Michael Walker
@micwalker1.bsky.social
Retired educator, hiking enthusiast and advocate for social justice issues.
Pinned
Michael Walker
@micwalker1.bsky.social
· Nov 29
Midwest Mike On A Hike: Learnings from the Trail
I am a retired educator, and life-long learner, who loves hiking and sharing. I hope you learn from these videos as much as I do. I know I will make mistakes, and hopefully through them, will learn an...
youtube.com
Since I retired, I now spend time hiking around the Midwest and beyond. You can see my content here:
youtube.com/@midwestmike...
youtube.com/@midwestmike...
Reposted by Michael Walker
"The CIVICUS Monitor has downgraded the USA's civic space rating, reflecting a sharp deterioration of fundamental freedoms in the country... following a year of sweeping executive actions, restrictive laws, & aggressive crackdowns on free speech and dissent." monitor.civicus.org/globalfindin...
Global Findings 2025 - Civicus Monitor
Global Findings from the CIVICUS Monitor (People Power Under Attack 2025)
monitor.civicus.org
December 12, 2025 at 3:11 PM
"The CIVICUS Monitor has downgraded the USA's civic space rating, reflecting a sharp deterioration of fundamental freedoms in the country... following a year of sweeping executive actions, restrictive laws, & aggressive crackdowns on free speech and dissent." monitor.civicus.org/globalfindin...
Reposted by Michael Walker
MnDOT should quantify how much poison will be spewed, how racially disparate the death & suffering, how many young brains they want to fry, how much cancer is acceptable, before settling on a course to rebuild or expand an urban interstate.
Read the recap, watch the highlights or full recording of the @mndot.mn.gov PAC meeting, and RSVP for the upcoming formal public comment meetings.
www.ourstreetsmn.org/2025/12/11/w...
www.ourstreetsmn.org/2025/12/11/w...
What Happened at the Latest MnDOT Policy Advisory Committee Meeting? - Our Streets
There has been increasing pressure from elected officials, members of the Rethinking I-94 PAC, and the public to restore the at-grade options in the next stage of the project process and to fix flaws ...
www.ourstreetsmn.org
December 11, 2025 at 8:32 PM
MnDOT should quantify how much poison will be spewed, how racially disparate the death & suffering, how many young brains they want to fry, how much cancer is acceptable, before settling on a course to rebuild or expand an urban interstate.
Thanks to the entire Minneapolis City Council for recognizing the contributions of our Somali neighbors, and reaffirming commitment to all immigrants.
December 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Thanks to the entire Minneapolis City Council for recognizing the contributions of our Somali neighbors, and reaffirming commitment to all immigrants.
Council President Payne recognizing @emilykoskimpls.bsky.social "You center humanity in everything you do!"
December 11, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Council President Payne recognizing @emilykoskimpls.bsky.social "You center humanity in everything you do!"
Thank you, @katiecashman.bsky.social for all of your leadership! The story is just beginning!
December 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Thank you, @katiecashman.bsky.social for all of your leadership! The story is just beginning!
@sherder23.bsky.social Hi! Is this you?!
December 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
@sherder23.bsky.social Hi! Is this you?!
Reposted by Michael Walker
lots of ward 13 residents testifying in support of a strong separation ordinance at the minneapolis city council. this woman talks about going to karmel mall to pick up takeout for her family at a somali restaurant as a "small act of solidarity."
December 9, 2025 at 9:54 PM
lots of ward 13 residents testifying in support of a strong separation ordinance at the minneapolis city council. this woman talks about going to karmel mall to pick up takeout for her family at a somali restaurant as a "small act of solidarity."
Reposted by Michael Walker
Thank you to the SWAE members who testified today in support of the strengthened Separation Ordinance. We hope Council Members Palmisano and Koski were listening and will do the right thing for our immigrant neighbors.
lots of ward 13 residents testifying in support of a strong separation ordinance at the minneapolis city council. this woman talks about going to karmel mall to pick up takeout for her family at a somali restaurant as a "small act of solidarity."
December 9, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Thank you to the SWAE members who testified today in support of the strengthened Separation Ordinance. We hope Council Members Palmisano and Koski were listening and will do the right thing for our immigrant neighbors.
Reposted by Michael Walker
the people ripping out their hair over "Somali Fraud" do not bat an eye at MPD being $19 million over budget, because their so called values are as fraudulent as the schemes themselves
December 9, 2025 at 1:07 PM
the people ripping out their hair over "Somali Fraud" do not bat an eye at MPD being $19 million over budget, because their so called values are as fraudulent as the schemes themselves
Reposted by Michael Walker
$246 million/year, and they still are steadily complaining it is not enough. $1 billion in less than 5 years - do you understand the kind of safety that money should buy you? even if you gave violent criminals a cut of that money to just go away, you would spend less. crazy.
Biggest overspender for 2025: MPD is projected to be 19.5 million over budget. Boosted from $226m to $246m.
Biggest underspender: The department of Neighborhood Safety will be nearly $11 million under budget. Over half their $17m budget.
Biggest underspender: The department of Neighborhood Safety will be nearly $11 million under budget. Over half their $17m budget.
December 9, 2025 at 1:52 AM
$246 million/year, and they still are steadily complaining it is not enough. $1 billion in less than 5 years - do you understand the kind of safety that money should buy you? even if you gave violent criminals a cut of that money to just go away, you would spend less. crazy.
Reposted by Michael Walker
Another day of bathroom puns for the Minneapolis City Council, as budget markup resumes.
December 9, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Another day of bathroom puns for the Minneapolis City Council, as budget markup resumes.
Reposted by Michael Walker
CEO-to-worker pay ratio in 1965: 20-1
CEO-to-worker pay ratio in 1990: 75-1
CEO-to-worker pay ratio today: 280-to-1
What can we do about this? Here's one good idea.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/want-to-know-the-real-problem-with
CEO-to-worker pay ratio in 1990: 75-1
CEO-to-worker pay ratio today: 280-to-1
What can we do about this? Here's one good idea.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/want-to-know-the-real-problem-with
December 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
CEO-to-worker pay ratio in 1965: 20-1
CEO-to-worker pay ratio in 1990: 75-1
CEO-to-worker pay ratio today: 280-to-1
What can we do about this? Here's one good idea.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/want-to-know-the-real-problem-with
CEO-to-worker pay ratio in 1990: 75-1
CEO-to-worker pay ratio today: 280-to-1
What can we do about this? Here's one good idea.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/want-to-know-the-real-problem-with
This is interesting, given that the Mayor and some moderate CM's said a $5 million increase in the Franchise agreement was too much while knowing MPD overspending 4 times that amount.
Aisha Chughta, budget chair: The controller's office pointed out that the $20 million overspend in MPD was something the city knew at the beginning of the year, "but nobody up here was planning for such an overage and its impact on the bigger picture. This is about bringing line of sight."
City Council passing policy to reassert budget control in our wild strong mayor times.
-Mayor's admin must spend council dedicated funds on the specified purpose or report back on why they can't. Reallocation requires council approval
-Timely reporting on overspending, which we call the MPD rule
-Mayor's admin must spend council dedicated funds on the specified purpose or report back on why they can't. Reallocation requires council approval
-Timely reporting on overspending, which we call the MPD rule
December 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
This is interesting, given that the Mayor and some moderate CM's said a $5 million increase in the Franchise agreement was too much while knowing MPD overspending 4 times that amount.
In overflow for the Public Hearing on a stronger Separation Ordinance for Minneapolis.
December 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
In overflow for the Public Hearing on a stronger Separation Ordinance for Minneapolis.
Reposted by Michael Walker
Today, 3 MN GOP leaders were asked to reject Trump’s remarks calling our MN neighbors garbage.
Not one of them did.
This is not hard. Racist, xenophobic attacks on our MN community members are abhorrent. Those unable to condemn them fail the moral test.
Not one of them did.
This is not hard. Racist, xenophobic attacks on our MN community members are abhorrent. Those unable to condemn them fail the moral test.
December 4, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Today, 3 MN GOP leaders were asked to reject Trump’s remarks calling our MN neighbors garbage.
Not one of them did.
This is not hard. Racist, xenophobic attacks on our MN community members are abhorrent. Those unable to condemn them fail the moral test.
Not one of them did.
This is not hard. Racist, xenophobic attacks on our MN community members are abhorrent. Those unable to condemn them fail the moral test.
Unidos Live at Target Now: www.instagram.com/unidosmn/live/
December 4, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Unidos Live at Target Now: www.instagram.com/unidosmn/live/
Reposted by Michael Walker
"Whether it takes him going to a Sunday School class or familiarizing himself with our country’s foundational documents, I hope the president soon learns that God doesn’t make garbage. God only makes beautiful things.
And my Somali neighbors are beautiful"
And my Somali neighbors are beautiful"
I wrote a piece about my beautiful Somali neighbors. www.ms.now/opinion/trum...
Opinion | I'm a pastor in Minneapolis who sees God in my Somali neighbors
G. Travis Norvell: My Somali neighbors are beautiful
www.ms.now
December 4, 2025 at 12:21 PM
"Whether it takes him going to a Sunday School class or familiarizing himself with our country’s foundational documents, I hope the president soon learns that God doesn’t make garbage. God only makes beautiful things.
And my Somali neighbors are beautiful"
And my Somali neighbors are beautiful"
Hoye said a test drilling for Geothermal pilot is happening, and could serve neighbors beyond. Also exploring Geothermal at the Democracy Center.
December 2, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Hoye said a test drilling for Geothermal pilot is happening, and could serve neighbors beyond. Also exploring Geothermal at the Democracy Center.
Hoye discussed a study to learn more about the needs of cost burdened households. Got a $250,000 grant to look at education and engagement around electrification and Geothermal along with building interest and signing up folks interested in moving forward if we get federal funding.
December 2, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Hoye discussed a study to learn more about the needs of cost burdened households. Got a $250,000 grant to look at education and engagement around electrification and Geothermal along with building interest and signing up folks interested in moving forward if we get federal funding.
Centerpoint held Eco stakeholder meetings in October. How can Eco focussed initiatives help . Follow up in February.
December 2, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Centerpoint held Eco stakeholder meetings in October. How can Eco focussed initiatives help . Follow up in February.
Centerpoint shared an update on Geothermal pilot. No location yet, but in their service area in Minnesota. Robust evaluation. Hired expert on site ID, Resources Innovation have a list of potential sites. Sites that made 1st round being evaluated now. June target to publish with PUC.
December 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Centerpoint shared an update on Geothermal pilot. No location yet, but in their service area in Minnesota. Robust evaluation. Hired expert on site ID, Resources Innovation have a list of potential sites. Sites that made 1st round being evaluated now. June target to publish with PUC.
Xcel Solar and Battery plan at Sherco.
December 2, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Xcel Solar and Battery plan at Sherco.