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North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live is a daily, five-minute newscast that shines a spotlight on the stories and perspectives of Minnesota’s diverse communities, including Black, Latine, Asian American, East African individuals, people living with disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ residents, laborers, veterans, and those from Greater Minnesota.
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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: Renters in Northern Minnesota are seeing the results of a new, first-of-its-kind law in our state. Then, some of the state's law students from tribal nations receive top honors. And, candlelight winter walks return to Minnesota state parks.
I'm Gracie J.
Nine law students who represent the state's Tribal Nations and communities received student achievements and scholarships from the Minnesota Native American Bar Association, or MNABA. MNABA says the awards highlight a growing commitment to Native representation, legal education, and future leadership in Tribal and public service law. All the students attend the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, located in St Paul, which has the nation's largest enrollment of Native law students.
In today's main story, just two months after a first-of-its-kind law in northeastern Minnesota, citizens are already seeing its effect, and it's hitting close to home. frankie felegy has the report.
frankie felegy: When Cody Pals moved to Duluth in 2019, he had to wait two years for a hot shower. Now, thanks to the new Right to Repair law, he only has to wait two weeks. The first city in Minnesota to pass such a law, Right to Repair gives property owners two weeks to respond to maintenance requests. If they don't, tenants can fix it themselves or hire the labor out and have that bill taken off their next month's rent. The bill covers repairs up to $500 or 50% of monthly rent, whichever is higher. Cody Pals is a renter and leader with the Duluth Tenants Union. He says the law is just common sense for both tenants and property owners.
Cody Pals: You'd think you would want that right. You would want somebody to maintain their properties.
frankie felegy: Since the law was passed in November, his landlord fixed his broken dishwasher within a few days, a rarity before Right to Repair. He says—
Cody Pals: it's not very typical. It takes a couple times to get them to respond or get them to come out. I just like, why do I have to be annoying to get this done? It's what I deserve. I pay full rent. I need a fully repaired unit.
frankie felegy: Property manager Michael Garmer works with Condo and Home Advisors LLC, out of Duluth. He manages over 100 properties, leasing and handling maintenance requests. Garmer says that since the bill passed, his company hasn't seen a huge impact on his tenants or owners. So far, he says he deals with requests in a timely manner, but he does see how the Right to Repair law can be a massive change for his neighbors.
Michael Garmer: If you're a private landlord that didn't use a management company and was maybe a little more lackadaisical on taking care of your tenant requests, it's going to make it easier for tenants of those private landlords or those large companies that have, let's call it, over 1000 units where they can't be as responsive and quick. It will help those tenants,
frankie felegy: Tenants like Chloe Holloway, who rents in East Duluth. Years ago, a leak in her kitchen caused a buildup of mold.
Chloe Holloway: And then one night, the ceiling was so rotten and moldy that my finger went through it while I was cleaning. It was horrific, and it started like chunks started falling on my face, it was a freaking nightmare.
frankie felegy: She says it took half a year for her landlord to get it fixed. She led door knocking efforts that garnered almost 6000 signatures to get the Right to Repair measure on the ballot. Now that it's passed, Holloway says there's more work to do now.
Chloe Holloway: We just got to make sure people know that it passed and know that they can use it and how to use it.
frankie felegy: How to use it—notify your landlord in writing that you intend to use the Right to Repair law. Then wait two weeks. If they don't respond, schedule or do the repair. If you hire out, just make sure to choose someone with a proper license. Keep the receipts and deduct the cost from your rent. For North Star Stories, I'm frankie felegy.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.
Minnesotans are invited to bundle up and head outdoors this winter as candlelight events return to state parks and trails across Minnesota. This winter, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, has scheduled 20 candlelight events at 17 locations statewide between January 1 and February 28. The nighttime events let visitors hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski along luminary-lit trails, depending on snow conditions. A full list of dates, locations, and details is available on the DNR's candlelight hike webpage.
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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.