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This week, I had the opportunity to connect with neighbors at two of Ward 2’s most beloved parks, Van Cleve and Matthews Park. I had a great time connecting with neighbors, exchanging sugar rushes, and discussing key issues such as efforts to get a new park at the (former) Tuttle School site.
Council Member Wonsley at the Van Cleve Park Halloween Party
Council Member Wonsley at the Matthews Park Halloween Party
On Thursday in Seward, a worker’s life was taken during a robbery. This was a senseless act of violence and coworkers and relatives of the victim will be forever impacted by this tragic event. My office is in contact with the 3rd Precinct Inspector and will share any new developments as an investigation into the shooting is still ongoing. Additionally, the city’s Neighborhood Safety Department offers a variety of trauma response services for those in need. To learn more about how to access these resources, please contact 311 or my office.
You can still vote early by Monday, Nov. 3, or you can vote at your polling place on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Vote early in person
The Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., is open for early voting in person 8 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 31; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1-2; and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3.
Drop off your mail ballot
If you have a mail ballot, you can still drop it off in person through 5 p.m. on Election Day. Bring it to Elections and Voter Services, 980 E. Hennepin. (They may not be returned to individual polling places on Election Day.) Or you can choose to vote at your polling place on Election Day with a new ballot.
Vote at your polling place on Election Day
Find your local polling place to vote in person on Election Day.
Find more details about voting on the City website.
Join Students United, Protect Borrowers, and LEAD MN on Friday, November 7th at 10AM for a timely discussion on the state of federal student loans and what states and cities can do to support local borrowers. We’ll gather over breakfast pastries and coffee for a timely conversation on student loan policy in a rapidly changing federal landscape.
Scones and Student Loans
Friday November 7th at 10am
North Hennepin Community College, 7411 85th Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Summary: The Frey administration declined to fulfill the Council’s legislative request to release the internal review of MPD’s actions surrounding the shooting of Davis Moturi, thus violating the City Charter. Council Member Chavez and I are exploring enforcement actions that can be taken when city officials violate the Charter.
Background: Davis Moturi is a Black resident who repeatedly asked MPD for help because his neighbor was making specific, racist threats to harm or kill him. Last fall, Mr. Moturi’s neighbor shot Mr. Moturi in the neck. MPD did not apprehend the shooter for another five days. MPD stated publicly that they “failed” Mr. Moturi, and were conducting an internal review of MPD’s actions related to the case. Council also requested that the City Auditor conduct an independent review of the case by June of 2025. The City Auditor accepted the request and the independent review is currently underway.
Mr. Moturi reached out to the City Council on September 18th asking us to obtain the internal report that was supposedly done by MPD. In his request, he highlighted that his inquiry was inspired by the reporting of Mariah Samuels, a Black woman who recently lost her life to a known abuser who she also had repeatedly told MPD was a threat to her life.
In response to Mr. Moturi’s request, the Council passed a legislative directive on October 9th requesting that MPD release the results of their internal investigation, including any operational changes they have made as a result. On October 15th, the directive was signed by Mayor Frey. The directive requested that MPD present at the Public Health and Safety Committee meeting this week, on October 29th.
However, the Frey administration did not fulfill the directive. No one from MPD or the Office of Community Safety provided an explanation of why they declined to respond to the Council's legislative directive, even after being asked for several days by the Committee Chair.
The day before the meeting, Office of Community Safety Commissioner Barnette sent a memo to the Council stating he believes that releasing MPD’s completed internal review would somehow conflict with the City Auditor’s ongoing independent After Action review of the Davis Moturi case.
This email is nonsensical for a few reasons. First, Commissioner Barnette stated that releasing the requested internal report will impede the ongoing independent analysis being done by the City Auditory’s office. The City Auditor, not Commissioner Barnette, is the only appropriate person to identify potential threats to the audit, and the Auditor has not raised any concerns about potential problems with MPD releasing their internal report. In fact, the only comments that the City Auditor has made regarding the Audits of the cases of Davis Moturi and Allison Lussier have been open frustration at the lack of cooperation from MPD in participating in mandatory interviews. The audits were due June 2025, but have been delayed for over four months due to MPD’s refusal to cooperate with the investigation.
The City Auditor is an independent body and all City employees are mandated to comply with Audits, but Mayor Frey and MPD are not complying. MPD’s noncompliance has created a massive delay in the independent investigation into the cases of Davis Motuir and Allison Lussier, which are now projected to be pubished early next year. Commissioner Barnette and Mayor Frey have not explained why they have been complicit in allowing MPD to obstruct the completion of the independent review, while also simultaneously using the delay as a pretext to withhold information that Mr. Moturi and Council have requested, and are legally entitled to.
In taking these considerations together, Commissioner Barnette's letter justifying MPD’s noncompliance to publicly release their internal review of Mr. Moturi’s case is not only absurd and unacceptable, but also in violation of the City Charter and therefore illegal.
Neither Commissioner Barnette nor Mayor Frey get to obstruct Council’s legislative authority as outlined in the City Charter. Their disregard does not mean that Council or the public should accept City leadership violating the law.
This year this Council has struggled to hold the Mayor and his administration accountable. The roles and responsibilities for the executive and legislative branch are clear, but there are not clear tools to enforce them, such as consequences and penalties for City leaders who violate the roles laid out in the City Charter.
In light of this, Council Member Chavez and I authored a staff direction requesting a report on the consequences and penalties for Minneapolis city officials who violate the City Charter, and how peer cities enforce their City Charters. When gaps in accountability are identified they must be addressed. I look forward to deeper conversations and actions on this issue.
Key votes: Public Health and Safety Committee approved the Charter Compliance and Enforcement legislative directive. Council Members Rainville and Palmisano voted in opposition. The full Council will vote on November 6th.
To foster collaborative engagement between the Council and the Mayor’s administration around the upcoming police contract, I have coordinated quarterly closed sessions in the Administration and Enterprise Oversight Committee (AEO), with the Frey administration to discuss our shared priorities, goals, and strategies for the next contract. We held our third closed session briefing on the negotiations between the City and the Police Officers Federation this week. During the briefing, we received updates on the City’s 15 priorities, which were also shaped by Council feedback. Some of these priorities include making permanent all the positive temporary gains secured in the prior contract like the elimination of the 70/30 patrol rule, and the usage of Civilian Case Investigators to help reduce MPD’s current 5,000+ backlogged cases.
The negotiations are ongoing and residents can attend public negotiation sessions. AEO will also host its last quarterly closed session of the year in early December. Procedurally, the Mayor’s administration is responsible for negotiating a proposed contract, which the City Council then votes whether to approve. I will keep you updated as these negotiations continue.
There are two upcoming public hearings for people to provide feedback on the 2026 City budget.
City budget public hearingsThese public hearings will take place at the Public Service Center, 250 Fourth St. S., Room 350.
- 6:05 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19
- 6:05 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. (The City Council will vote on adopting the budget following the hearing.)
Learn how to participate in public hearings.
Comments can also be submitted at the City’s website.
Visit the City’s website to learn more about the mayor’s recommended 2026 budget, details of the 2025-2026 adopted budget, quick facts, an explainer video and more.
The federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1 with no resolution in sight.
City staff are monitoring ways the shutdown could affect us in Minneapolis. We continue to have enough cash on hand to keep City programs and services that depend on federal funding going temporarily despite a slowdown in payments from the federal government.
But with federal programs at growing risk as the shutdown continues – especially for food assistance – we’re sharing some key information our community should know.
Food assistance
Shutdown impacts to SNAP benefits
Food security is a critical priority and a real concern for many families in our community. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will not be issued beginning in November due to the federal shutdown. More than 60,000 of our Minneapolis community members, 14% of our city’s residents, will be affected by the lack of SNAP benefits.
On Oct. 27, Governor Tim Walz announced the State of Minnesota would provide $4 million in emergency funds to support food shelves.
Attorney General Keith Ellison is co-leading a coalition of 22 other attorneys general and three governors in filing suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for issuing SNAP benefits, and Secretary Brooke Rolling for unlawfully suspending SNAP. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order, arguing that the USDA has repeatedly stated its authority to continue SNAP benefits during a shutdown.
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families is monitoring this situation and providing information to counties and tribal nations, which administer SNAP benefits in Minnesota. Find more information on the State’s website.
Food shelves
Minnesota has more than 300 food shelves and meal programs to help support families when they need help right away.
Residents can find a local food shelf using the Hunger Solutions map or by calling 1-888-711-1151.
Nutrition and breastfeeding program
If you have children up to age 5, you may qualify for WIC. WIC is Hennepin County's Women, Infants and Children nutrition and breastfeeding program that can help get food on the table. Learn more about WIC on the Hennepin County website.
How to help support our community
You can consider donating your dollars or time to a nearby food shelf to support neighbors. Locally, Minneapolis food shelves buy food that meet the specific needs of the communities they serve. Cash donations have the greatest impact because they allow local food shelves to:
- Access wholesale and discounted prices so they can stretch your dollar
- Make purchases based on inventory and cultural needs
- Purchase fresh foods such as produce, eggs, meat and milk
Impact to family planning services
We’re monitoring potential impacts to the City’s family planning services. There have reportedly been mass layoffs to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs made during the shutdown.
OPA administers the nation’s Title X family-planning network, teen-pregnancy prevention, and LGBTQ+ health initiatives. If the program does not exist, it will affect City services provided at school-based clinics and jobs supported through OPA grants.
The Minneapolis Health Department has identified one-time bridge funding that will allow services to continue through December.
Contact Ward 2
Visit: minneapolismn.gov/ward2
Email: ward2@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2202
City Hall
350 S. Fifth St., Room 370
Minneapolis, MN 55415
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. |
