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Summary: Council Member Chavez and I led the Council to unanimously allocate $533,000 for violence prevention strategies. This funding can help fill gaps created by the administration’s lack of a serious plan for summer safety.
Background: There are unique public safety challenges that often arise during the summer. As leadership of the Public Health and Safety (PHS) Committee, Chair Jason Chavez and I wanted to ensure that the Frey administration was being proactive about investing in comprehensive strategies for violence prevention, intervention, and restorative services for this summer.
Earlier this year, we asked Commissioner Barnette, who leads the Office of Community Safety (OCS), to come to the PHS Committee and present information related to the city’s 2024 summer plan. Commissioner Barnette and other departments under OCS presented at the May 15th PHS committee. The presentation included a list of programming under the heading 2024 Summer Safety Strategies.
Following the presentation, Council Member Chavez and I attended two listening sessions hosted by some of the groups that the city contracts with for violence prevention services. At those sessions, we learned that violence prevention providers had not been engaged at all by OCS in coming up with the summer safety plan. Some violence prevention leaders were surprised to see their events be listed as the city’s violence prevention strategies, because they were community events that were not financially supported by the city. Most importantly, these groups had crucial insights on how to decrease violence this summer, but were not engaged by anyone in the administration in creating a summer safety plan. I want to highlight that these groups are working directly with many young people and adults who are at risk of committing violence or being victims of violence. They have on-the-ground perspectives that must be used to inform the creation of any violence prevention plan.
After attending those two listening sessions, CM Chavez and I invited some of the groups to the June 5th PHS meeting to share their perspectives on how the city could enhance safety for our communities over the summer. These violence prevention experts shared many of the insights that they would have shared with OCS if anyone had asked them. I recommend watching this impactful presentation, which starts here at 2:15:45.
On June 20th, MPD presented that they were not even beginning their safe summer work until July 29th. This incredibly late start, coupled with the lack of involvement of violence prevention experts, made me and many of my colleagues very concerned about the city’s subpar plan to prevent violence this summer. Council Member Chavez and I attempted to work with Commissioner Barnette and other city staff for several months to address the extreme shortcomings in the OCS summer safety plan. Instead of working together to advance funding and targeted safety initiatives that could enhance safety for our communities this summer, OSC leadership and staff decided to not take necessary action. However, Council does have the budgetary authority to make the investments in violence prevention that the administration failed to do.
To that end, Council Member Chavez and I authored a resolution earmarking about half a million dollars in uncommitted funds within the Neighborhood Safety Department’s budget to further support violence prevention strategies. This appropriation does not ensure any specific group gets access to funding, nor does it specify how many groups will have access. The resolution passed the Budget Committee on Monday with a 10-0 vote and was forwarded to full Council for final approval on Thursday (8/1).
This past weekend, there was an uptick in violent crime resulting in three deaths and seven injuries. We saw similar trends earlier this month. On Monday, Council Member Osman spoke about having told OCS leadership about a specific intersection that he knew needed violence prevention investments in order to avoid a crisis. Those investments were not made. Weeks later, there was gun violence that left six residents dead. Despite the Council’s attempts to support the administration in being proactive about violence prevention, the administration moved into this summer with no strategic safety plan, and residents paid the price.
This summer safety funding allocation demonstrates to the public and the administration that this Council takes violence prevention seriously, and that when Council is aware of deficiencies or shortcomings in the administration’s plans to keep residents safe, the Council will take action to address them.
Key votes: The Budget Committee voted 10-0 in support of Council Member Chavez and my proposal to allocate additional funding for violence prevention. Council voted unanimously in final approval.
Summary: The advisory committee that recommends which capital projects the city should prioritize made their recommendations for the coming year. Their primary recommendation is that the city should focus on upgrading existing capital projects, which total over $700 million.
Background: The Capital Long-range Improvement Committee (CLIC) presented their 2024 recommendations to Council. The CLIC is a group of appointed residents who evaluate and rank all the large projects that departments request, such as bridges, roads, and city buildings.
Since 2019, the CLIC has written about how the city’s lack of strategic clarity and direction on public safety makes it impossible for them to confidently advise on the appropriate investments. In their 2023 report, they stated “CLIC has been very clear over the past few years that CLIC’s ability to provide advice on MPD infrastructure with a 75-year useful life, costing tens of millions of dollars, is severely hampered by the uncertainty and lack of strategic policy direction on public safety. For example, capital project requirements could look very different if colocation is desired with public safety services like the Behavioral Crisis Response team, or if strategic direction results in a model of smaller substations rather than one larger station per precinct. CLIC recommends that Facilities Management coordinate with MPD to immediately begin strategically working together to design buildings that reflect the new policy direction. As stated in the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Consent Decree, proper public engagement and thoughtful consideration of ‘creating a culture of continuous learning based on humanity and civil rights’ will take time to be integrated into design proposals. We anticipate well thought-out proposals for the next CLIC cycle.” (Page 11)
I asked if MPD or the Office of Community Safety had met with the CLIC this year to offer clarity on their proposals and how they align with the city’s new model of public safety as outlined in the Safe and Thriving Communities Report. The CLIC co-chairs shared that on the contrary, MPD’s budget requests for new precincts still lacked sufficient information to make informed decisions. The requests that MPD laid out also did not demonstrate clear alignment with the requirements of the consent decree. This is deeply concerning because it indicates that MPD is asking for multimillion dollar investments to continue to replicate status quo precincts and status quo policing. We need to ensure that all investments align with the Safe and Thriving Communities Plan, which articulates a 10-year blueprint on how the city can move our public safety system and its facilities away from the status quo and towards a comprehensive and equitable model of public safety beyond policing.
You can watch the presentation and discussion here starting at 00:10:15.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Summary: The Public Housing Authority shared their five-year plan.
Background: The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) presented a development update and their five-year plan to the Board of Estimates and Taxation (BET). The BET sets the tax levy to fund the city budget
In my two and a half years in office, I have helped lead the city to substantially increase our investments in public housing, and I was pleased to see those investments reflected in the plan. I led the city in passing a $5 million per year public housing levy, worked with state representatives to secure a $5 million direct allocation from the state, and championed a successful $1.2 million budget amendment to ensure that all public housing residents have adequate sprinklers for fire suppression.
As the federal government continues to underfund public housing and replace public funding with strategies that create loopholes for privatization, it is more important than ever that we take action to preserve our existing Section 9 public housing. I worked with Glendale residents and the Prospect Park community to win support for historic designation at Glendale Townhomes, which would protect this unique gem of the city’s public housing system.
I look forward to continuing to work with MPHA, public housing residents, neighbors, and my colleagues to protect and expand public housing in Minneapolis.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Summary: Council approved another $1.4 million in workers compensation to MPD officers.
Background: The administration asked Council to approve another ten workers compensation claims from MPD officers, totaling another $1,400,000 of taxpayer money. I do not believe in rubber stamping expenditures of taxpayer money, and these workers compensation claims are a major drain on the city budget, costing over $33 million in the past five years. Until there is more clarity that these cases are being fully and robustly vetted, I will continue to oppose them.
Key votes: Council voted 10-2 to approve another 10 MPD workers compensation settlements costing taxpayers another $1,400,000. Council Members Chughtai and Chavez voted against the settlement. I was absent from the final vote but opposed these settlements during last week’s Committee vote.
This Tuesday, August 6th is National Night Out! There will be block parties all across the city. Ask your neighbors if they know about a block party near you.
In Prospect Park, the 4th St Festival will be taking place on National Night Out. Join BF50 Indigenous Health for the annual festival including games, activities, music, and community resources for kids and adults. Bring a sustainable dish to share.
4th St Festival
August 6th 5:30-7:30pm
Bridal Veil Gardens- 2905 4th St SE
4th St Festival flyer
I helped author resolutions celebrating Oromo week and honoring Dr. Ali Shabo, a musician and cultural ambassador and advocate for the Oromo community. Welcome to all those visiting Minneapolis and the metro area for the OSFNA Festival and thank you to the Oromo leaders in our community.
CM Wonsley presenting community leaders the Oromo Week resolution
The Minneapolis Fire Department rescued two people who fell down a river embankment at River Pkwy E / 24th and Franklin Av SE along the river walkway. Upon arrival, it was reported that one person fell down a steep embankment, and while trying to help their friend, the other person fell down the embankment as well, therefore two people needed to be rescued. Both adults were hanging on to a dead tree to keep from sliding down the embankment into the river. Fire crews cleared a path down the hill, set up a rope rescue pully system with harnesses, repelled down the embankment, harnessed each person to the firefighters, and walked/pulled them up the embankment with firefighters’ assistance. The adult males were medically evaluated by HCMC paramedics, and no injuries were reported.
The Mississippi River Gorge is one of our city’s greatest assets and a treasure in Ward 2. This incident reminds us all to enjoy the River Gorge area safely and stay on paths. Thank you to the Minneapolis Fire Department for this successful rescue in Ward 2.
As caregivers get their children ready to head back to school, ensuring their vaccinations are up to date should be at the top of the checklist.
Nearly 40% of Minneapolis Public School children are behind on their childhood vaccines. So, the Health Department is encouraging parents and guardians to talk with their healthcare provider to review and update their child’s immunizations. It can help your family avoid missing:
- School
- Activities
- Work
- Family events
- Vacation
“While we offer free vaccination clinics year-round, the month of August is crucial to reach those who need to get caught on their routine vaccinations, especially school-age children,” says Minneapolis Health Department Director of Public Health Initiatives Luisa Pessoa-Brandão. “Now is an important time to check your child’s vaccination status to catch up if they are behind on immunizations. Add vaccinations to your back-to-school shopping list this year.”
How to check your child’s vaccination status
Minneapolis child and adolescent vaccination numbers need boosting
- Approximately three in five (60%) Minneapolis teenagers are not up to date on their adolescent vaccines.
- Minneapolis kids are well below the target set by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for starting measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines.
- The CDC wants 95% of kids to have their first shot by kindergarten, but only 62% of Minneapolis kids from birth to 4 years old have had their first measles shot.
- 71% of kids ages 5-9 up to date on measles, and only 60% of 4-year-olds getting their first measles shot.
Free community vaccination clinics
The Health Department and its partners are hosting their first August vaccination clinic tomorrow at Centro Tyrone Guzman.
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When: Friday, Aug. 2 from 2-4 p.m.
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Where: Centro Tyrone Guzman, 1915 Chicago Ave.
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Vaccines available:
- Childhood vaccinations (0-18), Adult vaccines (Tdap, MMR) (uninsured)
- COVID (12+), STI/HIV testing (13+)
“Updating your child’s vaccines today can prevent future illness and the financial burden of medical costs associated with vaccine-preventable diseases,” says Sebastiana Cervantes, Senior Public Health Specialist, Minneapolis Health Department.
Resources
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, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311. |
