By Teri Knight, News Director
The demographics of Covid-19 show a grim story for our minority populations. HealthFinders Collaborative Ex. Dir. Charlie Mandile talked with Jeff Johnson last week. He explained that, in Rice County, 36% of the cases identify as black, 33% as Latino, “that’s about 4 to 5 times the kind of underlying proportion of the population”. Compared to the white population. The disparity is shocking, he said, but not surprising. He says this is a symptom of, “persistent and engrained underlying inequities, structural challenges, structural racism within our healthcare and social services systems, food production networks that really put these populations most at risk”. Minority communities also suffer more serious complications. Many are involved in industries that are deemed essential businesses including food production and
agriculture. HealthFinders helps communicate by sending out information in 3 languages, English, Spanish and Somali. While the healthcare industry, Mandile said, is not immune to structural racism, he asks us all to look at our own role in racism. It’s a process that won’t change overnight. This is not new to our minority communities, he said, it’s what they live. Be it food, housing, employment and healthcare. The pandemic shut down HealthFinders biggest fundraiser while increasing the need for their services but many came forward to make sure HealthFinders would not go away. Mandile said, “because of them and because of all of the support that we have received, we are now able to focus on meeting the sources that the community needs rather than just making ends meet”. There’s plenty of uncertainty remaining as Covid 19 is not gone. This is a moment where we can work to understand how we got to this point and how we can change it. Mandile added, “I think now’s the time where we really double down on what’s immediately around us and focus on what’s next to us in our community and understand what we can do to really help each other through this”. Then, when the dust settles, work to dismantle those disparities. As a Northfield Hospital Board member, he challenged the Board to think about how those inequities can be addressed including healthy living initiatives without a financial barrier. Mandile’s full interview is HERE.
Martig on channelizers, sidewalks
The City of Northfield activated a couple more cameras to watch the Water/4th St. bridge area to see the traffic flow, be it vehicles, pedestrians and those fishing. Administrator Ben Martig said the idea of the channelizers was to help in social distancing. There have been various reasons given by councilors and the Mayor. There are people driving that wait for someone else, although there is room for two vehicles, it’s tight. This will stay in place until August 7th, the council will revisit the topic August 3rd. Martig said the barriers were not what they ordered, “the style we thought we were going to get through the leasing company would’ve been fillable like with water or sand so there wouldn’t have been any of those sandbags. We were interested to see if they had solid colors other than white or orange, apparently they didn’t have either”. They’re looking at possibly buying some, however they’re not cheap. The City has already spent $8,000 on this experiment. Martig said they’ve received comments on the Water St. closure between the dam and Bridge Square to explore a permanent closure there or at least a seasonal closure. If you have thoughts on that, tell City Hall. As for the bridge, they could possibly extend the sidewalks on each side in a more permanent way. Martig commented, “There is a possibility that we could extend the decking a little bit out and maybe add an interior railing to that so that it would have a little more permanent solution to have some wider sidewalks through there”. Those sidewalks are more narrow than most. The City doesn’t have an estimate on how much the widening would cost. Links to the cameras on our website: 4th St. and Bridge Sq. 4th & Water St. bridge
Bridge Square Cannon River dam
Artist selected for Roundabout project needs ACC approval
Last week, the City of Northfield’s Public Art Review Committee concluded their review and selection of the winning artist for the public art component for the roundabout underpasses at Highway 246 and Jefferson Parkway. A public announcement will be made once the artist has been approved by the Arts and Culture Commission at their July meeting. Following their approval, there will be a two-week public input process from the City of Northfield’s social media outlets.
