By Tesha Christensen, Neighborhood Notes
May 16, 2013
There are two community events planned in the Standish-Ericsson neighborhood this week.
SHORELINE CLEAN-UP
On Thursday, May 16, volunteer for an hour to perform a quick clean-up of the Lake Hiawatha shoreline.
SENA will supply: Bags, cotton gloves, and grabber/pickup tools.
You supply: You, in shoes/boots that can get dirty, and long pants to protect legs when walking through brush.
To show their appreciation for taking care of the neighborhood, Buster's on 28th is offering to buy the first 12oz beer/pop afterwards for all participants.
“Meet some new neighbors, clean the lake, and get a free drink,” urges SENA staff member Bob Kambeitz. “It's a win, win, win! We'll be meeting at the Lake Hiawatha Park building (at the corner of 44th St. and 27th Ave.).”
Email bobk @ standish-ericsson.org if you plan to attend. Please include how many will be in your party.
MOSAIC FEST
Roosevelt High School’s annual Mosaic Festival is set for this Friday, May 17 from 3:30-7:30 p.m.
Mosaic Fest is an annual event at Roosevelt, celebrating the cultural mosaic that makes our community special.
In fair weather, meet on the practice football field just south of the school building (enter on 30th Ave S/40th St S via the parking lot.) If it rains, the event will be in the school gym.
Food trucks will be in the parking lot. Student groups will sell cultural foods including Arabic, Asian, French and Oromo. Bring some cash to buy tickets for food items.
There will be a talent show, featuring student singers, the Jazz combo, Aztec and Oromo dance, and a Somali fashion show. There will be information and activity booths for kids of all ages.
“We hope to see you there! Come out and celebrate spring's arrival,” urges Julia Schumacher.
UPCOMING EVENT:
• Annual Neighborhood Blood drive will be on Garage Sale Saturday --June 15, 10 a.m.-3:00 p.m. outside of Nokomis Pet Clinic (2917 E 42nd St). There wil be juice and cookies.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Meet your new police chief
Janeé Harteau sees
role of chief as that of a parent
by Tesha M. Christensen
Minneapolis’ first female police chief didn’t set out to hold
the highest position in the city’s police department.
“Little girls don’t generally grow up wanting to be police
officers, let alone the police chief,” Janeé Harteau pointed out.
Her goal, instead, was to be really good at whatever position
she held. As Assistant Chief to Chief Tim Dolan from 2010-2012, “I was just
trying to be a really good assistant chief,” said Harteau, who is openly gay.
In hindsight, Harteau sees how all of her past experiences
over the last 26 years prepared her to be chief.
“Looking back now, I can clearly see I was meant to sit in
this chair,” she said.
Her past positions include working as a patrol officer on the
street, hostage negotiator, SWAT team member, supervisor on the Street, Narcotics,
Organized Crime and the Gang Unit, commander of the Crime Lab, inspector of the
First Precinct in downtown Minneapolis, and Deputy Chief of the Patrol Bureau.
She was the first president of the SafeZone collaborative and helped create of
the Downtown Courtwatch Program. Early in her career, Harteau and former patrol
partner Holly Keegel filed a discrimination and sexual harassment complaint
against the Minneapolis Police Department that led to changes in policy and
training, plus disciplinary action against several officers.
“Every experience gave me the insight, skills, and fortitude
I need,” Harteau observed.
ROLE
OF CHIEF THAT OF PARENT
Harteau is one of only three other women leading major city
police departments in the United States right now; the others are Kimberly
Jacobs in Columbus, Ohio, and Cynthia Lanier in Washington, D.C. The total number of female police chiefs
in the United States is not high, at only 2%, according to the Center on Women
and Policing. In Minnesota, only 11 of 342 police chiefs are women. Despite
being in a profession dominated by men, Harteau does not try to act like a man,
but instead stays true to herself.
“I have the eye of an eagle and the heart of a lion,” she
noted.
Harteau is quick to recognize that each decision she makes
has a human impact, and thus she doesn’t decide anything lightly.
“I see the role the role of chief as that of a parent,”
Harteau said. She knows that not everyone will agree with all of her decisions,
but she works hard to be accountable, operating on the principle that
“sometimes a little explanation goes a long way.”
Calling herself a “futurist,” Harteau stated, “I see this
department five years from now and how good we are.”
Some people question: if things are working well now, why not
leave it be? “If you don’t nurture it, it won’t continue to be good,” Harteau
observed. Because of that, she has focused on training since taking over the
department. In early February, days off were cancelled so that all staff could
attend a two-day training session focused on law enforcement practices. As part
of the training were her guidelines for commitment, integrity and transparency,
part of the path to what she labels the Minneapolis Police Department 2.0. The
last major training initiative at the police department was in 1997, and it was
focused on new technology.
Harteau is proud of the department as it is now, pointing
out, “We’re trendsetters nationally in a lot of ways.” Hot spot policing tracks
emerging trends and patterns, and randomized patrols ensure that officers go
through a problem area in 15-minute intervals.
Harteau aims to “get cops out of cars and bring a beat
philosophy to neighborhoods.” She recognizes that no one knows their
neighborhood better than the people who live there, and she wants to engage
their help to understand crime trends and manage problems.
Sharing information on the positive things officers are doing
is also important to Harteau, who plans to use social media to accomplish that
goal.
A
PEOPLE-BASED JOB
After graduating from Duluth Denfield in 1982, Harteau, who
is of French Canadian and American Indian heritage, entered a medical secretary
program, but quickly learned it wasn’t for her. “I knew I wanted to be more
than an office worker,” she explained. She heard about the two-year law
enforcement program at Hibbing Community College and enrolled there. Harteau
joined the Minneapolis Police Department in 1987, and has been here ever since,
working her way up the ranks.
Harteau values police work for its connection to people. “I
can’t think of a job more people-based than policing,” she observed.
Officers see both perpetrators and victims, and often work
with people at their worst. How does she keep from getting cynical? “When the
tragedies occur, I’ve always focused on the good things,” Harteau explained,
such as the victims she can help. She reminds herself that she sees only a
small percentage of the population that is bad. She makes sure that she has
friends outside of law enforcement to give her perspective. And she spends time
with her 14-year-old daughter.
Harteau also makes time to give back to her community. She
currently volunteers at Youthlink, a non-profit that serves homeless youth; and
Cornerhouse, which provides resources for abused children.
MINNEAPOLIS
IS HOME
Minneapolis “feels like home” to Harteau. She’s had the
option of leaving many times over the past 26 years, but could never say
goodbye to the Minneapolis community. “I like the mix here,” she explained. “I
like the department. We’re a much more educated department here than in other
cities.” Only Minnesota and California require that their peace officers earn
at least an associates of arts degree.
Education is a priority to Harteau, who earned a bachelor’s
degree in police science and a master of arts in public safety administration,
both from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. She received the Distinguished
Alumni Award from St. Mary’s in March 2013. She is also a graduate of the
Senior Management Institute of Police in Boston, Mass. and the Northwestern
University Center for Public Safety’s Police Staff and Command School where she
was the Franklin Kreml Leadership Award winner.
Harteau is not only a student, but also a teacher. She
currently trains law enforcement leaders nationally for Northwestern
University’s Center for Public Safety and is an Assistant Professor at St.
Mary’s University of Minnesota in the School of Police Science.
A frequent traveler because of her teaching role, Harteau is
always excited on the return flight when she sees the Minneapolis skyline. It’s
a view she loves, and when it comes into view Harteau knows she’s home.
“There’s not much you have to leave for,” she observed. In particular, she
values Minneapolis for its arts and culture.
HARTEAU
UNPLUGGED
When she’s not working, Harteau stresses “unplugging” from
technology. She and her life partner, Holly Keegel (a sergeant with the
Minneapolis Police Department), disconnect from their own cell phones (Harteau
has two). They have not yet gotten a cell phone for their 14-year-old daughter
Lauren, and Harteau tells her that someday Lauren will thank her for it.
“I want her to stay engaged in the moment,” explained
Harteau. She doesn’t think that can happen when people are “hyper-engaged” in
text-messaging, Instagram, and Facebook at the same time.
With two parents on the police force, it isn’t surprising
that Harteau’s daughter is considering a career in police work, too.
Harteau stated, “It would be cool if she was walking in the
door when I was walking out.”
Safety improvements being made on Greenway after Molotov cocktail nearly hits biker
Bikers urged to
call 911 if they see anything suspicious
by Tesha M. Christensen
Safety efforts on the Midtown Greenway are being increased
after a Molotov cocktail thrown off the 15th Ave. bridge narrowly missed
hitting a rider in early April.
While making his regular deliveries via bicycle for Peace
Coffee on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, Drew Ditlefsen, 27, heard glass shatter and
immediately smelled toxic fumes as flames spread across the Greenway behind
him. The bomb burned for about a minute.
Two preteen juveniles were arrested in connection with the
bomb a week later. It was not clear what their motive was, but according to the
police, they did not have adult help in making the incendiary device that
nearly struck the bicyclist.
SAFETY
MEETING WITH CITY
On Friday, April 12, Greenway Coalition members met with the
Minneapolis police and public works staff to discuss safety improvements. “The
meeting was scheduled before the incident, but has taken on a new urgency,”
noted Greenway Coalition Executive Director Soren Jensen. Recommendations came
from the Coalition’s Crime Prevention Task force, with assistance from Council
Member Gary Schiff and his team.
The Coalition asked for more lights and cameras, especially
on stairs and ramps. Earlier this year, volunteers used light meters to figure
out where the darkest spots are on the 5.5-mile-long trail.
New signs were also on the list, both to let people know
where they are when on the trail, plus signs on the cameras telling possible
perpetrators that they are being filmed. “Cameras don’t do much to prevent
crime if the bad guys don’t know they are there,” observed Jensen.
In the wake of the April 3 incident, some (including
Ditlefsen) have suggested that fences be installed on the bridges in order to
prevent items being tossed down onto the Greenway.
There are more than 40 bridges in the Greenway, observed
Jensen. “It would be hugely expensive to put fences on them, and quite ugly if
they were the black chain-link kind,” he said. “Many people think black
chain-link fences would destroy the character of the historic bridges and bring
more harm to the Greenway than good. If the fences could somehow be artistic,
that might be worth considering, but it would also drive up the cost.”
City representatives listened to the requests made by the
Greenway Coalition, but did not make any decisions.
SAFEER
THAN MOST CITY STREETS
Jensen pointed out that the Greenway is safer than most city
streets. “Not only is it protected from traffic, but there are only a few major
crime incidents reported on it annually, out of an estimated 1.5 million bike
trips taken on it each year. There are very few major streets in our city that
can claim to have only a few crimes committed on them each year.”
He added that while items are thrown at bikers from bridges
occasionally, Jensen has only heard of one biker ever being hit by anything
serious, such as a rock or glass bottle.
“This is not to diminish the seriousness of the recent
incident, which was very dangerous, but it does provide some perspective. We
have reports of things being thrown at bikers all over the city, not just on
the Greenway,” said Jensen.
Coalition volunteers bike along the Greenway each night, even
in the winter, as part of the Trail Watch safety patrol.
“We could always use more volunteers,” said Jensen.
The Coalition keeps a list of incidents that have occurred on
the Greenway on its web site. Browse
http://midtowngreenway.org/about-the-greenway/safety/incidents/.
CALL
911
On average each year, there are 2-3 assaults reported after
10 p.m. “The story each time is almost always the same - a group of youth
pushes someone off their bike and robs them,” said Jensen.
He added, “We almost always hear from other bikers who saw
the two or three youth loitering under a bridge or near stairway and did
nothing. They just sped up and biked past the group, rather than call 911.
Then, the next biker got attacked.
“Just think what would happen if everyone always called 911
when they saw something suspicious, including groups of people loitering at
night in the Greenway. It
seems like some people are reluctant to call 911, for whatever reason, which
makes our city less safe.”
New businesses burglarized in Longfellow
by Tesha M. Christensen
Two of Longfellow’s newest businesses, Forage Modern Workshop
and Parka Restaurant, were burglarized in the early morning hours of Thursday,
April 18, 2013.
The Blue Door Longfellow at 3448 42nd Ave S., had been
burglarized four days earlier.
The Blue Door building and the facility Forage and Parka are
located in are owned by Michael Smith and James Brown.
Forage Modern Workshop and Parka Restaurant are located side
by side at 4021 and 4023 East Lake Street. They share the space, with Parka
occupying the west side of the room.
According to Business Manager Rebecca Cook, the glass front
door at Forage was smashed and the frame of an inside door broken shortly
before 5 a.m. on April 18. In the few minutes it took police to arrive, the
burglars went through both businesses, stealing the till from Forage and the
till and safe from Parka.
However, no other items were taken.
Luckily for Forage, the till had only some change as money is
stored off site, said Cook.
Parka was hit harder. Both the till and the safe, which had
the night deposit and server tips inside, were stolen.
“We feel fortunate that everyone is safe. Stuff can be
repaired. It’s just money,” said Cook.
She expressed gratitude for “security systems and the
Minneapolis Police Department.”
The door was repaired right away that morning, and both
business were open as usual.
Via the Forage Facebook page, Cook encouraged their customers
to order coffee, beer, and/or a meal from Parka within the next few days to
help make up for what was lost. “As a new business, it can be super
disheartening to have something like this happen,” observed Cook. “It would be
fun for them to get a little extra boost for their business.”
Forage sells modern (1930 to present) furniture and home
goods online and in the Minneapolis brick and mortar store. It opened in
September 2012.
Parka opened in January 2013. It’s a three-part partnership
between Victory 44, Dogwood Coffee Co. and Rustica Bakery.
Click here to view video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t6B7r6XArVc
Click here to view video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t6B7r6XArVc
Open Streets event planned for August 11 on Minnehaha
Minnehaha Ave. will
be closed so residents can bike, walk, skate, zumba and more
by Tesha M. Christensen
Slow down and appreciate Minnehaha Ave. during this year’s
Open Streets event on Sunday, Aug. 11.
Open Streets Minneapolis is a free event that invites
everyone to enjoy Minneapolis streets without the presence of motors. Citizens
bike, walk, skate, zumba and more on streets that have been closed to traffic.
Musicians perform concerts, exercise instructors lead classes, and businesses
hold special events.
Organizers believe this was the way streets were meant to be.
“This event will be a unique and new opportunity to fall in
love with the great urban neighborhoods like Longfellow again,” said Kristi K.
Adams, co-chair of the Longfellow
Business Association. “Often times, when we choose a different mode of
transportation in our busy lives, we are able to slow down and appreciate the
wonderful diversity that exists in our urban habitat. Plus, it’s free!”
Open Streets grew from the idea Colombian idea of Ciclovía.
Since 1976, on Sunday mornings and holidays certain main streets of Bogotá,
Cali, Medellín, and other municipalities are blocked off to cars for the
exclusive use of runners, skaters, and bicyclists. Almost 2 million people
participate weekly. The concept has spread across the world, and the first Open
Streets event was held in 2010.
Organized by the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, the first
local Open Streets event was held on Lyndale in 2011. It drew 5,000 people.
Open Streets Minneapolis is one of over 70 initiatives in
North America modeled after the Ciclovía of Bogotá, Colombia.
This year, there will be four Open Streets events in
Minneapolis, one in each quadrant of the city. Lyndale and Lowry are in the
southwest, there will be one in northeast, and Minnehaha Ave. is in the
southeast.
According to organizer Colin Harris, Minnehaha Ave. works
from the city’s perspective because there is a good detour nearby (Hiawatha
Ave.). It also works from a neighborhood perspective because it links a busy
commercial corridor (Lake St.) with an iconic park (Minnehaha Park).
Open Streets Minneapolis seeks to promote healthy living,
local businesses, sustainable transportation and civic pride.
“Benefits include having a street for a day reimagined for
recreation (thinking about streets as public space),” pointed out Harris.
Some business owners have fears that the Open Streets events
will hurt their business for the day, Open Streets representatives work to address their fears. Some zoning
restrictions are relaxed for the day, and in the past, businesses have held
sidewalk sales and other special events, such as concerts. Open Streets
representatives have heard from business owners who were absolutely amazed at
how long people stayed, and their desire to stay longer. It brought them new
customers.
“The event will be a great opportunity to showcase Minnehaha
Ave. businesses prior to reconstruction,” observed Longfellow Community Council
staff member Ruth Romano.
“Businesses enjoy Open Streets because of the thousands of
people walking and biking by -– going at a speed that allows them to better
notice their surroundings and engage with businesses,” said Harris. “The street
will be much quieter than normal and residents will see old friends and meet
new ones.”
Learn more at openstreetsmpls.com.
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