Ep 4: A Conversation with Jeff Lunde, Hennepin County Commissioner

Episode recorded on July 28, 2025

Join us in this episode as we talk with Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Lunde about why the Blue Line Extension matters for Brooklyn Park, North Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and the entire state of Minnesota. Commissioner Lunde brings a practical, people-first perspective to the conversation, emphasizing that transit is ultimately about helping people get where they need to go—whether that means school, work, healthcare, training programs, downtown events, or the airport.

This conversation explores the Blue Line Extension as a long-term investment in access, economic competitiveness, and trust. From youth programming and workforce development to international business investment and small business growth, Commissioner Lunde explains why fixed rail can create lasting confidence in communities that have too often seen promises disappear. 

Main Topics Covered:

•  Commissioner Lunde’s background as a council member, mayor, educator, and county leader
•  The importance of listening to community concerns, including opposition and difficult conversations
•  Why transportation is often the first barrier to jobs, education, youth programs, and opportunity
•  The Blue Line Extension’s role in addressing disparities across North Minneapolis and the northwest metro
•  How light rail, BRT, buses, roads, sidewalks, and bikeways each play a role in a complete transportation system

This episode shows how transit connects far more than stations. Commissioner Lunde frames the Blue Line Extension as a commitment to people, opportunity, and regional growth—one that can help communities compete, connect, and build lasting economic strength.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:05

Welcome to community tracking your connection to the Blue Line. Each episode your host myself Brett Buckner and Rich Morris will bring you stories, conversations, and updates that highlight the people, places, and possibilities along the Blue Line extension. From youth voices to community leaders to artists, entrepreneurs, and uh just you. Uh uh This is your place to stay connected. Ask questions and join the journey. Every episode with community tracks, we're gonna check in with our guy Kyle inside the project team. Kyle is a wealth of knowledge and will always provide us the ins and outs in real time. So without further ado, let's check in the car.

SPEAKER_05 0:53

Had an exciting couple weeks for the project and uh moving things forward.

SPEAKER_00 0:58

We have some really exciting news on this episode. So this is actually like a breaking news, breaking news, even though you're gonna hear it uh in podcast format. Um, but we have a a decision with the Federal Transit Administration about the Blue Line project in regards to the environmental um impact statements. So, Kyle, can you please give people a little bit of a uh you know high-level breakdown of what that means for this project and what it means for community?

SPEAKER_06 1:27

Yeah, yeah, definitely, Rick. So um, yeah, very exciting news came out last week.

SPEAKER_05 1:32

Uh we're we're talking about August 20th here, so we're we're a few days um into the kind of celebration, but the federal government did issue what's called an amended record of decision, which is kind of a final approval and signal the completion of the project's environmental review process. And so that is a federal process required by the National Environmental Protection Act. Um, you know, it completes uh two, three years of you know, really intensive environmental review, taking scientific measurements and studies, and also just doing a ton and ton and ton of community engagement on this. And so this does a couple things. First of all, it makes um it makes it so that all of the uh strategies to address the impacts, both positive and negative, of the light rail are now officially a part of the project and federal funds when they come can be used to uh support those. And we, you know, really listen deeply and we to the concerns about displacement and you know impacts to businesses, loss of parking and all of those things, and we're able to incorporate a lot of really bold strategies into our environmental mitigation package that was included as part of this issue on some new medific decision. Um a couple of those claimings that we're highlighting in particular is um we've got a five million dollar business support fund, which will help businesses impacted by construction uh pay for rent. So each business impacted by construction is an applied for to make sure that they can continue to stay open before, during, and after construction. Um, we also have a $5 million community investment fund that is now officially a part of the project. That will be funding for community serving organizations that will be provided by the project to offer a range of support services. And there will be a community engagement process to really inform what that looks like, what services are being funded, um, you know, what types of organizations are eligible for that funding. Um, but you know, a couple of the main things that we've heard through the engagement process is you know the need for rent assistance or or rent support or housing cost assistance or the optique uh home and home improvement funding and things like that. So um very excited that you know those things in particular and you know full range of other um really important supports for community businesses are now persuading to be a part of the project. Like I said, there will be a pretty intensive engagement process taken up this fall where we'll be out asking community, you know, what are your priorities with this funding and how should we really be designing these programs in order to have the biggest impact? Um, you know, when government agencies in particular are, you know, providing funding withten very stringent contracting processes and um you know requirements that that need to be followed. And we're gonna be working with the community to figure out what is the best way to administer these funds to ensure the greatest access and the greatest impact. Really exciting, and also is just a major signal that you know the federal government is working very closely with us to advance this project through the process of um getting to a full point. Make it so that we can apply for it.

SPEAKER_00 5:28

Absolutely. I think uh having that support for businesses and parking has been a major issue and uh you know, one of the major areas being North Minneapolis where um you have a a large rental populace of about 80%. So it it is uh those are really vital services that this project is is offering. And it's it's a that's a wonderful thing to hear. You know, the fact that there's specific funds dedicated to helping people rent assistance and and business uh costs, I think that that's uh a wonderful thing. So would you um so when that information comes out, is it gonna be available? Should we go to your blue line.org or should the Metro Blue Line EXT, you know, what where is the place that people should go to to um follow up about these services and learn about what's going on with the project?

SPEAKER_05 6:21

Yeah, for sure. So I mean definitely, you know, keep keep stay tuned into blue lineext.org. That's where we kind of announce all the major project developments. Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on socials, uh, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, we're on Blue Sky now, uh go get to follow on Skyroaching Fields our our audience over there. Um but yeah, I mean, as I mentioned, the next kind of big phase for this work is doing the community engagement to actually design the programs. Um so there'll be a lot more information about you know what's in the SFEIS. Um, and then we're gonna be looking for guidance on how to make sure that these funds are um impactful in the ways that we you we intend them to be. But you know, for us it's always been about a commitment to preventing displacement, but we also don't only want to set up people to really benefit from this project and we want them to be around to experience the transformational benefits of what we're all bringing. We want this project to serve and lift up the communities that are in the corridor to do. So, you know, I mean they these actions are significant and they're also only one piece of the puzzle, right? So we're working with all sorts of community partners, cities, county, council, the state, um to really put together a robust package to not just put that displacement, but build prosperity on corridor today. Um so it's a big coordinated effort. You know, all gradually um at the Split of Coordinated Action Plan, which is on Gluine.org. Um people can go learn more about that. But you know, it it's it's gonna be a process to fall all of these pieces together and make sure that everyone around the table is doing everything they can to um you know maximize the benefits on this.

SPEAKER_02 8:11

Every week, Kyle you know amazes us with the amount of information that's coming out of the Met Council in Hennepin County regarding this project on behalf of the community. We're blessed to be able to have that uh connection on a regular basis. Now let's go back to our guest of the week.

SPEAKER_03 8:33

Welcome to another edition of community tracks. Our our our host, our guest today is uh uh uh commissioner of District One, Jeff Lundy, who also is a uh resident of the Brooklyn Park community and former mayor for several years. Man, we are excited to have Commissioner Lundy joining us on uh community tracks. Welcome, Jeff, to the show. Thank you. Thank you. Man, Rich, go ahead and take him down the journey, man. What are we talking about here?

SPEAKER_00 9:09

I mean, there's so much to cover. Uh you have uh you have a background teaching at Hennepin Tech. Um, you've uh been mayor, I mean, you've been a council member, you've been a mayor, you've you've helped uh with a lot of programs like Cities United and My Brother's Keeper, which are programs that I was involved in uh working at the library and working with um the the youth violence people like Antonio at the time, who's also now my colleague at Hennepin County. Um and just I feel like the thing, the theme of of your background, if you want to expand on it, is you make yourself available to community. Um and I learned a lot about uh, I don't know if you how deeply you want to go into it, but like I learned a lot about partisan uh being uh a if you're a member of a party, it does not dictate uh how you go about your work, especially on a local level. Um when you're when you're connected to community, and I learned a lot about that, you know, because I guess uh my my voting background, I guess technically would be Democrat independent, kind of, kind of that type of thing. But I really learned a lot about the kind of work you did in the community and you prioritize people. So that um that shapes your work and it really something that I admire. So if you want to expand on that and talk about your background in the city and also, you know, your approach to the work.

SPEAKER_04 10:40

So no, I I think for for me it is about people. Uh, you know, when you people have party labels, they tend to put the prior the party over the people or the you know, the all this is or or positions. I I just don't give a damn. I just care about helping people out. That's why I'm here. That's why I ran when I was a co city council member. It's why I continue to run is just what are we doing to help people? If we're not helping people, can we not hurt people? Um, and so I, you know, I you know, we talked about this blue line project, and that is it is all to me about people getting people to places they want to be, getting places they want to go, and you know, that can put you anywhere from the colleges, the healthcare to the airport. I mean, there's a the world is open and we we're just uh enabler.

SPEAKER_00 11:28

Do you do you think there was a shift in in um uh like I guess if you want to say put political ideology versus your own personal ideology at a at a certain point that kind of kind of I mean, did you kind of come to some kind of realization or you know?

SPEAKER_04 11:47

Yeah. Yeah. No, I think I just enjoy listening to people. I I my favorite thing is engagement and getting out and talking to people. And um, I don't need set pieces. Sometimes it means going to meeting where people are gonna yell. I go to the stop LRT meetings. Um, I go to listen because if you listen, sometimes you find out some really good information where people are concerned about something. And I think as a society, we tend to just say, ah, they're one of those people. I'm not gonna listen to them. And it's like, wait a minute, that's actually a good point. And so I I try to do my best. I won't say I always succeed, but just, you know, going everywhere. And I think once you establish a reputation from going anywhere, it you you lose all fear because people sometimes fear going to places where they're gonna get yelled at. And I tend to find those uh most exciting. So uh, but yeah, no, I mean, but I I do think, you know, you can look at a glass and say it's half full or half empty. Neither one are wrong. It's just your perception of what is happening. And so I try to really bring that into play that people don't always see things the same way. And, you know, the blue line is one of those projects where people can see the glass half full or half empty, and that's okay. That doesn't make them bad people. It just means we disagree.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

I I love that because I think that's a big emphasis um of my mentor, Joan Van Hala, that did a lot of the blue line engagement early on, is she always talks about leaning into uncomfortable conversations and leading into concerns because uh it allows us to be proactive. Um, and especially if you're flexible, um our my work in community engagement is to create work based on what concerns are of people, whether that means programs, initiatives, awareness, or collaboration, right? So um we love it. You know, that I I and I appreciate the fact that you have that perspective, you know. And so thank you.

SPEAKER_03 13:47

Yep, absolutely. So, Jeff, tell us a little bit more. I mean, this is a behemoth of a project. The, as it's been touted, the largest infrastructure project in the state of Minnesota's history, $3.2 billion listed at right now. Talk about the importance to this region. Why is this important to Hennepin County? And why is Hennebad County like we're in and we're making this thing happen?

SPEAKER_04 14:12

Yeah, I think, you know, you you look at the um um, you know, I don't know if you've ever seen the the show, it's a great show, two years on Showtime called Boss. It was about Kelsey Grammar as the mayor of Chicago. Yeah, and he said something, I remember the phrase, it's uh, you know, you live to fight another day. And so if they didn't kill us today, you can fight tomorrow. Uh and so I feel like on the blue line, you know, we've we've taken some punches. And I think, you know, the north side, North Metro, North Minneapolis, we know how to take a punch. Uh, we know how to get up, and we know how to throw, throw back. And so I think that kind of defines our resiliency on this project. Is you one could argue this should have been the first project. It goes right through the heart of the area that needs access to transit, has the most uh challenges uh when it comes to you know financial educational opportunities. And so this runs right down the middle of it. And you know, uh Minnesota, we like to like to talk about how we're number one in this, number one in that. Well, here's another couple of bad number ones. Uh, we're number one in the most disparities, number number one in the gap between home ownership, educational outcomes. And if you look at a map and you see this zone of demographics, the most diverse areas, you add in the most areas with the most poverty, the most this, the most that, this runs right down the middle of it. And so I feel like our job is to deliver that project so that we can start to eliminate some of those barriers. It's not gonna fix everything, but sure it's gonna help.

SPEAKER_00 15:44

Can you talk about like uh from that perspective, uh what is your uh what does success look like, right? Um and uh and and navigating and helping with some of those areas that are lacking.

SPEAKER_04 15:59

Yeah. I you know, I think when you talk about areas, you're not gonna just guarantee success, but if you know, you can't get to a job, you can't uh get, you know, you can't work. If you're not can't you can't get to education, you're not gonna get to get through college. You could some of these things depend on being able to get there. And if you can't get there, that's the first step. Uh, you know, we have training programs for youth that to get them connected to um uh you know, the trades unions or to trades, you know, working with their hands, right? The number one barrier is always transportation, always transportation. And I always say if some group says they're really serious about helping youth and they start with the how difficult it is to get kids there, then I know they're doing the real work. If they don't ever mention transportation, I know they're they're fake. It's just it's very simple. You either, if you're helping people, transportation is the is the barrier. Um, and you know, in my district, and I think North Minneapolis, it's really easy to get downtown, but good luck going east and west. Like if you know, in Brooklyn Park, you can't get from East Brooklyn Park to West Brooklyn Park in the transit system. You have to leave the city to come back into the city. So the transit system is built, you know, for this idea that everybody's just heading downtown, and that's it's not the case anymore.

SPEAKER_03 17:19

You you bring up a very good point about this whole conversation around the system and completing it, and that the rail, the light rail, each one has its part. I mean, because I know the the pushback has been, you know, uh, especially with the uh report that just came out this past week with KSTP, well, saying that why don't we do BRT? Talk more about how each one has its role. I mean, because it's not like we're not doing BRT, we're doing BRT heavily. Um, but from a not only of the county standpoint, but just a region standpoint, talk about how the system completing itself is critical for all residents.

SPEAKER_04 17:55

Yeah, I mean, you have every piece of these modes plugged into something else. Um, you know, buses play a role, BRT plays a role, LRT plays a role. LRT really is a system builder where it concentrates transit and then funnels people and then they branch off. So it's very much like uh, you know, if you're moving water, you don't have the same size pipe everywhere. You have a bigger pipe, and as you get closer to the people, the pipe gets smaller. Right. And but as you start to aggregate things, you need to have that pipe going. And you know, LRT is it's gonna go right through the corridor. And I'll say this, and I think uh as Northsiders, we are, we know this, they can't take it away from us. And oftentimes in busing, the buses move, they change. Um, but if you put two pieces of metal lying parallel on the ground for 13 miles, they can't take that out. That's our trust lump because we've been told many times about how they're gonna invest and they're gonna help us out, and we're gonna, we're there for you. And that lasts about three years, and then stuff starts to gradually quietly disappear. And so that's one of my big things about LRT is once we get that investment, they can't take it from us because we've seen too often that's what they do.

SPEAKER_03 19:10

That is probably the most powerful thing I've heard. They can't take it away if they put the rail down. That is you're you're locking down that agreement at that point of time. I love that.

SPEAKER_04 19:20

So and I think that you know, you've got other communities that want to connect it. You got Maple Grove that wants to connect their bus lines to LRT. Um, it makes sense rather than having a always having every route from Maple Grove go downtown, have some just connect locally and let people ride light rail. Um, my my both my sons are going to the University of Minnesota. One lives on campus. Uh one lives right on light rail, the other one is gonna live downtown. But, you know, transit, if this line was active right now, they'd be they could take the blue line down to go to school. That's a pretty powerful thing.

SPEAKER_03 19:55

That's a beautiful thing. So talk more about that development across uh along the lines. I mean, especially from a healthy accounting standpoint, that's gonna be, you know, it's gonna have to be creative about creating um revenue from a taxation and then building out other opportunities from a housing perspective. Talk more about that.

SPEAKER_04 20:13

Yeah, I think you know, you you absolutely see the difference between BRT and LRT or buses and LRT is when you put that metal on the ground, that investment, other places invest in property alongside it. So businesses will put in it. You've got Target, North Campus, you've got Decatur Pharmaceutical up in Brooklyn Park, you've got uh places that have said we want to be near it. Well, they want to be on the light rail because they know that their investment's not going to leave as well. Then you've got housing that's gonna be right there. I mean, imagine building a 200-unit apartment building on a bus line, they move the bus line the next year. Suddenly, suddenly that changes the rent. That changes, you know, if you're if you're right on the bus line, you could charge different rent than if you're not. And so those things have an impact. Um, it has an impact if if I'm building a senior complex and I want to have workers be able to get to work, if they change the bus lines, suddenly my staff, it's not as easy for them to get there. Um, so having that that investment matters, you know, first of all, like trust. I talked about that. But if I'm a big company, I'm gonna invest $100 million. I want to invest it on something that's gonna be there. Um I think one perspective I bring is as former mayor of Brooklyn Park on 610, we brought in over a billion dollars of investment, and many of them were international companies. Parita, Takeda, Olympus Medical, Design Ready Controls, Tesla, Target, all those places wanted to be at a hub of transit. And it they weren't saying just buses or just rail, but they were also saying road, all three parts. And so when you're bringing international companies in, when they're looking at sites and you're competing against other American places, they're looking at hey, does this place have what I want? To have. And so we've been very successful. I used to work in Japan. When Japanese companies come here, they want to see transit, all modes. They want to see workforce. They want these are the reasons that they will say, we're picking Brooklyn Park. That's why they did. Uh go talk to Kata Pharmaceutical. They're very large. They're the I think the third largest pharmaceutical company in Japan. Uh, they they picked this area not by it wasn't an accident, it wasn't tax cuts. It was actually they needed all this investment. And so and I and you so you get the big businesses, now let's talk about small. We want to make sure that we're doing everything we can to make sure small businesses are supported because you can't just have big businesses, you need to have the full continuum.

SPEAKER_03 22:45

So again, that's a major vision. Again, I I love how you brought the international story into it that actually is now connected to the local and how that's actually connected to the small businesses. You know, with Hennepin County, again, as the economic engine for the state of Minnesota, talk about that importance. Yeah. Talk about that importance, not only for the region, but for the state, about creating lines like this. Because one thing that I know we're going to get into in the next couple of months is, you know, why isn't it important to have this investment in the Northwest Corridor at this time? Hit that, hit that peak for our friends in um Thief River Falls and Grand Rapids and all those other places. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 23:26

Well, I think it's it's about scale. Is like you said, I I believe the number is, and I I stand to be corrected, is 40% of the state revenue comes from Hennepin County. We're about 20 to 22 percent of the state's uh population, but we generate 40 percent. That's because Thief River Falls, and I've been there, they have some great businesses up there. DigiKey is a big one. Um they they have a big development if the scale is different, right? If they have a hundred million dollar development, we're probably talking a billion dollar development. And that's that's great for both communities, but the taxes from that billion dollars is gonna go to the state, that's gonna help fund things all over the state. So we know that if we're more successful when rural areas need road money, and you don't hear me saying cut that road money, we don't want to spend money on roads that aren't used. We're like, heck no, we're we're in this all together. We generate those funds that are then used statewide, and we're okay with that. I we've never said that that's a problem, and so I think it's just a matter of our idea of a development is just a different scale. Where I mean, and that's okay, there's nothing wrong with that. It's just we know that we tend to think bigger projects, therefore they have more zeros, and people go, Oh my god, that project is so expensive. But I just told you in Brooklyn Park in 10 years as mayor, we developed a billion dollars of development just in Brooklyn Park. Yeah, and so we're talking, you know, big numbers, and yes, it takes big numbers to get big numbers.

SPEAKER_03 24:58

I I think that's a a way to, I mean, not only sell it across the board, but to remind people that we're all in this thing together. You know, I it that these investments and and it's not like we're playing catch-up, but you know, reminding people of Minnesota's history where we were the leader at one point as it relates to uh uh trolley cars across our metropolitan area. Then we tore it down, and now we're trying to almost reinvigorate it through this this new system. Hit that, hit those points as well about this is not new to the Twin Cities metropolitan area. And we're just kind of revisiting and and reliving our our heyday about being one of the transit leaders of the of the country.

SPEAKER_04 25:44

Yeah, I think there's a sustainability challenge we have when you just say road only. And so a transit system needs to have all modes, including pedestrian, biking, right? Uh all places play a role. And so I think that getting back to that idea of these interconnected things where it's not just one thing, it's all things together. Um, you know, what like you said, one time we were uh a leader in this, and we I think they sold the trolley system off to a private company and they ventured that company on a business and they ended up ripping everything up. And so we know that providing transit helps everyone. Um, it makes life easier. My sons use transit, uh my son uses light rail. Um, that and so those kind of things, those things matter. They're good. You know, when you talk about economic opportunity, we know we can drive that forward. So and you know, I think it you can't undersell, you know, we're talking, you know, you look at uh the the mackerel thing for the state of Minnesota, we are growing, but at a slower rate than other places. Yeah. And so that doesn't mean we're doing bad, but we're not doing as well as others. We have to shine. And we when we get an opportunity to have a company say we're gonna put in a thousand jobs and invest $250 million, it's competitive. Um Takeda Pharmaceutical Olympus, they were looking at Nashville, Denver, Dallas, Fort Worth. That's what all those places have. They have a life rail transit system. So we we had to compete. And if you want to compete, you got to be ready to throw in and go all out.

SPEAKER_03 27:18

So uh Rich, I know we keep talking about uh connecting communities, and just as Jeff was talking about how we are now putting these systems in place, go Rich, let's let's talk about not only the experience of having community um uh connections that take place, but uh Rich and Jeff, let's talk about the importance of transit connecting communities and culture. Um, Rich, I mean, I know that's that's one of your things, man. Uh you know, that's always going to be front and center on this show. Uh lead Jeff down that road a little bit more.

SPEAKER_00 27:53

Yeah, I mean, for me, for I mean, I I think uh you listen to people, like as you stated earlier, uh you learn a lot of different things. And uh another great thing that can happen is being exposed to different culture, different foods, different uh ways of celebration. And you wouldn't be able to know that if you didn't have an openness and a willing to engage with people, right? And um and being from a community like Brooklyn Park that has so many different diverse communities, sometimes that don't have a platform, and some that have and some that do have more of a platform. Um I think uh you've done a great job from my for at least from a community member standpoint of of showing representation and being available, you know, and for different events and different speaking engagements, or just people have concerns. Uh you're one of the first people I've seen that openly give people your phone numbers, like, yo, call me if you have a concern. Let's have a conversation. Uh a lot of people in your position are not willing to do that. You know? Um, but also, I mean, talk, I mean, there's so much diverse food. I reva shambless in the previous episode, we were talking about masants and all these different foods that represent different cultures, right? You got Asian food, you got Latino food, you got uh uh African food, you got uh African American food. I mean, you got so many different um cultures that are in that are on the lines and that are driving the economic uh impacts, you know, or and the and and bringing new businesses. Um, but they may not necessarily have the branding or the uh, you know, the uh I guess I don't know what's the what's the word for it, like the marketability or the visibility. So um speak, I mean, I think I think you do a wonderful job of that, but talk about your your your journey, you know, just learning about some of these different cultures and and how you've added more cool stuff to your two belt and seen some really relatability from your family and and these different cultures. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:09

Well, and I think what's unique about the North Side is we don't people Americans tend to focus on skin color. And I think in the Northside we talk about cultures, which is different. I don't know anybody that would say a German, a Scandinavian, and Italian are the same people. There's just absolutely not. I would never say a Japanese, a Korean, and a someone from Thailand is the same person. Same with if I go to Liberia, you know, what Kenyans will remind me is we're not West African. We're uh central, right? Or we're East African or Somalis will be like, we're a different group, or South Africans like our people, you know, my staff, one of them uh second generation Liberian, the other staffer is a second generation Democratic Republic of Congo. They'll never they'll remind you they're not West African. And so I think that when we focus on culture, we talk about all those dynamics, they're everyone's very similar and yet we're different. And then you talk about foods and all this kind of vibrancy. Uh, I think people really love that and they love to dive into that and celebrate it. And sometimes it's hard. You know, we have Ebo Fest coming up in a few weeks here in Brooklyn Park, which will be at a light rail station, right? Um, and that's that was uh that's a tribe, one of the three main tribes in Nigeria. Then you have the Librarian Festival this weekend. Um, and so I think when you start to celebrate those things and you have access to it, uh, I just find it super exciting. I I did international sales for over 10 years all over the world, and every culture is different, they have strengths, weaknesses, but though it's fun having those differences because you get to see things just like food. You you mentioned food or or music. Um one thing I I'll just say this because it's I'm struck by that as a person who've seen so many different cultures. If you go to a cultural festival, at some point the youth will do a dance, right? And it could be every different group has different dances, but they all use this same idea that having the youth, you know, do perform a performance for the elders. That is universal. I have not, I don't know one culture that doesn't have that. Ukrainians have it. I've been to Ukrainian festival, they have it, they dress up. You have you know people from Liberia, you have people from Thailand or Cambodia, they do it. And yeah, we always talk about our differences, and I just think of how so much simpler we are. And uh, you know, I just find it exciting because it's it makes life interesting. Uh, you don't like to eat the same food every day, and why not, you know, and so having that experiences and uh I don't know, I just I just think the the world is wide open and this is an international diversity, our diversity is diverse in on the north side, and I think that's our strength.

SPEAKER_03 32:54

I I I'd love I love how you frame that, you know, again, you know, we're north siders up here, and you know, everybody keeps trying to, you know, keep the north side down, but you know, uh as we say, you know, we just keep it moving. We just keep it moving. And I think this train is literally the epitome, the embodiment of the north side spirit. We're just gonna keep moving, just keep moving people. Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_04 33:16

Yeah, and I I I love that we're more street fighters, and I I I I love that. I mean, that's that's you know, there are a lot of people who get things handed to them and they expect things. I don't think we expect anything, and we sure the hell don't feel like we're getting stuff handed to us, but uh we we're gonna fight for everything that we have, and that's okay. We're gonna get this done.

SPEAKER_03 33:38

All right. So, and our last and our last um and last question here as we're landing this, where we appreciate the time again, Commissioner. What's the last movie you saw, man? I mean, what's what's really going on?

SPEAKER_04 33:52

Oh God. I we I tend to be on Netflix watching uh this is gonna be a bad one, so it'll it'll sound really cliche, but I did not know you were gonna ask this. My family, our favorite movie that we go to when we're looking to just have some laughs is Bullet Train, uh, which uh so if you want to talk about fighting, uh Northside kind of back and forth and international, there's assassins from all different cultures. I mean, it's it like really fits right now, but that's an awesome movie. If you need a good laugh, that's a good one.

SPEAKER_03 34:23

Brad Pitt and his uh and his smooth aging, you know, but still kicking his thing right now. I mean, it it's you know, it's kind of like Fight Club, you know, a couple years later. That's all it is.

SPEAKER_04 34:35

Yep. Uh well, you think Lemon and Tangerine? You got the the twins, right? You got the uh so no, it that is actually the last movie that uh we've watched in total, but we're man, this this has been a ride.

SPEAKER_03 34:50

I can't tell you enough how how grateful we are for bringing you on today. This is not the last time. Again, we're setting the stage for all these conversations, and we really want to get deeper into the role of Hennepin County at the next time that we meet, but we want the people to know who you are leading the charge for this on the CMC and other activities. Man, well, we we appreciate the time, Jeff. Um, everybody, Jeff Lundy, uh Commissioner, District One, Hennepin County, joining us today, episode four community tracks. Rich Morris and I will be right back.