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THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934 July 2 - 8, 2026
Vol. 92
No. 48
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
Senators urge Trump to sign landmark housing bill
By Jasmine McBride Editor
S. Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar joined affordable housing advocates Friday in Edina to call on President Donald Trump to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the most significant federal housing legislation in more than 30 years. According to the Senators, Trump declined to sign the bill despite its overwhelming bipartisan passage, 85-5 in the Senate and 358-32 in the House. “At the very last minute, even though he helped to negotiate this bill, President Trump refused to sign it,” Smith said. The bill would boost hous-
decides that he is going to reject this bill, we can come back at it again,” she said. “I hope that doesn’t happen. I think he will ultimately sign it, but it is absolutely ridiculous that on the 250th anniversary of our country, when we have ing supply, reform zoning such strong bipartisan support rules, expand financing opfor the number one driver of tions for modular construcpeople’s costs, that he didn’t tion, and for the first time ban immediately sign the bill.” large corporate investors and Klobuchar also flagged a hedge funds from purchasing related issue not addressed single-family homes and conin the bill: the use of algorithverting them into rentals. mic rent-setting software by Smith said the corporate landlords. She said companies buyout ban is particularly sigsuch as RealPage collect rent nificant for communities of data from multiple landlords color. and issue pricing recommen“Those big corporate entidations, which she described ties have frequently targeted as a sophisticated form of communities of color, Black price fixing. and brown communities,” “Attorney General Ellison Smith said. “We saw this haphas been really aggressive pen in the aftermath of the about going after these cases,” housing finance crisis in 2008 From left: Anne Mavity, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Tina Smith, Mary Tingerthal, and Emily Klobuchar said. “I think there’s Jasmine McBride/MSR going to be more of that in in North Minneapolis, when Stewart, June 26. homes were snapped up by the future on the federal and outside buyers before people Trump administration’s roll- discrimination. The Fair HousKlobuchar noted the bill’s state basis.” in the community even knew back of Fair Housing Act en- ing Act was passed in 1968, passage margins made it vetoMinnesota Housing Partwhat was happening.” forcement, calling it an ob- led by Minnesota Sen. Walter proof. nership Executive Director Smith also criticized the stacle to addressing housing Mondale. “If the president somehow ■ See SENATORS on page 5
Construction at George Floyd Square Charges dropped: Protester’s federal strains businesses, reshapes case ends with $25 fee community landmarks
south Minneapolis on June day of construction left her By Clint Combs 3, 2025: her cellphone and a shop completely inaccessible. Contributing Writer copy of the 24 Demands of "It just feels like the latest he criminal case George Floyd Square. violation of my human rights That day, dozens of fedagainst Isabel Lopez because the city of Minneaperal agents from the DEA, fell apart. olis has closed down my busiEarlier this FBI, ICE and Homeland Secuness," Augustine said. "The first day of construction, they month, prosecutors reduced rity Investigations arrived near closed traffic in every single four felony charges to a mis- Lake Street and Bloomington direction. No one could ap- demeanor assault charge in Avenue in armored vehicles, proach my business unless exchange for a guilty plea. sparking fears that the opthey were on foot and it took Last Tuesday, U.S. District eration was part of President me 40 minutes to get into my Judge John Tunheim rejected Trump’s immigration enforceown office. They kind of just a prosecutor’s request for a ment campaign. Authorities made that executive decision year of probation, instead or- later said it was part of a drug that my business was inacces- dering Lopez to pay a small investigation. mandatory court fee. “We were both there on the sible for that day."
By Izzy Canizares Contributing Writer onstruction has officially begun at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, the site where George Floyd was murdered six years ago, and businesses and residents are already feeling the impact. The project, years in planning, started June 8 and is expected to last two years, with the first
Her crystal shop, which typically sees at least 20 purPhoto courtesy of Izzy Canizares/MSR chases a day, has barely had a phase closing off 38th Street cess to engage with the com- customer since construction and Chicago Avenue through munity," Minneapolis Media began. Making matters worse, the end of 2027, according to Relations Coordinator Allen the finished plans show a the city. Henry said. "Through this pro- Metro D Line rapid bus shelter The intersection has served cess, we re-envisioned and slated for the location where as a memorial ground since redesigned the area in a her business currently stands. Floyd's death, with sculptures way that reflects community "If I make it to the end of the and murals honoring Floyd needs." month I would be really surand other victims of police But for some business prised," Augustine said. "It's brutality. City officials say the owners adjacent to the con- almost poetic because they reconstruction reflects com- struction, the project has felt expected George to hold munity input gathered over anything but supportive. Ini his breath for nine minutes, several years. Augustine, owner of Mystic which is humanly impossible, Attorney Jordan Kushner (left) and activist Isabel Lopez (cen"In 2022, we began a pro- Healing Stones, said the first ■ See GFS on page 5 ter, with flowers) exit the Minneapolis Federal Courthouse after Lopez received no jail time or probation on assault charges stemming from a June 2025 federal raid near Lake Street. Clint Combs/MSR
Rebound Inc. creates pathways for Black youth beyond the justice system By Lizzy Nyoike Contributing Writer
and youth advocacy. “Our focus is on moving young people away from or or Black youth in the beyond their systems involveTwin Cities caught ment and toward their full in cycles of systems potential,” said Carmeann involvement, Re- Foster, executive director of bound Inc. is working to offer Rebound Inc. The organization’s work something different: a way spans a wide range of proout, and a way forward. Founded as a community- grams designed to support based nonprofit focused on youth at different stages of Black boys, the organization their lives. One of those efhas since expanded its mis- forts includes the Ujima Famsion to serve Black youth ily Resilience Program, which across the metro through works to support Black youth prevention programs, housing and their families in North support, transitional services ■ See REBOUND on page 5
Lopez joins a growing list of protesters whose charges have been dropped or reduced after federal prosecutors alleged assaults against federal agents based on limited evidence. “I don’t see you as a threat to the community,” Tunheim told Lopez. “This is over once you pay the $25.” Rachel Dionne-Thunder, vice president of the Indigenous Protectors Movement, said she hired Lopez as art director because she saw “a bright young woman with potential and creativity.” The Aztec dancer and poet Carmeann Foster, founder and executive director of Rebound Inc. carried only two things when Courtesy of Rebound Inc. she responded to a protest in
day of June 3, and I stand firm in knowing that that day was the beginning of what we now know as Operation Metro Surge,” Dionne-Thunder said. Prosecutors alleged that Lopez kicked and punched federal agents, according to court filings. During the sentencing hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Kline questioned Lopez about those allegations. “You threw a softball at victim B,” Kline said. “That officer was not injured?” “Yep,” Lopez replied, drawing quiet laughter from the packed gallery. Tunheim also asked whether ■ See JAIL on page 5