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For several months, I have been speaking publicly about my concerns around mismanagement of the Office of Community Safety (OCS) and the Neighborhood Safety Department (NSD). NSD is responsible for ensuring that we have high quality unarmed public safety services. For the last several months, concerns had been brought to both the Commissioner of the Office Public Safety and Mayor Frey regarding needed support for corrective actions. One of the many symptoms of this mismanagement is that numerous contracts with Group Violence Intervention (GVI) organizations had gone unpaid and the service providers had been working without technical assistance. The city is months behind on fulfilling contracts with these public safety workers who do crucial preventative and de-escalatory public safety work.
At this week’s Council meeting, Council was asked to approve four overdue contracts for GVI providers. These contracts would provide compensation for services that had been rendered starting in January and had gone completely uncompensated.
I voted to approve these contracts and get unarmed public safety workers the funds they need to keep doing their important work. Council had a lengthy discussion, which demonstrated a fundamental difference in how some view this critical work. Contracts with the city, let alone those that provide public safety services, should be approved based on the scope of services and agreements that are in place, not by Council Member’s personal affinity to some organizations. We should be holding all organizations to the same standard. During the Council meeting, some of my colleagues raised questions about my statements around the mismanagement of NSD. In order to address these questions and provide clarity on my concerns as well as action steps, I sent a memo and timeline to my colleagues today with more information.
Key votes: Council votes 9-1 to approve contracts to compensate unarmed public safety workers for services they have already provided. Council Member Vetaw was the only vote of opposition.
Council approved the concept layout for New Nicollet, the former KMart site on Lake Street. This layout will massively improve traffic flow, bike and pedestrian safety, green space, and activate a key commercial corridor.
There continue to be public safety challenges in Dinkytown with several recent robberies and one incident of gunfire. MPD and UMPD are deploying additional staffing to the impacted areas. My office attends regular meetings of the UMN Strategic Safety Advisory Committee and is working with a broad variety of University area partners on coordinated public safety efforts.
My office is working with the University administration, Undergraduate Student Government, and local community organizations on an event series called Dinky After Dark. Dinky After Dark would be a street activation on weekend nights to support crime prevention through environmental and programmatic intervention. We are modeling the program off of Warehouse District Live, a program led by Council Member Rainville last year downtown. Warehouse District Live made a main entertainment corridor pedestrian only late at night, and used lighting, activities, food options, and other environmental design to reduce crime. Warehouse District Live saw an 80% percent reduction in gunshots and a 30% reduction in other violent crime in the half mile around the event. We are hopeful that we can build off the successes of WDL with a Dinkytown-specific event series piloting in the fall of 2024.
This week, Council also approved a $300,000 contract with Somali Youth Link, an organization of Somali elders and mothers who have provided valuable violence prevention services in the Dinkytown area in the past.
Key votes: Council unanimously approves Somali Youth Link contract for unarmed public safety services which will include Dinkytown.
Residents have been collecting signatures to change the City Charter to include a Civilian Police Accountability Commission (CPAC). CPAC would be an elected body that oversees the police department, sets policies, and addresses misconduct. This week, elections staff tabulated the signatures and concluded that unfortunately, CPAC failed to acquire the minimum number of valid signatures to be included on the 2024 ballot. Thank you to CPAC organizers for your work to improve police accountability.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Next week, you'll see crews beginning a two-year project to reconstruct and improve University Avenue (County Road 36) and Fourth Street Southeast (County Road 37) between Oak Street and I-35W on and near the University of Minnesota campus. This year, crews will work on Fourth Street. Next year, crews will work on University Avenue.
Here’s what to expect in the months ahead:
Beginning May 13 through August
- Fourth Street will be reduced to two lanes between Oak Street and the ramp to I-35W. Crews will work along the south side (left lanes) of Fourth Street. Traffic can continue to use the right lanes. Bike and pedestrian access will be maintained. No on-street parking on Fourth Street.
August through October
- Fourth Street will be reduced to one lane between Oak Street and 10th Avenue. Crews will work along the north side (right lanes) of Fourth Street. Traffic can continue to use the left lane. Bike and pedestrian access will be maintained. No on-street parking on Fourth Street.
Two-week closure this summer
- A section of Fourth Street will be fully closed to traffic between 17th Avenue and Oak Street for two weeks in late summer while crews construct the new METRO E-line bus platform. This closure will be scheduled before fall semester starts at the U of M. We’ll provide more information when it’s available.
We’re working to minimize disruption during this major reconstruction.
If you walk or bike: We will maintain the Fourth Street bike lanes and pedestrian access during construction. There may be times when people walking and rolling will be routed around the construction area for safety.
If you use transit: Bus service will be maintained. Some transit stops will be temporarily closed or relocated as work moves through the construction area. For information on affected stops, visit Metro Transit’s Rider Alerts, or contact your transit service.
If you drive: Generally, Fourth Street will remain open to through traffic, but be alert for lane closures and plan for delays. Watch for more details about a planned two-week full closure between 17th Avenue and Oak Street in late summer.
If your home or business is directly on the project area: We will maintain access to your entrance. Contact the project team with any specific concerns. Also be aware, construction activity and noise will generally be restricted to weekdays between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Please be alert for crews.
If you attend events: We’re working with the University of Minnesota and attractions to mitigate traffic impacts during events in facilities along the corridor. Plan ahead, consider an alternative route, and allow additional time.
If you want to park in the area: On-street parking on Fourth Street for the entire construction area will be temporarily closed during construction. Meter restrictions are coordinated with the City of Minneapolis. Plan ahead to park on another street or in a nearby parking ramp. The University of Minnesota’s parking facilities page has a list of nearby ramps.
For more information, visit University and Fourth roadway improvements
Join us to see preliminary designs for the corridor and discuss trail concepts with the design team. The Park Board will be designing and implementing a new trail over the next several years to fill a 140-year trail gap in the Grand Rounds through NE and SE Minneapolis. The trail route is based on the 2019 regional trail plan, rooted in community engagement and interagency coordination. This is a family-friendly event, we look forward to seeing you there!
THURSDAY MAY 23RD @ 4:30-6:00PM
MALCOLM YARDS BLUEPRINT ROOM
501 30th Ave SE
Doors Open Minneapolis is your chance to explore the buildings that tell our city’s story. From theaters to business hubs, sacred spaces to private clubs, sports complexes to engineering wonders, historical gems to not-even-open-yet buildings, Doors Open Minneapolis will give you a FREE behind-the-scenes look at over 100 exciting venues. Building owners and caretakers will provide unique perspectives that illustrate why these venues, people, and businesses, are central to our city’s identity.
Join us for Doors Open Minneapolis on May 18 – 19, 10am – 5pm. Visit www.doorsopenminneapolis.org to learn more and plan your weekend!
Residents have organized to demand suicide prevention infrastructure on the Washington Avenue Bridge. A recent article outlines the impacted families spearheading this important effort. Thanks to this leadership by community, the state is now considering funding the needed infrastructure. I strongly support this effort and thank residents for your leadership.
I had the honor of speaking with current students at my alma mater, Carleton College, about Palestine solidarity work and being a leader for social change. Thank you for inviting me back to connect with current Carls and the next generation of changemakers.
Contact Ward 2
Visit: minneapolismn.gov/ward2
Email: ward2@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2202
We've moved while work is being done in City Hall. Our office is in:
Room 100, Public Service Center
250 South 4th St.
Get directions
For reasonable accommodations or alternative format please contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-263-6850. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab 311. Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay wac 311. |
