Drayage Brokersin Minneapolis, MN

There was a time when food wasn't the focal point of Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood. About a century ago, it was the epicenter of manufacturing — where the Mars family created its eponymous candy bar, and Waters-Genter Co. manufactured the first pop-up toaster. Few would predict that all this would vanish and be reinvented as a vibrant dining destination.

Noticeably missing was a good French bistro. Why couldn't we have the equivalent of St. Paul's Meritage on this side of the river?

I don't know if longtime Twin Cities chef/restaurateur David Fhima was looking to fill that gap when the owners of Ribnick Furs, the neighborhood's oldest retailer, jettisoned a 150-year-old building to him. But what he built in its place — a Moulin Rouge-themed restaurant called Maison Margaux — looked like he was.

The restaurant looks like money, in a way that everything feels maximalist. In the Brasserie, there are checkered black and white floor tiles, the kind you'd see in grand European restaurants. Behind the open kitchen is a quilt of Zellige tiles that recall Fhima's heritage. In the middle of the dining room is a maple-clad staircase, reminiscent of a lakeside cabin, and bisecting the two dining spaces is a blue-veined marble wall, imparting some kind of fluidity. The velvet dining chairs may be mismatched but are consistently filled. The Underground Bar, covered with red velvet, invites you to have a cold martini and excellent fries under a sultry canopy of strobe lights.

It can feel jarring. It also feels oddly right. Especially knowing the trifecta of cultural experiences (Morocco, France, the Midwest), and understanding that the Fhimas are no strangers to building splashy restaurants. Their theater district restaurant, Fhima's Minneapolis, has a knack for attracting decorated guests, including members of the Timberwolves.

Why not? The hospitality at both restaurants, under the baton of son Eli Fhima, is all coddle. Across my visits to Maison Margaux, even on occasions when I wasn't recognized, I saw grace notes being extended across the board. Servers move in synchrony, like courtiers in a palace — watching, anticipating and reacting — leading every guest to feel like they, too, held courtside tickets. If you strain your neck, even subtly, a server will appear, as if summoned by a rub of Aladdin's lamp.

You wouldn't know that Maison Margaux is at heart a Parisian brasserie, if not for the soft, lilting French tunes and this brand of service, which adds a note of unstuffy regality to the dining experience. You would know it by the food, some of which hews to the French canon — and mostly very good.

There is tender short rib bourguignon coaxed in a glossy red wine gravy, accompanied by vegetables that have been sculpted within an inch of their lives; a dark and deep onion soup, sweetly expressive of the vegetable; and probably the best bouillabaisse in town, if judging by all the generous frillery and a lip-smacking broth that plunges to the depths of the Mediterranean.

I remember them all fondly, though I derived equal pleasure decoding the subtle ways in which Fhima skirts tradition by drawing from his Mediterranean-influenced upbringing. He pulls a little Basque into the mix, using Espelette pepper in nearly everything from sweet jams to the ratatouille. And he cues Provence, making a compound butter with herbs native to that region and using it on the brioche buns for his burger.

The bigger riffs on classic dishes made me think. Bonne femme is sole traditionally prepared with heavy cream; this one is simply grilled and served with mushrooms and dressed greens atop it, along with a wedge of grilled lemon. He uses sauce chasseur, a tomato- and mushroom-forward compound sauce normally reserved for chicken, with halibut instead. It may also have been the worthier alternative because the fish is treated like meat, emerging from the kitchen uniformly and judiciously cooked.

But if there's one thing I remember, it's Fhima's triptych of bone marrow, duck confit and marmalade on toast. Our table enjoyed each component on its own — a faultless duck confit cloaked in a reduction as rich as a mole; fatty bone marrow; and a rhapsodic apricot jam that's been cooked in duck fat and Espelette pepper for 36 hours. But when our server suggested we put it all together, something else sparked: a taste that was wholly, deliciously new.

I wish the restaurant would lean into the eclectic more, yet every time I visited, I would surrender to the generosity that befitted all that maximalism. Sure, the sauces were taken right to the edge, until they became syrupy. But I found myself taking swipes of them with my finger, until the plates were clean. And yes, an otherwise well composed Nicoise salad lacked acid, but the tuna that eclipsed it was magnificently sized and seared until rare (for a more successful preparation, order the piperade, which swaps leaves in favor of the green pepper and tomato stew and a gloriously greasy sourdough).

This is likely why I gave the rack of lamb a pass — not just because it was succulent and well crusted, but because the sweet cognac sauce foiled the salty potato pave. And why I didn't pick on the overcooked dry beef patty within the burger because it was fried in so much of that herbes de Provence butter. I'd like seconds of either dish.

It's nice to see the kitchen get away with shortcomings that may befall other restaurants. Not others: I'm not sure if I would order the poulet roti again — the pieces were uniformly dry, though the juices from it seep into the gorgeously soft ratatouille, creating a nuanced vegetable meld. And I'd think twice about ordering the Gruyère soufflé, yet I couldn't deny that what arrived on our table, though noticeably undercooked, was nutty, sweet and creamy.

Other missteps are less muted. The wagyu steak au poivre cannot be faulted for anything other than the fact that it was lean and forgettable. Nor should the haricot verts; they were mushy for my non-Minnesotan tastes.

But the bacon and brie clafouti was as gummy as a vintage casserole; so, too, was the linguine in an overly salted pistou; and the gummiest of them all, the aligot potato purée — less velvety, more overwhipped and starchy.

That bonne femme never quite hit the mark, either. I was rightfully admonished the first time I ordered it deboned — and it was tough. "It's like making love," the elder Fhima tells me, when he noticed the fish on our table as it was prepared. "You need to put in the work."

I did the second time, when I ordered it whole, and was rewarded by a sweet and supple sheath of flesh on one side, where the meat was closer the bone. The other side was dry and fishy.

Desserts were mostly average, if judging by a dated and underbaked strawberry cake, a forgettable Frasier, and a bland pear tart begging for richness. Doubt melts, though, when you order the chocolate soufflé.

"All will be forgiven," Eli Fhima said as he set it on our table, plunging a heaping spoonful of airy whipped cream into its underbelly. I sunk my spoon in, too. Slowly to start, then more briskly until the whole thing was gone.

The second time I had it, the soufflé had lost its majestic swell, and it ate a little denser. True to Fhima's aphorism, I didn't notice. When tuned to the correct pitch, the pleasures of (great) hospitality can have its way.

⋆⋆⋆ Highly recommended

Location: 224 N. 1st St., Mpls., 612-900-1800, maisonmargauxmpls.com

Hours: 3-10 p.m. Sun., 3-11 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 3 p.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat. The Underground Bar is open Wed.-Thu. 5-11 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. from 5 p.m.-midnight.

Prices: Small plates range from $9 (pommes frites) to $24 (frog legs Provençal) with heavier entrees in the ballpark of $26 (pistou jambon linguini) to $65 (wagyu filet mignon Diane).

Beverage program: So many options. Craft cocktails, beer and ciders; a handful of spirit-free options; coffees, dessert wines and port. The extensive wine list will have something for every taste and price range.

Parking: Meter parking can be an adventure, but there's valet.

Tip or no tip: The standard tipping model applies here, although there is the typical 5% health and wellness surcharge.

Noise level: Comfortable, even in a full dining room.

Worth noting: The dining room opens daily at 5 p.m., but the main-level bar serves an early and late "social hour" with a limited menu. More spaces to explore: The patio off the bar, and a light-filled, upper-level event space. Don't miss the local artwork, either.

What the stars mean:

⋆⋆⋆⋆ Exceptional

⋆⋆⋆ Highly recommended

⋆⋆ Recommended

⋆ Satisfactory

Jon Cheng is the Star Tribune's restaurant critic. Reach him at jon.cheng@startribune.com or follow him at @intrepid_glutton.

This season is a busy one for Twin Cities restaurants!

Earlier this spring, we visited 10 great new restaurants around the metro, but even more fun neighborhood spots outside of St. Paul proper have opened since then.

Here are five more new restaurants to check out this summer.

Don Papi Chulo

Popular South metro food truck Don Papi Chulo expanded to a permanent counter-service location in Inver Grove Heights this summer — and luckily, they kept their street-food sensibilities. The food truck menu was already quite extensive, and the brick-and-mortar kitchen has allowed them to branch out even more. So we figured we’d try some of the new additions.

They’ve always offered a few tortas, or Mexican sandwiches, but the birria torta is new, and delightful. Like the others, it’s served on cloudy, chewy telera bread; the beef is tender and absurdly flavorful, and the pickled jalapenos are a nice touch. And true to Don Papi Chulo’s street food roots, the sandwich comes wrapped in tin foil.

Another newbie is Tony’s Fries, a sizable basket of waffle fries topped with queso, carne asada, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole. What’s not to like?! At $16 and very, very heavy, it felt a little much for a side for just two people, but I’m confident a big group could demolish this bad boy. Speaking of: Don Papi Chulo offers a discounted menu for Simley High School students.

Other classic Mexican dishes that are recent additions to the menu are quite good, too. As far as enchiladas go, the tortillas are clearly high-quality and the sauce has a nice kick. The horchata agua fresca is phenomenal; one of the best I’ve had in the Twin Cities. It was perfectly starchy and cinnamon-forward, but a hint of vanilla gave it a much rounder flavor. Churros, topped with strawberries and whipped cream, are also on offer nowadays — so don’t miss out.

Don Papi Chulo: 7834 Cahill Avenue, Inver Grove Heights; 651-815-7771; donpapichulo.com/

Southern Social

The building that houses Southern Social used to be a Green Mill — but you wouldn’t know it. The exterior got a classy coat of dark paint, and the inside has been given a sleek makeover. As for food, everything we tried was flavorful, colorful and plenty saucy. Drinks are strong and a little sweet; some are even available in 4- or 8-person punch bowls.

Southern Social’s menu runs the gamut of “Modern Southern” fare, from fried green tomatoes to shrimp and grits to skillet cornbread, baked with smoked cheddar and topped with melted honey butter. The menu gets a lot of mileage out of pimento cheese in particular — no complaints from me; the pimento mac and cheese with cavatappi pasta, crispy onions, thick bourbon barbecue sauce and optional added smoked brisket is hearty comfort food at its best.

We were seated at the bar; a couple service misses: Cornbread, technically an appetizer, came out at the same time as our entrees, and the mac and cheese initially arrived with pulled pork, not brisket as ordered.

The restaurant just opened in May, from the same folks behind Barley & Vine in Lakeville and Tamarack Tap Room in Woodbury. The menu started as a series of smoked-meat experiments at Tamarack but quickly grew into its own concept, said Ben Berry, the operations and business development director for Trellis Hospitality.

Southern Social: 1940 Rahncliff Ct., Eagan; 651-478-7919; southernsocialmn.com/

Lakewood Tavern

With well-made drinks and pretty good American-style food, this neighborhood spot in Lake Elmo — just opened in March — is a nice local addition to the southern end of the suburb. From the bar, the Lakewood Old Fashioned, with a house bourbon/rye blend, was great, and even non-alcoholic drinks like the Hudson Blvd are well-balanced and herbaceous.

The food menu ranges from handheld sandwiches to pizzas to burgers like the bourbon bacon burger with smoked gouda, black truffle aioli, and bacon jam. Thick patty and good cheese coverage; the truffle wasn’t overpowering. It’s listed on the menu as “award-winning” — we’re not quite sure which award it won, but my dining partner sure enjoyed it.

On the “Lakewood Favorites” section of the menu, our server specifically recommended the walleye fingers. They were just fine; I wasn’t upset I’d ordered them, but I’d try something else next time. The batter wasn’t greasy, but the meat was sweet and a little fishy. The house-made tartar sauce was good; the spiced sour cream, for an unannounced $1 upcharge, is skippable.

Lakewood Tavern: 9939 N. Hudson Blvd, Lake Elmo; 651-390-6760; lakewoodtavern.com

Howard’s Bar

Howard’s Bar has been a bar forever. A neon-esque sign above the backbar proclaims, “I remember when it was John’s Bar,” the precursor to Whitey’s Bar, which local musician Caroline Smith and chef/husband Adam To bought last year. They reopened the bar as Howard’s this summer, named after their dog.

And with new wood paneling and vintage photos on the walls, it looks even cozier and older — in a good way! — than it did before. To, who cooked at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Los Angeles before the couple moved back to Minnesota, has completely remastered the menu, which is gorgeously designed with little cartoons that have a nostalgic ‘60s pop culture aesthetic.

Across the board, the food is fun and comforting but not quite up to its full potential.

Gotta start with cheese curds, of course. Satisfyingly hot and greasy and melty, and the house-made dill pickle ranch is really, really good — and a nice precursor to this year’s State Fair pickle-mania. For the Reuben, they make the corned beef from scratch; all their beef comes from high-quality Peterson Craftsman Meats in Wisconsin. The corned beef on its own was tender; overall, the sandwich was tasty but not spectacular. The French fries, also made in house, had a slightly over-fried, oily taste.

The entrees have an elevated supper club vibe. Think homemade meatloaf, lasagna with fresh pasta, pork schnitzel with a fingerling potato salad. The schnitzel came with a lemon wedge, which my dining partner reported gave a helpful boost of acidity. The potatoes, tossed in a dill sauce with little pickle chunks, felt Nordically Minnesotan but under-salted.

Beer, wine, and fresh-squeezed juice round out the menu, with rail mixed drinks by request, although they do have some liqueurs for cocktails.

Howard’s Bar: 302 S. Main St., Stillwater; 651-439-9902; howardsbar.com/

Baba’s

To conclude this journey, I trekked to the lesser-known St. Paul suburb of Minneapolis to visit Baba’s Hummus House & Mana’eesh Bakery. The sibling-run operation is known for its silky packaged hummus and retro State Fair Airstream trailer, and earlier this month, they converted a boarded-up storefront in the Wedge neighborhood into a bright, colorful, and delightful-smelling Palestinian cafe.

The restaurant is family-run, so I thought I’d be a good son and invite my mother for lunch. Baba’s hummus itself is, as we’ve come to expect, wonderful. Their housemade tahini, my mother happily exclaimed, is even better, with a roasty and savory sesame flavor.

She got the Super Green bowl, with falafel, edamame and pistachio. The falafel, though a bit dry, was particularly herbaceous. I went for mana’eesh, a flatbread that’s common in the Middle East and not so much in the Twin Cities yet. The lahme bi ajeen flatbread, topped with spiced beef, was unbelievably juicy, just dripping with those tantalizing Mediterranean spices. They’ve got six varieties of mana’eesh right now and I will be trying them all, thank you very much.

Besides fast-casual food, they’ve also got coffee and assorted drinks, each of which comes with a cute little pistachio shortbread cookie. Mama’s mint tea was not as mint-forward as I was expecting, but the Arabi cardamom espresso was appropriately well-spiced and strong.

Baba’s: 2220 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis; lovebabas.com/

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The community is rallying behind a small business owner in Minneapolis who lost thousands of dollars after someone broke into her car the night before a big event. The Dripping Root is the first and only Black-owned juice bar in the state.

Two years ago, Catiesha Pierson, the owner, took a risk and planted a seed. Her passion led her to open up The Dripping Root.

“I was working a 40-hour job. I was a single mom. I ended up quitting based off of my passion,” she said.

The owner is putting a different spin on health and wellness in South Minneapolis by making cold pressed juices and smoothie bowls.

“It’s 100% of fruits and vegetables. No added anything, no preservatives and no added water.

Pierson was on track to grow her business by being a vendor at the YWCA Triathlon on Aug. 13.

She packed up the U-Haul with all her products, but plans changed when the keys were stolen.

“My car was broken into the night before the actual event,” she said. “They stole the U-Haul key out of the car and all of our stuff was in the U Haul.”

After months of prepping, they were forced to cancel their first big event losing thousands of dollars in profit that they needed and an influx of products that could go to waste.

“It was really unfortunate that that happened because it really takes a toll on us,” she said. “Especially when it’s just me and my mom here. We work so hard.”

The Dripping Root is open this week on their normal off days, Tuesday and Wednesday, to try and make up for what they lost.

The juice bar stayed busy on Tuesday and some customers bought a little extra to support.

“It makes me feel really good and very supported to know that the community is showing up when we need them most,” Pierson said.

The Dripping Root will be open every day this week from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. to try and get rid of the extra products so it doesn’t go to waste

A dentist's office in southwest Minneapolis is really giving Twin Cities music lovers something to smile about.

For the second time in three summers, the Jayhawks will perform a free concert at the Lake Harriet Band Shell on Thursday. Another of Minnesota's all-time most popular rock bands, the Suburbs, also have played the historic and scenic waterfront stage twice in recent years.

What are bands that consistently fill First Avenue and the Palace Theatre at $40-plus a head doing performing in town for free? They're seizing the chance to play a fun hometown gig that still earns them a decent payday, that's what.

These concerts have all been served to the public with no strings attached — well, except for the free floss handed out — courtesy of Linden Hills Dentistry.

Located just a few blocks from the band shell, the independent dentist office has been putting some of its promotional dollars toward these concerts in recent summers and billing them as their Neighborhood & Patient Appreciation Night.

"Rather than further flood your TV or radio with ads promoting our services, we figure we'd offer something more fun," explained Dr. Matt Hawn, one of the company's co-owning dentists.

Linden Hills Dentistry pays the artists and covers some of the extra stage production required for these shows. (It seems those finnicky Jayhawks want better stage gear than, say, the Minnesota Freedom Band or other band shell regulars.)

Hawn said he and the rest of his office staff have been regularly hearing, "When's the next concert?" ever since the last time the Jayhawks played the band shell in 2021.

That one drew one of the biggest crowds anyone remembers seeing at the band shell, with probably more than 5,000 attendees. The band members themselves — who have a history at the band shell, including previous gigs in 1988 and 1993 — were thus also eager to do it again, adding to their upcoming schedule that includes tour dates with the Drive-by Truckers and Freedy Johnston.

Of course, Hawn and his cohorts also happen to be music lovers. He said that comes second, though, after how much they're fans of their namesake neighborhood.

"It's not just a way to thank our patients," he said, "but also a good chance to show off that beautiful band shell and all the great businesses and community in our neighborhood to people who aren't our patients."

And don't worry: No dental records or checkups are required to attend.

When: 7:30-9 p.m. Thu.

Where: Lake Harriet Band Shell, 4135 Lake Harriet Pkwy., Mpls.

Admission: Free.

Earlier this summer, the Twin Cities bid adieu to Monello and Constantine, the restaurant and bar in the Hotel Ivy, as the hotel's newish owners tapped Apicii hospitality group to operate its food and beverage program. Now we know the plans.

Breva (1115 2nd Av. S., Mpls.) will take over the street-level restaurant space with "American fare and craft cocktails." The menu will be approachable with seasonal highlights and "dishes infused with global flavors." A mid-September opening is anticipated.

Meanwhile, the subterranean bar will become Masa & Agave, styled as a speakeasy cantina with Mexican foods and an expansive agave spirits collection. Look for a mid-October opening.

The lobby Bar Ivy will also undergo a transformation, taking inspiration from European all-day bars, with espresso drinks and pastries in the morning and cocktails and light bites at night. Overseeing the redesign of all three concepts is Chicago-based firm White Space.

There's a bit of shuffling happening inside the Market at Malcolm Yards.

Joey Meatballs has already exited the food hall (find him at Potluck in Rosedale Center), and the vegetable-focused stand Advellum will leave Aug. 20 as it prepares to open a stand-alone restaurant.

The spaces won't be vacant for long. Bagu has already scooted over to the meatball stand and will be expanding its menu; new vendors are on deck for the remaining spaces and will be announced soon.

In other news, Malcolm Yards (501 30th Av. SE., Mpls., malcolmyards.market) is coming up on two years in Minneapolis' Prospect Park neighborhood and is running specials made with whiskey from neighboring O'Shaughnessy Distilling Co. to celebrate.

Wrecktangle Pizza is serving the "Bad Bama Jamma," with whiskey-spiked Alabama white barbecue sauce, smoked chicken, bacon, caramelized onions, red sauce, cheese blend and served with a side of Carolina slaw. Bebe Zito made a peanut butter-bourbon whiskey with scotcharoo cookie chunks and dark chocolate frosting. The Boxcar Bar is pouring the "Passionate Heart" featuring Keeper's Heart bourbon, banana and passion fruit liqueurs and Bittercube Jamaican No. 2 bitters. Specials are available through Aug. 31.

Bali Asian Cuisine will soon open in Duluth's Lincoln Park. Chef/owner Nevi Mariadi plans to add a few traditional Indonesian dishes to the menu, including rendang (slow-cooked meat), sate ayam (grilled chicken with peanut sauce) and kare ayam (chicken curry), according to Perfect Duluth Day. There also will be a wide swath of other Asian dishes, including pho, ramen and sushi. The restaurant, at 1931 W. Superior St., is staffing up now and should be open by leaf-peeping season.

Renowned forager and educator Linda Black Elk is joining NATIFS, or North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems. Black Elk will lead the educational programming and community engagement efforts for the nonprofit, which includes the Indigenous Food Lab inside Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis.

"I am overjoyed to be joining the NATIFS team," Black Elk said in a statement. "My life's work is all about access. For generations, colonial systems have campaigned to label Indigenous foods and medicines as 'unsafe' or 'ineffective.' I've seen important Indigenous foods mistakenly described as 'toxic,' and this misinformation has led to a real fear of the natural world."

Black Elk said she hopes to alleviate those fears through education and outreach by providing fun and informative resources for the community.

NATIFS is also heading to the State Fair, and will sponsor programming for Indigenous People's Day on Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dan Patch Park. Watch demonstrations on Indigenous foods and drinks (think wild rice, heirloom corn tortillas and herbal teas) as well as Native drumming and dancing groups.

Correction: A previous version of this story listed the wrong city for White Spaces design firm. It’s based in Chicago.

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Class AAA: Indianapolis at Saints 7 pm 96.7-FM

NL: Milwaukee at L.A. Dodgers 9 pm MLBN

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NFL preseason: Clev. at Philadelphia 6:30 pm NFLN

CFL: Edmonton at Hamilton 6:30 pm CBSSN

GOLF

LPGA: ISPS Handa World Invitational 7 am GOLF

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College women: Niagara at Gophers 6 pm *B1G+

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Canterbury Park racing livestreams are here

University of St. Thomas sports livestreams are here.

Livestreams of high school sporting events in the metro area are available for purchase from Neighborhood Sports Network. Tap here for a link to the schedule. Other games throughout the state are available for a fee through the NFHS network.

Area college sports livestreams are here: MIAC | NSIC | UMAC

In addition to sports listed above, more games are available from these web services: ESPN3 | ESPN+ | BIG+ | Peacock | Stadium | FOX Sports

Opinion editor's note: Star Tribune Opinion publishes a mix of national and local commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.

•••

I started driving with Lyft back in 2018 as a way to support my family. Through driving, I've been able to provide a better life for my young daughter. The flexibility lets me be there when she needs me and the access to daily income means I can better handle my finances. This simply wouldn't have been possible if I had continued with a traditional 9-to-5.

But all that opportunity, and her brighter future, will be thrown into jeopardy if the Minneapolis City Council passes its proposed rideshare ordinance ("What Minneapolis leaders owe rideshare workers," Opinion Exchange, Aug. 15).

Sold as a way to improve rideshare driver pay and provide us protections, it actually looks more like an attempt to just stick it to the companies than to help drivers. It mandates an incredibly high rate for driver pay, which sounds good on paper, but would really have the opposite effect on my wallet.

Here's a simple math equation the proponents want you to ignore. If you mandate that driver pay become over double what it is now, rider prices will skyrocket. A $20 ride becomes a $40 ride. Obviously, only the most wealthy could afford that kind of increase, so the number of rides I get plummets. Even at the higher rate, I end up earning less than I do today. It's a loss for riders and a loss for drivers. This is why Gov. Tim Walz vetoed a nearly identical bill earlier this year and instead created a task force that includes drivers, the companies and even representatives from the city of Minneapolis to study the issue.

The proponents love to claim their bill is modeled after one that was passed in Washington state. But they conveniently forget to tell you that the law was the result of months of collaboration between drivers, labor unions, elected officials and the companies. It represented a compromise that benefited everybody, which is the ultimate goal of the state's task force.

This bill's process has none of that. Instead of listening to drivers, riders and companies, the authors are committed only to passing it with as little consideration as possible. Shockingly, it will have gone from introduction to a full vote in less than a month, with minimal debate and regardless of the consequences.

And the consequences are substantial. Not only would rides become a luxury, but the platforms would become less safe. It would make it very hard to deactivate bad drivers, even if they were accused of something as egregious as sexual assault. In fact, it could force the survivor of the attack to have to relive that terrible experience and testify against the driver, otherwise the platform could be forced to allow the driver back on the platform to continue driving and potentially strike again. As a father to a daughter, this simply cannot stand.

This isn't to say drivers don't deserve fair pay and better protections. I want that, and I know many other drivers that want that, too. But this industry is complex, and our livelihoods are on the line. And it's why a growing number of drivers are against this bill.

Rather than jam through unproven and potentially devastating legislation, we should take our time to study the right way to improve the driving experience. That is ultimately how you best help drivers, and it's why I urge the City Council to vote no on this bill.

Paris Richardson, of St. Paul, is an independent driver.

While Lyft says it would stop operating in the city Jan. 1 if the proposal passes, Uber has not specified a date.

MINNEAPOLIS — You may have noticed an alert on your Lyft app this week.

The rideshare company is informing riders it would "be forced to stop operating in Minneapolis" Jan. 1 of next year if the City Council passes a rideshare ordinance Thursday and the mayor signs off on it.

The company also sent a letter to the council, warning that raising driver wages would also increase costs for riders, resulting in fewer ride requests and fewer earning opportunities for drivers. In its notice to riders, Lyft said costs would "nearly double."

The plan calls for drivers to receive at least $1.40 per mile and $0.51 per minute, or $5 — whichever is greater. The rule would only apply to the portion of the ride within the city. The ordinance would also guarantee riders and drivers get receipts within 24 hours of a completed trip detailing how much the rider paid versus what the driver received.

Lyft insists the proposal would jeopardize safety because drivers would be allowed to work for five days following a safety incident.

Ahead of the vote, the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Driver's Association shared support for the bill alongside Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley, who wrote it.

On social media, she calls the notices sent to riders this week "standard scare tactics that corporations use to resist regulation."

During a council meeting last week, the Minnesota Rideshare Drivers Association called the proposal a waste of time because it resembles the one Gov. Tim Walz vetoed back in spring but promised to study further.

"This bill will serve the opposite of its intention," the group's president said.

"There's already a task force that's in place," its vice chair added.

Lyft and Uber are asking the council to wait until state task force policy recommendations are ready.

Unlike Lyft, Uber hasn't announced a specific date but is sharing a similar warning to riders that if the plan passes, it would "greatly reduce services" and "possibly shut down operations entirely."

Council president Andrea Jenkins responded to inquiry on e-mail Wednesday, saying, "I support workers rights to earn a livable wage. I urge Ridesharing companies to support workers as well, by listening to the concerns and responding accordingly."

Mayor Jacob Frey's Office referred KARE 11 to the following statement:

“Mayor Frey supports drivers being paid more. How to get there is very complex and requires more information. This ordinance has moved through the legislative process with little deliberation, and there is essential information needed — including from TNCs — to make good, transparent policy decisions. The mayor will continue discussions with stakeholders before making a final decision.”

On Wednesday evening, Frey sent a letter to the city council outlining what he believes should be done before an ordinance is enacted, beginning with allowing more time for deliberation.

"We need both additional data and conversations to be had to ensure the essential safety and well-being of rideshare drivers and riders alike," the statement reads, in part.

He also called for more driver protections and benefits, as well as a gift card ban.

Thursday's council meeting is set to begin at 9:30 a.m.

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Rideshare companies Lyft and Uber are threatening to pull service out of Minneapolis if the city passes an ordinance Thursday that gives drivers more protections and higher pay.

Rideshare drivers have been pressing the Minneapolis City Council to pass legislation that would set a minimum compensation for drivers and create a process for them to appeal deactivations. The push at the city level comes just months after Gov. Tim Walz vetoed a similar bill that passed both houses of the state Legislature.

The proposed ordinance would, in part, ensure that any driver who has a ride that originates in Minneapolis would make an equivalent to the city’s minimum wage — $15 per hour.

The ordinance would change some protocols around deactivation, or the firing of Uber drivers, to give drivers more of an explanation. It would also eliminate the use of gift cards not issued by the rideshare companies, so there would be a way to trace riders and hold them accountable if necessary.

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In an email to the Minneapolis City Council, a Lyft spokesperson said the city ordinance would make fares too high. Uber asked customers to contact the council and mayor.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement to MPR News that more information is needed about the ordinance and that he'll continue to talk to stakeholders before he makes a final decision.

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<div _="@=630,dis=none"><div pseudo="-webkit-input-placeholder" id="placeholder" style="display: block !important;" _="@=631,dis=none,[@=632]">If you use Uber or Lyft to get around in Minneapolis, what would it mean for you if both services stopped operating within the city? Are you considering other transportation options? Are you willing to pay more? If you're a driver, how would you be impacted?</div><div _="@=633,dis=none"></div></div>

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Here are some responses we’ve collected from you.

Let them leave. This is bluster. I may actually take an Uber or Lyft again if they treated their workers with respect and paid a living wage. — Carrie Jo Swiggum on Facebook

Pretty sure taxis still exist — and pay their workers better! — Kevin Chavis on Facebook

I use Lyft occasionally. I want workers to be paid a fair wage with basic protections. If Lyft pulls out (along with Uber), I’ll say “So long!” and find another mode of transport. They are not the only options around here. — Christine Zuchora-Walske on Facebook

You’re asking the wrong question. You should be asking what it would be like to live in a city where all workers get paid a livable wage. Stop feeding into corporations’ scare tactics. — Annie Bulbulian Wells on Facebook

I use Uber pretty regularly and like it. I used it this morning, as a matter of fact. It is a convenience for me, not a necessity. I’d gladly pay more to improve their workers’ condition. — Aaron Benz on Facebook

I mean, I’d just use Evie Carshare (cheaper than Uber/Lyft already) and taxis more then. They can gladly cede their market share if they want. — Christian Noyce on Facebook

I have no car. I use Lyft for all my transportation. I am willing to pay more for this essential service. I am 84 years old and bus and light rail are not good options for me. — Marilyn Matheny

Owning no vehicle, I use both Lyft and Uber. I do tip drivers regularly and generously. I’m willing to pay Uber and Lyft more — but this will affect tipping. Same as at restaurants, customers tip little or no money if there is a “fee” added to the bill. Customers really want more details. I always compare costs of both services and time my trip to reduce my costs. Like others who live near city and state borders, I try to buy over the border to save money (5 cent. plastic bag fees, Mpls). I use those plastic bags for pet waste so that fee hits me twice, Mpls! — Greg Lecker

To lose Lyft and Uber would be absolutely devastating. I use them all the time. This legislation is a terrible idea and the city council should drop it immediately. — Barrett

I am a driver for both. They will leave. Not an empty threat! I provide 100 to 120 rides per week and earn $1,000 to $1,200. I depend on this income. I am happy with my income/expense ratio as well as my time commitment. Please protect my income! And my access to socializing with Mpls residents. — William Blake

They can leave as far as I’m concerned. I use Uber exclusively and I’d find another way. They need to treat their drivers fairly. That’s all the drivers are asking. Instead, they make threats to leave. Okay. Leave! Riders will find another way, where the providers will treat their drivers fairly. I received a message from Uber and my first thought was, Instead of trying to influence legislation, Uber needs to be negotiating with their drivers. Not trying to influence legislation. — Paul Barnes