Erin Fitzgerald, an investor in downtown Minneapolis commercial real estate, isn't happy with how a recent film by former TV anchor Rick Kupchella portrays the city.

• "I was told that it would be a positive spin on downtown Minneapolis, so I agreed to do it" said Fitzgerald, who is shown talking about a shooting hotspot in the Warehouse District.

She said she believed the film was going to highlight momentum in the city while also exposing how, she said, "Democratic Socialist" council members have held the city back from more progress.

• "I really don't think that it does any good to show gun fights from a year ago or three years ago, and think that that is a current representation of the state of our city."

Why it matters: Fitzgerald's comments during the RE Journal's annual Minneapolis Downtown Summit on Wednesday illustrate a divide among downtown real estate leaders over how they talk about the city.

• While almost all of them, including Fitzgerald, say downtown still needs more police presence, many are ready to turn the page on messaging.
• They want to showcase a central business district seeing a major return of office workers, a strong tourism rebound and a public safety scene that doesn't match perception.

The other side: Other leaders continue to paint Minneapolis as a dangerous place. Several sent the message during Wednesday's forum that unless voters get rid of the democratic socialists on the City Council, things won't improve.

• Redline Properties owner Andrew Webb said he is concerned about office worker safety.
• "How do I decide to go on the corner of Fifth and Nicollet and risk someone being stabbed walking to their car at 3 o'clock in the afternoon?" he said.
• An MPD spokesperson said he was unaware of a daytime stabbing of an office worker and didn't locate one in a preliminary search.

Minnesota Multi Housing Association CEO Cecil Smith told the crowd that Kupchella's film points out realities that need to be dealt with in the city and state.

• Smith said "no comment" when asked if he helped fund the film, "A Perilous State," which Kupchella paid to have aired on ABC stations last week. The film depicts crime and real estate distress in the city, as well as statewide educational problems, poor job growth and out-migration to other states.

Between the lines: Kupchella has also declined to name his financial backers and did not respond to Axios' request for comment.

Go deeper

With most major downtown employers requiring in-office work again, some leaders are pressuring Hennepin County to do the same.

State of play: The county, with nearly 6,200 workers, is downtown's third largest employer. Its hybrid work policy only requires about one day per month.

What they're saying: "Get Hennepin County to bring their employees back," City Council Member Michael Rainville, who represents downtown, said at the RE Journals summit. "If you have a good relationship with a county commissioner, tell them to join the team."

• Added Jon Lanners, partner at Onward Investors: "They employ a lot of people that theoretically should be working out of downtown, and the fact that they have not been aggressive in getting these people back to the office has drastically impacted downtown's recovery."

The other side: "We have thousands of employees that are working onsite or in the community every day," Hennepin County deputy administrator Dan Rogan wrote in an email.

• "This includes many, including those designated as hybrid, working downtown every day. Our hybrid work policy is focused on employee results, rather than their work location."

A newly filed federal lawsuit alleges that a 50-year-old postal worker died after Eagan police and Dakota County jail staff ignored clear signs over several hours that he was having a stroke. (KARE11)

• The department and county declined comment to KARE11.

🚧 Parts of Interstate 94 in St. Paul will again be shut down all weekend, as will Highway 55 in Golden Valley. In the south metro, I-494 will shut down for an overnight project tonight. (Star Tribune)

🚔 At least 100 DWI cases statewide may have been compromised by faulty breath testing, state officials acknowledged. (Star Tribune)

🗳️ Former acting U.S. Attorney Anders Folk jumped into the race for Hennepin County Attorney, joining Matt Pelikan, Hao Nguyen and state Rep. Cedrick Frazier in the race. (KSTP)

🌉 Anoka County is suing MnDOT over plans to build a pedestrian bridge over the Rum River Dam. (WCCO)

🚒 Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner will retire in December after five years leading the department.

Many Minnesotans famously have ties to Scandanavia and western Europe — but thousands of Twin Cities residents also have roots in Mexico and parts of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

The big picture: The numbers reflect the metro's growing diversity. The region's Black, Asian and Hispanic populations have more than doubled over the last two decades.

Paddlers will race down the St. Croix River this Sunday in an unusual kind of craft: giant pumpkins.

Driving the news: The "pumpkin regatta" is part of this weekend's Harvest Fest in downtown Stillwater, which features giant pumpkin weigh-offs, live music, kids' activities, a beer and wine garden and more.

• The river race is at 2:30pm Sunday.

Plus: At 5:30pm on both Saturday and Sunday, a 100-foot crane will stage a "pumpkin drop."

Our thought bubble: We highly recommend getting there for the Gallagher-esque carnage 20-30 minutes early.

• Never underestimate the American appetite for watching things go "splat."

Watch — and listen — on our Instagram