Ride-share giants Uber and Lyft are threatening to hit the brakes in Minneapolis over increased fees. The City Council's decision to raise ride-share fees before state task force recommendations came through has driven both companies to consider leaving the city by July 1. Initially set for April 1, the fee hike was repeatedly postponed, later to May 1, and once more to July. With the aim of mitigating the impact on drivers while keeping Uber and Lyft in play, the Minnesota Governor and State legislators are engaging in talks including company representatives, drivers, and Council Members.
In council news, a fresh chapter may begin for the former fire-gutted 3rd precinct building. The proposal to transform the abandoned site into the new Elections and Voter Services Center was met with mixed reactions but garnered support for its potential to house early voting, ballot, and voting machine storage, alongside staff offices. Adding to the city's community fabric, there are 8,000 square feet pegged for community use. Citizen input on the use of this space is sought, as the "City will be doing outreach on the proposal and get ideas for potential use of the extra space by the community," detailed in a city bulleting.
Minneapolis' Downtown area, once thriving from business folk and entertainment seekers, is seeing slow foot traffic recovery despite a booming entertainment sector. Attending a hospitality convention to scout best practice solutions, city officials are bent on rejuvenating Downtown. They look to the public for support, urging visits to local spots, and lauding the perks of downtown dining and events. Last year, the Mayor's office and Downtown Council consulted national pros from the Urban Land Institute, laying out a blueprint to spruce up the Warehouse District.
Public health is also under the Council's microscope. On April 25, council members voted to up the minimum per-pack price of cigarettes to $15. The hike, along with the halt of tobacco discounts, aims to quench the city's smoking rates. As the ordinance states, "For every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes, adult smoking decreases by 3-5% and youth smoking decreases by 6-7%." Citizens have until May 21 to chime in on the 2024 Minneapolis Consolidated Action Plan, which zeroes in on affordable housing and neighborhood development. A public hearing set for May 14, invites further community discourse.
Lastly, Minneapolis water users can raise a glass to meet new federal standards for PFAS, human-made chemicals linked to potential health risks. The City has kept its tap water PFAS-free for nearly a decade, aligning with the freshly minted EPA guidelines. For the civic-minded, there's a call for applications to the African American Heritage Work Group, set to spotlight and honor Minneapolis' Black history. Knowledgeable locals have until May 12 to apply for a seat on this new advisory board. Keep an eye out for updates and engagements on these matters through official city channels and community venues.
