Today is the second anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. Yesterday, 19 children and 2 adults were killed in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Earlier this month, ten Black people were killed by a white supremacist in Buffalo, New York.
The news just isn't pretty today.
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The city’s Committee of the Whole met May 24 to consider Mayor Jacob Frey’s nomination of Heather Johnston to fill a four-year term as city coordinator. Frey nominated Johnston as interim city coordinator after Mark Ruff left the position in August 2021.
During the meeting's public hearing, 13 speakers spoke in favor of the appointment and 23 speakers spoke against the appointment. Many speakers who spoke against Johnston's nomination were Black employees who cited a toxic work environment. Last summer, the city said there would be a competitive search process but in the end, Johnston received Frey's nomination.
The Committee of the Whole voted to pass forward Frey’s nomination to the City Council without recommendation. The full City Council will vote on whether to approve Frey’s nomination on Thursday.
We will have more coverage of the public hearing up later today.
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Last night, Melissa Whitler live-tweeted during the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education's Committee of the Whole meeting. MPS Executive Director Sarah Hunter, Senior Academic Officer Aimee Fearing, and Deputy Senior Academic Officer Maria Rollinger presented data on this year's student reading and math proficiency.
During the presentation, Fearing said the proficiency gaps between demographic groups and the overall low rates of proficiency are unacceptable. Rollinger also presented information on the Groves literacy program and two principals discussed their experience with the curriculum. You can read more about the meeting via Melissa's Twitter thread.
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As Melissa reporter earlier this month, the Minneapolis Public Schools teachers and ESP unions held leadership elections. The members of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Education Support Professionals Local 59 re-elected Greta Callahan as president of the teachers chapter. The ESP chapter president Shaun Laden did not run for re-election. Catina Neal Taylor, who is currently the second vice president of the ESP union, ran unopposed for chapter president.
Callahan has faced criticism from union members about how union leadership handled communication about the bargaining priorities for Black educators.
LINK ROUNDUP 🔗
Yesterday, NBA Coach Steve Kerr used his time with the press to talk about the mass shootings in Ulvade, Texas and Buffalo, New York. He made an impassioned plea to Congress to back the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, or H.R. 8. (Twitter)
Today President Joe Biden is slated to issue an executive order aimed at reforming federal policing on the two-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd." (New York Times)
The New York Times published a piece about the "slow change" seen with the Minneapolis Police Department. (New York Times)
The Minneapolis Public Schools educators who filed a grievance against their union leadership has received the union's official response. (Twitter)
Racket wrote about the metal houses from the post-World War II, G.I. Bill housing era at 50th and Nicollet (Racket)
COMMUNITY RESOURCES 💪
Minneapolis Documenters is holding a two-day training starting tonight. There is another one schedule for June 1 and 2. You can get paid for covering public meetings.
Head over to Powderhorn Park tonight and a get a free glove and ball for a child in your life.
There is an online fundraiser happening to fund the Kingfield Porch Festival this summer.
OUT & ABOUT
This may be a good palette cleaner. It's an open musical love letter to the variety shows of the 1960s and 70s: Vic Volare's Anyswingoes Wednesday Wingdinger Party at the Driftwood Char Bar tonight.
The Desire Store plays tonight at the Granada Theater.
