Northsiders decry Blue-Line disruption, displacement

Community and organization leaders and residents gathered outside the Metro Transit headquarters in Minneapolis on Thursday, August 7, to demand immediate action on the Blue Line Extension light rail project, which has raised serious concerns about displacement and environmental justice for local communities, especially those of Southeast Asian and African American descent.

The event, which included speeches from key community advocates, was aimed at addressing delays in critical funding and the lack of commitment from local government agencies to support anti-displacement efforts. Significant frustration stemmed from the removal of key language regarding environmental justice from the project’s Environmental Impact Study, which had previously addressed the disproportionate impacts of the Blue Line Extension on BIPOC communities.

Community voices 

Brandon Devonsga from the LAO Assistant Center of Minnesota, a long-time partner with the Blue Line Coalition, spoke about the ongoing challenges faced by Southeast Asian communities along the Blue Line corridor, particularly in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park. He emphasized the barriers the community faces in terms of language, cultural differences, and a lack of outreach from government agencies.

“For over 40 years, our community has been in the U.S., and we have struggled,” Devongsa said. “We’ve faced systemic challenges, and now with the Blue Line project, we’re seeing barriers to the progress we’ve made on environmental justice and anti-displacement efforts.” 

He also questioned how the community could continue to trust local government when these issues remain unresolved, calling out the broken promises made by officials. “Our communities don’t just want to rise; we want to thrive,” he stated.

Crystal Lucas from the Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (NRRC) spoke about the ongoing displacement and the organization’s efforts to help residents and businesses stay in their homes. 

“We’re working to keep residents in place, even paying off mortgages for elderly homeowners to protect them from displacement,” Lucas explained. 

However, she emphasized that government promises of anti-displacement funding had not been fully realized, and that these funds must be accessible to those facing the pressures of displacement.

Denise Butler from African Career, Education, and Resource (ACER) highlighted the importance of community-led solutions, particularly the creation of the Anti-Displacement Community Prosperity Program (ACPP), which was developed through grassroots efforts. Butler urged Hennepin County to expedite the distribution of anti-displacement resources, stressing the importance of the community leading this charge rather than being sidelined by bureaucratic barriers. 

“We know the work needs to get done, but these unnecessary barriers are holding us back,” Butler said, adding that the impact of what is to stem from the Blue Line Extension project has and is already happening before our eyes.

“Right now, we’re still trying to gain back some of the businesses that have already been lost due to land acquisition along the light rail corridor. Our small businesses run by Black, Indigenous, and people of color are the economic engines for a lot of these cities.”

Andrea Young, a representative of Heritage Park Neighborhood Association in North Minneapolis, expressed frustration with the ongoing delays and the lack of support for the community. 

“For over a decade our community has been caught in the crosshairs of the Blue Line Extension Project,” Young stated. She emphasized the urgent need for the $10 million allocated for anti-displacement funding to be released immediately to prevent further pressure on families facing displacement. “We deserve investment without displacement,” she added.

Ongoing struggle for equity

Throughout the event it was clear that community leaders are not simply focused on the construction of the Blue Line Extension itself but on ensuring that the project does not further harm vulnerable communities. The focus is on the people, their homes, businesses, and the ability to thrive in their neighborhoods, regardless of the train’s status.

“The train is secondary,” said Ricardo Perez, organizer for the Blue Line Coalition. “It’s about the people and the promises made to them. If this project moves forward, it must be done with full support of those who will be affected.” 

Perez expressed concern over the Met Council’s cancellation of a key meeting, which failed to build trust with the community. Local leaders are calling on Hennepin County and the Met Council to fulfill their commitments and to release the anti-displacement funds immediately. 

“We are not asking for charity,” said Perez. “We are asking for what is rightfully ours: the resources to keep our homes, businesses and families intact.”

What’s next?

The rally concluded with a call to action for the community to attend the next Anti-Displacement Board meeting, scheduled for August 14 at NorthPoint in Minneapolis, where further discussions will take place. The community remains united in their call for swift action, transparency, and accountability from the authorities involved in the Blue Line Extension project.

As community leaders continue to push for equitable policies, they stress the need for a future where neighborhoods are not divided by transit expansion but supported through sustainable development and anti-displacement efforts.

For more information, contact ricardo@thealliancetc.org.

Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.