St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her lashed out at multiple top local officials for asking her on a private call last Thursday to delay a homeless encampment sweep.

• One state representative grew so frustrated she logged off the call early, according to a recording reviewed by Axios.

Why it matters: Many attendees left the meeting concerned that the mayor had done lasting damage to her relationships with St. Paul's legislative delegation — relationships Her, a former state lawmaker, had touted during her campaign — two officials who were on the call told Axios.

• Several call attendees believe the meeting went off the rails in part because Her was angry about a sexual harassment complaint against her, revealed in news reports less than 24 hours before the call, those two officials said.

What they're saying: "This meeting was about one question: whether the city can responsibly delay closing the encampment," the mayor told Axios in a written statement.

• "If people heard urgency or bluntness in my voice, they heard it correctly," she added. "My frustration was not directed at any individual in that room."

Driving the news: The first of three encampment closures is set for tomorrow, marking a major shift in the city's response to homelessness — a sensitive, controversial policy project for any mayor, let alone one facing separate headline-dominating allegations.

What happened: At least half of St. Paul's state House delegation, plus a range of city and county officials, attended last Thursday's virtual meeting to discuss Her's sweeps plan, according to four officials granted anonymity by Axios to discuss details of a sensitive private call.

• Several state reps on the call were sympathetic to arguments by encampment residents and outreach workers that sweeps don't help homeless people reach permanent housing.
• The mayor rebuffed them, telling attendees that a delay was highly unlikely.

Friction point: What alarmed Axios' sources wasn't the mayor's argument per se, but her refusal to negotiate and her dismissiveness of other officials' previous efforts.

• If a one-month delay was all that was needed, she demanded during one heated moment, "Where the hell have we been? Why haven't we brought these 30-day, 60-day solutions years ago?"

"This is extremely inappropriate," interjected DFL state Rep. Leigh Finke, announcing she'd be logging off.

• Minutes earlier, she'd personally agreed to commit time to the issue.

During the meeting, Her attributed her bluntness to frustration with the "fuckery that's on the news about me," three attendees independently told Axios.

At least two people on the call interpreted Her's remark as a reference to the harassment allegations.

• "I understand the human side — the filter this is coming through and all the things that you're experiencing right now," City Council Member Anika Bowie told the mayor during one tense moment of the meeting.

Yes, but: "The conversation was about encampments," the mayor's spokesperson, Matt Wagenius, told Axios. "Any comments should be viewed as such."

Between the lines: Officials are worried Her's handling of the call could test relationships with state and county officials who have direct access to exponentially deeper pools of resources to proactively address homelessness.

• As Her campaigned for the job, she accused former mayor Melvin Carter's staff of not returning phone calls to St. Paul's delegation — and pledging to leverage her relationships with those lawmakers into appropriations.

Plus: Since Police Chief Axel Henry's complaint triggered the investigation, St. Paul City Council Member Molly Coleman has also publicly demanded "clarity now on the current relationship between the mayor and the police department."

• An SPPD spokesperson told Axios last week that "there has been no change in communication" with the mayor's office.

What we're watching: "I will keep asking our partners at every level to bring concrete commitments," Her told Axios — but "if we do not have a real plan with resources behind it, the city cannot delay" the encampment closure.

Full story

🚔 Minneapolis' top public safety official, Todd Barnette, will step down at year's end, ending a limbo that followed his rejection by the City Council. (Star Tribune)

🚧 MnDOT says it's still on track to reopen Highway 280 in time for the State Fair. The key connector to the fairgrounds has been closed for construction since April. (MPR News)

⚖️ Vance Boelter made his first appearance in Hennepin County court in his state-level murder case after pleading guilty in federal court to deadly attacks on state lawmakers last year. (Pioneer Press)

🌾 Farmers — and the politicians courting them this fall — will flock to Redwood County starting today for the annual Minnesota FarmFest gathering. (MPR News)

Arch and River, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board's pick to replace Owamni at Water Works Pavilion, is now targeting a September opening, a park board spokesperson tells Axios.

🌮 El Sazón Cocina & Tragos is shuttering its South Minneapolis location on Lyndale Ave. on Aug. 15, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports.

• The brand's outposts in Eagan and at Eat Street Crossing, as well as a Stillwater concept called Xela, will remain open.

🍍 Mo' Bettahs, a fast-casual Hawaiian concept, recently debuted restaurants in Burnsville and Maple Grove, per CCX.

🎣 Bill's Bait Shop is set to open Friday, promising fried walleye and burgers in the former Chicago's Taste Authority spot, writes Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.

Bonus: A chicken salad recommendation!

👋 Torey here, with a sweet treat to try before summer slips away.

What I ordered: Centro's new soft-serve margarita, available at its Northeast and Highland Park outposts.

• The local twist on the viral trend comes in several rotating flavors.

🍓 Strawberry was on the menu the day I stopped by Centro's St. Paul patio with a friend.

What to expect: I'm not usually a fan of super fruity drinks or desserts, but this exceeded my expectations! It was sweet — though not cloyingly so — and a bit tangy. You can taste the tequila, but it's not overpowering.

• I ordered mine with Tajín, which added a nice kick.

Worth noting: There was also a booze-free flavor the day we visited.

The catch: It's priced more like a cocktail than an ice cream — the $13 soft serve set me back about $18 with tax and tip.

The bottom line: Anything that combines a patio happy hour with a frozen treat is a win in my book.