All Articles
Art & Advocacy Builds Freeman Park Community
If you’ve spent time in Freeman Park, chances are you’ve noticed — and perhaps paused to admire — the beautifully crafted bench that blends art and function.
The bench was designed, built, and donated by Barry Brown, a dedicated advocate for Freeman Park.
Shorewood City Council Meeting Observations
Dale and Karan Newberg attended the September 22, 2025 Shorewood City Council meeting.
Here are the observations and comments of that meeting they shared in an email with the City Council.
The Road Ahead: Hwy. 7 Study Update
MnDOT has developed a comprehensive website to keep the public informed and engaged as it progresses with the Hwy 7 Corridor Study.
It includes public feedback gathered via an online study of design alternatives, pop-up events, an online public meeting and online survey.
Council Bylaws: Ethics or (In)Consistent Control?
The Shorewood City Council is set to approve bylaws to impose a code of conduct that outlines “appropriate behaviors and interactions of council members with each other, staff, and residents.” We disagree with the premise and find this to be inconsistent, open-ended and poorly planned.
Essential Reading:118% Tax Increase
Shorewood resident Barry Brown has analyzed the Long Range Financial Plan (2026 – 2035) for Shorewood. It shows the Tax Levy skyrocketing from $7.5M in 2025 to $16.4M in 2035 – a 118% increase. Also, the city plans to increase its bond debt by another $21.6M between 2026 and 2031.
Shorewood City Engineering Spending Plummets
Shorewood resident Barry Brown has examined several years of Shorewood’s spending for engineering services and has identified a positive trend.
Read his analysis here.
Shorewood “Reserve Funds” Scheme to Grab Your Tax Dollars
Read and watch Barry Brown’s presentation to the Shorewood council regarding his analysis, and the impact to Shorewood taxpayers, of the city’s growing Reserve Funds.
Three New Things This Week
Here are three new, quick and informative articles for readers this week.
