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It’s back to school season and things will be cooling down soon. The summer always goes by too fast.
Fall also means that it’s budget time at the City of Minneapolis. The mayor presented his proposed budget in August and there are many investments I am happy about. There will be $4.5 million in annual street lighting investments. These dollars will go to relighting all our neighborhoods. The lack of good pedestrian street lighting in many of the neighborhoods in the 6th Ward is in a crisis. I advocated for dollars for lighting out of the ARPA funding (federal money we got earlier this year) and am happy the mayor has made it an ongoing investment.
There’s more than $600 thousand dollars in annual investments in opiate outreach, engagement, and treatment. This is incredibly important to so many people across the 6th Ward. And finally, there is a substantial investment across all departments to fill the city workforce. The city is understaffed basically everywhere, and the mayor is making commitments to help pay employees what they are worth and rebuild our world class workforce. I held one job fair with MPD, and our 911 department look for more coming up.
We have some new additions to our office. Beirut Abafogi is joining the Ward 6 team after several years working for Senator Amy Klobuchar. She brings a wealth of experience to the office, and I am excited for the contributions she is already making. We are also bringing on an intern. Nimo Mohamed, a junior at St. Kate's is joining the office. Her biggest responsibility is going to be working on creating materials to share the services and supports available to community. They are out with me at events in the ward, don’t hesitate to introduce yourself.
Stay safe this fall,
Jamal Osman
Join Welcoming Week events promoting inclusion for all communities
Public hearing for tax levy set for Sept. 14
City Council holding study sessions on elements of City's new government structure
Mayor announces Police Chief finalists
Homebuyer Resources
Rent stabilization work group
The new Rent Stabilization Work Group comprising renters, property owners and stakeholder organizations will have its first meeting Sept. 13 to discuss and make recommendations for a rent stabilization policy framework.
Last fall, Minneapolis voters approved an amendment to the City’s Charter authorizing the City Council to consider a policy regulating rent increases for residents. This spring, the City Council established the work group.
Learn more about the Rent Stabilization Work Group on the City website. You can also sign up for email updates.
City kicks off employee recruitment effort
The City is launching a comprehensive effort to recruit talented, diverse applicants for hard-to-fill jobs starting with critical community safety positions in the Police Department and 911. That work begins with the search for an outside consultant to create and launch a multiyear recruitment and marketing campaign. A public safety recruitment event is scheduled for Thursday Sep. 8, 2022 at the Brian Coyle center.
City seeking community proposals for violence prevention strategies
Proposals are now being accepted for the Minneapolis Health Department’s 2022 Violence Prevention Fund, which supports community-led strategies that address violence across Minneapolis. Groups, organizations and entities who use a public health approach to help reduce the impact of violence on our communities are encouraged to submit. The Minneapolis Office of Violence Prevention makes funding available to support strategies rooted in the wisdom and experience of community. Completed applications are due by noon Friday, Sept. 23. All proposals must be submitted electronically through the City’s eSupplier Portal
Cedric Alexander sworn in as city's first community safety commissioner
On Aug. 8, the City swore in Cedric Alexander as the City of Minneapolis’ first community safety commissioner. Mayor Frey has issued executive order 2022-02 formally vesting the commissioner with the authority to oversee and direct the City’s community safety departments, including Police, Fire, 911, Emergency Management and the Office of Violence Prevention.
The executive order formalizes the commissioner’s role in helping shape the new Office of Community Safety alongside policymakers.
City Council approves Kristyn Anderson for City Attorney
The City Council has approved Mayor Jacob Frey’s nomination of Kristyn Anderson for City attorney.
Anderson has served as Minnesota Management and Budget’s general counsel, enterprise employment law counsel and state ethics officer. Before joining Minnesota Management and Budget, she worked at the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office for 13 years in the Civil Litigation Division.
She will officially start as the City Attorney Sept. 26.
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