Walking College - America Walks Learn about and apply for the National Walking College to learn what you can do to expand access to safe, vibrant, walkable places.

Apps open for the Walking College! WC helped take my nascent interest in sustainable transpo & transform it into more sustained advocacy, beginning with lots of fun projects w/ @lauragmitchell.com around the Lyndale school/neighborhood!

americawalks.org/programs/wal...

This Sunday!! 4pm central time! The emergency isn't over, our neighbors still need rent and we can still help ❤️

Donate and register here: emergencypoems.substack.com/p/emergency-...