PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
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Celebrate Women’s History Month on page 2.
Counting down to our 90th Anniversary
March 14 - 20, 2024
Vol. 90
No. 33
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
Housing Stability Act
would bar discrimination against Section 8
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By Al Brown Assignment Editor
lished on August 10, 1934. Today, we share his profound insight made nearly 90 years ago, s we count down to which pointed out that the our historic 90th an- future of the Black Press ulniversary this August, timately rests in the hands of the MSR will feature articles the very community it serves. and photos from our past isAl Brown welcomes reader sues. This week we feature an op-ed by founding publisher comments to abrown@spokesCecil E. Newman, first pub- man-recorder.com.
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Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, second from right in the front row, joined legislators, state leaders and stakeholders to champion the Housing Stability Act. Photos by Chris Juhn By Abdi Mohamed Contributing Writer
She also shared how her neighbors, predominantly immigrant families, would watch over her while her mother went to work and allowed her to freely run in and out of their homes as she was seen as family. Flanagan’s family could afford the apartment with the help of a Section 8 voucher. “I share this with you because I want to remind you
receive housing vouchers in the next biennium, emphasizing the importance of the bill and the need to ensure that these families would find a home with their vouchers. According to Flanagan, the Housing Stability Act was written to address the 2010 Minnesota Court of Appeals decision that stated Section 8 vouchers do not fall under the
difference where she can. Smith referenced a statistic that found 54 percent of new voucher holders could use innesota lawmakers are rental assistance to afford their looking to advance legnew home. The remaining 46 islation to bar discrimipercent of the people returned nation against individuals who to the agency looking for a use rental assistance and reaffirm landlord who would accept the Minnesota Human Rights Act, their voucher. She described which prohibits discrimination on this issue as a common occurpublic assistance status. Several local and state leadrence that leads to further isers gathered together in the sues for families down the road. governor’s reception room, led “Allowing landlords to deny by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, to applicants solely because they “Allowing landlords to deny speak about their support of have rental assistance limits applicants solely because they the Housing Stability Act. This housing choice, it concentrates have rental assistance limits housing bill would expand the definipoverty, it limits wealth buildtion of public assistance to ining and social mobility, and choice, it concentrates poverty.” it disproportionately impacts clude rental assistance, ensurpeople of color,” Smith said. ing that those who use Section Minnesota Department of 8 vouchers would be classified as a protected class. why this matters,” she said. protection of state law as pub- Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero and MinneIn her address, Flanagan “We are overdue to make right lic assistance. shared a photo of herself de- on these wrongs, and that Terri Smith, the director sota Housing Commissioner picting life in her family’s St. starts today. So I am proud to of the Metropolitan Council Jennifer Ho attended the press Louis Park apartment. She be here today along with this Housing and Redevelopment conference to support the recounted the memories she powerful group of leaders that Authority, addressed the audi- Housing Stability Act, given had growing up in what she say we are ready to work to- ence of journalists and stake- their direct involvement in the described as one of the “most gether to get this done.” holders in the room to speak work that assists families and community-centered spaces” Lt. Gov. Flanagan shared about her role as a public ser- works to bar discrimination that she’s lived in. that over 5,000 families would vant to ensure she can make a ■ See STABILITY ACT on page 5
Minneapolis mayor torpedoes pay raise for rideshare drivers By H. Jiahong Pan Contributing Writer or the third time in the past year, rideshare drivers, many of whom are of East African descent, celebrated yet another win for something they’ve been fighting for—a minimum wage. On March 7, gathering in the temporary City Council chambers at the Public Service Building across from City Hall, they cheered and hoisted leaders, including Councilmember Jamal Osman, to celebrate. The next day, Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the ordinance yet again. The ordinance, which city councilmembers voted to pass 9-5, would increase the minimum compensation for rideshare drivers to $1.40 per loaded mile plus 51 cents per minute starting May 1.
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Drivers have complained about spending most of their earnings to maintain their vehicles instead of taking care of their families. But Mayor Frey wants an ordinance that would be fair to Uber and Lyft, who threaten to leave the city as the ordinance
takes effect. It remains to be seen what fairness looks like since the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry released a report on how much drivers are compensated and how they should be compensated according to Minneapolis’ minimum wage.
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Texas court ruling reflects widespread racism in schools By Kenjus T. Watson Texas judge ruled on Feb. 22, 2024, that the Barbers Hill School District didn’t violate the law when it punished Darryl George, a Black student, for wearing his hair in long locs. The Texas law in question—the CROWN Act—prohibits dis-
The Twin Cities’ future of Uber and Lyft is still uncertain.
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crimination against hairstyles in schools and workplaces. The school district argued— and Judge Chap B. Cain III agreed—that the law doesn’t mention anything about hair length. In the following Q&A, Kenjus Watson, an education professor at American University who studies the psychological ■ See HAIR on page 5
Photo by H. Jiahong Pan What does fair compensation look like? According to a report published Friday by MnDLI, rideshare drivers in the sevencounty Twin Cities area earned an average of $52.94 per hour in 2022. But rideshare drivers ■ See RIDESHARE on page 5
America’s schools don’t always welcome cultural expression. MoMo Productions via Getty Images