Minneapolis at a Crossroads with 15% Property Tax Hike
Property taxes across Minneapolis are rising — in some neighborhoods by over 15%.
On top of this, City Council Member Robin Wonsley, the leader of the Democratic Socialists-aligned majority, is now exploring a new Minneapolis income tax to address current budget deficits.
This is how a city triggers an economic doom spiral. Some residents will choose to move just a few miles away to lower-tax suburbs, leaving those of us who remain shouldering even higher taxes.
This, in turn, could drive more people out of the city, compounding the problem. We’ve seen what happens when cities go down this path — look at Detroit or St. Louis.
Instead of continually increasing property taxes and introducing new income taxes, our City Council and Mayor should focus on cutting unnecessary spending and prioritizing core services.
Minneapolis must remain an affordable place for everyone, especially low- and moderate-income homeowners and renters.
We also need city leadership that is laser-focused on rebuilding and reinvigorating our tax-generating commercial areas, particularly the Downtown and Uptown corridors.
These areas have faced similar challenges due to crime, remote work, and poorly timed street construction projects.
Revitalizing these districts would attract new businesses, create jobs, and generate much-needed tax revenues while giving residents more reasons to stay in the city.
To ensure Minneapolis remains a vibrant and livable community, the city government must commit to supporting a safe and thriving environment, managing budgets responsibly to keep taxes reasonable, and simplifying bureaucracy so that small businesses and restaurants can thrive.
Minneapolis’ future as a livable, affordable, and vibrant city is at stake.
It’s time to send a clear message to the City Council: Enough is enough.
Increasing property taxes and adding new income taxes and overburdensom regulations won’t fix Minneapolis — sensible, smart and thoughtful governance will.
Karin Birkeland | Lowry Hill.
Minneapolis: A Call To Action and Accountability
When Vice-Presidential Candidate J.D. Vance visited Minneapolis during the presidential campaign to address urban decline and crime, many may have dismissed his comments as partisan posturing.
Yet, as someone who has called this city home for over 25 years and served as an aide to Minneapolis Congressman Martin O. Sabo, I feel compelled to consider his statements — not to endorse his politics, but to acknowledge the concerns they raise.
Though I supported the Harris-Walz ticket, I hope the TrumpVance victory sparks a renewed conversation among our elected officials about the real challenges facing our city.
Minneapolis is undeniably struggling with rising crime, and our police department remains significantly understaffed and under-resourced.
Our transit system is in disrepair, often perceived as unsafe due to crime and the lingering effects of COVID-19.
Many neighborhoods continue to feel the lasting impacts of the riots following George Floyd’s death, and divisions persist over critical issues like replacing the police precinct or establishing common ground at George Floyd Square.
In Uptown and Downtown, businesses are closing at an alarming rate, with restaurants shutting down due to low foot traffic and safety concerns.
Tragically, we see young people on the streets at all hours, and some have lost their lives in these very areas.
Moreover, the growing number of unhoused individuals in encampments has become a pressing crisis.
Rather than prioritizing sustainable housing solutions and essential services, some city leaders seem more focused on maintaining these encampments, inadvertently reinforcing the cycle of homelessness.
This has resulted in areas being labeled as “no-go zones,” deterring residents, visitors and businesses alike.
I used to feel immense pride in calling Minneapolis my home. While I still love this city, it’s disheartening to hear that friends from outside Minneapolis are reluctant to visit — especially after dark.
Our elected officials must urgently address these issues with a renewed sense of accountability and commitment.
Minneapolis deserves a brighter future, and we owe it to ourselves and future generations to work tirelessly for positive change.
Mike Erlandson | East Isles
The Need for Change
As we absorb the results of the 2024 election, I find myself reflecting on the political shifts that have brought us here.
From a historical perspective, the current moment feels like a significant realignment in American politics — one that has been brewing since the Great Recession of 2008 but was overlooked by both parties until it could no longer be ignored. Trump’s reelection signals more than just the success of one candidate; it underscores the ongoing disconnect between party elites and the economic anxieties of average Americans.
Since 2016, Trump’s brand of economic populism, focused on job loss and rising inequality, has captured the frustration many feel toward “business as usual” politics. Meanwhile, Democrats have struggled to tap into this discontent, often focusing on anti-Trump rhetoric and defending a return to “normalcy.” Yet for millions, “normal” has meant an unstable economy, eroded unions and rising inequality.
This election should serve as a wake-up call for the Democratic Party. The issues of economic security, health care and housing stability resonate far more deeply than the traditional campaign rhetoric centered around existential threats. People want leaders who will address these core issues, not just oppose their opponents.
In order to maintain a healthy democracy, both parties need to focus on economic justice, systemic inequality, and validating the anger many Americans feel.
Ignoring these grievances will only deepen divisions and pave the way for continued populist backlash. It’s time for Democrats, and all of us, to listen, engage and work toward genuine, transformative change.
Max McPartland | Lowry Hill
I.C.E.
Rhymes with NICE, but isn't. Coming in the middle of the day, or night, tearing parents from their children, unmoved by tears. Cold cuffs on warm hands recently making bread.
I.C.E. hearts — frozen in some ancient “them or us” scenario, I.C.E. minds — barren as arctic fields, following orders.
This is not the country that I know. Where is it? That land of the free and home of the brave? Oh, I see it there — submerged under the frozen waves.
Shannon King | Wedge
