Jesse Mortenson
@jk9
back to start a podcast - subscribe at millcityhall.com - middle aged queer white guy in minneapolis. no presidents, no borders, no clout (ok maybe some clout?).
NEW EPISODE: we talked about the police contract that is being negotiated right now. There hasn’t been much coverage yet, despite the high profile attention previous years. millcityhall.com/episodes/202... Here’s Cam on the police federation’s push for significant pay increases
here’s Robin talking about how the unplanned impacts of new technology can be huge. What if we start sending drones and that creates incentives to NOT send human beings?
NEW EPISODE: we talked about the failed Drones as First Responders vote. Here’s Cam and Robin talking about a previous instance of MPD adopting new tech - tasers - and how guardrails around use disappeared later
NEW EPISODE: for the late night folks… we took on the debate over the failed proposal to try drones as first responders. millcityhall.com Here’s Cam on some ingredients that led to a failed vote
She also shared how the bill she authored (which passed) to create an ethnic studies requirement has key statewide impact
She shared some of her education advocacy work and how organizing between sessions and across the state is essential
NEW EPISODE: 63A Rep Sencer-Mura joined us to talk about the intersection of local and state politics, advocating effectively in the legislature, and several interesting policy areas. millcityhall.com Here’s her talking about the role of Mpls legislators
Robin shared a personal perspective having grown up near Mounds Park in Saint Paul
We talked some about the general recent history of racial justice work around city institutions. Here’s Cam
NEW EPISODE: part 2 of our roundup tackles the Minnehaha Offleash Dog Park decommissioning, and the plan to create a permanent home for Anishnabe Academy millcityhall.com/episodes/202... Here’s me on the Parks Board recognizing that they had a political challenge before them
We also talked about the police reform report, which features a number of staggering details, like this one
And here’s Robin’s take on Jacob Frey deploying Robin’s “least favorite argument” in reaction
NEW EPISODE this week - we talked about unbanning bathhouses and the latest Independent Evaluator report on the police department reform effort… millcityhall.com/episodes/202... here’s my reaction on unbanning bathhouses
Uhhh thanks for the detour suggestion into the closed 24th st overpass, Met Transit 🙄 shout out to the policy of closing all public spaces Really stinks to detour at this bottleneck because going east to cedar/franklin is slow, fraught w cars, and not very obvious when to be on street vs sidewalk
Warms the heart to see that supporters of the MN15 fully packed the federal courthouse today! Dozens were still in line when both courtroom and overflow were filled up. “No stopping” MN solidarity against the Feds
Take action tomorrow at NOON by joining the MN15 facing federal charges! As a former protest arrestee (on lesser charges) let me reaffirm that showing up like this makes a meaningful impact
NEW EPISODE! Link for the evening crowd: millcityhall.com/episodes/202... We did a round-up of several interesting topics, and this is the first half: unbanning bathhouses and the latest MPD report (it’s bad). Here’s me on the “sad praise” from that report
Cam brought in the alignment of not just data center operators’ financial interests, but also property owners/developers’ (wrong label on this video)
I argued that we should make some bets on short term property tax recovery, and data centers in existing downtown buildings can fit the bill - but also to put a political bet down on opposing the “hyperscale” arms race
NEW EPISODE THIS WEEK: Data center politics hits Minneapolis. What’s the tension between downtown data center conversions and conversions to housing? Here’s Robin on that topic. millcityhall.com
Robin and I detail the history of how the charter commission came to be weaponized into this bulwark of property-owner-class politics (or re-weaponized, if you look back to its original membership as “freeholders”)
Cam makes a confession: at one time he thought the commission could act as a reasonable neutral body
I traced one member’s history of intersections with organized efforts to defeat progressive challengers in city council races, the Chamber of Commerce, and corruption
NEW EPISODE on millcityhall.com! The Charter Commission must be destroyed? Robin thinks so… We discuss democracy, and how pernicious it is to have a paternal, judicial body weaponized by one political faction. Public hearing on this bad proposal is Wed, May 6! Details in show notes
