PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934
See more Hair Stories on pg. 6
October 4-10, 2018 Vol. 85 No. 9 www.spokesman-recorder.com
North Commons dome proposal draws flak borhood parks in the city,” MPRB Project Manager Adam Arvidson told the MSR. He said that asking community residents what they want for their parks is something that has never been done “in the entire 100-plusyear history of the Park Board. There was some reorganization of the parks” in the 1960s and 1970s, but Arvidson said, “The city is a lot different than it was in the ’60s and ’70s — how do we transform these parks in the next 30-40 years to better meet the needs of the community? We haven’t asked that question in a real long time.” A 2016 agreement between the MPRB and the City of Minneapolis provides money annually for neighborhood parks until 2037. As a result, “There is going to be significantly more funding available for rehabilitation of park facilities and capital investment,” Arvidson said. Community Advisory Committees (CAC), whose members were appointed by the Park Board commissioners, were established as well to meet with community residents and eventually create and submit “Master Plans.” The 18-month process, which involved listening sessions, community ■ See Dome on page 5
By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer
Dome is one of several ideas for park improvements under review The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is taking public comments now until October 27 on proposed changes to its 31 North Minneapolis neighborhood parks. An extensive process of community involvement has preceded this public comment phase, and in a few parks the proposed improvements have generated some spirited debate. None, however, have been as controversial as the dome proposed for North Commons. New plans for all city parks The Northside’s 31 parks and three regional trails make up MPRB’s North Service Area, which is bordered north of Interstate 394 and west of the Mississippi River, one of five service areas in the Minneapolis Park Board system. Since 2016, “a multi-year effort [has been un- North Service Area map derway] to create new plans for all the neigh-
Courtesy of MPRB
From making history State prison unrest exposes defects to designing a future Overcrowding, understaffing among likely causes The continuing life journey of Robyne Robinson
By Stephenetta Harmon Editor-in-Chief Conclusion of a two-part interview Last week, the MSR connected with Twin Cities’ icon Robyne Robinson on making history as the first person of color inducted into the MN Broadcasting Hall of Fame and walking between two worlds as a television media personality. Here we chat with Robyne Robinson the history-maker on the next Tracy Walsh Photography / Art chapter of her colorful career. by Drew Peterson
Photo courtesy of Getty Images News Analysis By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer MSP art installation
Photo courtesy of Robyne Robinson
MSR: Last week, we talked about the struggle of working to be the voice of multiple communities while also fighting to have your own voice in both the newsroom and the community at large. What is it like to re-
flect on that journey? RR: It’s nice to be able to share that [experience] with other people and say, “You need to really look at the direction of where you’re ■ See History on page 5
Recent prison unrest has shed new light on inmate concerns. After the July 18 beating death of Corrections Officer Joseph Gomm at Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater, the state’s five prisons were all placed on lockdown. During a lockdown prisoners are confined to cer-
tain areas with activities and liberties restricted. Usually, they are kept in their cells throughout the day or until a particularly violent situation is resolved.
ed one week later that all, except Stillwater, had resumed normal status. A DOC representative also said prisoners have received “showers every three days and were given
from Stillwater inmate Pepi McKenzie noting that, after 66 days, “We’re still locked in. They’re just letting us out three hours a day,” said McKenzie. “No recreation, no
“State prisons are bursting at the seams.” There are discrepancies between prisoners’ and the state’s Department of Corrections (DOC) accounts on when prisons resumed normal status. The DOC report-
hygiene bags as well as fresh yard, no regular meals.” The linens. normal schedule, he said, is The Twin Cities Incarcerat- being out 15 hours a day. ed Workers Organizing ComTwin Cities IWOC, which mittee (IWOC) however, re■ See Prison on page 5 leased a statement on Sept. 21
2nd Annual Black & White Ball The Twin Cities’ top movers and shakers brought their best fashion game to funnyman Shed G’s second annual Black & White Ball on Sept. 29. Visit MSRnewsonline.com for more images.
Photos by Pete Rhodes.