Blog

Between the recent fires in California and the news that 2024 was the hottest year on record, it should be abundantly clear to everyone that we are in the midst of a climate crisis. The city of Minneapolis has made sound strides in addressing global warming on the local level, but we are not the climate leaders we can and should be. Our goal of being carbon-neutral by 2050 is admirable; however, I would like to challenge us to aim for instead being carbon-negative by then. Too many people view climate action as a burden, but I prefer to see it as an opportunity to make people's lives easier and restore our environment. 

In 2025, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) will spend approximately $155 million on “caring for park assets, protecting the environment, serving the city’s youth, and investing in employees.” If we want a vibrant and resilient Minneapolis, we need to put our money where our mouth is. After all, a budget is not just a simple spreadsheet, but a document that reflects our values and priorities. We need to make sure our policies and decisions follow through on this.