Insight ::: 06.28.21 by Insight News, Inc

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Insight News

June 28, 2021 - July 4, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 26• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Left to right: Aundria Arlandson, Chet Holmgren and Charles Dillion.

Chet Holmgren: A legend in the making Text and photos by Aundria Arlandson and Charles Dillon On a blistering June afternoon, Chet Holmgren was just another high school graduate hours away from going away to college. “Winding down my time in Minnesota,” the clearly exhausted Gonzaga Freshman states describing the family room stacked with boxes almost to the ceiling ready to make the journey to The Evergreen State. And by boxes… we mean SHOE boxes. “I’m ready to go.” Holmgren, who is strikingly poised for his age, talked with Radio612/Insight News about his career thus far, being a freshman in college and what the future holds for this burgeoning NBA star who, in the beginning, did NOT want to play basketball. “At first I didn’t really want to play too much. My Dad introduced me to it, and after convincing me to pick it up, I just ran with it.” Holmgren admits he had challenges just like everyone else, but the biggest came in 8th grade when he grew over 6 inches. “My body had to catch up to how much I was growing,” which included literal growing pains and physical therapy which he admits was hard work. On finding a legitimate place on the court “there were different steps to that over the years,” Chet says about being an 8th grader on the varsity team craving more time on the court. It wasn’t until he was a freshman that his work “continually improving his game” made an impact. “Everything came together that year. I took that leap and went to dominating high school

basketball and dominating AAU. Thats when I felt like I really belonged.” In his sophomore season, Holmgren averaged 18.6 points and 11.0 rebounds per game and led the Red Hawks to a Class 2A state title. Being one of the most versatile high school players ever seen on a basketball court, his game; protecting the rock, protection literally above the rim, skills of a seasoned point guard and shooting three pointers has become his very personal game, and one he is happy to play although such versatility is unheard of for the guy in the middle. He has been compared to LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Minnesota Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns. Recruiters, analysts and fans have said that Holmgren is not only the best shot-blocker in the country, but quite possibly the best shot-blocker ever. Having been teased as a youth, Chet has overcome the comments about his size and has constantly had to prove himself on and oﬀ the basketball court to naysayers. He’s been called a bag of rocks and comments about his 7’1” frame not being strong enough for college ball or the NBA are all over the internet. He has also had his share of haters and trolls online, but he shrugs those comments oﬀ: “You know, people are going to say what they want to say… they are entitiled to their own opinion. I feel more pity than anger.” As a white player, he dealt with colorism and viciousness as the only white kid on the team for a few years until his buddy joined the team at Minenehaha Academy. Acknowledging the diversity of the Minnehaha basketball program in later years, “(the team) didn’t see all

that, were just teammates.” He was, however, referred to at one time as “weak a** white boy” which he acknowledges with a laugh. “It wasn’t because I was white, it was because I wasn’t that good. It’s more about your abilitity on the court, then what skin color you are.” Even in the most adverse moments, this remarkble teenager has chosen to take the high road embracing and empowering himself as a son, brother, grandson, human and basketball player, often having kids and adults comment on how his story has been a positive influence in their experiences. As for being so recognizable and having an impact on so many lives and his every move being analyzed by hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, Holmgren says there is an obligation that comes with celebrity and that it’s important to give back, only feeling “famous” when hes out in public. “I’m still regular me to me and my friends.” At home, where he says he can “throw down” on his specialty dishes of fried shrimp and grilled salmon, “there is no special treatment” from his parents, two sisters and Grandmother with chores to do including dishes and trash removal. “But I move tomorrow so that ends now.” GONZAGA DECISION Having seven different schools to choose from, Holmgren professes there was a lot that went in the process of choosing a program that best fit his needs academically and college lifestyle. “Researching the different options… I worked with my family, but at the end of the day, I have to live with

the decision. It’s my choice.” Long time teammate and friend Jalen Suggs was also intricate in the decision process as well. “(Suggs) definitely affected the process. (Gonzaga) got a early look at me when they were recruiting Jalen,” and while Suggs embarked on his first year of college, “I continued to talk to him about (student life) and he told me what i needed to hear (to make a final decision.)” Chet has yet to nail down what he’d like to study saying, “anything can change… it’s still early,” but business and sports management are on the top of his list. “Im going to figure it out.” THE FUTURE There is no question that this young man will have made moves in the NBA in 5 years. He smiles at the mention of a championship, MVP, and being an All Star, but has no inclination on whether or not his NBA career will lead him back to Minnesota. “I dont get to pick. At least not in the near future. We’re going to roll with the punches there.” As for long term plans after basketball, Holmgren is focused on the right now. “I’m here where my feet are. (Being 40 years old) is too far into the future to worry about.” Just days prior to this interview, Holmgren was named the Gatorade Player Of The Year. Of the “few” accolades he’s received he says; “(I’m) always thankful for them,” but while gazing over to the Naismith, Wooten, Mr. Basketball and Gatorade trophys on the nearby table, the physical manifestation of the highlights of his career that he “didn’t plan for,” shows warmly on his face. “Whatever people are saying, whether its praise or a knock against me, I

Chet Holmgren don’t really pay much attention to that. I just try to go out, play my game and get better every day.” Post Script: After moving in at Gonzaga, Holmgren traveled to TCU June 20-22 for the goal of making the 12-member roster that will represent the USA at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup in Riga, Latvia (at the time of publication, it was not determined that Holmgren made the team). Having never traveled to Europe, Holmgren expressed subdued excitement about being

overseas and the experience of playing internationally. “It’ll be fun.” Holmgren amassed national honors winning the The McDonald’s All-American team, selected to the USA Nike Hoop Summit team, was the Sports Illustrated AllAmerican Player of the Year, won the coveted Naismith and Wootten Awards. Locally, he was the Star Tribune›s Metro Player of the Year and was named Minnesota›s Mr. Basketball and the Minnesota Player of the Year by the Associated Press.

Page 2 • June 28, 2021 - July 4, 2021 • Insight News

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U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Santiago Navarro

SOUTH CHINA SEA (June 15, 2021) Seaman Carlos Diaz, from Minneapolis, Minnesota stands port watch on the bridge wing of the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, as well as the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

EMPOWER

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OF AFRICAN

HERITAGE CMAH is the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage. We act passionately on your behalf. We represent your voice with the governor, state legislature and agencies. Contact us at mn.gov/cmah/legislation/get-involved.jsp to find out how you can empower Minnesotans of African Heritage.

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Insight News • June 28, 2021 - July 4, 2021 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE

Insight News June 28, 2021 - July 4, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 26• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

iHEAL Insight:

Naomi Osaka is all grace & #blackgirlmagic while taking a mental health break from tennis and the media Culture and Education Editor Victor Martinez

Jeremiah Ellison

Diana Hawkins

Andrew Bornhoft

Alicia Gibson

By Irma McClaurin, PhD

Mickey Moore

The narrative matters Columnist

By Brenda Lyle-Gray Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering ‘it will be happier’. Alfred Lloyd Tennyson Ward 5 City Council candidate Victor Martinez says hundreds of Northside residents he has talked to rank safety and fear of crime as a top concern. He said many are ready to move out of North Minneapolis. Insight Editor, Al McFarlane said the quandary is classic: On the one hand, some residents say they are afraid to let their children play outside for fear of stray bullets, and are expressing dissatisfaction

with the schools and the business district, suggesting imminent flight of short-andlong term residents; while on the other hand, there are others with money and financing, undaunted by the fear narrative, buying houses in the area. Incumbent Jeremiah Ellison, who was born and raised in North Minneapolis presented a different narrative, however. “The burden of violence has always been on the radar,” said Council Member Ellison. That notwithstanding, “Some of the most creative, ingenuous, and gifted artists have come from our neighborhoods.” The North side deserves a lot more that being labeled as the cradle for violence, he said. “I believe we can handle this crisis, but not the way we’ve done things in the past. The trauma of the victims and the perpetrators must be addressed,” he said. Ellison is calling for

more intervention and prevention programming including mental health services that address homelessness and chemical dependency. He said the city responses to date oﬀer little in prevention and few remedies. Ellison said, “Major city violence is up all over the country, not just in Minneapolis. The Commercial Property Redevelopment Fund will help encourage local ownership and increase entrepreneurship. I believe we’re heading in the right direction for recovery and revitalization. But when some of the residents are hesitant about calling 911 when faced with an emergency, that’s a problem.” Andrew Bornhoft, Housing Administrator for Hawthorne Neighborhood Council, said there are limitations when it comes to ‘heading in the right direction’. “There is funding through the Neighborhood Revitalization Program and maybe other

Melvin Carter

By Irma McClaurin, PhD By Irma McClaurin, PhD https://corporate. target.com/article/2020/09/lakestreet-letter

Andrea Jenkins

Commentary by Dr. By Narain ByAarohi Mecca Randall Maya Beecham Bos Bradley Josie Johnson By Global Latisha Information Townsend Contributing Architect Writer Contributing Network (GIN)Writer

pockets of money, but it’s more about structures and not about people. We can’t give money to renters, which is mostly what our neighborhoods are. We can’t do anything to help renovate their existing rental. I suggest building a duplex or a tri-plex where more than one family can beneﬁt from aﬀordable housing. But what has normally been the case is that the NRP moniey will go to white, upper middle class residents and investors, and not the residents who could really use the help. Eventually these funds can do a lot of good, but we’re just not there yet.” Executive Director of HNC, Diana Hawkins expressed concerns that many residents will soon be facing evictions. “Some don’t have jobs or will have no place to go. Somehow, we’ve got to help them,” she said. “We can’t be complacent,” says Martinez.

COUNCIL 4

Remembering greatness

John Baxter Taylor, Olympian By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist “I don’t run away from a challenge because I am afraid. Instead, I run toward it because the only way to escape fear is to trample it beneath your feet.” Nadia Comaneci, gold-medal gymnast The 1936 Berlin Olympics was a showcase event and opportunity to prove Adolph Hitler had indeed achieved dominance for the white race. Sprinter Jesse Owens represented the United States, winning four gold medals. He walked away the hero. Five years later, the Holocaust, also known as Shoah, became Germany’s and its collaborators’ sin as the conductors of a horrific genocide of six million plus European Jews. But long before Owens’ phenomenal Olympic feats, there was a lanky 5’11, 160- pound, lightning-speed runner, the first athlete from the U.S. to compete at any international sporting event. John Baxter Taylor, Jr., though his career and life were sadly cut short, accomplished more than anyone could have thought possible during his time; fortyfive cups and seventy medals. Taylor was a highly respected athlete in the track and field community and an

Wikipedia

John Baxter Taylor even more celebrated human being in the African American community by the time he was a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1903, the speedster and undergraduate was invited to join the Sigma Pi Phi Boule fraternity. Created by prominent African Americans, three doctors, and one community leader, The Boule remains exclusive today with fewer than 5,000 members. Sigma Pi Phi Boule membership later included Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Hank Aaron, and Jack Greenberg, a civil rights lawyer and legal scholar. As the director council of the NAACP legal defense fund succeeding Thurgood Marshall from 1961 to 1984, Attorney Greenberg tried 40 or

Jordan Greenway more civil rights cases before the Supreme Court and won almost all of them. Taylor was a remarkable young man, an exception to the rule. His father was a successful businessman, able to put his promising young son in the best schools. Born in 1882 in Washington, D.C., his family soon moved to Philadelphia where the gifted runner joined the track team at the prestigious Central High School and later Brown Preparatory School. In the 1908 Olympics held in London, Taylor competed in the 1600-meter medley relay, running the 400-meter leg of the race. The U.S. team won the race making Taylor the ﬁrst African American to win

News

How Black writers and journalists have wielded punctuation in their activism

PAGE 5

Wikipedia

Ibtihajj Muhammad a gold medal. Five months after making history, Taylor died at the age of 26 of typhoid pneumonia. Following Taylor’s untimely death, Harry Porter, the Acting President of the 1908 American Olympic Team said it was “more as the man than the athlete that John Taylor made his mark. Quite unostentatious, genial, and kindly, the ﬂeetfooted, far-famed athlete was beloved where known. As a beacon of his race, his example of achievements in athletics, scholarship, and manhood will never wane, if indeed it is not destined to form with that of Booker T. Washington.” The New York

TAYLOR 4

A version of this column appeared on Medium, June 19, 2021. I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes’ mental health and that rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one. …However, if the organizations think that they can just keep saying, “do press or you’re gonna be fined”, and continue to ignore the mental health of athletes that are the center piece of their cooperation then I just gotta laugh.” @ naomiosaka (5/26/2021) White athletes are always forgiven when they break down in public, disagree with judges, or act anyway but “normative.” But Naomi Osaka is fined $15k for taking care of her mental health. Serena Williams was fined for arguing with a referee — yet, white tennis players publicly admitted they had done far worse and suffered no penalties, punishments, or consequences.

Dr. BraVada Garrett Akinsanya, Ph.d.

Naomi Osaka Williams was also required to remove compression leggings she wore after giving birth to prevent blood clots! Who does that? The answer — professional sports organizations that view athletes as little more than chattel to enrich their coﬀers. And in the corral of athletic livestock, BIPOC athletes suﬀer the most. Osaka’s punishment is yet another display of racial micro-aggression, racial bullying, implicit bias, antiBlackness, anti-Asian, and gender discrimination. This talented athlete embodies it all — she is a young Afro-Asian woman who has taken unequivocal political stances in support of #blacklivesmatter, racial justice,

OSAKA 4

Al McFarlane

Sen. Tina Smith

The Healing Circle

An act of rebellion By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” Albert Camus Juneteenth? Dr. Bravada Garrett Akinsanya, founder and CEO of the African American Child Wellness Institute (AACWI) admitted she would have a Moon Pie, Big Red soda pop, barbecue, and fried chicken. But the enjoyable meal represented far more than soul food. It would be a time to celebrate, honor, and remember our ancestors who introduced us to the mouth-watering cuisine through generations. “I was the little Black girl growing up in a small town in Texas who was devastated when I found out the “colored only” restrooms weren’t colors of pinks, yellows, and blues. I remember crying to my mama that ‘those people’ lied’. The water at the “colored only” water fountain wasn’t colored either. And then it took me years to ﬁgure out that Black kids didn’t sit in the balcony of a movie theater just because they chose to do so. We couldn’t sit on the main ﬂoor. That was Jim Crow,” Dr. B. said. The two victories this past week, Jubilee and the saving of Obamacare would have made the late Congressman John Lewis so proud. From this year forward on every June 19th, the world will be

reminded of America’s greatest sin and perhaps be encouraged to share and heal and pray we can all come together and move forward in making our country whole. On Thursday, June 17th, Minnesota Senator Tina Smith was among a distinguished gathering at the White House witnessing President Joe Biden sign the Juneteenth National Independence Act (Jubilee) into legislation as a federal holiday. Led by Senator Smith and her colleagues, Democrats Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia, and Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the bill passed the Senate on Tuesday and the House on Wednesday, led by Democratic House Representative Shelia Jackson Lee of Texas. Senator Smith said “I fought to make Juneteenth a national holiday because it’s important to mark it as a celebration, a day of reﬂection, and a day of rededication to the cause of racial justice in this country. I am forever grateful to the generations of activists who made this possible. I especially want to thank Ms. Opal Lee who at 89 years old walked halfway across the country to raise support to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.” Now 94, the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth’ realized her dream as she too watched President Biden sign the bill into law. This law is

HEALING 5

I2H

A critical support system for Veterans

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Page 4 • June 28, 2021 - July 4, 2021 • Insight News

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House passes transportation agreement By Jonathan Mohr Billions of dollars for the state’s roads, bridges and public transportation system could be ﬂowing after the House voted 112-21 Wednesday to pass the omnibus transportation ﬁnance and policy bill. Sponsored by Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls), SSHF10 would provide funding for the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety and the Metropolitan Council during the upcoming biennium. It now heads to the Senate where Sen. Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson) is the sponsor. The $7.27 billion bill includes $220.4 million in net General Fund spending over base during the 2022-23 biennium. The total appropriations by agency include $6.49 billion for the Department of Transportation, $516.3 million for the Department of Public Safety and $235.7 million for the Metropolitan Council. “A good transportation bill takes care of everyone … and every mode [of transportation] is taken care of,” Hornstein said. “…

Council From 3 “There is an immediacy and I believe flexible funding is available. But unless we control this surge of crime and violence, we will make little progress. What’s happening in our communities just isn’t normal.” Martinez says the first step is establishing trust between law enforcement and communities of color. With delayed responsiveness to emergency calls, it will take a higher level of effort, partnership, and time for residents to depend on those charged with upholding the law, he said. “No one’s going to come to West Broadway to

Taylor From 3 Times was present at Taylor’s funeral. The news publication characterized the service as “one of the greatest tributes ever paid a colored man in this city and described Taylor as the world’s greatest Negro runner.

“The question isn’t really about whether or not the ﬁnal bill is a good one or not, it’s about the process,” Petersburg said, although he later said Hornstein had put together “a great bill” given the circumstances. The bill includes hundreds of millions of dollars for road and bridge work around the state, along with

dozens of policy provisions. There is also $213 million in trunk highway bonding authorized in ﬁscal year 2022 and an additional $100 million in each year of the 202425 biennium for the Corridors of Commerce program. The bill has a number of provisions meant to address public safety issues such as ending driver’s license

suspensions for a number of different violations including unpaid traffic tickets, and reducing barriers to license reinstatement, which supporters say will allow more people to drive legally and safely. There is also money to outfit state troopers with body cameras and for beefed up security around the State Capitol. It does not include

shop until the city helps clean up the area and provides a collaborative front in combatting spiraling criminal activity. And remember, it’s not all about the police. The EMS will not come to a disturbance unless the police are present, as well. McFarlane asked candidates what reparations meant to them. Martinez said he wants to see young people begin to learn their history, some of it being taught by the neighborhood elders and legacy builders right in their own backyard. Martinez said he believes a lot of the problems in youth violence are rooted in a lack of the right connections and opportunities that provid a sense of identity. “I often ask kids how they feel about the injustices they realize exist in their lives. We’ve

got to empower and resource them if we’re going to save generations to come,” he said. Alicia Gibson, city council candidate for the 10th Ward, proposes ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ commissions, precinct by precinct. As a college student, Gibson brieﬂy studied in South Africa seeking to ﬁnd out how a brutal police apartheid system was dismantled with the emergence of a multiracial democracy. She said she studied how the country was transformed, and how it prevented a civil war. “Unfortunately,” Gibson said, “We’re not united on what reparations mean and how leadership descriptors have changed since the tragic murder of George Floyd and COVID19. We’ve got to start with something that bears evidentiary proof

like housing discrimination and aﬀordable housing access wheras at present, the state provides only a fourth of the housing needs of its residents.” ‘I’m about restorative, environmental, and economic justice; change and support that will stick,” Gibson said. The Neighborhood Revitalization Program and its neighborhood associations system is one of the most progressive in the country. She proposes stronger funding and loan resources targeting the once red-lining districts where people of color could never get a loan. “A portion of the funding could be turned over to the associations who could then turnaround land and property negotiations quickly before exploiters are added to the equation. We must be

willing to do the work and that begins with learning about each other,” said Gibson. Ward 9 candidate Mickey Moore said those running for voter elected positions must be more responsive to the needs and concerns of those who put them in office. He said, “There’s a disconnect between the neighborhoods and city government. I’m calling for a re-balancing of solutions addressing the root causes of how we’ve gotten to this point of shocking, disparities data reveal in wealth, health care, education, and affordable housing gaps. Healing begins by truth telling. What experience do candidates bring to the office? Have they successfully worked with others in collaborative initiatives?” Moore said Ward 9 has lost its economic

vitality and that area business corridors must be revitalized. In reference to the subject of reparations, Moore said identifying specific individuals’ financial redress could be overwhelming. “But social reparations where basic institutions are encouraged to re-adjust equitably should be at the heart of a justice revolution. Why is there such a history of generational gaps in education,” he asked. “Black and Brown people fill at least 2/3 of the prison cells but only make up 1% of supplier contractors for prison operations. We have to stop wishing and dreaming while generations are left behind,” Moore said.

More Notable Black Olympians Born in Accra, Ghana, Maame Biney qualiﬁed for the 2018 Olympic Team and won the woman’s 500 meter in short track speed skating. Jordan Greenway is a professional ice hockey forward having represented the U.S. at the 2017 IIHF world championship and the 2018 Olympics. He became the ﬁrst African American named to a

U.S. Olympic hockey roster. As a number eight wing and center, Haitian born Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera was a French rugby union footballer. He played as number eight wing and center and is the ﬁrst known Black athlete to compete in the Olympic games. George Coleman Poage is the ﬁrst African American athlete to win a medal in the Olympic Games winning two bronze medals at the 1904 games in St. Louis. In 1960, Wilma Rudolph competed in the

summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. She became the ﬁrst female athlete to win three gold medals; the 100, 200, and in the 4 by 100 relay. Florence Griﬃth Joyner came home from the 1988 Olympics with three gold medals, one silver, and the title of ‘the fastest woman in the world. Skeptics questioned her superhuman 100-meter time of 10:49 suggesting the sprinter had taken medical enhancements. Ibtihajj Muhammad is an American saber fencer and member of the U.S. fencing team. She is known for being

the ﬁrst Muslim American woman to wear a hijab while competing in the Olympics as well as for winning an Olympic medal wearing it. Jamaican Usain Bolt (retired) is the world record holder in the 100, 200, and 4 by 1 meter relay. He is an 8-time Olympic gold medalist and the only sprinter to win three event titles in three consecutive Olympics (2009, 2012, 2016). He also won (2) 44 x 100 relay gold medals. Artistic gymnast, Gabby Douglas was the 2012 Olympic all-around champion and the 2015 world all-around silver

medalist. She was a member of the gold winning teams at both the 2012 and 2016 summer Olympics. (Note: Simone Biles, in her ﬁrst Olympics, won gold in all around, team, vault, and ﬂoor, and a bronze on the beam in the 2016 Rio Olympics.) Resources: Lewis, Femi, “John Baxter Taylor: the First AfricanAmerican Gold Medalist (Thought Co.) Nash, Kimberley, “The Forgotten Olympian: The Story of John Taylor”, May, 2009

are almost exclusively white. Where are the BIPOC staﬀ? In penalizing Osaka, the WTA just stuck to the rules — they didn’t take time to listen and hear what she was saying: “I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans. … The irony, of course, is that all of this happened during Mental Health Awareness month (https://www.nami.org/GetInvolved/Awareness-Events/ Mental-Health-AwarenessMonth).

wellness…” In a recent website statement “BIPOC Communities and COVID-19,” MHA makes the following observation about the major impact on BIPOC people: “…Stress has a physiological impact on the body’s immune system. It’s common to come down with a physical illness when you have a lot on your plate, but communities of color in America live with heightened levels of stress every day. Things like income inequality, discrimination, violence, and systemic racism contribute to chronic stress that can weaken immunity[iii], making these populations more vulnerable to diseases like COVID-19 (and the underlying health conditions that increase the risk of COVID-19).” (https:// mhanational.org/bipoccommunities-and-covid-19 ) One article, “COVID-19: The mental health impact on people of color and minority groups,” cited by the MHA is from Medical News Today. It hones in on the enduring eﬀects of racism, now coupled with the impact of the pandemic on BIPOC populations. They quote from a 2018 position statement by the Royal College of Psychiatry (RCP) in the United Kingdom on “Racism and Mental Health” (https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/ PS01_18a.pdf ), to substantiate their claim. Unfortunately, though published three years ago, the RCP’s conclusions are just as relevant today; their report unequivocally stated “…that racism and racial discrimination is one of many factors [that] can have a significant, negative impact on a person’s life chances and mental

health.”

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Culture and Education Editor Dr. Irma McClaurin, PhD. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Columnist Brenda Lyle-Gray Book Review Editor W.D. Foster-Graham Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley

any of the tax increases, such as indexing the gas tax to inﬂation, meant to provide more ongoing, dedicated transportation funding that were part of the omnibus transportation bill passed by the House in mid-April.

We have every mode included, we have every part of the state included … many people will benefit from this bill.” Several Republicans praised the bill as well. Rep. Bjorn Olson (R-Elmore) thanked Hornstein for reaching across the aisle to work with his party on the common goal of taking care of Minnesotans, specifically mentioning funding in the bill for local roads and bridges. “When the other side of the aisle says, ‘This is not a bad bill,’ that’s actually a pretty good compliment,” Olson said. Although the final vote total reflected strong bipartisan support, debate on the bill began with an unsuccessful motion to re-refer it back to the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. The committee’s Republican lead, Rep. John Petersburg (R-Waseca), who predicted the bill would receive bipartisan support during an informational hearing Tuesday, called the process used to put the bill together “extremely flawed” and said the process a bill follows is sometimes more important than the final result. He said SSHF10 should be vetted by the full committee.

Intern Kelvin Kuria Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Abeni Hill Inell Rosario Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis,

Proposed

A view of the House Chamber June 17.

Osaka From 3 critiquing anti-Blackness, and must be impacted by surge of anti-Asian activity! Just because Naomi Osaka is a celebrity tennis star does not mean that she doesn’t hurt or feel immensely vulnerable in a very WHITE environment as she reads about escalating violence — physical, legislative, interpersonal, and institutional — against Blacks, and most recently Asians. How could she not be emotionally impacted? How could she not feel alone and a potential target for attacks (like Black soccer players have endured and is ﬁnally having soccer organizations acknowledged as an racial epidemic — https://abcnews. go.com/Sports/racism-soccerepidemic-mirrors-disturbingtrends-europe-advocates/ story?id=67850877 )? And who, in the very white world of tennis, is going to look out for the interests of this Black Asian young woman? Will it be the World Tennis Association (WTA), the World Tennis Federation (WTF), or the French Opens? The correct Jeopardy answer: “Who is Nobody.” Despite the “Statement from the USTA: USTA Mid-Atlantic stands with the Black Community in solidarity and in support now and always,” (https://www. usta.com/en/home/stay-current/ midatlantic/statement-fromusta-mid-atlantic.html ), all of the leadership of professional tennis organizations and the organizers of the tournaments

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By Lee H. Jordan Minneapolis Juneteenth Committee - 2018 National Juneteenth Film & Bicycling Commissions

The Growing Mental Health Crisis in America How tone-deaf can professional athletic organizations be? We can only surmise from their actions — VERY — and that they have NO understanding of mental health, the need to replenish resilience for anyone — which is what all the media has been discussing during this pandemic. What they also don’t recognize is “How COVID-19 Has Disproportionately Aﬀected the Mental Health of Women and BIPOC Workers,” according to a May 2021 report of the same title by Times Up for Mental Health month (https://timesupfoundation. org/how-covid-19-hasaffected-the-mental-health-ofwomen-and-bipoc-workersdisproportionately/ ). Mental Health America (https://mhanational. org/about ) is the largest community-based nonproﬁt “…driven by its commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall

House Photography file photo

amendments One of the main Republican objections to the bill was that it does not adequately address transit safety, with Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) saying the issue isn’t dealt with “in any way, shape or form in this bill.” Republicans offered several amendments, none of which were adopted, including several that attempted to shift money from the Active Transportation program and instead use some of it, in one case for additional Metro Transit peace officers, and for other purposes such as reimbursements to law enforcement officers for soft body armor and additional state patrol funding. Torkelson also offered an amendment, which was ruled out of order, that would have made corrections to the 2020 bonding bill, saying without the needed fixes the projects funded in that bill will grind to a halt.

We know this to be true from lived experiences and previous studies by BIPOC scholars. But it is now confirmed by the CDC and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration), which recently reported on “Double Jeopardy: COVID-19 and Behavioral Health Disparities for Black and Latino Communities in the U.S.” This brief report contains a list of mental health resources and highlights the fact that while Blacks comprise only “…13 percent of the total U.S. population,” they “…make up 30 percent of COVID-19 cases.” For Latinos, who are 18 percent of the population, the number of COVID-19 cases is 17 percent. SAMHSA also points out that although “… the rates of behavioral health disorders may not significantly differ from the general population, Blacks and Latinos have substantially lower access to mental health and substanceuse treatment services…,” which they trace back to “racial and ethnic disparities in access to behavioral health care.” (https://mhanational.org/bipoccommunities-and-covid-19). In effect, not only are BIPOC communities suffering the most in our current and post COVID-19 environment, which shows no signs of disappearing soon, but BIPOC mental health issues are on the increase. Yet significant data shows they are less likely to receive proper and efficient treatment because of systemic disparities in the health care service delivery system. That places BIPOCs at the greatest risk of mental health challenges, just as we

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Insight News • June 28, 2021 - July 4, 2021 • Page 5

How Black writers and journalists have wielded punctuation in their activism By Eurie Dahn Associate Professor of English, The College of Saint Rose

punctuation to question the legitimacy of confessions, criticize justiﬁcations made for lynchings and highlight the undervaluing of Black expertise and knowledge.

Using punctuation and capitalization as a form of protest doesn’t exactly scream radicalism. But in debates over racial justice, punctuation can carry a lot of weight. During the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, mainstream news organizations grappled with whether to capitalize the ﬁrst letter of “black” when referring to Black people. Of course, writing “Black” was already common practice in activist circles. Eventually The Associated Press, The New York Times, USA Today and many other outlets declared that they, too, would capitalize that ﬁrst letter. It turns out the push to capitalize “black” is only the most recent way Black writers and activists have pushed back against entrenched power through ostensibly bland elements of writing. As I discuss in my recent book, “Jim Crow Networks: African American Periodical Cultures,” Black activism in the media can take a variety of forms – some more subtle than others. Seemingly unimportant elements of writing have long been adapted as tools of Black activism. Much like the recent drive to capitalize “black,” activists have deployed

The power of punctuation Punctuation was developed in the 3rd century B.C. to visually separate sentences and improve comprehension. But punctuation can do more than clarify. It can extend, contradict and play with meaning. Think of the diﬀerence between ending a sentence with an exclamation point and with an ellipsis, or the way emoticons made of repurposed punctuation can be used to denote sarcasm or add playfulness and emotion. This makes it a useful tool for activists who seek to upend dominant narratives.

Osaka From 4 were during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Add to this the stress of living while Black in a state where police, until recently, had unbridled power to shoot unarmed Black men, women and children using the lame excuse, “I feared for my life.” These data make Osaka’s decision to take a media mental health break all the more signiﬁcant for publicly disclosing her mental health condition, and for standing up for her need to prioritize personal self-care over professional obligations and ﬁnancial consequences. Media as Information Seekers or Paparazzi? What role, then, does the media play in all this? The media’s demand that Osaka be available to them is stunning since it came in the midst of May, designated as “Mental Health Awareness” month? Also, one would think that media had learned some hard ethical lessons in light of Prince Harry’s recent Oprah reveal (https://www.npr. org/2021/03/08/974630523/ harry-and-meghan-wherethings-stand-and-tentakeaways-from-the-big-oprahintervi ) about his own mental health concerns and challenges, and that of his wife, Lady Megan Markel. Now he and Oprah have teamed up for a new series on mental health called “The Me You Can’t See” (https://www. dw.com/en/prince-harry-andoprah-discuss-mental-healthin-new-series/a-57585621 ). Of course, a featured guest should be Naomi Osaka.

Healing From 3 an important step though we have much further to go on the path towards justice, Smith said. “Let’s use this victory for the systemic change we need like protecting voting rights, safeguarding our democracy, passing meaningful policing and criminal justice reform, pursuing economic and environmental justice, and working towards a more just and equitable world,” she said. Zoey Severson, LPC at Brakins Consulting and Psychological Services and a LPN, ‘Conversations’ host, and other Circle participants worried that the new celebration and upcoming 4th of July observances might not all be peaceful and safe due to the surge in gun violence. “The weather is hotter, people are cooking outside, and they might be drinking more. COVID, the lockdowns, and the losses in livelihoods have brought mental health to the forefront once more. There are

Quotation marks convey suspicion A push to capitalize has actually happened before. In the 1920s, inﬂuential Black intellectual W.E.B. Du Bois wrote to The New York Times and Encyclopedia Britannica to argue that the word “negro” ought to have its ﬁrst letter capitalized. A decade later, to counter racism in the white press, the Black press used quotation marks when reporting on the case of a young man named Robert Nixon, who was convicted of murder. In 1938, the white-

owned Chicago Tribune notoriously described Nixon – who would serve as the basis for protagonist Bigger Thomas in Richard Wright’s 1940 novel “Native Son” – as an “animal” whose “physical characteristics suggest an earlier link in the species.” However, the city’s influential Black newspaper, the Chicago Defender, covered the case differently, reporting Nixon’s claim that his confession was the result of police coercion. In a 1938 article, the Defender included a subheading that declared, “Nixon Also Refutes ‘Confession’.” These simple quotation marks signaled doubt over the legitimacy of this confession, while teaching newspaper readers to be suspicious of so-called legal facts. As sociologist Mary Pattillo notes in her book “Black on the Block,” the Defender’s strategic use of quotation marks called into question official accounts of Nixon as a murderer. In doing so, the paper highlighted the unfair treatment of Black people by the media, police and court system. The code of the question mark Similarly, Black activists used question marks to criticize mainstream accounts of events during the Jim Crow era. In her 1892 pamphlet “Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases,” anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells used question marks in parentheses

Prince Harry also has been a critic of the media paparazzi, whom he feels contributed to his mother’s death. The recent findings that former BBC reporter, Martin Bashir, used “deceitful tactics” to lure the late Princess Diana into a scathing interview supports. Harry’s assertion that “a culture of exploitation and unethical practices” contributed to his mother’s demise (https://www. birminghammail.co.uk/news/ uk-news/prince-harry-saysculture-exploitation-20645112 ). Towards this end, he has done his best to shelter his wife and growing family from media scrutiny. He has lambasted the British media for the racial bias it has displayed toward his biracial wife who identifies as Black. Prince Harry and Oprah have partnered to produce a series on mental health (https://www.dw.com/ en/prince-harry-and-oprahdiscuss-mental-health-in-newseries/a-57585621 ). It should help our society better understand what it takes to function in this fast-paced, highly competitive, individualistic and sometimes ruthlessly so technologically dependent society. We seemed to have lost touch with relationships, and empathy seems to be an antique. The show should draw attention since Oprah and Prince Harry both have a following. The indictment of the media by Prince Harry, now substantiated by a BBC independent inquiry (https:// w w w. b b c . c o m / n e w s / u k 57189371 ), begs the question, what does it mean to “owe” the media? And why do athletes, or any public figure, have contractual “media obligations”? Osaka answered this question to some extent when

she posted a statement on Twitter, May 21, 2021, “Hope you’re doing well, I’m writing this to say I’m not going to do any press during Roland Garros. I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athlete’s mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one.” Osaka continues in the statement — a clear declaration of her emotional independence — “…Me not doing press is nothing personal to the tournament and a couple of journalists have interviewed me since I was young… However, if the organizations think that they can just keep saying ‘do press or you’re gonna be fined’, and continue to ignore the mental health of the athletes that are the centerpiece of their cooperation then I just gotta laugh.” She concludes with these words: “…I hope the considerable amount that I get fined for this will go towards a mental health charity.” In the end, the meditation app Calm, stepped in to pay Osaka’s fine, and pledged to support and pay the fine of any athlete who declined to meet with the press for mental health reasons (https://afrotech. com/calm-app-pay-fines-naomiosaka ). Finally, on May 31, 2021, Osaka closed her second statement with these words: “I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans.” While all media are not newshounds, of late, every media outlet, mainstream and otherwise, seemed locked in

triggers that can quickly cause angst. For example,” she said, “fireworks can remind veterans of the battlefield. And seniors and animals are often frightened by the loud gunshot-like sounds, and the possibility of fire.” Tenanye Heard, is a peer counselor and life coach at AACWI. “I hear the same thing from most of my clients. ‘Why are people so excited about this holiday? It took two and a half years for Blacks in Texas to learn they were free. Why would we celebrate Independence Day when we haven’t been liberated from the inequities and injustices that have stripped our opportunities and joy for 400 years? It’s better, but true freedom has proven elusive for generations. Justice and equity are not complete,” Heard said. Heard said she knows about the holes in people’s hearts. Telling her own story helps her heal and helps others as well. She said in 2007, her young, late husband, was murdered by an 18-year-old at a bus stop. He was on his way to work, She said her husband was “the kind of person that never hesitated to be concerned for

and to help others.” She ﬁghts to keep that legacy alive through her work. Eventually, she met with the homeless, desperate, and broken young man who killed her husband. And in time, she discovered forgiveness. Heard also told of the compounding tragedy of losing two adult children in their sleep. Heard’s revelation, Al McFarlane said, came with an angelic peace. “There is something angelic, the presence of the Divine in your storytelling right now that is teaching us about strength, resilience, perseverance and compassion,” McFarlane said. Heard said her own story guides her as she sees clients who have suﬀered more loss than imaginable through the pandemic or unforeseen violence. “Tell your story,” said Severson. “The energy it brings in releasing some of the pain is a step forward, I had such great role models in my parents, and other family members who served others in their

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on four occasions to interrogate descriptions of crimes supposedly committed by Black Americans. For example, she wrote, “So great is Southern hate and prejudice, they legally(?) hung poor little thirteen year old Mildrey Brown at Columbia, S. C., Oct. 7th, on the circumstantial evidence that she poisoned a white infant.” She also quoted from one of her earlier newspaper editorials in which she discussed the lynchings of eight Black men by saying that, in each case, “citizens broke(?) into the penitentiary and got their man.” The question mark casts doubt on this “break-in” and suggests that the perpetrators were, in fact, aided and abetted by law enforcement in murdering these men. These simple question marks subtly undermined a legal system that sought to cast the murders of a young girl and eight men as just responses. Wells indicted not only the legal system but also the white press, which was often an accomplice to racial violence.

Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Playing with syntax, capitalization and punctuation marks can upend narratives put forth by the mainstream media.

Afrofuturist questions The writer, editor and activist Pauline E. Hopkins similarly used question marks within parentheses in her early Afrofuturist novel “Of One Blood.” The novel – which contains depictions of a leopard attack, a lost African city and a ghost – was serialized in the pages of the Colored American

a survival battle to maintain their relevancy in the midst of the “fake news” mindset promulgated by the former 45th President. Many are in financial trouble and struggling on how to survive in a digital world. Conservative political leaders are influencing their constituency to cancel print subscriptions to major news giants like the New York Times and Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost. com/nation/2019/11/05/newyork-times-citrus-countyflorida-library-subscriptionrejected-fake-news/ ), while the instantaneousness of Twitter, Facebook Live, Instagram, YouTube Live, Clubhouse and other digital communications platforms can provide information more quickly than traditional media outlets. Also, traditional media have not always been as diverse as their audiences; while, social media and digital journals have democratized news space and opened alternative pathways for new voices and different ways to stay informed. Nonetheless, traditional journalists and sports commentators dominate the airways; they, along with those who pay their salaries, must now ask themselves, after the outpouring of public support for Osaka’s decision, whether they are “entitled” to pursue stories, even if it puts public individuals like her at emotional risk?

Magazine from 1902 to 1903. At one point, the protagonist, a Black doctor, brings a patient back to life. Yet the responses to this miracle display ambivalence: “The scientific journals of the next month contained wonderful and wondering (?) accounts of the now celebrated case, – reanimation after seeming death.” Much as Wells used the question mark to dismiss the oﬃcial accounts of lynchings, Hopkins deploys it to undermine the scientiﬁc establishment and cast doubt on the journals for their stunned and disbelieving responses to the medical marvel. For Hopkins, the question mark worked to demand respect for Black expertise and knowledge.

Punctuation’s possibilities Punctuation activism can be an important companion to on-the-ground activism. It reveals language’s capacity to transform the world. At the same time, it exposes language’s often hidden role in maintaining structures of power. Certainly, punctuation – like language overall – is typically used in less radical ways. But these examples of early 20th century Black writers, activists and journalists point to punctuation’s possibilities in questioning entrenched power structures and laying claim to alternative futures. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

The exchange in a news clip between Sports Illustrated Robin Lundburg and writer Jon Wertheim seems extremely cavalier in light of Osaka’s choice: https://www. si.com/tennis/video/2021/05/28/ should-the-wta-force-naomiosaka-to-fulfill-mediaobligations. Their raucous banter about such a serious matter is unbecoming, unprofessional, and insensitive. What if it were their daughter’s, wife’s, mother’s, or sister’s mental health being discussed? Would they be so salacious and talk about a “professional responsibility to the media?” Would they treat a white athlete with such disdain? Have journalists and TV commentators lost their humanity and now seek to punish Osaka for protecting hers? Only time will tell if we see a shift in media’s behavior. It does makes you pause and wonder when did being a professional athlete become akin to selling your soul to the media and professional athletic association devils?

break — and let the magic of your fans surround you and protect you. I have no doubt you will rise again like the tennis phoenix that you are. We love you and wish you a very heartfelt recovery and the replenishment of resilience. Nothing else matters but you! © 2001 Irma McClaurin. All Rights Reserved Irma McClaurin, PhD/ MFA (http://irmamcclaurin. com/) is the Culture and Education Editor for Insight News and was named “Best in the Nation Columnist” by the Black Press of America in 2015. She is a diversity and community engagement consultant, activist anthropologist, award-winning writer, and leadership coach. Some former leadership positions include president of Shaw University, Chief Diversity Oﬃce at Teach For America, Ford Foundation Program Oﬃcer, and University of Minnesota Associate VP and founding executive director of UROC. She is the founder of the “Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive” at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and will soon release a collection of essays: JUSTSPEAK: Reflections on Race, Culture, and Politics in America. Contact: http:// info@irmamcclaurin.com / @ mcclaurintweets.

We Got Your Back Osaka I say “good for you” Naomi Osaka. The French Open won’t be the same without your presence. You are #blackasiangirlmagic. You are also a brave leader who is unafraid to speak her truth. Do take some time oﬀ — a mental health

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Helping a veteran get to needed medical care can be a great way to give back.

A critical support system for Veterans (NAPSI)—There are certain aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic that many Americans may not have thought about. For example, one area that saw a sharp decline was volunteerism— placing heavy burdens on nonprofit organizations that rely on the compassion of their volunteer forces. According to a recent research survey by Fidelity Charitable, a nonprofit organization created by Fidelity Investments, two-thirds of all U.S. volunteers had either decreased volunteer hours or stopped volunteering altogether because of the pandemic. Volunteer to Help Veterans One nonprofit feeling the effects is DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and its Transportation Network, which has helped get veterans to and from medical appointments since 1987, when the government-run system was shut down. The nationwide DAV Transportation Network provides no-cost rides to veterans who need help getting to their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and clinics. Prior to 2020,

volunteer drivers spent more than one million hours and logged over 20 million miles, providing more than 600,000 rides for veterans each year. “We’ve seen a major decline over the past year in volunteer support across all of our programs,” said John Kleindienst, Director of Voluntary Services at DAV. “For our aging veteran population, getting to and from critical care appointments is a growing concern and without volunteers, many veterans have no way to access their health care or get other much needed support.” Ramping up volunteerism for the DAV Transportation Network is critical as the pandemic restrictions lift, as it is anticipated that higher than average numbers of veterans will return to the VA both for routine appointments and for care that was delayed over the past year. “While safety has been the key priority, we have to think toward the next phase and be prepared to meet this increased demand for transportation,” Kleindienst added. “We know the pandemic has hurt a lot of veterans and they might not get the care they

earned without our dedicated volunteers. We need the help.” Vo l u n t e e r M a t c h ’s survey, “The Impact of COVID-19 on Volunteering” found many in the nonproﬁt sector are rethinking volunteer engagement strategies to accommodate the current environment. While this strategy works for some sectors, it can be challenging for others. Nonproﬁts, such as DAV, are hopeful that there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel as vaccines are made widely available, restrictions are lifted and communities can safely get back to volunteering. “We know there are many passionate and dedicated volunteers who are ready to step up and support our nation’s veterans and with added safety measures in place we’re beginning to see more people coming out to help. We can only hope it will be enough to keep pace with those veterans in need,” added Kleindienst. Learn More If you are a veteran in need of support or want to learn more about volunteer opportunities in the community, go to dav.org/volunteer.

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Insight News • June 28, 2021 - July 4, 2021 • Page 7

Winding down state’s eviction moratorium By Mike Cook Ending of the COVID-19related eviction moratorium and making substantial investments in multiple types of housing are among the highlights of a bill with bipartisan agreement. “We are the only divided Legislature in the country, and I would write a different bill than the one you have before you,” Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul) told the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee at an informational hearing Monday. “It’s not a perfect bill, but a negotiated bill between the House and the Senate.” She sponsors SSHF4, the omnibus housing finance and policy bill, which awaits action by the full House. A companion, SSSF16, sponsored by Sen. Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake), awaits action by the Senate. “I have a lot of disappointment when we get to this point,” Hausman said. “There have been other things I would have liked to accomplish that we didn’t, and we’ll work at it again for next year.” Monetary numbers The agreement calls for the issuance of $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds, which supporters say would boost efforts across a range of housing and strengthen local efforts to address housing needs. The amount is to be reduced by any federal funds received from a federal infrastructure bill enacted before the end of 2021 for loans and grants for the same purposes bonds are issued.

Healing From 5 neighborhoods and throughout the Minneapolis communities. I’m so proud when I run into people who knew my mom and dad, who were also therapists, and would comment, ‘Oh, I knew your parents. Your

Two-thirds of bond dollars would be unallocated, but $18.33 million would be to finance costs related to single-family housing and $15 million would go toward manufactured home park acquisition and infrastructure. Hausman said the House had a $30 million target; the Senate zero. Ultimately, the $125.6 million bill includes $10 million in increased spending (all in fiscal year 2022):  $3.25 million for workforce homeownership program;  $2.8 million for the housing challenge program;  $1.75 million for manufactured home park infrastructure grants;  $1 million to the home ownership assistance fund;  $1 million to establish the local housing trust fund;  $200,000 to establish a shelter provider task force to “develop standards for the provision of shelter; and examine the need for, and the feasibility and cost of, establishing state oversight of shelter”; and  $70,000 for a capacity building grants program. Eviction moratorium off-ramp This bill would end the governor’s executive orders that prevent evictions and lease terminations during the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency and provide temporary provisions for tenants to avoid eviction and lease terminations in certain situations.

“While Governor Walz’s eviction moratorium assuredly saved lives, our agreement to offramp the moratorium will save the livelihood of Minnesotans,” Rep. Michael Howard (DFL-Richfield) said in a statement. “Minnesotans who have fallen behind on their rent during the pandemic through no fault of their own will have strong protections in law as we prevent evictions while ensuring rental assistance flows to landlords.” A landlord would be prohibited from terminating or failing to renew a lease within 105 days of enactment, except in cases where the tenant is endangering others, engaging in certain criminal activities, materially violating the lease, or when the tenant requests the termination of the lease. A landlord would be able to end or not renew a lease 45 days after enactment if the tenant has failed to pay rent and is not eligible for the COVID-19 emergency rental assistance program. Further, a landlord could not file an eviction within 105 days unless the tenant is a danger to others, there is significant property damage or they engage in criminal activity. However, if a tenant materially violates the lease, an eviction would be allowed 15 days after bill enactment. But an exception would exist whereby an eviction could be filed 75 days after enactment if the tenant has failed to pay rent and is not eligible for the COVID-19 emergency rental assistance program. If a tenant doesn’t pay rent and refuses to apply for the COVID-19

dad helped me, or your mom talked to me, and that has been years ago.’ I’d also watch how pleased my mom was at the end of her sessions when she knew she might have been able to help someone else.” “Today, more than ever, coming together with family and friends safely and peacefully is so important. We’ve been isolated for 15 months. It’s time for positive

re-examination and perhaps a change of attitude in how we reﬂect on our responsibilities for and possibilities to ourselves; our children; and our neighbors spiritually, physically, and emotionally,” Severson said. Telling her own story, Severson said she was born with a disease that medical experts predicted would give her maybe 20 years of life. She said telling personal stories, testimonies, propel us us

While Governor Walz’s eviction moratorium assuredly saved lives, our agreement to off-ramp the moratorium will save the livelihood of Minnesotans,” Rep. Michael Howard (DFL-Richfield) said.

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