|
Summary: Council is requesting a formal After Action Review of the shooting of Davis Moturi to ensure there is accountability.
Background: On October 23rd, a Ward 8 resident named Davis Moturi was shot by his next door neighbor John Sawchak. Mr. Moturi had been reaching out to MPD starting in February of this year and made dozens of reports via 911 and 311 about the specific threats and actions taken by his neighbor. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (HCAO) issued an arrest warrant for John Sawchak in July, but the Minneapolis Police Department did not execute the warrant.
On October 25th, two days after the shooting I and several of my colleagues learned what had happened and also learned that MPD had still not arrested Mr. Sawchak, despite the fact that he shot Mr. Moturi two days prior and the HCAO had issued a warrant for attempted murder. I and my colleagues wrote a letter to Mayor Frey and Chief O’Hara asking for an immediate arrest of Mr. Sawchak and accountability for the failure to protect Mr. Moturi.
A heartbreaking series of emails from Mr. Moturi to MPD raises many questions about how and why MPD, Commission Barnette, and Mayor Frey allowed this to happen. Mayor Frey and Chief O’Hara did not take any accountability for the situation until receiving the letter from Council leadership, at which point they began to admit the obvious, that the city failed Mr. Moturi.
At Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole Meeting, Council President Payne created an opportunity for Council to discuss the disturbing event. You can watch that conversation here starting at 0:11:30.
I identified an urgent need for a serious and independent investigation of how the city failed Mr. Moturi, a Black man seeking basic protection from an imminent public safety threat that he repeatedly and clearly reported to MPD. Residents want to know that if they ever find themselves in a nightmare situation where their safety or their lives are at risk and they call 911, the city will send the right person for the job to protect them in a way that is safe, respectful, and effective. Residents want to know that this will be the case whether they are Black, white, or another race. That is not too much to ask for, but it is not what Mr. Moturi got. We have a responsibility to figure out how and why this lapse occurred and then carry out full accountability for any individual actors or city policies that allowed it to happen.
Given this, I worked with my colleagues to author a motion requesting that the City Auditor undertake an independent After Action Review of the cases involving Davis Moturi and John Sawchak.
An independent evaluation is crucial for ensuring that the Council and the public has an unbiased review of how MPD, the Office of Community Safety, and the Mayor, who is the sole authority over MPD, handled this situation. We are requesting that the City Auditor undertake this independent evaluation using the authority of that office, which can compel full disclosure of information by the administration in order to have rigorous oversight. The city’s recent After Action Reviews have been conducted by an external contract with organizations that specialize in After Action Reviews, and that is a practice I would strongly support if it allows the Auditor's Office to complete the Review in a timely manner.
Mr. Moturi’s life matters, and I’m sorry that MPD did not treat it like it did for nearly a year. I and my colleagues are committed to taking meaningful action for accountability and restoration, and that starts with this independent review.
Key votes: Council votes unanimously to request an independent After Action Review of the city’s actions in all cases involving Davis Moturi and John Sawchak in 2024. The independent review will be presented to Council and the public by June, 2025.
Summary: Council approved a resolution supporting a closure of the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC incinerator) by 2027.
Background: The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) is a trash incinerator that is located in North Minneapolis. Residents are organizing to demand the closure of the HERC, which contributes to environmental injustice and public health inequities on the North Side. I co-authored a resolution supporting closure of the HERC along with a number of my colleagues.
In the last few years, residents have made it clear that they expect the City to actually deliver on our stated commitments to sustainability, which means taking bold and sometimes unprecedented action. That has looked like actually making good on landback and community ownership at the East Phillips Urban Farm. It has looked like passing carbon fees to begin charging polluters for the cost of carbon emissions reductions. Now, it looks like working with the County to close the HERC, radically reducing our city’s trash output, and transforming our waste disposal system. This is what it looks like for the city to make good on our goals to reduce greenhouse gasses and move toward clean energy and zero waste.
Communities surrounding HERC have faced disproportionate health impacts for years—meaning higher rates of asthma, heart disease, and even cancer. Closing the HERC marks the beginning of reversing these health disparities.
This resolution sets the city’s official policy in support of closing the incinerator by 2027, but it will take sustained mass movement building by residents along with waste reduction programs here at the city level to make that a reality. I look forward to working with residents, my colleagues, city staff, and other elected officials at the county and state level to close the HERC by 2027.
Key votes: The Climate and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved the HERC Closure resolution.
Council Member Robin Wonsley speaking alongside members of the Zero Burn Coalition about the importance of shutting down the HERC.
Summary: Council approved an ordinance that would give affordable housing organizations the right of first refusal to buy properties that are for sale.
Background: Council has been discussing ways to support rental housing affordability through an opportunity to purchase model since at least 2019. Council Member Ellison has worked with the executive administration and conducted extensive community engagement and is now authoring an ordinance called Affordable Housing Right of First Refusal.
At the Business Housing and Zoning (BHZ) Committee meeting last week, staff gave a presentation outlining the details of the ordinance. There was public testimony by residents, and then a robust discussion which included clearing up some misconceptions of the policy’s impact, as well as general conversation about how it relates to goals around homeownership, rent stabilization, and public housing. The original version of the ordinance was amended and advanced to Council for approval.
Council discussed the item and Council Member Ellison continued to answer questions and concerns about the ordinance.
I am strongly supportive of this policy. While no single policy will address the housing crisis, this policy will advance many of our housing equity goals.
Key votes: Council voted 9-4 in support of the ordinance. Council Members Rainville, Vetaw, Osman and Jenkins voted in opposition.
Summary: Council approved ordinances regulating cannabis sales and usage.
Background: Since cannabis was legalized at the state level last year, cities now must develop policies to answer specific questions about where, when, and how cannabis sales and consumption can happen. The Business, Housing and Zoning (BHZ) Committee has been working with city staff in the Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) Department to write ordinances regulating cannabis sales and usage in Minneapolis.
After a robust discussion at the BHZ Committee last week, Council took up the ordinances for final approval. Council Members Chowdhury and Koski brought forward an amendment which was approved that eliminates the required perimeter between two dispensaries. There was also in-depth conversation about a variety of elements of the ordinance. You can watch the discussion here starting at 1:44:30.
Key votes: Council voted unanimously to adopt the cannabis regulations as amended.
I authored an honorary resolution to honor cats and everyone who cares for them in our city. I was asked to bring this resolution forward by residents who felt that the recent rhetoric around cats and cat owners was unnecessarily negative, and that National Cat Day would be a great opportunity to orient in a more positive direction and affirm that cat owners are welcome and valued in our city.
The Wedge neighborhood has brought national attention to our city through their Wedge Cat Tour, an event that unites hundreds of diverse neighbors each year over the simple act of appreciating and loving cats. The city’s own Minneapolis Animal Care and Control helps improve the lives of both animals and people in our city by supporting the unique form of companionship that cats and all pets provide. These are just a few of the many places in our city where cat owners and cat lovers are building community and contributing to a healthy and thriving Minneapolis. Thank you to all the cat owners and cat lovers in Minneapolis.
Key votes: Council unanimously approves an honorary resolution celebrating National Cat Day, and affirming that cat owners are welcome and valued in our city.
Council Member Wonsley with leadership of Minneapolis Animal Care and Control, the Wedge Cat Tour, and other local cat owners, cat lovers, and a cat.
I had the honor of speaking on a panel at the American Public Health Association national conference which was located here in Minneapolis at the Convention Center. The panel focused on settler-colonialism and I spoke about the intersections between the Black Lives Matter movement, the East Phillips Urban Farm, and the movement for a Free Palestine.
Council Member Wonsley with the other presenters on the Settler Colonialism panel at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo.
I had a great time participating in the University of Minnesota’s Homecoming festivities by participating in the Homecoming Parade float for current elected officials. I rode alongside Falcon Heights Council Member Paula Mielke, who represents the Saint Paul campus of the UMN-Twin Cities. We had a wonderful time connecting with students, faculty, and community members and celebrating the U!
Falcon Heights Council Member Paula Mielke, Council Member Robin Wonsley, and University of Minnesota Undergraduate Student Government President Rahma Ali.
I had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of the new Department of American Indian Studies center. After many years of advocacy, the Indigenous community was able to secure a much more modernized building, and it was long overdue.
The department will be hosting a series of events for the remainder of the year. I encourage residents and students to check out their upcoming film screening of Star Wars which will be dubbed in Ojibwe by current students. More information about the event can be found here.
Council Member Wonsley outside the new Department of American Indian Studies center.
Early this morning, a shooting took place near the intersection of 13th Ave SE and 4th St SE. This intersection has had numerous violent crimes over the past year.
I had the opportunity to speak with the MPD 2nd Precinct Inspector about the shooting and what safety measures are being put in place in response to the shooting.
As of now, an investigation is ongoing and no suspects have been arrested. MPD and UMPD had launched a Late Night Safety Plan in Dinkytown following the events of July 4th. The operation includes increased and targeted patrols, and was in place last night when the shooting occurred.
The Late Night Safety Plan was slated to end this weekend. However, as a result of the shooting, the operation will be extended to the end of the year.
My office will keep residents posted on any new developments on this incident.
There is still plenty of time to vote before the big day Nov. 5. As of Sunday, more than 42,000 Minneapolis residents have cast their ballots early, either in person or by mail. If you still have your mail ballot at home, make a plan for dropping it off. Anyone who can vote in Minneapolis on Election Day can also vote early at the Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave. or any of the additional sites.
Early Vote Center
The main Early Vote Center is open extended hours, including weekends, through 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4 (the day before Election Day).
Mail ballots
If you still have a mail ballot, make sure it’s received by 8 p.m. on Election Day to count. You can drop it off before Election Day at Elections and Voter Services, 980 E. Hennepin; the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 Sixth St. S., skyway level; the 625 Fourth Ave. S. drive-through during voting hours; at any of the early voting sites during voting hours; or at any remaining pop-up voting events. On Election Day, ballots can only be dropped off to Minneapolis Elections at 980 E. Hennepin or the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 Sixth St. S., skyway level.
Read more details about voting on the City website.
Come to a public meeting Nov. 13 or 14. Hear from Effective Law Enforcement For All as the independent evaluator of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement with the City of Minneapolis. You’ll get updates from Effective Law Enforcement For All about the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department’s path to meet the requirements of the settlement agreement.
Effective Law Enforcement For All will present an overview of its role in the settlement agreement, describe its requirements and how compliance is checked, and provide implementation updates related to MPD policies and training.
Each session will follow the same agenda and format.
South Minneapolis public information session 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St., Suite 120
North Minneapolis public information session 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 North Community High School, 1500 James Ave.
Learn more about the Nov. 13 and 14 information sessions on this flyer.
You can also learn more about the evaluator and its work on this three-page flyer.
Come get a progress update Nov. 18 on the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center and Lake Street Safety Center. It’ll include services and resources in the centers and how your feedback is being used to shape their plans.
In spring 2024, Minneapolis residents, stakeholders and business owners attended community engagement sessions to say which social services, resources and other uses they’d like to see in the future community safety centers.
Community safety centers update 5-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St.
City staff will be available for Q&A after the presentation. Community members can also learn more about other safety programs in the city. Learn more on the event flyer.
This session is hosted in partnership with wards 8 and 9. Any Minneapolis community member is welcome to attend.
More community engagement update sessions will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Find more information on the City website.
Avoid the hassle and expense of getting towed during a snow emergency this winter. Don't let unpredictable weather catch you off guard. Sign up for Minneapolis alerts to stay ahead of the snow and know about parking rules.
Sign up for alerts today
Text "MPLSAlerts" to 77295 or create a full Smart911 profile online to stay informed this winter.
Watch the video about signing up for alerts.
When you’re done with your carved pumpkins and other gourds, you can put them in your green organics recycling cart. They don’t need to be bagged. Remember to remove any candles or lights first.
If you haven’t signed up for organics recycling, you can put carved pumpkins and other gourds with your other yard waste.
Added synthetic materials such as paint, permanent markers, glitter or jewels make pumpkins non-compostable, and then they have to go in the black garbage cart.
Wrappers from Halloween candy go in the garbage. They are not recyclable or compostable.
Find more information about organics recycling on the City website.
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. |
