|
Summary: Following prolonged concerns of mismanagement, I and several of my colleagues are proposing temporarily moving some of the city’s violence prevention programs out of the Neighborhood Safety Department and to Hennepin County. This would ensure that the programs that intervene
Background: I am bringing forward a proposal to allocate $1,125,000 to Hennepin County to temporarily take over administration of the city’s Group Violence Intervention and Youth Group Violence Intervention programs (GVI and YGVI). The proposal would move $1.25 million to Hennepin County for Group Violence Intervention programming for the remainder of 2025, ensuring crucial public safety services are deployed effectively while the city's Neighborhood Safety Department stabilizes. The proposal comes after Council has publicly raised alarms about mismanagement of the Neighborhood Safety Department and misadministration of GVI programs to the Frey administration for over a year.
GVI is a nationally recognized public safety approach that emphasizes focused deterrence. GVI is grounded in the reality that an extremely small population is far more likely to be involved in homicides and shootings- roughly 0.5% of the population involved in 50% or more of the violent incidents. This small number of individuals are more likely to be both victims and perpetrators, and focused intervention on this key population can massively reduce violence for a whole community. Municipal investments in GVI have been credited with a 34% reduction in homicides in Indianapolis, a 63% reduction in youth homicide in Boston, a 41% reduction in violence for participants in Cincinnati, and more.
Members of the City Council have tried to hold the administration accountable to the persistent mismanagement issues within the Neighborhood Safety Department (NSD) for over a year. Since 2023, Council has added resources for programming and additional staff to NSD to try and address capacity challenges, brought national experts to town to support department leaders, urged engagement with nationally recognized technical assistance providers, and repeatedly asked for updates on outcomes and data. In April of 2024, Council Members wrote a memo outlining concerns and asked that NSD present a management plan to Council and the public. The plan was not delivered, causing Council Members to write a legislative directive asking for answers by November. This directive did not receive a response until this week, in the form of a presentation that left critical questions unanswered and provided little assurance that this department is in the best position to administer these programs.
This year, Minneapolis saw increases in homicide rates. Data shows that homicides can be reduced through targeted safety resources like GVI, had they been managed effectively. This partnership with the county affords the Frey administration the opportunity to not make the same mistake again, while also providing city leadership the time it needs to develop a serious and comprehensive plan on how to best stabilize and deploy our violence prevention initiatives.
Key votes: The Budget Committee will consider the resolution to appropriate dollars for the GVI programs to Hennepin County on Monday, February 10th at 1:30pm.
Summary: The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office gave a presentation on their ongoing lawsuit against six corporate landlords and a software company for alleged antitrust violations to use an algorithm to artificially drive up rents. I and my colleagues are moving forward an ordinance to ban this type of software in Minneapolis.
Background: The US Department of Justice is suing a company called RealPage along with six of the largest corporate landlords in the country for what they call an “algorithmic pricing scheme that harms millions of American renters.” A bipartisan coalition of Attorney Generals from ten states has joined the lawsuit, including the Minnesota Attorney General.
After learning about the Department of Justice case against RealPage last year, I worked with Council Members Ellison and Chavez to introduce an ordinance that would ban the use of rental algorithms on units in Minneapolis. This ordinance is independent of the lawsuits, but it is a way for our city to ensure that this harmful technology is not a barrier to our citywide goal of an equitable and affordable housing market. Greystar, the nation’s largest property management firm, has buildings in Ward 2 that mainly house students and has contributed to many of those students experiencing housing problems and insecurity. Monopolizing prices for renters who are already struggling in this housing crisis hurts residents in our community and is unacceptable.
This week, my co-authors and I organized a presentation by the MN Attorney General’s Office to educate Council and the public on the lawsuit. You can watch the presentation about the lawsuit here.
I’m grateful that the AG’s office is part of the coalition taking action, and I am excited to continue to use the tools we have at the City to complement those actions with legislation that limits the extractive practices of corporate landlords and developers. I plan to bring the ordinance banning rental algorithms in Minneapolis this spring.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Summary: The city announced that Our Rescue, and extremely controversial organization that claims to do anti-trafficking work but is currently under federal lawsuit for sexual abuse, would be moving into the 3rd Precinct/Community Safety Center located in Ward 2. After intense scrutiny, the administration has said they will re-solicit the contract.
Background: Residents have reached out to my office with concerns after the announcement that Our Rescue, an infamous anti-trafficking organization with an incredibly troubling history, would be a part of the new 3rd Precinct/South Minneapolis Community Safety Center, which is located in Ward 2. Our Rescue has had multiple accusations of sexual abuse for which they are currently in a federal lawsuit, spreads misinformation about trafficking, has advocated strongly for a border wall, and many other disturbing histories.
Due to scrutiny from the media, the public, and local credible anti-trafficking organizations, the Mayor’s administration has walked back their proposal and have stated they will re-solicit the contract.
It is incredibly disturbing that Our Rescue was ever seriously considered for any form of partnership with the city. While there are many unanswered questions about how we got to this place and what the next steps are for this contract, I want to assure residents that I will continue to hold a high standard for building a comprehensive community safety system that includes reputable, trusted community partnerships. I have already reached out to the Office of Community Safety Commissioner and will share any additional details on this matter as soon as I receive it.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Summary: Staff presented on possible locations and resources needed to re-establish a homelessness navigation center.
Background: In 2018, in response to the Wall of Forgotten Natives encampment, the city worked in collaboration with Simpson Housing and a variety of public and nonprofit partners to establish a homelessness navigation center. This was meant to be a one-stop location for residents experiencing unsheltered homelessness to go for resources related to housing, social services, health needs, and more.
While the navigation center came with a variety of challenges, it was a uniquely successful intervention with residents finding high rates of permanent housing. Given the ongoing crisis of homelessness in Minneapolis, I’m glad we’re looking seriously at how a navigation center could be part of a solution. Mayor Frey’s strategy of evicting encampments has not reduced homelessness, and we need more Housing First options on the table.
Staff’s presentation gave a high-level overview of the last navigation center and possible locations and resources that could be involved in a new center. This led to a robust discussion by committee members.
I was interested to see 2600 Minnehaha proposed as a possible site for a future navigation center. This site is located in Ward 2, and there have been various conversations over the years about what would be a use for this site that would best meet community needs and help advance our goals around equitable development. Several council members, including myself, are continuing to explore how the city can address unsheltered homelessness with strategies that center a Housing First Model. I look forward to many more discussions about 2600 Minnehaha and welcome feedback from residents and community members.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Summary: Council received a report on strategies to prevent drug overdoses.
Background: The opioid crisis is harming communities across the city and has hugely disproportionate impacts on Black and Indigenous residents. Council Member Chavez and President Payne authored a staff direction requesting an analysis of how other cities are successfully reducing overdose deaths.
The report was presented to the Public Health and Safety Committee this week. It is an extensive deep dive into strategies that are being implemented in peer cities, as well as a discussion of the efforts currently underway in Minneapolis. I look forward to using the report as a resource in my continued focus on addressing the opioid crisis and harm reduction.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Summary: The Climate & Infrastructure Committee voted to refer the Mayor’s proposed flexible/open concept layout for George Floyd Square to the City Clerk, effectively tabling the proposal so that staff can move forward with the pedestrian plaza layout which is widely supported by Council and the community.
Background: The committee voted on Thursday to refer the flexible/open concept layout to the City Clerk. The Committee’s action provided greater clarity for City staff to move forward with the Public Works Department’s Pedestrian Plaza Concept Plan instead. This action is consistent with the resolution the City Council passed–deemed approved after mayoral review–on December 5th, 2024 that expressed support for the pedestrian plaza. Council Members continue working with City staff to make progress on the development of a pedestrian plaza.
The action to refer the flexible/open concept layout to the City Clerk ensures that the entire work done to-date on that plan is not lost. It will allow the City to pursue the pedestrian plaza concept in compliance with the MN State Statute, without losing the work on the flexible/open concept.
Key votes: The Climate and Infrastructure Committee voted 4-2 to refer the flexible/open concept layout to the City Clerk, which effectively tables this concept plan and allows staff to move forward with a pedestrian plaza concept plan. Council Members Koski and Vetaw voted in opposition. Council Members Cashman, Osman, Chavez, and Chowdhury voted in support.
Summary: The process for historic designation of Glendale will be completed between now and June.
Background: Glendale is a unique public housing complex of townhomes that is located in Ward 2. Glendale residents have tirelessly advocated for historic designation as part of a larger need to protect, preserve, and expand public housing.
In 2019, former Ward 2 Council Member Cam Gordon nominated Glendale for historic designation. In 2020, City staff recommended that the designation be denied, but the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) voted 5-3 in support of recommending the designation to the City Council. However, the Council never moved forward with taking a vote on whether to approve or deny the designation. The lack of council action resulted in Glendale’s historic designation recommendation and protection expiring. Since then, residents of Glendale and the neighborhood have asked the council for fair consideration to make historic designation a reality.
Last year, at the request of Glendale residents and the Prospect Park community, I nominated Glendale Townhomes for historic designation. You can read more about the history of resident advocacy and the historic designation process we initiated last year.
The historic designation process has a number of stages and votes. Below is the tentative timeline that staff shared with my office this week based on currently known information:
-
June 4, 2024: Nomination application was approved by the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) at a public hearing and interim protection was commenced. Interim protection ends on June 4, 2025.
-
By February 4, 2025: Staff send designation study to MN State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for 60-day review and comment. This is required by state law. **We are here.
-
March or early April 2025: Staff bring the designation study to Minneapolis City Planning
- Commission-Committee of the Whole for discussion. This is not a public hearing, but at this point staff documents for the designation become public on the agenda.
-
By mid-April 2025: Staff bring the designation study to HPC for a public hearing. This would be the last point staff could take written public comment to send to the HPC. At their meeting, the HPC will recommend for or against designation of the district to the City Council.
-
By early May 2025: Business, Housing and Zoning (BHZ) Committee of City Council evaluate HPC’s recommendation on designation and will recommend for or against designation at their meeting. This is done through a Resolution.
-
May 2025: The recommendation from BHZ is placed on a City Council agenda and Council makes a decision on the designation resolution.
-
Late May 2025: Council’s decision on the designation resolution is presented to the Mayor for a signature.
-
By June 4, 2025: The signed resolution on the designation decision is published in Finance and Commerce. At this point, the designation for the district would be formally approved or denied.
I look forward to continuing to amplify resident voices through this process and helping Glendale secure historic designation this year.
Key votes: No votes taken.
Summary: The independent evaluator for the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Settlement Agreement has published its first progress report, has scheduled a public meeting, and other ways to get involved.
Background: The city has a contract with an independent evaluator that monitors Council’s implementation of the court-enforceable settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights over MPD’s pattern and practice of racism, misogyny, and excessive violence. The independent evaluator that was selected is Effective Law Enforcement For All (ELEFA). ELEFA is completely independent from the two parties in the legal settlement, the city and the state. Below is an update directly from ELEFA:
Progress Report.
ELEFA has published its semi-annual Progress Report, covering the review period March 18, 2024 through September 30, 2024. The Report focuses on the Foundational Phase of the Implementation Plan: the steps necessary to implement and evaluate changes required under the Settlement Agreement. The report details progress, challenges, and achievements including (1) submission of policies for compliance review and approval in the areas of Use of Force, Engaging with Minors, and Crisis Intervention; (2) status of other foundational policies including Stops, Searches & Arrests, Misconduct, Non-Discriminatory Policing, and Mission, Vision, Values and Goals; (3) progress toward implementing training requirements; (4) progress toward eliminating misconduct investigation backlogs, (5) the compliance status of each section of the Settlement Agreement; and (6) additional information concerning activities, progress, and challenges for the reporting period.
Next Public Meeting.
An in-person public meeting on March 12th at 6:00pm will be held at the Ukrainian American Center, 301 NE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55413, United States. This meeting will discuss the report and implementation progress with a focus on training. It will offer an opportunity to engage with the Independent Evaluator team, hear key updates regarding compliance, and ask questions.
Community Partner.
ELEFA is currently accepting applications to serve as our community partner, whose role will be to support our public engagement efforts. If you are interested in this role, you are encouraged to apply here.
Community Map.
ELEFA is also developing a Community Organization Map to aid in proactive outreach and help connect organizations interested in the implementation process. If you represent a community organization, please consider helping us build our map by completing this questionnaire.
Questions or comments concerning any of the topics or ELEFA’s role and work as the Independent Evaluator generally can be submitted through our website.
I attended the Office of Community Safety Meeting at Matthews Park to share updates on their community engagement efforts around the South Minneapolis Community Safety Center as well as other comprehensive public safety programming. Thank you to the staff who organized this educational event and to residents who attended.
Office of Community Safety Staff presenting to the community at the update meeting in Ward 2.
I had a great time at the Undergraduate Student Government’s EngageU: Dinkytown event. I connected with brilliant young leaders who are excited about creating a more equitable Minneapolis. Thank you USG for the opportunity to build community with students!
Council Member Robin Wonsley with student leaders at EngageU: Dinkytown
The City of Minneapolis is seeking qualified applicants to serve on the Community Commission on Police Oversight. The independent body allows the public a forum to have meaningful engagement in police oversight and review. Members of the commission serve on the Police Conduct Review Panel as civilian panelists making recommendations about whether MPD policies and procedures have been violated and making recommendations about discipline.
Applications are open now for three current vacancies plus eight seats that will open in May. Applications are due by March 16.
Read more on the City website.
Throughout the snow season and especially when a lot of snow is in the forecast, make sure you have ways to find out if a snow emergency is declared. Whenever there’s winter weather, from freezing drizzle to a large snowstorm, City crews provide snow and ice control. When snowfall is heavy, we may declare a snow emergency – temporary street parking rules – so we can clear the streets, including parking lanes, as wide as possible.
Sign up now, stay informed throughout the season
Residents, workers and visitors have several ways to learn when snow emergencies are declared and what to do when they are. We recommend signing up for at least two types of alerts:
- Call the snow emergency hotline. You can reach our automated hotline at 612-348-SNOW (7669). If a snow emergency is in effect, the hotline will have information on that day’s parking restrictions that drivers need to follow to avoid tickets and tows. The hotline includes information in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.
- Check our social media pages.
- Watch local TV or listen to the radio.
Read more about snow emergencies.
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. |
