‘Cover Stories’ Archives
Dr. Fardin Oliaei, ‘Whistle Blower’ Has Same Warning, 20 Years Later
By MAXIME GROEN, Women’s Environmental Institute With recent headlines that read “I was exposed to these chemicals and… I will die with this cancer,”, ”How can I avoid eating food with ‘forever chemicals?”, and “There must be something in the water,” there’s a warning, and they all have to do with something called PFAS.Over the past 20 years, PFAS is a term that has been increasingly discussed in corporate offices, the media, Congress, and even hospital rooms.What exactly are PFAS? Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS for short, are a class of chemical compounds that were created by humans in the 1940s. PFAS has been used in the manufacturing of cookware, cosmetics, carpeting, fast food wrappers, sunscreen, fire extinguishing foam, and many more everyday products. These chemicals do not break down over time and, instead, accumulate in peoples’ bodies and the environment, giving them the nickname “forever chemicals.” However, despite evidence [...]
Phillips-Related Provisions Passed in 2023 Legislative Session
By CIRIEN SAADEH Governor Tim Walz, holds up the One Minnesota Budget bill following a ceremonial signing event on the steps of the Capitol Wednesday, May 24. Photo by Michele Jokinen As part of the $72 billion One Minnesota budget passed by the legislature, Governor Tim Walz signed into law several budget and policy omnibus bills with provisions pertinent to the Phillips community. Here is a round-up list of some of the budget provisions and what they will mean for the Phillips community. As part of a $2.6 billion infrastructure package signed by the Governor, and authored by Rep. Fue Lee (DFL - District 59A, Minneapolis) and Sen. Sandra L. Pappas (DFL - District 69, Saint Paul), there is support for the Minneapolis American Indian Center, a timeline extension for the $5 million in financial support originally passed in 2019.Also in the infrastructure package is $4 million for the Indigenous People’s Task Force, located in the Phillips community . The specific provision [...]
Victory for the East Phillips Urban Farm
Outstanding Leaders Advance Community Vision for Roof Depot & Hiawatha Expansion By H LYNN ADELSMAN In a flurry of last minute negotiations before the end of the state legislative session, community and city leaders, state legislators, and the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) brokered an agreement that will allow the Urban Farm at the Roof Depot site in East Phillips to move forward. The City has agreed to sell the site for an urban farm, in exchange for $4.5 million from the State to build the needed water distribution facility at another location, plus $2 million from the State as a deposit on the sale of the Roof Depot property. EPNI will need to raise an additional $3.7 million for the property purchase by September 8, 2023. Learn more about plans for the East Phillips Urban Farm in future issues of the alley. A broad coalition of labor, environmental, and Indigenous activists and organizations rallied at the Roof Depot site in East Phillips for the [...]
