“Hennepin Avenue is back, and better than ever,” Mayor Jacob Frey proclaimed on Oct. 31, 2025. A month later, the reconstructed thoroughfare started visibly struggling with open drug use and unaddressed trash.
“The level of open drug use, visible addiction, and daily disorder is easier to find than ever,” Kevin Norman, an East Isles resident wrote to city leaders on Nov. 26, 2025. “I walk this corridor often, and it’s heartbreaking for the people who are struggling and discouraging for the residents, families, and businesses who depend on this street being safe and welcoming.”
Businesses in the area are also feeling the impact…