On April 5, Hennepin County Library locked out around 311 County workers, including about 220 library workers. Most workers locked out are library specialists, who are among the lowest paid County workers. Library specialists usually provide the support functions that make libraries run, and had been working hard supporting remote library services since the libraries closed in mid-March. AFSCME Local 2822, which represents all but one of the locked-out workers, has filed a class action grievance against the lockout action by Hennepin County.
Starting April 13, Hennepin County Library started offering curbside holds pick up at 8 library locations, including at East Lake Library. Library workers have raised public health and worker safety concerns about providing this non-essential service, especially as the County decided to make recall to these high-risk locations involuntary, over the protest of Local 2822. (Curbside service has provided paid work for only about 20 of the locked-out workers.) In addition, library workers have been raising questions about the lack of conclusive research on coronavirus transmission on library materials; the use of precious PPE and sanitizing supplies for providing a non-essential service; and the example of putting both workers and residents into unnecessary interactions with each other to provide a non-critical service during a Stay-At-Home order.… Read the rest “What”™s Up at Your Community Libraries”
By KITTY O”™MEARA And the people stayed home. And read books and listened, and rested and exercised, and made art and played games, and learned new ways of being and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless and heartless ways the earth began to heal. And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
Before Covid-19, many cities across the U.S.”“including Mpls.”“were responding to climate change and racial discrimination by changing guidelines, revenue recipients, zoning, and goals. Housing, food, and jobs near public transportation””walking paths, bike trails, bus, and light rai””were common goals for the common good that was common sense.
During Covid-19, increased awareness of inequities of healthcare, housing, food, and jobs demands more common sense for the common good of everyone.
Nonetheless, the Mpls. City Council and Staff are continuing to flaunt their power against our neighbors”™ Urban Farm, Affordable Housing, and Jobs Center Initiative in the highly diverse and low-income East Phillips area near public transportation. The City is going up against laws, and against their own environmental Green Zone Guidelines as they continue to seize control of the seven acres of land and a 236,000 square foot building (recently renovated) adjacent to Little Earth of United Tribes Housing, other residences, the Midtown Greenway, Pioneer and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, Smiley”™s Point Health Clinic, Hi-Lake Shopping Center, and close to the YWCA and a Hennepin County Service Center and Transportation Hub. On this vital land, the City is forcing creation of a large storage depot and large truck and car parking lot.… Read the rest “Common Sense for the Common Good”
Common Sense for the Common Good
Commentary on EPNI Urban Farm
By HARVEY WINJE
Before Covid-19, many cities across the U.S.”“including Mpls.”“were responding to climate change and racial discrimination by changing guidelines, revenue recipients, zoning, and goals. Housing, food, and jobs near public transportation””walking paths, bike trails, bus, and light rai””were common goals for the common good that was common sense.
During Covid-19, increased awareness of inequities of healthcare, housing, food, and jobs demands more common sense for the common good of everyone.
Nonetheless, the Mpls. City Council and Staff are continuing to flaunt their power against our neighbors”™ Urban Farm, Affordable Housing, and Jobs Center Initiative in the highly diverse and low-income East Phillips area near public transportation. The City is going up against laws, and against their own environmental Green Zone Guidelines as they continue to seize control of the seven acres of land and a 236,000 square foot building (recently renovated) adjacent to Little Earth of United Tribes Housing, other residences, the Midtown Greenway, Pioneer and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, Smiley”™s Point Health Clinic, Hi-Lake Shopping Center, and close to the YWCA and a Hennepin County Service Center and Transportation Hub. On this vital land, the City is forcing creation of a large storage depot and large truck and car parking lot.… Read the rest “Common Sense for the Common Good”