“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.
August 9, 2007 - On this Midmorning program, MPR’s Kerri Miller talks with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, who reflects on the response to the I-35W bridge collapse, and the area's struggle to return to normal life. Rybak also answers listener questions.
August 10, 2007 - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters press conference announcing fed money for bridge repair and reconstruction. She was joined by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, and members of the Minnesota congressional delegation, including Sen. Norm Coleman, Reps. John Kline, Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison, and National Transportation Safety Board chairman Mark Rosenker.
August 15, 2007 - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak gives his pre-budget address to the City Council. He had planned to give it earlier, but the I-35W bridge collapse and its aftermath postponed it until now.
August 15, 2007 - MPR’s Brandt Williams reports on preview of the coming budget from Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. The city of Minneapolis will put more money into maintenance and repair of bridges and roads in the coming year, according to Mayor R.T Rybak. Rybak was due to deliver his 2008 budget, but the collapse of the I-35W bridge delayed that plan. The bridge disaster also forced Rybak to shift budget priorities and to plan for more money in public works.
August 16, 2007 - On this Midday program, MPR’s Gary Eichten speaks with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, who has had to realign his budget priorities to consider road maintenance and repair in the aftermath of the I-35W bridge collapse. Rybak hopes a Special Session at the State Capitol will help solve some of the city's financial burdens.
September 5, 2007 - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak speaks at the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearings held to figure out how to fix the nation's "structurally deficient bridges". This segment was from an hours long hearing led by U.S. Representative Jim Oberstar.
September 5, 2007 - U.S. Transportation committee, chaired by U.S. representative Jim Oberstar, hears witnesses on I-35W bridge collapse and the state of bridges in general. Panel 1: Structurally Deficient Bridges in the U.S. Panel 2: Calvin Scovel, US DoT, Inspector General; and Mark Rosenker, NTSB Chairman. Panel 3: R.T. Rybak, mayor of Minneapolis; and Kathleen Novak, mayor of Northglenn, CO. The segment ends with the Colorado mayor's testimony before they broke for a House vote.
September 5, 2007 - The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held hearings today to figure out how to fix the nation's "structurally deficient bridges". After the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis at the beginning of last month, both Congress and the transportation department have been focusing more of their attention on these vital, aging structures. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters provided testimony today. While she does not like the way bridges are getting classified, she says her department has not been neglecting them. Report also includes comments from U.S. Congressman Oberstar and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
October 19, 2007 - On this Midmorning program, MPR’s Kerri Miller talks with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak about the politics of the funding and design of the I-35W bridge replacement. He also talks about the new settlement on reducing airport noise for some homeowners, one that took years to achieve, and answers listener questions.
November 26, 2007 - Audio excerpt of R. T. Rybak on subject of renewable energy.