NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Rondo-opoly, which was recently introduced by the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, may or may not be the newest version since the game of Monopoly was created in the early part of the 20th century. But according to its inventors, it is the only one featuring the history of Saint Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, the largely Black community that was riven in two in the 1960s by the construction of I-94.
The demolition of the city’s former Public Safety Annex could occur by the end of the year, triggering the development of Pedro Park on 10th and Robert streets in downtown Saint Paul. That was welcome news to most of the 60-plus residents who filled a meeting room at Keys Cafe on July 25. They have waited for more than two decades for the development of Pedro Park to begin.
The Saint Paul City Council voted unanimously on July 20 to use $10 million from the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) on a wide variety of public safety-related initiatives. The approval came days after Mayor Melvin Carter announced the efforts during a press conference at the Frogtown Community Center.
Along with spending $10 million on public safety, the Saint Paul City Council allocated $15.3 million in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds on July 20 for workforce programs and another $340,299 to write down the cost of business licenses.
ELECTION 2022
Voters across the neighborhoods served by MyVillager will head to the polls on Tuesday, August 9, to choose among candidates for U.S. representative, governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state senator, state representative, county commissioner and county attorney.
DFL partisans will head to the polls on August 9 to choose among three candidates for the Minnesota Senate in District 65. Sheigh Freeberg and Zuki Ellis are challenging incumbent Senator Sandy Pappas’ bid for another four-year term.
DFLers Maria Isa Perez-Hedges and Anna Botz are running for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 65B for the seat that is being vacated by Carlos Mariani, who is not seeking re-election after 16 terms.
A referendum calling for a new property tax levy in Saint Paul to pay for early childhood education and child care for low-income households will not be on the ballot this November after all.
Listening House’s plan to convert a former restaurant at 421 E. Seventh St. into a drop-in day shelter for homeless people is moving forward with the offer of a $1.4 million forgivable loan from the city of Saint Paul.
The Saint Paul City Council voted on July 27 to waive the petition requirement for an expansion of the commercial development district in Highland Village to include all of the property that is being developed on the site of the former Ford Motor Company assembly plant.
Katelyn Mariah of Merriam Park has been a believer in the healing power of art for quite some time. And at no time was that truer than after her recovery from five heart attacks and open-heart surgery.
The Saint Paul City Council on July 20 approved the first exemption to the 3 percent cap on annual rent increases as mandated by the city’s new rent control ordinance. Landlords Jim and Matthew Lindquist were granted permission for a 15 percent increase in the rent they charge tenants at their 12-unit apartment building at 1029 Raymond Ave.
The City Council will be reviewing a staff proposal this week on how to amend Saint Paul’s new rent control ordinance. Among the recommendations are retention of the 3 percent cap on annual rent increases but with an exemption for up to 20 years for new construction.
Two Saint Paul tenants have appealed to the City Council for relief from recent rent increases of almost 8 percent made by their landlord, Dominium Properties. They are the first tenant appeals under Saint Paul’s new rent control ordinance, which took effect on May 1.
VIEWPOINT
Two views of city of Saint Paul’s proposal to move Summit Avenue bikeway off-street
The city of Saint Paul presented ideas in June about possible ways to change Summit Avenue’s on-street bike lanes to off-street bike paths. Essentially, the position of the parked cars and the existing bike lanes would be switched. The parked cars and curbs would be moved inward, next to the driving lanes, narrowing the street. The bikeways would be moved outside of the parked cars and up to curb height. It would make the bike lanes parking-protected, off-street bike paths.
The city of Saint Paul’s regional trail planning exercise for Summit Avenue is on a path for an irresponsible solution more dangerous for bicyclists and at the highest possible cost to taxpayers. For 2.5 of Summit Avenue’s 4.5 miles, the regional trail that planners are proposing is the most dangerous road facility for bicyclists, according to an Insurance Industry Highway Safety (IIHS) report comparing bike facility types and roadway conditions.
EDUCATION
A new Saint Paul charter school endorsed by Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher could likely be one of the first of its kind in the country for attracting students interested in public service and law enforcement careers.
ON THE TOWN
SPORTS
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FEATURED PHOTO
Summer treat
Claire Shirilla, 12, licks her fingers after being handed an ice cream cone as friend Leona Diebel, 10, looks on during an ice cream and pie social sponsored by the women of Fairmount Avenue United Methodist Church on July 21. The event raised money for Emma Norton’s new Restoring Waters supportive housing building at Highland Bridge.
Photo by Brad Stauffer
VIDEOS
Aug. 3-16, 2022 e-edition
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News
District Councils August 3, 2022
Highland Park highlanddistrictcouncil.org • 651-695-4005 Transportation Fair—The Highland District Council will hold a Transportation Information Fair from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 3, at the Minnesota JCC’s Capp Center, 1375 Saint Paul Ave. Presenters will include the Minnesota Department of Transportation on
CAA director steps down after 45 years
The Wright Call By Dave Wright Old habits can be hard to break. Just ask Mark Courtney. For the past 45 years, Courtney has been the glue holding everything together for the 56 grade schools that make up the Catholic
Saint Paul Capitals right in hunt for state berth
Although it wasn’t quite as productive on offense this year as it’s been in the past, the Saint Paul Capitals men’s Class A amateur baseball team found itself right where it wanted to be as the postseason commenced late last
On the Town Briefly, August 3, 2022
Music Djembe Joy, a class in hand drumming for beginners, will be offered from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 10, at the Women’s Drum Center, 2242 University Ave. The cost is $15. Drums are provided. Masks are required. Visit womensdrumcenter.org. Summer
McDonough and Shapira revisit music of two masters of Jazz
From early on, Macalester-Groveland pianist Larry McDonough and Highland Park guitarist Joel Shapira were captivated by the music of Bill Evans and Jim Hall. Pianist Evans and guitarist Hall collaborated on two jazz albums of note, “Undercurrent” in 1962 and
School of Leadership for Public Service scheduled to open this fall
Board members and volunteers gathered at the site on July 28 to help spread the word about the School of Leadership for Public Service, which plans to start this fall with grades 6-10 and eventually grow into a K-12 program.
Letters to the Editor, August 3, 2022
Rent control is still a bad idea Why do politicians keep digging up old, bad ideas? Rent control was buried by most cities decades ago because it doesn’t work. I own and live in a duplex in the Summit Hill
Narrowing Summit, moving bike paths outside curbs makes for safer riding
The city of Saint Paul presented ideas in June about possible ways to change Summit Avenue’s on-street bike lanes to off-street bike paths. Essentially, the position of the parked cars and the existing bike lanes would be switched. The parked
Two-way off-road trail would multiply the risk factor for Summit Ave. cyclists
The city of Saint Paul’s regional trail planning exercise for Summit Avenue is on a path for an irresponsible solution more dangerous for bicyclists and at the highest possible cost to taxpayers. For 2.5 of Summit Avenue’s 4.5 miles, the
Tenants appeal Dominium Properties’ self-certification of 8% rent increases
Two Saint Paul tenants have appealed to the City Council for relief from recent rent increases of almost 8 percent made by their landlord, Dominium Properties. They are the first tenant appeals under Saint Paul’s new rent control ordinance, which
City Council to review proposed amendments to rent control law
The City Council will be reviewing a staff proposal this week on how to amend Saint Paul’s new rent control ordinance. Among the recommendations are retention of the 3 percent cap on annual rent increases but with an exemption for
City Council allows 15% rent increase for Raymond Ave. apartments
The Saint Paul City Council on July 20 approved the first exemption to the 3 percent cap on annual rent increases as mandated by the city’s new rent control ordinance. Landlords Jim and Matthew Lindquist were granted permission for a
August 9 primary narrows field for federal, state, local offices
Voters across the neighborhoods served by MyVillager will head to the polls on Tuesday, August 9, to choose among candidates for U.S. representative, governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state senator, state representative, county commissioner and county
Perez-Hedges and Botz curry DFL favor for District 65B House seat
DFLers Maria Isa Perez-Hedges and Anna Botz are running for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 65B for the seat that is being vacated by Carlos Mariani, who is not seeking re-election after 16 terms. District 65B includes downtown
Freeberg, Ellis challenge Pappas’ 32-year hold on Senate District 65
DFL partisans will head to the polls on August 9 to choose among three candidates for the Minnesota Senate in District 65. Sheigh Freeberg and Zuki Ellis are challenging incumbent Senator Sandy Pappas’ bid for another four-year term. District 65
Council waives consent petition for liquor service in Highland Bridge
The Saint Paul City Council voted on July 27 to waive the petition requirement for an expansion of the commercial development district in Highland Village to include all of the property that is being developed on the site of the
Listening House gets $1.4M city loan for new homeless shelter
Listening House wants to turn the former Red’s Savoy restaurant on East Seventh Street and Lafayette Road into a drop-in day shelter. Listening House’s plan to convert a former restaurant at 421 E. Seventh St. into a drop-in day shelter
Council earmarks additional rescue plan funding for business initiatives
Along with spending $10 million on public safety, the Saint Paul City Council allocated $15.3 million in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds on July 20 for workforce programs and another $340,299 to write down the cost of business licenses.
Razing of old city annex could make room for larger Pedro Park
Razing the city’s former Public Safety Annex (with red circles) is expected to trigger enlargement of Pedro Park on 10th and Robert streets. The demolition of the city’s former Public Safety Annex could occur by the end of the year,
Saint Paul allots $10M of rescue plan funds for public safety
The Saint Paul City Council voted unanimously on July 20 to use $10 million from the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) on a wide variety of public safety-related initiatives. The approval came days after Mayor Melvin Carter announced the efforts