Weekend service begins Memorial Day Weekend

Get Closer' to Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s plants, animals and now the front door with the introduction of the new Como Shuttle. The Como Shuttle is a quick, convenient and free bus service to the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory beginning Memorial Day weekend.

Every Saturday and Sunday, beginning May 23 through September, visitors can hop aboard shuttle busses originating from parking lots at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds or the Saint Paul Public School District Service Facility, both on Como Ave., conveniently located near the Como campus.

As one of the premier attractions in the state of Minnesota with over 1.9 million annual visitors, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory offers this new free service as a way to ease traffic congestion in and around the park, improve safety, mitigate vehicle emissions improving air quality and ease the frustration of circling the parking lot in hopes of nabbing one of the rare open parking spots. In the summer of 2008 a survey was conducted and found that out of the 92% of visitors who drive to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, 68% would likely utilize the shuttle bus service.

In an effort to improve service, quality, and reduce greenhouse gasses, three low-emission diesel shuttle buses purchased by the City of Saint Paul leveraged by a $1.6 million dollar Federal Grant, along with support of rented shuttle buses, will be in continuous operation weekends through September from 9:30am – 6:30pm, with the exception of Independence Day weekend. These busses are wheelchair and stroller accessible. The shuttle bus would allow passengers to board at the staffed off-site parking lot location and within a few minutes be dropped off at the front door of the Visitor Center.

Mayor Coleman Announces Civil Gang Injunction Lawsuit Against the Sureño 13

Mayor Chris Coleman today announced that the City has commenced legal action against the Sureño 13, a nationally known criminal gang with a presence in the Twin Cities area. Mayor Coleman was joined by community festival organizers and leaders from various organizations supporting this public safety initiative.

“Our message today is clear - gangs are not welcome in our community. The public has a right to be free from criminal gang violence and intimidation, and as the home of some of the most prominent community festivals in the country, we are doing everything we can to protect our community from gang activity. Saint Paul is a safe city, and these injunctions are an innovative tool to send a clear message to gangs that we will not tolerate any violence in our community,” Mayor Coleman said.

The civil legal action comes a month before the non-profit organizers of the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta host the annual event May 1-2. The action aims to prevent the Sureño 13 from disrupting the festival and the surrounding neighborhood, and it has the support of both the festival organizers and neighborhood activists from Saint Paul’s West Side and other neighborhoods

City Attorney John Choi said the civil action announced Monday is just the first in what could become a significant tool to combat gang activity in Saint Paul’s neighborhoods.

The Civil Gang Injunction Statute (Minn. Stat. §§ 617.91 – 617.97) authorizes a city attorney, county attorney or the attorney general to commence a civil action against criminal gangs to enjoin criminal gang activity. The civil lawsuit filed by Choi seeks injunctive relief pursuant to the Civil Gang Injunction Statute that was developed by the Community Prosecution Unit of the Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office and passed by the Minnesota Legislature in 2007.