Anna Nelson

One bright spot: some past OS events were *so* programmed & well attended they lost "open" street feeling. I would have never let 4y-o bike at OS minnehaha or other popular S. Mpls routes -- but we had a blast today at central w/ wide stretches of pavement (many kids on wheels!)

I was very impressed with the number of people attending - *so* *many* kids downtown! My kids had a blast climbing into the various trucks. Staff seemed like they were really enjoying it too. The New Orleans jam band was great. Honestly, it was refreshing: low-key, well-attended, just simple fun.

Seems like a super creative way to build on a single lot with a slight hill. How many Minneapolis policies would we need to edit to allow this in Minneapolis @evanrobertsnz.bsky.social and @britvulcan.net

Nice to meet you today!

A blurred photo of a red car in a neon cityscape at night.

An overview of nighttime urban traffic, with four lanes bumper to bumper.

A view from the backseat of a driver, with his right hand visible on the wheel and his eyes, seen from the rearview mirror, staring intently at the road.

Three young men stand on the street laughing.

How Driving Less Benefits Us: https://streets.mn/2025/07/29/how-driving-less-benefits-us/

Driving less provides personal benefits and societal ones. Less rushing means a more involved day-to-day.

@minneapolismn.gov whennn can we have this?!?! Please don't make us wait for the 2050 plan. This is a zero-cost-to-city change that will encourage more affordable homes. A no brainer! Cc @moreneighbors.org

Roper: New Minneapolis light rail route threads through strange concrete wasteland The city got a raw deal on the location of Southwest’s stations, but should make the most of them.

"Given the line’s nearly $3 billion price tag and the rarity of an undeveloped, city-owned parcel surrounding a new light-rail station, you’d think there would be more public discussion about the future of Linden Yards."

Evie saves my fiancé and I tons of money providing access to a car for the rare occasions we need one while avoiding the massive expenses of car ownership. If you're thinking about getting a car, consider getting an Evie membership instead if you don't drive every day.

Meet Evie - Evie Carshare Meet Evie: All Electric Carshare for the Twin Cities. One-way trips by the minute, hour or day. All-Electric Carshare for the Twin Cities

Did you know the Twin Cities has the largest municipality-owned and nonprofit-operated electric carshare fleet in the country? Evie is now threatened federal funding cuts, but can survive with more users. It saves my family $10k/year by not purchasing a 2nd car. Check it out: eviecarshare.com

*I'd eventually bike on them daily with my kiddos

I worked on advocacy many years ago for OurStreets on these two projects, and manned a tent talking to neighbors about "what could be" -- little did I know I'd bike on them some day daily with my kiddos 🥹

This is such a small thing that adds to urban/pedestrian quality of life. Can we tweak the code @minneapolismn.gov ?

This is a fascinating way to look at the issue. I wonder what these numbers are for Minneapolis/st Paul? And what they are today?

Live in the suburbs & want to help, but not sure how? neighborsformoreneighbors@gmail.com would LOVE to hear from you. We need your voice <3

If this project isn't built, the people that wouldve lived there (guess: wealthier, down-sizing empty-nesters) don't "go away." Instead, they stay where they are (likely large homes they no longer need w/lots of driving/carbon emissions), or keep bidding up prices of existing apts in west suburbs.

Care about reducing our collective Twin Cities carbon footprint? Do you live in the suburbs? Email your state representative and state senator - tell them to support #yestohomes bills in next year's session, and stop individual small cities from holding back our state's progress.

Building height fight brews in this historic downtown Excelsior officials are still debating the approval of a three-story, mixed-use building that’s too tall for the historic area’s regulations. Several other projects have failed to materialize at the p...

Perfect spot for lower-climate-impact Excelsior homes: walk to shops, restaurants AND grocery store. Arbitrary rules (council here wants 2 story blding vs 3?) are blocking homes of all price points in every suburb. This is what @moreneighbors.org works on for our climate, among other reasons...

Conscientious SUV Shopper Just Wants Something That Will Kill Family In Other Car In Case Of Accident

Conscientious SUV Shopper Just Wants Something That Will Kill Family In Other Car In Case Of Accident theonion.com/conscie...

Reading their site briefly - if someone rides off with your bike, the company will reimburse you the full value of the bike? Is that right? If so, I might have to try this!

Once a neighbor, always a neighbor! Hard core past volunteers are welcomed back anytime, even in small one-off ways ;)

It's so awesome (truly) that I recognize almost nobody in this picture. It means we were able to build an organization that can sustain itself beyond the initial energy of the first few members.

Evan *knows* what he is talking about. Legislators, pay attention for the 2025-2026 session and help us build more affordable, family-sized homes, please! cc #mnleg #yestohomes @moreneighbors.org

This afternoon, every Republican and every Democrat in the North Carolina House of Representatives voted to end costly bureaucratic parking mandates & give property owners full flexibility over how to handle parking.

What a stunning bipartisan awakening there has been on parking in 2025.

A few days ago, one of the most right-wing governors in the US signed a bipartisan law massively expanding where apartments can be built in Texas.

Today, a socialist who promises 200k new homes & an end to parking mandates became the presumptive mayor of NYC.

Housing abundance runs the gamut.

I emailed a (non-MPS) camp after an email like that to ask if anything special to know if we came by bike & they responded enthusiastically w/detailed instructions. Lots of folks in these positions that just aren't thinking of it - reminding in a friendly way will help them know/remember for future!

Roper: We’ve got a surplus of cities. The metro’s toughest problems require a regional approach. Loads of local governments in the Twin Cities have created a patchwork of priorities and regulations.

"We all do better when we all do better." When everyone is too concentrated on their tiny corner, we lose track of the full community needs. Also wish the state could provide some incentive for smaller municipalities to combine with their big neighbors. (Looking at you Lauderdale and Hilltop!)

My story and feelings are very similar to this author. More people should have the option of (and ability to afford) a walkable neighborhood, and it's why I got into my work with @moreneighbors.org

We have got to fix our floor area ratio problem -- we need to be building more "missing middle" homes, more 2 bedroom homes, more 3 bedroom homes. The devil is in the details, and we didn't get these right in Minneapolis.

I have three misc. thoughts about what happened today:

1. There seems to be absolutely no consideration within the law enforcement profession about the extent to which a militarized appearance and demeanor has disastrous consequences for public trust. For some agencies it's clearly intentional.

MN statewide housing and zoning reforms have been successfully blocked for two years in a row because the league of cities has fought to preserve local control.

The local control: