I think it is misleading for Farhad Manjoo to write “Minneapolis voted to end
single family restrictions in 2018” in his article in today’s New York Times,
“How Berkeley Beat Back NIMBYs.” While the rezoning in Minneapolis will allow
homes throughout the city to remodel to allow conversion to duplexes or
triplexes, the principal effect of the 2040 Plan will be to allow unlimited
apartment building construction in the inner city causing catastrophic cultural
displacement of communities of color. The naturally occurring affordable
housing will be replaced by expensive apartment buildings for young urban
professionals, and the outlying neighborhoods that historically had racially
restrictive covenants in their deeds will have a few mother-in-law apartment
conversions. Developers are generous campaign contributors according to the
StarTribune:
"The top fundraiser for the reporting period and the year was Council Member
Jacob Frey, who attracted $131,815 between Aug. 1 and Oct.
26<file:///C:/Users/belzadl/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/PBD1DRH9/Frey%20Campaign%20Finance%20Report%20-%20October%2031%202017.pdf>,
and has collected $492,000 in donations for the year, including a $10,000 loan
to himself, with significant investment from downtown business interests,
developers and restaurateurs."
By Adam Belz<http://www.startribune.com/adam-belz/158965945/> and Emma
Nelson<http://www.startribune.com/emma-nelson/261800211/> Star Tribune staff
writers
NOVEMBER 1, 2017