‘Miscellany’ Archives
A Letter to the Community
Beloved community, We at the alley are devastated by the loss and violence being experienced in Phillips as of late. There are few words to say that haven’t already been shared a thousand times already, and we are hurting alongside of you.The heaviness of life in Phillips has reared its head often this past year. We grieve for the fentanyl and drug epidemic, our houseless neighbors, our Muslim neighbors in the wake of the mosque vandalizations a few months back, the shootings that have left multiple communities mourning, and those experiencing a constant state of fear because of violence in the neighborhood or at home. These most recent tragedies have reminded us that we haven’t offered enough space in this community newspaper to hold these griefs. It’s hard to remember, or even to see, the ways in which we care for each other in dark moments. It’s sometimes harder still to see why small acts of care would even be worth it.We are a community newspaper, and often don’t [...]
Diverse applicants wanted for Minneapolis boards and commissions
By THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS Twenty-seven City boards and commissions have openings for appointments this fall. The City seeks applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. City boards and commissions offer a direct way for residents to advise City leadership about topics important to them. Translation and interpreting is available so all residents can participate.Applications will be accepted through Oct. 31. Find more information about the openings on the City website.The City of Minneapolis has more than 50 volunteer-based boards, commissions and advisory committees that help shape key policy decisions, represent their community in the City’s administration of services and supply valuable insights. Boards and commissions have brought forward recommendations that resulted in: Renter protections.Wage protections.Bicycle safety infrastructure.Gender-neutral restrooms.Public art.A ban on [...]
Meeting Sue Hunter Weir
By JOHN ANDERSEN “Gee, I didn’t know that.”When Sue Hunter Weir writes an article for the alley, getting that response from a reader makes her smile. Yesterday we met in person and talked about her volunteer work.Back in the 1990s there was a false narrative about the “poor, pitiful people” in the “crime ridden” Phillips Neighborhood. Sue, a longtime resident, got fed up with it. So, she hatched the idea of researching and writing about the lives of the people buried in the local Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery. She wanted to tell a more accurate story.After having published more than 200 biographies over a 25-year span, she has completely changed that narrative.In our chat, Sue started by mentioning John Effert, an unskilled railroad laborer who died in a work accident in 1911 and is buried in the cemetery. Effert, an activist, had only been in the USA a few years. He was a Russian Jew who had been part of a plot to overthrow the Russian Army, and therefore [...]
