Subzero Homelessness

It's -10 right now, which is easily the coldest it's been since I moved to Minneapolis, and it got me thinking about homelessness. Where would I be right now if I was homeless in Minneapolis? I assume I'd find a shelter, but there are only so many shelter beds to be had. I could go away from the cities and find a shelter. I know one thing I'd never do is sleep in a dumpster - not in this weather.

I wonder why homeless people even stay in Minnesota. Years ago I remember cities would put people on buses and send them to San Francisco. Last year Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani had a series of suggestions for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome to deal with San Francisco's homeless problem.

It's funny to hear a New Yorker try to tell a San Franciscan how to run his city, as if politics in SF is even remotely similar to NYC. The weather here keeps homelessness from being at the levels of either coast, but these arctic temperatures make any level more critical. It's scary to think about any one out there right now, but I'm sure there are thousands.

Reasons to Move to Minneapolis

Tony Galarza from www.aiapvc.org/

Today, while I sat in my doctor's office, another patient asked me if my sweatshirt referenced Oakland, CA. Rarely does anyone comment on the front of the sweatshirt. Most people love the back of the sweatshirt and I get a lot of compliments.

The woman was excited when I told her it was. She was born and raised in Oakland and moved here nine years ago. She didn't ask what brought me to Minnesota, but I couldn't help but ask her. Her response was one I'd never heard before. But to be honest, I rarely ask what an individuals motivation is for the move to the Twin Cities.

She moved to Minneapolis for the air quality. She went onto say that Minneapolis has the best air quality of an urban city in the nation. I'd never heard that before. I've noticed that the air quality is better than the Bay Area. But I have only lived in two urban settings so I don't have much to compare it to.

It got me thinking, is Minneapolis really the best? According to the Earth Day Network, Minneapolis ranks 15th in the nation closely trailing Tucson, AZ, Omaha, NE, Billings, MT, and Virginia Beach, VA - all of which are tied for 11th. So we're not #1, but that 15th is still great when you look at who trails Minneapolis. Oakland is much further down the list at 41 out of 72 urban cities. At the top of the list is Sioux Falls, SD and our cross river neighbor Fargo, ND is ranked 4th.

We all have our different reasons for moving to Minneapolis, but chalk air quality up one reason to move to Minneapolis I'd never thought of.