r/altmpls

Four in four days:

#1 Calhoun

#2 East River near the U

#3 East River near Stone Arch

#4 West River near Hennepin Bridge

https://x.com/CrimeWatchMpls/status/2090080035067572664

We pay incredibly high property taxes to live downtown. We put up with and expect noise, but the noise from some motorcycles is deafening, disturbing, and prevents downtown dwellers from sleeping. I have reported the noise disturbance to 311 and was instructed to 'call when I hear the noise'. Really? By the time law enforcement shows up, these disturbingly loud noise makers are long gone. Groups of motorcyclists gather and rev their engines at all hours of the night. They run stop signs and traffic lights.

I've watched police cars sit at Bobby & Steves on Washington Ave. while 6 - 10 motorcyclists gather to fill their tanks, talk and yell, take videos of their bikes, and rev their engines over and over. Cops do nothing. The noise is deafening. Why are our noise ordinances NOT enforced? The working people of downtown Mpls want to know. Do we have to take matters into our own hands?

Minneapolis owned housing but did not inspect it? Make it make sense.

As previously covered in this subreddit, while Ayan Farah Abukar of Bloomington stole millions via Feeding Our Future, Minnesota DHS gave her an "Outstanding Refugee Award for Entrepreneurship" in 2021. The occasion even deserved a personal congratulations from Governor Walz. She eventually pleaded guilty for her role in the scheme in which she personally netted nearly $6 million.

According to contemporaneous reporting from Mshale, the other "Outstanding Refugee..." recipient that year was Salman Elmi of Blaine. Now the Star Tribune reports that Elmi faces charges from the Minnesota Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Unit that one of his companies "defrauded the state’s Medicaid program of more than $1 million" and is connected to a "massive" Twin Cities sex trafficking case. The article also confirms the details of his DHS award:

>Elmi’s website shows that he runs three companies including Tavolo, a restaurant marketing platform; The Velvet Lounge, a members-only club in Minneapolis; and Top Figure, a digital media company. He was once given the “Outstanding Refugee Award for Entrepreneurship” by the DHS.

>The DHS website for that award has been taken down, but an archive of it shows that Elmi wrote a profile which said: “The biggest thing I hear all the time is that refugees are mooching off of the economy or being a non-productive member of society when, in reality, immigrants contribute to a big part of the U.S. economy, especially here in Minnesota.”

Who was in charge of vetting these "outstanding refugees"?

Since Minnesota sub took this MNNPR story down in denial..."Seeing the mounting problems, one city tried to stop Dukuly-linked businesses from operating within its borders — but the move ultimately backfired, helping to inspire a law that now prevents cities from shutting down problem group homes."...

Park commissioners said the “placeholder” figure would lead to layoffs, reduced maintenance or closed recreation centers.

• Minneapolis did not inspect public housing units for nearly 30 years, despite a city ordinance requiring it.
• Two tenants filed lawsuits, leading to a court ruling in 2020 that the city must inspect public housing like private rentals.
• The City only began routine inspections after a state law change last year, and the housing authority declined to comment due to ongoing litigation.

Minneapolis skipped public housing inspections for nearly 30 years, court finds

Is it a gradual transition or sudden drop off when you cross into inner ring suburbs.

A Department of Homeland Security undercover agent lost a concealed recording device on the floor of a Minneapolis church gymnasium that a federal court had barred DHS from investigating.

I recently read through some city council agendas, and I’m looking for help understanding the wording about contracts and/or amendments in the agendas. 

For example if a vote is asking for “an increase to contract #12345 with Company X, LLC or organization X, in the amount of $2,000,000 for a total amount not to exceed $15,000,000, and an extension through December 31, 2026, for services.” 

Referencing the above, if passed by the city council and approved by the mayor does the above contract mean the company can request amendments for an additional $13,000,000 (not to exceed the $15,000.000)? Also, where do residents find the proposed work plans and a copy of the contract and subsequent amendments?