The Basically Serious State of the City

Rep Sencer-Mura Talks Recovery Funds, Police Training Center, Waymo and More

South Minneapolis legislator for district 63A, Samantha Sencer-Mura, joins us for an interview to talk about the intersection between local and state politics. We talked about the special role of safe seat legislators, what it takes for the city legislative agenda to be effective, and how to move policy work in the divided legislature. This included insights into issues like funding for municipal recovery, the police/emergency training center proposal, public education, and Waymo trying to get autonomous vehicles legalized. Recorded 7/8/26. Read the show notes and find links for further reading [https://millcityhall.com/episodes/2026-07-13-rep-sam-sencer-mura/index.html]

Roundup: Minnehaha Dog Park Decommission, and a Home for Anishnabe Academy

The Park Board voted 8-1 to begin the work of decommissioning the well-used Minnehaha off-leash dog park. We tackle how this emerges from the efforts of that board to meaningfully incorporate Native folks as important community stakeholders, and also the loud backlash that the Board now must manage. Cam also reports on efforts by Minneapolis Schools to build a permanent home for the Anishnabe Academy magnet school at the former Cooper School site. Recorded 6/24/26. Read the show notes and find links for further reading [https://millcityhall.com/episodes/2026-07-10-roundup-dog-park-anishnabe-academy/index.html]

Roundup: Bathhouses Re-Legalized and Another Bad MPD Report from the Evaluator

The City un-banned bathhouses as part of a Pride month policy agenda. We talk about this ordinance in context of query history, and discuss some of the past city dynamics around regulating business and sex. This is a round-up episode, so we also talked about the latest semi-annual report on Minneapolis Police Department reform progress. In short: not looking good! Recorded 6/24/26. Read the show notes and find links for further reading [https://millcityhall.com/episodes/2026-06-29-roundup-bathhouses-mpd-report/index.html]

Data Centers, Office Conversions and the Vacancy Dilemma

As anger at the Big Tech data center boom seems to be boiling across layers of society, data center politics landed in Minneapolis last month. The City Council passed a temporary moratorium - with generous exceptions - on new data centers in the city. We look at some of the data center projects that exist today, and those that appear to be in-progress. How do we think about hyperscale? We also examine the downtown vacancy dilemma, and the challenges and tradeoffs between data center conversions and housing conversions. When and how do data centers make sense in Minneapolis? Recorded 6/10/26. Read the show notes and find links for further reading [https://millcityhall.com/episodes/2026-06-15-data-centers/index.html]

Police Chief Resigns Just Weeks After Nomination

Just weeks after Mayor Frey challenged the City Council to support the re-nomination of his Police Chief, that same Chief has resigned under threat of discharge by that same Mayor. It is hard to remember a more dramatic climbdown in recent city politics. But for this Mayor, it is one of a series of high profile public safety hires to end in disappointment. We talk through what was said, speculate on what actually happened, review the last four years of MPD leadership, and talk about what could and should happen next. Stick around past hour two if you want some Rocco Forte talk. Recorded 5/27/26. Read the show notes and find links for further reading [https://millcityhall.com/episodes/2026-06-01-ohara-resigns/index.html]