Politics & Government

City Council Majority Announce Stadium Support

Southwest's Quincy, Tuthill on board.

It looks like Minneapolis taxpayers' money will be going to a Vikings stadium, after all. Monday morning, Mayor RT Rybak, City Council President Barb Johnson (Ward 4), and Governor Mark Dayton announced they think they have support from a majority on the city council.

According to the Star-Tribune, Southwest Minneapolis' Meg Tuthill (Ward 10) and John Quincy (Ward 11) were joined by Dianne Hoffstede (Ward 2), Kevin Reich (Ward 1), Don Samuels (Ward 5), and Sandy Colvin Roy (Ward 12). Tuthill and Quincy had previously stated their support for a stadium deal, but Tuthill reiterated her support in a Monday morning email to constituents.

"I will not vote to violate the City’s charter. None of the money for the proposed stadium comes from the City’s general fund," she wrote, saying that the Convention Center taxes that will support the city's contribution are "state-controlled."

Find out what's happening in Southwest Minneapoliswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Southwest Minneapolis' Elizabeth Glidden (Ward 9) and Betsy Hodges (Ward 13) published an editorial in the Sunday Star-Tribune arguing that the stadium deal doesn't have enough support in the state legislature, went against the wishes of city voters, and didn't extract enough benefits from Vikings owner Zygi Wilf. 

"(L)ike it or not, the voters of Minneapolis were overwhelmingly clear in their desire to have a referendum on any sports facility expenditure over $10 million," they wrote. "No matter how state leaders downplay that or spin it with legalese, this proposal requires an end run around the voters of Minneapolis."

Find out what's happening in Southwest Minneapoliswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"As a small business owner, I know how important a multi-purpose facility can be for local businesses," Tuthill added, writing that the stadium will generate construction and hospitality jobs for Minneapolis residents. 

Previously, city councilmembers have urged stadium backers to make commitments to hiring minority workers for the stadium to make sure Minneapolis' disadvantaged neighborhoods benefit from the stadium.


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