Local residents are called to voice out their issues and contribute their two cents at the Community Commission on Police Oversight (CCPO) public hearing today. Nichelle Williams-Johnson and Louis Smith, 13th Ward neighbors, and commission members, are urging community members to come forward with fresh perspectives. "They hope to hear new voices and fresh perspectives on the CCPO's work and priorities, especially from neighbors who don't usually attend the Commission's meetings," as detailed in a statement obtained by the City website.
The gathering is scheduled to commence at 6 p.m. at the Public Service Building, with registration to speak opening at 5:30 p.m. Participants are to be taken in the order they've registered. For those looking to submit their insights without speaking up, written comments are welcomed through three avenues - at the hearing, online, or by mail, as per a reminder put forth by the City of Minneapolis.
In aviation news, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is set to switch to GPS-based departure procedures in an FAA effort to modernize navigation. This move will see the decommissioning of the older ground-based VOR systems by August 2025, a transition that has been detailed in a video found on the Project Webpage. The City, with no direct authority over the airport, is nonetheless vocal on the Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) regarding the potential for concentrated flight paths and noise impact.
Public input sessions are slated for this summer, providing a platform for residents to share their concerns and to have their questions answered. "We have also stressed the need for thorough engagement, where resident input is taken to account and questions are answered," according to the bulletin. This isn't the first rodeo with RNAV for MSP or the city; similar proposals in 2011-2012 were met with significant pushback due to design concerns and the lack of clear impact communication. The city plans to closely scrutinize the FAA's current proposal and ensure that the local voices are duly considered in the final design.
