🔨 A right to repair your own home

A Right to Repair What’s Broken

Housing advocates have gathered thousands of signatures for an initiative that puts St. Paul landlords on a strict 14-day repair countdown. If your landlord ignores a written maintenance request, the renter would have the legal power to hire a professional and deduct the bill from their next rent check. Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Cole Hanson, a St. Paul renter, dad, and the organizer of the Safe Homes St. Paul campaign. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

• How it works: The policy requires a tenant to give their landlord 14 days after sending a written notice before taking matters into their own hands. If the landlord doesn’t respond, the tenant can hire a licensed professional to tackle basic safety and livability issues and deduct up to $500 or a half month’s rent (whichever is greater) directly from their next rent payment to cover the costs. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities, Pioneer Press]
• The landlord pushback: Opponents, including the St. Paul Area Chamber, argue that a highly complex housing policy doesn’t belong on a general election ballot. They worry this policy could open up a messy gray area regarding structural property liability, unclear contractor vetting, and unpermitted work. However, Cole counters that the ordinance strictly requires vetted, licensed city trades to do the work, and points to Duluth’s law noting it hasn’t triggered a single lawsuit because landlords choose to fix properties in a timely manner. [St. Paul Area Chamber, 🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]
• The fine print: This isn’t a shortcut to fix a weekend emergency, like a sudden appliance failure. The time limits require a period of notice and a chance for landlords to respond before a tenant can take action. Any appliances or fixtures a renter pays for under the ordinance legally remain the permanent property of the landlord. With over 7,500 signatures, the measure is headed to the November ballot unless St. Paul City Council exercises its charter right to adopt the ordinance directly. [Axios Twin Cities, 🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

Neighbors saving neighbors. In North Minneapolis, a coalition of healthcare providers, community organizations, and neighbors has successfully formed a response network that is chipping away at the opioid crisis. Data analyzed by MPR News reveals the ZIP code where the work is happening has seen a steady reduction in ER visits related to overdoses since 2021. It’s one of only nine ZIP codes statewide where that’s happened. [MPR News]

A long, slow recovery: South Minneapolis’s Somali business hubs are suffering from a devastating economic downturn following Operation Metro Surge. Karmel Mall’s hallways – typically a bustling cultural and retail anchor – are eerily empty. Customers are slowly starting to return, but shop owners say revenues are down by as much as 50% since the start of the operation and they're struggling to keep their doors open. [Sahan Journal]

“We own this”: A Chicago developer is buying the Hawthorn Crossings strip mall in North Minneapolis, but doesn’t plan to keep the profits for himself. Lyneir Richardson is inviting Northside residents to buy into a 49% equity stake. For as little $1,000, you can own a piece of the property and build equity. The project’s organizers are currently meeting with local faith leaders and community groups to prove they’re invested in working with the community. [North News]

Jet fuel, but make it green: Minnesota is positioning itself as a major player in the global race to clean up air travel. We can’t exactly strap massive, heavy electric batteries to commercial airliners and expect them to fly. Instead, the industry is focused on creating cleaner burning fuels. Flint Hills Resources’ Pine Bend refinery in Rosemount is gearing up to launch the nation’s largest sustainable aviation fuel blending facility outside of California. The state has invested in incentives for farmers to grow crops that can be used in jet fuel production. [MinnPost]

Art for a cause: A creative collaborative just pulled off a highly successful charity art event in Northeast Minneapolis. During Art-A-Whirl, a local humanitarian nonprofit Alight turned its Quincy Street storefront into a bustling, pop-up charity gallery. The space featured more than 500 pieces from over 200 artists and raised more than $25,000 to support refugees and their families. If you missed the event, don’t worry, there are still a few pieces up for grabs online. [Northeaster]

Monday, Jul 6

• 🏀 Minnesota Lynx vs. Connecticut Sun | Target Center
• 🕶️ Bob Dylan | Mystic Lake Amphitheater
• 🆓 Suburbica | Lake Harriet Bandshell
• 🎸 Sounds of Santana | Dakota
• 🎛️ Frances Avenue | PILLLAR
• 🎷 Fuchsia, Marvelous, & Helioscene | Zhora Darling
• 🌋 Volcanoes: Fires of Creation | Science Museum of Minnesota

Tuesday, Jul 7

• 🆓 Lake Harriet Buckthorn Slaying | West side of Lake Harriet
• 🎼 Thomas Sticha | White Squirrel Bar
• 🆓 Red Planet | MetroNOME Brewery
• 🎷 Moore By Forty! | Dakota
• 🍽️ Pizza Workshop | Cooks of Crocus Hill
• 🎸 Unfinished Products | PILLLAR
• 🎵 Lent, hangouts. (WI), & Larrikins | Zhora Darling

• Extension Chief Finance Officer at University of Minnesota | $160k – $230k per year
• Associate Director of Development, Opus College of Business at University of St. Thomas | $75k – $85k per year
• Executive Director at Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) | $150k – $200k per year
• Housing Stability Program Manager at Minnesota Housing | $68k – $100k per year
• Major Gift Officer at Church of the Annunciation | $100k – $125k per year