Safety Tips for Thanksgiving

As you’re making your Thanksgiving plans, use these tips to stay safe and enjoy a healthy holiday. Thanks to the Minneapolis Public Health for sharing these!

• Get vaccinated. Adults and children 5 and up should get a COVID-19 vaccine. Find yours at mn.gov/vaccine
• Wear a mask. Wear a cloth or surgical face mask over your mouth and nose when grocery shopping or in other public indoor settings, or when serving food.
• Wash your hands before eating or serving food.
• Outdoors is safer than indoors. Have your meal outside if weather permits, or enjoy other outdoor activities.
• Communicate in advance with guests about your COVID-19 ground rules and the precautions you’re taking. Cancel plans if you’re sick.
• Travel safely. If possible, delay travel if you’re feeling sick or not vaccinated. If traveling with unvaccinated family members, avoid crowds, wear a mask, and get tested.

Managing the Holidays with Ease

East Side Neighborhood Services has two free sessions on managing the holidays. The first takes place TODAY over lunch but there’s still time to register at 612-787-4076 or lfavin@esns.org

Hennepin County Election Survey

What was your experience voting in the November 2020 and 2021 elections? The Hennepin County Elections Department wants to hear from you on your method of voting, barriers you experienced, your planned method of voting in 2022 and more. Your responses will remain anonymous. In addition to English, this survey is also available in Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Oromo, and Russian.

The feedback you provide will help guide decisions about our 2022 election approach and how Hennepin County administers elections going forward. We’ll be accepting responses through November 28. Thank you for helping to make our elections safe, secure, and accessible to all!

Click here to take the survey by November 2

P.S. Looking for election results and voter turnout statistics? Check out https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/results-data/

Participate in Minneapolis Redistricting

After every census, Minneapolis updates the boundaries of its 13 City Council wards and six Park Board districts to reflect new population counts. The Redistricting Group, made up of 24 Minneapolis volunteers, builds the new maps with input from their communities. The Redistricting Group needs your help with the redistricting project to make sure all voices are heard.

Park Board Lowers Parkway Speeds to 20 mph

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) of Commissioners voted Nov. 3 to lower the speed limit on parkways to 20 miles per hour (mph). The reduced speed limit on parkways will match the speed limit for local streets in Minneapolis. Slower traffic speeds support safer streets for everyone.

Over the coming months, the MPRB and the City’s Public Works Department, which manages signs along the parkway system, will change existing signage from 25 mph to 20 mph. Drivers should follow the posted speed limit on parkways while signs are updated.

Protect Your Children from Lead Poisoning

If you’re responsible for a child 5 or younger, your home may be eligible for help making it safer for your children.  Lead exposure can put young children at risk for permanent damage and lead poisoning is 100% preventable. Most often windows are the worst location for lead paint hazards. This funding will help replace windows, windowsills, porch floors, staircases and other locations that have lead paint as well as do other home safety work such as getting rid of lead paint hazards, cockroaches, mice, and asthma triggers; adding handrails and radon mitigation systems; and weatherizing.

For a free assessment and help getting hazards out of your home, call 612-673-2301. Find more information on the City website.