|
Summary: The Neighborhood Safety Department has proposed a violence interruption contract with an organization led by an individual who recently made homophobic statements and death threats against Council Members.
Background: Last month, the Reverend Jerry McAfee, a contractor with the Neighborhood Safety Department, interrupted a Committee meeting and made homophobic statements and threats against the City Council. Many residents and Council Members have publicly called on Mayor Frey to take responsibility and corrective action, such as cutting the contract with McAfee and undertaking some kind of managerial action towards the Director of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Prince Corbett, who publicly supported Reverend McAfee’s threats. Instead of taking any corrective actions, the Frey administration has now proposed extending a new additional contract to a nonprofit associated with Reverend McAfee’s church, Salem Inc, for $643,632, for violence intervention services.
Reverend McAfee is not in a position to do violence prevention work in the city of Minneapolis. When the city approves contracts related to public safety services, we are affirmatively telling the public that these organizations and individuals are safe to put their trust in. What message are we giving the public by giving a contract to an individual who has made public threats of violence over a disagreement? What are we signaling to communities when we contract with organizations with public views of homophobia? The public should be able to trust that the city is administering services that can keep all residents safe, and the Frey administration's selection shows an inability to do that.
I want to believe the claims that things are improving in NSD, but actions like this reveal that the Frey administration is still mismanaging public safety and the outcomes are contracts that would make residents less safe.
Key votes: The Administration and Enterprise Oversight (AEO) Committee will take up this item on Monday, March 17th at 1:30pm.
Summary: Council approved an updated legislative directive I brought forward to get more regular updates on the status of the consent decree to determine how to best advance police reform.
In November of 2024, I authored a legislative directive that Council approved to ensure that Council and the public received regular updates on the status of the City’s implementation of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Settlement Agreement and Consent Decree.
Unfortunately, the Trump Administration asked the federal judge overseeing the consent decree to pause for 30 days, and the judge agreed. This week, Council received a closed session on the status of the consent decree. I brought forward an updated version of my legislative directive to provide more frequent updates as the situation will likely be developing at a faster pace than we had originally understood. This directive was approved unanimously by my colleagues.
Key votes: Council votes unanimously to approve my legislative directive providing more frequent updates on the status of the consent decree.
Summary: Conversations continue around the future of Glendale Townhomes.
Background: Glendales Townhomes is home to 184 families and is a treasured part of the Prospect Park community. The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) operates Glendale, and has initiated a conversation about possible redevelopment over the coming years.
At the request of residents, I nominated Glendale for local historic designation last year, resulting in a unanimous vote by the Heritage Preservation Commission to place Glendale under interim protection until June 2025. Council will vote on the historic designation by June.
Residents have recently reached out to my office to request that I clarify and reaffirm my position regarding demolition of Glendale, historic designation of Glendale, and addressing concerns that residents are being intimidated by MPHA with threats of demolition or displacement. I have written a statement that is available in English, Somali and Oromo. I will be distributing these at Glendale so that residents are aware of the City Council office’s role as it relates to Glendale, and know how to reach my office with any thoughts, questions or concerns.
This week, MPHA invited me to tour units at Glendale to see their current process for rehabilitation between tenants.
In April, I will attend MPHA's next meeting with Glendale residents to continue the conversation about the future of Glendale. While at this meeting, it is my goal to reaffirm what my role is on the Council and how it relates to Glendale, restate my position opposing displacement of residents, and spend the majority of the meeting listening to the feedback residents provide MPHA. I appreciate the opportunity to hear from residents firsthand and am always open to attending community meetings to connect directly with Ward 2 residents.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Council Member Wonsley touring a unit being rehabbed at Glendale Townhomes.
Summary: Testify in support of my ordinance banning harmful AI technology that is driving up rents in Minneapolis.
Background: I, Council Members Ellison and Council Member Chavez have introduced an ordinance that would ban the use of rental algorithms that use non-public data to advise landlords on rent or vacancy rates. Algorithmic pricing became a headline last year when the US Department of Justice sued a company called RealPage for what they call an “algorithmic pricing scheme that harms millions of American renters.” You can read more about rent algorithms and our proposed ban in last week’s Ward 2 update.
A note of correction: Last week’s newsletter inaccurately stated that algorithmic pricing is driving up rent by $312/year for the average Twin Cities renter. The correct statistic is that algorithmic pricing is driving up rent by $312/year on average for Twin Cities renters in a unit managed with algorithmic pricing. One in seven rental units in the Twin Cities is managed with algorithmic pricing software.
Nationally, renters spent an extra $3.8 billion last year because of overall pricing algorithms — or an average of about $70 per month. RealPage’s own clients report a 15 percentage point increase in tenant turnover, meaning more renters are being priced out.
Banning algorithmic pricing is a way for our city to ensure that this harmful AI technology is not a barrier to our citywide goal of an equitable and affordable housing market. Share your support for banning rental algorithms in Minneapolis at the rent-setting algorithm ban public comment!
Rent-setting Algorithm Ban public comment
In person
- Thursday, March 20th at 10am
- Public Service Center (250 S 4th S) Room 350
- Speakers have 2 minutes each.
In writing
- Written comment can be submitted any time via email to CouncilComment@minneapolismn.gov
Key votes: The Business Housing and Zoning Committee will vote on the ban on March 20th after the public hearing. The full Council will vote on March 27th at 9:30am.
Summary: Council is beginning discussion with the administration’s Labor Relations team about strategies for the next MPD contract.
Background: The city’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Minneapolis Police Officers Federation that Council approved this past July will extend through the end of 2025, at which point the City and Federation will return to negotiation for a new contract.
The Administration and Enterprise Oversight (AEO) Committee takes up the city’s labor contracts, including the police contract. Over the last few years, the Council has received significant requests for more engagement around the contract. Last year, as Chair of AEO, I created expanded opportunities for community engagement.
Last year’s conversation on the contract made it clear that the contract is a high priority to many residents and many Council Members. Council received extensive input from organizations and individual community members advocating for specific provisions to improve public safety outcomes, save taxpayer money, and reduce the risk of injury to officers and residents. We also received large amounts of public comment advocating against approving the contract which would give historic raises to officers with only minimal and temporary reforms.
The Frey administration and MPD leadership for years have repeatedly pointed to the contract as a key venue to win change, and cited it as the reason they have been unable to implement urgently needed reforms. In that context, it was particularly unacceptable to see Mayor Frey urge Council to adopt the contract without significant permanent reform based on a new claim that he could implement significant reform outside the contract. The truth is that the police contract has always been and will continue to be a key tool in the city’s ability to rein in some of MPD’s worst patterns and practices, but there has been a persistent lack of political will to use it. Thanks to persistent advocacy by the community and some Council Members, the last police contract included much more robust debate and discussion than previous years.
This year, I want to make sure that Council is updated on the upcoming negotiations and able to engage with the process as early as possible.
To that end, I have worked with the city’s Department of Labor Relations and City Attorney to hold quarterly closed sessions in AEO throughout this year where Council Members can receive updates on the administration’s strategies to advance police reforms through negotiations and share what changes they would like to see occur. Closed sessions give Council the opportunity to be briefed on information without disclosing information that could weaken our negotiation position and/or create legal risk for the city.
I am grateful for the several residents and organizations who have highlighted that the MPD contract uniquely has significant provisions that are not found in neighboring cities like St. Paul, or other similar sized cities nationwide. Many of these provisions inhibit the city’s ability to effectively manage MPD and allocate public safety resources as needed. As we enter this new conversation I want to share where my priorities are:
-
No staffing ratios: Years ago, the City negotiated away MPD’s managerial rights to determine their workforce staffing through a provision in the contract that requires 70% of all officers be patrol staff. The last contract included a one-year suspension of the 70/30 provision, but the provision will return at the end of this year. With the City’s new commitment to investing in comprehensive services, the 70/30 provision removes the City’s ability to redirect these officers to new police assignments. Council was given a report in December that stated nearly 47% of all 911 calls were candidates for a response other than traditional police response, such as civilian response or investigations response. This reinforces that the city must have the power to assign police officers to departments within the police force based on need, not due to an arbitrary 70/30 division.
-
Full managerial rights over off-duty work: Despite several years of the City stating that it’s experiencing a staffing crisis, MPD officers are still engaging in off-duty work. Last year, MPD shared that through October of last year, officers completed over 73,000 hours of off-duty work. I have heard, and agree, that if the city is experiencing a staffing shortage, there should be limitations on how off-duty work is available. While the Frey administration points to a 1990s settlement agreement that limits its ability to limit off-duty work, there is nothing stopping them from reengaging the courts or to solve this through the contract. In addition to this being a significant managerial right we need to get back, it should help alleviate some of the significant costs related to overtime we have seen grow each year.
-
Full managerial rights as it relates to civilian investigators: In addition to the 70/30 provision that limits the amount of police investigators MPD is allowed to have, the police federation has also opposed allowing the city to hire civilian investigators to do this work either. Last year’s contract included a temporary Letter of Agreement that gave the city the ability to utilize more civilian investigators, but that provision will expire in December. This managerial right must be permanently continued, as it has significant impacts to our city’s public safety at a time where we have thousands of cases in backlog and residents who are seeking closure on cases that have been open and unsolved for years.
I will work to bring transparency to the contract negotiation process and create venues for community input if things progress in the upcoming months.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Background: I and Council Member Ellison have been working to develop a policy proposal for vacancy fees. This idea came from residents who reached out to Council to share their frustration at the homes and commercial spaces in their neighborhoods that sit empty year after year. While a short gap in between renters is normal, many residents have seen houses and apartments units that sit vacant for years instead of being a home for a family.
Currently, the City’s only tools to handle vacant properties is to rehabilitate them or demolish them. Adding fees and citations as tools that are available to City staff would mean the City could do more to support landlords with resources and recommendations on how to activate the property by finding a tenant, or by selling it to someone who is ready to activate it. Council Member Ellison and I authored a legislative directive that Council approved, resulting in a staff presentation about how vacancy fees could be implemented on properties that are vacant for more than six months. To continue exploring enforcement, we passed a staff direction that staff will present on at the Business Housing and Zoning Committee meeting on March 20th.
This week, we presented to the Housing Advisory Committee to get their perspectives on how long-term residential vacancy impacts renters, priorities for vacancy reduction policies, and questions. We will use this input as well as other stakeholder input to draft an ordinance to move through the legislative process later this year.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Council Members Wonsley and Ellison presenting about vacancy fees to the Housing Advisory Committee.
I spoke at a rally outside the Minnesota State Capitol hosted by 50501, a decentralized movement for 50 protests in 50 states united around 1 movement against the illegal actions taken by the Trump administration. I was honored to share my comments alongside State Representative Leigh Finke and a variety of other elected officials and community leaders.
CM Wonsley at the 50501 Rally with a variety of elected officials and community leaders.
Community members requested a meeting with me to share their concerns about the city's Neighborhood Safety Department, especially in light of the most recent vote on Group Violence Intervention contracts that resulted in a current city contractor making death threats toward Council Members.
Community members shared what changes they would like to see in the administration of the Neighborhood Safety Department, and emphasized the need for accountability and oversight over the department administering these crucial violence prevention programs.
Community Members meeting with CM Wonsley to share concerns about the Neighborhood Safety Department and express support and solidarity after a current NSD contractor made public death threats against Council Members.
I attended the monthly meeting of the Local Progress Black Caucus. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to connect with other Black elected leaders across the country who are strategizing about how to advance equity and defend our communities against the Trump administration.
My office attended the regular monthly meeting of the University of Minnesota Strategic Safety Advisory Committee. It’s a space where stakeholders from the University, City, neighborhood, student leadership, the business community, and more come together to review hyperlocal crime trends and coordinate our public safety initiatives.
This month, UMPD shared that in the Dinkytown Expanded Zone that UMPD has covered for MPD, property crime is down 40%, and violent crime is down 60%. They are continuing the expansion zone for another year until March 2026 to keep up this positive trend. They also emphasized that MPD has done a good job increasing the presence in Dinkytown on the weekends using the Late Night Safety Plan, which includes eight extra officers every Friday and Saturday night from 8pm-3pm.
University Security presented updates on Gopher Chauffeur, which they recently took over operating from Boynton Health. They have added 21 blocks in the Riverside area and 60+ more blocks into the Como/St Paul campus area, and usage is up about 19% from last year during the same period.
I was honored to attend an iftar hosted by Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE) for the second year in a row. Thank you to RISE for creating an event that was nourishing and energizing in every way.
CM Wonsley at iftar hosted by Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment, along with a variety of elected officials and community leaders.
Prospect Park residents and community members: save the date for a community meeting on March 18th from 6-7:30pm at Luxton Park. The meeting will be co-hosted by a variety of local elected officials and community groups. There will be updates by each co-host, plus lots of time for residents to share your thoughts and ask questions.
Confirmed co-hosts include:
- County Commissioner Angela Conley
- 2nd Precinct Inspector Nick Torborg
- Park Board Commissioner Billy Menz
- State Senator Doron Clark
- Prospect Park Association
- Friends of Tower Hill Committee
Flyer for the Prospect Park Community Meeting
Join the East Bank Neighborhood Partnership for their first-every quarterly meeting! This new neighborhood organization represents residents from Nicollet Island-East Bank, Marcy-Holmes, Southeast Como, Dinkytown, University, Stadium Village, and Mid-City Industrial. The meeting will cover a wide variety of local issues and updates.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
5:30 PM 8:00 PM
University Lutheran Church of Hope (Fellowship Hall)
601 13th Avenue Southeast
Dinner provided
Flyer for the East Bank Neighborhoods Partnership Meeting
Minneapolis Police are hosting a public community MSTAT Presentation. Join Chief O’Hara, Inspector Torbotg, and MPD command staff as they discuss current crime trends and stats.
2nd Precinct Public MSTAT
March 20th. Refreshments at 5:30pm, program at 6pm
Historic Nicollet Island Pavilion (40 Power Street)
Flyer for the 2nd Precinct Public MSTAT
Bike and walk trails along West River Parkway will close between the I-94 Bridge and Franklin Avenue for up to two weeks beginning Monday, March 31, 2025.
The closure is necessary for contractors hired by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to install a safe span system that will protect trail users during repairs to the bridge this year.
Trail users will be detoured to the upper West River Parkway roadway between the I-94 Bridge and Franklin Avenue. This same closure will be repeated in August so that workers can remove the safe span system after repairs are complete.
Visit the I-94 Minneapolis project page for more information on the bridge repairs.
Please follow detours, slow down, and stay out of work areas. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates everyone's patience while public infrastructure is repaired.
Twin Cities in Motion is hosting their annual Hot Dash 5k & 10k races on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
The 5k begins at 8:45 a.m. and the 10k starts at 9:15 a.m. Both races begin on W River Parkway between the Hennepin Ave bridge and 4th Ave N and finish on Main St SE near Merriam St. Road closures on Saturday start at 6:30 a.m. for the start and finish areas, 8:15 a.m. for both courses and 8:45 a.m. for the Franklin Ave bridge. Both the 5k and 10k courses run through Ward 2 and there will be road closures along the course on the morning of the event. Notification postcards will be sent to all residents living along the racecourse, cars parked on the route the before the event will receive reminder flyers, and “No Parking” signs will be posted along the route at least 48 hours prior to the event.
Road closure information is available on the race website.
Twin Cities in Motion works closely with the city police, park police and University of Minnesota police, and respective traffic departments to ensure safety and minimal disruptions. The race route will be open to traffic as quickly as possible after the majority of participants have passed the area.
Twin Cities In Motion strives to be a good neighbor and asks participants, volunteers, and spectators at all our events to respect public and private property as if it were their own and to leave it better than they found it. If you have any concerns or questions about Hot Dash, please reach out.
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. |
