Latest news with #MetCouncil
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-Metro Transit employee claims religious discrimination in lawsuit
A former Metro Transit worker is suing the Metropolitan Council, claiming religious discrimination and workplace retaliation drove him out of his job. A lawsuit filed Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court alleges Jihad Hamoud, who is Muslim, left his job in 2022 after repeated questioning of his religious accommodations, discrimination based on his faith, and disciplinary measures from management after reporting problems. It also claims management sent police with Hamoud to pray after repeatedly declining his requests to do so during a 2021 discipline meeting with management. The Met Council can't comment on ongoing litigation, spokesman John Schadl said in a statement. Metro Transit is just one service run by the regional planning organization. The lawsuit comes after an investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights found probable cause that the Met Council violated state antidiscrimination law and retaliated against Hamoud. The council appealed the November 2024 ruling, but Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero reaffirmed her decision in January this year. Minneapolis law firm Storms Dworak brought the lawsuit on Hamoud's behalf. Hamoud had been an employee of the Met Council since 2010, when he was hired as a Metro Transit bus driver, according to court documents. He transferred to a job cleaning and maintaining Metro Transit facilities in 2019. Work was based out of a central hub in St. Paul. While in that position, Hamoud experienced multiple incidents of religious discrimination, the lawsuit claims. In one incident detailed in the lawsuit, a supervisor blamed the bathrooms becoming dirty on Muslims ''who pray in there and wet up the whole place and throw tissue and paper towels all over the place and get the toilets clogged.'' Hamoud told the supervisor Muslims must pray in clean settings, the lawsuit said. In another incident, according to the lawsuit, a Met Council janitor told Hamoud that Muslims were creating problems and leading to a conflict with Christianity. Problems continued, but when Hamoud met with managers to discuss his concerns about religious discrimination, he was placed on administrative leave, according to the lawsuit. When Hamoud returned to work, a manager accused Hamoud of driving past him and the janitor to intimidate him, and later called Hamoud into a meeting with two police officers present, according to the lawsuit. The manager allegedly accused Hamoud of insubordination. As they waited for a union representative, Hamoud asked to pray, which, as a practicing Muslim, he is required to do five times a day. The manager allegedly directed the two police officers to 'keep an eye on' Hamoud while he prayed, causing him to, among other things, feel 'degraded, humiliated, disrespected, vilified, and discriminated against.' Hamoud was placed on a five-day suspension without pay and escorted off the premises. In a later meeting between Hamoud's union and Met Council, the group's assistant director of Facilities Maintenance said the situation was 'blown out of proportion,' and 'border[ed] on ridiculous,' the lawsuit claims. Hamoud returned to work, but continued to experience discrimination and eventually resigned in May 2022. He is seeking a total of $100,000 in damages and any other relief a court deems appropriate. St. Paul police name detective, officer, employee of the year Jerome Johnson: A new era for Riverview mobility St. Paul weighs consolidating some downtown offices at Osborn 370 building State seeks to cancel permit for St. Paul's Northern Iron foundry St. Paul's Maxfield Elementary breaks ground on 'community schoolyard'
New York Post
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Don't trust the rhetoric: reject antisemitism in NYC mayor's race
The surest way to trigger the collapse of New York City is to elect an antisemitic mayor. Throughout history, rising antisemitism is a bellwether of societal ruin: When attacks on Jews are tolerated or encouraged, the dissolution of everyone's rights and the abandonment of basic freedoms follow. See the Spanish Inquisition, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union for examples. Advertisement It could happen here. Electing a Jew-hating mayor who turns a blind eye to antisemitic crime will drive out huge numbers of city residents, including some of its wealthiest, erode the real estate market, hollow out cultural institutions and lead to moral implosion. Everyone who can leave, Jews and non-Jews alike, will flee. Being Jewish in NYC is already getting uncomfortable. Advertisement We've seen swastikas scrawled on walls and desks in some city public schools, students elsewhere casually referring to math high performers as 'the Jew table,' a Queens community garden posting a ban on Zionists, a 13-year-old Jewish boy slapped in the face as he rides his bike through his neighborhood — such incidents are no longer shocking. Since the beginning of the year, 60% of the confirmed hate crimes in Gotham have targeted Jews, even though they make up just 10% of the city's population. All the top contenders for mayor claim to deplore antisemitism. Don't believe it. We need to scrutinize the candidates' records. Advertisement The most dangerous wolf in sheep's clothing: Zohrab Mandani, a state assemblyman currently polling second in the Democratic primary behind former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani is making the rounds to Jewish events. He's attended at least seven public and private meetings and meals with Jewish leaders in the last month. On Friday he posted an official campaign video proclaiming himself a defender of the Jewish people, promising an '800% increase' in city spending to 'combat antisemitism.' Advertisement 'In this election, we're seeing . . . the pain of Jewish New Yorkers being weaponized as a talking point,' he moaned. Don't fall for his new guise. Mamdani has backed the odious Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, calls Israel's actions against Gaza 'genocide' and recently refused to co-sponsor two Assembly resolutions to condemn the Holocaust and recognize the state of Israel. His campaign claims are just not credible. 'Mandani has been fanning the flames of antisemitism, and now he wants us to believe he's the firefighter,' warns David Greenfield of the Met Council, a major Jewish charity. The New York Times calls Mamdani's stance on Jews and Israel 'nuanced.' Nonsense: He's a morally bankrupt Jew-hater. Meanwhile, Cuomo is betting big on Jewish voters, relying on a track record of supporting Israel and promoting New York-Israel business ties, as well as signing an anti-BDS bill in 2016. But his outreach appears to be inch-deep: After leaving the governor's office in shame, Cuomo launched the group 'Never Again NOW!' at the tony Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton, promising a lecture series and a paid media campaign to combat anti-Jewish hate. Advertisement But nothing followed — and not even the website has been updated. Was it merely a convenient way for a disgraced former governor to reconnect with the donor class? Probably. Maybe Mayor Eric Adams' newly announced Office to Combat Antisemitism will produce real results. Adams, who is not competing in the June 24 primary, hopes to appear on November's general-election ballot as an independent candidate on two lines — including one called 'ENDAntiSemitism.' Advertisement It's outright pandering, but there's no question Adams has been a staunch ally of the Jewish community and a backer of Israel's military campaign against Hamas. Even so, almost all New York City's problems require a fix in Albany, antisemitism included — but the statewide Democratic Party has been AWOL. New York state saw more antisemitic incidents in 2024 than any other state, the Anti-Defamation League reported — in large part because attackers here face few criminal consequences. Advertisement Yet last week, Democratic lawmakers in Albany defeated a bill to defund colleges that permit 'terrorist organizations or activities' on campus. 'The radical left no longer is willing to stand up to anti-Israel terrorists and antisemites,' Senate Minority Leader Rob G. Ortt told me after the vote. The Democratic majority has also refused to ban public mask-wearing, keeping Jew-hating criminals from being identified and held accountable. Advertisement At least in Gotham, the mayoral wannabes have recognized antisemitism as a major issue. Now it's the voters' job to parse the candidates' promises and determine who's for real and who's the trombenik — that's Yiddish for faker. Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York and co-founder of the Committee to Save Our City.
CBS News
07-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
SWLRT audit prompts more Met Council criticism from Minnesota lawmakers
Minnesota state auditors on Monday released the results of their investigation into construction of the Metropoilitan Council's oft-delayed and over budget Southwest Light Rail Transit project. The Office of the Legislative Auditor's report found "instances of noncompliance and weaknesses in internal controls" in cost discrepancies, work with certain subcontractors, contaminated soils and security. The audit focused on "construction activities and the work performed by the civil construction contractor, Lunda/C.S. McCrossan Joint Venture," the OLA said. The 14.5-mile extension of the Metro Green Line from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie is the most expensive public works project in state history at $2.8 billion. Construction began in 2018 and has been delayed numerous times. The Metropolitan Council expects it to be up and running sometime in 2027. At a hearing Monday morning with the Legislative Audit Commission, the Metropolitan Council responded to the findings. "Most importantly, as I mentioned before, there were no overpayments and we have protected, we believe, taxpayers' interests in delivering this project," Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle said. "Southwest Light Rail, or we refer to as the Green Line Extension, is a generational investment in a transformative network of transit throughout this metro area." Lawmakers on both sides excoriated the Met Council during the hearing. "There is a big problem in the Met Council, the way they conduct business, spending other people's money," Republican state Sen. Calvin Bahr said. "People work hard for their money, and all three of your problems go so over budget, it's like you don't care." "We will continue to get these results because that's the way the system is designed. It's up to the public to rise up if they want better outcomes from this regional body," DFL state Sen. Scott Dibble said. The auditors' full findings and recommendations can be found on the OLA website . Two years ago, an OLA report found the Met Council wasn't fully transparent about the project's cost overruns and delays and began construction without securing the necessary funds for completion. The council's alleged mismanagement of the SWLRT project has led to calls to reform the unelected body.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Transformative' $130M downtown St. Paul development plan advances
A Indiana-based developer's plans to transform a vacant property in the heart of downtown St. Paul have taken a significant step forward. The city of St. Paul said this week the $130 million proposal for the property, known as the Central Station Block, is advancing. Developer Flaherty & Collins recently gained approvals from the Metropolitan Council and the city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority to enter into a tentative developer agreement, clearing the path to begin public engagement, design and other steps needed before a final agreement. A 20-story apartment tower with 300 market-rate apartments and 10,000-square-feet of ground-floor retail is currently envisioned for the site, which is served by the METRO Gold Line and several bus routes. The Central Station Block proposal also calls for a six-story building to be connected by skyway over the light rail. In a statement, Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle said the agency is excited to advance the "transformative" development. "This pivotal project will not only revitalize a key urban hub but demonstrate our commitment to smart growth principles," Zelle said. "By strategically increasing density around major transit modes, we're creating a more sustainable, equitable, and economically vibrant region that benefits all residents and positions us competitively on the national stage.' The property is comprised of two parcels owned separately by the Met Council and city of St. Paul. Both were acquired over a decade ago as part of the Green Line's construction. 'Central Station is a key intersection for commuters, residents, and visitors to access our urban core," stated St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. "Flaherty & Collins' ideas to reimagine this area with housing and retail echo our vision for a vibrant, connected, and revitalized downtown Saint Paul.'
Axios
26-02-2025
- Business
- Axios
Light rail projects face funding questions with Trump administration
The Green Line extension to the southwest metro, already nearly $1 billion over budget, now faces another question: Will the federal government send the remaining $234 million it awarded the project in 2020? Why it matters: After many delays and cost increases, the multibillion dollar, 14.5-mile project is more than 80% complete and supposed to begin service in 2027. But President Trump's attempt to halt federal grants raises questions about the final phases. The latest: "We are carefully reviewing all of the executive orders to fully understand the impact it could have not only on services we provide, but existing regional development programs and partnerships," Met Council spokesperson Laura Baenen said in a statement. "It will take time to gain full clarity and legal authority associated with each executive order." Catch up quick: The project, expected to cost $2 billion at the time of groundbreaking, was awarded a $929 million federal grant during Trump's first term. The Met Council has received $695 million of that so far. The project cost has ballooned to nearly $3 billion, with Hennepin County taxpayers having to make up for a big chunk of the shortfall. The county is funding $1.28 billion — or 45% — of the total project cost. What they're saying: Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis), chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, told Axios Trump's attempt to freeze federal spending is "disgusting and outrageous." Stopping the remaining funding "would be a violation of a contract," he said. Of note: When asked how much money the Met Council has in reserves in the event the remaining federal funds are withheld, Baenen said "We are not going to speculate on what has not happened." U.S. DOT did not respond to a request for comment. What we're watching: What happens to Trump's grants freeze, which was halted by a federal judge. Blue Line is next debate Trump, and his new Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, have also left local officials wondering about funding for the planned Blue Line extension from downtown Minneapolis to the northwest suburbs. State of play: Minnesota Republicans are already trying to sink the project, which has come under more scrutiny following delays and cost overruns on the Green Line, as well as a scathing auditor's report about the Met Council's management of the work. The latest: A Republican-backed bill to pause the Blue Line extension until the Green Line project is complete fell just short of passage on Monday, though it could be revived as part of end-of-session budget talks. What we're hearing: The bill's chief author, Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove), told Axios that she'd support Duffy and the DOT cutting off funding for that project, which could cost north of $3 billion. "The situation on the ground has changed so dramatically, and we shouldn't just keep throwing taxpayer money at light rail," Robbins said of the broader decline in demand from downtown commuters. She wants lawmakers to explore serving the corridor via bus rapid transit lines instead. The other side: Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston testified that 20% of Hennepin County households without a car live within one mile of what would be the Blue Line extension. Torey Van Oot contributed reporting.
