“R.T.” Raymond Thomas Rybak is an American Democrat politician, journalist and community activist who served as the 46th Mayor of Minneapolis.
Born November 12th, 1955 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rybak was a journalist for Minneapolis Tribune and headed local publications before being elected as mayor of Minneapolis in 2001. He served multiple terms, spanning 2002 to 2014. His tenure was noted for crime reduction, job creation, affordable housing, and balanced city budget. Rybak has been honored with a rare “non-musician” star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue.
April 19, 2006 - MPR’s Brandt Williams reports on Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak state of the city address. Public safety was the top priority outlined in his address. Rybak delivered his speech Tuesday afternoon in north Minneapolis -- a part of the city that contains several high crime neighborhoods. The mayor focused much of his speech on plans to bring jobs, housing, commerce and hope there. Report also contains community commentary on reaction to Rybak’s speech.
August 16, 2006 - Brief audio clip of Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak on environment that is threat to kids in some neighborhoods.
September 12, 2006 - MPR’s Brandt Williams reports on interim Police Chief Tim Dolan being Mayor RT Rybak's choice to lead the Minneapolis Police department. Dolan is a Minneapolis native and 23-year veteran of the force. Rybak says Dolan's experience with the city and with the department makes him the best choice to be the city's next top police officer. Report also contains commentary from PCRC and community member.
September 12, 2006 - Interim police Chief Tim Dolan is Mayor R.T. Rybak's choice to lead the Minneapolis Police department. Dolan is a Minneapolis native and 23-year veteran of the force. Rybak says Dolan's experience with the city and with the department makes him the best choice to be the city's next top cop. MPR’s Brandt Williams report includes comments from both Rybak and Dolan.
November 30, 2006 - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says he's disappointed and angry about having to remove fire chief Bonnie Bleskachek from the office he appointed her to in 2004. Earlier this week, Rybak and several other councilmembers voted to fire her from the department's top post, and to reject a settlement offer that would allow her to come back to the force in a lesser rank. MPR’s Brandt Williams report also includes interviews with Bonnie Bleskachek and Greg Corwin, a civil service attorney.
March 20, 2007 - The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul are hoping that people all around the country will begin thinking about these Twin Cities as a single destination. Last night, Mayors Rybak and Coleman announced that they are going to work together to re-brand Minneapolis and St. Paul. The hope is, by creating a shared brand, the cities may be able to stop competing against each other to attract businesses and events. The plan is, to use the best of both cities to lure people to the metro area. MPR’s Tom Crann interviews Karyn Gruenberg, vice president of marketing and communications for Meet Minneapolis, formerly known as the Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Bureau. She talked about the launch of the cities' branding campaign with the mayors last night.
August 2, 2007 - MPR Special Coverage of government and city officials giving morning news conference on day after I-35W bridge collapse. Speakers include R.T. Rybak, mayor of Minneapolis; Tim Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota; Amy Peters, U.S. secretary of transportation; Norm Coleman, U.S. senator; Amy Klobuchar, U.S. senator; Keith Ellison, U.S. representative, Tim Dolan, Minneapolis police chief; Jim Clack, Minneapolis fire chief; and Mark Rosenker, chairman of National Transportation Safety Board. Topics include the recovery efforts, first responders, government relief, initial local reaction, and investigations going forward. Speakers also answer reporter questions.
August 2, 2007 - MPR Special Coverage of R.T. Rybak, mayor of Minneapolis; and Tim Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota, giving afternoon news conference on day after I-35W bridge collapse. Topics include the human loss, family privacy, first responders, road closures, and bridge inspections. Both Rybak and Pawlenty also answer reporter questions.
August 3, 2007 - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says it's unclear when two bridges across the Mississippi will be reopened. The 10th Avenue and the Stone Arch bridges have been closed since Wednesday evening's collapse of the nearby 35W bridge. Both spans are within the investigation perimeter set up by law enforcement officials. Rybak said the downriver 10th Avenue bridge will need to stay off limits while the recovery efforts continue. But he says he would like see access restored to the Stone Arch bridge as early as next week.
August 9, 2007 - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says he told Minnesota Transportation officials he's worried plans are moving too fast to build a 35-W replacement bridge.