A personal experience motivated me to start this petition. Not long ago, a pothole in North Minneapolis damaged my car significantly. When I took my claim to the City, they dismissed it recklessly, stating there was no negligence. When I appealed, it only resulted in the same dismissive answer. Unsatisfied and burdened by the poor condition of my vehicle, I am taking the matter to court. However, I am not alone in this struggle this has affected the whole community.

The roadways in North Minneapolis are in troubling condition. Filled with bumps, cracks, divots, and potholes, they stand as a symbol of the City's neglect towards our community. We are not lesser than, we too deserve good, safe, and beautiful roadways. Neglected road infrastructure is more than an aesthetic issue it's a safety one too.

We plead with the City to take concrete measures in resolving this issue. We firmly believe that through investing in our roadways, we can revive the beauty of the Northside, and provide safe and comfortable commutes for residents and other road users. Show them that we are not lesser than. Show us that you care about us. During my phone meeting with the council, I presented my case regarding the condition of our roads. Notably, no council members had any questions or comments besides Greg Sauter with the cities attorney office. He acknowledged, “the primary source of getting noticed about street damage is feedback from citizens.”  According to Minneapolis Public Works, their mission is to “build, operate, and maintain the public infrastructure and provide services to the public in Minneapolis.” However, the current state of our roads raises concerns about whether they are fulfilling this responsibility. Relying on citizens to report potholes and roadway damage should not be the primary means for the city to identify maintenance needs.  It is the city's duty to monitor and maintain our roadways proactively, which calls for regular inspections. As a taxpayer, I believe it is unreasonable for me to take on the responsibility of reporting these issues, especially since many residents may not be fully aware of how to do so. During my conversation with Greg, he recognized that this reliance on citizen reporting is a problem. If the city acknowledges this issue, why aren’t we seeing timely fixes? Please sign this petition to stand with us in demanding improved roadways in North Minneapolis.