COVER STORY: Omaha Has Issues

“I would call the mayor’s hotline. They wouldn’t even record the call. They would forward me to public works, occasionally somebody would call you back. And it was like, ‘Yeah, it’s not working great. Sorry.’ Nothing changed.”

Holtzclaw doesn’t even want to get worked up about trash. He composts, recycles and has a solar-heated water system in his house, but garbage isn’t his top priority.

His problem is that a city that fumbles trash can’t be trusted with larger issues.

“If you can’t handle potholes, snow removal and waste management, how are you going to handle police relations, race relations? That gets complicated,” he said. “How are you gonna handle economic growth and development? How are you going to keep Conagra? How are you going to improve your schools? I mean, those are hard.”

Waning markets for recyclables and limited composting opportunities have also made waste reduction a huge issue. Cities like Minneapolis, New York and Lincoln have plans. Omaha doesn’t.

Many have worked to push Omaha toward green solutions. Verdis Group, housed in Omaha, helps companies and cities, like Lincoln, come up with sustainability plans.

Holtzclaw doesn’t expect many of these issues to change after the general election on May 11.

Though he has a sign for Omaha City Council District 1 candidate Sarah Johnson in his yard, he expects Festersen will keep his job. Likewise for Stothert and most people in city government.

It’s just what he’s come to expect living in Omaha: Things don’t change.

In fact as his three kids, who he says are all high-achieving, STEMoriented students, get old enough to look at colleges, he tells them this is not where they want to be.

“I’m telling them, like, ‘Go away,’” he said. “‘Run hard and run fast.’ My wife gets mad at me, but it’s like, there’s nothing here for you. There’s no future for you. This is a good old boys network. And it just doesn’t seem to want to change.”

DaviD Holtzclaw stanDs in front of His composting bins anD garDen in His DunDee backyarD. Photo by Chris bowling.

ISO Suitable Shelter AFFORDABLE

BY Paul B. allen

Asingle mother with an autistic son, Anissa, who did not want to provide her last name, was looking for a place to live. She checked websites, newspapers and asked friends. While numerous ads promised apartments around $500 per month, most were duplicates owned by the same companies. Anissa wanted to stay away from them, saying she had experienced their “slumlord” behavior in the past.

Many affordable places were also in neighborhoods police consider high-crime. More than fearing the crime, Anissa worried about living in a heavily patrolled area for the sake of her son, a Black teenager who may not respond to an officer the way they want.

Anissa started looking at other neighborhoods. She wanted simple amenities: a couple of bedrooms, access to laundry, decent parking and a neighborhood without constant policing. She found one-bedroom units averaging $1,200 and two-bedrooms up to $1,800 in places like Downtown, Midtown and the Blackstone district. These newer units would sometimes require an extra $200 for parking plus monthly fees.

Anissa said people told her to buy a house instead. Interest rates are low, and it could be cheaper than renting. But Anissa didn’t want to commit to buying a property, so she decided she had to pay the higher rents. That was managable, she had the cash flow, but then came another issue: the application process.

Applying for an apartment can cost $30 to $50 and be rigorous in scope. Management companies’ standards are specific and differ by company. Criteria can include requiring deposits of three times the rent, a credit score of 650 or higher and a history of no bankruptcies, evictions or criminal convictions, qualifications that can disproportionately impact marginalized communities. While Anissa was able to meet all the requirements, she still spent hundreds of dollars in application fees just to get turned down, even after offering to pay a year’s rent up front. She learned to start asking blunt questions about the criteria before paying an application fee for a rejection letter.

After months of searching, Anissa finally found a suitable house that worked for her. But she got lucky. A friend of a friend owned a property. They had a face-to-face conversation, and he rented to her. Anissa said her experience matched that of friends and family members looking for decent housing, and her story is echoed by many people in Omaha in the same situation.

HOUSING

COVER STORY Justice in the Streets

BY CHRIS BOWLING

Manne Cook stands over HigHway 75 in nortH oMaHa on april 19, 2021. Photo by Chris bowling.

Walking around North Omaha, car, which can cost about $9,000 it’s not hard to find potholes that a year with insurance, gas and retake up more area than pavement, pairs, according to AAA. That’s a uneven sidewalks that stick out like crooked teeth and narrow bike lanes with giant grates in the middle. big chunk of people’s annual income, which in North Omaha can STREETS More thought goes into making sure roads be as low as $16,885. are optimized for the A n d fastest possible travel, that’s not Cook said. For many including Omahans that’s fine. the cost of a But for others, especially hefty repair, those who don’t have a car, like what you it poses real dangers. might need after “People aren’t valuing the hitting a deep pothole. people who exist in a place, you “When something like that know,” he said. “It’s my movement goes bad, you’re talking about over your right to be. That’s the maybe up to half your income per The sun is shining as morning chill wanes into a warm, cloudless spring day. In other neighborcided to raze homes, churches and businesses in Omaha’s Black neighborhoods to build a faster route. mindset.” Cook wants to see political candidates who understand streets are year to keep that car to get to other jobs to continue [this cycle],” Cook said. hoods birds might chirp while kids The result was displacement, a near public spaces. It’s about fixing pot- While a few candidates Cook ride bikes and adults mow lawns. death sentence to the North Oma- holes in a more sustainable way, likes advanced to the general elecBut all Manne Cook sees is concrete. All he hears is the roar of cars 20 feet below. ha business district and a scar that persits to this day. “It’s one of the reasons why the but it’s also about making Omaha more walkable, bikable and safe. The problem, Cook said, is not tion, he puts his hope in nonprofits and engaged citizens, not government. “They destroyed a community and a neighborhood,” said Cook as he stood above Highway 75 in North Omaha. “So when you talk about streets and roads, this is the most prolific and destructive road, probably in the city.” community doesn’t trust city officials,” he said. “You want to tell me about a good idea? Right. You said that was a good idea.” that we don’t know how to do that. The appetite isn’t there. As a result, many have no choice but to buy and maintain a Cook, and all his like-minded city planning colleagues, left government to join nonprofits. It’s nonprofits and citizens that push for progressive policy, Cook said. If they sell the deal just right, they can persuade the city to sign on. In lieu

How Omahans of a total overhaul talk about the city’s in leadership, Cook thoroughfares differs said that’s what depending on where needs to happen you live. For some it’s to fix the issues he all about potholes. cares about. But Cook, a former city planner and lifelong North Omaha resident, said we need to see the bigger picture. “[Politicians] could do more, but you know they politic their way out of doing stuff. Right?” he said. “I think that

Highway 75 be- at least in this city, gan construction in [the public] is what the ‘70s and though really moves things alternative routes Manne Cook stands in front of potHoles near 28tH and spragUe streets, and in a forward.” were proposed, the narrow bike lane on 30tH and Manderson streets. “wHy woUld anyone want to City of Omaha de- Use tHis?” Cook asked. Photos by Chris bowling.

clean Juice ownerS angela moran-manzitto and Sarah peter take a clean approach to a healthy lifeStyle.

Simply deliciouS, everything on the menu iS mindfully made. Photo by Sara Locke

(Spring) Clean Juice

by Sara Locke

Spring is an excellent opportunity to examine our habits, assess our fresh food intake and consider our impact on the environment. This year, Clean Juice has a delicious answer to your spring eating clean-up. you’ll find a go-to juice whether you’re showing up to improve your immunity, pack more nutrients into your day or to kick the COVID-19. That is, the 19 pounds we’ve each gained binge watching crime docs and eating feta pasta straight from the casserole. I am not projecting; we both know your sodium intake has been abysmal since last spring.

This month, The Reader had the chance to chat with Angela Moran-Manzitto, franchise partner of the two Clean Juice locations in Nebraska, to talk about what makes CJ different from your standard juice joint.

“My business partner (Sarah Peter) and I have always been in family health,” Moran-Manzitto said. “We had discussed starting a business together, and this issue of wanting to find something I could really celebrate and enjoy with my young children kept driving me toward organics, toward finding a health-minded concept to get behind. We had looked at a number of franchises, but Clean Juice was just – cleaner. There was a lot of honesty behind the product and how it was produced. What you see is what you get, made in-store from the top to the bottom.”

The product in question is a full menu of fresh, cold-pressed juices, the recipes for which are designed to aid in your body’s natural processes.

“Most of the juices you’ll find in the grocery store or even other juice spots are high-pressure pasteurized,” Moran-Manzitto said. “It extends the shelf life, but it also removes most of the nutrients. We cold-press in-house every day. It means a very short shelf life, but it also means you’re getting as much benefit from every drop as possible.” but there’s more to this sweet little shop than fresh, organic, expertly formulated juices. you’ll find a full menu of wraps, salads, smoothies, avocado toast, and in colder months, hot and hearty organic soups.

“Ideas like organic living, having a plant-based diet and healthier living are becoming very popular in the Midwest. I don’t know that everyone saw that coming, since Nebraska is such a red-meat and potatoes place, but there are so many health-conscious people here. Clean Juice has given us a platform to offer an education and a delicious, healthy meal.”

Since opening their first location in Lincoln in 2019, the women have seen just how hungry Nebraska is for this kind of a shift.

LOCaLLy OWNed deLIVeRy CO-OP

A bouquet of fresh bottles. Photo by Sara Locke

Comparing Apples to Apple Juice

A nutrition analysis on a Clean Juice smoothie versus your standard fruit shake shack shows a stark contrast in both the nutrient value and the potential setback one could experience from making it part of your daily diet. Even when considering one of Clean Juice’s richer options, the difference is dramatic.

Clean Juice “The Chocolate One” (with Whey Protein)

Calories.................320

Sodium............... 260g

Carbs.....................46g

Sugar.....................25g

Protein...................23g

Jamba Juice “Chocolate Moo’d”

Calories.................430 Sodium............ 270mg Carbs.....................86g Sugar.....................77g Protein...................11g

You’ll find yourself enjoying a great deal more bang for your buck, without shelling out the extra bucks for an upsize in jeans. Try Something New

If you are already a high-anxiety diner who spends hours perusing menus and practicing placing your order before heading into a restaurant, visiting a new concept like Clean Juice may not be high on your priority list. The team’s approach to customer service is ready to make a believer out of you.

“We know that we do things very differently, and we want people to feel comfortable coming in and excited about coming back,” Moran-Manzitto said. “Our staff works hard to make people comfortable, to be very approachable and informative, and to help each person find exactly what they want. Our job is to welcome everyone, walk them through the menu and be patient while they build confidence in what we’re doing here. We understand people’s hesitance in coming into a new place like ours, and we want to be sure we’re giving them a rewarding experience with each visit.”

The future is already looking bright for Clean Juice, with a location at 1308 Jackson and another at 7811 Pioneers Blvd in Lincoln. A third location with a drive-through option is currently in talks, with an app on the table to make grab-and-go ordering a breeze. For now, you can call ahead and place your orders for quick pick-up at 402-403-9084 for the Omaha location or 402417-0788 for the Lincoln location. For a look at the menu, hours and directions, visit cleanjuice.com.

O maha USE CODE GoLoCo

Get Ready Omaha

LoCo is owned and operated by local independent restaurants. the ultimate goal of LoCo is to offer delivery from the best local restaurants in town, provide great service, and enhance the local dining scene. Support local and download our app today.

May 11 general election, residents will decide what to do about them. Some are ubiquitous, others gained notoriety following social upheaval in 2020. Regardless, the way we talk about all of them feels abstract, disconnected from the people they affect.

In this issue, The Reader and El Perico wanted to find people who live with these issues every day and give them a chance to talk.

We hope the result centers the voices people need to hear and, combined with our other coverage, informs people on where Omaha is and the options that lie ahead...

On a recent Sunday, Jeff S., who did not want to provide his last name, sat on a bench at the Westroads Mall bus terminal waiting an hour for the bus home. He got rid of his car five years ago because he couldn’t afford maintenance costs, forcing him to leave his job

in Council Bluffs because it took an hour and a half to get there from Omaha by bus.

Ever since Omaha created its transportation system in 1972, uniting a patchwork of private systems, routes multiplied as the city

grew. However, inconvenient schedules and the public’s preference for purchasing automobiles led to fewer passengers and reduced service.

There are currently three types of public transportation available in Omaha: the metro bus system, MOBY, a transportation service for disabled residents, and ORBT, the city’s new rapid bus transit system, which runs along Dodge Street. However, the system remains cumbersome for some who have to transfer up to three times in order to reach their destinations.

“Going to Council Bluffs and Bellevue is terrible,” Jeff said. “Transportation runs every hour

and a half if you’re lucky. Also, the West area is completely unattended, so one has to walk and wait a long time for the bus to arrive.”

The bus schedule is available online at ometro.com, but not everyone has access to the internet.

“Before, you could have the schedule on paper,” Jeff said. “I think that because of the whole COVID-19 thing they no longer hand them out. I already know the schedules, but with that and the whole system’s route changes, and how sometimes the buses don’t run on time, if you don’t have a cell phone, you don’t know what happened.”