News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Friday December 19th 2025
Thoughts and Prayers
METRO TRANSIT
By JOHN CHARLES WILSON
Starting with a prayer, or a thought, for our transit-riding friends in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Portland, who are going to lose vast amounts of service due to Covid-19 special funding ending.
In the Twin Cities, we are very fortunate that the Minnesota Legislature granted Metro Transit a dedicated tax sufficient to avoid such a fate, and even to make serious improvements. A set of these improvements went into effect 16 August 2025. None of them directly affect the Phillips Community, but they may be useful to alley readers who travel throughout the Metro area.
One improvement a few months ago in the Phillips Community was revival of Route 27, which was suspended during the pandemic. The current version of Route 27 provides closer access to East and West Lake Street businesses from the residential areas along East 26th and 28th Streets. Here’s a special shoutout to Will Netzley, who took the time to write a Letter to the Editor of the alley recognizing this Transit Column and explaining his appreciation for the return of Route 27. He and I urge you to get the word out about Route 27 and usefulness so it doesn’t get cut again.… Read the rest “Thoughts and Prayers”
EPNI September ’25 Update
East Phillips Neighborhood Institute is building toward a healthier future and overdue environmental justice by converting the empty Roof Depot warehouse (located on 27th St and Longfellow Ave) into a community hub that brings fresh food and good jobs to East Phillips. Learn more and get involved!
What’s new with the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm Project this month?
By EAST PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOOD INSTITUTE (EPNI)
- In August, EPNI held a press conference and a rally with representatives from EPNI, Little Earth, Climate Justice Committee, and Little Earth, asking the mayor to respond to EPNI’s purchase offer, uphold his stated commitments, and finally work with EPNI in good faith to transfer ownership of the Roof Depot building to the East Phillips community. Thank you to everyone who showed up in support!
- EPNI’s Farm Team will continue with biweekly “Seed Saturdays” starting at 11am on September 13th and 27th, where you can come talk with EPNI and help out with garden tasks
- Find details about Seed Saturdays, EPNI farm team Workshops, community meetings, related offerings from our community partners, and other September events on EPNI’s public calendar epnifarm.org/calendar
- Sign up for EPNI’s email list to receive a monthly newsletter, event reminders, poetry, calls to action, job openings, and more, that link can be found at epnifarm.org
Youth Voting – Shaping the Future Starts with Your Vote
This is the fifth article in the League of Women Voters Minneapolis 2025 Democracy Series. All articles will be available at https://lwvmpls.org/democracy-series/
By AVITAL KREBS and GEZELLE GONZALEZ MALDONADO with THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MINNEAPOLIS
Introduction
While 2025 might not be a presidential election year, there are still many important local elections in Minneapolis — mayor, city council, parks and recreation board, and board of estimate and taxation. In these local elections, a handful of votes can determine the election outcome– making your vote extra important. However, elections have been changing. It’s also critically important to be aware of changing influences on voting decisions. In this article, high school students Avital Krebs and Gezelle Gonzalez Maldonado unpack how elections are impacted by social media, why young people should vote, how to vote, and basic information about the voting process in the United States.
Why Social Media is a Game Changer
Starting in the 1930s, candidates commonly used radio, film, television, and newspapers to publicize themselves and their policies. Until recently, there was never a direct, targeted way to connect with voters on a larger scale. The introduction of social media has been a game-changer for candidates to reach and impact their voters.… Read the rest “Youth Voting – Shaping the Future Starts with Your Vote”
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