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rkmpls.bsky.social
ryan
@rkmpls.bsky.social
630 followers 1.2K following 830 posts
wife guy. soon-to-be-dad guy. lifelong minnesotan.

data, policy, sports, stuff.

wolves back. lynx never left.

he/him
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rkmpls.bsky.social
We were leaving the Wolves game last night and @msmaas.bsky.social texted me about the Strib printing my letter and I was just so confused. I thought I must have written another one!

And now the City has pulled the 2018 and 2022 reports offline entirely post-publication. I love transparent gov lol
Minneapolis City of Lakes OOPS!! File Missing Please contact the City Clerk's Legislative Team, and we will resolve to this problem as soon as possible. Call 612-673-2216 or email cityclerk@minneapolismn.gov
November 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
there are a couple different claims that he makes (I think another is something about an 8.5x increase…) but they’ve been making this one for years, since that 2022 The Way Home report. I was going to link it here, but it appears they’ve scrubbed it online since I wrote my LTE?
Official Minneapolis city webpage with the city logo in top left. Text reads: OOPS!! File Missing Please contact the City Clerk's Legislative Team, and we will resolve to this problem as soon as possible. Call 612-673-2216 or email cityclerk@minneapolismn.gov
November 15, 2025 at 6:15 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
the Strib (finally) published my correction of some funky Frey housing math that was featured in Deena’s profile of him pre-election. better late than never, i suppose
As someone who has paid close attention to housing policy for the past two decades, something jumped out when I was reading Deena Winter's profile of Frey before the election ("Can Jacob Frey triumph over his critics one more time?" Oct. 25). The article claimed one of Frey's wins was that the number of affordable units built annually in the city had "nearly tripled" from 2018 to 2022. This choice of years seemed odd to me given that it's now 2025, so 1 dug a little deeper into the city's official reports on this issue, which are titled "The Way Home." 2018 saw 593 affordable units closed, 2022 had 919. How could that be considered a "tripling" in any sense? Well, it turns out some misleading math was deployed here. Instead of comparing 2018 to 2022 directly, the average from 2011-2018 was used, needlessly dragging down the baseline with years where we were still recovering from the housing crisis. On top of that, by choosing the 919 units in 2022 as the endpoint, this talking point conveniently leaves out that 2023-24 only saw 992 units combined - for an annual average of 496 affordable units closed. Instead of our current state of affordable housing production being a near-tripling of 2018, we have seen a 16% decline. We should absolutely celebrate wins when they happen, but misrepresenting data to turn clear struggles into victory laps does a disservice to all of us still focused on finding solutions. Ryan Kennedy, Minneapolis
November 15, 2025 at 4:00 AM
rkmpls.bsky.social
Still can’t seem to figure out if this will fully pre-empt the state’s regulatory framework or if it’ll just prevent companies from shipping to other states.
Article from Axios on Monday evening “ Why it matters: Low-dose THC seltzers have been a lifeline for struggling craft breweries, and a 2021 Minnesota law created a boom of companies that grow, manufacture and sell edibles. • "This is a poison pill for Minnesota," Carol Moss, a cannabis attorney for Hellmuth & Johnson, told Axios. Catch up quick: The 2018 Farm Bill created a loophole for intoxicating THC to be sold in low doses. The shutdown deal would ban those THC products and also non-intoxicating CBD products, Moss said. • Businesses could go for one of the state's limited number of new adult-use licenses, but that would mean much higher taxes and additional banking hurdles, and for breweries it would mean no longer being able to sell beer, Moss said. Zoom in: Minneapolis-based Indeed Brewing's chief business officer, Ryan Bandy, said his understanding is that breweries would still be able to sell their seltzers in the state in which they're made, but not across state lines. • Indeed Brewing has built up a large business of its own THC beverages, as well as producing them for other companies on contract. About half of its products are sold outside Minnesota and Wisconsin, where it operates breweries.”
November 11, 2025 at 2:24 AM
rkmpls.bsky.social
Alright here is what different matchups would have looked like if other candidates were in the final round against Frey, broken down by ward.

Jazz and DeWayne would have improved on Omar in wards 8 and 11-13. Omar had the edge everywhere else - especially wards 2, 5, 6, and 10
Graph showing ward-based results from the 2025 Minneapolis Mayoral Election, with alternate scenarios based on other candidates making the final round.
November 11, 2025 at 12:53 AM
rkmpls.bsky.social
Where my memory failed me was that this would have been *worse* for progressives, as Knuth voters were far less committed to the non-Frey coalition than Nezhad voters. Knuth was allowed to bypass Nezhad into final round under our method because she had so many votes behind Frey AND Nezhad.
Another very little spreadsheet showing hypothetical results of the 2021 Minneapolis mayoral election final round under a more standard tabulation method. 2-Way Frey/Nezhad 2-Way Share Total Share Nezhad 50547 40.38% 35.11% Frey 74630 59.62% 51.84%
November 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
This will shock you, but I was only half-right here.

If our tabulation method used standard RCV batch elimination - instead of looking ahead to a candidate's cumulative votes in all rounds *including "inactive" or unallocated 2nd/3rd place votes* - Sheila would have been ahead of Kate in the 3-way.
Very little spreadsheet showing hypothetical results of the 2021 Minneapolis mayoral election under a more standard tabulation method. 3-Way Results Post-allocation Frey- 68877 Knuth- 29250 Nezhad- 32399
November 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
if anyone is interested while we wait for more detailed data, I compiled this last night with first ballots in the mayor's race summarized by ward

it does appear @aurinmpls.bsky.social and ward 12 led in turnout (and was DeWayne's best ward by far!)
A spreadsheet showing the first-round ballot results from the Minneapolis Mayor's race, summarized by Ward. Contents (hopefully) copied below in a tab separated format: First Ballot Results "Percentage DeWayne Davis" "Percentage Jazz Hampton" "Percentage Omar Fateh" "Percentage Jacob Frey" Total "Votes DeWayne Davis" "Votes Jazz Hampton" "Votes Omar Fateh" "Votes Jacob Frey" Ward 1 Totals 15.52% 9.96% 34.50% 37.15% 12997 2017 1294 4484 4829 Ward 2 Totals 13.34% 5.97% 51.42% 27.35% 6929 924 414 3563 1895 Ward 3 Totals 11.06% 9.51% 28.10% 49.65% 13703 1515 1303 3851 6804 Ward 4 Totals 12.73% 8.84% 27.26% 45.45% 6889 877 609 1878 3131 Ward 5 Totals 10.75% 7.67% 34.74% 41.97% 5516 593 423 1916 2315 Ward 6 Totals 6.86% 3.55% 63.60% 23.58% 7654 525 272 4868 1805 Ward 7 Totals 10.61% 8.27% 25.05% 54.37% 13239 1405 1095 3317 7198 Ward 8 Totals 17.14% 13.75% 34.69% 32.51% 12235 2097 1682 4244 3977 Ward 9 Totals 17.96% 8.00% 46.04% 25.05% 8378 1505 670 3857 2099 Ward 10 Totals 13.09% 8.12% 50.65% 26.07% 11341 1484 921 5,744 2957 Ward 11 Totals 13.87% 15.85% 18.21% 49.51% 14150 1963 2243 2577 7005 Ward 12 Totals 21.15% 12.18% 24.15% 40.18% 17106 3618 2084 4131 6874 Ward 13 Totals 10.99% 13.57% 12.29% 61.77% 16918 1860 2295 2080 10451 Candidate Totals: 13.86% 10.41% 31.63% 41.71% 147,055 20,383 15,305 46,510 61,340
November 5, 2025 at 9:55 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
I did not have “Mighty Ducks actor calls out Frey staffer for using a Ducks movie gif, rejects Frey, and cheers on Omar“ on my bingo card. Danny Tamberelli is a legend.
Twitter post from Dan Green with some junk about supporting Jacob Frey above a Mighty Ducks gif that features a young Joshua Jackson in a locker room where he proudly states his name and hometown as “Charlie Conway. Minneapolis, Minnesota.” A young Kenan Thompson stands beside him in shoulder pads. A screenshot of an instagram Video where Omar Fateh is describing a campaign event he is at. In the post’s comments, we see renowned child actor Danny Tamberelli commenting that he had seen Dan Green’s post and that the Ducks would not be supporting Jacob Frey.
November 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
Nine days ago, the DFL put out a statement condemning Elliott Engen and "his history of bigoted remarks".

Tonight, @governorwalz.mn.gov is speaking at a GOTV rally being organized by...Elliott Engen's friend and former staffer Julius Hernandez.

Make it make sense folks. Just so disappointing.
Press release from the Minnesota State DFL: ST. PAUL - Today, the DFL Party released the following statement in response to frequent talk radio guest Elliott Engen's announcement of his campaign for Minnesota State Auditor: "Elliott Engen is a hard-line MAGA partisan all too eager to politicize an office meant to protect taxpayers," said Minnesota DFL Chair Richard Carlbom. "The state auditor position requires an in-depth knowledge of local government, expertise in financial management, and a dedication to service above status. Engen, a career politician whose only job experience is running for office, has none of these. Minnesotans deserve an experienced, competent auditor — not one with a resume shorter than most interns." Engen was the author of a bill to enact a state-level version of Elon Musk's DOGE, a thinly veiled attempt at bringing Trump's rejected agenda to Minnesota. He's even voted against funding the very office he wants to now run. He has been openly hostile to key programs supporting Minnesotans, likening Free School Lunches to Soviet breadlines. Engen has a history of bigoted remarks, advocating for right-wing groups to "go on offense" when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, celebrating the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and claiming that Democrats want "a culture of death." Engen has been running for office since he was 20 years old, relying on a taxpayer-funded sum of more than $150,000 since his swearing-in in 2023. Partial RSVP E-mail from Julius Hernandez via Mobilize: Julius Hernandez Organizer, GOTV Rally for Mayor Jacob Frey with Special Guest Governor Tim Walz Today is the day. We look forward to seeing you at our GOTV rally with Governor Walz at the Solar Arts Building in Northeast Minneapolis. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Program begins promptly at 6:00 PM. Please arrive early to allow time for parking and check-in. There is a limited-capacity parking lot for attendees. Additional street parking is available throughout the surrounding neighborhood. Carpooling or rideshare is encouraged. For security and capacity purposes, only registered attendees will be admitted. If you would like to bring a friend, they can still register — sign-ups will remain open right up until the event begins. Please ensure they complete the registration before arriving. Only small personal bags (such as small waist, small purse, or cross-body bags) will be permitted. Larger bags cannot be accommodated. This rally is an opportunity for us to come together, get energized, and move into Election Day with purpose. We encourage you to bring a guest, bring your energy, Facebook post from the Elliott Engen for State Auditor page: In a night photo taken in what appears to be the parking lot of a TGI Friday's or perhaps a Chili's - Elliott Engen, a short white ~23yo in a wrinkly green shirt, wrinkly white shorts, and Birkenstock sandals stands with his arm draped over Julius Hernandez, a short Latino man with glasses and a beard, wearing a White Sox jersey over a black t-shirt, with short faded jeans and white sneakers. They are smiling together and posing for the photo. The post's text reads: "Julius Hernandez and I first met on the campaign trail in 2020. He and I knocked thousands of doors together and talked about everything under the sun. He is an awesome guy with a truly inspirational life story. So glad we met up to talk about what the future holds. Needless to say, we are both ready to get to work."
November 1, 2025 at 6:31 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
It truly sickens me to learn that - the exact same day as this press conference - Jacob Frey's friend, director of his PACs, and former campaign manager (Joe Radinovich) was co-hosting a fundraiser for one of the Senators that was stonewalling Walz on gun control and killed a 2023 assault rifle ban.
A graphic pulled from Facebook, describing a fundraiser for Senator Grant Hauschild, featuring the names and faces of 11 former Iron Range legislators. Joe Radinovich - close ally of Mayor Frey - is featured with the only good picture he's ever taken.
October 29, 2025 at 11:12 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
I'm guessing this will get corrected, but in the meantime, I just want to point out here that these numbers appear to be the Minimum, Midpoint, and Maximum for each of these Grades, which are 10-step scales. They don't appear to directly show raises other than increases from step movement.
From the MPS Board's August Meeting, Item 6d on the agenda: Non-Represented Classification & Compensation Plan Minimum Midpoint Maximum Grade E23 $209,230 Deputy Superintendent $235,384 $261,537 Grade 22 $199,267 No positions in Grade 22 $224,175 $249,083 Grade E21 $189,778 General Counsel Senior Academic Officer Senior Executive Officer Senior Finance Officer Senior Human Resources Officer Senior Operations Officer $213,500 $237,222 Grade E20 $176,537 $198,605 $220,672 Associate Superintendent Associate Superintendent, Special Education & Student Support Services Grade E19 $164,221 Executive Director, Academic Programs Executive Director, Communications & Engagement Executive Director, Community Education Executive Director, Core Academics Executive Director, Finance Executive Director, Human Resources $184,748 $205,276 From the MPS Board's August Agenda: Minimum $164,221 Midpoint Maximum $184,748 $205,276 Grade E19 Executive Director, Information Technology Services Executive Director, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Executive Director, Research & Planning Executive Director, Transportation & Fleet Services Grade E18 $149,292 $167,953 $186,615 Executive Director, Equity & School Climate Executive Director, Multilingual & Magnet Programming Non-Represented Positions Covered by the MACA Salary Schedule Due to the nature of their work, the following positions are designated as non-represented and included in the District's non-bargaining unit plan. However, the District endeavors to ensure compensation is equitable and competitive by aligning it with comparable job titles within bargaining units. Accordingly, compensation for these positions shall be administered in accordance with the salary schedule negotiated by the Minneapolis Association of Confidential Administrators (MACA). This includes automatic step increases for employees hired by February 1 of the fiscal year preceding the year in which steps are granted, as well as any cost-of-living adjustments or changes to the salary structure negotiated within the plan. The effective date for all such salary changes shall be the same as those established in the MACA agreement. Positions included: Director, Office of Ombudsperson MACA Grade 79 School Board Administrator & Assistant Clerk MACA Grade 79
October 28, 2025 at 5:02 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
To either Eric Dayton or Abou Amara: "I heard me, you and Jacob Frey were getting matching parkas. Jury is out on whether Justin Bouen [Klobuchar campaign manager] springs for one."
Weinhagen tweet: "I heard me, you and @Jacob_Frey were getting matching parkas. Jury is out on whether or not @jbuoen springs for one."
October 24, 2025 at 2:35 AM
rkmpls.bsky.social
"Hearing rumors that if Sarah Clarke & Jacob Frey have a boy they are naming him Jonathan. (Full Disclosure: I started that rumor!)"
Tweet from Weinhagen: Hearing rumors that if @sarahclarke9 & @Jacob_Frey have a boy they are naming him Jonathan. (Full Disclosure: I started that rumor!)
October 24, 2025 at 2:31 AM
rkmpls.bsky.social
"I stand arm and arm with my friend, Jacob Frey, as we move our city and region forward."
QT from Weinhagen: Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. I'm honored to work with @MayorFrey in deploying a new package of funding to help Minneapolis families and businesses. I stand arm and arm with my friend, @Jacob_Frey, as we move our city and region forward. @MplsChamber
October 24, 2025 at 2:29 AM
rkmpls.bsky.social
"People sometimes ask why I consider Jacob Frey to be one of my closest friends and partners. His 2020 State of the City Address pretty much sums it up. This is what leadership looks like."
"The state of our city is unbound." People sometimes ask why I consider @Jacob_Frey to be one of my closest friends and partners. His 2020 State of the City Address pretty much sums it up. This is what leadership looks like. ->
October 24, 2025 at 2:27 AM
rkmpls.bsky.social
Looks like the patch says "Mobile Field Force" and includes the acronym for the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System. Picture here from the RNC in Milwaukee last year

www.jsonline.com/gcdn/authori...
Black patch reading "Mobile Field Force" with a mounted knight and "Police"/"1994" at the bottom.
October 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
Saw this the other day - Virginia’s data centers alone use as much electricity as all of Minnesota.
Collectively, Business Insider estimates that if Virginia's 383 data centers already built or in construction as of September 2025 all come online, they will use between 66.5 terawatt-hours and 106.4 terawatt-hours annually. The low end is roughly equivalent to the amount of power the entire state of Minnesota used in 2023; the high end is more power than Tennessee used that year.
October 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
new Becka Thompson email that I’m sure she’ll end up apologizing for later
Dear All, News cracked out yesterday which I had hoped to roll out later this week. I then tried to give more context today on KSTP but was cut to two sound bites. So, among volunteering, door knocking, attending a meet and greet in ward 12 AND working to get ready for the park board meeting tomorrow I need got this sent out so as to quell more rumors. Firstly, I can confirm that you will be getting full clarity from me tomorrow. Second, I want to address what my opponent implied in a Star Tribune article and then doubled down on in KSTP's reporting. I addressed it on camera but, and as a former filmmaker I know this happens, it ended on the cutting room floor: I am a person of my word. In my entire life, I say what I'm going to do and then I do it. If it's running a marathon, climbing a mountain, going to Juilliard, teaching a child or running for office, I am aligned with my word. My word is my bond. It was, in fact, first residents of the Northside who asked me to possibly move - to have another Northside voice on the council. Then it was Southside residents who asked me to move to save them from their 'absolute disaster' council member. So what dia I do? I told them both I would move, and I told, in fact, the entire city. And now I'm moving - just like I said I would. I have taken critiques for this and that's to be expected, but the reality is the entire city asked me to do this - because, plainly, 'there is no one else' brave enough to take this on. So let me be clear: I'm in the ward every single day, and as a parent of a student and former teacher at Minnehaha Academy and South High, I have been in the ward nearly every single day for 15 years in that capacity... and as someone who lived in the ward the first 25 years of my life... I've been in the ward every single day for 4/5ths of my existence. The implied accusations of my opponent are weak at best. And also, when the incumbent says that people 'deserve the truth', I'd say, "yes! They do!" like... Where do YOU live? Why haven't you fulfilled any campaign promises? Will you be moving to Robbinsdale after you get married? Moreover, when she knows she can't win on merit, experience or ideas, she threatens to sue me. Sound like anyone we all might know in the oval office? The truth is I have done everything 'by the book' and tomorrow that will be fully confirmed. My record is clear and I'm excited to finish this journey with you in profound and clear victory. Because what I say l'll do, I do. If it's helping I bring generational change to North Commons Park, fixing a title IX issue that MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOLS couldn't fix on their own or assuring that stake holders got over the final hurdle getting the Hiawatha Golf Course on the National Registry - if I tell you I'll do it, I'll do it. (including protecting my colleagues and students when administration let violence get out of control_and swept under the rug at South High) So here is, as a reminder, what I will do for Ward 12 and the whole city starting in January: • Rebuild Lake Street • Clean up the Hiawatha Corridor especially 46th and Hiawatha. • Help small businesses wherever they are in the ward - and city • Restore Public Safety and public TRUST • Fix the city ordinances and zoning which are harming downtown's revitalization • Work with MPS and the County to get kids in crisis the help they need - in ALL ways. For all who have already shown their support with a lawn sign, I appreciate you. I'm on my third order of signs, keep it coming. If you want a t-shirt, just let me know. They're fun and simple. "Vote For Becka" I'll happily get one to your door if you already host a sign also. And let me further restore what ended up in the KSTP editing room: The city's budget is 20 times the park boards. While MPRB nearly begged for $1.1. million to fund two brand new parks last week at the BET, the incumbent and her friends flush that much into black box contracts every month. We're going to get this done. You deserve better.
September 25, 2025 at 3:59 AM
rkmpls.bsky.social
“I’ve bean here the whole time!”

So great to see @samreich.bsky.social and @gamechangershow.bsky.social make it to the big time in the form of crop art at the Minnesota State Fair!
Beautiful, colorful seed art portrait featuring the set of GameChanger and its host, Sam Reich
August 26, 2025 at 11:07 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
(I do find Shaffer's husband donating much more recently to a far-right-wing ideologue and diehard Trump supporter very concerning still…)
$250 Donation from Steve Shaffer to Ryan Wilson, former candidate for State Auditor
August 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
And like…if you’re willing to do this stuff then it probably doesn’t bode well for how you’ll behave in other situations
Screenshot from Star Tribune article: “ Garman is a former MPD Officer of the Year who was fired for his role in the seizure of cellphones during a raid but was reinstated by former interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman in 2022. He was also sued by a family for his part in a raid by the city’s now-defunct Metro Gang Strike Force that led to a city payout of $16,000. Berry was fired in 2007 for several violations of department policy, including what an assistant chief called a second infraction involving manipulation of time records, after a 2004 investigation found he falsified information to get overtime. He was reinstated by an arbitrator. Berry was also arrested on domestic assault charges in 2017; the charges were dismissed two years later.”
July 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
Got it.

I was a little confused because I assumed all candidates had a right to the data for delegates, but looking at the rules again and...it doesn't look like they do anymore?

So how does Becka Thompson get my email then? Buy Ward 12 caucus-goes names from DFL and then match to VAN for email?
From 2025 official MPLS DFL Call: RECORDING CAUCUS NIGHT INTERNAL DFL DATA AND PAPERS No person may take photographs of or otherwise capture information from precinct caucus sign-in sheets or other attendance forms, unless acting on behalf of the party. (DFL List & Roster Policy, Section 4) Precinct caucus in-person and paper non-attendee participation forms are protected at all times. The information from precinct caucus lists is available, upon request to the City Chair after reasonable notice, to each public office candidate who (1) is endorsed, provisionally endorsed, or provided with a letter of support, and (2) is seeking an office for which the members in that precinct can vote, without fee. Public office candidates who are unendorsed or without a letter of support must pay an applicable fee before being given access to a precinct caucus list. Information in precinct caucus lists is not available to candidates seeking party office or appointments or to any other interested party member. The DFL Party will not disclose the actual email addresses from the caucus lists to an unendorsed candidate. The party may sell access in the form of the right to forward a message to the listed members via email through the party. Each such communication must let any member opt-out of any future electronic mailing from that candidate’s campaign via the party.
July 7, 2025 at 8:15 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
I was thinking of HSI personally since they’ve been doing a whole bunch of routine enforcement in the past few months, but you’re right about the ERO folks being the lower paid ones.
Deportation Officer DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Overview Accepting applications Open & closing dates @ 06/05/2025 to 08/29/2025 Salary $49,739 - $89,528 per year Pay scale & grade GL 5-7 Locations Many vacancies in the following locations: Phoenix, AZ Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA Show more locations (21). @ Help ® Help
June 17, 2025 at 9:16 PM
rkmpls.bsky.social
Fed website says $63k is the entry floor from what I can see.
Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, in multiple locations. These are non-bargaining unit positions. Overview Accepting applications Open & closing dates 03/19/2025 to 09/19/2025 Salary $63,148 - $144,031 per year Pay scale & grade GS 9 - 12 Locations Many vacancies in the following locations: Phoenix, AZ Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA
June 17, 2025 at 9:07 PM