BY ALEXA BILLADEAU 

Some attendees encouraged military intervention for the sake of Syrian citizens while others disagreed during a roundtable discussion on West Bank Wednesday.

A panel of three University of Minnesota political science professors and local Syrians discussed the challenge of protecting civilians in Syria as international leaders decide whether militaries should intervene.

Political activist Mazen Halabi and physician Wael Khouli – both originally from Syria – advocated for U.S. militaries to engage to help rebels who are fighting President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

“To stop the carnage, the opposition has to have some kind of an assistant,” Halabi said.

University professors, however, said certain military strikes are not the best solution.

“If U.S. credibility is at stake now, imagine how much it will be if, in response, Bashar al-Assad launches another missile?” said University professor Ron Krebs, who specializes in international conflicts.

University communication studies junior Salma Taleb, who lived in Syria and experienced the violence firsthand, said she also doesn’t support military action.

“The possibilities of change are very limited,” she said. “The powers [Syrians] have are very limited.”

For more on the University community’s view on Syria, pick up Monday’s Minnesota Daily. 

By: David Litin

No injuries were reported in a hit-and-run at Fourth Street Southeast and Hennepin Avenue Southeast Tuesday, according to a Minneapolis police report.

The suspect gave the victim his name, phone number and “false insurance information.”

Jessamyn Bosque said the suspect hit her car on the driver’s side between the doors.

She said the suspect gave her the information and then fled the scene. The police arrived after the suspect fled.

“I didn’t want him to leave,” Bosque said.

The police informed her the suspect’s driver’s license had been revoked in 2011.

“That’s probably why he fled,” Bosque said.

Burglary in St. Paul campus building

The University of Minnesota’s Learning and Environmental Sciences building was broken into Monday, according to a University police report.

The suspect, who hasn’t been identified, stole laptops and “media equipment.”

The police report said the doorjambs were damaged where the suspect likely entered the building. 

By: Nicholas Hallett

A measure to halt development in Dinkytown failed Friday, about a week after Doran Companies released plans for another apartment complex that could oust Mesa Pizza and other businesses.

In a 6-6 Minneapolis City Council vote on Friday, a six-month development moratorium failed that would’ve prevented any development in a four-block area of Dinkytown. Procedurally, a tie vote fails.

Doran Companies can continue planning its six-story, mixed-use apartment complex for the heart of Dinkytown. The company presented its proposal to the Minneapolis City Planning Commission Thursday.

The development, which is projected to break ground in 2014 if approved, could replace a number of businesses including Mesa Pizza, Camdi Restaurant and Dinkytown Tattoo Shop.

The moratorium would’ve blocked development between 13th and 15th avenues southeast, and between 5th Street Southeast and University Avenue Southeast.

Seventh Ward Councilwoman Lisa Goodman was absent for the vote.

Third Ward Councilwoman Diane Hofstede, who represents one of the communities surrounding the University of Minnesota, said she proposed the moratorium to call a “timeout” and give both the Dinkytown Business Association and the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association time to finish their respective area plans.

“[The decision] is disappointing, but it’s not surprising,” she said. “The whole purpose was to get a period of time for these groups to plan without the pressure of an impending development.”

Ninth Ward Councilman Gary Schiff spoke out against the moratorium during the meeting, saying the moratorium was unfairly targeting one specific development, the Doran project.

Schiff said linking the moratorium to Dinkytown’s small area plan was unusual because it covers 10 city blocks, and the moratorium would only stop development in four blocks — Doran’s project being the only one proposed in that area.

“I don’t think it is fair process for policy makers to find out a development is coming along and suddenly change the rules from everybody else,” Schiff said during the hearing. “That puts politics ahead of planning.”

Schiff, chair of the Zoning and Planning Committee, said he expects both a final draft of the small area plan and Doran’s land use application in the next 30 days.

“Development is not necessarily bad,” CEO and owner Kelly Doran said. “It can also complement what is already happening.”

Immediately after the moratorium vote, MHNA President Cordelia Pierson and Doran met outside the council chambers to “work together and shape what’s best for Dinkytown,” Pierson said.

“I am confident he is a developer who has a long-term stake in the neighborhood,” Pierson said. “He knows that the quality of life in our neighborhood is extremely important for the success of his developments.”

Doran Companies currently has six apartment complexes either open or under construction near campus: Sydney Hall, Dinkydome, 412 Lofts, The Edge on Oak, The Knoll and The Bridges.

“I will say that the neighborhood has successfully worked with Doran in the past,” Pierson said. She added the close nature of the vote means Doran will be watched closely by everyone involved.

While the MHNA is willing to work with developers, Pierson said they’ll have a hard time getting residents involved in the area’s planning without a moratorium in place.

“Why is their involvement important if they just feel like things are going to be approved by City Hall without citizen opinion? We will have to redouble our efforts,” she said, “[and] have citizens really put their time and energy into the planning process.”

In early August, City Council approved a six-story, 140-unit project from Opus Group at Fifth Street Southeast by a vote of 9-4, despite a committee voting against rezoning the area for the development.

The Book House was one of the businesses displaced by the Opus project. Owner Kristen Eide-Tollefson said her worst fears were realized last Thursday when plans surfaced from Doran Companies to build its 70-unit apartment complex on the same city block.

“This is going to determine the fate of Dinkytown,” Eide-Tollefson said. “I think it is most unfortunate.”

Doran said he has signed “contingent purchase agreements,” which would allow him to buy the property that houses Camdi, Mesa and Dinkytown Tattoo once certain requirements — like having City Council approve the proposal — are met.

At the informal hearing Thursday, the planning committee expressed concerns over the project’s design and its effect on the community.

“I didn’t hear anything in there where someone said, ‘No way in God’s green earth are you going to do this project.’” Doran said. “It was more, ‘How do we design this so people can all be in support of it?’”

Doran said his proposal is an ideal project because today's Dinkytown is a “disaster.”

Planning Commission President Ted Tucker lamented the timing of the meeting because it was before the moratorium vote, Dinkytown’s small area plan and Marcy-Holmes’ master plan update.

“To make my decision, I want information from these two studies,” Tucker said. “Both will talk about the character of Dinkytown and answer questions on how redevelopment should proceed.”

Doran said he would like businesses to return to the building’s planned commercial space if they wanted to, and the new building would not necessarily mean higher rent for retail tenants.

“It may end up in dollar terms being the same,” he said, “but it may be different in shape and size.”

Doran cited Erbert and Gerbert’s as an example. The construction of Doran Companies' Sydney Hall temporarily moved the business on 15th Avenue Southeast, but it later returned to pay what Doran says is “less than market rent.”

While the proposed project could displace a number of businesses, the majority of the site is made up of parking lots.

Camdi has been at its current location for 26 years.

“We do not know what we would do if the property is sold,” said Camdi co-owner Camdi Phan. “If we have to leave, it would be heartbreaking. If we can, we want to stay here.”

For more on community reactions to Dinkytown development, pick up Tuesday's Minnesota Daily.

By: Kia Farhang

Four men did more than $2,000 in damage to cars in an auto body repair shop near the University of Minnesota campus Wednesday, according to a Minneapolis police report.

One of the suspects is a contractor who’d previously worked with Titan Auto & Tire Repair. He and another suspect had demanded money from the shop’s owner earlier in the week.

Minneapolis police Sgt. Bill Palmer said no arrests have yet been made in the case.

David Samec, the only employee in the shop at the time of the incident, said four men came in Wednesday morning asking for money they said the shop owed them.

Samec told the men he wasn’t the owner and didn’t know what they were talking about.

One of the men was holding something in his waistband, the police report said. Samec said he thought it was a gun.

Samec said the men told him to sit down and threatened to hurt him if he intervened.

“I didn’t want to get hurt,” Samec said. “I have a family.”

The four men smashed the windows of two cars left in the shop for repairs, then fled.

Dennis Browne, who owns the shop, said the men broke the windows of two cars, smashing the mirrors of one, with hammers.

The repairs will be expensive, Browne said, because the type of glass used in the windows is rare.

After the incident, Samec said he’s worried about coming in to work.

“I was terrified,” he said.

Bait bike lands suspects

University police cited three juveniles for attempted bike theft on West Bank on Monday night, according to a police report.

Department of Central Security staff saw four men on camera trying to cut the lock off of a bait bike, which is designed to lure would-be thieves into committing a crime.

Police caught three of the young men, issued them trespass warnings and cited them for lurking.

By: Kia Farhang

Four men did more than $2,000 in damage to cars in an auto body repair shop near the University of Minnesota campus Wednesday, according to a Minneapolis police report.

One of the suspects is a contractor who’d previously worked with Titan Auto & Tire Repair. He and another suspect had demanded money from the shop’s owner earlier in the week.

Minneapolis police Sgt. Bill Palmer said no arrests have yet been made in the case.

David Samec, the only employee in the shop at the time of the incident, said four men came in Wednesday morning asking for money they said the shop owed them.

Samec told the men he wasn’t the owner and didn’t know what they were talking about.

One of the men was holding something in his waistband, the police report said. Samec said he thought it was a gun.

Samec said the men told him to sit down and threatened to hurt him if he intervened.

“I didn’t want to get hurt,” Samec said. “I have a family.”

The four men smashed the windows of two cars left in the shop for repairs, then fled.

Dennis Browne, who owns the shop, said the men broke the windows of two cars, smashing the mirrors of one, with hammers.

The repairs will be expensive, Browne said, because the type of glass used in the windows is rare.

After the incident, Samec said he’s worried about coming in to work.

“I was terrified,” he said.

Bait bike lands suspects

University police cited three juveniles for attempted bike theft on West Bank on Monday night, according to a police report.

Department of Central Security staff saw four men on camera trying to cut the lock off of a bait bike, which is designed to lure would-be thieves into committing a crime.

Police caught three of the young men, issued them trespass warnings and cited them for lurking.

By: Kia Farhang

Four men did more than $2,000 in damage to cars in an auto body repair shop near the University of Minnesota campus Wednesday, according to a Minneapolis police report.

One of the suspects is a contractor who’d previously worked with Titan Auto & Tire Repair. He and another suspect had demanded money from the shop’s owner earlier in the week.

Minneapolis police Sgt. Bill Palmer said no arrests have yet been made in the case.

David Samec, the only employee in the shop at the time of the incident, said four men came in Wednesday morning asking for money they said the shop owed them.

Samec told the men he wasn’t the owner and didn’t know what they were talking about.

One of the men was holding something in his waistband, the police report said. Samec said he thought it was a gun.

Samec said the men told him to sit down and threatened to hurt him if he intervened.

“I didn’t want to get hurt,” Samec said. “I have a family.”

The four men smashed the windows of two cars left in the shop for repairs, then fled.

Dennis Browne, who owns the shop, said the men broke the windows of two cars, smashing the mirrors of one, with hammers.

The repairs will be expensive, Browne said, because the type of glass used in the windows is rare.

After the incident, Samec said he’s worried about coming in to work.

“I was terrified,” he said.

Bait bike lands suspects

University police cited three juveniles for attempted bike theft on West Bank on Monday night, according to a police report.

Department of Central Security staff saw four men on camera trying to cut the lock off of a bait bike, which is designed to lure would-be thieves into committing a crime.

Police caught three of the young men, issued them trespass warnings and cited them for lurking.

By: Cody Nelson

New safety measures will keep bikes and cars farther apart on Minnesota roads starting Aug. 1.

The Legislature’s transportation bill prohibits parking or pausing in bike lanes and tightens restrictions on cars driving through bike lanes.

During the 2013 legislative session, there was some controversy regarding the bike-safety provisions. Some lawmakers said bike policy should be up to local governments, but the measure still passed the Minnesota House in an 80-49 vote.

The law also prohibits drivers from using a bike lane to pass a car on the right. But drivers can use a bike lane to park, if they have to.

If drivers need to make a right turn through a bike lane, the law says they must signal, then yield to any bicyclists before they make the turn.

For more on how police plan to enforce the new measures, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily. 

By: Cody Nelson

New safety measures will keep bikes and cars farther apart on Minnesota roads starting Aug. 1.

The Legislature’s transportation bill prohibits parking or pausing in bike lanes and tightens restrictions on cars driving through bike lanes.

During the 2013 legislative session, there was some controversy regarding the bike-safety provisions. Some lawmakers said bike policy should be up to local governments, but the measure still passed the Minnesota House in an 80-49 vote.

The law also prohibits drivers from using a bike lane to pass a car on the right. But drivers can use a bike lane to park, if they have to.

If drivers need to make a right turn through a bike lane, the law says they must signal, then yield to any bicyclists before they make the turn.

For more on how police plan to enforce the new measures, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily. 

By: Cody Nelson

New safety measures will keep bikes and cars farther apart on Minnesota roads starting Aug. 1.

The Legislature’s transportation bill prohibits parking or pausing in bike lanes and tightens restrictions on cars driving through bike lanes.

During the 2013 legislative session, there was some controversy regarding the bike-safety provisions. Some lawmakers said bike policy should be up to local governments, but the measure still passed the Minnesota House in an 80-49 vote.

The law also prohibits drivers from using a bike lane to pass a car on the right. But drivers can use a bike lane to park, if they have to.

If drivers need to make a right turn through a bike lane, the law says they must signal, then yield to any bicyclists before they make the turn.

For more on how police plan to enforce the new measures, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily. 

By: Cody Nelson

Hundreds of anxious onlookers filled Minneapolis City Hall well past its usual open hours early Thursday morning, waiting for a midnight wedding.

After making vows 12 years ago, Margaret Miles and Cathy ten Broeke finally made their marriage official at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.

The couple was one of many that celebrated the first day of legal same-sex marriage in Minnesota. As of Aug. 1, same-sex couples can legally marry and weddings held in other states will be recognized in Minnesota.

“It's our constitutional right, our moral right, our American right to marry the person we love,” said Gov. Mark Dayton, who spoke to the crowd before the 42 scheduled ceremonies began.

Friends, family members, elected officials and members of the general public lined the hallways of City Hall to watch the state's first same-sex couples get married by officiant Mayor R.T. Rybak.

University writing studies professor Laura Gurak married her partner in New York last August. The couple celebrated legal recognition of their marriage with friends at a Minnesotans United party at the Wilde Roast Café on Wednesday night.

Gurak said the “friendly” campaign to legalize same-sex marriage helped it go from being possibly banned to legal in just a few months.

“It’s been an incredible year,” she said. “Like running a marathon, once you’re up to speed, you kind of keep going.”

The University has been a “fantastic” work environment for gay employees, Gurak said. University employees with same-sex spouses will now be eligible for the same health benefits, also effective Aug. 1.

Before the ceremonies began at City Hall, the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus performed, all wearing black T-shirts that read “Marry Me.”

John MacLean, 60, sang with the choir to a jubilant crowd.

“It’s finally nice to feel equality with other couples,” he said.

When MacLean came out to his family, he said his father didn’t talk to him for years. Although society’s perception of gay people is improving, MacLean said, there is still room to improve.

“I long for the day when people don’t bat an eye at gay couples,” he said.

Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, attended the ceremonies to watch two of her friends get married.

“What an amazing night,” she said. “We all expected [legal same-sex marriage] to come, but nobody expected it to come this quickly.”

Steff Yorek, a University staff member, legally married her wife this year in Washington. Having her marriage recognized is a big change, she said, and one that's hard to process.

“I came out in 1991, and I said for years and years that this day was never going to come,” she said. “I’m just excited and relieved.”

Yorek and her wife, Jess Sundin, weren't legally married until March. But Yorek said they consider their anniversary to be March 24, 2001 — the date of their commitment ceremony.

This month, she said she'll be attending a few weddings for friends, many of whom are getting married on the anniversary of their commitment ceremony.

“That’s the funny thing, right? Yes,” she said, “the state is recognizing our marriage today, but we got married in 2001.”

Thursday's new law change marks a rapid shift in policy for the state.

Last fall, Minnesota voters were the first in the nation to strike down a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. By the spring, a bill to legalize same-sex marriage was gaining momentum in the state Legislature. Dayton signed it into law in May.

Kahn represents neighborhoods around the University of Minnesota and was a supporter of the bill legalizing same-sex marriage.

Although some in the state are still opposed to same-sex marriage, Kahn said, “they'll get over it,” adding that she hasn't personally heard much opposition.

After the first two wedding ceremonies, Minneapolis native Jeremy Messersmith and others sang the Beatles’ classic song “All You Need is Love,” which kicked off the next 65 marriage ceremonies that continued into Tuesday morning.

For more on same-sex marriages in Minnesota, pick up Wednesday’s Minnesota Daily.

–Emma Nelson and Rebecca Harrington contributed to this report.