From: Erika von Kampen To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: $5 million is not sufficient for Safety for All Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:22:24 PM
Dear Councilmembers Palmisano and Jenkins,
I was disappointed to read that you proposed paring down the Safety for All budget plan to $5 million in one-time funds. It's my understanding that would result in the new staff being hired on one-year temporary contracts and being ineligible for vacation or paid time off. That isn't compatible with building a sustainable public safety and wellness program, and it doesn't reflect the fair hiring practices that our city should provide all its employees, let alone those in positions as critical and demanding as this. I urge you to reconsider and support the original Safety for All plan points 1 and 2, as proposed by CMs Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham.
Thank you,
Erika von Kampen 4519 Bryant Ave S, Apt 2 (Ward 13) Minneapolis, MN 55419 From: Chantra Hok To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] #203 City Council Meeting 12-9-20 Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 7:41:10 PM
Good evening,
Here is the rest of my message from today's city council meeting:
My name is Chantra Hok. I am in full support of the People’s Budget and Safety for All Proposal.
My mother lives near Lake and Portland in Ward 9, near where I grew up attending elementary school. I do not trust the police nor have I ever felt safe around the police. That means we are doing something wrong.
I worked with people without homes at Hennepin County. Police were handling calls that someone with expertise in mental health or someone with housing resources should have dealt with. People do not need police. People need additional funding in our education system, youth and senior services, infectious disease prevention, affordable housing, mental health support, all of which would get at the root of the problem- in preventing violence and crime.
The funding for the MPD is $193 million compared to the health department which has $24 million. Only a third- $66 million is being demanded to be divested.
I am insulted by the Mayor’s veto to keep the same amount of funding for the police department, during a pandemic where health care providers do not have proper protective equipment. For Frey and anyone else supporting the mayor’s veto, I am calling you out on your hypocrisy. Saying you care about your community and your neighbors, but acting differently, making decisions that are selfish and uphold white supremacy.
We look down upon other countries for committing acts of genocide, but here, in our home, we look the other way when there is state sanctioned violence against black and brown people. We demand other solutions to public safety.
-- Chantra Hok St. Paul Public Housing CHSP Supervisor NAPAWF St Cloud Chapter Member | LinkedIn Profile | Phone: 612-839-4535 | Email: [email protected] | 'When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.' ~Dalai Lama [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Dawn Olson To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 11:15:12 AM
I think that the council members should be the ones to go on calls with domestic violence and try to talk them into submission. If you refund the police then you become the problem and you all should be refunded. Not once has a council member spoken with me. Cam Gorden .I don't think I'll trust anyone from the council maybe you should be fired.
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Dean Peterson To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 11:15:06 AM
VETO! Less cops, more crimes. Cops lives matter!
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jessie To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] 12/9 budget hearing Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:17:07 PM
I live in Ward 8, represented by Andrea Jenkins. I strongly support the People’s Budget and want to encourage active change in how we support and keep our community safe. I believe that the Safety for All plan is a step in the right direction and I believe we can do more.
I have lived in Minneapolis for 17 years and I live in south Minneapolis, just 6 blocks from Chicago and 38th St, where George Floyd was murdered. I support the People’s Budget because business as usual is not enough and reform has proven to not be enough. Our community needs support and the resources to pull people out of trouble — not to arrest, inflict violence against and to incarcerate them.
Please adopt and move forward with the People’s Budget. Thank you.
Jessie
Sent from my iPhone
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jeffrey Meehan To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] 2021 Budget - Public Hearing 12/9 Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 12:24:24 PM
I am writing in support of Mayor Frey’s 2021 Budget. While it is clear that Minneapolis should have crime prevention and social programs, it is just plain irresponsible to fund them at the expense of a depleted MPD. While the Council talks about programs, the Mayor wants to expand an actual program beyond fundamental policing – the Mental Health Co-Responder Program.
So, please get your priorities straight, and provide the funding the Mayor and Chief want, so we can get the rampant crime under control. Then, let’s see if you can come up with actual common sense crime prevention plans.
Thank you, Jeffrey Meehan 221 First Avenue NE Minneapolis 55413
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jena Scurry To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] 2021 Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 6:54:01 PM
Dear Council Members and Mayor
Currently I am sitting at home watching the news about the Minneapolis 2021 budget being presented and finalized.
I don’t know how many persons of the Minneapolis community are LIMS subscribers, but I am. I watch you budget changes and A few other committees you’ve put together.
What I fail to understand is why the weight of the public is taken in consideration for changes that haven’t been portrayed correctly.
How many public members know what is going on with the MPLS police department? What is the total of active duty officers you have right now? What is the estimated loss within the next year? How many priority calls get answered as quickly as they should?
I’m listening to the people who want you to take from the department and put the money other places, (insert laugh) what money? You attempted to take 500k from them earlier this year and then had to give it back in order to pay for Henn Co deputies and Metro Transit officers -that worked well
Mental health crisis is REAL. However you have put the burden of mental health response on police officers, fire fighters and paramedics. YOU ALL HAVE DONE THAT, just in case that wasn’t seen. Who is answering mental health calls right now, Cope?! Do your homework, Cope hasn’t responded to a scene since covid started and before that they responded with POLICE. Before responding with police they would respond on their own and wait for hours for a police response. Let me break that down, Cope would respond to an address where there was a person in crisis and then call for a police officer to assist them due to aggressive behaviors and/or weapons inside the home.
Lets move to another topic, shelters or places to live. A person or many have spoke about people needing a place to stay. Many people who come to MPLS and have no place to go. Shelters are so full the park board made parks open to tents that are now riddled with needles and people having sex in public. People think it’s inappropriate for people to call for help and have a police officer responder for a person who doesn’t have a place to sleep. Ok. Who will respond? Your shelters are not 24/7 and Catholic charities just closed one of the most capable juvenile shelters in the city, St. Joe’s. You’ll never hear the stories because they don’t do it for applause, but those police who “shouldn’t” respond anymore many times buy hotel rooms, at their cost, for families to get through a night. They transport people from one location clear across multiple cities to get home. Provide food for those who are hungry.
Next. One female caller who spoke out of turn and shamed the Mayor said, communities are protecting themselves. Honestly. AS THEY SHOULD! Where were people raised that they don’t know their neighbors? Why don’t people knock on the door next door to ask them what the party is about, because they want the music turned down? Why doesn’t the kid down the street know the family on the corner? I still live in a block where we protect each other, love each other, support each other and share meals or desserts we made during the day. However if there is an ACTUAL emergency we utilize emergency services. Communities need to unify in their own selves. Police shouldn’t be responding to a neighbor trouble because the down stairs neighbor has a bonfire...what?! It’s insane. However community cohesiveness has nothing to do with police and taking away their funding.
Lastly, an elderly lady was speaking about police living in the city they work. Why? Should they live within the state and hopefully a decent mileage, yes. However, they are adults and deserve to live and not be bothered to live that life while not working. Responding to a domestic issues at the neighbors house might cause an issue when that neighbors know where you live and in turn come to your house post shift. Mind you many people have families and they don’t need to live a day in the life of an officer. I could go on, but let’s hope you see the issue of making a department live within the city. City Council Members, you have a city exploding with hostile criminal activity and your response is to immediately take away more safety? You’ve already lost superior officers who worked in the community and now you wanna take away more because YOU THINK you’ll be able to put that money other places? Your want for a better Minneapolis is desired, your go about deserves a much deeper thought process with an extreme dive into factual research.
I hope you can find a compromise because I do understand that times are hard right now, but please don’t make them worse for those who do require emergency services.
Jena
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jan Nye To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] 2021 Budget and police misconduct Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:39:43 PM
To all members of Minneapolis City Council, and for inclusion in the public record of the Public Hearing on the 2021 Budget:
I'm curious how MPD Chief Arradondo has the nerve to ask for more funding when his officers are so obviously out of control. The Minneapolis police went on a rampage brought on, apparently, by the destruction of the 3rd precinct following shortly after the death of George Floyd at the hands of four MPD officers. Shortly after this event, the officers went rogue - that is well documented. In the coming years this story will be told as information is gathered from those who experienced this violence first hand. Some people, notably many reporters here and in other hot spots in the United States, were shot in the face by police, some having lost the sight of an eye and now facially disfigured. People standing on their own porch were shot at as police ran down the street yelling at them to go inside immediately. Tires were inexplicably slashed (all four in some cases) because the sheriff's deputies were unhappy that they were parked there. This defies logic, as if it were a safety issue, the cars would not be moveable with slashed tires. It was a baffling priority on a night when buildings were being looted and burned down and fire personnel threatened by the opportunistic looters and arsonists. Minneapolis police will not fare well in the light of a thoroughly researched recounting of the days following George Floyd's death.
Millions of dollars are spent by Minneapolis on police brutality cases every year. Behind the sensational, insanely expensive settlements that have earned a world-wide reputation for our city, are hundreds of settlements behind closed doors, some of which hide stories of permanent disabilities for people, loss of income over a lifetime, and the depression born of being unable to support oneself and the burden of chronic pain.
There is hope, but it will come from leadership in other places. Four years ago, an offshoot of Communities United Against Police Brutality introduced a simple, fair and effective way to get officers under control. This idea was defeated by the City Council, Charter Commission and finally by the MN Supreme Court. It was the straightforward approach of individual professional liability insurance for police officers. If would leave vetting of officer risk to the experts - insurance agencies. Officers engaging in rash, dangerous and illegal behavior would be eliminated from the MPD immediately, with no appeal possible. Although the leadership of Minneapolis rejected this idea, Colorado has been exploring it, along with their cancellation of qualified immunity for police officers as of 2021. Once it is implemented elsewhere, other states will follow suit. It could have started here, the death toll from toxic officers be greatly reduced and a much safer city for all become a reality. The solutions are at hand, the will to implement them are not.
Jan Nye Ward 6
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Teresa Fisher To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] 2021 Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 12:02:22 PM
I again am voicing my rejection of the budget proposed by the city council.
Are you not listening to the people??? The overwhelming majority of residents DO NOT SUPPORT this budget. I listened to hours of callers last week. An overwhelming number of speakers that expressed support were clearly part of Take Back the Block and were paid and scripted to stay on line and speak. How do you people not know this? That’s right, they support your agenda so it’s ok with you that they are staged and paid.
I support the Mayors Budget.
Teresa [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Raquel Bloom To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] 2021 City Budget: Please approve the Mayor"s MPD budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 7:20:00 PM
As a 25-year resident of the city of Minneapolis, I am writing to urge the City Council to support Mayor Frey’s proposed funding for the Minneapolis Police Department. A few hundred feet in front of my house, we had multiple shootings in November and recurring crimes every week. I hear of city residents victimized and traumatized by crimes on a regular basis, people leaving the city, businesses affected not only by the pandemic and civil unrest but also by the lack of public safety which contributes to the failure of more businesses and neighbors losing their livelihood. As some of you had enough courage to admit, the city’s policing and public safety problem is complex. No symbolic or simplistic solution will fix the injustice highlighted by the death of George Floyd. Racism, injustice and police misconduct have to be addressed and there is a need for violence prevention and responders other than the police which the Mayor has included in his budget. Rather than further cutting the police budget for 2021, please resource the MPD and the alternative ways of dealing with domestic and public safety concerns. I also plead with you to model for us a leadership that can deal with those with whom you disagree in a respectful manner and not follow the example of the current national leadership of bullying. We will never run out of disagreements but it will still take all of us working together to solve the big problems of our city. We increase the chances of working together if we can treat each other and consider each other’s opinion with respect. We know that the City does not hold the ultimate solution to many of the problems we face, but we ask that you lead and use the tools available to you for the sake of the people you serve.
Thank you.
Raquel Bloom Midtown Phillips Neighborhood
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Chuck Turchick To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] A Comment on the budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 5:23:47 PM
Dear Council members,
Keeping in mind that the amount of actual crime and the crime rate are two different things, I don't think anyone is saying, as some Council members suggest, that the primary purpose of a police department is to prevent crime. Also, I think the literature is unclear what effect more or fewer police officers have on the crime rate or crime prevention. It may well be that at certain levels, an increase in officers will increase the crime rate, but at other levels, it may lead to prevention. I don't think either we or experts know that.
But I think there is little disagreement that police departments are there to solve crimes, to hold people accountable for their actions. Minneapolis residents have a right to expect elected officials to provide an agency with the staff necessary to solve crimes that have occurred. Solving crimes may not in fact make people safer, but it does make them feel safer. And that too is important. People who feel safer behave differently in their daily lives. And that behavior may well in turn increase public safety. Arguments saying, "Look, the police department hasn't prevented crime with the resources it has in the past" totally miss the point, and may in fact be designed to confuse the issue.
I don't have the answers, but I do recognize when people are misrepresenting the questions.
Yours,
Chuck Turchick Ward 6
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Patrick Handley To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 1:07:55 PM
My Name is Patrick Handley and I live in ward 12. I believe in a both and approach.
I support Mayor Frey’s and the Police Chief’s staffing recommendations for the PD.
At this point in time it is not prudent to reduce the Police Department staffing levels.
Should the council vote to reduce the PD staffing I fully support a veto by Mayor Frey.
Sincerely
Patrick Handley 612-590-1992
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Tamara Gmail To: Council Comment Cc: Frey, Jacob Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:09:17 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing with great concern about the proposal to reduce-even further and more dramatically- funding for the police. Although you claim that no funding has already been reduced, this ignores both emergency budget cuts due to covid and the $1.8 M (approximately) that was taken from valuable community/ police programs and redirected to the violence prevention program.
I know that CMs Bender, Fletcher,Cunningham and apparently Ellison think that that have the enlightened take on what our city needs. But, given that they take advice from the likes of Miski Noor, who dared to say that our mayor, police chief, the minneapolis Star Tribune and countless citizens of MInneapolis are engaging in “fear mongering and lies” when we raise serious concerns about the considerable rise in crime in recent months, I suggest that they do not have the health of our city in mind. Frankly, they sound as out of touch with reality (to be generous) as Donald Trump and his republican allies, when they spread the same sort of delusional propaganda, to the detriment of our society.
Please, please, listen to our mayor and our very competent and respected police chief. Please listen to groups like NAMI, who are far more knowledgeable than you about what is necessary to effectively deal with crime related to mental illness. (Hint: it does not involve sending mental health professionals into potentially dangerous situations without police backup.).
Please, please listen to the majority of people who say what we desperately need is a both/ and rather than an either/or approach to public safety and, for that matter, to the underlying effects of forces like systemic racism. Those who, like Ms Bender, claim that things like being able to trust the ability to call 911 for help is a sign of privilege act like the answer is then to deprive everyone of that ability, rather than working to ensure that everyone has such an ability.
Sincerely, and almost hoarse from trying unsuccessfully to have a reasonable conversation with some of you about various issues over the past several years.
Tamara Kaiser
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Patrick Handley To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 7:11:07 PM
At this point in time with violent crime at rates not scene since the city was dubbed murderapolis in 1995, no funds should be stripped away from the Pd.
There are multi millions of dollars that the city has to fully fund the PD and portions of the Bender plan.
I am not sure why funds would be allocated away from the Pd as they did not create the mental health crisis or homelessness. These issues should have been handled long a go by the city council. As I said before there are multi millions of dollars in the budget that could have been used to help with the mental health and homelessness crisis and fully fund the Pd. Certain members of the city council at that time chose not to deal with it and now are trying to strip funds away from the Pd for their own inaction.
So the Pd has to be fully funded and there are funds already available that can be allocated to the Bender plan.
All you are doing at this point is dividing the city. Be leaders.
I think it is pathetic that certain members of the council such as Bender, Cunningham and Ellison take to Twitter the try and state their case for their plan and to try and shame the other council members who may disagree with them. This is not leadership. This is Donald Trump 101.
This should not be an either or proposition. Both can we done. All you are doing is pitting the citizens of Minneapolis against one another.
It is sad that citizens of the city are mocking other citizens of the city because they do not real safe in their neighborhoods.
I also think is is disgraceful that activist organizations that are funding and came up with the “people’s budget” are mocking citizens of Minneapolis on Twitter and other social media.
Again all of these actions are dividing the citizens of Mpls and are not helping anything.
In times of crisis elected officials are supposed to lead. All of you need to find away to fully find the Pd and portions of the Bender plan as there is plenty of money to do both.
Patrick Handley 612-590-1992
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: norma hill To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:14:34 AM
Absolutely no cuts to MPD!! City Council needs to represent all of us living in Mpls. We do not support more defunding of MPD. Quit pandering to your far left radicals. If criminals were held accountable maybe they would stop running the city streets and committing crimes and brainwashing the Clowncil. Stop this rushed through plan immediately!!! Defund the City Council, and get your self back in the council chambers and hear from us taxpayers of Mpls!!! [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Carla Cerra To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 11:17:35 AM
I highly encourage all city council members to refrain from cutting any police funding at this time. Daily, there are reports of increasing violent acts in the city and I know many citizens who are planning to leave the city due to the violence. We need more police officers now, not less.
Yes, reforms are needed, but please do not earmark money for programs not yet developed. It is highly irresponsible to do so. I would prefer if sweeping changes were put to a citizen vote as it is clear Minneapolis citizens do not have confidence in the city council at this time.
Carla Cerra 20 + year Minneapolis citizen/taxpayer
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Brian Payne To: Council Comment; Johnson, Andrew Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 8:15:03 PM
Minneapolis City Council,
My name is Brian Merle Payne and I am the Co-Director of CTUL, located in George Floyd Square at 3715 Chicago Ave. I have been listening to the testimony tonight about the budget hearing, particularly focused on funding for the police, and I felt compelled to write with my own testimony.
On my way home from CTUL a month ago, someone crashed into my car while driving down the alley between Chicago and Elliot. When I tried to engage the person who crashed into my car, they threatened to shoot me. I have heard many people complain about an increase in violence in the community, and immediately jump to the conclusion that we need more police to prevent the violence. My experience was terrifying, and I fully recognize the experiences of those who have experienced violence. At the same time, I believe it is critical to take a step back from the immediate emotional response of the moment, and look to the root causes that led to the experience. Responding to violence with violence does not change anything, but instead escalates the situation.
We need to look to the People's Budget as a way to really get to the root cause of the problem that so many people are concerned about - defund the police and use the funding to invest in community-building through causes such as co-enforcement of labor standards, affordable housing, etc..
Thank you,
Merle
-- Merle Payne
Co-Director of CTUL
----
“Help CTUL imagine and plan beyond our day-to-day needs by providing reliable funding for organizing low income workers: Make a monthly contribution to CTUL!
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Deb Grant To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget for Police Department Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 8:19:35 PM
Those calling to take police off the streets are the minority not the majority. Those that seek this are afraid of the police because they are criminals. They have a culture that needs to change. It’s simple, we cannot allow people to break the law without accountability. We should not and do not raise our kids to be irresponsible without teaching them wrong from right. The majority of citizens need protection from those that take, hurt and destroy. You do realize that this move will destroy Mpls. The businesses and sports industry will suffer. Mpls economy will die. Vote for protection from the evil. Vote to fund the police and give them more money to hire social workers and centralize the management of safety under the police department.
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Mary LaGarde To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] budget hearing comment Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 4:37:39 PM
Council Members:
I am in support of using a one-year process to hear from community, businesses, organizations, before making a determination on any MPD budget changes. I am the Executive Director of the Minneapolis American Indian Center and Vice Chair of the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID). The MUID public safety sub-committee has been engaging community in defining what the community wants in terms of safety – including police presence. We want MPD presence, and are in support of revising the 2003 MOA between the Community Unity Mediation Team and MPD. With the increase in violent crimes in the south Minneapolis Native community, existing MPD is necessary with the addition of resources and services from other sources.
I am not in support of the Safety for All Budget. I am in support of a budget that provides the funds necessary for MPD to remain fully staffed, and that funds are secured elsewhere to support mental health, violence prevention and the other proposed actions may take away from the MPD budget.
Thank you,
Mary LaGarde Executive Director Minneapolis American Indian Center 1530 E Franklin Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 879-1750 [email protected]
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Chris Cartwright To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget Hearing Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 4:59:40 PM
Hello Council,
Quick story. When I (white male) was in high school in 2014, I was mugged at knifepoint downtown. By the time MPD got to me an hour later, they berated me and told me how stupid I was for "letting" someone mug me at knifepoint.
Police aren't always the answer. They certainly didn't help me in my time of need, and the people of Minneapolis deserve better. Our BIPOC community deserves better - to not be scared of the very people that are supposed to be protecting them.
I support the people's budget, and I urge you to do the same.
Thank you.
Chris Cartwright
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: bearx006 University of Minnesota To: Council Comment; Giraud-Isaacson, Al; Rubenstein, Andrea; Kozak, Andrew; Lickness, Barbara; Clegg, Barry; Kyle Berndt; [email protected]; Smith, Christopher; Cohen, Dan; Abbott, Greg; [email protected]; Sandberg, Jan; [email protected]; Garcia, Jill; Schwarzkopf, Lyall; [email protected]; Perry, Matt; Ginder, Peter W.; Dziedzic, Kari - Senator; [email protected]; Newborn, Toni; Jordan, Sydney - Representative; Frey, Jacob; Reich, Kevin A.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Cunningham, Phillipe M Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget hearing; 1.6 percent increase in value of houses: Balogny Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:13:59 AM
This is pure bologna and is not true. The RETREAT ATTITUDE during the riots and the looting decreased our value and of course the pandemic has decreased our house value. The 1.6 percent increase would have been true in 2019 maybe but not now. Some financial experts on the financial channels are predicting that we are headed for FINANCIAL CLIFF. We are looking at high unemployment and many foreclosures in the coming months. So, give us a break please and fund the police as much as the chief wants because with so many people without enough money and food crime will increase from this point on. This is not the time for some HAIR BRAIN IDEA that is not proven. Come on folks have some common sense.
Richard Bear
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Asmaa Elbendary To: Council Comment Cc: [email protected] Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget hearings in support of the Advocates of Human Rights Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:42:25 PM
Dear Sir/Madam,
As an immigrant family, we have experienced how newcomers face a lot of obstacles and hardships after they arrive to the US. We might be coming from different backgrounds or cultures, but we all share the same burden of being new in a community with minimum support, some of us who fell through the cracks of the system may be forced or desperately leave the US to face uncertainty or even death somewhere else. For us the advocates for human rights were the net that helped us to stay positive and survive during the first few years in the US.
Arriving to the US was like catching a dream with our hands after fleeing our home out of persecution and injustice. However, we realized that being here is just not enough to live a decent life and start again. When we went to the advocates for human rights office for the first time, we felt that someone really understand what we have been through, they did not dismiss or ignore our needs or fears, they supported us in every way possible. After working with us to get our immigration documents for couple of years, we started building our new life here.
If I did not get the free legal help from the advocates, I would not have been working toward my medical school now or had the opportunity to work a decent job to support my family for the last couple of years. I felt secured and safe being a legal resident and can give back to my community as they once did to help my family.
I would request full support for the "Advocates for human rights", knowing that they really change people’s lives. They did change mine to a better and a safe one. During the last few years I have never hesitated to donate to the advocates even if it was a little because I knew it will help a lot of people who really needed their help, so please do not hesitate to support them with everything you can.
Best regards Asmaa Elbendary 6512083483 [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Charlie H Dean To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget Meeting Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:07:23 PM
I am a resident of Tangletown in Ward 11. I urge you to find a way to work WITH the Mayor and Chief of police to enact reform within the police department. As I understand, you have a study in the field regarding what an appropriate and effective department looks like. I urge you to take the time to complete the study and speak to those in the communities most effected. thank you.
PS - PLEASE keep the mounted patrol.
From chuck's iPhone. It has a mind of it's own. [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: James Riley To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget Public Hearing - “Behavioral Change for the Safety For All Commission” Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 6:34:12 PM Attachments: Behavioral Change for the Safety For All.docx.pdf
December 09,2020 City of Minneapolis Council Members,
My name is James Riley. I am a resident in Ward 1. I would like to make a friendly amendment to the budget with the goal of bringing more unity back to the community of Minneapolis. Everyone who is listening right now, please write down this name and if you like this idea and would like the city council to support it in the 2021 budget, after my comment please email [email protected] stating your agreement. The name is: “Behavioral Change for the Safety For All Commission”. I respectfully propose that the city council take an additional $1,000,000 dollars away from the proposed MPD budget and allocate this money to this new commission which will be composed of 70 members, one from each of the neighborhood organizations representing the 83 neighborhoods of Minneapolis and all its’ stakeholders. This volunteer commission, in its’ first year, will canvas all the residents of the neighborhoods of Minneapolis with a survey to identify changes to the behaviors of the MPD they would like to see. From the survey a reward system will be created rewarding officers that meet or exceed criteria for behavioral change required to receive a reward. Any money outstanding from this commission at the end of the first year can be repurposed back towards any of the other “Safety For All” initiatives. Again, just for the purpose of getting expedited approval from the City Council, the name of this proposed plan is: “Behavioral Change for the Safety For All Commission”. Specifics of this commission can always be changed as the community sees fit. On a different yet important topic, I am also a volunteer member of the Communities United Against Police Brutality Mental Health Work Group. I strongly urge you council members to End Police-Only responses to mental health crisis calls and change the 911 Mental Health Crisis Response by replacing the paramedic with peer support specialist to create teams of two Mental Health Professionals. The Peer Support Specialists brings more expertise, more lived experience and more cultural norm to those in need when they need it most. Thank You!
Sincerely,
James Riley
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments.
From: Connie Evingson To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget Vote Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 4:04:36 PM
Hello,
I am an Uptown resident in Ward 10, and support the Mayor’s Budget for the MPD in the coming year.
I also recognize the need for preventative programs and alternative public safety measures to handle mental health issues. I would hope the City Council would consider utilizing the private fund (to be managed by the Mpls. Foundation) that was proposed for this purpose last week, rather than cutting the MPD budget.
Thank You,
Connie Evingson 2626 Colfax Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55408 [email protected] 612-226-6208 (cell)
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Carol Dines To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 5:30:05 PM
In the past four years, this city council has done far more to divide the city than unite it. And this issue, public safety, is a great example. When the city was reeling from the murder of George Floyd, still in shock and still processing what had happened, you squandered a great opportunity to bring us all together and dialogue with communities across the city about the next steps in reforming police. There was an outpouring of support for reforming the police, deep reform, but you took the most reactionary route by making your public pledge to abolish the police, without consulting wider communities, without any plan, without details, and you escalated a wave of crime that has impacted everyone in this city. Part of leadership is communication and building consensus, and that is something this city council has never achieved. Instead of uniting the city and working with Mayor Frey and Chief Arrodando, you tried to take control of the police yourselves by passing the charter. Many voices from all over the city have spoken up at these meetings pleading with the city council to work with the Mayor and Chief Arrodando, but clearly the group pushing to defund are not listening. You have squandered a moment when this city was united in calling for deep change, and you did it by expecting citizens to trust that your vision, even without a plan, would work. It never should have been an either/or. Your narrative, “abolish the police,” has cost this city. And now you should be finding the money, as Mayor Frey has done with the foundation fund, and use it to create the very programs you envision that will lead us toward real reform and alternative ways of policing. But you should not cut funding until the crime wave is under control.
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments.
From: Michelle Wenderlich To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Budget: override the veto, support Amendments 14A1-14A5 Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 12:09:33 PM
Dear Council Members,
As one of the people who signed the open budget letter in the 9th ward (see 9thwardwithoutpolice.com) and who supports the 2021 Mpls People's Budget, I am happy that the Safety for All amendment passed.
I ask you now: 1.) Come out against and override the mayoral veto 2.) Stick with Amendments 14A1-14A5 as they are, with no further compromise to fund police.
Sincerely, Michelle Wenderlich
---- Michelle Wenderlich Resident, Powderhorn Park PhD Candidate, Graduate School of Geography, Clark University
Pronouns: they/them/theirs (what is this and why does it matter?)
Links in the message (1)
2021 Mpls People's Budget
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Mike Juliff To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] City council comment session Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 8:30:27 PM
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on this important budget decision. Due to the recent increase in crime as a result of the death of George Floyd and the state of MN emergency order, I feel that it is important to retain a full police force budget or even increase the budget for the police force so that they can have the equipment and staff necessary to cope with future protests, and crime. Although there are certainly issues within the mpd that need to be addressed, the ramifications of reducing their budget and increasing the stress on the individual officers due to lack of staff will not help. I advise the council to vote against the current proposal to reduce and reallocate the police force budget.
Thank you,
Mike Juliff [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Karlie Cole To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comment for 12/9/20 public hearing and adoption of budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:18:06 PM
All Council Members, Mayor Frey and Chief Rondo should be responding to this video TODAY which shows another horrifying incident of police brutality that occured just 5 days ago at George Floyd Square. The Officer has covered his badge with tape and wears the thin blue line which is not authorized as part of the uniform. He puts his knee on a black community member similar to what was done to George Floyd. The video is disgusting and if you don't do something now, we will continue to see this and worse.
MPD has no fear of consequences because there aren’t any. If there are good officers working in MPD, they ought to be doing the work to deal with officers that are brutal and they should have stood up with the protestors against the officers who murdered George Floyd. But instead they attacked our community members with rubber bullets and tear gas - community members who were doing nothing more than exercising their 1st amendment rights - and that led to loss of life and incredible damage to property in many areas of the city - that cost many, many more millions and some people and businesses will never be made whole. MPD officers were standing with those murderers.
Even after all that, again we see the officer in this video behaving so similarly in actions to those that were used to kill George Floyd in nearly in the same spot (!!)
MPD has provided immense amounts of evidence and have made the case against themselves all on their own. Really, the people saying DEFUND are just saying the obvious.
If any of us in our work saw a co-worker murder someone, we would NOT be standing in support of that nor attacking people who were standing up against that!
This city can't take any more executions by police. It really can't. It's time for serious change and to end the suffering under a police state.
The MPD are responsible for what they do and it shows what their position is on police brutality when they do no work to change that from within their organization and continue to demand more and more from taxpayers.
We have given them tons of training that hasn't reduced their brutality. They are significantly resistant to change. You, on the Council know that you have tried to get change to happen for many, many years. When is this city going to hold MPD accountable and quit throwing good money after bad?
MPD officers are not children who need constant hand-holding to learn non-racist, non- brutal behavior. They are adults who are, too often, committing criminal acts against community members that we as taxpayers are being forced to fund and indemnify.
They are not willing as an organization to change themselves and their work culture as they have shown us over and over, for many years. They just are not willing to do that work, no matter how much money we give them or how much training we pay for for them.
There is no reason to be funding more of this! I support the People's Budget and also support the Safety for All Amendment, but want to be clear that the Amendment is absolutely the barest minimum you could do and is truly inadequate.
Karlie Cole Ward 8
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jeff Strand To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comments for City Council 2021 Budget Hearing 9 December 2021 Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:32:46 PM
Comments for City Council 2021 Budget Hearing 9 December 2021
Dear Council President Bender, Vice President Jenkins, Council Members:
My name is Jeffrey Strand, a North Minneapolis, Shingle Creek neighborhood resident, Ward 4 for 31 years.
George Floyd, say his name, honor his life. Clearly from the budget testimony tonight and during the prior 7 ¾ hour public hearing, there is significant bifurcation of public opinion around the current crisis in crime and public safety versus the “Safety for All” and/or “Peoples’ Budget” proposals. We need to come together somehow; I would like to be part of the solution to bridge wide gaps among residents evidenced by comments in these public hearings.
I strongly support funding and implementation of reparative programs and systems to undue historic, systemic racism. I support finding funding sources other than defunding the police to support such innovative services. I support Mayor Frey’s budget proposal and Chief Arradondo. I ask that the City Council can identify alternative resources to fund “Safety for All” elements.
That said, I’m asking that you allow Police Chief Arradondo the freedom to perform his job with agility as a trained professional and manager. This summer residents were left doubting during sleepless nights, whether there was any viable Minneapolis city government, or if this City had devolved into complete anarchy. The elected officials who lead Minneapolis government are collectively responsible for the state of chaos unleashed when anarchists and fascists were left to rule the streets. I repeat a public call for an inspector general’s investigation and audit regarding actions or inactions of public officials during the onset of civil unrest following the murder in police custody of George Floyd.
Today in Minneapolis there is rampant lawlessness, more than I have witnessed in 42 years as a resident of this city. Violent crime is completely out of control. Nevertheless, the “defunders” on the City Council have inserted one clause that threatens our long-term safety, that is to cap hiring of sworn officers at 770 in 2021, then 750 annually thereafter. The police are experiencing unprecedented attrition, down from 800 officers to about 650 officers. However, as unsafe as residents legitimately feel today, imagine what 2021 could bring! It is premature and irresponsible to guess today what the size of the police force should be three to five years from now. Instead, the independent staffing study that the city funded is due next year. The “defunders” have no plans for transitions, a recipe for disaster. The promise was that there would be a true public engagement process to reimagine public safety during 2021. The City claims to have adopted IAP2 Principles of Community Engagement, but seldom lives up to those aspirational goals.
I condemn the Trump GOP State Senate majority from preventing reasonable police accountability and reforms. I completely support residency requirements for police officers. The fact is that Police deter crime - we need more police, not fewer, to protect residents and businesses. We need to have the good MPD officers work to decertify the Minneapolis Police Federation and to re-establish a responsible, progressive labor union.
We know your arbitrary cap is a veiled ploy to defund, downsize, and abolish policing in our city. We do not yet live in a utopia where no policing is required. Separately the City is proceeding with defunding the majority of neighborhood organizations, using weak and false research put forth to demonize the Neighborhood Revitalization Program and excellent work of thousands of volunteers in neighborhood organizations across Minneapolis. The City Council needs to add back funding to neighborhood programs.
Mayor Frey, I support your veto of this budget if this City Council continues to handcuff our police chief and place all our lives in further danger.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jess Sundin To: Council Comment Cc: Osman, Jamal Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comments for today"s budget hearing Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:13:55 PM
My name is Jess Sundin, a resident of Ward 6. I'm also a member of Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar. I'm number 542 on the list to speak during today's hearing, but I don't assume I'll actually get called on today. Given that possibility, I wanted to send in my comments that I hope to make.
While I support some of the cuts and reallocations in the Safety for All budget, with the addition of the cuts proposed in the People's Budget, I have two further concerns
One, I oppose expanded funding for the OPCR, which is not true civilian oversight. It has one of the lowest sustain rates in the country for civilian complaints. This is not because they are understaffed, it's because the OPCR complaint review process is not independent, but instead police use that process to protect themselves from accountability. We need community control of police, and this is why I support the demand for CPAC, Civilian Police Accountability Council.
Two, I oppose expanding funding to the MinneapolUS violence-interrupters program. Community members had negative experiences with it as a pilot program. Onone occasion where they assisted police in the mass arrest of 50 protesters after murderer Derek Chauvin was released on bail. On another occasion where they disrupted a community-organized BBQ and dance party. Community complaints have gone unanswered. This program should not get more funding.
Regards, Jess Sundin 2911 Park Ave, Minneapolis MN 612-272-2209
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Kim Van Ravenswaay To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Crime Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 1:11:45 PM
Your city used to be one of our favorite places to visit, Twins games and Vikings games. We took our kids and stayed downtown. You have lost our love with the crazy defund police rhetoric. And we are not the only ones no longer coming to your city, many friends feel the same way. Sad. We live just across the border in Iowa.
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Hinnah Ayub To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Defund the police, Invest in affordable housing Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 11:38:30 PM
Dear City Council & Mayor of Minneapolis,
My name is Hinnah Ayub and I have lived in Minnesota my entire life. I was born and raised in Roseville, MN, where we lost Philando Castile to police violence, And I live now in Minneapolis where we lost George Floyd the same way. Both of their deaths were due to police violence. Right down the street from my childhood home. Both very preventable. And yet nothing has changed in the years between their deaths. Police should be held accountable for their actions, and since we can't do that (or refuse to) I ask that we move our money away from their department.
I ask that the Minneapolis council please think about how you have already committed to restructuring MPD. As I look around my community and see homelessness all around me, I think what better way to help our community than to put our city budget towards affordable housing (not all of these expensive apartments going up) and get the residents of Minneapolis a home.
It has been proven that crime is less likely to happen when people's basic needs are met. Food, water, & shelter are some of the most basic needs and instead of putting our dollars towards something that will actually prevent crime, we continue to funnel tax dollars towards a department that clearly could care less about the community it is supposed to protect. Right now, I can list at least 10 people of color off the top of my head that have been murdered by police. And there are plenty more that I can read about.
Clearly we have seen no change in the police department between Philando Castille and George Floyd's death. It is time to try something new. The time to do the right thing is NOW. Defund the police and fund our communities instead. No minnesotan should be without a home. It is shameful that we put our money towards more violence rather than taking care of our citizens. If the police were going to change they already would have. Drastic change is needed, and that means we need to put our money where it will actually help.
Please commit to defunding the police instead of doing nothing. We can be the example that changes the world for the better.
Best,
Hinnah Ayub
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Ethan Nuss To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Defund the Police Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 8:17:29 PM
Dear City Council,
I moved to Minneapolis 5 years ago and in that time I've seen too many unarmed people killed at the hands of our police dept. I've written letters, signed petitions, held prayer, made calls, talked with neighbors and I've seen enough.
I expect you to hold true to your promise to defund the police dept and chart a visionary path forward to re-imaging public safety in this City away from a policing model that we know is failing to protect us and is rooted in a legacy of violence toward communities of color.
Be bold. Do the right thing. Ethan Nuss 3507 24th Ave. S.
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: DL Williams To: Council Members; Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Defunding the Police 12 09 20 Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 2:18:29 PM Importance: High
FIRST MISTAKE – “Defunding the Police”, which the Minneapolis City Council never inform the residents of the definition and details of what the Council meant by “Defunding the Police”. The definition and details should have been addressed consistently until it would have been difficult for any person, press, or Police Union to change the definition of what it meant. By not doing this, you let not only the residents, but also the press, even including Fox news, along with the Police Union to define what this meant. SECOND MISTAKE – Making the Minneapolis Police Chief, the “Scapegoat”. I saw the meeting of police officers that claimed PTSD. The ONLY person who should be able to claim PTSD is the Police Chief, for all of the backstabbing and betrayal of police officers that are leaving the force under PTSD. I don’t know what the job description is, but we have Medical Personal handing the Coronavirus and they are able to overcome whatever is needed to get the job done, and we have police officers filing PTSD claims, which the residents would have to pay for, because they are unable or do not have the emotional strength, maybe this is something that needs to be addressed in selecting upcoming police cadets. If the Mpls City Council are worried about money, maybe they should look into PTSD claims by police officers, in more detail, HELLO! THIRD MISTAKE- Expecting to solve problems within the Police Department quickly that has not only not been addressed but also NOT been acknowledged for “Decades”! Before anyone can know what may work in the future. Your first concern should be dealing with the current problems, which appear to be an increase in crime, NO matter how much it cost. Once the problem is solved this is the time to review and revise, what would be the best way to move forward.
D.L. Williams [email protected] 612-205-4842
Resisting the reality of what is, that is where all of one's suffering comes from! There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is! [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Melissa Cathcart To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] do not allow veto on Safety For All Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 1:14:11 PM
I support the Safety For All budget. I understand that Mayor Frey is considering vetoing this budget. Please overturn any veto. Thank you. Melissa Cathcart 3018 38 Ave S. Mpls 55406
The text in this email is large so that I can see it and hopefully you can see it too.
m. cathcart, L.Ac., manual therapist, corrective exercise specialist www.dynamicfunctionalhealing.com 612.735.9993
“Emotional healing requires more than simply changing how you feel. Your emotions are merely symptoms of the problem - not the problem itself. Even when they hurt.” ― Jessica Moore
“The road to health is paved with good intestines!” ― Sherry A. Rogers
“Poetry heals the wounds inflicted by reason.” ― Novalis
The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and confidential information, including patient information protected by federal and state privacy laws. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. This E-mail (including attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521.If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution, or duplication of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Lisa Gintner To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Do not pass this budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 6:16:33 PM
We need someone who is capable of creating a budget that protect the good of the common all. This does not do that. I will be voting against my ward member and supporting everyone to vote all of you out. People are already showing you what will happen with less police. We need law enforcement. Law enforcement with a simple change of policy. Remind them they the police and have been hired to enforce the LAWS! Followed with reminding them they ARE NOT THE LAW. Pass this bill, I will come after each and everyone of you personally in the court of law as the parties who should be held accountable for any illegal activity that affects me and my family. I agree of Anita who just spoke. Don’t get what everyone of you is thinking? Where do you live.
I agree with the Native American! Slow your selfs down. Nothing good comes fast. Thank you, Lisa Gintner Mpls resident!
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Slavelabour To: Council Comment Cc: FM Mosel Subject: [EXTERNAL] FW: Last minute comments about police funding Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 4:23:43 PM
Good afternoon: I live in Ward No. 5. Are we getting any tax revenue $$$ from these sports stadiums and sports teams? Are the facilities even on the books or was this part of the original deal to keep our Vikings? We are rearranging the chairs on the Titanic and the taxpayer will have to foot the bill. Thank you for your service. Fred Mosel
From: Slavelabour
Good morning Honorable Council Fletcher and staff:
Steve, there is something you need to know before voting on Wednesday. I realize you put a bunch of effort into this issue. So, here we go………………
In the early 90’s, the Pentagon decided to close military bases. They gave many people $$$ to leave the service including the military police. Well, they cut back too much, and the government had to go and fill the slots by either using host nation or contractors for force protection. In the end, it cost the taxpayer twice – paying people to get out and then the contractors to fill the gap. Paying a contractor actually costs more.
I’m real concerned that defunding the police will not work and the same pattern will happen here in Minneapolis. The contractors are more than happy to provide a service.
I realize that the Council already has the decision made so just make a mental note about this email.
Thank you and your staff for the service,
Fred Mosel
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Chuck Turchick To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Another comment about transferring responsibilities from the MPD Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 6:59:57 PM
------Forwarded message ------From: Chuck Turchick
Dear City Council members,
One issue I have not heard discussed regarding your incremental transferring of responsibilities out of the MPD is that being a police officer is often stressful work. And having police officers primarily dealing with what you have called the "more serious issues" will mean they will more frequently be in those stressful situations.
I am not suggesting that we should have police engaging in busy work or make-work so they can destress from their more stressful activities. But when police officers only engage in work that might require more aggressive behavior on their part, you may well be creating a police force that will become more of what you are trying to avoid.
To my knowledge, no one on the Council or in the public hearings has raised this issue. I think the only person I've heard mention this concern was Andrew Koazk of the Charter Commission. Unintended consequences sometimes mean undesired results.
Yours,
Chuck Turchick Ward 6
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments.
From: Nathan Peterson To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: People"s Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 4:05:09 PM
I'm sorry, I had mistaken the people's budget and the city council plan. I am not in support of the people's budget. I think the safely for all plan is pretty good. I apologize for the misunderstanding.
Nathan P
Sent from BlueMail On Dec 3, 2020, at 1:06 PM, Nathan Peterson
I'm aware of the issues with MPD. Some of the officers can be disrespectful and cross the line, however not all of them are that way. I agree that many calls don't need an officer response, mental health professionals and having other people take crime reports can reduce the burden MPD has to deal with. I responded to an online questionnaire about Minneapolis public safety a while ago and said that people from the recovery community can potentially help those who are suffering from addiction. Many times talking to a regular person, not an addiction counselor, may make addicts feel more comfortable to talk about their substance abuse. I do think that counselors and social workers can help in certain circumstances, however talking to regular people may be easier for some. This also goes for conflict deescalation in the community.
I like the idea of funding for programs to provide people with food, shelter, health care, basic necessities. At the online meeting, I heard a lot of talk about affordable housing, when in Ward 10, we have a dozen luxury apartment complexes with more being built all the time. These are the opposite of affordable. I am a blue collar machinist, I make pretty decent wages, however they are expensive even for me. Some of them are charging $1,600/month for a one bedroom. I have lived in the same apartment building for about 14 years because if I moved anywhere else, I would be paying more. We need housing that the average person can afford. I use public transportation, and Uptown is an easy location to commute from, moving to the suburbs where apartments may be cheaper would make it a hassle for me to find public transportation. I have to rely on Lyft to get home in the morning because Metro Transit reduced services. Moving further away from the city would cost me more for Lyft and put me further away from stores, restaurants, my AA meeting, etc.
Here are some ideas I have for public programs/MPD:
1. Set up a task force for mental health, I fully agree with this idea, however in some situations a disturbed person may be carrying a weapon. We need to have people there who can assist and potentially carry pepper spray or a taser if things get violent. MPD has to be able to respond quickly if an attack happens. Maybe have an officer ride along and stay back, but still close enough to assist if need be.
2. Reach out to addiction services, such as AA or NA, I'm not sure if they'll be willing to help though. As a member of AA, I can say that we don't engage in various public programs from what I know, however they may be able to help find volunteers who would be willing to talk to people suffering from addiction. Reach out to neighborhoods to find people in the recovery community, I could probably help in my neighborhood.
3. Reduce the number of luxury apartment complexes to allow more people with lower income afford housing in decent neighborhoods. Living in Ward 10 shouldn't be limited to people making $65k/year. Also with luxury apartments, they often demolish older buildings which held businesses. These complexes have ground level storefronts, however I can imagine the leases to be extremely high, making it difficult for small businesses to move in. We need to have property that is affordable for living and leasing.
4. We need to help people have better access to food. I have donated time and money to the Lowry Hill Easy Neighborhood Association to help buy and bag groceries for people in need. It's a good program that can help other neighborhoods, we should see if a similar program can be started in other areas of the city.
5. Give people in high schools something to do to be productive. Set up a program with local businesses to help students find part-time jobs in their communities. I'm not sure if this program exists, however it seems like a lot of teens are committing crimes and maybe having a decent job would alleviate some of that.
6. Get students in high school interested in careers. Set up a program to give tours of various industries to students, show them what a career looks like. Back when I was in high school, we had a career day with speakers coming in, however bringing interested students to businesses may get them more excited for jobs after school. I took a 24 week program called Right Skills Now at Dunwoody. The same program is offered in other tech schools as well. I think when I took it, it cost around $12k? I don't remember exactly, however it's affordable! I think scholarships to tech schools would be a good idea. You could fund more students taking the Right Skills Now program than a 2 or 4 year degree and get them gainful employment quickly. I think there's too much of a push to get people into 4 year+ college programs for office jobs. Blue collar manufacturing jobs pay well and I don't think many people consider them. Students taking out a loan to pay for a shorter certification program such as Right Skills Now would be able to pay them off quickly.
7. Increase assistance for students with learning difficulties. I think getting good grades gives people confidence, which may help turn them away from crime in the future.
8. MPD culture needs to change. I think there's an "us vs them" mentality that needs to go away. Officers need to feel comfortable talking about issues with their partners and supervisors. They should be able to confront other officers when they are out of line without feeling like they are stabbing each other in the back. How many bad situations could be avoided if officers felt they could speak freely with one another and not get harassed?
9. Get rid of problem officers. There's no need for 5+ chances at work, any other person would be fired after fewer mistakes.
10. Better officer training to use firearms as a last resort only. There's no need to draw a weapon during many confrontations.
Please consider these ideas. I may have others and you can feel free to respond to me about them. I'll do some more thinking.
Nathan P. Ward 10
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jeanne Long To: Council Comment Cc: Frey, Jacob Subject: [EXTERNAL] hardened criminals are lining up Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 6:49:58 AM
Minneapolis City Council Members:
As you move towards in your efforts of defunding our already inadequately supported police department, I can visualize criminals all over the country coming to our city as they see our citizens as easy marks with no police presence and inadequate response from 911. How deplorable and unnecessary! We need a strong police department as we work through addressing multiple ways to help all of our citizens.
Thinking that the divide between whites and blacks can be corrected by removing police presence is just plain ignorant of facts and dangerous. True compassion ferrets out true causes instead of applying worthless, ineffective “cures.”
Look deeper. Look at values in our communities as sources of crime and confrontations with police, not simply perceived prejudice of police, the ones who have to deal with those crimes daily.
If a percentage of doctors was found guilty of malpractice, would you advise getting rid of an adequate force of doctors? Of course not, you would discipline those who were guilty and support those who practiced medicine well. You would not remove doctors from the most needy because a few had performed badly. Our neighborhoods where people of color are in the majority are suffering the most from inadequate police presence. You surely are aware of that. And crime is up all over the city.
You saw insurrectionists from other states coming here to incite destruction in the riots this years. Prepare yourselves to see more and more criminals flocking here to reap the benefits of your misguided approach to the problem of racial division.
Jeanne Long 4516 York Avenue South (a former resident of north Minneapolis as a child and young adulthood) 612-669-3337
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Emeline O"Hara To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hearing Comment Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 4:16:17 PM
Hello, my name is Emeline O’Hara, and I am a community member of Minneapolis, MN. I support the People’s Budget. Parts 1 & 2 of the ‘Safety for All’ proposal is the bare minimum we can expect from the council. As a young, disabled person who’s experienced being unhoused in Minneapolis, I want to speak to what has kept me safe and what hasn’t. The MPD have never made me feel safe in this city; they have sexually harassed me on multiple occasions (there are many accounts by folks I won’t name being sexually assaulted by the police, and I believe them because I believe survivors).
My community and it’s commitment to mutual aid is what has kept me safe, and frankly they’d do an even better job of it if they had more funding. I have an invisible chronic illness weakens my immune system. When I was incapable of caring for myself and my dog two years ago, my community showed up with food, they helped clean my apartment, and they took my dog out on walks so she could socialize. When I failed to make rent, folks pitched in to help me out. Even $15/hr minimum wage is not enough to make rent in this city, and I really would like to know why we can’t have free public housing. Jacob Frey recently tried to tell me that he couldn’t cap rent because it’s illegal, and I can’t help but think that if his passion truly lies in affordable housing, why he wouldn’t commit to investigating solutions to the outrageous housing market. There are mansions around the lake of the isles sitting empty that could comfortably fit several unhoused families.
I’ve been coming to these budget hearings since Frey has been in office, and I’m deeply disgusted to hear he is considering a veto. I think it really lends clarity to how he views marginalized folks. The police exist to protect whiteness and property, and Frey’s insistance on keeping the MPD underlines that those are his values, and not the health and well-being of marginalized folks.
Thank you [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Caroline Askew To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Her is my comment for the City Council meeting tonight Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 7:41:51 PM
Hello Council et al, My name is Caroline Askew and I live in Tangletown Minneapolis.
Safety for all must come first.
Our family has lived in our Minneapolis house for 53 years, proudly. This November we were invaded and burglarized for the first time in 53 years, in our healthy and inclusive-minded middle class neighborhood- while we slept. The dog saved us when they attempted to come up the stairs. 3 other neighbors were also violated or burglarized for the first time. It took the police 6 hours to be able to respond to our call.
Everyone deserves to feel safe in the city- all people of every color.
We need better and more services. Everything is underfunded: We need better social, psychological, health and housing services. We also need more and improved police- better trained, non-violent, supportive police. Police violence on people of color must stop. And crime must be controlled.
Making everyone unsafe is not the way to make people of color safe.
So called “Defunding the police” has caused crime, it will cause Minneapolis people to flee the city exacerbating all of the problems and further destroying the city’s budget and fiber. It scared so many people to jump into Trump’s arms, that he got the most votes of any conservative ever. It is self defeating.
There are so many caring and good people who live in the city. Alienating people will not ever succeed as a solution - whether they are people of color or the police. Our neighbor is a police lieutenant, and he is a good person. He despairs that their job is now impossible.
I lived in NYC for 7 years and it NOW feels far less unsafe here in Minneapolis. Save our city and vote to VETO.
Sincerely,
Caroline Askew [email protected] 612-817-0069
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: bearx006 University of Minnesota To: Council Comment; Rubenstein, Andrea; Giraud-Isaacson, Al; Kozak, Andrew; Cano, Alondra (External); Clegg, Barry; Lickness, Barbara; Kyle Berndt; [email protected]; Smith, Christopher; Cohen, Dan; Perry, Matt; [email protected]; Newborn, Toni; [email protected]; Sydney Jordan; Garcia, Jill; Sandberg, Jan; Frey, Jacob; Reich, Kevin A.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Schwarzkopf, Lyall; Palmisano, Linea; [email protected]; Ginder, Peter W.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Dziedzic, Kari - Senator; [email protected] Subject: [EXTERNAL] How many people does it take to run a police department? Veto, Veto Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 11:07:31 AM
Answer: It takes two people a Mayor and a Police Chief. If you have any more than that people fly off the handle, they do not wait for studies to come it, they grandstand, they talk without taking a scientific poll to see what the people really want, and they come up with all kinds of HAIRBRAIN IDEAS that defy common sense. In addition they come up with weird ideas hoping to pad their resume. In the meantime the city council's action to take 8 million from the department will lead to more 911 calls that go unanswered, it will lead to lower property values for sure. It will guarantee that the National Guard will have to be called for every riot that will happen more frequently now. Do not do this. Please
Richard Bear
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: [email protected] on behalf of Forrester Pack To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] I demand a budget that promotes safety for all. Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:16:50 PM
Dear
Several members of the Minneapolis City Council have recently proposed a “Safety For All Budget Plan,” which would move $7.9 million away from traditional policing in Minneapolis, and reinvest those resources in appropriate responses to emergency calls, stronger violence prevention programs, and more robust community oversight of police.
I am writing as a Minneapolis resident and ACLU-MN supporter to urge the City Council to adopt the Safety for All Budget Plan. The proposal is an important first step in the process of a broader divestment from policing.
Black, Brown and Indigenous communities suffer from centuries of underinvestment in mental health care, housing, education, parks, and other social and community services that are routinely funded in white neighborhoods. In many of our communities, the only “services” that are adequately funded are policing and punitive programs.
Police are not equipped to prevent violence in our neighborhoods, and police are not the right response to every problem our communities face. That’s why I support:
• Implementing reporting shifts so that low-level crimes like theft, property damage, and traffic incidents are directed to 311 or other non-police city staff. • Dispatching mental health professionals, instead of armed police, to respond to mental and behavioral health crises. • Investing resources in the existing Office of Violence Prevention so that we can prevent violent crime, rather than simply respond to it. • Strengthening community oversight and community-led police accountability.
We have a lot of work to do toward reversing police violence and public underinvestment in Black, Brown and Indigenous communities. The Safety for All Budget Plan is an important step toward a system of community safety that works for all Minneapolis residents.
Sincerely,
Forrester Pack 123 Bedford St. SE Minneapolis MN, 55414-3525
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jean Ross To: Council Comment; Bender, Lisa Cc: Frey, Jacob Subject: [EXTERNAL] I support Chief Rondo & his expertise. The future of our great city is truly at risk Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 8:27:48 AM
Dear Minneapolis CC Members,
Support the Mayor’s Budget. Reducing the MPD by 138 officers prior to having alternative responses in place or completing the mutually-agreed upon staffing study is absolutely irresponsible. If the “Safety For All” budget goes through, it is a slap in the face to all the men and women in MPD already enduring impossible circumstances. If we think we have an exodus now - we haven’t seen anything yet. There is just a limit to what people can take - police and city residents.
If this travesty of a budget gets passed, I hope Mayor Frey vetoes it.
Jean Ross 612-824-2080
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: bearx006 University of Minnesota To: Council Comment; Giraud-Isaacson, Al; Rubenstein, Andrea; Kozak, Andrew; Cano, Alondra (External); Lickness, Barbara; Clegg, Barry; Kyle Berndt; [email protected]; Smith, Christopher; Cohen, Dan; Faulkner, Graham R; Perry, Matt; Newborn, Toni; [email protected]; Abbott, Greg; [email protected]; Garcia, Jill; Sandberg, Jan; Sydney Jordan; Frey, Jacob; Reich, Kevin A.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Schwarzkopf, Lyall; Palmisano, Linea; [email protected]; Ginder, Peter W.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Dziedzic, Kari - Senator; [email protected] Subject: [EXTERNAL] I support Mayor Frey and Chief Arredondo: Veto, Veto Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:52:53 AM
I support the Mayor and Chief. Especially if there is some sneaky attempt to push the 8 million dollar cut through. I support a veto by the mayor. The radicals are out of control and would leave us protecting ourselves.
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Ross Conklin To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] I support the People"s Budget and the Council Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 7:08:08 PM
Hello I am a resident of Ward 3 in Minneapolis. I have been listening to public comment all evening, and many scared Minneapolis keep conflating police budgets with safety. The police do not prevent crime, they react to it. The city council's budget is a great first step in creating a public safety model that addresses the causes of crime.
Thank you for those of you on the council who are brave enough to take this incremental step.
-- Ross Conklin
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Vance Andress To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] In Support of City Council’s Defunding Proposal Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 2:46:19 PM
While I wish that the City Council’s proposal regarding the 2021 MPD budget had cut deeper, I fully support their proposal over Mayor Frey’s do little different proposal.
Vance Andress, Ph.d 440 Morgan Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55405
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Tess Dornfeld To: Council Comment; [email protected] Cc: Brock, Lisa A; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Gordon, Cam A.; Olsen, Nancy M.; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Smith, Mikayla; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Salami, Adedotun Y; Ellison, Jeremiah; Hans, Dani; Sharif-Abdinassir, Maryan; Bender, Lisa; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Erazmus, Kristina; Schroeder, Jeremy; Moua, MaiTeng; Sadler, Patrick A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Gangelhoff, Sara Subject: [EXTERNAL] Invest in real community needs, not MPD Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:31:47 PM
Dear Councilmembers, No amount of funding for mental health response and violence prevention will stop MPD from continuing to murder and brutalize our residents.
Signing off on the MPD budget the Mayor and the Chief have requested sends the message that MPD should keep doing exactly what they're doing. Where is the accountability not just for the murder of George Floyd and all the other victims of police killings and brutality, but for the petty and dangerous retaliation MPD has embarked on this year?
The Safety for All proposal is a 4% cut to MPD's requested budget. Four percent. At a time of unprecedented global crisis, a four percent cut should not even need discussion. And a department that can't cope with such a marginal budget reduction only demonstrates that it cannot manage resources responsibly, as MPD has already shown over and over.
The programs and investments proposed by Safety for All and the People's Budget remove responsibilities from MPD, responsibilities they have said themselves they are not the most appropriate department for. If they are being tasked with fewer responsibilities, why in the world would they be given the same amount of funding? It's very simple. They should have less work, and so they should have less money too.
To weaken the Safety for All proposal with one-time funding and temporary hires does not lay a foundation for these programs to succeed, and when they don't, MPD will try to claim again that they are the solution. But what happens when giving them their full budget request fails again too? We have had decades of failure from MPD, and decades of half-hearted, underfunded, unsustainable attempts at reform.
If this is not the time to take the first steps toward effective, evidence-based, community- supported alternatives, I don't know what will be. Parts one and two of the Safety for All proposal are the bare minimum of the path we need to take, and they must be properly funded. MPD has never been the right answer for so many of our community's needs, and they should not be paid to keep responding with more violence and harm.
Tess Dornfeld Minneapolis
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jamie Ronnei To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Frey, Jacob; Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Let"s reclaim Minneapolis public safety. FULLY FUND the MPD AND fund alternatives. Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:00:35 PM
Hello -
Today is the day.
As a Minneapolis resident, born and raised here, I am pleading with you to do the right thing today, and support our MPD Chief Arradondo. Please keep all policing funds intact from Mayor Frey’s well reasoned, responsible 2021 city budget proposal.
We need our MPD, now more than ever. The lawlessness and nihilistic violence in our city is well out of hand. Violent crime absolutely requires a robust, well-funded police response.
At the same time, our city has a responsibility to head off violence before it begins. Furthermore, we have a responsibility to broaden our definition of public safety for all by coming up with programs to best address crises with the most appropriate responses.
There is absolutely no reason we can not have both. Minneapolis has never been more dangerous than it is right now. This is on you. We can fix this, but not by creating artificial and false choices, by purposely seeking division over cooperation. We must work together, and we can only solve our existential crisis through supporting, reforming, and improving traditional law enforcement AND creating and validating new supplemental and alternative proposals.
We can not find new paradigms while suffering unprecedented violent crime. We must first support our police to reduce crime, and then, when public safety is restored, we can begin the hard task of improving the whole structure.
Why not make Minneapolis the safest city out there, by supporting our MPD AND supporting supplemental alternatives.
Please FULLY FUND the MPD.
Thank you,
James Ronnei Ward 13 [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Susan Hellstrom To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Long time Mpls resident supporting the Mayor"s plan Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 8:42:27 AM
City Council Members I have lived in Minneapolis for 28 years. I chose this city intentionally given its many wonderful attributes. I whole heartedly want to live in a city that is doggedly rooting our systemic racist wherever it exists. I also want to live in a city where I am not frightened to unload my groceries from my car in fear of a car jack attempt. That is where we are right now. And that is why the Mayor's plan to keep our law enforcement resources in tact WHILE ALSO developing the new vision of public safety is our what we need now. As a resident and voter - I implore you to support the Mayor's plan. Susan Hellstrom
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Donna Amoroso To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Mayors Budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 6:22:46 PM
Please be advised I do not support defunding the police department. I do support efforts to restructure and implement higher standards for the police officers and management.
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Steve Mulholland To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Minneapolis 2021 Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 7:43:49 PM
As a forty-year Minneapolis resident, I urge the city council and mayor to NOT cut funding to police. Rather, I wish to add police officers AS WELL AS mental health response teams.
We have an enormous public safety problem in the city. Crime has skyrocketed, streets are not safe. Stores are boarded up and economic activity will continue to decline if people do not feel safe. We need MORE POLICE and they need MORE HELP with support from mental health teams as well.
Thank you.
Sincerely, Stephen Mulholland 4433 Colfax Avenue South
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Sundus Al-Bayati To: Council Comment Cc: Sarah Brenes Subject: [EXTERNAL] Minneapolis City Budget Comment Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:48:49 AM
Dear Council Members,
I am writing with regard to the Minneapolis city budget public hearings to share my perspective and experience on the importance to fund and support immigration legal services like The Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis. The Advocates provided me free and essential legal help that I needed to become a permanent resident of the US. In 2015, I was studying at the University of Minnesota as an international student, when all my family were accepted as refugees from Iraq. Given that I was in the United States as a student, I wasn't part of the resettlement that included my family. As a student and a person that comes from very modest means, I couldn't afford to pay for legal services. I turned to the Advocates for Human Rights for help.
The Advocates listened to my story and looked into my case carefully within the context of my family's resettlement and provided astute legal advice on what direction to take, which successfully helped me to become a permanent resident and to pave the path for citizenship in the near future. I will always remain grateful to the Advocates for the free legal services that I received from them and for their understanding and experience with people like myself coming from war torn countries. I wanted to share my experience and voice my support on why such organizations are important to be funded and supported by the city. The legal services I received from the Advocates helped with one of the many challenges experienced by immigrants as they try to make a home in a new place and legal help being a major setback for people who cannot afford it. When my immigration needs were resolved, I was able to start planning for my future like any student would in the US. I am extremely grateful that such organizations exist in Minneapolis and I hope the city will continue to support and fund them.
Sincerely, Sundus Al-Bayati
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Barbara Sorensen To: Council Comment Cc: Fox 9 news Subject: [EXTERNAL] Minneapolis Council mtg vote on Police Budget - today Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:27:43 AM
(1) we are requesting the Minneapolis council members use the major portion of the $17M George Floyd fund instead of diverting from the Minneapolis police budget. Ask the Floyd family members in public to deepen their social/moral/values to donate 75% of the $17M. (2) Also increase the police staffing to address the drastic volume of rising violent crime - car jacking at gun point, house robbery while residents are home, and et al. Also realign/increase the police compensation/benefits to align with the surrounding suburbs' pay.
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Joanne Hedrick To: Council Comment Cc: Frey, Jacob Subject: [EXTERNAL] MPD budget should not be cut Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 9:21:49 AM
Just because some police officers have not done their jobs effectively doesn't justify cutting the police department. They need to do their jobs differently but that doesn't mean the same work isn't still required.
Please stop wasting time on a charter amendment and focus on initiatives to reduce discrimination, especially traing/hiring more people from Minneapolis on the MPD.
Please listen to Medaria Arradondo. Don't squander his wisdom and public support.
Thanks! Joanne Hedrick 3518 East 25th Street, Minneapolis
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Al Spadine To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] MPD Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:25:47 AM
Please do not cut the MPD budget. I support maintaining the MPD budget and the number of uniformed officers at historic levels. If the city council approves a budget reducing the MPD budget or reducing the number of uniformed officers, I support the mayor vetoing such a budget.
Alan Spadine 3178 Dean Ct Mpls
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Leslie Barlow To: Council Comment; Council Members Subject: [EXTERNAL] Mpls City Council - Police Budget Decision Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 7:16:22 PM
Hello,
I would have shared this if I had time to call in today:
It honestly pains me to hear all of these people calling in, in the name of safety for quote “all races” when the Police have not meant safety to many people in my community. These people are not calling for me. My name is Leslie Barlow and I’m a Black woman born and raised in Ward 8, where I also currently live. I think that the Safety for All plan is an okay first step, a bare minimum, but I support the People’s Budget for real, lasting change in support of the safety and health of our communities. Continuing to pour funding into the police in the name of reform is not going to work, it hasn’t worked in the past and it won’t work now. The trauma of George Floyd’s death and everything that has happened this summer, the repeated deaths of black and brown people at the hands of the police for years and years ever since I can remember, is not going to be solved unless you destroy the problem at the root. We need to fund our communities, nurture our communities, not use police as some sort of fake ass temporary bandaid to the real system problems at hand. We need to put health first — the pandemic has hurt so many people in our community. We need to prioritize people over profit, and we need to fund prevention not punishment. I’m speaking as a police officer’s sister. We all want end to violence in our city, and to break the cycle for good, we need to get resources to people to live sustainably, and put real money into tried and true programs that actually prevent violence, breaking the cycle for good.
Thank you,
Leslie Sent from my iPhone
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Nancy Schafer To: Council Comment Cc: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: [EXTERNAL] No cuts to police Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 12:19:01 PM
I am very opposed to the City Council's proposal to cut funding to the police department. Crime is out of control in south Minneapolis and we need to know we can get help when we need it. I live at 4848 14th Ave. South, which used to be a safe neighborhood...no longer...we've had armed robberies, car jackings, etc/.and with officers on leave due to covid, etc., we simply can't get by with fewer. I'm all for reform, but not a good time to remodel a house when it's burning down. I totally support the police chief and wish you would listen to him. My suggestion is to add to the police department, and take that money from other budgets relating to gentrification such as bike paths, round-abouts, flowery boulevards, fancy street lamps. The destruction that has occurred due to violence, and altered parking has made that whole area very inaccessible to shopping. I used to love that area, but now avoid it. Please start listening to the quieter voices, and return Minneapolis to the safe lovely area that I have loved over the years. Sincerely Nancy Schafer
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: AngHBuch To: Weinmann, Karlee Subject: [EXTERNAL] Note from Angela Buchholtz to your Facebook Page Jeremy Schroeder - Ward 11 City Council Member Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 6:13:26 AM
City council memeber Jeremy Schroeder.
No one in our neighborhood wants to get in their car. We are all afraid. No one wants to take their kids outside, we are all afraid. This is no life. We are all beginning to hate Minneapolis. I am sad to say, my family looks for houses in Minnetonka every day.
Please help stop the crime. Unfortunately people will continue to come here to commit crimes if there are no trained police patrolling.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
This is a win-win. Clean and simple. The Chief gets what he needs (no strings attached) to start what will be a long rebuilding process. At the same time, we also begin to move towards new transformative public safety services that will bring the holistic approach we all require. This is where most of Ward 11 sits, we expect you will reflect our wishes with your vote. Thank you.
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Carl Bretzke To: Weinmann, Karlee Subject: [EXTERNAL] Note from Carl Bretzke to your Facebook Page Jeremy Schroeder - Ward 11 City Council Member Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 2:38:41 PM
More police please!!! (Even more than before). Minneapolis resident and tax payer for over 30 years. Sincerely, Carl Bretzke
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Debby Meldahl To: Weinmann, Karlee Subject: [EXTERNAL] Note from Deb Meldahl to your Facebook Page Jeremy Schroeder - Ward 11 City Council Member Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:33:36 AM
Dear Councilperson Schroeder,
Please do not reduce the size of our responsive, protective forces. I am tired of feeling unsafe...make the communities that were not as safe as others, equally safe.
I am tired of fear, tired of the loss of our once vibrant neighborhoods, the loss of small, neighborhood business which have closed because of loss of parking, the economic consequences of this councils decisions. I am tired of driving to the suburbs for the goods and services no longer available nearby...how green is that!
I am tired of this mess...please turn the page, Deb Meldahl
Sent from my iPad [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Greg Busker To: Weinmann, Karlee Subject: [EXTERNAL] Note from Greg Busker to your Facebook Page Jeremy Schroeder - Ward 11 City Council Member Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 6:13:43 AM
Please fully find the police.
I am a lyndale resident concerned for safety.
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jeriallyn To: Weinmann, Karlee Subject: [EXTERNAL] Note from Jeri Kaplan to your Facebook Page Jeremy Schroeder - Ward 11 City Council Member Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:08:32 PM
Your Name: Jeri Kaplan
Phone Number: 612-220-7391
Your Question:
Hello,
I’ve live in Uptown for over 30 years. I have honestly never felt so scared. If I have to run errands after work, I rush home before it even starts getting dark and I’m in my car.....
The last few times I’ve been on on Franklin going east at Lyndale, I sit at the light and look around. I’m so nervous, I feel like a sitting duck. This is a busy intersection and from what I know, it doesn’t matter. I re-lock my locked car over and over all the way home. The criminals are not fazed. They carjack at gun point, even if they get caught they are back on the streets.
I feel that we definitely need social services and mental health professionals, in addition to a full police force. Why can’t we have everything? Work together with the mayor and the police chief to keep our city safe. This is the perfect time to train the cadets and the few cops that are left, with a more humane and responsible structure.
The decisions you make in this time of transition will effect our city and everyone in our city for years to come, if not forever. Do we want to be another Detroit? The city is in the hands of a few people who are turning a blind eye to these frequent act of violence.
Don’t you want our city to thrive, again? I heart hurts for our city and the people in our city. People that are scared and unfortunately have every right to be.
I would like to remind you, these are our tax dollars. Don’t we have the right to be safe and protected? Please help get our great city back.
Thank you for your time,
Jeri Kaplan [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Karen Winkler To: Weinmann, Karlee Subject: [EXTERNAL] Note from Karen Winkler to your Facebook Page Jeremy Schroeder - Ward 11 City Council Member Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:21:34 AM
Your Name: Karen Winkler
Phone Number: 612-804-1550
Your Question: (statement): Please vote for the mayors funding of the Minneapolis police budget. Then find additional funding for the social services needed to address issues the police should not be responding to. We need help NOW. We need SAFETY NOW. [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Lynne Soderlund To: Weinmann, Karlee Subject: [EXTERNAL] Note from Lynne Soderlund to your Facebook Page Jeremy Schroeder - Ward 11 City Council Member Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:07:28 AM
Your Name: Lynne Soderlund
Phone Number: 612-205-9063
Your Question:
I am a 46 year resident of south Minneapolis and I love our city. We fear leaving our homes even in broad daylight. Please listen to the people and fully fund our police force!! They are needed more than ever. Crime is rampant in Minneapolis and the criminals now have the idea that they are free to wantonly attack people. Our city officials need to do what is right, and do it today!
Sent from my iPad
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Stuart Fritz To: Weinmann, Karlee Subject: [EXTERNAL] Note from Stuart R Fritz to your Facebook Page Jeremy Schroeder - Ward 11 City Council Member Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:54:43 AM
Crime is NOT a perception, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow. The infrastructure of Minneapolis is supported by a vibrant business community and dependent on robust tax revenues. Without crime control, our city will fail. The immediate problem of escalating crime must be addressed. Studies support that a law enforcement surge reduces crime. This, in turn, will reassure businesses and civilians that they can safely live and work in Minneapolis. Once safety is reestablished, the root causes of the crime wave can be addressed. Minneapolis’ present trajectory in unsustainable. [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Susan Desteian To: Council Comment; Frey, Jacob Subject: [EXTERNAL] Pass Mayor Frey"s budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 6:17:32 PM
Councilmembers: Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, crime is up in Minneapolis. When you have no boundaries or consequences, people feel free to do anything they want.
Reform and better training... yes. Do NOT cut the budget for Policing activities or reduce the number of police officers in our city. I have great faith in Mayor Jacob Frey and Chief Arradondo and their budget requests. I think it is essential to the future of a safer Minneapolis for all citizens. Please pass their budget and protect Minneapolis. Your decisions will have an everlasting effect on the city which will be hard from which to recover when you are no longer a council member.
Vote no on cutting police officers and reducing the department. Please pass Mayor Frey's and Chief Arradondo's budget requests.
Susan Desteian 5220 Vincent Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55410
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: The ShoeIn To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] pass the people"s budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 4:52:24 PM
I am writing to urge the city council to make cuts to the mpd budget as outlined in The People's Budget including permanent cuts to canine and mounted units, protester surveillance , militarized riot police and a permanent freeze to new police hires.
I urge the council to move funding to address housing, food insecurity, childcare, direct economic relief, and worker protections as well as mental health services, substance abuse programs, and transformative community safety programs outside of the police. thank you.
Emily Schenk Ward 12
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Eiko Mizushima To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] People’s budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 4:18:54 PM
Hello,
I support the People’s Budget Proposal to cut the police budget by more than 4%. My family and I have called the police to report rape, sound disturbances, physical torture, from the most mundane to some of the most severe issues we gave as humans. The police have done nothing but document. I see them as documentarians who live in the imaginations of society as doing more. Or if they are not documenting they have been seen to be gun happy well funded folks who persuade scared folks to rely on them when they cannot be relied on to help regular people, only large business or people in power.
As a survivor of rape I know that justice that I wanted was not to lock someone up and throw away the key, since most people who hurt people are doing so because they too are victims of violence, what is wanted is for people to stop hurting other people, for a recognition of body sovereignty. For education; change, not to hurt someone more and then have them released in community and expect them to be different, that is ridiculous sounding. Please find schools, therapy for people, transformative justice, subsidize housing, and make more land public land.
Please support the people’s budget and move to defund the police. Reforms have failed we need a restoration of community and care over purely punitive systems.
Eiko Mizushima
Sent from my iPhone. [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Irna Landrum To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] People"s Budget & Minneapolis City budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 7:51:01 PM
Dear Council Members,
I have been a renter in Ward 9 for just under a decade and hope to become a homeowner in the ward some day soon. I am writing to offer my full support for the People's Budget. I believe the Safety for All amendment is a step in the right direction of the city making a robust investment in police alternatives, vital community resources like mental health care, affordable housing, and violence prevention.
This summer, my Council Member stood on a stage in Powderhorn Park and pledged to begin the work to defund the Minneapolis police department after the police needlessly murdered yet another member of this community. I'm very disappointed and angry that CM Cano has so vigorously back pedaled on that pledge.
The police department has not proven effective at deterring crime, solving crime, or earning the trust of the communities they've been charged to protect and serve. It is poor stewardship of our city's financial resources to unquestioningly fund the department without them ever having to prove they do what they claim to do. "Just give them more money and eventually they'll get it right" is not now, nor has it ever been a logical response to abject failure.
Some city residents speak to a spike in crime since more than one hundred police officers absolutely refused to do their jobs. Rather than holding their colleagues accountable when they use excessive or needlessly lethal force, when they brutalize people who clearly need medical attention, and when they violently escalate confrontations with peaceful protesters, more than one hundred of our sworn officers would rather abandon their duty. This demonstrates their priorities. This temper tantrum should not be rewarded.
I'm thankful to the council members who have stood by their pledge to this community to hold the police accountable, study and fund alternatives, and reallocate funding to more appropriate responders. Thank you for passing the Safety for All Amendment.
If Mayor Frey chooses to abuse his veto power to override the will of the people, the judgment of the Council, and pure common sense, I hope you will continue to honor your commitment and override the mayor's veto.
Thank you, Irna Landrum
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Eduard Gorbunov To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Please DO NOT defund the police Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 7:54:38 PM
Greetings,
My family and I have lived in Plymouth, MN for over 20 years. We enjoy our safe environment, had only one break in over the last decade in our Association, and we would like things to be this way for as long as possible. Please DO NOT defund our police as they are a crucial part in the public safety!
Thanks, -Eduard Gorbunov
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jennifer Schweitzer To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Please don"t cut our police budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:56:14 PM
Honorable council members,
I support your commitment to changing public safety and mental health priorities.
I believe such changes be carried out with patience and great care and not reduced to a budget issue. The matter is very important and should be researched and thought through. Taking money from police isn't going to solve racism and isn't the answer. Please listen to both the community and experts before acting.
Thank you, Jennifer
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Adventures in Cardboard To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Please pass amendments 14A1-14A5. Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 2:42:45 PM
I want to respectfully urge our council members to pass amendments 14A1-14A5 as they are with no further compromise on police funding.
I was one of around 400 people in Ward 9 who signed a letter urging our council member to support the idea laid out for a people's budget. 9thwardwithoutpolice.com I support that idea wholeheartedly in whatever way we can move toward the priorities laid out therein and away from a system of policing that I sincerely feel cannot be reformed.
Julian McFaul, Ward 9
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Pat Olson To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Please support Police Funding! Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 3:53:31 PM
It does not work to remove funding from the police and then ask them to accomplish more! Our city is being destroyed by criminals—carjackings, mugging, burglaries and beatings are increasing. We need massive increases in police patrols. Patrols prevent crimes from happening. By all means, hire more police officers of color, expand mental health corespondents, improve tracing, but do NOT cut police funding! INCREASE police funding! DO NOT make Chief Arradondo have to get City Council permission for each new hire or overtime or budget decision. Let the licensed, experienced Police Chief run his own department. The City Council has betrayed us!! I weep for my city as it becomes a dangerous hellhole for lack of police officers! By all means, increase funding for affordable housing. Cut the salaries of the City Council, not the police!
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Susan Lenfestey To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Please support the Mayor"s budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 12:52:07 PM
Please enter my 60 second statement in the public record. Thank you. Susan Lenfestey
*****
We moved from a farm in Western Massachusetts to the 7th ward of Minneapolis in 1974, where we still live today. At the time houses in our neighborhood were a bargain and we had to convince the realtor that we really did not want to live in St. Louis Park (Best schools!) or Edina (Great parks!).
I was asked to join the neighborhood association, where one of the goals was to attract more people to the neighborhood. I attended a national convention called Back to the Cities, where urban planners led workshops on how to build communities that were diverse, vibrant and safe. We have spent almost 50 years trying to do that. If we missed the mark, it wasn’t for want of trying.
We raised our kids here, put our heart and energy into community. We started a neighborhood newspaper, coached park board teams, served on public school committees and political campaigns. I have never missed a caucus and I have served as a delegate to district and state DFL conventions. I am a Wellstonian Democrat. “We all do better when we all do better."
I know that my good fortune hasn’t been shared by all, and that my infrequent interactions with the MPD were shaped by that good fortune. But good fortune doesn’t mean I don’t have a heart and a brain, or should not have a voice.
We must correct the wrongs that have made too many in our city feel threatened and targeted or worse. But we cannot do that by cutting the safety net that so many residents from all over the city depend on.
I urge you to work with Hennepin County and those with appropriate backgrounds in responding to mental health crises, homelessness and other results of an unjust society. But it is your job to also provide safety for all.
We can do both. We need creative and robust community intervention and adequate policing to build diverse and vibrant neighborhoods where everyone feels secure.
I urge you to support Chief Arradondo and the Mayor’s budget.
Thank you. Susan Lenfestey [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jamie Ronnei To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Frey, Jacob; Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Please turn this around. Find the courage to unify with your city, not against us. Support our mayor and chief. Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 10:11:51 AM
I have never been more disappointed in our city’s leadership failures than after your vindictive and punitive amendments to our Mayor’s reasonable 2021 budget proposal.
As a City, we can’t expect the Police Chief to continue doing more with less. We need to provide the Chief with the staffing resources to allow our MPD to succeed.
There was no need for any of your amendments as the Mayor worked to find alternative sources to identify, fund, and validate proposed pilot programs we all want to supplement police operations and public safety. You had a chance for true “both/and” reform handed to you on a silver platter, and chose to contemptuously knock it away.
You are stripping away the civilian based interfaces from the police department that our communities have fought for over the years, worsening community / police isolation. Finally, you are not supporting the Community Service Officer program, which is the leading pathway to police force diversification.
You agreed to conducting a police staffing study, the results of which will come mid 2021. Yet now you have the arrogance to impose an entirely arbitrary staffing lid on the department, one which you know will cripple the Chief’s ability to succeed, and throwing away our city’s investment in an actually informed and professional study. One can only surmise that the staffing study will indicate a need for a significant increase in police staffing, which you will have pre-empitively and prejudicially prohibited.
You are putting your individual ideologies and personal politics above the good of your city and the needs and safety of your constituents. This is inexcusable.
James Ronnei Ward 13 [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Nancy Sjoquist To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] police budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 4:53:55 PM
Hello from Nancy and keith Sjoquist 3141 Hennepin Ave.
We clearly are in a violent, destructive, lawless assault stage in our city. Here in Uptown Mpls, we have suffered a great deal, our businesses are leaving. home owners are leaving, strangers checking out our properties, we wear masks and carry mace while walking, we worry if we park our cars. You know I can go on and on and on.... Do not cut the police budget. Let everyone know we expect our police to keep order. We also expect to reform the police rules , do new training.hopefully weed out officers that have been written up many times that use undo force and injuries. we can do all kinds of safety improvements. Stop using the word DEFUND. this was way incorrect . The words matter. Defund has cost us elected candidates, causes great fear and distrust on and on...Let the Police Chief do his job. He is good at it. Thank you for focusing on safety, KEEP THE POLICE BUDGET. NANCY SJOQUIST
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Ruth Cain To: Council Comment Cc: Frey, Jacob Subject: [EXTERNAL] police budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 2:32:49 PM
It seems to me that a change could be made considering the percentage of police calls based on mental illness , allocating a proportionate share to more appropriate responders such as social workers, paramedics, etc. I'm not clear on the residency requirement limitations, but I hope the city will find a way to get more police officers to live in the city (Bonuses? Knowledge of a neighborhood?) and to promote community policing. We really need to hold bad actors to account! The police force should be assessed periodically to remove people with anger/power problems from front line duty until they are better fit to interact with ALL members of the public. Thanks for your attention, Ruth Cain
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Lieberman, Dan To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Police budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 12:35:49 AM
City Council
The way sensible organizations work is to hire leaders and let them lead, not micromanage like certain council members want to do.
What should be done is to give the chief goals and time to achieve them. That includes reduction of crime, overtime etc. The metrics need to be fair- with 100 fewer officers there is going to be overtime until staffing levels increase. If the chief fails, time to make a change.
I don’t understand the Obsession with change now. Most city residents support reforming police, just not a plan doomed to failure shoved down our throats. How about trying an approach of transparency and collaboration.
Dan Lieberman 3311 Holmes Ave S
Sent from my iPad
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jerry Sattinger To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Police Defunding! Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 1:15:06 PM
Defunding the police seems to be a reaction to a few officers that behave badly! Unfortunately, someone dying has all too often been the result. Is that the result of less than adequate hiring practices or that officers are being asked to handle crisis that have little to do with what police officers sign up for or that training is inadequate?!
I would think that reallocation of funds to problems that those who do the job designate as important would be the most compelling. I can only imagine the complexity of having to make split second decisions out on the street. But, the work to make change needs to be well researched and not a knee jerk reaction to an election cycle! Using the “Fearing for my life” excuse can no longer be used as justification for killing a suspect!
Let’s reallocate funds so that all police officers will have what they need to use their weapons as a last resort and not as the first response!
Jerry Sattinger South Minneapolis Resident
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Dennis Wagner To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Police funding Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:24:31 PM
For those paying attention: It wasn’t the Police that burnt Lake street, (the 3rd Precinct) Midway and Broadway to the ground, it was those supposed peaceful protesters! And/or the whatever they drew into their movement, there are consequences to your actions. Suspect you folks don’t want to claim responsibility for the consequences of your actions. What the H**l are you going to do when the trial says, Floyd actually died of a drug induced anxiety? Defund the National Guard? Reality is reality, or are you like Trump voters, Biden didn’t win the election?
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Perplex Reflex To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] police funding comment for December 9 City Council meeting Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 8:59:10 PM
Greetings, City Council Members;
I write to support fully funding the police budget for 2021. I also support funding police reform initiatives. I would pay more in taxes for both to occur. Should the City Council vote to siphon money away from Police staffing for 2021, I would concur with a mayoral veto to force a more creative approach to the situation.
Wait for the staffing study results while endeavoring to find "both, and" solutions. Despite an urge for quick change, do not preemptively decrease police staffing when future needs are unknown as we slowly emerge from a pandemic after an exceedingly violent year. Our city DOES need public safety reforms such as preemptive support for mental health and de-escalation options, among others. We ALSO need a police force that is appropriately staffed. Police officers are now unreasonably challenged and overstretched to respond effectively to public safety needs. Decreased police presence — less visibility on the street, at parks, getting coffee, responding to calls, less talking with residents on sidewalks, et cetera — is correlating with significantly increased crime. The entire police force is not to blame for the state of mistrust. We have a talented Police Chief who understands the local history of police/community relations.
I attempted to participate in the December 9 City Council meeting with a live public comment, but the access system did not function as designed.
Thank you for considering my thoughts. Jason Schoch, city resident
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Sarah Martin To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Police funding Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 6:10:33 PM
I support community control of the police.
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jenna Rose Graupmann To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment - 2021 Mpls Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 10:15:59 PM
To whom it may concern,
My name is Jenna Graupmann and I'm a resident of the Powderhorn Park neighborhood. I've been following the Mpls budget process and want to express my support of the amendments that shift funds from police overtime to fund positions in the Health Department, Office of Violence Prevention, and Mental Health Dispatch Teams.
Now more than ever, we need to critically consider every dollar in our city's budget, making sure those dollars aid those struggling to keep themselves and their families afloat. Even more critically, the city needs to be doing everything in it's power to give shelter and other critical resources to those experiencing houseless in Minneapolis. Our neighborhoods have been underfunded and over-policed for too long, and I am hopeful that major funding changes (namely, defunding MPD) will be positive steps in the right direction.
Sincerely,
Jenna Rose Graupmann
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Nikki Matteson To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment - 2021 Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 1:01:14 PM
Hi, my name is Nikki and I am a resident of south Minneapolis. I live in the powderhorn park neighborhood. I don't agree with the Minneapolis Council's decision to defund and destaff the Minneapolis Police Department. I'm sure you're well aware that violent crime has sharply increased—over 500%—here in south Minneapolis, an area that you represent. Making cuts to the MPD, cuts that the mayor and chief of police call irresponsible, for political pandering not based in reality sacrifices the safety of all your constituents—whether they're black, white, hispanic, native american, asian. This is really offensive to me and downright scary. At this point, I won't go for a walk in my neighborhood because I don't feel like it's safe to. North Minneapolis, home to many black citizens, is the area with the highest crime. By making cuts to the MPD, how are those people supposed to get the protection that they need? How are these cuts supposed to be Safety for All? I agree with Jacob Frey & Medaria Arrodondo that these cuts are irresponsible, and I also agree with their approach to solving problems with the MPD. Nikki
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Alex Heegaard-LeGros To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] public comment for budget hearings Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:57:59 AM
I am writing to you as a resident of Powderhorn, a landlord in Powderhorn, and a business owner in Powderhorn. Please support the 14A1 - 14A5 "Safety for All" portion of the people's budget. I support the entire People's Budget but at the bare minumum we need the Safety for All section. My tax dollars have funded ineffective and dangerous police in this city for too long. Enough if enough, and supporting this part of the proposed budget is a step in the right direction. I have lived in Mpls my whole life, and have lived and worked in the 9th Ward for the last 10 years. I currently operate Prairie Crow Bikeworks in Powderhorn, and live in that Neighborhood as well.
Some of my experiences with MPD: -I worked for 7 years working at The Hub Bike Coop, right next to the third Precinct. The precinct parking lot was what I had to look at as I took my lunch break outbehind our store. After 7 years of interacting with those officers and observing them, it makes me furious to think I fund their paychecks and it is no surprise when I hear that they have killed or injured someone. When 3rd precinct cops were violent towards protesters it was no surprise. Many of the crooked cops that worked as part of the now disbanded Joint Drug Squad were reassigned to the 3rd. These police were criminals years ago when they were caught stealing seized evidence, and they are criminals now.
-When first moved to Powderhorn I lived at 3032 17th ave with several friends. We were all new to the neighborhood, and in our early 20s. Our first week living there, me and one of my housemates were out on the porch late enjoying a summer evening. Suddenly, a police car pulled down the street, and two cops got out and tackled a man who had been walking down the street. While we watched, stunned, the two cops kicked and punched this man on the ground for several minutes. We heard the man on the ground trying to protect his face with his hands while they hit him with nightsticks. Then they said something to him we couldn't hear, and got back in their car and left. We were stunned and scared. We did not know what to do. Thankfully, the victim eventually pulled himself to his feet. We called over to him asking if he was okay. He held up his hand and waved in that way you do when you've heard someone but don't want to speak, and then went on his way. I think back to this experience often. I wish we had intervened. We didn't have smartphones so taking video in the low light of night wasn't an option. The man those cops beat was not arrested. He was not accused of any crime. And he was beat mercilessly.
I attended several protests after the murder of George Floyd by police officers. I witnessed police striking protests who were already on the ground. They shot rubber bullets at street signs at head height where they ricochets into the crowd, injuring people. During one instance, I watched a white police officer handcuff a young black man, and scream into his face "these are our streets and we are taking them back!" He then uncuffed the young man, and sent him on his way. No arrest, no paperwork, just intimidation. I watched cops in riot gear slapping their batons in their hands and doing "wind ups" like they were stepping up to bat in a game of baseball.
I was on my front porch with my partner and upstairs tenants the third night of the Curfew when several police cars pulled a car over in the street at our end of the block. Police jumped out of cars and point their weapons at us screaming at us to return to our homes. We were on our porch. They continued to point their weapons at us until we went inside, and even then, had an officer standing in the street facing our house with his weapon (some kind of rifle, not a sidearm) the entire time they were on our street. More police arrived and continued to shout at and point weapons at any neighbor who opened their front door. Later, while we watched though our windows one police officer threatened to peppers pray a person in the backseat of one of their squad cars. What kind of cop points a can of pepperspray at a handcuffed person in the back of a squad car? One that is lookin for revenge and is looking to punish people, not protect people.
These cops were not the exception, they are the norm. There are two kinds of cops in Mpls: dangerous cops that commit violence, and cops that protect those dangerous violent cops.
We need change. We are begging for you help making that change happen.
We need the People's Budget, and if we cant pass the whole thing, we must at least pass the "Safety for All" portion. To the councilmembers who have put their support behind this, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. To those opposing, I ask you to reconsider.
-- -L. Alex Heegaard-LeGros Prairie Crow Bikeworks 612-251-0663 He/Him pronouns
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Kyle Soyer To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] public comment, 2021 budget, police funding Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 1:02:03 PM
I'm a constituent living in the Central neighborhood in south Minnepolis. I'm one of over 400 people who signed the open letter about the People's Budget, which can be found here: https://www.9thwardwithoutpolice.com. I'm asking the council to please take a stand against Mayor Frey's threat to veto any changes made to the police budget, and to override the veto if it happens. Also, please stick with Amendments 14A1-14A5, with no further compromise to fund police.
Thanks, Kyle Soyer
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Casey Rundquist To: Council Comment; Nelson, Kate R. Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:53:52 PM
Hello,
Well that process was highly disrespectful and, frankly arrogant. Not sure the point of it, at all. Here's details.
(1) The Safety For All Budget, though crucially important in enacting some modicum of control over the department, is really fairly conservative. It presents merely 4% cut with an additional 7% held in abeyance, to ensure that the City Council can leverage the department to make changes. The Department has committed to more or less no change in the six months since Floyd's death nor has Mayor Frey proposed anything worthwhile.
(2) As a public defender, I spend a significant amount of time with hundreds of families who suffer from over policing, stigmatization of mental health and addiction, all brought about by police practices. Arrests and prosecution do not help these people, instead they often interfere or create harm in the form of lost jobs, housing, health insurance, and community connections.
(3) Police have vast resources dedicated to efforts that do nothing for the public, but only serve to persecute those with addiction and mental health problems. Minneapolis Police participates in a drug enforcement task force, dedicating many officers and resources to generating valueless low level arrests. Similarly, they continue to engage in vice and drug stings, abusing people in crisis by forcing them to become informants and remain in an unsafe life. There is no question they could make up the $8 million cuts, and much more be redirecting resources to more productive tasks.
(4) The "crime wave" narrative is a farse. All statistics that we see are spoon feed us by the department itself. Until the department commits to open sourcing all its data, it is incredibly naive to take their word for it, while many of their officers malinger with exaggerated or politically timed PTSD claims. Surely some of these claims are valid, but many aren't.
Casey Rundquist
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: wendy haan To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Safety Budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 10:20:08 AM
December 8, 2020
Dear Council members,
I understand what a complex issue you are facing in reforming Public Safety during this pandemic. It is a very emotional issue but we cannot continue with the status quo and support a broken policing system. I hope you can demonstrate the courage to vote for a budget of positive and compassionate change.
The winds of change are blowing and being a white woman of privilege I have educated myself and realized that adding to the police budget will not reduce car jackings, robberies and crime in Minneapolis or make any of us safer. The militarized police department is clearly out of touch with the communities they serve. The revolving prison doors which destroy families by criminalizing the homeless, mentally ill, drug addicted, the poor and/or people of color are not solving the root problems leading to criminal behavior.
Minnesota has a history of segregation, racism, police brutality and one of the worst opportunity gaps in the nation. This summer, after the Minneapolis Police Department killed George Floyd, the community’s response and the City Council’s commitment made me prouder than I’ve ever been to be a Minneapolitan. We came together as a community to reclaim what was best about our city to solve the very worst of our problems.
City Council members have hatched creative solutions like “The People’s Budget” and the first two items in the “Safety for All” amendment to the mayor’s proposed budget. These innovative plans do away with police brutality while increasing public safety, all while addressing crime at its root: poverty and the unequal distribution of resources. This is of utmost importance during the economic crises of 2020-21. Please follow through and support these solutions.
Our progressive city of Minneapolis is at the epicenter of a global racial reckoning…the world is watching. Please set an example and take the first steps in the long path toward racial equity. Let’s continue to make Minneapolis a city we can be proud of.
Sincerely,
Wendy Haan
3824 47th Ave South
Mpls, MN 55406
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Ellen Schmitz To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: 2021 Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 12:27:25 PM
My name is Ellen Schmitz and I have lived in Ward 12 for 26 years
I’d like to directly address Council member Johnson. I appreciate that during these polarized discussions you have taken a studied approach – listening to both sides, and relying on your conscience and the voices of your constituents to guide your decisions. And so I ask you to remain the voice of reason, and to put common sense above rigid ideology.
You’ve heard your constituents. Of course we want police reform. The problem is our leaders have not laid out a roadmap with a timeline and deliverables. It’s like defunding – everyone has a different idea. How can the Police Chief be held accountable if it’s not clear what he’s supposed to deliver? Until you get that done, take reform off the budget table.
Focus instead on the immediate and urgent. We need more police. Police deter crime. Studies back this up. Those studies have been made part of the official record. We can’t afford to go through next year with even fewer police than we have now. That’s not logical or pragmatic.
So, I ask you to take these three steps: FIRST- Fully fund the Mayor’s proposal – including $5 million in overtime to cover shifts that will otherwise go unstaffed. SECOND- Do not shift police programs and money. Your new Public Safety Department is a year away. Wait until then. AND THIRD – get agreement on what reform must look like over the next few years. Approve future police budgets if reform goals are met. This is a more objective way to achieve a just and safe city. We are at a public safety crossroads – we need your logic and pragmatism to pull us through.
Thank you, Ellen Schmitz Ward 12 Minneapolis MN 65406
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Joseph Krause To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Against 2021 Budget Cuts to the Minneapolis Police Force Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 12:40:16 PM
I am currently living in the Mpls Uptown area and recently bought a home in the Harrison neighborhood near downtown. The proposal for reducing the police force in Minneapolis is VERY CONCERNING to me!! I STRONGLY DISAGREE with proposals aimed at defunding the Minneapolis Police force!! The recent violence that began in the wake of the death of George Floyd, and the crimes against business owner that continues throughout the city have only reinforced my stance that Minneapolis NEEDS a well funded and community supported police force. There have been too many businesses forced to move out of the downtown area this year because of the notable increase in brazen burglaries and violent crimes. I am in favor of instituting meaningful changes within law enforcement (ie: better more extensive training, re-evaluating current tactics, de-escalation training, etc.). I think it is a SERIOUS MISTAKE to consider scaling back the cities financial support for police protections without having established and agreed upon institutions in place to fill the gaps. I strongly urge the Council to continue to fully fund the Minneapolis Police Dept. in the 2021 budget!
Joe Krause [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Gerry Jackson To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Defunding Police Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 2:31:48 PM
Council Members:
I'm a long time resident of Minneapolis previously on the near north side where I attended Jr. High and High School and now in Uptown neighborhood.
I've watch crime escalate in the city tremendously and come to within 1 block of my home in the riots earlier this year. Since the riots several businesses have left permanently. In addition I've watch the "Next Door" neighborhood internet group report personal attacks against men and women walking in the neighborhood. I recall reading one report that a group of teenage boys was arrested in a car jacking pursuit and are believed to be responsible for 100 personal attacks and robberies on persons, 1 shooting and 30 car jackings in the span of 1 month.
The Uptown neighborhood has never in my 50+ years residence been subjected to this much crime.
Your vote to "Defund" / Eliminate the police department was and continues to be irresponsible to such a serious degree that it's difficult to imagine you actually did it. No community can exist peacefully without police. It's incredible to think that you're grown up human beings in a position of responsibility and you don't know that.
I'm seeing that you're putting a pretty name on your movement "Safety for all" and I'm not the least bit convinced that you know what safety is. Police response times I'm reading are getting longer and longer. At least one of you claimed that you believed they were doing this intentionally to make you look bad. How vile can you be?
I have no problem dispatching a social worker to a call about someone who is clearly no threat and is disoriented or some such situation rather than police. But you're going to hire and train these people and buy them offices and equipment and vehicles and on and on and on.
And I've seen no plan put forward that provides a budget and no description of what this new force will look like and how this is supposed to work. I believe you're making this up as you go along and expecting people with common sense to believe you'll create Utopia by taking Millions of dollars away from the Police budget and reducing the number of police on patrol.
We now have a reduced police force size. But they're having to keep officers on a great deal of overtime pay in order to have some semblance of a respectable response time to the greatly increased number of calls they get. I'm absolutely certain the the primary cause of increased crime is all of you council members calling for elimination of the police. Your idiotic vote was a cry loud and clear that Minneapolis is "OPEN FOR CRIME."
I've never owned a gun. But now I'm probably going to buy one and get a carry permit. I don't feel safe walking to the grocery store after dark. I've taken to carrying a knife. I know the story about how dumb it is to bring a knife to a gun fight but that's my stop gap measure for now.
I doubt that anyone will read this message in it's entirety let alone take it to heart because you are so incredibly determined to rule from a place of liberalism that you think the only people who know anything are people who agree with you.
You need to go back and read Utopia written in the 15th century. And read the relatively short letter written in response to it that thoroughly debunked it.
You must not sacrifice our safety, lives and property in the name of Utopia in the 21st century. No matter how much you love Karl Marx.
Sincerely G. Jackson Minneapolis, MN 55408 mailto:[email protected]
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Sally Rector To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Reducing the police force Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 11:12:07 AM
Dear Sirs: As I write this, I am trying to remind myself the city council members live in the same beloved city that I do. But, I have to ask myself, why then do they not know how fearful and disquieted their neighbors are? Why do they believe that cutting police numbers will make us less frightened and assured the city will be a better place to live?
I look for any evidence or actual facts that decreasing police numbers while replacing them with - a social worker (?), mental health worker (?), a program that speaks to our teenage car jackers (?) will actually make the city safer. Where is your research? Where are the facts?
So far the city council has only offered speculation - while 100% of my neighbors are now locking their doors and windows,being afraid for their safety in their own front yard. I personally no longer walk my dogs after dusk. I am afraid that someone might covet them and steal them away or follow me home. But the perfect example of the state of this city was an elderly flower delivery man that came to my door this past Saturday. He told me he had tried 4 other doors, but no one answered. " Would I please give them to my neighbor? Of course." But I knew behind every door he tried, people were home. They were just too frightened to come to the door. And my neighbor that picked up the flowers told me they now lock their porch door (in addition to their front door) as one more tool to keep people out and presumably their home safer.
Shame on you city council members for seeming to listen to one small group of activists while forgetting you represent ALL 375,000 people that call this city home, elderly, young, many nationalities, diverse skin colors and beliefs etc., etc. We ALL deserve to feel safe in our home, parking our cars on the city streets and while just walking our dogs. Policing is a necessity and a right. It is not the nasty word that the city council seems to believe it is. And yes, the number of police/citizen is written into this city's charter.
City council, now is not the time to decrease police numbers. Set that aside for now. If you want a better police force, train them to be better. Have higher expectations and hold all police to a higher standard. Expect the best and I believe you will get the best.
And If you want to add mental health workers, then try it. But have exact expectations and proposed outcomes with a timeline to meet those expectations. Don't just throw people out there and scratch your head when you are asked if your new program is meeting your goals. Do real research so you can honestly present realtime facts and tell the citizens you represent this works or it doesn't work.
Thank you for listening and reading.
Sincerely,
Sally Rector Minneapolis, MN
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Ryan Brennan To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ryan Brennan MCC Budget Written Comment Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:02:43 PM Attachments: Ryan Brennan MCC Budget Written Comment.pdf
Please find my comment below, and attached as a .pdf Thank you for your consideration!
Thank you for your consideration, City Council. I’m Ryan Brennan, caller 257, and I’m in ward 1.
I’m writing to ask city council members to please strike amendment 14a5, and change the funding in amendment 14D to be on an ongoing basis.
CM Fletcher, during Monday’s Budget Committee meeting, you said that lowering the authorized number of sworn officers to 750 was to reflect the reality on the ground. The reality on the ground, is that our current, LOW, police staffing numbers aren’t working. President Bender, you followed that up by saying baseline numbers in staffing budgets aren’t always right, and in that regard, you’re correct… the current baseline of sworn officers, which is a shortage, isn’t right.
Our chief has repeatedly asked for 1,000 or more officers throughout recent years. Over those years, those requests have been denied, which has contributed to failures of MPD and erosion of public trust, then those failures, partially caused by lack of support from the city council, are used as justification for further denial of support for MPD.
The real status quo of our recent past has been NOT adequately funding MPD. Our chief is trying to improve the department, so please give him the resources he needs to do so. Everyone in this forum is concerned about QUALITY OF MPD, and an understaffed department of any nature is going to lack quality.
Please continue your great work in proposing mental health response and crime prevention initiatives, but please, PLEASE give MPD the resources it needs to improve. I know you all care about the safety of your constituents, but disagree with each other on the approach and solution. Please wait until the independent staff study is complete, before making decisions on funding and future numbers of police numbers, as promised.
If you don’t make the changes (or something similar) to what I requested in my 2nd paragraph and Mayor Frey vetoes your amended budget, please consider my idea(s) in negotiations to find common ground.
Thank you for your consideration
Ryan Brennan
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Jeff Pung To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Screenshot 2020-12-09 at 8.17.05 PM Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 8:23:41 PM Attachments: Screenshot 2020-12-09 at 8.17.05 PM.png
Do your jobs. Live one day in a cops shoes. My guess is none of the city council really have lived in Mpls longer then maybe 40 yrs. I have lived here 56yrs. This is the worse I have seen. Do your job or leave.
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments.
Jeff J Pung From: Lynn E Lorimor To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Stop Limiting Police Numbers Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 11:06:23 AM
Dear Mpls City Council,
Please stop your latest proposal to limit the number of police officers in Mpls. I support the police chiefs authority to determine the number of officers needed to keep this city safe.
Thank you, Lynn Lorimor 5024 Logan Ave S Minneapolis 55419 Lynnhurst [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Hanna Kjeldbjerg To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] SUPPORT for the Safety for All Budget Plan Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 12:22:22 PM
Hello, Minneapolis City Council!
I've been a proud resident of Minneapolis since 2009 and I wanted to loudly and happily e- mail shout my support for the Safety for All Budget Plan.
I am friends with a state trooper who says almost a quarter of his typical response calls are due to mental health crises, so I know redirecting these funds would actually support police officers, not hamstring them. They are expected to carry too many responsibilities that go beyond the role they are trained for.
$7.77 million would go SO FAR to build a non-police mental health crisis response.
Please continue to vote for this move toward a brighter future with better community safety relations with constituents.
Hanna Kjeldbjerg
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Michael McMahon To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Support the People"s Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 10:15:46 PM
Minneapolis City Council Members,
I'm writing to urge you to support the People's budget. This is a thoughtful proposal to shift money away from militarized policing and toward what we all want and need. The People's Budget is a gradual shift of resources toward solutions that will make us truly safe, like quality affordable housing for all. Continuing to throw money at failed, violent policing tactics will not make us safer. This is the most important budget in the more than 20 years I've lived in Minneapolis and I'm paying close attention to this proposal.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Mike McMahon 4121 31st Ave S Minneapolis, MN
-- Michael McMahon he/him/his 612-770-7268
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Julia Eagles To: Council Comment Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R Subject: [EXTERNAL] Support the People"s Budget! Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 6:30:23 PM
My name is Julia Eagles and I live in Ward 9, just blocks away from where Minneapolis police officers murdered George Floyd on May 25th. Over the past six months we have been reimagining public safety in our community, with neighborhood-based violence prevention and restorative justice programs, and mutual aid to support each other through a global pandemic. Our sense of safety has come from knowing and caring for our neighbors, feeling joy in our community, and ensuring that one another’s basic needs are met.
I support the People’s Budget because a budget is a moral document, and it should reflect the values of the City. The mission of the City of Minneapolis is to take strategic action to address climate change, dismantle institutional injustice and close disparities in health, housing, public safety and economic opportunities. The People's Budget helps achieve this mission by putting health first, prioritizing people over profit or property, funding prevention, and helping our communities to thrive, not just survive. Thank you to those council members who voted to move $7 million out of MPD to increase mental health response and violence prevention. This is an important first step and I encourage you to pass the Safety for All plan as written, but we can go further and do more with the People’s Budget
Councilmember Cano: As your constituent, I wanted to address you directly. I and over 400 of my neighbors signed on to an open letter to you (which you can find at: 9thwardwithoutpolice.com) asking for you to follow through on your commitment to defund the Minneapolis Police Department and instead invest in the things that actually keep us safe - healthcare, housing, education, violence prevention, restorative justice, and economic support for individuals, families and small businesses. I ask that you please come out against and override the mayoral veto and stick with Amendments 14A1-14A5 as they are, with no further compromise to fund police.
We know this work will take time, as the racist and classist systems underlying the institution of policing are deeply instilled across our society, but we must start to uproot and dismantle these systems. You pledged to create a new way in Minneapolis, so I urge the council have courage, stay strong, and help us build a true model for accountability, healing, and safety in our communities
Please support a budget that reflects the values and priorities of our communities - support the People's Budget.
Thank you, Julia
-- Julia Eagles E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 612-747-9821 LinkedIn Profile [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Kelsey Crow To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] SUPPORT THE PEOPLE"S BUDGET Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 4:33:34 PM
Hello,
I was scheduled to call today and when I was made to go I followed the instructions but was cut off before I was allowed to speak. I believe this is the reason why so many people that were scheduled to speak did not because the technical crew and you the council are not on the same page.
Either way. I wanted to say SUPPORT THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET.
Hello My name is Kelsey Crow, I am a current university of Minnesota medical student and I am speaking for the population I serve and will continue to serve after I receive my license. The city council must support the “People’s budget” put forth by Reclaim the Block and other community organizations. Refusal to do so and instead funding the MPD will be a betrayal of our Black and Brown communities as well as our poor, homeless, mental health, neurodiverse, and various communities within Minneapolis. Research shows that funding programs which decrease poverty, unemployment, increase housing, improving mental health and social services does reduce crime. Support the “People’s budget.” Thank you for hard workers at Reclaim the Block and other community groups who have worked diligently to improve our community.
Kelsey Crow
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Chuck Turchick To: Bender, Lisa; Jenkins, Andrea; Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Cano, Alondra (External); Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Frey, Jacob; Arradondo, Medaria; Elder, John A.; Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Testimony at Dec. 9, 2020, hearing on Mayor"s proposed budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 9:19:06 PM
Dear Council Members,
Here's what would have been my entire comment during your December 9, 2020, public hearing on the Mayor's proposed budget:
Thank you for beaming me up to the enterprise again. And thank you for the many many hours you have put on this proposed budget.
One small item may be symbolic. When you moved the MPD's Public Information Office to the Communications Department, CM Fletcher said whom you really should hear from are the journalists. So at the next meeting, CM Goodman brought a statement from the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists. And they opposed the move. Fletcher was unphased, and you passed the motion anyhow. Now, on December 7, a motion was made to move MPD communications back to the MPD. And the Director of the Communications Department supported the idea. That failed. So we have the journalists, the Police and Communications Departments all opposed to this idea, but you did it nevertheless.
There is leadership and there is arrogance. The latter has been far too evident in many of your public safety budgetary moves. The problem with MPD communications is you have someone in that office who often sees his job as serving the MPD, not serving the public -- much like Kayleigh McEnany and Trump's other press secretaries have seen that job. And part of the reason may be that John Elder is a cop; he is simultaneously a deputy sheriff in Isanti County. So, because most of you are on a mission to delegitimize the MPD and policing in general, which you have either unknowingly or knowingly done in so many ways since May 25, you see what may be the wrong person in a job as an opportunity to add to that delegitimization -- all in the guise of "bringing the MPD within the greater enterprise."
Please beam me back to the planet. Please. Thank you.
Thanks.
Keep safe and stay healthy.
Yours,
Chuck Turchick
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Indira Garmendia To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Testimony Minneapolis Budget Sandra Sanchez Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:36:23 PM
My name is Sandra Sanchez. I am a member of CTUL. I live in South Minneapolis.
I have experienced wage theft in the past and CTUL supported me and educated me on my employment law.
Wage theft is a rampant problem for workers of color in Minneapolis. We know that more wealth is stolen from workers than all petty theft combined. However, Minneapolis only has 2 wage theft investigators and more than 800 police officers. It is clear that the police are meant to protect property and 0.1%, not people.
We want you to invest in more labor standards researchers to help workers enforce our rights and more money in community contracts to carry out education activities with the most vulnerable workers. Education about our rights is important!
Thanks.
-- Indira Garmendia Lead organizer/Organizadora principal Pronouns: She/Her Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha!
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Alissa K To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Testimony Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 10:09:58 AM
I woke up ill today and will not be able to testify but feel it's important that you are able to read what I would have said:
My name is Alissa Kaasa. I was one of the Mental Health Practitioners involved in writing the support letter for Safety for All that was sent to you, city council members, and published in the Star Tribune. I'm calling today to further express my support for the fully funded Safety for All plan. I think the watered down version would be setting the program up for failure which would not benefit anyone. I believe the fully funded Safety For All would benefit everyone, including police officers. I have so many examples of client's, their families, friends, and even their local businesses trying to navigate a crisis without involving the police because police presence naturally escalates the situation. It's not a good fit for what police are trained to do and honestly almost every time they are not needed. I can't stress enough what this would do for my clients and the people who care about them. Not only is it beneficial for the community but also is beneficial for police who are overworked. This is an area where we can transfer work to another professional who has more training which would give police more time to do the other important aspects of their job. This plan doesn't demand a big cut in police numbers yet it does promote a safer work environment for them. Research shows that encouraging police to work overtime is dangerous for them and the community. Safety for All is an important and much needed change. It feels to me like a win for everyone, the community and police. Thank you for your time.
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Ty Sullivan To: LIMS Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ty Sullivan-trying to get back in Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 4:59:16 PM
#StayWoke the people that want to defund the police are the looters and destructionists. These people do not care about the cause. They are taking advantage of a vulnerability for their own agenda. Defunding law enforcement is THE dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, it’s almost a joke. When I went to protest it was beautiful and unifying, there was no violence, no destruction and I was so confused by what I saw on the news, but these must be those idiots. I suspect white supremacists are behind this and the looting. Mayor Jacob Frey
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Sandeep/Angie Patel/Erdrich To: Council Comment; Frey, Jacob; marion.greene; Goodman, Lisa R. Subject: [EXTERNAL] Violence prevention/budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 7:26:50 PM
Dear City Council and Mayor From a public health standpoint I believe existing services can be better coordinated to address some of the safety concerns rather than taking money from the police budget.
I am concerned that we are taking money from the police budget to fund things that may amount to a waste of public resources or even a huge liability to the city (risk to unarmed workers responding to a potentially harmful situation, risk to public as mental health workers triage situations without adequate resources and backup).
As a medical provider at an FQHC (Federally Qualified a health Center) I would rather see the mayor engage the major helping organizations like ours to see how we can funnel more clients our way. Our resources are not tapped and we can help. Please partner with medical organization in a systematic way to reimagine public safety from a public health/medical point of view. We actually can enroll people on insurance, bill for services, follow long term, etc. This could create jobs for outreach workers at our facilities but not at the expense of the city budget. Mental Health care is a billable service for instance. Why not make it a sustainable system and coordinate the care within the healthcare delivery system that can bill for it?
Mayor Frey, please call a summit to engage the FQHC’s, Public Health entities and organizations who do street outreach to work with you to brainstorm ways we can help mitigate the problems without taking money from an already strapped police budget.
We are lucky to have a police chief who is a lifelong resident who is African American and who can speak with authority. It’s painful to watch some of the more arrogant Council members who have never faced prejudice or who were raised in affluence, speak down to the police chief and tell him how to do his job. Let’s work together with the police chief to find solutions.
Angela Erdrich, MD Pediatrician 612 516 6866
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Karlie Cole To: Council Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL] Zoom is no excuse for Council Members not being visible! Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:46:26 PM
Before COVID, we could see you as you listened to the people's comments on the budget.
It is unacceptable that you all are not visible now.
Karlie Cole Ward 8
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Sheila Nezhad To: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: 67 organizations signed on to the People"s Budget Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 12:22:51 PM
Hello Councilmembers and staff,
I wanted to send an update to let you know that sixty-seven organizations have endorsed the People's Budget. The organizations range from unions to grassroots organizations to for-profit businesses.
We are united to call for the Council & Mayor to: 1. Put health first 2. Prioritize people over profit 3. Fund prevention, not punishment 4. Help communities thrive, not just survive
It's important to note that the People's Budget and our signatories demand that these investment funds must be divested from the MPD budget. There is not "invest" in safety without the "divest" from police.
Here is the full People's Budget for you to reference for amendments bit.ly/People'sBudgetMPLS . The signatory organizations are there too.
Our coalition of partner organizations looks forward to supporting and celebrating council members that champion the People's Budget, and divest from harmful policing.
Best, Sheila Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing Comments on 2021 City Budget
MEMORANDUM
To: Minneapolis City Council
From: Colleen Ebinger & Joey Dobson, Co-Chairs, Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing
Date: December 4, 2020
RE: Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing Budget Recommendations
The purpose of this memo is to provide City Council with recommendations from the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing (“the Committee”) as the Council considers the budget for 2021. This Committee advises the City Council, the Mayor and City departments on a wide range of issues related to housing, including but not limited to: City housing policy, homelessness and housing instability, fair housing, housing development, rental licensing, accessibility, maintenance, health and sustainability.
The Committee’s 2020 priorities included exploring strategies to more effectively address homelessness, consider innovative approaches to address gaps in the types of available affordable housing, and investigate programs and policies that would address racial disparities in homeownership.
The Committee heard presentations on the 2021 Mayor’s Recommended Budget for the City from City staff and expert Committee members at our meeting on October 8, 2020. Then, at our Committee meeting on November 12, 2020, we discussed the Committee’s housing priorities and unanimously voted to adopt the following recommendations for City Council.
We understand the 2021 Mayor’s Recommended Budget for the City attempts to balance the budget deficits that the City must address with the very real and ongoing housing crisis that our neighbors are experiencing. At a time when both public health and public safety are at the center of new and important conversations in Minneapolis, we urge the City Council to consider investment in safe, healthy, stable, affordable housing to be inextricably related to the safety and well-being of our neighbors and neighborhoods. Housing is a critical piece of our public safety and public health crises.
Committee Support:
We support programs and investments in an ongoing funding to key housing programs, such as:
1
- The Affordable Housing Trust Fund: reaching $15 million for this program through new ongoing funding as well as one-time funding is important in planning for future affordable housing development. This level of funding would support development of a total of 300- 500 housing units, which is much needed to increase the affordable housing supply and prevent displacement. - Minneapolis Homes: Increasing the base funding for the City’s primary homeownership program to support development of 40 homes is a much-needed investment for addressing the racial homeownership gap. - Stable Homes Stable Schools: This program has demonstrated success in helping school age children and their families find stable and affordable housing, and we strongly support the move from a pilot program to a permanent program. - Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing: Preserving existing unsubsidized housing continues to be an issue. Increasing the ongoing investment in this program will mean the ability to preserve affordability for a potential 70 units. The Committee is supportive of all programs in this category. We acknowledge, however, that the need for affordable housing investments greatly exceeds the amounts included in the current proposed budget.
Committee Concerns:
We are however, concerned about some aspects of the budget as well. Our primary concern is with the cuts to the Department of Regulatory Services and the impact that this will have on livability for tenants in the City. In the budget narrative for the department, we found this sentence around staffing cuts to be concerning: “at this staffing level, the department would have limited ability for proactive enforcement and would shift to routine and urgent work”.
At a time when housing and public health are inextricably linked and in a City that has adopted a Renter’s First policy, renters need the Department of Regulatory Services to operate more than at a bare minimum.
We recommend that the City Council find the funding to backfill these important housing inspector positions.
Our other concern with the Mayor’s Recommended Budget is that it does not meet the current need for resources for Minneapolis residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We do acknowledge the profound need for additional resources from other entities and levels of government, but the City must be meaningfully invested in keeping all its residents safe, especially those experiencing homelessness, with a goal of stable housing for all.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit these budget recommendations on behalf of the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.
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From: mary ann kastorff To: Palmisano, Linea; Ellison, Jeremiah; Cano, Alondra (External); Johnson, Andrew; Fletcher, Steve; Gordon, Cam A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Schroeder, Jeremy; Bender, Lisa; Osman, Jamal; Reich, Kevin A.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Arradondo, Medaria; Frey, Jacob Subject: 2021 Budget - MPD Related Budget Recommendations Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 6:25:23 AM
Council Members,
I am writing regarding the city's 2021 budget. I have neglected to pay attention to the budget in the past twenty years I have owned my home and I regret that. The actions of the current City Council have led me to pay much closer attention to all aspects of the management of our city. I have taken advantage of my pandemic related unemployment and have watched City Council and Charter Commission meetings. I have learned quite a bit, particularly from the Charter Commissioners.
I have several overall comments regarding the 2021 budget. I want this budget to focus on infrastructure and essential activities ONLY. No funding of artwork in city buildings, no new bike lanes, no 'nice to have' budget items, no expenditures that can be delayed for a year or more. The pandemic has led many of us to limit our spending to only the essentials and I believe the city should be required to do the same. Taxpayers have had to tighten our belts and the city should do the same with our money. This is not the time for 10% annual council raises when many of us have been unemployed for months.
Due to the significant increase in crime this year I am particularly concerned about the MPD budget. The crime we are currently experiencing is unacceptable. I will not live in a city with this level of crime.
I am strongly opposed to the "Safety for All" budget changes proposed by Cunningham, Fletcher and Bender. I am opposed to 14-A.1 through 14-A.5, in particular the following changes:
The reduction of funding for overtime expenses. OT is essential when staffing is below required levels, particularly with the increased crime we are experiencing. Elimination of funds for the Co-Responder program expansion. This program has been proven to be successful and SHOULD be expanded rather than untested programs, unpiloted programs being proposed. Elimination of funds for the Early Intervention System. Again, this program is successful and SHOULD be funded. I disagree with the transfer of Community & Collaborative Advancement FTEs from the MPD to OVP. I disagree with the transfer of all of the Crime Prevention Specialists from the MPD to the Neighborhood & Community Relations Department. Coordination of their work with the MPD is crucial. I am opposed to the proposed lowering of the authorized strength of the MPD to 750 sworn officers. The MPD staffing study you approved has barely begun and will not be completed until mid-2021 at the earliest. How can you determine the appropriate level of staffing before this study is complete? You are putting the cart before the horse. I am fed up with your hatred of the MPD and dysfunctional inability to work with them. It is not appropriate to decrease MPD officers until the recommendations of the staffing study are reviewed.
I want the Mayor's MPD budget to be fully funded. I want all of the 2021 recruiting classes and CSOs in the budget to remain intact. I want the Co-Responder program to be expanded. I want successful MPD crime prevention programs to continue.
I trust Chief Arradondo and want him to have the resources and freedom he needs to be successful in his job. He is our law enforcement expert, not the Council. The Council does not, and should not, manage the MPD. Council members need to learn to work cooperatively with the Mayor and Chief on our public safety. The current level of dysfunction is not acceptable. Professionals need to work with those they may not agree with and those who don't report to them. If you are unable or unwilling to do that then this isn't the job for you.
I support the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund, Motion 14-B. Workgroup recommendations and new public safety program ideas such as MHP/EMT response to EDP calls must be piloted before being funded city wide. A program's success in another city does not guarantee its success here. Pilots allow kinks to be worked out, customizations specific to our city and data collection to verify the success of new programs. The Council must be responsible with taxpayer dollars.
I also support Motion 14-C proposed by Council Member Palmisano.
I have major concerns about Motion 14-E by Council Member Johnson regarding the "People's Budget". I listened to the public hearing meetings for both the proposed 2021 budget and charter proposal. Many callers from the BVC/RTB organizations seemed to be reading from a script with nearly identical comments. I decided to do some online research on these organizations and the "People's Budget" they continually referenced. Who are the 'people' proposing this budget? Why isn't anyone I know familiar with this "People's Budget?
I was quite concerned about the information I found online. These local organizations have received millions of dollars from nationwide donations. Why are certain Council Members only listening to these organizations with national funding? Why should national donors have an impact on our local budget? How can the average Minneapolis resident have a voice that isn't drowned out by millions of dollars? Do we have to band together, create gofundme accounts and raise our own millions for city leaders to listen to us? I am very disturbed by this and I know others would be also if they were aware of what is happening. It is similar to the small group of activists who are holding the 38th & Chicago area hostage. It is time for all Minneapolis residents to have equal voices without input from lobbyists and big dollar donations from elsewhere. It is time for the Council to be transparent with their motives and sources of support. There is a reason the Police Chief is trusted and the City Council is not. There is a reason residents are seeking out challengers for their ward representatives for the 2021 election.
Please take all of the above into consideration when you vote on the 2021 budget.
Sincerely, Mary Ann Kastorff Ward 11, Northrop From: Max Miller To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: 2021 Budget and Mental Health Response Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 8:32:48 PM
Dear Councilmember Schroeder,
My name is Max Miller and I am a resident in Ward 2 in the Longfellow neighborhood.
Upon the direction of City Council, city staff and community members have studied data and research over the course of the last two years to come to conclude that mental health professionals should respond to mental health crises To doubt the conclusions of this study is to question not only the integrity of any city inquiry, but basic science and common sense.
Now is not the time for further delay while you study this yet again.
Now is not the time for half measures, pilots, or temporary programs.
Being thoughtful about implementation and engaging in continuous improvement of the program once it has started is good. Implementing half-measures or temporary programs, will set this initiative up to fail. Anything less than giving mental health response teams full funding and support to respond as they see appropriate, including without the addition of police, is preventing necessary measures to address vital community care.
We need confidence that when we call for help during a mental health crisis, a mental health professional will respond rapidly. We need confidence that during a mental health crisis we will not confront an armed police officer because our crisis happened outside the pilot hours or there weren't enough mental health professionals to cover all the crises happening at once.
Mental health professionals who might apply for what will undoubtedly be intensely stressful, often traumatizing jobs must have the health benefits, vacation, sick pay, and stability afforded to permanent employees. If you fund this program with contingency or foundation dollars, you are setting it up to fail. You are abusing workers and the public's trust.
This has been a horrible year. The City Council has made big promises and so far delivered nothing. This proposal is a tiny part of the change Minneapolis desperately needs.
If you are not going to fund the full People's Budget as you should, please, at the very very least, specify and fund Mental Health Crisis Response teams meaningfully, authentically, and permanently.
The People's Budget is powerfully supported in this city by organizations and individuals. Any amendments City Council makes are clearly influenced by this powerful voice and it deserves recognition and a seat at the table. There are things that we will not compromise on and this is one of them. The MPD budget should be reallocated to programs that have been studied and determined to do better at the jobs they have failed to do adequately. The MPD has been used as a panacea for all social issues- it is not possible for them to be able to do all of these vast and complicated jobs properly.
Please do not create an underfunded and/or unstable symbolic program that is set up to fail. I urge you to listen to the voices of the whole city and do what is right. Sincerely,
Max Longfellow, Ward 2
-- Max Miller (They/Them) [email protected] From: Ngo, Nicholas To: Council Comment Cc: [email protected] Subject: 2021 Budget Public Comment 12/9 Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:03:45 PM Attachments: image001.png
Hello,
Below is the submitted comment by Jon Shanahan for the 2021 Budget Process.
“My name is Jon Shanahan and I live in Ward 4. I’m here to ask that you give our Police Chief the freedom and flexibility to do his job. It is premature and irresponsible to guess today what the size of his police force should be three to five years from now. Wait for the independent staffing study that you've funded and is due next year. You have no plans for transitions, which is a recipe for disaster. Let’s get this right! Police deter crime - we need more police, not fewer, to protect residents and businesses. We know your arbitrary cap is a veiled ploy to defund, downsize, and abolish policing in our city. You are putting my safety at further risk. Mayor Frey, I support your veto of this budget if this City Council continues to handcuff our police chief and place all our lives in further danger.”
Nick Ngo ADA-Language Access Coordinator
City of Minneapolis – Neighborhood and Community Relations Department Crown Roller Mill, Room 425 105 5th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55401
Cell: 612-554-1959 Office: 612-673-3969 [email protected]
From: Sam Smith To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: 2021 City Budget Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 10:56:28 AM Attachments: Joint Statement NAMI CUAPB.pdf
Dear Council Member Schroeder:
I'm writing in support of the modest cuts to the MPD budget in order to fund community- based alternatives to a police response. While I think the council could have gone farther, I appreciate the political barriers to more ambitious efforts. I have also attached a letter from NAMI MInnesota and CUAPB that was sent to the city council. I share their concerns about involving EMTs in any response to a mental health crisis. I also agree that we should not reinvent the wheel and hope that the city collaborates with the County and contracts with COPE to increase the capacity to respond to a mental health crisis. Thank you for your time and service.
Sincerely,
Sam Smith 5206 12th Avenue South From: D. Cummer To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: 2021 Police Budget. Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:25:19 PM
Please vote in favor of the Safety For All police budget for 2021. My name is Nicole Adams Blume. One year ago last week, I was appointed by a Hennepin County Court as the legal caregiver for a young woman who suffers from a severe mental illness.
For the fifteen years before that, I ran interference for this young woman with the police and court systems. It was only after six involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations, three assaults on family members and countless police interactions that the court finally agreed to intervene so that I can oversee this woman’s mental health care when her psychosis renders her unable to do so herself. Even then, it took the family’s NAMI-appointed lawyer eleven months to get a judge to hear the case.
The family member I am describing is a college-educated woman, with a devoted middle class family, including two parents who worked in the mental health field prior to retirement. The family continues to carry her health insurance, with Medicare supplements, and a small disability stipend from social security that goes directly to her for her incidental expenses. Despite all of the upheavals and necessary police calls, her parents covered all of the costs for her to live at home until about five years ago when, due to their advancing age, I agreed to take her in permanently, also without compensation. I took extensive NAMI classes, joined family support groups, consulted social workers and did everything possible to learn about the resources available to help and it is shocking how little the City had to offer.
When this woman had psychotic episodes, the COPE support team was unable to help, because they can only intervene when the patient herself agrees to cooperate (which, during a paranoid hallucination in unlikely to happen) and when she harmed herself, the paramedics would not treat her without police back-up. This is a woman who has never, in all her years of torment, threatened violence toward anyone outside of her family. More emergency rooms than I can count became revolving doors, because she is smart enough never to threaten self-harm in a doctor’s presence, and at one point she was taken by different police to different ERs three times in a 48 hour period. Without centralized records of her visits and sparse record-keeping even in their internal systems, the hospitals were unaware that she was being repeatedly picked up by the police for erratic behavior (many first responders inaccurately assume that she is intoxicated during her episodes).
Both our mental health “care” and legal systems are obviously broken, but this young woman is one of the lucky ones. If she did not have this extremely active family support system, she would be one of the hundreds of mentally ill people living on the streets of Minneapolis. In addition of capacity, accessibility and safety issues within shelters, unjust chemical screening regulations leave Minneapolis residents – quite literally – out in the cold. As anyone who has worked with psychotic patients can tell you, “self-medication” through alcohol and street drugs in virtually inevitable (I could go into detail as to the very real medical reasons for this). Yet, while people are forced to be homeless due to the stigma of substance abuse, it is almost impossible for their underlying mental health issues to be treated.
It is not an “extra” welfare expense, but a very necessary investment for Minneapolis to expand shelters and subsidized housing to serve those suffering from chemical addictions and mental health disorders. Rather than densely packing these people together where they may influence one another to relapse, we need to make room throughout our communities, while offering culturally sensitive support networks. The costs will be recouped many times over by the savings to our law- enforcement and emergency health systems, not to mention the moral imperative to care for these most vulnerable citizens.
Instead of hording our resources out of a fear of scarcity, we need to recognize the abundance that Minneapolis has to offer, both in relative monetary terms and more importantly in terms of the citizens and professionals who could address these crises if they were properly empowered to do so.
I thank you for your time and welcome any questions that might help ensure that other families do not suffer as mine has.
Nicole Adams Blume 3616 41st Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-722-0128 [email protected] From: Suzanne Herrick To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Both, And, Plus - Fully fund MPD, Approve the Mayor"s Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:28:58 PM
Dear Council Member Schroeder,
It’s time to heal and move forward. I care for Minneapolis and the safety of its citizens. I stand with my neighbors, writing in support of Mayor Frey’s budget and encouraging this Council to work with the Mayor and Chief Arradondo to restore peace and safety to all of Minneapolis. We need a fully funded MPD in addition to services to support the health and well-being of this community – even if it means raising taxes. Instead of this or that, let’s make our budget ‘this, that, PLUS this.’ It would be a good idea to take these actions
Dec. 2 Public Hearing I participated in the Dec. 2 Public Hearing on the 2021 Budget. I was compelled to speak as there have been more violent crimes within a two block radius of my house in the past six months, than in the past six years.
As I listened, I couldn’t help but hear lines repeated over and over as if they came from scripted talking points to defund the police. There’s a larger national force at play that is using Minneapolis and this Council as puppets to move an agenda forward that will bring us into further decline. Unfortunately, the efforts of these players are drowning out the voices of Minneapolitans – making it seem like the majority wish to defund the police. This false narrative, the killing of George Floyd, the burning and looting that followed PLUS a global pandemic are plunging this city into decline.
Many during the hearing said that “police don’t equal safe communities.” There are just as many research-based studies and real life examples that demonstrate that law enforcement makes for safer communities. Already, the MPD is understaffed with retirements, leave and zero recruits in the wings. Crimes get more brazen as criminals get away with more. I’ve not only been seeing the statistics, I know next door neighbors who have lived these violent crimes.
Please, do support the Mayor’s 2021 budget.
Suzanne Herrick Minneapolis, MN From: Steven Johnson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 2:07:01 PM
Steven Johnson 5636 25th Av S Mpls MN 55417
As a resident and property owner of Minneapolis. I fully support our Police Department and expect you to not vote for any cut to the budget. The number one priority of government is to ensure public safety. This city council has failed to keep the citizens safe, by not supporting our police.
Crime is out of control and no area is safe.
This is not the time to cut the budget, we need to increase staffing levels for our Police. From: Susan Kullberg To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:00:42 PM
> 1. Support the Mayor’s Budget. > > 2. Keep Community Policing & Engagement programs within MPD, especially the Community Crime Specialists. The Neighborhood Community Relations Dept is NOT a place for these professionals. We need and they need direct interaction to foster communication & Coordination w/community. > > 3. The Chief asked for 3 Training Classes. Not 1 and then having to beg City Council for 2 more. This directive sounds like an Overseer mentality. Is that really the message the Council wants to send? I don’t think so, but simply bizzare treatment of our 1st Black Chief, raised southside and Central HS Grad. > > 4. Addressing Mental Health - Expand the Co Responders Program and work with Hennepin County to expand the COPE program. THIS is what is recommended by the Mental Health industry. COVID prevents in person visits at this time, the industry and the Barbara Schneider Foundation have been working with the Chief and with the County. > > I support Chief Rondo & his expertise.
Susan Kullberg
Sent from my iPhone From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: Budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:34:13 PM
Please approve the mayors budget. We need police to stop this crime wave. There may be better options but it is foolish to jump ship with no working plan in place. The lives and livelihood of many people depend on this budget passing. According to a Star Tribune poll the majority of citizens, including black citizens want the same amount or more policing. Without police businesses will leave taking jobs and tax money with them. Without police people will not visit the city and spend money; then there will not be tax money for the city council to spend on anything.
Thank You. Your support can save this city,
Rebecca Ridgeway From: Thressa Isobel To: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David Subject: Budget Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:23:52 PM
Dear Councilmembers and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for: The Early Intervention System ($230K) Co-Responders ($685K) New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K) Additional Overtime ($5M)
I want you to reallocate from MPD’s $179M proposed budget and, instead, fund the things my community really needs right now: Access to low-income housing Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis Direct economic relief
We need the council to stop bankrolling the murderous MPD. I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
Thressa Johnson Ward 9 From: Rebeccah Thompson To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:15:01 PM
Good evening CM's Schroeder and Johnson,
I am a resident of Ward 4. I am reaching out to you both because my own CM has turned deaf ears to his constituents favoring instead to listen to activists who don't even live here. I know that you both have been on the fence about the budget. As a born and raised Minneapolis kid whose first job was at North Commons Pool in 1991, I really hope that you consider my plea.
We need an intact MPD budget. It seems that CM Palmisano and Mayor Frey have attempted with diligence to get community members on board to fund the OVP and other aspects of plans that my own CM seems to advocate for. I am requesting that you vote for the mayor's budget. Like the moment in June in Powderhorn which spoke meta conversations to those who would wish to do our city harm, a vote in favor of the Mayor's budget would show the community and the outlying areas that Minneapolis is open to conversation, but we are not open for violence or illicit activity some would seem to want to ignore.
I was raised in your ward CM Johnson. I was born in yours, CM Schroeder. I am begging you to do what is right by the whole city. We need a reprieve from this violence. If it makes any difference, I work at PYC in W5. I am a teacher there. My students need this. Their families need this. Their voices are not being heard. We need south Minneapolis to see and understand north, not just the loud advocacy groups who dominate the landscape but only shout for a small percentage of residents and ignore the rest.
Thank you both for your time.
Becka Thompson W4 From: Christopher Moertel MD To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:54:30 PM
Dear Mr Schroeder Please protect our safety by fully funding the Mayor’s police budget. Now is not the time for experiments. Thank you Chris Moert -- Christopher L. Moertel, MD The Kenneth and Betty Jayne Dahlberg Professor, University of Minnesota School of Medicine University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital
Mailing Address:University of Minnesota Pediatric Hematology/Oncology MMC 484 420 Delaware St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 phone: Office - 612-626-2778Clinic - 612-365-8100 fax: 612-626-2815 pager: 612-899-3380 email: [email protected] From: Bob Anderson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:16:01 PM
Please please vote for the mayor’s budget. Thank you Nancy Anderson 1201 Yale place
Sent from my iPhone From: Janis Negratti To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:06:10 PM
Please listen to the people of Minneapolis and not cut any further the police budget. We need more police as well as reforms and services. We need all 3 to make it work otherwise we are just banging our heads against the wall..... think of a garden hose. All 3 holes need to be plugged to be effective Janis Negratti
Sent from my iPhone From: Sara Blissenbach To: [email protected]; Sondra Samuels; [email protected]; Frey, Jacob; Palmisano, Linea; Ellison, Jeremiah; Cano, Alondra (External); Johnson, Andrew; Fletcher, Steve; Gordon, Cam A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Schroeder, Jeremy; Bender, Lisa; Osman, Jamal; Reich, Kevin A.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Arradondo, Medaria; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Don Samuels; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; gyantos2004; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Budget council meeting tomorrow - please don’t lower the police’s budget. Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:14:52 PM
Hello city council members,
It is imperative that you do not take away the police budget! The members of the council that are still undecided or are planning on voting to take away some of the polices funded I am begging you not to. I want safer streets, alley ways, gas stations etc...I want for the police to be able to do their jobs and to have the means to do it correctly- with enough members on the force, right equipment, and training. Groups have raised money to help show you that they are frighten for their families, friends, customers and businesses! Can’t you show them that you believe in their vision and work towards better policing now, later and have the start of the funding for interrupters, adult or youth activists to help break them away from violence/ crime. Please stand with your neighbors. We are all reaching out to you pleading.
Kindest Regards,
Sara, Alex, Aria and Dorian Blissenbach Hillside From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Budget items Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 1:23:10 PM
Hi. sorry to miss the Community Conversation on Tuesday.
I would like to weigh in on the police budget . With the situation as it stands in Minneapolis (COVID, reduction in law enforcement ranks) and the hoodlums taking advantage of the situation by targeting vulnerable older citizens, women, and others with car jackings and robberies it doesn't seem like a good time to be cutting the police numbers.
At least not yet. Perhaps next year when circumstances start getting back to 'average' and more of a plan has been developed for the reallocation of police funding this can be revisited.
Please keep the police force strong, let's get some new police officers who have a different attitude about how to enforce our laws.
Thank you.
Carol Ann Sersland 612-817-2394 5148 Elliot Av S https://www.facebook.com/DetNorskeFolkedanslaget
From: Robert L. Sorenson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Budget Police Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:00:04 AM
Dear Council Member Schroeder,
We have lived in the neighborhood for 50 years. We are quite concerned how the council is going about reforming and improving our police force. We agree and will support well thought-out changes in the police department. That is reform that is evidence based and not what appears as a lot of tinkering and political maneuvering – perhaps well intended but it does not appear to have any chance of meaningful long-term success or support from the community or police. In the meantime, our Mayor Frey and Police Chief Arradondo need their budget approved and unburdened by haphazard attempts at tinkering with the police force. They need our unfettered support for the budget so that all can move forward together to improve the department while at the same time maintaining a basic amount of desperately needed police protection.
In short, pass the Mayors budget as proposed and then get on with the hard work of coming up with meaningful and effective reform of the police department.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Sorenson Marla J. Johnson 4901 Woodlawn Blvd. Minneapolis, MN From: Sonia Toomey To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Budget vote Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:17:02 AM
Hello Jeremy -
I wanted to add my voice again to urge you to support Mayor Frey's budget and to back the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
1. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote today.
Thank you, Sonia Toomey From: Cynthia Curran To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: budget vote tomorrow Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:50:04 PM
Dear Mr. Schroeder, I strongly urge you to vote NO on the City Council's changes to the Mayor's budget tomorrow. I have personally been affected by the crime wave challenging our citizens.
A little bit about me: I am a resident of the same house in Minneapolis for over 25 years since I came here for my job. I chose this urban neighborhood because of its diversity, the ability to walk to the grocery, my doctor, my dentist, etc. I bike and enjoy all the pleasures of MN in all seasons.
I decided to stay in my home after retirement instead of moving to a cheaper home in the burbs because of the camaraderie and walking convenience of the city. BUT as an older woman, I am too fearful now to walk my own neighborhood at dusk or drive after dark.There have been 4 violent carjackings within 1 block of my home. This is not how I want to live.
Please consider another way to fund violence prevention and social handling of difficult situations not best handled by police. Please vote for compromise and fund both a reformed police department and new ways to handle social problems.
Words matter and clearly those with criminal intentions picked up on 'defund' and 'reduce' the police and decided it was open season on victims. I don't want to live as a victim but as a partner in solving our issues safely.
Thank you, Cynthia Curran 612 517 6919 From: merv.moorhead1 To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Budget Vote Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:39:01 PM
Council Member Schroeder,
The 2021 budget vote is fast approaching, and it is one of the most critical votes that you may ever face while serving the people of Minneapolis. This vote comes as Minneapolis is facing unprecedented increases in violent crime that impacts everyone in the city including those 80 lost souls that have been murdered and their families, those 500 people that have been shot and their families, those that have been brutalized by car-jacking incidents which have increased by +537% and those that have been violently assaulted. We are also challenged with simultaneously reforming the MPD, in the wake of George Floyd, to meet the needs of everyone in Minneapolis.
These issues have created an overwhelming sense of fear across the city. My family has been directly impacted by this fear of lawlessness. My wife will not leave our home to go for a walk or a run or go food shopping or visit a physician or go to a restaurant without me being with her. She would also have rather had our youngest son stay at school versus coming home for the holidays because she fears he will be a target of this violence. Our friends, who used to come and visit us downtown, now refuse to enter the city for any reason. We are left asking ourselves how much longer we want to live in Minneapolis under these conditions.
The Mayor’s proposed budget already cuts the MPD budget by 7.4% which takes an organization that is significantly depleted with respect to sworn officers and makes their job even more challenging. Chief Arradondo describes the MPD as being one-dimensional due to the current staffing situation and this budget will not make it better.
I would implore you to approve this budget as it is written even though it does have flaws. This budget presents the best opportunity to address the safety issues that EVERYONE is facing in Minneapolis. The further cuts being proposed by Council Members Fletcher, Cunningham and Bender will push public safety of Minneapolis over the edge and will exacerbate the public safety issues that we are facing. While I understand what they are attempting to accomplish I believe that the MPD must be fully funded AND THEN add these yet to be proven programs on top of the budget.
I understand that this vote will be very visible and emotional. Please know that there are a great many people that will support you as you vote for the Mayor’s budget and reject the defunding approach of Fletcher, Cunningham and Bender. Thank you for your time!
Merv Moorhead
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone From: Nathan Lackey To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Changes to the Safety for All Plan Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:35:32 AM
Dear Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
It is very important to me, as I know it is to you, that our city have excellent jobs. It is also important that the people working those jobs feel safe and secure on multiple levels. Firstly, good, union jobs help workers feel secure in their protections in the workplace. Outside the workplace, in communities and at home, residents of our city need to feel safe in other ways. This security should be brought about through sustained investment in preventing violence and providing mental health services. Alternative safety responses are an important measure to ensure that everyone is getting the equitable protection that a modern society ought to provide.
By shielding the police through the allocation of one-time funds for the Safety for All, you are undermining labor in this city and severely hampering future projects that seek to address longstanding and serious issues with public safety.
I understand that the amendment will be requiring that new employees working on the mental health response teams to have no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. This is unacceptable for reasons that I would have thought to be obvious. How can you expect an entirely new social program to get off the ground with that kind of support?
The police have been given copious financial assistance and yet we have seen that these funds result in harms to the community. It is time to try a different way to prevent crime: provide the community with good jobs, housing, health care, harm reduction and holistic services and see what positive effects this has. The time has come for us to reinvest in the community we love with an eye to the long term.
Please support the Safety for All plan points 1 and 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely, Nathan From: Robert Powers To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: City Budget Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 7:20:14 PM
Jeremy,
I am writing to let you know in no uncertain terms that my wife and I DO NOT SUPPORT the so called People’s Budget proposal. While we do support better training and education for the force, we do not want funding cut. The crime in our Hale neighborhood and beyond is seriously out of control and I expect this to be taken seriously. I support Mayor Frye’s budget proposal and will be monitoring how each CC member votes in order to take appropriate political action with our many neighbors who are already organizing.
Thank you for listening!
Bob & Lucy Powers 5001 18th Ave S From: donna neste To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: City Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:07:52 PM
Dear Councilperson Schroeder, I am not your constituent. Our Councilperson, (Cano) is not listening to us. Please pass the Mayor's budget. We are being overrun with crime. Help!!!! Donna Neste Minneapolis From: Connie Germann To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: City council vote to remove money from the police department Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:14:18 AM
I disapprove of the city councils vote to take money from the police department. Yes, there needs to be reform, but making the police department smaller and taking money away from them is not the way to do it.
I am hoping Mayor Frey vetoes your plan.
Connie Germann
Sent from my iPad From: Joyce Suek To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: City council vote... Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 5:21:15 PM
Hi Jeremy, I neighborhood is talking and wondering about the upcoming vote. Most of the people on or around my block want a solid police force, understanding that support for other issues like mental health and racial justice are very important. I might have missed it but I think I don’t really see a solid plan from the city council. Can you advise, educate or provide a hint as to what the council’s proposal is? Thanks and have a good weekend. Joyce Suek 5309 Tenth Ave
Sent from my iPhone From: Lindsay Turner To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: CM Jenkins: Pass Safety For All; Pass People"s Budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 3:38:57 PM
Good afternoon,
I'm writing to request a number of things, as a constituent of Ward 8 (one who is still walking my dog daily around Phelps and Powderhorn and who is way more worried about continued investment in the status quo than I am about a crime spike, during a pandemic, with record high unemployment, after years and years of crime decline).
1. Please support the People's Budget (https://docs.google.com/document/d/16- 3SKF5E040Zax0nemxedPWRRsv3FJgStKO4s0lCeWw/edit) 2. Please support the Safety For All plan as written by CMs Bender, Cunningham, and Fletcher.
I'm urging you, CM Jenkins, not to change the Safety for All plan. I'm especially concerned by amendments that would not guarantee continual funding for mental health response teams, or for violence prevention work outside of the police department. This is demeaning to potential hires who deserve the dignity and support of being permanent hires with benefits. It also would weaken these programs, to the detriment of Minneapolitans at risk of mental health crises or violent victimization, and their loved ones and communities. Our city deserves better. CAHOOTS mental health crisis response in Eugene Oregon has been fully funded by the city for more than 30 years, with their call volume increasing over time. 30. Years. And for some reason 1 year of crisis response teams whose employment is rather exploitative during a damn pandemic is all Minneapolis deserves right now?
I also firmly oppose any more funding for police overtime. They're using my money right now to sick out and sit home because they really expect to be able to kill us without a harsh word. And even their best is marijuana stings downtown weaponized only against Black people (the one non-Black person *approached the undercover officer* offering to sell weed; every Black person caught was first approached by the undercover officer pretending to look for weed), thousands of rape kits collecting dust, and abysmal clearance rates for homicides when they happen on the Northside. It's a racket and it makes my blood boil. Fund Minneapolis Public Schools. Fund housing. Fund recreation. Fund anything upstream that actually prevents crime. Don't give the foot soldiers for white capitalist patriarchy another dime. Not in my name.
The original Safety For All plan is the bare minimum that my family, friends, neighbors, community deserves. Please pass the People's Budget, pass Safety For All as written, and make good on your promise to fund community and defund police. We deserve nothing less.
Best, Lindsay Turner -- pronouns:she/her 3941 12th Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55407 [email protected] 612-205-7299 From: Aileen Johnson To: Fletcher, Steve Cc: Goodman, Lisa R.; Palmisano, Linea; Osman, Jamal; Cano, Alondra (External); Reich, Kevin A.; Ellison, Jeremiah; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Schroeder, Jeremy; Jenkins, Andrea; Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Bender, Lisa Subject: Comments to Mayor Frey This Morning Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 1:47:42 PM
Hello Council Member Fletcher,
I have been a homeowner in North Loop for the past twenty years.
At this time of rising violent crime in every neighborhood in our city, and with the expert advice of the Chief that more officers are needed, I believe that it is irresponsible for City Council members to put forward a proposal to further reduce the MPD budget and/or its number of officers.
I wrote to Mayor Frey this morning asking him to veto any proposed budget put forward by the City Council which reduces the number of MPD officers or which further reduces the MPD budget.
I believe that any additional funding for alternative models of public safety should come from cuts to non-essential budget items and not from cuts to the MPD.
Thank you.
Aileen Johnson [email protected] 612-516-9705 From: Lorraine Teel To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Compromise please Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:28:14 PM
Dear Councilmember Schroeder: In order to turn the current situation into a win-win, compromise is the way to go. For those of us watching the conversations occurring during meetings, it all sounds like some on Council’s way of backdooring the failed charter proposal. I get that some of you believe a police chief should report to you. Bad idea. I don’t think you’d appreciate having 13 people giving you directions when driving in a new area. Work with the Mayor and thru him the police chief. A city can’t succeed with 13 CM’s and a Mayor individually trying to direct traffic. Rather than restate the obvious, I’ve copied what I believe is the compromise way. Lorraine Teel
SUBJECT LINE: MONDAY'S VOTE - LET'S GET THIS
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
This is a win-win. Clean and simple. The Chief gets what he needs (no strings attached) to start what will be a long rebuilding process. At the same time, we also begin to move towards new transformative public safety services that will bring the holistic approach we all require. This is where most of Ward 11 sits, we expect you will reflect our wishes with your vote. Thank you.
Sent from my iPhone From: Rashena Molina To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Concerned Wenonah Citizen Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:00:51 AM
Hello Jeremy,
This is out of my norm. Usually I would never send an email to a government official, but I am begging you to fund the police and make our neighborhoods safe again. My husband Lucas and I have lived in Minneapolis for years and I can't believe the neighborhood has gotten this dangerous. I am afraid to walk my dog alone, I am afraid for myself and my husband when we run errands, and I am afraid for my neighbors. The Mosley home off of Cedar has been attacked 9 times, neighbors have been carjacked or robbed blocks from my home, and shootings are rampant in the Southeast corner of Bossen Field. Please do the right thing and protect Ward 11 citizens. Funding the police is about safety and not race. As a Black female I am reaching out in concern of my own safety. Adequate training and mental health services can help with police and racism, but we need police to function as a safe society.
Thank you,
Rashena Molina [email protected] From: Dana O To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: COPE funding Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 12:08:30 PM
Resources and funding should go first and foremost to contracting between Minneapolis and the Hennepin County mobile crisis team, COPE. State law limits mobile crisis teams to one per county and COPE already has a well-established infrastructure with diverse and extensively trained mental health professionals, practitioners, and peer support specialists who can keep medical records, connect people to the mental health system, and provide stabilization services. Minneapolis does not need to create a new crisis response system, but it should build on what already exists.
Please vote this Wednesday to support continued funding of this necessary service in lieu of continued police funding.
On a personal note, I have worked in the mental health field for over 15 years. I have used COPE many time during times my clients have had mental health crisis. I can remember one instance on the job, a person I was working with stopped taking his medications and had schizophrenia. He tried cornering me in his home while I was working. I left and called cope. They came and assessed him, decided he needed to be hospitalized involuntarily and called the police. I truly believe that had I not called COPE, this situation could have easily escalated. My client was also a black male and we all know the statistics on police involved violence against people of color.
Thank you for your time. I greatly appreciate it and please think of how this will impact people with mental health issues in our communities.
Thank you, Dana Ostrom From: RYAN MURPHY To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Copy the "CAHOOTS" program from Eugene, OR Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 7:31:08 AM
Hello Councilman Schroeder, With a budget proposal for police and city mental health looming, I must know if the city council has taken a long look at the CAHOOTS program that has benefited Eugene, OR for 31 years.
My wife and I along with a few Minneapolis friends of ours have all taken the Minneapolis Survey that you recommended, and in it we all encouraged the council to implement it.
Some details on the program are in the 2 links below. https://whitebirdclinic.org/what-is-cahoots/
Basically a re-distribution of some funds to social workers and public health types.
31 year old program. They now take on up to 17% of 911 calls.... roughly 24,000 each year. Of that 24K, they only request police backup 150 times per year. Just 0.6% which PROVES we can send people better trained and equipped to handle 17% of all 911 calls and we will achieve better results for the community and save costs now as well!
They project that they save their city about $8.5M annually, out of their roughly $68M police budget... That would project to roughly $23M savings annually for MPLS.
Do it! Try it! If you personally do not support this or something like it, we and our newly formed Minneapolis City Council Watchdog Group will be recording how you've voted and we will make sure other progressive Minneapolis voters know you didnt support this when you're up for your next re-election! A community education program showing the benefits of the CAHOOTS program is also being worked on so Minneapolis knows what's possible, not just what the Council says is possible.
Ryan Murphy
952-949-2430
Diamond Lake, MPLS From: Tracy Murphy To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Copy the "CAHOOTS" program from Eugene, OR Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 12:22:23 PM
Hello Councilman Schroeder,
With a budget proposal for police and city mental health looming, I must know if the city council has taken a long look at the CAHOOTS (Crisit Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) program that has benefited Eugene, OR for 31 years.
My husband and I along with a few Minneapolis friends of ours have all taken the Minneapolis Survey that you recommended, and in it we all encouraged the council to implement it.
Some details on the program are found at the link below:
https://whitebirdclinic.org/what-is-cahoots/
This is basically a re-distribution of some funds to social workers and public health professionals.
Here's a quick summary: It's a 31 year old program. They now take on up to 17% of 911 calls.... roughly 24,000 each year. Of that 24K, they only request police backup 150 times per year. Just 0.6% which PROVES we can send people better trained and equipped to handle 17% of all 911 calls and we will achieve better results for the community and save costs now as well! They project that they save their city about $8.5M annually, out of their roughly $68M police budget... extrapolated to MPLS, that would project to roughly $23M savings annually!
This seems like a complete no-brainer. Re-direct some of the bloated police budget to implement a program that actually helps people that are struggling and saves the city money! If effectively implemented, it will also save even more money over the long term, as it will decrease legal settlements that are needed when police officers responding to situations they are not qualified to assist in in the first place, inevitably fail to respond appropriately, leading to poor outcomes, or even tragic and preventable civilian deaths.
Councilman Schroder, please, I urge you and other member of the Minneapolis City Council to look very closely at CAHOOTS and implement a similar program in Minneapolis now!
Regards, Tracy Murphy 612-242-0987
From: David S. Evinger To: Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: "[email protected]"; Kim Valentini Subject: Council Budget Mark Up Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 2:04:01 PM Attachments: image001.png
Gentlemen,
A couple of years ago my wife, Lynn, and I returned to Minneapolis from the suburbs. We are now empty nesters. We are in the Daniel Lyon House, a Minneapolis Landmark in the Loring Park neighborhood. We, along with the co-owner Kim, have made a significant personal and financial investment in saving and restoring this Landmark. We want to make a positive contribution to this special Loring Park neighborhood. I am an owner of a business downtown (a law firm with eight offices around the country), and we are determined to stay in downtown Minneapolis. It is challenging because there are other options. We love Minneapolis and we want it to thrive.
I support the Mayor’s budget, and I encourage you both to do so. I am in favor of expanding the public safety net beyond police officers, and that broadly includes job creation, affordable housing, and education. The business community is starting to step up to help. Right now we need more police officers, not less. We need to provide the police with the best training, and with more support from other professionals—like mental health professionals, family crises professionals, etc.
Minneapolis can become an example for the country. We should be positive, not negative. We should be creative, not reactionary.
I wish you well.
David
David S. Evinger
150 South 5th Street Ste 3650 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-564-4883 [email protected] www.grotefeldhoffmann.com
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From: Joel Sutton To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Council vote on Minneapolis Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:03:37 PM
Jeremy,
My name is Joel Sutton. I live at 4817 10th Ave. S. I am in your ward. I am also the Sr. Pastor at First Free Church at 5150 Chicago Ave. S which is also in your ward. I am very concerned that you are not representing us as our council representative with your vote.
As you know, we are seeing an increase in violence and assaults all over our city, including some individuals from my church and that live in your ward. Decreasing the Minneapolis Police Department’s budget - including overtime - will not provide better protection for our citizens. If you want to fund new, never tried pilot programs then do that through other areas in the budget, not from the police budget.
I find the attempt of the council to micromanage the Police Chief a great mistake. Instead, you should be supporting him - publicly and privately. You have one goal - to keep those who live in our city SAFE! Why are you not choosing to do that?
Talking to my neighbors, most of your ward agrees with me and we expect that you will reflect our voices through your vote to fully fund our police and support our police chief.
Sincerely, Joel Sutton From: Edie To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea; Frey, Jacob Subject: Current Minneapolis Safely plan Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:27:22 PM
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
As a long time Minneapolis resident, I am compelled to write and tell of my deep felt heartache for all that our city and my neighbors have gone through in this past year.
First - let me say that there is almost no one that I talk to that does not want to see some type of police reform. With that said, I am truly saddened by the lack of cooperation and planning that seems to be taking place within our City Council.
No long-term, true reform can happen without a good, solid plan and without the safety of our citizens being in the forefront. IF there is a detailed plan that exists, I think residents would like to see that. Just moving funds toward other departments or social services, will not accomplish what is needed. How to action funds to different groups, training, input from those resources and a reasonable timeframe are what is needed.
I believe that Chief Arradondo does want to enact reform. But at this juncture with the attrition that the police department has seen, reducing officers on the street does not seem prudent nor does that in any way address the safety of Minneapolis residents.
I URGE you to work together and keep what is best for ALL the residents of our diverse city. I lived in Minneapolis thru the "Crack Alley" days - where front end loaders went thru crack houses, the serial rapist in my neighborhood and all the Murderapolis sad times. That was a bad time. We moved thru it with agencies working together to gain solutions. The city got much better. I think folks have forgotten what that time was like. I have not.
We are now, seeing another very bad time. However, the seedy underbelly of racism and sexism now have a bright light shining on them to expose these issues. We have a real opportunity to create a city that is safe and lovely for all. However, we still have homeless living in the parks (yes - still tents at MLK) car jackings being done by teenagers, guns rampant in our streets, package theft run amok, and 38th & Chicago with no real game plan in site.
I realize you are aware of these activities, but now is the time to pull together and create a real, meaningful plan. Not gut the police department or create a media soundbite to satisfy one faction.
I urge you to create meaningful, long term change for our wonderful city.
Kingfield Resident, Edie Baumgart
-- www.edierae.com From: Susan Doherty To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Frey, Jacob Subject: Do not cut MPD Budget without a clear plan for what will replace the services Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 2:10:51 PM
Dear Council Members:
There is no doubt that the murder of George Floyd has made it clear that the Minneapolis Police Department must change. It is also important that change improve the department, not throw it into chaos and leave citizens of Minneapolis less safe.
I am worried that the Council is moving toward cutting the budget by $8 million, ostensibly to increase services in other areas. Providing other community-based services in addition to police is certainly a good long-term plan, but I am appalled that it is being done now, taking resources from the police without a clear plan for exactly what will replace the services that are being cut from MPD. It will take time for other agencies or organizations to gear up for expanding their work, and therefore it will take time before the impact is fully felt. In the meantime, cutting the MPD budget will leave citizens are left with less policing while the ramp up is happening. This would be dangerous in the best of circumstances, and is particularly dangerous now, given the dramatic increase in violent crime.
It is also important to think of the community-based programs as partnering with police, not as an alternative to police. Domestic violence calls are a prime example; it’s my understanding they are among the most dangerous calls police answer - why on earth would we send a mental health professional without police back-up?
I believe it is indeed imperative that MPD be reformed. In a recent League of Women Voters presentation, Laura Goodman and Kris Arneson made it clear that reform is needed so that MPD officers see themselves as community partners. Laura Goodman, who works nationally but lives in the Twin Cities, even indicated that probably the only answer for MPD is to revamp all job descriptions and require officers to re-apply for their jobs, so that they support the values of the revamped department. I also believe it is critical to change the Union; I favor changing eligibility for the Union so that lieutenants must be in a different union from those of lower ranks, in the same way that principals are in a different union from teachers. Their interests are different. And a revamped union contract should require consequences for police violence, so officers are accountable for their actions and so arbitration doesn’t reinstate officers who should be off the force. But all of these measures are about reforming, not decimating the ranks of, the police department.
I also believe that diversity - of race, gender, and age - is critical for having a healthy police department. It is interesting to note that the incidence of excessive force from women officers is practically nonexistent, yet we have abysmally few women officers in MPD. So effective recruitment is critical. Cutting funds for new classes of recruits is essentially like eating our seed corn; we will still have older white male officers and we will have lost opportunities for younger, more diverse recruits. We need more new police officers (especially women), not fewer.
Finally, we need to consider that while there are certainly officers who should leave the force, the majority of officers are good people who put themselves on the line every day to keep Minneapolitans safe. Efforts to defund the police have had a huge negative effect on morale. Why on earth would we think that denigrating the entire force would make police more effective and keep citizens safer? Demonizing the entire force is not helping any of us.
Please rethink the either/or thinking that has led to deciding to cut the police budget in favor of a very nebulous “plan” for alternative services. Instead, recognize that this is a complicated issue that requires both/and thinking and variety of approaches:
Yes, have alternative programs by mental health and other community professionals, but have a clear plan and timeline for implementing those programs in partnership with police. Yes, rethink the contract with the police union so that it ensures consequences for officers who use excessive force. Yes, reform the department so that job descriptions and behavior are in line with values we want for the police. And yes, assume that we have many police officers who are exactly the kind of people we want on the force, and don’t confuse them with the police who should be sanctioned or fired. We need to treat our police well, and do what we can to improve morale so we improve the force and therefore the safety of the citizens of Minneapolis.
Please think more carefully about the consequences of cutting $8 million from the police budget and be thoughtful about a variety of approaches that could be taken instead.
Susan Doherty From: Daniel Hertz To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Do not cut police Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 7:10:50 AM
Jeremy,
We don’t go out.after dark. We only want to walk outside in pairs. This is the city you have created.
Please do not cut the police.
Thank you,
Daniel Hertz 4635 Garfield From: Ariel Bodnar-Klein To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: Do not water down Safety for All Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 4:11:47 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, The city of Minneapolis needs to invest in violence prevention through mental health services and alternative safety response. Attempting to protect the police with one-time funds from Safety for All is poor practice on every account. We have seen time and again that police do not prevent crime and often are the cause of violence. They do not provide people with good jobs, housing, and healthcare, nor do they do anything for harm reduction. Holistic, community based services do these things. It is time to invest in long-term solutions. We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by council members Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People's Budget. Thank you for your time, Ariel Bodnar-Klein -Minnetonka resident in absolute solidarity with the Minneapolis communities. From: Guy Booth To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Zaffrann, David; Sirdar, Deebaa; Moua, MaiTeng; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gangelhoff, Sara; Cano, Alondra (External); Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Freude, John; Nelson, Kate R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Garwood, Robin D.; McDonough, Shannon; Fletcher, Steve Subject: Do not Water Down the Safety for all Plan Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:15:42 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. From: Meg K To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t Undermine the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 6:07:06 PM
Dear Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
The citizens of Minneapolis need protection and support when we call for help, and that includes violence prevention and alternative responses (i.e. not the police) for mental health calls. We need solid union jobs, and a permanent investment in Minneapolis violence prevention/alternative safety response teams could provide those jobs while improving the quality of life for citizens.
You've suggested using one-time funds for a weaker version of the Safety for All Plan, which would accomplish the opposite of what we need, and your proposal egregiously protects the police, rather than protecting the people. This is a poor labor practice because it doesn't create secure or enduring jobs, it's a poor fiscal process because it ensures the project will only work in the short-term, and it therefore sets up any pilot project for failure because it precludes long-term success. Also, and this honestly should go without saying at this point, Minneapolis needs protecting from its cops, not the other way around.
Your proposal asks WAY too much of the employees who would perform its programming. If you're asking people to build a new relationship within the city, you have to give them the tools to be successful. If you do not support employees beyond a temporary, one-time fund disbursement, that shows you're not serious about the work they're doing.
Good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, holistic services and enduring relationships are what prevent crime. Police show up when it's too late and something bad has already happened, to which they often respond with violence. Instead of reinforcing that horrible model, let's fund the people who do the non- violent long-term work on the front end to reduce crime.
I urge you to divest from violent policing. A better life is possible. SUPPORT the SAFETY for ALL PLAN POINTS 1 and 2 as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and PASS THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET!
-- Meg Kosowski, Ward 1 From: Megan Howe To: Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Zaffrann, David; Sirdar, Deebaa; Palmisano, Linea; Moua, MaiTeng; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gangelhoff, Sara; Jenkins, Andrea; Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Freude, John; Nelson, Kate R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Garwood, Robin D.; McDonough, Shannon; Fletcher, Steve Subject: Don’t water down the safety for all plan Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:44:28 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention, mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime. Good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. -- Megan Howe [email protected] 952-393-6761 From: Dominique Earland To: Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Fletcher, Steve; Freude, John; Gangelhoff, Sara Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:04:38 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. From: Danielle Korby To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Schroeder, Jeremy; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Freude, John Subject: Don’t Water Down the Safety for All Plan Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:23:12 AM
,Dear City Council Members Palmisano and Jenkins
I am reaching out to urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 and 2, and pass the People’s Budget. I currently live in Eagan, but I lived in Minneapolis for several years recently, spend a lot of my time there, and have many connections to the community. I have heard from many Black, Brown and Indigenous community members in Minneapolis who are calling for the defunding of the MPD because officers have repeatedly murdered, terrorized, brutalized, and intimidated members of their community since it’s inception. I demand that you prioritize the voices of BIPOC residents, because for many of them, police do not equal safety. On the contrary, police cause fear, danger and trauma to these residents. Far too many people have been unjustly killed by the MPD, including George Floyde, Jamar Clark, and Thurman Blevins. Their families and the many other BIPOC residents who have experienced trauma due to the actions of the MPD deserve justice. This violence at the hands of the MPD needs to end, and I believe that in order to minimize harm to BIPOC residents, it is necessary to support the People’s Budget.
I believe in the importance of a fully funded violence prevention, mental health and alternative safety program in order to reduce the harm done by the MPD to people who are suffering from mental health crises. I do not support the watered-down version of the Safety for All plan, which would protect funds for the MPD and allocate insufficient and temporary funds to the Safety for All program. This proposal is asking employees to take on a brand new program with no job security, no PTO and no vacation time. It is impractical and immoral to ask this of employees, and would set the program up for failure. The $5 million in overtime that the proposed plan would protect for the MPD is entirely unnecessary. This money could actually benefit BIPOC residents who are in need, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of being used for police officers who have been using “sick time” since the uprising following George Floyde’s murder.
We have seen that police reforms do not stop the police from killing and brutalizing BIPOC residents, so instead of funding the police, I urge you to instead increase funding to youth programs, addiction services, and affordable housing, in addition to the services mentioned in the above paragraph. These are human rights, and studies prove that fully funding these programs and moving towards a community policing model is what truly reduces crime and creates safer, thriving communities. On the other hand, data has shown that increasing money to police departments does not reduce crime. Our communities know what is best for them and know how to take care of each other, which is why community policing is a safer and necessary alternative to the current policing model.
BIPOC residents have faced serious economic, housing, education and health crises for many years due to intentional policies that have excluded these folks from receiving basic needs, and these crises have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Minneapolis residents need increased funding to help them out of these crises, but instead, the proposed budget would give nearly a third of the city’s budget to the police department. This is an absurd amount of money to give to this violent and harmful department, while other programs that could actually help people are severely underfunded and still receiving large budget cuts.
For these reasons and more, I demand that you support the Safety for All plan, points 1 and 2, and pass the People’ Budget, as proposed by by council members Bender, Fletcher and Cunningham. All Minneapolis residents deserve to live safe, healthy and trauma-free lives.
Thank you, Danielle Korby 612-940-4041 From: Nikole O"Neil To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:10:42 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely,
Nikole O'Neil From: Katy Buxton To: Palmisano, Linea Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All Plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:09:42 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
My name is Katy Buxton and I am a long time resident of South Minneapolis.
I have concerns about your stance on public safety and the welfare of the citizens of Minneapolis. We need affordable housing, jobs and solid social programs, not more money for police.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your time, Katy Buxton From: Theresa Beckhusen To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:40:10 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Minneapolis needs good, union jobs as well as permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime--good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely, Theresa J. Beckhusen From: Nathaniel Fox To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:53:40 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime; good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thanks, Nathaniel From: Jonah Harrison To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:24:56 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Jonah Harrison From: Kristen Weller To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Zaffrann, David; Sirdar, Deebaa; Moua, MaiTeng; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gangelhoff, Sara; Cano, Alondra (External); Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Freude, John; Nelson, Kate R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Garwood, Robin D.; McDonough, Shannon; Fletcher, Steve Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:54:17 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. -- Kristen Weller [email protected] 763.245.3384 www.KristenWeller.com From: Helen Heinks To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:05:13 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Helen Heinks From: Lora Pedersen To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 6:06:04 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
My name is Lora Pedersen. I grew up in South Minneapolis and currently live in the Central neighborhood and live within the barricades of George Floyd Square.
For the past 6 months, I have observed and engaged in ways that public safety can exist without policing. We have done this as a community by building relationships. When a neighbor experienced a negative experience with a group of teenagers, as a block we communicated and resolved the situation. We figured out who had connections to these teenagers and then held them accountable for their actions. One night, when someone was blowing off steam (they were yelling and screaming and tipping over garbage cans in the alley) instead of calling cops, we as a block communicated and discovered that something very traumatic had just happened to this individual. Instead of living in fear behind closed doors, we acknowledged this person's pain and gave them the space to process. It is no lie that crime has increased in our city this year. It is a mistake to not view this rise in crime in the context of Covid-19. It feels as if you all have backtracked on your declaration of defunding this police. To do this because of a rise in crime, is a fear based response and not a very holistic one. Pandemics historically cause unrest. To deem our city as unsafe and in need of more police is not looking at the whole picture. You have an opportunity here to do something transformative. To continue to take the easy way out, to pass policies that are half-ass is very tiring. Be brave, step out of your comfort zone and be on the right side of history.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
-- Lora Pedersen she/her/hers 5th Grade Teacher Anishinabe Academy 612-743-1393
From: Samantha Sencer-Mura To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 8:05:21 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
-- Samantha Sencer-Mura, M. Ed. Ph: 612-239-1398 l Linkedin
"A world without police is irresistible." -seen on a sign at a Minneapolis Defund the Police rally From: Susan Dray To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:45:07 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and to pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely,
--Susan Dray
-- Susan M. Dray, Ph.D., CUXP Dray & Associates +1 952.463.0505 [email protected] [email protected] "If the USER can't use it, it doesn't work!"™ https://susandray-com.webnode.com/ www.sailingwinnedumah.com From: Oanh Vu To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:13:44 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
On a personal note, I want to say that my sister is a suvivor of war, sexual assault, and domestic abuse. As a result, she has severe complex PTSD and struggles with substance abuse and housing instability. When trying to support her, I've often felt like I am chasing my own tail because the healthcare system is so complicated. I can't do it alone, but if we had better infrastructure like the proposed mental health response team I would feel safer and more supported. I know the mental health responders will be under incredible stress. They deserve PTO and vacation time and if they're only temporary hires, I can't see that job attracting qualified candidates, so please pass pts 1&2 of the safety for all plan as written, do not amend it to give a 5 million dollar raise to the police officers who I hear are forwarding 911 calls to your office.
Thanks,
Oanh Vu Resident of the Central Neighborhood From: Jody Tracy To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:22:49 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime; good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services, and divest from violent policing.
Sincerely,
Jody Supporter of Reclaim the Block --
Jody Tracy Hours: M-F 8:30am-5pm Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Program/Project Specialist College of Pharmacy Room 9-157 WDH 308 Harvard St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 625-2718 Mobile (612) 554-0365 (text or call during business hours only) From: Jena F To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:23:13 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you,
Jena Felsheim Resident of St. Paul/MPLs From: Aby Wolf To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:24:12 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
Thank you, Aby Wolf
ABY WOLF she/her abywolf.com From: Cecelia Isaac To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:37:01 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you,
Cecelia Isaac From: Madeline Shaw To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:52:11 AM
Dear Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Respectfully, maddy shaw Bde Ota Otunwe, Mni Sota Makoce, aka "Minneapolis, Minnesota", USA occupied Dakota homeland and Anishinaabe territory pronouns: she/her From: Samantha Sherratt To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:32:53 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan's points 1 and 2 and pass the People's Budget. What you're currently doing is setting alternative safety projects up for failure. Minneapolis needs to set an example for the rest of the country by divesting in the police, which continues to harm communities, especially those of color, and investing instead in measures that actually prevent crime, such as mental health services, affordable housing, community centers, education, and career development. These measures can't thrive unless you truly invest in them, which means giving new hires job security and support as they build these new systems and programs.
The city is capable of making these historic changes, and it should. No one else should lose their life to police brutality. It's time to stop protecting the police (especially those who are still on "sick leave" following the riots--normal folks do not get such luxuries!) and instead start protecting the communities. Let's change the course of history before it has a chance to repeat itself.
Thank you. From: Tricia Alexander To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:38:00 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure. As a scholar in public health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, I understand the importance of the design and implementation of a pilot project - in addition to the unintended consequences that can occur if the Safety for All plan is watered down.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. This is especially unethical given the negative financial impact the pandemic is having on millions of Americans. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt communities. Police don’t prevent crime - good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work! Long-term solutions that invest in the health and well-being of all Minnesotans.
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Kind Regards, From: Leslie Barlow To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:49:57 PM Attachments: unnamed.jpg
Dear Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I'm sharing the following message in which I am in complete alignment with. I send this email as a resident of Ward 8 (born and raised) and as a sister to a Minneapolis Police Officer.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime; good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, Leslie -- Leslie Barlow Visual Artist Program Director of Studio 400 Organizer at MidWest Mixed www.lesliebarlowartist.com Subscribe to my studio newsletter here.
From: Ali Middlebrook To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:57:56 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime; good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thanks, Ali Middlebrook School Social Worker Longfellow Community Resident Pronouns: she/her/hers From: Susan Fink To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:48:13 PM
Dear Council Members,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up this pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police respond top crime. They don’t prevent it. Prevention comes from good jobs, affordable housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and mental health services. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services. Divest from violent policing. Invest in community.
Thank you. Susan Fink Minneapolis resident
From: Jessica Rosenberg To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 7:05:11 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I was honored to get to share my support of the Safety for All plan at the city council meeting on Wednesday. As I'm sure you were as well, I was moved by the hundreds of impassioned pleas from all over our city. Despite the disagreements on how we get there, I heard great alignment that the vast majority of city knows that people are hurting. From that place, we know that our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. with respect, Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg Bancroft neighborhood, Ward 8 From: Abra To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:35:48 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your consideration--
Sincerely, Abra Pollock, Ward 8 -- Abra Pollock
(773) 791-7068 (c) From: Jen Bisenius To: Palmisano, Linea Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:54:11 PM
Council member Palmisano,
I live at 44th and Thomas in your Ward. I am writing today to ask you to support the Safety for All plan.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, Jen Bisenius From: Jennifer Gasperini To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:30:01 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Thank you for your huge commitment of time to work on the essential issues facing our city.
Our city is suffering. Please support Safety for All by creating good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health as alternative safety response to the violence caused by police with guns. We need to make this important pilot project a success, not risk its future with weak funding and support.
A watered down proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. Police don’t prevent crime; good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work to serve the people of this community!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by council members Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and to pass the People’s Budget. Our community is counting on you to provide good jobs for critical services while divesting from violent policing practices of the past.
Gratefully, Jennifer
Jennifer Kimball Gasperini [email protected] 651-270-7067
“Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.” ~ L.R.Knost From: Michael Westerhaus To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:14:08 PM
Dear Council Members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I'm writing with regards to the upcoming decisions that you are making on the city budget. As a primary care physician, father of four young children, and resident of Ward 12, I'm writing to ask that you support the Safety for All budget at a bare minimum. Please do not advance your proposed plans to water down this plan.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. I need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
This is our moment for courageous & bold steps.
Thank you for your time, Mike Westerhaus -- Michael Westerhaus he/his/him collective member of EqualHealth, Macy Faculty Scholars, UMN Global Health, the BRIIDGE Program, the Center for International Health, and Windom Dual Immersion School From: Grace Heneghan To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 5:47:44 PM
Dear Councilmembers Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, Grace Heneghan From: Kelly Mckeough To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Gordon, Cam A.; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Reich, Kevin A.; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Fletcher, Steve Subject: Don’t Water Down the Safety For All Plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 5:45:18 PM
Councilmembers Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you! Kelly McKeough - Ward 3 -- Kelly McKeough She/Her/Hers From: Aesha Mukherjee To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 4:37:02 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely, Aesha Mukherjee Minneapolis Resident From: SooJin Pate To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 3:47:24 PM
Dear Council Members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, SooJin
SooJin Pate, PhD (she/her/hers) DEI Professional | Professor | Writer Co-host of Antiracist Parenting Podcast Co-editor of Ode to George: Reflections on George Floyd’s Memorial Site at 38th & Chicago (Now Accepting Submissions! Click the link for more info) Author of From Orphan to Adoptee: US Empire and Genealogies of Korean Adoption From: Cynthia Launer To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 3:42:01 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. I need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
-Cynthia Launer 3415 Harriet Ave Minneapolis, MN 55408 From: Emily Oliver To: [email protected]; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 3:33:56 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services and meaningfully divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your service,
Emily -- Emily Oliver, MFA (she/hers) Associate Director for Academic Civic Engagement and Scholarship, Center for Community and Civic Engagement, Lecturer, Ethical Inquiry At Carleton
Office 157 Sayles Hill Hall 1 North College Street, Northfield, MN [email protected], (507) 222-6203, my calendar
From: Brynn Nelson To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 1:46:50 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. From: Julia Langer To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 1:05:35 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good union jobs and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime- good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
-- Julia From: Josh Martin To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 12:51:35 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely,
Josh Martin 4403 Harriet Ave Minneapolis, MN 55419
Ward 8 From: Laura Osterloh To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 12:24:22 PM
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. -- Laura Osterloh (she/her/hers) From: Kelsey Crow To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 12:23:09 PM
Dear Councilmembers and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K) - It is a waste of money to invest in a program that relies on police being the ones to punish police. The trial of Mohamed Noor showed that the Blue Code of Silence is pervasive. It works to expand the department’s overall budget, which we know MPD can direct as it chooses
Co-Responders: This $685K investment this year ($430K ongoing) is in direct opposition to the recommendations coming out of the 911/MPD Workgroup that was tasked at looking at MPD’s duties to see if there is opportunity to removed duties and reassign them to folks with different expertise. For example, the 911/MPD workgroup recommended that Hennepin County’s COPE program be more deeply invested in at a city level AND there are multiple prototyping sessions happening within the 911/MPD workgroup to determine recommendations for a 2021/2022 pilot. Allocate money towards the work group's recommendations and bolster funding so that staff may stay engaged in that project until pilots are complete.
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K) - With the current state of affairs and the way that general attitudes around policing have shifted across the country and the globe, when given an opportunity to join the force in 2021 who is realistically going to apply. We cannot create a pathway for more violence to be enacted upon Minneapolis residents.
Additional Overtime ($5M) - Through Frey’s proposal, MPD is due to shift and additional $5M towards overtime (on top of $3.5m). With reduction in response times and general interaction with the public (barricading themselves into precincts) there is no need to more than double their overtime expenses.
I want you to cut these from the proposed budget, and make deeper cuts to MPD’s $179M proposed budget. Instead of funding MPD, I want you to fund the things our communities really need, like: Access to low-income housing
Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
Direct economic relief
It's time to change.
Kelsey Crow From: Tori Breen To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:13:35 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. From: Kelsey Johnson To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:47:23 AM
Dear representatives,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, Kelsey Johnson Ward 12 From: Michael Monsor To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 7:30:05 AM
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you,
Michael Monsor From: Noah Jefferson To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 9:05:04 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
My name is Noah and I'm a Kingfield resident.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely, Noah Jefferson From: Allison Holiday To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 8:08:01 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your time. Allison Holiday From: Victoria Thompson To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 7:51:40 PM
Councilmembers Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely, Victoria Thompson 3128 Harriet Ave Minneapolis, MN 55408
Sent from my iPhone From: Teréz Iacovino To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All Plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 7:50:00 PM
Dear Council Members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention, mental health, and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All Plan, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime and provide good jobs, housing, healthcare, and harm reduction—holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All Plan Points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services and to divest from violent policing.
-- Teréz
Teréz Iacovino From: Ari Baum-Hommes To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 7:09:55 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, -- Ari Baum-Hommes (she/her) From: Lauriehefner To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:53:00 PM
Dear Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, Laurie Hefner Minneapolis Resident From: Anita Chikkatur To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:42:17 PM
Dear Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. Using one-time funds for the Safety for All is a poor labor practice and a poor fiscal practice, and it sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and to pass the People’s Budget. We need the council to provide good jobs for critical services and divest from violent policing.
Thank you, Anita Chikkatur South Minneapolis From: [email protected] To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:39:35 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt our community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your consideration on this vital topic.
My best, Marjahn Minneapolis resident From: Julie Hill To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:37:51 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely,
Julia Hill From: Caroline Johnson To: Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:12:36 PM
on’t water down the Safety for All plan! Body:Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Caroline Gibbs From: Sehaj Sethi To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:12:30 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Best, Sehaj Sethi From: Connor Stratton To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:06:48 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Connor Ward 9 From: Britt Van Paepeghem To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:38:12 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely, Britt Van Paepeghem (Minneapolis resident, Ward 10) From: salligraphy To: Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:51:58 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sally Wightkin From: Maritza Ramirez To: Jenkins, Andrea; [email protected] Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:51:46 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your time, Maritza Ramirez
Sent from my iPhone From: Leah Johnson To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Listen to the Citizens of Minneapolis! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:58:33 AM
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely,
Leah Johnson Ward 3 Resident From: Courtney Mault To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan!! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 12:42:44 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt Minneapolis's community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely, Courtney Mault Minneapolis resident From: Alysia Wood To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Freude, John Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:26:07 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by council members Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget.
We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Alysia Wood 1111 South 7th Street, 14, Minneapolis, MN 55415 From: Jill Davidson To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Zaffrann, David; Sirdar, Deebaa; Moua, MaiTeng; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gangelhoff, Sara; Cano, Alondra (External); Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Freude, John; Nelson, Kate R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Garwood, Robin D.; McDonough, Shannon; Fletcher, Steve Subject: Don’t water down the Safety for All plan Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:26:35 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
As a white woman, concerned about the safety and well-being of everyone in our city, including police officers, I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Please give community safety options a real chance to work.
Sincerely, Jill Davidson Ward 11 -- Jill Davidson, MSW, LISW
pronouns: she/her From: Molly Raben To: Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Zaffrann, David; Sirdar, Deebaa; Palmisano, Linea; Moua, MaiTeng; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gangelhoff, Sara; Cano, Alondra (External); Jenkins, Andrea; Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Freude, John; Nelson, Kate R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Garwood, Robin D.; McDonough, Shannon; Fletcher, Steve Subject: Don’t water down the safety plan for all!! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:46:43 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thanks for your time and consideration, Molly From: mclean.cozine To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy; Bender, Lisa; Cano, Alondra (External); Goodman, Lisa R.; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Fletcher, Steve; Gordon, Cam A.; Reich, Kevin A. Subject: Don’t Weaken the Safety For All Plan Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:19:52 AM
Council members,
We need the Safety For All plan. Minneapolis has a chance to be a leader in transforming the justice system. We have an opportunity to make sustainable, community-focused changes to the ways in which we keep our city safe. These changes are dangerously threatened, though, if the Safety For All plan is weakened.
The city has the money and ability to commit to the Safety For All plan, and to sustainably fund alternatives to policing. In fact, it’s the smart fiscal choice. The current overextension of police responsibilities is both fiscally and professionally inefficient. By acting on the Safety For All plan, the city will get more return on its investment in public safety. Less money will need to be spent on policing because the police can more efficiently do what they do best. In turn, the money that is no longer spent on policing issues such as mental health will now be used by more specialized and effective groups. This is a good outcome for the residents of Minneapolis, overextended police officers, and the city coffers.
So I urge you, don’t set the Safety For All plan up to fail. Don’t make the new positions it calls for temporary. Don’t rely on outside funding over which the city ultimately has no control. Put Minneapolis in control of where the money comes from, and allow us to build a more sustainable, more effective justice system.
McLean Cozine 55408 From: jayne a swift To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Subject: Don"t dilute the Safety For All plan Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:41:29 PM
Dear Council Members,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your time. Jayne Swift
-- Dr. Jayne Swift (she/her) From: Steph Jacobs To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don"t Water Down Safety for All! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:53:05 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime; good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, Steph Jacobs Ward 12
Steph Jacobs (651) 274-4933 There is in the worst of fortune the best chance for happy change. From: Lucia Kalinosky To: Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don"t Water Down Safety for All Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:44:10 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Lucia Kalinosky 55407
LAK
They/Them
Sign up for my newsletter here. From: Sara Wagner To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don"t Water Down the Safety for All Plan Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:38:26 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely,
Sara Wagner, Minneapolis resident (Ward 9) and Social Worker [email protected] 612-599-0147 From: Hana Doering To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John; Roberta Beckey; John Dan Bismarck; Phil Hodges; Guled Mohamed; Itayee Ramos; Oscar Vidal Subject: Don"t Water Down the Safety for All Plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:57:15 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, Hana Doering Minneapolis Resident From: Nat Marineau Begej To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don"t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:58:26 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Nat M Begej Ward 9, Powderhorn Park
-- Nat Marineau Begej they/them/theirs From: Kia Whittier To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don"t Water Down the Safety for All Plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:02:40 AM
Dear City Council Members,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Please listen to the community, these are people who have been impacted by the state, who want real, systemic change. You are elected to represent the community, so represent the community and give the people what they're asking for. There are real, human lives at stake. Please do the right thing.
Best,
Kia Whittier pronouns: she/her/hers From: Lucia Webb To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don"t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 3:54:36 PM
Dear Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I am looking to you in hopes that Minneapolis can be an example to the world in moving towards a police-free future, which to me looks like a future with safety for our Black, Brown, and unhoused neighbors, prevention not punishment, and real care for needing communities.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime-- good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Please, please be a part of creating this new and more just world.
Best, Lucia Ward 10 resident
-- Lucia Webb [email protected] (503) 729-7751 *She/Her/Hers* From: [email protected] To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don"t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 6:32:52 PM
Andrea, I am sorry that you felt it was necessary to make a proposal counter to the Safety for all proposal. I see this as not a compromise but as a recipe for failure of the entire project. In this case half a step is worse than no step at all.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your consideration.
Art Serotoff Administrative Services That Tell Your Story
Grant Writing and Reporting Evaluation and Participant Tracking Organizational Development Project Management 4524 Columbus Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407 651-492-7070 [email protected]
Here is another type of good behavior we can all implement right away to protect each other: Do not spread coronavirus lies.
"We can't undo history but, if we're in the present, in our time, we're going to influence the future." -- Maya Angelou
From: Hana Doering To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John; Roberta Beckey; John Dan Bismarck; Phil Hodges; Guled Mohamed; Itayee Ramos; Oscar Vidal Subject: Don"t Water Down the Safety for All Plan! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:57:15 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, Hana Doering Minneapolis Resident From: Kathleen Doyle Anderson To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Don"t water down the SAFETY FOR ALL Plan Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:02:47 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
As a clinical social worker who has worked alongside NYC's Department of Probation through an alternative-to-incarceration program, I have a small sense of the very real challenges and high risks these clinicians will be bravely facing. Mental health clinicians tend to be mission-driven: we love the work that we do, the populations we serve, and the communities that we work within, but that doesn't mean we don't deserve job security and good benefits. It is of the utmost importance to attract top talent with the promise of job security and support, especially given the historic importance of this pilot project.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime; good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest some of the MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and pass the People’s Budget.
We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration, leadership, and solidarity, Kathleen Anderson
-- Kathleen Doyle Anderson 202.739.1179 [email protected] From: LIZ To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Drop your amendment to Safety for All! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:35:38 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I am one of Council member Palmisano's constituents, and I am profoundly disappointed that she and Council member Jenkins have proposed an amendment to water down Safety for All. Safety for All is the *bare minimum* that the city should be doing. This isn't the first time that Council member Palmisano has let the city down on this very important public safety issue, and I intend to continue to have conversations with my neighbors about her representation of our neighborhoods.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you Liz Mulholland 55410 From: Craig Bishop To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Cc: [email protected] Subject: Enough is at long last enough - Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 12:04:22 PM
Dear Minneapolis City Council Members, I want to thank you for your willingness to step forward and take on this very important position and assume the responsibilities of City of Minneapolis Councilperson. I understand that it can sometimes be a thankless job, while at other times offering many rewards. All that said, my wife Cathy and I can't express strongly enough our dissatisfaction with your cumulative actions since the tragic events this summer. We would like to think the time from your pledge in Powderhorn Park this summer to defund the Minneapolis Police to the direction taken at the December 7 Council Meeting could be bookends on a brief period when common sense was thrown out the window. But clearly this is wishful thinking on our part. Throughout this time period you have proposed many idealistic plans/desires for alternatives to our current law enforcement system with very little substance or specific plans as to what this might look like. We have heard Councilperson Cunningham suggest on MPR the existence of statistics which support these alternative plans. Where are they? We have seen what can best be described as a 'money grab' with the latest budget plans to cut money from the Minneapolis to fund these alternative plans. What specifically are these 'fuzzy' plans? Your inability or better yet failure, in our opinion, to meaningfully engage with Mayor Frey and Police Chief Arradondo to develop a future plan is unconscionable. We see your willingness to criticize the Police Chief for increases in crime in your respective wards laughable while you demonstrate a clear lack of leadership. Finally, the plan to make Chief Arradondo return to you, hat in hand, when more money is needed, all in the guise of sound financial stewardship we find to be despicable. Minneapolis was our 'bright lights, big city' move from Illinois in 1981, we wanted to live in the City not the suburbs, and we have been residents of the Tangletown neighborhood since 1989. We were both able to establish successful careers, working in downtown Minneapolis, raise our son in a safe environment, and send him to Minneapolis Public Schools. In so many words you can say we have been lucky, but we worked hard and have been fortunate to live in a city that truly worked. We are now retired and have no immediate plans to leave but we are disappointed to see our son and wife prepare to pack up and leave Minneapolis for Eden Prairie in a couple of weeks. The city clearly doesn't work for them and your collective efforts in recent months have for them done little to instill confidence that it will in the near future. Being a successful leader is hard work and when the tasks and stakes at hand are as important as they are now that work becomes harder. We don't disagree there very well may be ways to reform and make more efficient our current law enforcement/public protection system, but to date, in our opinion, we have more 'pie in the sky' rather than specific proposals without funding costs accompanied by a lack of community engagement. It will take time to take the necessary steps, so in 2021 we urge you to step up to the plate with specific proposals with funding costs attached, engage the community in your plans, showing us the statistics you cite, and collaborate with Mayor Frey and Chief Arradondo so that one year from we may have a plan that will work, that we can support and one that could become a standard for other cities. We ask that you please demonstrate this leadership and make the hard decisions, otherwise step aside at next year's elections! Regards, Craig and Cathy Bishop From: Aryn Lipnicki To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Ensure Safety for All Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 4:16:14 PM
Council Member Jenkins (and Council Member Palmisano),
As you consider the budget proposal to be voted on tomorrow, I urge you to center the needs and voices of our community and fund alternative methods for community safety and violence prevention outside of police. This is not to say the police don't have a place in this work, but that there is a need for others with specialized training to also be involved. There is a reason that we have a fire department that responds separate from police - because different situations require different skill sets. The same approach must be given to addressing other community concerns, and in order to effectively develop alternative response services, it is critical that they are properly funded. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime, solve systemic problems, or offer the breadth of qualified professionals and opportunities that our community needs. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you,
Aryn 3836 Nicollet Ave, Apt 305 Minneapolis, MN 55409 From: Emily Strasser To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Ensure Sustainable Funding for Safety For All pilot programs—don"t water them down! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:36:26 PM
Dear Council Members--
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely,
Emily Strasser 711 W 38th St, Apt 2 Minneapolis, MN 55409 -- Emily Strasser, she/her/hers https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://emilystrasser.com__;!!EB7VV9psZ_sHly7zVFY!FLTV2PikqQAvm348lHEHQbfWiyBQT1AxB1gtFGF8RbWNYRy1wszmfDAyaTJF3xkx- aO87fNdXEcsMg$ From: Miriam Karmel To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Final budget markup Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:25:23 AM
Dear Council Member Schroeder,
I am writing to ask for your support of the mayor’s budget. And I hope that you will support the Police Chief.
I, too, would like to see reform in the police department, but not at the expense of experienced policing. We need to find creative solutions to our problems, not broad strokes with unknown consequences. Please help to move our city along in a progressive way. But let’s take our time before rushing in with hasty changes.
I support Chief Arradondo and his expertise. And I support the Mayor’s budget. I hope that you will, too.
Thank you.
Sincerely, Miriam Karmel 15 Greenway Gables Minneapolis From: Mary Bujold To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Final Budget Mark-Up Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:25:34 AM Importance: High
Council Member Schroeder:
I encourage you to not reduce funding for the Minneapolis Police Department, but instead insist that additional funds be committed to preventative and supportive programs. My specific supports are listed below. Please ensure that Minneapolis can move forward toward change in a strong and robust manner by providing the financial resources that are critical to ensuring that effective change is made. Reducing resources and funding will only place the community at a severe disadvantage to effectively accomplish the goals that must be met.
Thank you for your consideration.
Regards,
Mary Bujold Minneapolis Community Resident – 30 years
1. Support the Mayor’s Budget.
2. Keep Community Policing & Engagement programs within MPD, especially the Community Crime Specialists. The Neighborhood Community Relations Dept is NOT a place for these professionals. We need and they need direct interaction to foster communication & Coordination w/community.
3. The Chief asked for 3 Training Classes. Not 1 and then having to beg City Council for 2 more. This directive sounds like an Overseer mentality. Is that really the message the Council wants to send? I don’t think so, but simply bizarre treatment of our 1st Black Chief, raised southside and Central HS Grad.
4. Addressing Mental Health - Expand the Co Responders Program and work with Hennepin County to expand the COPE program. THIS is what is recommended by the Mental Health industry. COVID prevents in person visits at this time, the industry and the Barbara Schneider Foundation have been working with the Chief and with the County.
I support Chief Rondo & his expertise. From: Barb Schlaefer To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Jenkins, Andrea; Bender, Lisa; Johnson, Andrew Subject: FIX and FUND the MPD Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 9:19:31 AM
Chair Bender and Council Members -
We recognize your intentions were good. But please have the wisdom and courage to change course!!!! In Washington DC, I understand the narrative is that no single group did MORE for Donald Trump's re-election campaign than the radical Minneapolis City Council. The optics have changed dramatically since June. You now have data on what happens when the force is depleted and it is not good.
Be smarter. Be more creative. Ask for help. Please do not run the tax-paying, law-abiding, hard-working people out of this once awesome city. Please spend a week riding along with a Minneapolis officer to see how many times an unarmed social work team could have solved the emergency 911 calls coming in, reporting all manner of violence.
Please recognize you are not making sense to the vast majority of those who live here, including the good people of North Minneapolis.
Barb (and Paul) Schlaefer SW Minneapolis From: Bruce Graff To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Fully Fund the Mayor"s Police Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:31:12 PM
Hi Jeremy, My husband and I have lived in southwest Minneapolis for over 40 years. We have always thought of Minneapolis as a safe place to live and raise our two children. Our son and his family live in Ward 11 at this time. We are very concerned with the level of crime in Minneapolis especially since the death of George Floyd. We are concerned for our grandchildren's safety, too.
We ask that you please vote to fully fund Mayor Frey's police budget and fund the new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund! We need to support Police Chief Arrandondo and our Police Dept.
Thank you for your service!
Sincerely,
Elona Graff From: Paul Kirk-Davidoff To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Fund Communities, Not Cops! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:36:38 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. From: Meridith Richmond To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Fund mental health response teams and community investment, not $5M in police OT Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:05:15 AM
Dear Council Members Palmisano and Jenkins,
I am a resident of Saint Paul who spends a lot of time in Minneapolis and who has many friends who live and/or work in Minneapolis. I have a vested interest in Minneapolis and how it takes care of its community and ensures the safety for folks in Minneapolis.
I'll get to the point - protecting $5m in police overtime while not allocating long-term, permanent funding to mental health response teams and other not-gun-carrying crisis response teams fails the people of Minneapolis. How can you see George Flyod murdered by police and not want to move our tax dollars from the police to investments in our community? I want you to pass the original Safety For All plan and support the People's Budget.
"Politics is about the improvement of people's lives" - Paul Wellstone
I hope you will make the right vote for Minneapolis's future today.
Meridith Richmond From: Carolyn DeLuca To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: FUND Mpls police Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:44:21 AM
Dear Mr. Shroeder, I am writing as one of your constituents to ask you to support the Minneapolis police chief and fund him. I do not, nor have I ever, supported defunding the police. I've heard Chief Arradondo speak on a number of occasions (even at the synagogue) and believe he knows how to lead. Allow him the respect, room, and funding he needs to do that. And while I don't have huge respect for Mayor Frey, I ask that you also respect his position and support him in his job. He is supporting Chief Arradondo and you should support - no strings attached - what they are trying to do.
I believe Chief Arradondo has a vision and also believe he can execute it, if he is supported and funded. I read about the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund, which I think should be used to fund the programs that are so vital to the community, the programs that may have been the beneficiaries of defunding the police (I hate that phrase), the programs that could work in concert, in partnership with, the Minneapolis police. I also read that the Minneapolis business community has created a fund to support Mayor Frey and Chief Arradondo. I believe the Minneapolis City Council should do the same; fund public safety.
Through the double trauma of George Floyd's murder and the pandemic, we have an opportunity to transform Minneapolis. That transformation should be well-funded and well- supported at every turn. The people most effected by police violence are definitely asking for better funded, better trained, civic and civil, more engaged police officers. Listen to them. We can be revolutionary by funding the police, training and engaging them differently, creating new partners for them, and coming together. If nothing else, we are all (or should be) Minneapolitans. Let's start there.
When you were campaigning, you were at my house several times and we actually spoke 3 times. I sensed you were very eager to get elected. I hope you are as eager to do the job of representing us.
Carolyn DeLuca 14th Av S. From: Ali Middlebrook To: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Fund our communities, not MPD! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:08:13 AM
Dear Councilmembers and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K)
Co-Responders ($685K)
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K)
Additional Overtime ($5M)
I want you to reallocate from MPD’s $179M proposed budget and, instead, fund the things my community really needs right now:
Access to low-income housing
Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
Direct economic relief
We need the council to stop bankrolling the murderous MPD. I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
Thanks, Ali Middlebrook School Social Worker Longfellow Community Resident - Ward 2 Pronouns: she/her/hers From: Andrew Reitz To: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Fund our communities, not MPD! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 9:18:50 PM
Dear Council Members and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K)
Co-Responders ($685K)
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K)
Additional Overtime ($5M)
I want you to relocate from MPD’s $179M proposed budget and, instead, fund the things my community really needs right now:
Access to low-income housing
Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
Direct economic relief We need the council to stop bankrolling the murderous MPD. I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
-- Andrew Reitz, (He/Him) andrewreitz.com PGP Public Key From: wetsticker To: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Fund our communities, not MPD! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 4:47:04 PM
Dear Councilmembers and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K) - It is a waste of money to invest in a program that relies on police being the ones to punish police. The trial of Mohamed Noor showed that the Blue Code of Silence is pervasive. It works to expand the department’s overall budget, which we know MPD can direct as it chooses
Co-Responders: This $685K investment this year ($430K ongoing) is in direct opposition to the recommendations coming out of the 911/MPD Workgroup that was tasked at looking at MPD’s duties to see if there is opportunity to removed duties and reassign them to folks with different expertise. For example, the 911/MPD workgroup recommended that Hennepin County’s COPE program be more deeply invested in at a city level AND there are multiple prototyping sessions happening within the 911/MPD workgroup to determine recommendations for a 2021/2022 pilot. Allocate money towards the work group's recommendations and bolster funding so that staff may stay engaged in that project until pilots are complete.
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K) - With the current state of affairs and the way that general attitudes around policing have shifted across the country and the globe, when given an opportunity to join the force in 2021 who is realistically going to apply. We cannot create a pathway for more violence to be enacted upon Minneapolis residents.
Additional Overtime ($5M) - Through Frey’s proposal, MPD is due to shift and additional $5M towards overtime (on top of $3.5m). With reduction in response times and general interaction with the public (barricading themselves into precincts) there is no need to more than double their overtime expenses.
I want you to cut these from the proposed budget, and make deeper cuts to MPD’s $179M proposed budget. Instead of funding MPD, I want you to fund the things our communities really need, like: -Access to low-income housing -Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis -Direct economic relief
We need the council to stop bankrolling the murderous MPD. I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
Thank you,
Alex Norman (he/him) Minneapolis resident, 3rd ward From: Travis McEwen To: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Fund our communities, not MPD Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:20:05 AM
Dear Council members and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s budget for 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, rather than the Minneapolis Police Department.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K)
Co-Responders ($685K)
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K)
Additional Overtime ($5M)
Yuo need to re-allocate from MPD’s $179M proposed budget to instead, fund the things my community really needs right now:
Access to low-income housing
Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
Direct economic relief
I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police. Police respond to crime, they do not prevent it. Sincerely,
Travis McEwen, resident of Ward 8 From: Dustin Hicks To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Fund the FULL Safety for All Plan Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 6:50:19 PM
Dear Councilmembers and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K) - It is a waste of money to invest in a program that relies on police being the ones to punish police. The trial of Mohamed Noor showed that the Blue Code of Silence is pervasive. It works to expand the department’s overall budget, which we know MPD can direct as it chooses
Co-Responders: This $685K investment this year ($430K ongoing) is in direct opposition to the recommendations coming out of the 911/MPD Workgroup that was tasked at looking at MPD’s duties to see if there is opportunity to removed duties and reassign them to folks with different expertise. For example, the 911/MPD workgroup recommended that Hennepin County’s COPE program be more deeply invested in at a city level AND there are multiple prototyping sessions happening within the 911/MPD workgroup to determine recommendations for a 2021/2022 pilot. Allocate money towards the work group's recommendations and bolster funding so that staff may stay engaged in that project until pilots are complete.
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K) - With the current state of affairs and the way that general attitudes around policing have shifted across the country and the globe, when given an opportunity to join the force in 2021 who is realistically going to apply. We cannot create a pathway for more violence to be enacted upon Minneapolis residents.
Additional Overtime ($5M) - Through Frey’s proposal, MPD is due to shift and additional $5M towards overtime (on top of $3.5m). With reduction in response times and general interaction with the public (barricading themselves into precincts) there is no need to more than double their overtime expenses.
I want you to cut these from the proposed budget, and make deeper cuts to MPD’s $179M proposed budget. Instead of funding MPD, I want you to fund the things our communities really need, like: Access to low-income housing
Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
Direct economic relief
We need the council to stop bankrolling the murderous MPD. I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
Dustin Hicks Ward 2 From: Peter Ireland To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Fund the People"s Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:51:27 AM
Dear Councilmember Schroeder,
My name is Peter Ireland.
I am deeply frustrated by the budget our Council expects us to settle for. A coalition of 59 organizations has collectively drafted a Minneapolis People’s Budget - a chance for you to actually lead with vision in a year that calls for it like none other. Yet what we heard in the budget markup was not a commitment to fund community needs - it was not even the bare minimum.
I urge you to amend the Mayor’s proposed budget with more components of the People’s Budget - restorative justice programming, harm reduction initiatives, affordable housing, and supports for sex workers, to name just a few.
Furthermore, when you fund mental health responses, implement rather than pilot them, and defund MPD in order to do so. Funding those new staff positions with the contingency fund or private foundation dollars, and as pilots, creates temporary positions that won’t qualify for vacation days or benefits. They will be unappealing roles that fewer qualified candidates will apply for, and those who do will burn out. Not only are you ignoring almost all of the budget proposals we have offered you, but you are also setting this one up for failure.
I am demanding that you honor your commitments to use as a Council, and that you don't set up your staff, your programming, or your constituents to fail. We deserve better.
Peter From: Colleen Lorge To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Funding Minneapolis Police Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:14:51 PM
Although I'm copying the below from another source, I fully agree and request you consider the below:
1> Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the newly available Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. 2> Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job. 3> Remove the "Schroeder $5 million amendment" and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks. Crime is NOT a perception, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote. From: Joe To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Funding public safety: Consensus is hard but we need to work on it Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:48:55 AM
Mr Schroeder, I am asking you, speaking as resident of Minneapolis since 1997, to consider well the matter of funding public safety.
The Chief needs funding for cadets and future officers. Much time is needed for them to be hired, psychologically checked and trained and mentored. More officers were requested much earlier than the present day but the request was not honored, and then George Floyd and the riots occurred. We are in a city-wide crisis NOW. We cannot wait. Multiple carjackings, thefts, muggings, attacks and terrorizing of residents are up exponentially, as you no doubt know.
This topic is rife with political agendas, including those of the city council members, and consensus is hard. I get it. But... On December 2nd, at the public comment time of the budget meeting, a group of speakers touted "the People's Budget" and many made claims such as "I've never felt safer" in the weeks after the riots. I call them out as liars. The evidence, the police reports, the sheer statistics, and the damn headlines refute their claims.
Do we need police? Yes, evidently! We need them to handle the violent criminals currently overrunning our city, but we DON'T need them for mental health crisis calls. I was part of one such call this past June, and the officers did not want to be there. I didn't want them there and the person in crisis didn't want them there but because we had no alternative at the moment, we had to have the cops take him to the hospital, where he was released for lack of cooperation, and the problem is right back at square one. There has to be a middle ground with this, and with treating all residents fairly and calmly.
Please: 1. Allow the Chief to do his job and fund his needs because he knows the MPD and he knows this city. Council members should be listening to him, not disrespecting him as Ellison did with his "bullshit" comment earlier on this budget battle. Enough of that kind of talk. 2. Stop the "Schroeder $5 million amendment" and back the Transforming Fund instead. 3. Support he Mayor's budget. 4. Stop listening to the agitators who are a noisy minority of residents. They don't pay your salary-- we resident taxpayers do!
Please support the Mayor's budget rather than this "People's Budget." Ask yourself, who are these "people"? Who's funding THEM? Think about that one. Always follow the money.
Sincerely,
Joe Sehl resident of ward 9 since 1999 From: Polly Keppel To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: Polly/Bill Subject: Funding the MPD Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:07:08 AM
Council Member Schoerder,
Bill and I have lived in our home in the Tangletown neighborhood for 51 years. In retirement we have chosen to stay in Minneapolis because we love the city. We want to live in a progressive, diverse city with all that Minneapolis has to offer. We also want and need to live in a safe city with a police force adequate in size and training to deal with the increase in violent crime we are seeing throughout the city including our own neighborhood.
We want the City Council and the Minneapolis Police Department to examine how to provide alternative first-response options to non-emergency matters. We want the City and the MPD to continue supporting violence prevention initiatives. We definitely want the MPD to continue and expand the Co-Responder Program to provide crisis intervention to individuals with mental illness in the community in partnerships with the county’s COPE program. These are strategic and valuable and should be supported with our tax dollars.
We, however, firmly believe that the first obligation of the City is to provide residents with enough well trained and supervised police to address the terrible increase in violent crime we are seeing around us. At this point in time cutting the police budget is not the answer.
Public safety is an absolute necessity for Minneapolis. We support the Plan for Transforming Community Safety toward its goal of structural change. We completed the survey. We anticipated that the City Council would follow through on its plan for thoughtful, evidence- based planning. Keep working at this. But you can not cut back on MPD funding in 2021. We need to rebuild the force and Chief Arradondo should not be restrained with conditions on the dollars.
It is not an either/or decision. Minneapolis has the resources to protect its residents by funding the Mayor’s 2021 MPD budget and to fund public health and safety initiatives to address our crime prevention efforts and mental health crisis programs.
We ask that you support a fully funded MPD budget.
Sincerely, Polly & Bill Keppel 10 Luverne Avenue [email protected] 612-823-3389 From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Comment from the Mayor’s office please Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:57:06 AM
-----Original Message----- From: DIANE CONNOR
Please read the following!
Lisa Bender @lisabendermpls · Nov 30 San Francisco rolled out their mental health response team today! Time to get this up and running in Minneapolis.
Hmmmmm....
1. Do we have the capacity of mental health providers?
2. How long did San Francisco work on this before able to roll out?
3. San Francisco has 50 homicides and 881,000 residents, or 5.67 homicides per 100,000 residents.
Minneapolis has 78 homicides and 429,000 residents, or 18.4 homicides per 100,000 residents
5. San Francisco also has 2108 police for 881,000 residents, a ratio of 1 for every 417.
To hit that ratio, Minneapolis would need 1028 cops!
I think the mayor needs to come out with a reality check as to what is exactly a doable plan. The residents need to know he is watching!
Thank you for your time.
Diane Connor 510 Groveland Ave. Mpls.
Sent from my iPhone [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments. From: Sirdar, Deebaa To: Council Comment Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Don’t water down the Safety for All plan! Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 12:39:11 PM Attachments: image002.jpg
From: Leslie Barlow
Dear Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I'm sharing the following message in which I am in complete alignment with. I send this email as a resident of Ward 8 (born and raised) and as a sister to a Minneapolis Police Officer.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime; good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, Leslie -- Leslie Barlow Visual Artist Program Director of Studio 400 Organizer at MidWest Mixed www.lesliebarlowartist.com Subscribe to my studio newsletter here.
[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments.
From: Sirdar, Deebaa To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Bourgerie, Zoe J Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Fund our communities, not MPD! Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 12:26:38 PM
-----Original Message----- From: Ashley Guzman
Dear Council Members and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police. I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K) Co-Responders ($685K) New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K) Additional Overtime ($5M)
I want you to re-allocate from MPD’s $179M proposed budget and, instead, fund the things my community really needs right now:
Access to low-income housing Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis Direct economic relief Financial support for BLOCK clubs that are working without funds to promote anti-racism and providing help for those who've experienced the downfall of the economy due to COVID.
We need the council to stop bankrolling the murderous MPD. I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
Thank you, Ashley Guzman Ward 8 Resident [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments.
From: Sirdar, Deebaa To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Bourgerie, Zoe J Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Please appropriate MPD funds to other programs Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:30:46 AM
From: Christa Byler
Dear Councilmembers and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K) - It is a waste of money to invest in a program that relies on police being the ones to punish police. The trial of Mohamed Noor showed that the Blue Code of Silence is pervasive. It works to expand the department’s overall budget, which we know MPD can direct as it chooses
Co-Responders: This $685K investment this year ($430K ongoing) is in direct opposition to the recommendations coming out of the 911/MPD Workgroup that was tasked at looking at MPD’s duties to see if there is opportunity to removed duties and reassign them to folks with different expertise. For example, the 911/MPD workgroup recommended that Hennepin County’s COPE program be more deeply invested in at a city level AND there are multiple prototyping sessions happening within the 911/MPD workgroup to determine recommendations for a 2021/2022 pilot. Allocate money towards the work group's recommendations and bolster funding so that staff may stay engaged in that project until pilots are complete.
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K) - With the current state of affairs and the way that general attitudes around policing have shifted across the country and the globe, when given an opportunity to join the force in 2021 who is realistically going to apply. We cannot create a pathway for more violence to be enacted upon Minneapolis residents.
Additional Overtime ($5M) - Through Frey’s proposal, MPD is due to shift and additional $5M towards overtime (on top of $3.5m). With reduction in response times and general interaction with the public (barricading themselves into precincts) there is no need to more than double their overtime expenses.
I want you to cut these from the proposed budget, and make deeper cuts to MPD’s $179M proposed budget. Instead of funding MPD, I want you to fund the things our communities really need, like:
Access to low-income housing
Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
Direct economic relief
*Educational apprenticeships for civil job opportunities
*Financial advisors *Career advisors
We need the council to stop bankrolling the murderous MPD. I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
Thanks for your time and consideration,
Christa Byler-Ward 8a -- Byler Bodywork LLC www.massagebylerbodywork.com 3754 Pleasant Ave #211 Minneapolis, MN 55409 [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments.
From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Please support the full Safety for All plan Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:02:22 PM
From: Emily Barter
Dear Council Member Jenkins,
As a Minneapolis resident, I ask you to please support the full Safety for All plan, and not to water it down by using one-time funds for the plan. Minneapolis residents need violence prevention that works and alternative safety response options that work. Funding those things with one-time funds puts additional (and undue) strain on pilot projects and the people who implement the programs we need. Since these necessary improvements are for public safety, it is time to fund them with dollars from MPD, which all too often causes harm instead of safety.
I ask you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Best,
Emily Barter
2016 Emerson Ave S
______Emily Rose Barter [email protected] 617.899.7307 [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments.
From: Johnson, Grant E. To: [email protected] Cc: Council Comment Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Re: Greetings, you are signed up to speak at today"s public hearing. Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 3:56:03 PM Attachments: 20201209 Mpls City Council Budget Testamony mental health & housing.pdf
I’ll make sure it is part of the public record.
Thank you,
Grant E. Johnson
City of Minneapolis – City Clerk’s Office Office: 612-673-3139 Mobile: 612-281-4499
From: [email protected]
In addition to my more brief spoken testimony, I would like the following written statement entered into the record for this meeting.
Thank you.
~Nicole Adams Blume
On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 03:01:34 PM CST, Grant Johnson via Smartsheet
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[EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments.
From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] The People"s Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:06:18 PM
From: Jonathan
Dear CM Jenkins:
I hope you and yours are safe and well. I'm writing to let you know that I support The People's Budget as proposed. Specifically, Parts 1 &2 of the Safety for All proposal is the bare minimum that I hope the council will pass.
Thank you so much for your dedicated service and leadership in these challenging times. Please reach out to me for any support or assistance.
Sincerely, Jonathan Reiner 3208 Harriet Ave [EXTERNAL] This email originated from outside of the City of Minneapolis. Please exercise caution when opening links or attachments.
From: Ashok Dhariwal - YogaFit Studios To: Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: Jana Metge Subject: FW: Council Budget Mark up on Safety - Today at 1:30 pm Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:49:07 PM
Hello, I wanted to share the following as a local business owner and former resident of Minneapolis of 21 years. We moved due to the lack of police and safety, but I have three businesses in Minneapolis that have suffered due to the lack of police.
1. Support the Mayor’s Budget.
2. Keep Community Policing & Engagement programs within MPD, especially the Community Crime Specialists. The Neighborhood Community Relations Dept is NOT a place for these professionals. We need and they need direct interaction to foster communication & Coordination w/community.
3. The Chief asked for 3 Training Classes. Not 1 and then having to beg City Council for 2 more. This directive sounds like an Overseer mentality. Is that really the message the Council wants to send? I don’t think so, but simply bizarre treatment of our 1st Black Chief, raised Southside and Central HS Grad.
4. Addressing Mental Health - Expand the Co Responders Program and work with Hennepin County to expand the COPE program. THIS is what is recommended by the Mental Health industry. COVID prevents in person visits at this time, the industry and the Barbara Schneider Foundation have been working with the Chief and with the County.
I support Chief Rondo & his expertise.
Thank you for your support during this difficult time.
Sincerely, Ashok 612 802 0243 YogaFit Studios Owner Making Yoga More Accessible
From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: Don’t reduce MPD’s capacity Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 12:44:11 PM
Heidi Ritchie, BSN, RN, PHN Policy Director to Mayor Jacob Frey
-----Original Message----- From: Allison Sharkey
Council Members,
While we support innovative violence prevention measures, as well as moving services like parking enforcement and insurance reports out of MPD, Lake Street’s entrepreneurs are crying out for more police support, not less.
Our business owners (mostly Bipoc and immigrant entrepreneurs) are suffering every day from incessant break ins, gun shots, dealing, violent theft of employees and customers, broken windows, public drug use, forced use of their bathrooms for shooting up, commercial sexual exploitation. Police response times are so long - if they respond at all - that many people don’t bother to call anymore. Distressingly, some businesses have formed their own teams of untrained security guards to try to fill the vacuum.
Customers have not been coming back because of the feeling that the area is unsafe (the mixed messages about debris cleanup doesn’t help). Many businesses are considering leaving and/or not reinvesting in the area.
The sadness and frustration that we hear every day from long time business owners who have worked so hard on these issues for the last five years, who are now considering throwing in the towel, are heartbreaking.
Reanimating a corridor with a high level of vacancy a couple years from now would be a tremendous challenge for the city.
Reducing policing capacity is not the message we want to send to our small business owners right now.
Thank you for your support.
Allison Sharkey Executive Director Lake Street Council From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: Fully support Mayor Frey"s public safety budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:53:36 PM Attachments: image001.jpg
Heidi Ritchie, BSN, RN, PHN Policy Director to Mayor Jacob Frey
From: Kim Brown
This is Minneapolis right now. The new norm. She’s a real person...who had a real gun pointed at her...with real bullets discharged.
Council action to reduce the Mayor’s already reduced police budget is just going to result in the same accelerated crime numbers we’ve seen in 2020. And please do not set an arbitrary number of 750 officers without a study or waiting to review the success of next year's public safety programs. You say 750, which is currently problematic, while the chief says 1,000. This needs to be studied.
Continued defunding does nothing to disincentivize crime. It just emboldens the criminals who have already taken advantage of our depleted police force. They know MPD’s 911 and investigative response will continue to be underfunded, resulting in slow 911 response times and few repercussions.
Our city is lucky to have Chief Arradondo. He is a unifier, a listener, innovative and exactly what the city needs right now to lead us out of this incredibly difficult time. You can ask for periodic reports, but asking him to get council approval on already committed overtime funds and recruit classes is just a way to undermine his leadership.
Keep defunding an already reduced budget and we’ll continue getting this: a neighbor waking to a man in her bedroom at 4:30 am, Greg Ketter, the owner of Deep Haven Book beaten up by two men for the till, Julie Stamps at 14 Hill Gift shop getting robbed by 4 men who had a gun on them for the till, her car and purse with everything in it and children ducking bullets on a football field.
I am asking you to fully fund the Mayor’s Both/And public safety budget. Cutting further into MPD’s budget during a year of unprecedented crime and the trial in March undermines the safety of our city. For the additional public safety programs the council would like to add, look to other funding sources. Or just set two traffic cops up on both Cedar and 46th street and you’ll be able to fund a good portion of it. Public safety needs to be a priority right now, which includes transformation.
Director Cotton AND Chief Arradondo BOTH need to be fully funded to address our public safety crisis and create a healthier city. It’s time to unify and support these two talented leaders with the task we’ve hired them to do. The success of our city depends on it. Quite frankly, the success of our entire state depends on it. Please support them both.
Kim Brown 4549 17th Ave S. Minneapolis, MN
On Dec 4, 2020, at 5:18 PM, Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Kim,
Thanks for writing in and it certainly is not a mute point. What I am hearing consistently from constituents is that MPD needs drastic changes to prevent the misconduct, loss of life and lawsuits we have seen and at the same time we need to address crime now. I’m working to do that in the budget by first supporting all of the proposed mental health providers and added resources for violence prevention, as well as supporting a base of traditional law enforcement. First, I will be supporting the Mayor’s level of officers for next year and the recruit classes suggested. Second, I am looking to add more short term solutions for reducing crime. The recruit classes will make sure we have new officers in the future, but it takes over a year to get a new recruit on the street and best option is to focus our officers on solving and responding to violent crime by having other non-law enforcement personnel respond to non- emergency calls. The City has been piloting and studying this approach for years but has never funded these programs enough to have a City-wide reach. Finally, I introduced a budget amendment to add $5 million dollars to fund MPD overtime from the contingency fund. My hope is that with this combination of funding and commitment to transforming public safety while addressing our current crime can bring the City together.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Kim Brown
Dear Council Member Schroeder, I’m sure sending this email is a mute point, but with a 193% increase in homicides, 56% increase in robberies and 23 % increase in aggravated assaults in the 3rd precinct alone, 2 to 3 squads per precinct is not enough. While I hear people in the public hearings say they feel totally safe in their neighborhoods, I and many of my neighbors do not. Violent crime is up 42% from last year. After being car jacked by 4 men in my alley and witnessing a woman get robbed with her 5 year old child in the car, having a 2 car shoot out two houses away from my house with children in the front yard, having police with K-9’s and guns drawn in my yard looking for an armed suspect and watching two neighbors sell their house because it’s too dangerous to raise their children here, I want to stress this is not a “perceived problem.” Not to mention, our car was used in an armed robbery after it was stolen from us. Think about that…a person had a GUN pointed at them for their property. The police CAUGHT this armed suspect after a short chase. Thank you Minneapolis Police Department. I’m asking you to fully support the Mayor’s public safety portion of the proposed budget. We need proper police staffing for 422,000 residents. We cannot expect Chief Arradondo to continue functioning at this level of crime while down 120 officers, with more to come after the first of the year. It’s imperative the council support the 2021 recruit classes and Community Service Officers knowing that 85-90% of the chief’s budget supports salaries and benefits. It’s also imperative we support the Office of Violence Prevention, produce smarter ways to address public safety and create healthier policing. I think most residents asking you to support the Mayor’s budget agree. This isn’t an either/or solution. The Minneapolis City Council is charged with keeping the largest economic driver in the state stable and healthy. The year-to-date crime statistics are horrendous. These statistics aren’t just numbers, they reflect real people and businesses affected byreal crime, which deteriorates livability. It deteriorates people’s sense of safety, sending the message that Minneapolis is not a safe place to live, work, visit or run a business. And if people don’t live, work, visit or run businesses here, we have no money to support programs/services/infrustructure. There is a lot of work to be done over the next year and we have two incredibly talented leaders in Chief Arradondo and Director Cotton. Support and let them work together to create a public safety model that is successful and envied by the nation.
Respectfully, Kim Brown 4549 17th S. Mpls, MN 55407
From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: MPD Mounted Unit Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 3:42:04 PM
Heidi Ritchie, BSN, RN, PHN Policy Director to Mayor Jacob Frey
From: Minneapolis Mounted Police Foundation
Mayor Frey,
My name is Amy Sizer. I am speaking on behalf of the Minneapolis Mounted Police, of which I am a founding foundation member and current Board President. I joined the foundation to support the Minneapolis Police Department and the community. I am a 911 Dispatcher with the City of Minneapolis and have been for 16 years. I am also the proud daughter of a retired police officer who served for the City of Minneapolis Police Department for 25 years and 15 years with the Metro Transit Police Department.
I was disheartened to hear that Mounted Patrol is one of the line items that is facing a significant cut in the budget. If these funds were to be taken from the Mounted Patrol, it will very likely lead to the end of an era and a part of MPD that has done so much for the City of Minneapolis and community members.
The Minneapolis Mounted Patrol is needed. One officer on horseback is equivalent to ten on the ground. The added height and visibility that horses give allows officers to observe a wider area, but it also allows people in the wider area to see the officers. Minneapolis Mounted Patrol helps deter crime and helps people find officers when they need them. It is an integral part of MPD, providing crowd control during large scale events such as the Super Bowl, Final Four, and Aquatennial. The horses can move large crowds of people in a controlled manner and are frequently used during bar close and more recently, civil unrest. The Mounted Patrol can go in areas where motorized vehicles cannot to help our community members in need. This was essential during recovery missions for the Northside tornado in 2011.
Of special note is that MPDs Mounted Patrol received federal grant for equipment and training. They are the ONLY department in Minnesota that has the equipment and staff capable of conducting Large Animal Rescue. It is used throughout the state as a resource. In October, the unit rescued two horses when a large horse trailer carrying multiple horses overturned on I-35E.
Horses provide a great connection to the community, as many people that live in the city have never been up close to one. Children are especially drawn to these docile animals and it provides a unique opportunity to engage with a police officer while petting a horse. MPD horses are always one of the most popular attractions during precinct open houses and other events in the community. Additionally, the Mounted Patrol sponsors an Urban Trail Ride through downtown Minneapolis every fall where 100 riders from all over the state come to enjoy our beautiful city.
This might seem like an easy line item to eliminate. Horses are so 1800s! Just know that it is a part of MPD that you will not understand how much it is needed, until you no longer have it. Lastly, I invite any of you to visit the stables to meet the officers and horses that are making such amazing connections throughout our city during such difficult times.
Amy Sizer Board President 612-236-8050
Minneapolis Mounted Police Foundation
These are my own opinions and do not represent those of the City of Minneapolis From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: Please veto the budget! Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:53:18 PM
Heidi Ritchie, BSN, RN, PHN Policy Director to Mayor Jacob Frey
-----Original Message----- From: Sue Bennett
So many are lined up to defeat the current council - don’t be a candidate for possible defeat by going along with the police cuts - please. From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: Please Veto the Proposed Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:53:11 PM
Heidi Ritchie, BSN, RN, PHN Policy Director to Mayor Jacob Frey
From: Douglas
Mayor Frey, Good afternoon. I live in South Minneapolis but work in North Minneapolis and I strongly encourage you to veto the proposed budget. Thank you. Best regards, Doug . . . . . Douglas Olson (612) 516-3684/DOUG 6015 Upton Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55410 [email protected] From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: Please VETO! Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:52:36 PM
Heidi Ritchie, BSN, RN, PHN Policy Director to Mayor Jacob Frey
-----Original Message----- From: Mark Hellevik
Dear Mayor Frey,
I’m one among many many thousands of Mpls residents who have absolutely had it with the MCC and their insistence on pursuing an ideology-based agenda over the very real and immediate safety concerns of the community.
Long story short: We’re bleeding out.
I know you know this. I know the Police Chief knows this. My heart breaks for what you two are up against in trying to make an awful situation better. But, please, don’t stop fighting for us; for what’s right and good.
Yes, PDs everywhere need a deep culture change. But, the majority of us believe that can happen, but not without ADDITIONAL funding. Not a minimum amount of operational $’s; MORE $’s.
I could go on and on as I have in my unanswered letters to my own council member (Schroeder), or as I have on the MCC budget calls, but I’m btwn mtgs today and need to get on another Zoom mtg
Again, please veto the MCC’s gutting of the PD budget.
Thank you, Mark Hellevik Ward 11
Sent from my iPhone From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: please veto Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:52:08 PM
Heidi Ritchie, BSN, RN, PHN Policy Director to Mayor Jacob Frey
From: Laura Monahan-Rial
Hello, I am a concerned Minneapolis citizen and I am writing to voice my support of a veto to the proposed police budget. We need more police, not less. I would like to see more police that are members of our community, live in the neighborhoods they patrol. I am in support of changes to the police department., I am not in support of a reduction to the budget.
Thank you, Laura Monahan-Rial Hale Neighborhood
From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Safety for All Budget Proposal Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:21:08 AM
From: Jenkins, Andrea
Hello Elisabeth- Thank you for this input, these are incredibly challenging issues, I don’t believe there is any one solution that will solve our issues. I do believe the Safety For All plan is one step in that direction however, so consequently I will be supporting this. Best, Andrea
From: Elisabeth Pletcher
Hi Andrea,
I'm emailing today to ask you to support the Safety for All Budget proposal. I know that you are painfully aware that our current system of public safety isn’t working.
The Safety for All plan is a sustainably funded, real plan recommended by staff after years of research. We cannot count on one-time private donations to create real lasting change. I've lived in Bryant for nearly 30 years with neighbors who have committed to this neighborhood some for even longer than I've been here, and am deeply committed to our neighborhood. Safety for All means investing in violence prevention and mental health crisis response.
I urge you to support it. Thank you. Elisabeth Pletcher 4045 Park Ave 612.616.8675 From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: Support the Chief Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:52:26 PM
Heidi Ritchie, BSN, RN, PHN Policy Director to Mayor Jacob Frey
From: Makeda Zulu-Gillespie
Hello CM Ellison,
As you know I live in Ward 5 and recently called about the shootings, speeding and disregard for stop signs.
I’m here to ask that you give our Police Chief the freedom and flexibility to do his job. It is premature to guess today what the size of his police force should be three to five years from now. Wait for the independent staffing study that you've funded and is due next year. We need to make and share a transitions plan. Your commitment to the safety of BIPOC, poor people and those with mental health issues are clear to me in your sentiment.
. Let’s get this right! Police deter future crime especially with community partnering with them - we need more police, not fewer, to protect residents and businesses.
I know the union has encouraged members to cripple our neighborhoods; I have friends who say they may even be encouraging some of the criminal behavior. You remember Lake Street.
This union has been putting my safety at risk for some time. I support your working with our Chief, I trust his character, leadership and commitment to my safety and yours as well as the officers he commands.
The budget must support the Cheif and leave time to create a transition plan.
Mayor Frey, I support your veto of this budget. The police union continues to handcuff and keep its knee in the backs of this City Council, our police chief and place all our lives in further danger.
Makeda Zulu
-- Makeda 612-501- 4156 StrengthsQuest Top 5 Talent Themes: Achiever~Responsibility~Connectedness~Learner~Arranger From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: Tangletown demands pragmatic leadership! tick tock Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:25:19 PM Attachments: Bullet shots.msg
From: [email protected]
Thanks, Jeremy. We appreciate you listening to us, but frankly speaking, in order to get us to the right place and to truly address the rising levels of crime in our city, we need even more from you. We need you to back the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
1. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Stop grandstanding and start fixing. We urge the City Council to work together – behind the scenes with your fellow Council, with the mayor, with the chief, with other experts – to find common goals to address the current crime waves as well as to seek unity to move forward with practical reforms. We need to adopt a “both-and” approach.
We agree that we can fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, while also funding new pilot programs that our city desperately needs. We urge you to become more informed. And in the words of two respected Black leaders in Minneapolis who have been involved with these issues for decades agree that:
“When it comes to public safety, we cannot be a city divided” - Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton
“Policing is not going to solve all our crime and safety issues. But we also know that without it, at the height of crime and safety issues, your citizens will remain unsafe. More are going to die; more are going to be carjacked.” Sondra Samuels – President, Northside Achievement Zone.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality(please see shots fired directly at my housekeeper). We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote today.
Sincerely,
Kathy Higgins Victor
From: Schroeder, Jeremy
Hi everybody,
Thanks for sending this along and thanks for coming together for the meeting on Wednesday. Glad you see the amendment I authored as a step in the right direction and I’ll keep working with my colleagues as well as the Mayor to get a budget that fulfills everyone’s commitment to transform MPD as well as address the high level of crime now.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Rick Reuter
Jeremy,
We wanted to follow-up from our meeting Wednesday evening with the rest of the Tangletown neighbors.
As we discussed, our neighborhood strongly supports advancing police reform and providing greater mental health resources, but we MUST ENSURE we maintain adequate resourcing to the policing needs of today as outlined by Chief Arrodondo. Crime continues to escalate against our neighbors everyday. We need to meet overtime needs and we need to maintain the targeted levels of officers as recommended by the Chief. It is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that we imminently address rising crime levels amid declining officers and do everything we can to increase our patrols.
After Wednesday evening's City Council meeting it was clear that there is great passion and care for the future of the city and it was also clear that there are people who are deeply hurting and looking for retribution. Unfortunately, certain council members such as the Council's President are more focused on fanning the flames of divide for their own political gain than they are on bringing our city together. Their games to create a scripted vocal minority may play well on Twitter and national news headlines but it is not the leadership we need to bring our city together.
Although we were disappointed to see this in the scripted groups they brought forward, we were encouraged to read in the Star Tribune of your proposal to use $5M from the general fund to support our policing needs. We appreciate you listening to us and we ask that you continue to do so.
We need a budget/plan that addresses current levels of rising crime on our streets today with more patrols - and we have yet to see one. Please do more to ensure our safety.
AS YOU KNOW, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality.
Regards, Tangletown Residents From: Ritchie, Heidi To: Council Comment Subject: FW: Veto the Budget Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 5:52:17 PM
Heidi Ritchie, BSN, RN, PHN Policy Director to Mayor Jacob Frey
From: Bryan Foe
Mayor....I’m in favor of you vetoing the budget if approved tonite by city council. Those people are insane and maybe it takes a full veto to get their attention. DO IT!
Bryan Foe Kenwood Neighborhood Resident 612-803-8457....call any time! From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 12:20:39 PM
From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet
Contact Ward 8 - Andrea Jenkins
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Row 73
Created 12/08/20 9:33 PM
First Name Theartrice
Last Name Williams
Question/Comment Dear Council Member, I want to share my concerns about your proposal to move 8 million dollars from the Minneapolis police to help establish a public safety net to more humanely respond to citizen needs and complaints for which police may be insufficiently trained or prepared to handle. These complaints are more often mental health related and may require people with experience and training in social work and mental health fields. I believe the thinking is admirable and overtime is something that needs to be done, but I don’t think you planning is sufficient nor are you allowing enough time to implement such a complex program. I would encourage you to research the decision and planning (or lack thereof) that led the State of Minnesota to deinstitutionalize its mental health hospitals beginning in the 1970s. I served on a state community mental advisory board that encouraged the Governor and the legislature to take a approach. Our recommendation to the governor and the legislature was to focus first on developing strong community mental programs which would lessen the need to commit people to large state institutions. Overtime mental hospitals could be closed. They opted for a different strategy and en-mass began closing the hospitals. The people were returned to communities with nonexistent mental health resources where they became homeless and some ended up in prison and jail. Your plan to change the police function in your proposal needs time to build capacity. Undertaking such responsibility without adequate resources may risk failure and will make it more difficult to achieve in the future. I encourage you to consider taking the “journey” approach to addressing this issue. In that approach it will be something that we will be doing continuously and it will always need tweaking. Otherwise we will be led to believe that we have reached our “destination” and nothing more needs to be done. I commend you for thinking differently about police reform, but you plan has not received community vetting. Don’t go so far down this road that you can’t change direction. Has there ever been a review of previous police reform initiatives? What ever happen to Community Policing? It was an initiative supported through the NRP program. Whittier Neighborhood participated in community policing. Rainbow Research was the evaluator for that program. Much has been tried over the years, but seldom have we had an assessment of the outcomes of those initiatives to see what lessons were learned. Much can be learned from our failures. We don’t have to try and re=invent the wheel, may we can just modify it to fit current circumstances. T. Williams 1310 Washburn Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411 612-202-7985
Email [email protected]
Phone 6122027985
Phone Type
Address 1310 Washburn Ave N
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55411
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From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet
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Created 12/09/20 5:30 AM
First Name Nicki
Last Name Earley
Question/Comment Ms Jenkins, I urged you to not cut police budget due to crime spike in our ward. I live in Bancroft have for 20 years and raising a child that has nightmares about crime. Please stop this cutting of budget and get the crime under control. This isn’t going to help anyone if everyone leaves out neighborhood. Unless that’s what your trying to do. I think it’s time to table the social justice till our neighborhood is safe. Lock up these criminals and then work on reform. Nicki Earley Email [email protected]
Phone 6128127375
Phone Type Home
Address 4114 18th Avenue S
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55407
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‐–‐‑‑‑‐—‐—‐‑‑‒‑—‒—‑— From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 11:51:00 AM
From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet
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First Name John
Last Name Northrup
Question/Comment Council Vice President Jenkins, As a proud Democrat, a regular voter, a Kingfield homeowner, and a 20+ year resident of the City of Minneapolis I support police reform but I do not support removing police from the streets and cutting their budget, especially considering recent happenings and the spike in violent crime. If anything, the police need more resources for better training and higher salaries to attract qualified officers, not less. In my entire social circle of liberally minded Democrats in their 30s and 40s, I don't know one person that supports our City Council's efforts to defund the police. Everyone can get behind supporting the police with additional mental health services and innovative new public safety programs, Iet's find a way to make the "both and" approach work. Don't deny Chief Arradondo the tools he needs to train and maintain our police force, we may not have faith in the entire police department after the murder of George Floyd but I know most residents do have faith in Chief Arradondo. I have voted for you in the past but if you support this measure I will be actively voting against you in the future, even if that means supporting the candidate of another political party, which is something I have never done before. I fear that Council is only proposing these cuts to appease the demands of a small but vocal group, not the majority of Minneapolis residents. You have expressed your disagreement with this direction in the past and you need to maintain your integrity, represent the will of the people that elected you, and do the right thing for our city. Sincerely, John Northrup
Email [email protected]
Phone 6128602999
Phone Type
Address 4019 Wentworth Ave
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55409
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‑‒—‑‒—‒‑‒‒—‑‑‐‑‑‑‒‑– From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 10:33:38 AM
From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet
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Created 12/09/20 9:52 AM
First Name Tim
Last Name Kennedy
Question/Comment Dear Ms. Jenkins, I ask that you vote against the proposed cuts to the Minneapolis Police Department today. I agree that police are not treating all citizens of Minneapolis equitably, and our community needs justice for the death of George Floyd at the hands of police. At the same time, we are experiencing a dramatic increase in crime in our neighborhoods. A few days ago, a neighbor on my block was robbed at gunpoint while a friend delivered groceries because my neighbor's car had been recently stolen. People are being pulled from their cars, beaten, and left in the street while the perpetrators drive away with their vehicle. Another neighbor had her car totaled by drag racers racing on a route known to the community, but no police action was taken to prevent this extremely dangerous activity. Thankfully she was not seriously hurt this time. I see cars smashed on the side of our streets on a regular basis now. There is a lot of work to be done with the MPD, but cutting funding for this necessary and severely flawed institution will only make our neighborhoods more dangerous and less livable. Please vote no on the budget cuts to the Minneapolis Police Department today. Thank you for your time and your service, Tim Kennedy
Email [email protected]
Phone
Phone Type
Address 4118 18th Ave. S.
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55407
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‐–‐‒‐‐‒‐—‑‒‒‒—––‐–‐‐ From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 5:35:10 PM Attachments: ~WRD385.jpg image001.jpg
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Created 12/07/20 1:35 PM
First Name Karen
Last Name Heegaard
Question/Comment Greetings Andrea, I write in deep support of your efforts on the council to hear all voices and find a way forward. I honor your presence and care in the middle of the messiness. It is so important to have someone willing to value all constituents. I also really, really support the People’s budget. I am concerned that the investment in violence prevention and mental health safety responses be ongoing, benefited and secure. I also understand that we cannot abruptly drop our police presence. We do need to to move firmly and clearly away from relying on police and toward sustainable, and creative reactions to violence and need for protection. Please make your commitment to the direction and funding of these alternatives loud and clear as you move forward to also support the police budget. Again, I am deeply appreciative of the important and demanding work you are doing and am doing all I can (in my many small spheres of influence) to help people on all sides move toward appreciation and care for the complexity of our visioning the future into being. Thank you, Karen Heegaard
Email [email protected]
Phone 612-810-7349
Phone Type Cell
Address 3912 Pleasant Ave South
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55409
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‐‑‒————‒‒‑—‒‐‐‑—‑‑–‒ From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 5:34:04 PM Attachments: ~WRD055.jpg image001.jpg
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First Name Mary
Last Name Bussman
Question/Comment Dear Council Member Jenkins: I am very concerned about the approach put forth by council president Bender and members Cunningham and Fletcher to defund the police in Minneapolis. I agree that we need to shift funds, but we cannot do so in a hasty process that doesn't involve the community. We also cannot defund the police at a time when homicides, carjackings, and assaults are at an alarmingly high rate and in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic. I believe that simultaneously developing jobs, social support networks, engaging programs for youth, and rehabilitation programs with a well-funded police force will lead to a future need for less police. BUT, we cannot move forward with this revolution without a fully developed vision of reformation that is co-authored by members of communities of color the city council, and members of the police force. Leadership is bringing all of us together to work together. It isn't voting one way because a small group has the power to do so when they think the time is right. The time is not right, but the time for creating the programs so that we can reallocate funds in two years is the way to go. Please continue to develop programming that will lessen our need for police, but maintain the current level at this time. Thank you. Dr. Mary A. Bussman
Email [email protected]
Phone 6129649159
Phone Type
Address 4142 Colfax Ave S
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55409
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‒‑‒—‑—‑‐—‑‒‐‑‒–‒—‑‑– From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 5:33:07 PM Attachments: ~WRD000.jpg image001.jpg
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Created 12/06/20 11:36 PM
First Name Sara
Last Name Stenzel
Question/Comment I am writing to express my concern about violent crime in our ward and Minneapolis in general. I have lived in the Lyndale neighborhood over 20 years. I have never before seen as much random, violent crime as we are seeing now. I am afraid in my own neighborhood. I am afraid to let my children be independent in our neighborhood. I am afraid to let my son drive in Minneapolis due to all the carjackings. My neighbors are getting assaulted at all times of the day as they are walking on our sidewalks. Just last night, my neighbor walked two blocks to a convenience store at 8pm and was violently attacked. Fortunately, she was able to cry for help and struggled to get free. Police came and supported her. We NEED our police officers, now more than ever. Please do not restrict funding to the police department. Please approve the mayor’s police budget and allow Chief Arradondo to support officers by allowing funds to be used for overtime without any restrictions.
Email [email protected]
Phone 6128256509
Phone Type
Address 3411 Garfield Ave
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55408
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——‐‑––—–—‑‒—‒‒‑‐‒‐‐– From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 5:31:58 PM Attachments: ~WRD000.jpg image001.jpg
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Created 12/04/20 2:07 PM
First Name Paula
Last Name Huerkamp
Question/Comment Hello Councilmember Andrea Jenkins, I recently heard about the proposed Minneapolis budget to increase funding for the police--I understand you're not voting for this which is AWESOME. I'm voicing my support to defund the police. I know that crime rates are spiking around my home (reading NextDoor is scary!) and some blame the lack of police, but I know that in order to push towards a better future where we rely on our communities to self-police and offer SERVICES to those that need help, we cannot stick to antiquated "enforcement" by police alone. I support efforts to shift how our communties are managed and that is not accomplished by armed police. Thank you for maintaining the momentum to fight for equity, especially after this summers and killing of George Floyd.
Email [email protected]
Phone 206-351-7644
Phone Type Cell
Address 4024 Portland Ave
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55407
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‒——‑–——‐‑‒‐‑‒‒——–——— From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 5:31:09 PM Attachments: ~WRD000.jpg image001.jpg
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Created 12/01/20 9:58 PM
First Name David
Last Name Ingbar
Question/Comment Dear Council Member Jenkins: I am writing to express my grave concern about and very strong opposition to the proposal to cut funding for the Minneapolis Police Department. The crime in Linden Hills, University are and elsewhere in Minneapolis has skyrocketed with regular armed robberies, carjackings and other violent crimes. My family and I are living with much more fear for safety than ever in my 30 years as a Linden Hills resident. The police department can be reformed and supplemented without reducing their ability to respond to threatening emergencies. Please resist this misguided, irrational and dangerous folly.
Email [email protected]
Phone 6127097987
Phone Type
Address 3800 YORK AVE. SOUTH
City MINNEAPOLIS
State MN
Zip Code 55410
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‑—‒–—–‒‒‒–‐‒–‐‑‒‐—‐‐ From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 5:30:02 PM Attachments: ~WRD000.jpg image001.jpg
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Created 12/01/20 1:49 PM
First Name Jennifer
Last Name Gahnstrom
Question/Comment Thank you for all your work. I know you are receiving criticism on your voting record and comments on the Mpls Police Budget. I do support the position of Chief Arradondo and Mayor Frey on the Budget. And I realize you know more than I do about all this so whichever way you vote next I will continue to support you.
Email [email protected] Phone 6123097415
Phone Type Cell
Address 3733 5th Av So
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55409
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‐–‐–––‒‐–‐‑‑‐‑‐‑‒—‒‒ From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 5:28:52 PM Attachments: ~WRD000.jpg image001.jpg
From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet
Contact Ward 8 - Andrea Jenkins
Changes since 12/1/20 1:36 PM
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Row 18
Created 12/01/20 1:36 PM
First Name Mary Katherine
Last Name Johnson
Question/Comment Dear CM Jenkins: I am a homeowner and life long resident in your ward (for many many decades). I have closely followed the efforts to reform the police department and strongly support REASONABLE, INFORMED, DATA DRIVEN, AND CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT STEPS TO THIS END. To reduce the number of police and the police budget at this time is not reasonable. My husband, my father myself and many of my neighbors have be the victims of assault, robbery and burglary. We need to increase levels of policing right now to reduce the homicide and carjackings. Please vote for the mayor's budget and vote NO on the proposal cutting 8 Million from a embers of the council.
Email [email protected]
Phone
Phone Type
Address 4936 Park Ave
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55417
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‒‐‐‒‑‑‑‑‑–‒—––‐‐‑—–‑ From: Bourgerie, Zoe J To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Sirdar, Deebaa Subject: FW: Ward 8 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:03:20 PM Attachments: ~WRD000.jpg image001.jpg
From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet
Contact Ward 8 - Andrea Jenkins
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Row 54
Created 12/05/20 9:47 AM
First Name Gabe
Last Name Ormsby
Question/Comment I wanted to urge you to support the proposed "Safety for all" budget proposal that shifts nearly $8 million away from the MPD toward more promising avenues of addressing public safety. I consider this a minimal first step toward addressing the problems of policing in Minneapolis. I admit I am disappointed in your recent vote in favor of additional funding for the MPD to contract for additional support. I know there have been rising crime numbers, but I'm not convinced "more of the same" is the right way to address it. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this issue. While many have criticised the rhetoric if not the content of "defund the police," I still believe that the goal of re-envisioning public safety and significantly reducing the role of an armed and militarized police force with a highly "problematic" understanding of their role is a goal worth pursuing. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Email [email protected]
Phone
Phone Type
Address 3740 Blaisdell Ave
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55409
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––‐–‐‒‑‐‑‒–‐‐‑‐‑—–—‐ From: Karen Kelley-Ariwoola To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: Fwd: Minneapolis City Council Vote on the Budget for Policing Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:19:57 PM
Dear Jeremy and Andrew,
I'm sharing with you the message that I sent my Councilman Jeremiah Ellison. Your support on this very important matter would equally be appreciated. Thank you for listening to the concerns of me and my family.
Best,
Karen Karen Kelley-Ariwoola 612-267-1235 mobile [email protected]
------Forwarded message ------From: Karen Kelley-Ariwoola
Dear Jeremiah,
I am a 25+ year resident of WIllard Hay. My husband and I have raised two Black males from birth in this neighborhood. We are fearful about the current level of violence and the lack of police protection in our neighborhood and broader community.
Over the past several months I have followed the debate regarding "defunding the police" and have become increasingly distraught over the polarization on such an important issue. Recently a line in your Dec. 2, 2020 opinion piece in the STRIB caught my eye and has troubled me more and more each day. You said "the goal of any public safety strategy is to ensure everyone makes it home safe at the end of the day." When I read that, the thought that kept coming to my mind is that framing is far from my expectation of public safety--it represents the absolute lowest common denominator in this current debate. As one of your constituents, I want you to know that. As a mother of two Black males in their early twenties, I want them to live in a safe, vibrant, caring, healthy, loving, culturally-affirming community. Safety is the fundamental condition but the thought that our goal is just to get to and from home safely every day, is far less than what I want as a resident of North Minneapolis.
The violence in Minneapolis has reached a ridiculous level. Hardly a day goes by when we don't hear gunshots in my neighborhood. My husband and my Black male children are often fearful. As I Black mother living in North Minneapolis, I am increasingly living in fear. If my children are not at home when I hear gunshots I frequently call and/or text them to say "wait a while before you come home" or "don't come down Plymouth" or "avoid Penn." I've called 911 many times and been put on hold. I rarely see the police in my immediate neighborhood. I've consistently had to remind my children to keep their car doors locked due to the increase in carjackings, to be vigilant at all times about their surroundings, and to keep their music turned down so they can hear gunshots. My husband goes to work late and comes home early. I've started watching him walk to his car at night to be sure he is safe. And yes, we too have experienced the scary side of policing in Minneapolis--my sons have been followed, racially profiled and yes pulled over for nothing. Our entire family (with one of our sons driving) was followed one night and pulled over for "having our brights on" on a foggy night with poor visibility; we knew we were pulled over because our Black son was the driver. My entire family is afraid of getting that one police officer that has a vendetta against Black people or is just having a bad day. But we also fear not having good police officers present when we need them most. We want a system of policing in Minneapolis that responds to both of these needs.
Yes, I want my family and my neighbors to "make it home safe at the end of the day" but I want so much more. I want a safe and vibrant community where police do not have to be feared but indeed are committed to "serve AND protect." I want the young children in our community to not see a police officer and immediately be afraid. I want the police to have the resources and support to do their jobs effectively. I want to know that when I call the police they have enough human and financial resources to respond immediately.
I also support the need for mental health support working in tandem with police. As a longtime northsider and someone who works and shops on W. Broadway, I've frequently observed the need that many of our neighbors have for mental health support. I've intervened in situations myself. I've also observed a seemingly "mental health" situation turn into a violent one in a matter of minutes. I don't think an either/or approach is enough--we need both great policing and great mental health supports.
My "ask" of you as my family's representative on the Minneapolis City Council is to:
1. Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots (mental health and violence prevention) through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. Both are needed!
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One of 2021 - let him do his job.
3. Vote "no" on Council Member Schroeder’s alternative to funding the $5 million in police overtime with contingency money that the Chief will have to come back and ask for in 2021 with no guarantee.
What my family wants is a more just public safety approach AND to rebuild police protection that is essential to stopping our current levels of unprecedented violence while giving new programs a chance to succeed. We are counting on your support for our needs as your constituents. Thank you for hearing and responding to our needs and concerns.
Sincerely, Karen
Karen Kelley-Ariwoola 612-267-1235 mobile [email protected] From: Pam Reierson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Fwd: Minneapolis Police Department Budget, 2021 Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 2:02:26 AM
Mr. Jeremy Schroeder. Member, Minneapolis City Council
Dear Mr. Schroeder.
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Pam Reierson
Please support Mayor Jacob Frey’s recommended 2021 budget for the Minneapolis Police Department. We need the full complement of officers Mayor Frey has requested. We need full funding for overtime. We need funding for three recruitment classes in 2021.
As a strong liberal I have, for over 50 years, deliberately supported the city of Minneapolis as much as possible by shopping at businesses in Minneapolis, eating at restaurants in Minneapolis, volunteering in a Minneapolis Elementary School, etc. Our bank is in Minneapolis. Our church is in Minneapolis, a number of our doctors practice in Minneapolis....
I cannot continue to do this if I am not safe in the city or driving through it. Already, my husband and I have made significant changes in our patterns of behavior by choosing to avoid Minneapolis, whether for purchases, eating in our favorite restaurants, visiting cultural institutions, etc. Once the vital and still necessary Covid 19 restrictions are have been lifted and it is safe to do so from a health standpoint, I look forward to returning to Orchestra Hall, the Guthrie Theater, art museums, my favorite restaurants, businesses, garden centers etc.,. Unfortunately, I cannot do this without my feeling that it is safe for me to do so. I will not feel safe if the budget for the Minneapolis Police Department is cut back.
Other funds can be used to develop carefully and fund additional programs, e.g, The Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Minneapolis CommunitySafety Innovation Fund, extra money from the general fund, returns from City investments. I definitely support CAREFULLY considered development of programs for violence prevention, mental health crises, etc.. But, please not at the cost of endangering so significantly the safety of all of us who live in or support the City of Minneapolis. We need full funding of the Minneapolis Police Department budget as recommended by Mayor Frey.
I close by adding the quotation from Sondra Samuels that was published in the December 6, Sunday, Star Tribune (section A, p. 5): “What they are trying to do is to dismantle the police. And in so doing, they are dismantling the city.”
I urge you to do whatever you can to prevent the “dismantling” or demise of the city of Minneapolis.
Respectfully yours,
Pam Reierson [email protected]
Sent from my iPhone From: David Novak To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Fwd: Tangletown demands pragmatic leadership! tick tock Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:37:23 PM
Mr. Schroeder,
I am writing again, to make sure you fully understand how serious we in Tangletown are about this. We cannot afford any misstep in our wishes below. My Citizen app is blowing up with crime reports like never before and now that it is right in front of us, on our very streets, we are taking action. The MPD must be supported fully in addition to the many creative community services that can fill enormous needs in counseling, mental health, housing, etc.
Please assure us that you fully support our position as outlined before and assure us that this will be your position in the budget.
We are a 21 year family in TT, still raising our kids here. We love our hood and need to know it will be safe.
David J. Novak 5123 Wentworth Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55419
Begin forwarded message:
From: Rick Reuter
Thanks, Jeremy. We appreciate you listening to us, but frankly speaking, in order to get us to the right place and to truly address the rising levels of crime in our city, we need even more from you. We can fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, while also funding new pilot programs we all so desperately want. We need you to back the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
1. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Sincerely, Tangletown
On Sat, Dec 5, 2020 at 8:37 PM Schroeder, Jeremy
Hi everybody,
Thanks for sending this along and thanks for coming together for the meeting on Wednesday. Glad you see the amendment I authored as a step in the right direction and I’ll keep working with my colleagues as well as the Mayor to get a budget that fulfills everyone’s commitment to transform MPD as well as address the high level of crime now.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder
Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211
Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Rick Reuter
Jeremy,
We wanted to follow-up from our meeting Wednesday evening with the rest of the Tangletown neighbors.
As we discussed, our neighborhood strongly supports advancing police reform and providing greater mental health resources, but we MUST ENSURE we maintain adequate resourcing to the policing needs of today as outlined by Chief Arrodondo. Crime continues to escalate against our neighbors everyday. We need to meet overtime needs and we need to maintain the targeted levels of officers as recommended by the Chief. It is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that we imminently address rising crime levels amid declining officers and do everything we can to increase our patrols.
After Wednesday evening's City Council meeting it was clear that there is great passion and care for the future of the city and it was also clear that there are people who are deeply hurting and looking for retribution. Unfortunately, certain council members such as the Council's President are more focused on fanning the flames of divide for their own political gain than they are on bringing our city together. Their games to create a scripted vocal minority may play well on Twitter and national news headlines but it is not the leadership we need to bring our city together.
Although we were disappointed to see this in the scripted groups they brought forward, we were encouraged to read in the Star Tribune of your proposal to use $5M from the general fund to support our policing needs. We appreciate you listening to us and we ask that you continue to do so.
We need a budget/plan that addresses current levels of rising crime on our streets today with more patrols - and we have yet to see one. Please do more to ensure our safety.
AS YOU KNOW, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality.
Regards,
Tangletown Residents From: Shirley Heyer To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: Fwd: We need your vote today! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:49:02 PM
------Forwarded message ------From: Shirley Heyer
Vote for the Mayor's safety as proposed: 1) new census mandates city charter of .0017 police staff per resident 2) this is almost 800 staff, not the 750 proposed by Bender, Fletcher and Cunningham 3) 800 still leaves Minneapolis short of the nationally recommended 1,000 staff for cities of Minneapolis' size 4) keep Community Safety Officers in precinct buildings to enhance communication, cooperation, coordination. 5) stop the illusion of Mobile Mental Health teams being available with medical staff and facilities short and occupied with COVID 2. 6) support the Chief's request for expanding Hennepin County's successful Co-Responders program partnering with Minneapolis.
Sincerely, Shirley Heyer, south Minneapolis resident (Powderhorn Park 1 year, Midtown Phillips 50 years), Lesbian Resource Center 10 years, Midtown Phillip's Neighborhood Association Inc. 40 years. From: Gail Billingsley To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Give us more police! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 5:02:30 AM
You’ve been hearing this for months - today you must act to protect your constituents! It is your job and your responsibility. We all NEED to be safer, and a fully-funded police department is the first step. Reforms and improvements can be implemented AFTER this basic action. Please vote today to support our police! -Gail Billingsley From: Kristine Novak To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Help! Tangletown demands pragmatic leadership! tick tock Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:59:29 AM
Mr. Schroeder,
I completely concur with all of the sentiments below. I have also lived in Tangletown for over 20 years, and I am completely dismayed with the increased crime in south Minneapolis. My husband, children and I no longer feel safe. Supporting the MPD and supporting the community are not mutually exclusive, but most importantly, reduction in crime cannot happen with a reduced police force.
I love this city, but our current crime levels make living here untenable.
Kris Novak Tangletown resident since 1999
From: David Novak
Mr. Schroeder,
I am writing again, to make sure you fully understand how serious we in Tangletown are about this. We cannot afford any misstep in our wishes below. My Citizen app is blowing up with crime reports like never before and now that it is right in front of us, on our very streets, we are taking action. The MPD must be supported fully in addition to the many creative community services that can fill enormous needs in counseling, mental health, housing, etc.
Please assure us that you fully support our position as outlined before and assure us that this will be your position in the budget.
We are a 21 year family in TT, still raising our kids here. We love our hood and need to know it will be safe.
David J. Novak 5123 Wentworth Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55419 Begin forwarded message:
From: Rick Reuter
Thanks, Jeremy. We appreciate you listening to us, but frankly speaking, in order to get us to the right place and to truly address the rising levels of crime in our city, we need even more from you. We can fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, while also funding new pilot programs we all so desperately want. We need you to back the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
1. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job. 3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Sincerely, Tangletown
On Sat, Dec 5, 2020 at 8:37 PM Schroeder, Jeremy
Hi everybody,
Thanks for sending this along and thanks for coming together for the meeting on Wednesday. Glad you see the amendment I authored as a step in the right direction and I’ll keep working with my colleagues as well as the Mayor to get a budget that fulfills everyone’s commitment to transform MPD as well as address the high level of crime now.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder
Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council
350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211
Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Rick Reuter
Jeremy,
We wanted to follow-up from our meeting Wednesday evening with the rest of the Tangletown neighbors.
As we discussed, our neighborhood strongly supports advancing police reform and providing greater mental health resources, but we MUST ENSURE we maintain adequate resourcing to the policing needs of today as outlined by Chief Arrodondo. Crime continues to escalate against our neighbors everyday. We need to meet overtime needs and we need to maintain the targeted levels of officers as recommended by the Chief. It is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that we imminently address rising crime levels amid declining officers and do everything we can to increase our patrols.
After Wednesday evening's City Council meeting it was clear that there is great passion and care for the future of the city and it was also clear that there are people who are deeply hurting and looking for retribution. Unfortunately, certain council members such as the Council's President are more focused on fanning the flames of divide for their own political gain than they are on bringing our city together. Their games to create a scripted vocal minority may play well on Twitter and national news headlines but it is not the leadership we need to bring our city together.
Although we were disappointed to see this in the scripted groups they brought forward, we were encouraged to read in the Star Tribune of your proposal to use $5M from the general fund to support our policing needs. We appreciate you listening to us and we ask that you continue to do so.
We need a budget/plan that addresses current levels of rising crime on our streets today with more patrols - and we have yet to see one. Please do more to ensure our safety.
AS YOU KNOW, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality.
Regards,
Tangletown Residents From: Lara Norkus-Crampton To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: I support Chief Rondo & his expertise. Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:33:58 PM
Dear CM Schroeder,
As an Uptown resident with many friends in South Minneapolis, Philips and Seward, I have personally witnessed and heard many frightening details regarding recent thefts, shootings, muggings, car jacking, vandalism, drag racing, arson, and even terrorism from outside groups like the Boogaloo Bois— who all seem to have received the message that Minneapolis is under-served by effective policing.
Rogue officers who do not respect Minneapolis residents or are a danger to the people they are supposed to be serving, especially people of color, need to be disciplined and/or charged for their overreaches or crimes.
But cutting the police budget at a time when violent crime rates are going up and even Northside residents are suing the city because of inadequate policing seems tone deaf and irresponsible.
I urge you to please support the Mayor’s Budget.
Keep Community Policing & Engagement programs within MPD, especially the Community Crime Specialists. The Neighborhood Community Relations Dept is NOT a place for these professionals. We need and they need direct interaction to foster communication & Coordination w/community.
The Chief asked for 3 Training Classes. Not one and then having to beg the City Council for 2 more. This seems like a gesture of disrespect for our first Black police chief who grew up right here in Minneapolis and knows the city.
Regarding Mental Health - Expand the Co Responders Program and work with Hennepin County to expand the COPE program.
THIS is what is recommended by the Mental Health industry. COVID prevents in-person visits at this time. The industry and the Barbara Schneider Foundation have been working with the Chief and with the County.
I support Chief Rondo and the Mayor's budget.
Thank you for considering!
Sincerely, Lara Norkus-Crampton
Sent from my iPhone From: Glenn Galen To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: I support funding the Mayor"s proposed budget for police Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:18:11 PM
I am concerned about the city council moves to reduce police funding.
Crime is up. We need good, responsible police.
I support reform. And I support fully funding the Minneapolis Police Department.
Glenn Galen 5229 16th Ave South From: Danielle Bylund To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Subject: I Support the People"s Budget and Reimagining Public Safety Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:15:47 AM
Good Morning,
You are going to read a lot of talking points and canned emails today from both sides. This is not one of those. I am a Black woman that lives and works in the Twin Cities and my work is located in North Minneapolis. I work directly with the communities that are undergoing traumatic violence that is ongoing there.
Police will not solve that violence.
We are in the throws of the largest public health crisis in modern history, a culture divided by racist rhetoric, and an economic downturn that has disproportionately affected BIPOC communities. All of the ills of a poorly managed federal response to the COVID–19 crisis is falling on the shoulders of the poor and communities of color. Cops will not fix this. According to a recent study from the Wilder Foundation, 83% of Black families in the state of Minnesota are experiencing food insecurity.
How many meals could $8 million buy?
However you reallocate the funds from the police budget, I know that those dollars will go farther to create a safer, healthier Minneapolis than to give the MPD more overtime.
Over the weekend we saw another unarmed Black man shot, this one naked, his Blackness likely his only threat to officers. We also saw Proud Boys and other white supremacists protesting to overturn an election and public health initiatives, likely from out of state and the metro. Their safety was protected by a line of state police in riot gear, the police stance in opposition to counterprotestors. This is the reality of daily life in the Twin Cities, a continued adversarial position between the police and the people that they are paid to protect.
We have to acknowledge that this isn't working. That the current system of policing is polluted by a history of property protection and not the protection of human life. I am disturbed by muggings and property crime as much as anyone in the metro, but I want the lives of Black and brown people to matter more than broken windows and lost property.
Finally, before you discount this email as being from someone who is a far-left radical, I am a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. I served my country for seven years and I believe in the rule of law, democracy, and the role of duly-elected politicians to have the expertise and power to advocate for their constituents. I do not believe that defunding the police is a radical stance, I think it is an innovative one and it places trust in communities to understand their own needs. According to a recent poll from MPR and the Star Tribune, "...the poll of 800 registered Minneapolis voters conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling found that nearly three-fourths — 73 percent — said Minneapolis should redirect funding from the police department to mental health, drug treatment or violence prevention programs."
Cops can't put a roof over the head of an unhoused child, guns don't fill empty bellies, and armed patrols don't heal trauma.
Thank you for your time and I hope that you read this with all of the respect I have for the process and the needs of my community's safety.
Best,
Danielle Bylund she/her/hers From: Laurie Helling To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: Tom Helling Subject: Imminent city coucil vote Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:29:05 PM
Dear Councilman Schroeder,
My husband and I are both lifelong residents of Minneapolis and our 3 daughters have all chosen to raise their families in the city. Two are residents of your ward and one lives in greater Powderhorn. They no longer feel safe in their neighborhood, have experienced crime personally and have grave concerns about continuing to live in Minneapolis. Family and friends from around the country have express concerns about our living in Minneapolis. We are personally aware of many incidents of crime and assaults in our neighborhood, and the lack of the police ability to respond is distressing. Please vote to insure the vitality of Minneapolis, by funding to provide an effective, well trained police force:
1. Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Crime is NOT a perception in South Minneapolis, it is a horrific reality. Please vote as requested.
Thank you for your work.
Laurie Helling
5005 Aldrich Ave. So.
Minneapolis
612.618.8909
612-618-8909 From: Rachel M Dick To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Invest in communities, not policing Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:35:00 PM
Dear Council members and staff,
I am writing to express my support for the Safety for All Plan without changes to weaken it. I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 and 2, as proposed by Council members Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and pass the People’s Budget. It is time to divest from violent policing and invest in a pilot program that could keep our city safer for generations to come. Violence prevention, mental health support, and alternative safety responses are the solution, not more moderate reforms like those that failed to prevent the murder of George Floyd.
As you consider how to amend the mayor’s budget, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K)
Co-Responders ($685K)
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K)
Additional Overtime ($5M)
I want you to reallocate from MPD’s $179M proposed budget and, instead, fund the things our community needs:
Access to low-income housing
Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
Direct economic relief Support for people experiencing homelessness, especially as winter approaches
Minneapolis has failed its Black residents for generations. It’s time for change, and time to put our money where our values are.
Sincerely, Rachel Dick UMN Twin Cities graduate student From: Tess Dornfeld To: Council Comment; [email protected] Cc: Brock, Lisa A; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Gordon, Cam A.; Olsen, Nancy M.; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Smith, Mikayla; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Salami, Adedotun Y; Ellison, Jeremiah; Hans, Dani; Sharif-Abdinassir, Maryan; Bender, Lisa; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Erazmus, Kristina; Schroeder, Jeremy; Moua, MaiTeng; Sadler, Patrick A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Gangelhoff, Sara Subject: Invest in real community needs, not MPD Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:31:47 PM
Dear Councilmembers, No amount of funding for mental health response and violence prevention will stop MPD from continuing to murder and brutalize our residents.
Signing off on the MPD budget the Mayor and the Chief have requested sends the message that MPD should keep doing exactly what they're doing. Where is the accountability not just for the murder of George Floyd and all the other victims of police killings and brutality, but for the petty and dangerous retaliation MPD has embarked on this year?
The Safety for All proposal is a 4% cut to MPD's requested budget. Four percent. At a time of unprecedented global crisis, a four percent cut should not even need discussion. And a department that can't cope with such a marginal budget reduction only demonstrates that it cannot manage resources responsibly, as MPD has already shown over and over.
The programs and investments proposed by Safety for All and the People's Budget remove responsibilities from MPD, responsibilities they have said themselves they are not the most appropriate department for. If they are being tasked with fewer responsibilities, why in the world would they be given the same amount of funding? It's very simple. They should have less work, and so they should have less money too.
To weaken the Safety for All proposal with one-time funding and temporary hires does not lay a foundation for these programs to succeed, and when they don't, MPD will try to claim again that they are the solution. But what happens when giving them their full budget request fails again too? We have had decades of failure from MPD, and decades of half-hearted, underfunded, unsustainable attempts at reform.
If this is not the time to take the first steps toward effective, evidence-based, community- supported alternatives, I don't know what will be. Parts one and two of the Safety for All proposal are the bare minimum of the path we need to take, and they must be properly funded. MPD has never been the right answer for so many of our community's needs, and they should not be paid to keep responding with more violence and harm.
Tess Dornfeld Minneapolis From: CUAPB Minneapolis To: Council Comment; Cano, Alondra (External); Jenkins, Andrea; Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Reich, Kevin A.; Palmisano, Linea; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Fletcher, Steve Cc: Sue Abderholden Subject: Joint Statement from NAMI Minnesota and CUAPB on Mental Health Crisis Response Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 11:43:31 AM Attachments: Joint Statement NAMI CUAPB.pdf
Please see the attached statement from NAMI Minnesota and CUAPB regarding mental health crisis proposals being considered by the city. Thank you.
-- Communities United Against Police Brutality 4200 Cedar Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55407 24-hour hotline: 612.874.7867 [email protected] CUAPB on Facebook cuapb.org
December 4, 2020
Minneapolis City Council Members 350 South 5th Street, Room 307 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415
RE: “Safety for All” Budget Recommendations Joint Statement
Dear City Council Members:
We strongly believe that there is a need for a mental health response to mental health crisis calls. It is critical that the city council take steps to implement an effective response.
After reading the Safety for All Budget Plan we have serious concerns with the inclusion of EMS personnel on the response teams. EMTs and paramedics do not have extensive training on mental health issues and thus shifting funds will dilute the ability of the teams to meet the needs of people experiencing mental health crises. As you know there have been problems with the use of ketamine which have created issues of mistrust. It’s important to note that under MN Stat. 256B.0624, subd. 5, EMTs and paramedics do not meet the requirements for mobile mental health crisis responders.
The language in the Safety for All plan indicates that the teams will only respond to “nonthreatening” calls, a vague term. In addition, the OPI pilot states that the teams will respond to calls that “don’t involve a weapon and don’t pose an immediate risk to self or others.” Both sets of language imply that the teams will not respond to suicide calls when those are the exact calls that need a mental health crisis team response, not a police response. Even in those situations in which a person has threatened others or has a weapon, co-response should be utilized. This would place a mental health professional on the scene and available to take over the call once the scene is safe.
We are in agreement with the proposed expenditures for training 911 call center staff and embedding a mental health professional in the 911 call center to ensure that staff gain proficiency in recognizing these calls and handing them off to the mobile mental health crisis response unit. We also appreciate that the Safety for All plan calls for extended hours rather than the shorter hours of 10 am to 6 pm in the OPI proposal.
As the city considers implementation options, there should be strong consideration of contracting with the Hennepin County Mobile Crisis Team (COPE) to quickly ramp up the ability to respond to mental health crises within the city. Time and funds to develop infrastructure would not be needed if there is a contract with Hennepin County. COPE uses the Epic medical records system, which is interoperable with hospital medical records systems.
Our organizations stand ready to assist in the implementation of a city-wide dedicated mental health crisis response service that will unburden the Minneapolis Police Department from a significant number of calls while ensuring that people experiencing mental health crises get the quality of response they need.
Sincerely,
/s/ Sue Abderholden /s/ Michelle Gross
Sue Abderholden Michelle Gross Executive Director President NAMI Minnesota Communities United Against Police Brutality
From: Abby Frank Taylor To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Leave Safety for All as is! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:47:24 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I am a resident in Ward 10, but I am emailing today because I am concerned about the watered down Safety for All plan that you are supporting.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
We are asking you to stay true to your word and put the city's money where it is needed most.
Thank you, Abby Frank Taylor
-- Abby Frank Taylor Pronouns: she/her/hers Program Associate, Propel Nonprofits | Minneapolis, MN Certified Stott Pilates Instructor Creative Professional | Performer | Instructor From: Jamie Ronnei To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Frey, Jacob; Council Comment Subject: Let"s reclaim Minneapolis public safety. FULLY FUND the MPD AND fund alternatives. Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:00:35 PM
Hello -
Today is the day.
As a Minneapolis resident, born and raised here, I am pleading with you to do the right thing today, and support our MPD Chief Arradondo. Please keep all policing funds intact from Mayor Frey’s well reasoned, responsible 2021 city budget proposal.
We need our MPD, now more than ever. The lawlessness and nihilistic violence in our city is well out of hand. Violent crime absolutely requires a robust, well-funded police response.
At the same time, our city has a responsibility to head off violence before it begins. Furthermore, we have a responsibility to broaden our definition of public safety for all by coming up with programs to best address crises with the most appropriate responses.
There is absolutely no reason we can not have both. Minneapolis has never been more dangerous than it is right now. This is on you. We can fix this, but not by creating artificial and false choices, by purposely seeking division over cooperation. We must work together, and we can only solve our existential crisis through supporting, reforming, and improving traditional law enforcement AND creating and validating new supplemental and alternative proposals.
We can not find new paradigms while suffering unprecedented violent crime. We must first support our police to reduce crime, and then, when public safety is restored, we can begin the hard task of improving the whole structure.
Why not make Minneapolis the safest city out there, by supporting our MPD AND supporting supplemental alternatives.
Please FULLY FUND the MPD.
Thank you,
James Ronnei Ward 13 From: Mike Samuelson To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Listen to the People and Support our neighborhoods Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 6:02:15 PM
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Mike Samuelson From: Jim Burke To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Mayor"s Budget - Palmisano/Jenkins Budget Amendment Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:10:25 AM
Dear Council Member Schroeder:
We are residents of Tangletown and are your constituents. Crime in our neighborhood has gone up considerably this year. This crime includes carjackings that have happened just a few block from our home.
We are very concerned about the crime and feel unsafe in our neighborhood. We and our neighbors have discussed this and many are considering moving if things do not improve. This is very concerning and sad. We love our neighborhood and the City of Minneapolis.
We are closely watching the budget debate and funding for the MPD. We appreciate you moving away from the Safety For All Amendment and looking at other solutions. We strongly encourage you to fully fund the Mayor’s police budget and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. We do not want you to restrict Police Chief Arrandondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Offices and $5 million additional funding for overtime. We also ask that you remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
We are asking you to support the Palmisano/Jenkins budget amendment when it come up for a vote today. We appreciate your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
Deb and Jim Burke 5030 Stevens Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55419 From: Jeanette V To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Mental Health deserves full support Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:00:21 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
As a school counselor for Minneapolis Public Schools, I have had to rely on calling the police when I would rather call a trained mental health professional. It is not fair to our students, youth or families to continue to invest only half heartedly in a program to support mental health.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Please feel free to contact me at 763 227 0628 or [email protected].
Thank you, Jeanette Vyhanek
------Jeanette Vyhanek 763-227-0628
Virus-free. www.avast.com From: Joseph Edwards To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Message from a constituent re: defunding the MPD Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:08:13 AM
Dear Council Member Schroeder,
My name is Joseph Edwards, and I live in the Wenonah neighborhood of Ward 11. In the wake of the nationwide protests in response to the murder of George Floyd, I have felt compelled to address systemic police violence in this country, starting in my locality. Since the 1931 Wickersham Report and 1968 Kerner Commission, the racial bias of American police departments has been a matter of public record. The Kerner report declared more than 50 years ago that “legislative successes… [have not been] reflected in the daily lives of African-Americans facing police misconduct,” and that racism, housing segregation, and economic inequality are major drivers of police brutality. In spite of this, police departments have actively resisted reform. Time after time, they have leveraged the power of police unions and legal structures like qualified immunity in order to prioritize officers’ job security over the safety of communities they have pledged to serve. In other words, police in this nation care more about crafting a system that protects their jobs at all costs than doing their jobs well. It’s high time we seriously reconsidered the role that police have in our society, starting here with our community. Police departments take almost 36% of Minneapolis’ budget, leaving less room for healthcare, education, and other public services. We are all living through the same pandemic, and have seen firsthand the danger of not making healthcare a priority (USA accounts for 28% of global coronavirus deaths, despite representing only 4.25% of global population). 1,167 deaths from that statistic were from here in Hennepin County alone. We also all have seen the same footage of police officers across the country – from New York to Minneapolis to Atlanta to Denver to Los Angeles – repeatedly reacting to non-threatening protesters with violence and almost never being held accountable. I do not want my tax dollars to go towards police beating those who express their first-amendment rights against police brutality. I am willing, however, to pay for systemic overhaul guided by a different vision of a healthy community: one where we are not reliant on the threat of violence to ensure public safety. You have the power to do what all 50 states and several other countries know to be the right thing. I am writing to you today to demand several actions on the part of your office:
1. Institute several strict policy reforms that are informed by data to lessen the negative impacts of policing on society:
a. Regarding use of force (an example of this policy can be found at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55ad38b1e4b0185f0285195f/t/5deffeb7e827c13873eaf07c/1576009400070/Campaign+Zero+Model+Use+of+Force+Policy.pdf or United States of America v. Police Department of City of Baltimore Consent Decree, Section VII):
i. Require officers to first use de-escalation methods before turning to force whenever possible;
ii. Ban all chokeholds and strangleholds;
iii. Require officers to intervene and stop excessive force used by other officers and report these instances;
iv. Restrict officers from shooting at moving vehicles;
v. Develop a matrix that creates different tiers that correspond with specific levels of force and their respective accepted instances of implementation (also know as a force continuum);
vi. Require officers to exhaust all other reasonable means before resorting to deadly force;
vii. Require officers to give a verbal warning before shooting whenever possible;
viii. Require officers to report each time they both use force, and threaten to use force, including unholstering and/or directing a weapon at someone; and
ix. Require officers to justify not just the decision to use force, but each additional measure of force (i.e. each additional shot, blow, spray, electric shock, etc.).
b. Regarding transparency and accountability:
i. Remove clauses in police union contracts that are inimical to accountability (and, therefore, the ability of the police to perform their job), including but not limited to those that:
1. Allow an officer to appeal a termination as a result of civil rights violations;
2. Disqualify misconduct complaints against an officer after a certain period of time;
3. Restrict when, how, or where officers can be interrogated after being involved in an incident;
4. Give officers access to information that is not privy to civilians before their interrogations;
5. Place the burden of officer misconduct on the taxpayer by giving officers paid leave while under investigation and paying legal fees and the cost of settlements;
6. Prevent past misconduct information from appearing on an officer’s personnel file;
7. Limit disciplinary structures and consequences for officers; and
8. Limit the capacity of civilian and/or media structures to hold the police accountable.
ii. Institute a civilian review board that has the power to enforce their decisions;
iii. Make body and dashboard cameras mandatory, as well as:
1. Require them to be on and recording at all times; and
2. Require their footage easily accessible to the civilian review board and any other accountability infrastructure.
iv. Allow public access to the following:
1. Comprehensive police policy, not including what will endanger undercover police; and
2. Both raw data and statistical analysis provided quarterly, similar to what the Department of Justice uses to monitor the Baltimore City Police Department, as outlined in United States of America v. Police Department of City of Baltimore Consent Decree, Section VII, Part E, Section XIV, Part K, and Section XIX, Part D.
v. Promote and make as accessible as possible the civilian complaint process, including but not limited to actions such as:
1. Remove language and disability barriers to submitting a complaint, including publishing instructions on how to submit a complaint in multiple languages, and make said translations as accessible as English versions;
2. Remove any language that could be interpreted by any reasonable person as discouraging filing a complaint (i.e. warnings that filing a false complaint might bear legal ramifications) within or in the proximity of complaint literature;
3. Include in a visible location on the police department’s website clear, easy-to-follow instructions for submitting a complaint and the process after submission, along with a video explaining the process;
4. Make immediately visible upon entry into any police department building media explaining the civilian complaint process; and
5. Include a tracking system for complaints (such as a QR code) such that civilians are able to remain updated on the status of their complaints.
2. Implement budget reforms that have the ultimate goal of re-distributing the police budget to other public services that promote equality and overall community health:
a. Immediately commence designing, in conjunction with communities most negatively affected by police presence, a plan to defund the police system over a period of several years, and to invest the money removed from the police’s budget into services such as but not limited to:
i. Housing preservation and development;
ii. Homeless services;
iii. Education;
iv. Healthcare, including mental health care;
v. Youth and community development;
vi. Mental health first responders;
vii. Addiction counseling;
viii. Violence interruption programs;
ix. Trauma specialists;
x. Unarmed traffic enforcers; and
xi. Other public services designed to increase community well-being.
b. While said plan is being designed, commit to not raising the police department’s budget, and re-allocating from within their existing budget whatever funds necessary to enact the reforms outlined in Point 1, primarily funds that are used to militarize police.
For clarification: all reforms listed in Point 1 are to be instituted immediately. In line with our ultimate commitment to defunding the police and reinvesting in community-oriented methods of improving public safety, there should be no increases to police budgets in order to enact these reforms. Their sole purpose is reducing the ability of the police department to continue to oppress so many community members while your government moves to sustainably defund the police and invest in the community (Point 2). In creating this policy, I also ask that you implement time constraints or other measures to ensure that everything is done in a timely manner, and there is no delaying or stalling. On top of reforms in Point 1, I ask that your office uses other data-driven accountability measures that focus on reducing disparities among demographic groups (especially those with a history of being subject to police mistreatment), instances of use of physical force and threatening to use physical force, community complaints, and lawsuits. I, the taxpayer, am not willing to let my dollars go towards paying settlements for police violations of civil liberties. I ask that you listen to the public and the pain that some of our communities are in. How does assigning a public official–one who actively views killing someone as a possible and acceptable outcome of their job–to be one of the most visible ambassadors of public services and taxpayer dollars create anything close to a safe and healthy community? Would that role not be better served by someone who views their community members as people, not potential criminals? This is a systemic problem, and you were elected to be part of the solution. This movement will bring about an unprecedented wave of attention to local politics, which is you. Do not be limited by lack of precedent or imagination in your mission to serve our community.
Sincerely, Joseph Edwards From: MARK ABELN To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Minneapolis budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:52:37 AM
Jeremy,
Just a quick note to ask that you fully fund the Mayor’s police budget. I know we can also implement other public safety measures. Remember it is not an "either or “ but "both and”.
Thanks,
Mark Abeln 131 W Minnehaha Pkwy Mpls, MN 55419 From: Ted Stern To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Minneapolis Police Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:04:52 PM
Dear Mr. Schroeder:
I am contacting you once again to express my disappointment regarding the proposed reduction/redistribution/community advocacy reuse of police department funding. In support of the Minneapolis police officers in our precinct, our neighborhood is banding together to deliver holiday lunches to let the officers know their work and the dangers they face daily are so very appreciated. In my mind the “toxic relationship” referenced could as easily be attributed to a long term lack of police support from the city council. I feel it would be very disheartening to be a current Minneapolis police officer, whom all appear to all be being penalized for the incredibly bad behavior of few. I have never voted outside of the democratic ticket in my 30 years in Minneapolis, but the next city council election could be a game changer.
Please consider alternative options.
Thank you,
Ted Stern 5017 Gladstone Ave 612-702-1871
From: Bob Dorich To: Reich, Kevin A.; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Arradondo, Medaria; Frey, Jacob Subject: Minneapolis Police Dept Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 9:16:21 AM
PLEASE SUPPORT THE MAYOR’S BUDGET, related to the Police Dept budget.
Do not cut more than the $14 million for the Police Dept that is already proposed in the Mayor’s budget.
Please stop undermining the effectiveness of the Police Dept and its mission of providing public safety to ALL residents of Minneapolis.
Instead of cutting the Police Dept’s budget, the City Council needs to get on TV and apologize for making the pledge to abolish the Police Dept and being the spark to the current lawlessness in Minneapolis.
Bob Dorich 9th Ward – Minneapolis
From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: Minneapolis Police Funding Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:39:44 PM
Good morning Council Members Schroeder and Johnson,
I am writing in full support of the Mayor's police budget. As an African American family, while we don't live in Minneapolis, we work, shop, go to church, and volunteer in Minneapolis daily! Since the death of George Floyd, I have watched how events have unfolded in our community - some good- some not so good.
What gives me greatest concern is that we will approach a year after the murder of George Floyd and will not have a verdict for George Floyd's murder, nor demonstrated a sensible approach to policing in the city of Minneapolis. The entire country is watching us and using this topic to literally destroy elections.
I find it unfathomble we don't have the capacity to strengthen our police departments by giving them the needed resources and training needed to do the job of keeping all communities safe, AND to think differently about what additional collaboration and support is needed for non violent behaviors.
The slogan "Defund the Police" has taken on a life of its own and is not even close to what many, if not the majority of law abiding citizens want. What we would like to see is Minneapolis model what a police department looks like that seeks to protect and serve with unbiased and equitable practices; what a police force looks like with a union that is designed to support their team members and not a platform for an authoritarian who doesn't have the best interest of the community being served; a police force that is clear on what they can /should do, and partnering with communnities and organizations to fill in the gaps.
Minneapolis finally has a police chief that is capable and willing to lead with integrity, care and concern for everyone. He is willing to model the behavior and make the hard calls. Most importantly he has the respect of those who matter most.
Minneapolis, try demonstrating for the country that you won't let petty, personal political agendas keep you from consensus. Show that this isn't an either or - you can fund the Mayor’s police budget, and test new pilots through this proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund I have read about. Corporations do it all the time. New initiatives and pilots are the lifeline of successful organizations and leaders!!!
I have been reading about the Houston Police Chief and other cities where they are showing success rethinking how best to police their communities. Is someone talking to those cities?
Last, why is there a desire to restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new police officers and Community Service Officers? How will he do his job? Why is he not being positioned for success? This act alone feels misguided and biased!!! The currently Council President is not impressing many who are watching this. I hope and pray that common sense will prevail and Minneapolis will not become a spectacle of what a community does not want to become. Poor decisions can have major economic consequences.
Lezlie Taylor From: Daniel Reese To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Monday vote- Support our safety & Police Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:02:12 PM
Jeremy- It’s been a contentious year. One we look forward to moving forward from, but given the recent spate of crime in my Minneapolis neighborhood and lack of council support for police and safety, I worry about 2021. CarJackings and armed robbery’s within a block of my family’s nearest park playground, boarded up businesses lining commercial corridors? This is a direct result of the “defund” movements. I implore you to support the mayors budget (not the outside “defund” special interest groups flush with cash that are trying to usurp our city). Idealist concepts for public safety are not welcome and will not solve our current problems. Fancy names and monikers by these special interest groups are a false promise that will not work.
Please consider: 1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
This is a win-win. Clean and simple. The Chief gets what he needs (no strings attached) to start what will be a long rebuilding process. At the same time, we also begin to move towards new transformative public safety services that will bring the holistic approach we all require. This is where most of the rational public sits, the silent majority of us who are too busy contributing to society with our jobs and kids to have tome getting caught up in special interest politics, and we expect you will reflect our wishes with your vote. Thank you.
Dan Reese Minneapolis resident From: Susan Estes To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Monday’s Vote - Let’s Get This Right Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:10:54 AM
Mr Schroeder,
I live on Elmwood Pl in Tangletown next door to where the attempted car jacking happened the day after Thanksgiving. I watched it happen through my bedroom window. It makes you frightened to leave your home in a once safe neighborhood. Please consider the following and for once do something positive for your Ward.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
This is a win-win. Clean and simple. The Chief gets what he needs (no strings attached) to start what will be a long rebuilding process. At the same time, we also begin to move towards new transformative public safety services that will bring the holistic approach we all require. This is where most of Ward 11 sits, we expect you will reflect our wishes with your vote. Thank you.
Work with the Police Chief and Mayor who know better how to solve these problems than a council and chairperson who have no idea.
Thank you.
Susan Estes
Sent from my iPad From: Susie Passons To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: MONDAY’s VOTE Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:39:40 PM
Council Member Schroeder,
I am a victim of a carjacking and assault on October 23. I firmly believe that our police force is necessary to help get our city out of crisis mode. Without a fully funded and fully staffed police force, our city will continue to deteriorate. Residents and businesses will continue to move out, and our once thriving city will remain in an environment of danger and fear.
I urge you to vote in favor of funding the police budget at tomorrow’s vote.
Susie Passons
SUSIE PASSONS Home Stager + Interior Stylist
(612) 751-1017 www.susiepassons.com instagram | facebook | houzz From: Colette MacIver To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: MONDAY"S VOTE - LET"S GET THIS RIGHT! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:46:53 PM
I am resident of Ward 13 but still writing you re: the following points. The situation in Minneapolis is not remotely ok. Funding needs to be restored to the police. Changes within the force need to occur to address the racial slant that has been present for years, but I believe both can happen at the same time.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
This is a win-win. Clean and simple. The Chief gets what he needs (no strings attached) to start what will be a long rebuilding process. At the same time, we also begin to move towards new transformative public safety services that will bring the holistic approach we all require. This is where most of Ward 13 sits, we expect you will reflect our wishes with your vote. Thank you.
Colette MacIver From: Larry Harvey To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: MONDAY"S VOTE - LET"S GET THIS RIGHT! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:41:28 PM
Hello Jeremy;
We are all in this together. However the vote goes is what WE ARE ALL going to have to live with. If you vote against MPD, and the crime rates continue to increase, we are all going to have to move. Three nights ago, we were talking with a neighbor about the kind of gun to buy. Several years ago, I NEVER thought that would be a discussion I would be having with a neighbor and she is a woman. I have distributed ITAC screach alarms to several neighbors I know.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
This is a win-win. Clean and simple. The Chief gets what he needs (no strings attached) to start what will be a long rebuilding process. At the same time, we also begin to move towards new transformative public safety services that will bring the holistic approach we all require. This is where most of Ward 11 sits, we expect you will reflect our wishes with your vote. Thank you.
Don't get this wrong. If you and the Council members do, you will all be looking for jobs next year. Make a wise decision not for yourself but for US your neighbors or maybe soon not to be your neighbors. One other thought, have you noticed the increase in housing sales in S. Mpls? I have. Before the Floyd, nothing was selling because no one was interested. After that A LOT of houses went on the market. And of you check national statistics, you will find Minneapolis is a city may are leaving.
Best regards;
Larry Harvey - resident for 30+ years. From: Katie Westling To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: MONDAY"S VOTE - LET"S GET THIS RIGHT Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:52:39 AM
Please. We are begging you. We live here. We need the police, we want them here. We have to find a way to rebuild them with out dismantling them.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
This is a win-win. Clean and simple. The Chief gets what he needs (no strings attached) to start what will be a long rebuilding process. At the same time, we also begin to move towards new transformative public safety services that will bring the holistic approach we all require. This is where most of Ward 11 sits, we expect you will reflect our wishes with your vote. Thank you.
Katie Westling 612.868.5932 Sent from my iPhone Please excuse brevity and typos From: Emily Hennig To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Monday"s Vote - Please Fund the Police! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:04:00 PM
Hi Jeremy,
I am a resident of 14th and 52nd in the Hale neighborhood, and I'd like to thank you again for visiting with us (on your spouse's birthday, no less!) a few weeks back.
I wanted to be sure to reach out in light of today's budget vote. I'm deeply concerned with where the discourse has gone in our community and often find that it lacks the nuance that these situations often require. The fact of the matter is we have two fairly large problems that demand significant solutions: 1) the long and continuous struggle of systemic injustice and 2) the recent rise in violent crime, much of which is reaching our communities in South Minneapolis, yes, but has also been disproportionately affecting communities of color, especially in North Minneapolis.
We need a plan that acknowledges both challenges rather than turning it into an either/or. If we don't take care of the recent rise in crime first, I fear that we'll never be able to fully commit to the systemic changes we know we need. A continuation to this violence will only divide us further and kneecap the progress we could have made. To this end, I'm asking you to vote today considering the following:
1) Please, please, please vote to fund the Mayor's police budget fully. Those of us who live in your district and those who do not live in your district (like the people of North Minneapolis) need to be able to feel like we can leave our houses without the fear of being assaulted and having our cars stolen.
2) The Minneapolis Police Department has never had more pressure on it to change, and it's got the ideal chief at the helm to do it - a man who grew up here, a man who loved the city so much he sued the MPD and won, but chose to stay with it and make it better rather than abandoning it. Give them a chance - and the budget - to make this right, or we will be eliminating whatever progress we could have made with rooting out systemic injustice before it's had a chance to begin.
3) We shouldn't give in to the whims of activists over the wisdom of the leaders in our community who have made systemic justice their life's work. Many leaders in North Minneapolis have said that, contrary to popular belief, they actually want more funding for the police, not less.
4) Over time, as crime subsides, we can gradually fund initiatives that allow us to reprioritize how we conduct policing. However, that time is not now with no plan and with no electoral input from your constituents. Don't put the cart before the horse here.
I know you've got a very tough job at an especially difficult time, and I don't envy you. I know you're doing your best, but I can't help but hope you proceed with wisdom here - the future of the city we love dearly depends on it.
Good luck, Emily 5128 14th Ave S From: Andrew Bream To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Monday"s Vote - What your constituents want! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:04:01 AM
Hello Jeremy,
I am one of your constituents residing in Ward 11. I live near the businesses on Lyndale and 54th and the Mount Olivet Home. This summer has been one of the most difficult we have collectively experienced as a society and a city. The weeks of civil unrest we experienced here were trying on the police force and Minneapolis residents. Minneapolis became the birthplace of a long overdue movement for racial justice and equality and all eyes of the nation and world turned to us to see how we would respond.
I would like to share with you some of my experience living in Windom during the civil unrest this summer. I was home alone (my partner was away for work). I sat glued to the news and local social streams (like Nextdoor) to understand what was going on around me in the neighborhood. As advised by the city, I had packed a bag of my belongings in my car as well as supplies for my animals in case I needed to leave quickly. As advised, I had removed all lawn furniture and planters from my yard, and hosed down the outside of my house and bushes around the foundation (to make them less flammable).
As the night wore on I started hearing loud traffic noises on Lyndale. I called up one of my neighbors and we went out to check it out together. Once out there, we encountered another group of neighbors who had also heard the noises. We walked to Lyndale to investigate and witnessed several cars speeding by at speeds well above the speed limit (probably 60+ mph). People were hanging out of their windows and honking. We assumed these people were leaving the downtown and uptown areas after police had dispersed the rioting that had occurred there earlier. We went back to our homes.
Shortly thereafter we heard a loud beeping going off incessantly, it sounded like a fire alarm of some sort. We went out and discovered it was emanating from the Walgreens at 5428 Lyndale Ave. We did not see any flames but the whole area smelled of smoke and burning. We could see some of the windows had been broken and there were prescriptions littering the street.
My neighbor friend called 911. No response. We called again. No response. We called 18 times before getting through to a dispatcher. We told them what we saw and smelled. They thanked us for the report and told us that in all honesty they would not be able to send any sort of help tonight as all responders were occupied elsewhere already. They said to call back if we saw flames.
The alarm continued to go off all night and the smoke smell permeated the neighborhood. At some point the alarm was turned off. The interior of the Walgreens was completely destroyed from the fire and the subsequent flood from the sprinkler system since no one was dispatched to turn it off.
That Walgreens is a lifeline for many people in this neighborhood, from seniors, to those with limited mobility living in the motels and other housing facilities. As a result of the lack of response and resources, this vital neighborhood resource was closed for months in order to be rebuilt. As I'm sure you know, it just recently reopened. I applaud Walgreens for the fantastic job they did in getting a mobile prescription center up and running quickly in their parking lot and for rising to the challenge of rebuilding for the neighborhood, but they shouldn't have to. No business should have to go through that. If it had been one of the smaller businesses in the area, it would likely have been closed for good.
The next few nights were similarly anxiety inducing. The riots raged on in our city. While there was no notable damage in my immediate area, that is simply by chance. I was terrified. Terrified to be in my own home. Based on the difficult time we had reaching 911 the night before, I knew we had no recourse if something should happen. I knew we as a neighborhood were on our own. Neighbors talked during the days, and set up plans to watch our properties and the neighborhood businesses. But we were also ready to leave at a moment's notice should the situation escalate and become unsafe. This is not how anyone should have to behave or feel in their own homes. I am a young (30s), able-bodied white male. If I was afraid, I can only imagine how my older, more frail neighbors must have felt.
So what do I want from you as my representative? While I think we can all agree that there is room for improvements with the Minneapolis police force and how they handle and respond to crimes, cutting the police budget is not the correct step towards this reform. We need the police and we need them to be invested in serving our community. I have seen first-hand what a reduced police force and long response times (or no response) look like and it is not good for safety or the community at large.
I want you to:
1) Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. 2. Not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to funds on day 1.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. The Chief’s overtime pay should not come with strings attached.
This is where I sit, along with all the Ward 11 neighbors I've spoken with on this issue. Please reflect our wishes with your vote. Thank you.
Sincerely,
~Andrew Bream
Ward 11 Resident From: marybeth meyer To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Monday"s Vote Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:03:50 AM
As a homeowner for 27 years in the Hale/Page/Diamond Lake neighborhood, I respectfully request that you vote as follows:
1. Fully fund the police budget 2. Do not restrict the Police Chief's access to funds 3. Remove the $5M amendment and support the Transforming Fund
MaryBeth Meyer From: teresa paschke To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Monday"s Vote: MPLS Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:44:09 AM
Dear Mr. Schroeder,
My name is Teresa Paschke and, as someone born and raised in the Twin Cities and a current resident of Minneapolis (although not in your ward), I'm writing today to voice my concern about the recent crime wave gripping our city.
Minneapolis residents are scared--I'm scared. We are currently fearful on two fronts: we face a deadly pandemic that is killing thousands of Minnesotans and we face daily threats of car jacking, assault, robbery, and the like. Facing one of these threats is terrifying; facing two is debilitating.
It is imperative that the Minneapolis City Council vote to adequately and fully fund the police. It is imperative that the Minneapolis City Council vote to provide Police Chief Arradondo the funding he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime, without micromanaging restrictions.
It often feels like the only voice we (Minneapolis citizens) have is on the one day when we cast our vote for city council members. I hope that isn't the case. I hope we are being heard. I hope the council is listening.
Best regards,
Teresa Paschke 3035B Lake Shore Drive Minneapolis, MN 55416 [email protected] 612-271-3232 From: Lynell Voigt To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: More police please! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 2:34:22 PM
Please vote to get more police. Add additional services as needed, but we desperately need to keep and expand our police numbers.
Lynell Voigt 5036 Belmont Ave S 55419 612-827-7535
Sent from my iPad From: Sara Abernathy To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: MPD budget...Please pass for more funding! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:16:06 PM
I’m an eighteen year resident of Minneapolis. I’m writing to kindly request you pass mayor Frey’s budget proposal for an increase in funding for the Minneapolis Police Department.
It’s crucial that our police department have more funding to help fight the recent increase in crime across the city. The funding will also help keep the police safe with more police on the job.
We need funding to train more cadets as soon as possible. It’s my understanding Mayor Frey and our Police Chief Arredondo have a request in for a $5 million fund to start work as soon as possible. That is to be used at the discretion of the police chief.
Please pass the budget so work can begin to build the Police Department back into a strong and positive system to help keep the tax payers of the city safe.
Thank you, Sincerely Sara Abernathy 5413 Knox Ave. South Minneapolis,Mn. 55419 612-834-4294 From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: MPD, of course :) Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:06:57 PM
Hi Jeremy You are feeling the heat I’m sure. Please side with the Palmisano/Jenkins proposal. You know all the reasons I would feel that way, I’m sure. You can do both good things. Jenkins and Cano have already crossed the OurRevolution/TakeActionMN line – you will not be the only one. Thank you! Al
THE MUID POSITION:
Top Priority: MUID remains committed to seeing through the established year long process for reviewing the City of Minneapolis policies regarding policing known as “Transforming Community Safety.” This work was supposed to continue on through July of 2021. MUID would like for this process to continue on as it was conceived by, and advertised, by the Minneapolis City Council.
As we return to this process MUID would then like to see the following points enacted in support of MUID‘s overall position:
1. MUID does NOT support “abolishing” or “defunding” the Minneapolis Police Department. 2. MUID supports “Reforming” the MPD – with an emphasis on seeking transformative change. This begins with demilitarizing the department by ending “Warrior Training”, ending any investments in military weapons or military hardware. It necessitated a dramatic increase and strengthening of training for all MPD officers in such critical areas such as de-escalation, implicit bias, cultural understanding, etc. Whenever possible repurposing or moving money out of the MPD budget and reinvesting those dollars in city services that promote social services, mental health, behavioral health, and healthy youth engagement activities (like bringing back the very successful PAL initiative!). Additionally, MUID strongly opposes any type disinvestment reduction in investment of resources in critical programs used to promote healthy relationships between the MPD and the community. MUID Membership insists that there must be ZERO cuts or reductions to these critical community programs as they are essential to maintaining good relationships between the people and it’s police force. (Police Activities League, staffing work involving vulnerable and unsheltered adults, child sexual violence prevention and intervention, etc.) 3. MUID AND ITS MEMBERSHIP IS IN NO WAY AFFILIATED OR IN LEAGUE WITH THE ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS “RECLAIM THE BLOCK”. MUID DOES NOT SUPPORT “RECLAIM THE BLOCK” OR THEIR “PEOPLE’S BUDGET”.
MUID promotes the well-being, growth and mutual interests of metropolitan American Indian organizations. https://muidgroup.wixsite.com/muid
4. MUID FORMALLY DENOUNCES ANY ACTIONS THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE WELFARE OR SAFETY OF ANY PERSON WHO LIVES OR WORKS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE STRONGLY CONDEMN THE ACTIONS OF “RECLAIM THE BLOCK” FOR PUBLICLY SHARING PERSONAL INFORMATION OF MPD OFFICERS.
5. MUID Stands in support of those MPD Officers that have made critical, valuable, and lasting positive impacts on our community through their work and their partnership with our community. Among them for special recognition include Deputy Chief of Police Henry Halvorson, Lieutenant Grant Snyder and Sergeant Cheryl Goodman. 6. MUID continues to support the established mechanism used to inform the city’s policing – a group that meets regularly known as the “Community Unity Mediation Team”. MUID believes that this process is invaluable in allowing our community members – in particular our youth – to have a voice in shaping the way in which policing occurs in our city.
BACKGROUND and RATIONALE:
1. In light of the murder of George Floyd, the Minneapolis City Council is exploring ways of changing how policing will be done in the city – including, but not exclusive to: a. Abolishing (ending the MPD altogether and permanently; zeroing out the MPD budget entirely or entirely moving the MPD budget into other areas of the city budget; laying off or terminating all Minneapolis police officers and moving forward with no police whatsoever); b. Defunding (drastically cutting the MPD budget by zeroing out significant amount of money; moving LARGE amounts of money into to other areas of the city budget; and dramatically reducing the level of police serving in the department by laying off or terminating hundreds of police officers) c. Reforming (maintaining levels of police officers on staff; investing in new and more rigorous training around de-escalation, implicit bias, harm reduction, etc.; removing militarized training and/or military equipment and not paying for such anymore; shifting significant amounts of money out of the MPD budget on into other areas of the city budget such as social services)
MUID promotes the well-being, growth and mutual interests of metropolitan American Indian organizations. https://muidgroup.wixsite.com/muid
2. In the wake of a recent subcommittee meeting where the budget of the City of Minneapolis was discussed, it came to the attention of MUID Members who were present, and our community members who were also in attendance, that a local organization known as “Reclaim the Block” had mistakenly communicated that the “Minneapolis American Indian Community” was in support of their “People's Budget” recommendation that seeks to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department. In addition, this group also published publicly the personal information of Lieutenant Grant Snyder of the MPD – jeopardizing the safety of himself and his family. For those unfamiliar with Lieutenant Snyder, he has been a solid ally of our community and a valued partner regarding our member organization’s ongoing work to provide for our unsheltered relatives. For many MUID members, this was very upsetting to them, and they wish to set the record straight as to what MUID seeks, and who and what MUID supports.
3. After having conducted two meetings, and after having visited amongst ourselves, a MUID position on the items above has emerged. Before moving forward in communicating this position to the outside world, MUID membership wanted to MAKE SURE that this position has the consensus support of the MUID Voting Membership.
Robert Lilligren, Chair Mary LaGarde, Vice-Chair Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors [email protected] [email protected]
MUID promotes the well-being, growth and mutual interests of metropolitan American Indian organizations. https://muidgroup.wixsite.com/muid
From: Peggy Lubozynski To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Neighborhood Crime Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:14:43 AM
Found out yesterday that my next door neighbor's garage was entered (they forgot to lock it), their car searched (also not locked) , their garage searched, and some things were taken including their garage door opener. They have not reported this because they feel partly responsible for not locking up. Also, I think they are reluctant to involve police. I have the same reluctance.
Do you have any advice about what to do in these circumstances? I do not want to do anything that would bring the police into the neighborhood but I think it is important for crime statistics to be gathered. What should we all do?
Thank you for your stand on police brutality and the police budget. I support your efforts to use some of the budget for alternative responses to petty crime and crime involving people experiencing mental illness. Taking the most positive view of the police, I would agree that they are exhausted by the overwhelming job they have and need some relief. They can't do it alone without needlessly hurting us. From: Ayana Ito To: Ayana Ito Cc: Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Next Steps for the Safety for All Budget Plan Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 2:22:18 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
My name is Ayana Ito, and I live in the Diamond Lake neighborhood.
Last night the city council approved amendments partially implementing a few small pieces of the People’s Budget. You promised large scale change. Instead, what we have seen are just minor changes, the police budget restored through the contingency fund, a mayoral veto threatened, and rumors that you will consider amendments weakening the very limited Safety For All plan approved last night.
First, I thank you all for your roles in supporting or co-authoring the Safety For All Budget Plan. I am hopeful that we will continue to make positive change for our communities, but I am frustrated with how hard we have to fight even for such minimal, insufficient change.
Second, I demand that you oppose any amendments weakening the Safety for All Budget Plan.
Third, I demand that you introduce, gather support for, and pass amendments to the 2021 Budget implementing the following programs from the People’s Budget: 1. Put health first. As the pandemic rages on, it’s more important than ever to fund city programs that support the health of Minneapolis residents—including mental health, substance use and overdose prevention, and environmental justice.
Increase funding to culturally-competent health resources: a. Pandemic response resources made available in all languages reflected in Minneapolis communities ($5,000)
b. Expand existing culturally-specific, community and mental health programs with emphasis on programs offering services in Spanish, Somali, Oromo, Hmong, and languages other than English ($1 million)
c. Fund traditional Indigenous healing methods for relatives experiencing opioid addiction and homelessness ($500,000)
d. Restore funding to the health department cuts that disproportionately affect BIPOC communities, including the cuts for nurses who address asthma and lead exposure, air quality testing, and the Lead and Healthy Homes program ($90,000) Fund harm reduction initiatives to support communities affected by the War on Drugs: a. Fund a pilot study for safe consumption sites ($150,000)
b. Fund the development of a minimum of two culturally-specific, community- based drop-in centers with a focus on harm reduction, at least one in North and one in South. ($1 million)
c. Fund grassroots harm reduction groups like Southside Harm Reduction and SWOP MPLS’s outreach teams ($100,000)
d. Fund harm reduction supplies, including clean syringes for existing syringe exchanges, grassroots programs and outreach programs outside of Syringe Service Programs (ex. public health outreach workers, shelters etc.) ($500,000)
e. Fund vehicle and other mobile support for outreach teams, such as mobile medicine and shelter for care and connecting with services ($250,000)
f. Fund the development and delivery of public health education about safer drug use, safer sexual health, infectious diseases, and connecting to low barrier, culturally specific community resources. This education must be destigmatized, evidence-based, harm reduction-based and developed by people with lived experience in partnership with existing grassroots harm reduction programs ($300,000)
2. Prioritize people over profit. We are in the midst of an economic crisis and people are struggling. Minneapolis must make major investments in housing, the needs of unsheltered community members, childcare, direct economic relief, and worker protections.
Find housing, create permanent housing, and support people to stay housed ($30 million): Fund the short- and long-term needs of those experiencing unsheltered homelessness i. Short term: provide warming stations, food distribution, healthcare and other supportive services, and housing-first initiatives without prerequisites. No evictions.
ii. Long term: supportive, permanent housing and housing navigation. Create high-quality, affordable housing for all, built with union labor i. Expand safe, affordable long-term housing and programs that increase access including, but not limited to ownership options for tenants through land trusts and cooperatives ($10 million for 2021, $30 million over the next 3 years would fund 200 homes in North Minneapolis) Prevent Eviction i. Fully fund Legal Aid to provide right to counsel for renters ($3.75 million)
ii. Match funding for the Tenant Resource Center to be at least equivalent to MPD’s Police Athletic league ($65,000) Provide direct economic relief to residents and pay people to stay home while COVID crisis continues. Consider adopting St. Paul’s People's Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot, and include assistance for utilities including internet, phone, and other services needed by students and families. No income qualifications for utilities support, rental assistance, emergency energy assistance, etc. ($10 million) Increase funding to existing contracts to provide direct economic support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Support must be meaningful and go beyond reimbursements or gas cards. ($30,000)
3. Fund prevention, not punishment. We all want an end to violence in our city: police violence, domestic violence, gun violence. If we’re serious about breaking the cycle for good, we have to put real money into tried and true programs that prevent violence (like community-based outreach teams that support communities in solving conflict) and respond effectively to violence when it happens (with restorative justice and domestic abuse transformation programming). We also have to divest from one of the biggest perpetrators of violence in our city: the police.
Fund coordinated street outreach teams geared toward violence prevention and supportive services (>$6.5 million) Teams must not be connected to law enforcement in any way. Teams should be in key areas in North and South Minneapolis. Program planning should explicitly work to end patterns of under-resourcing in North Minneapolis. Teams should be made up of community members who are culturally competent and have lived experiences reflective of the communities they serve. Expand neighborhood-based restorative justice offices to transform harm when violence has occured Expand the capacity of Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice group to include 6 full- time staff ($500,000) Permanently redirect all report-only calls to 311 and fund a public education campaign about the change ($2.5 million) Fund the replacement of a federal community safety coordination grant for community safety activities for and by Little Earth residents and to restart restorative justice programming ($200,000) Increase funding to the Office of Immigrant and Refugee affairs ($750,000) to expand the office into a fully staffed city department (similar to those that exist in Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and New York). For more details, click here.
4. Help communities thrive, not just survive. Let’s plant the seeds for the future we want. Fund cultural institutions and art. Set aside funding to launch an annual participatory budgeting process. Fund the needs of sex workers.
Facilitate participatory budgeting to allow the community to creatively cultivate ideas to meet community needs ($500,000)
Fund artist-led community visioning sessions ($500,000) Create of a Black artist-administered fund to resource arts and culture initiatives ($5 million) Fund community healing modalities, with specific programming for youth, elders and adult needs. This should include training and employing a group of community doulas ($500,000) Create of a fund to support Indigenous community needs as defined by local artists, elders, organizers for culture, healing, and art ($1 million) Establish a creativity and art healing space, dealing directly with trauma ($750,000) Permanently maintain George Floyd Square with the sculpture in the middle of the intersection, with gathering spaces on the Chicago side of Cup Foods ($500,000) Fund the sex worker community ($1.45 million)
A taskforce that brings diverse stakeholders of people in sex trades to the table to investigate best practice and policy reform to improve lives of people in the sex trades ($200,000) Establish of a sex worker community center and sanctuary to serve as a safe place to convene for a community that is historically disenfranchised, to include free services that have been hard for sex workers to access such as accountants to help with taxes ($50,000) Grants for previous incarcerated sex workers and sex workers with felony records ($200,000) Non-law enforcement, non-faith based services for youth in sex trades ($200,000) Neighborhood conflict resolution and and mediation services led by SWOP to address neighborhood concerns about commercial sex economies ($100,000)
In addition to funding these initiatives, a people’s budget must NOT: 1. Fund growth of the police force through any means, which includes recruit and CSO classes.
2. Cut community-focused staff positions while the heads of departments keep the same salaries (e.g. the mayor keeping his $175K salary while cutting a community outreach policy aide in his department).
3. Involve MPD in initiatives regarding public health, including but not limited to houselessness, substance use, and mental health.
4. Allow for sharing data that could be used to criminalize residents of the city, especially as surveillance and inter-agency law enforcement cooperation increases. The city of Minneapolis must also commit to rejecting and not instituting all reiterations of Countering Violence Extremism (CVE).
Thank you for your time and leadership,
Ayana Ito From: Troy Wildenberg To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: No watering down the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:32:59 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. --
Troy Wildenberg (they/them/theirs)
920-716-4083 | [email protected] From: Bantle, Steven To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra; Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Subject: Operational Value of the Minneapolis Mounted Police Unit Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:09:12 PM Attachments: image003.jpg
Dear Minneapolis City Council Members,
My name is Steve Bantle and I’m the Supervisor in charge of the Minneapolis Mounted Police Unit. On Thursday December 1st I had an opportunity to watch the Budget Committee Meeting on Youtube. At approximately 1:45 into the session, Council Member Johnson asked some fair questions regarding the operational value of the Mounted Unit. Chief Arradondo did a good job of responding but I would like to elaborate further and provide some statistics that might help better explain the valuable services that we provide to the City and its Citizens.
As the Chief stated, the rule of thumb in crowd control/management situations is that one Mounted Officer is equal to having 10 Officers on the ground. Additionally, we can effectively move large crowds without using force. In 2019, we moved 126 crowds and as far as I know there were no injuries to Citizens or Officers. Furthermore, I believe that we only received one complaint. Mounted Officers are also an effective crime deterrent during crowd control situations. When Officers are on their horses they are 10 feet tall and can see over large crowds. This height advantage also makes it apparent to everyone in the crowd that there is a police presence.
Some examples of how the Mounted Unit was utilized for crowd control during 2019/2020 are as follows:
2020 Presidential Election Protests Over 100 bar closing shifts in the 1st,2nd and 5th Precincts. Defense of the 3rd and 1st Precincts (George Floyd Riots) Clearing Nicollet Mall of looters (George Floyd Riots) President Trump Rally Twins/Vikings/Gophers Games/NCAA Final Four and other sporting events Aquatennial Parade and Fireworks Basilica Block Party Zombie Pub Crawl Various Conventions U of M Homecoming and Spring Jam Somali Independence day
Police Community relations is another area in which the Mounted Unit shines. Most people love horses but don’t have the opportunity to interact with them. Our Officers are highly approachable and on a daily basis and have the opportunity to interact with citizens. In 2019, the Mounted Unit provided over 40 highly visible and highly interactive patrols in neighborhoods that had recently experienced violent crimes. Additionally, we attended 83 community events and 39 National Night Out Block Parties.
Some examples of Community events that the Mounted Unit regularly participate in are as follows:
Native American Month Safe Summer Nights Dickman Park Events Philips Neighborhood Summerfest Multiple Public and Private School Visits All MPD Open Houses Law Enforcement College Visits MPD Citizens Academy Northside Health Resource Fair Mounted Police Urban Trail Ride Ogema Place Food Distribution Event South West HS Trucksploration Event Edison HS Student BBQ YMCA back to School Event Police Explorer/PAL Family Night Chandler Place Veterans Picnic
I hope that this gives you all a better understanding of the service that the Minneapolis Mounted Police Unit provides to the Citizens of Minneapolis. I would be very happy to answer any additional questions in person, via phone or email.
Thank you
Sergeant Steven Bantle Executive Officer Minneapolis Mounted Police Unit 612-221-8928
LOGO Mounted 2014 -1
From: Diane CONNOR To: Palmisano, Linea; Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy; Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; [email protected]; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Goodman, Lisa R.; [email protected]; Cano, Alondra (External) Subject: Partnerships for a Successful Minneapolis Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:27:11 AM
Dear Council Members, Please Remember that Mental Health Care professionals recommended to:
1) Expand the Co Responders program not eliminating it! It has had over 50% drop in the use of force just in one year of operation! The Chief has been partnering with the Barbara Schneider Foundation.
2) Partner with the County; this is what they do by the way, not the city and with a much larger budget - why did activists not go to the County???? Anyway, expand the County’s COPE program working with them.
Separately, why is no one promoting job creation as a crime prevention tool?? All the Interrupters in the world make no difference if there are no options.
Involve the Youth Voice - this is THEIR future, partner with Neighborhoods & Businesses; get the yearlong INPUT promised.
Get State Stimulus money and create 500 jobs. Partner with Summit Academy OIC & American Indian OIC.
Apply to the Dept of Justice for community engagement solutions. Programs are available.
Support and acknowledge the $5 million pledged by the business community.
And back to mental health, someone posted these stats over the weekend on the Neighborhood Collective page this weekend:
Lisa Bender: ·Nov 30 San Francisco rolled out their mental health response team today! Time to get this up and running in Minneapolis.
Hmmmmm....
1. Do we have the capacity of mental health providers?
2. How long did San Francisco work on this before able to roll out?
3. San Francisco has 50 homicides and 881,000 residents, or 5.67 homicides per 100,000 residents.
Minneapolis has 78 homicides and 429,000 residents, or 18.4 homicides per 100,000 residents
5. San Francisco also has 2108 police for 881,000 residents, a ratio of 1 for every 417.
To hit that ratio, Minneapolis would need 1028 cops.
Please consider your responsibilities seriously!
Thank you,
Diane Connor 510 Groveland Ave. Minneapolis, MN. 55403
Sent from my iPhone From: Anna Zaros To: Cano, Alondra (External); Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Jenkins, Andrea; Osman, Jamal; Schroeder, Jeremy; Fletcher, Steve; Gordon, Cam A. Subject: Pass the people"s budget! We can thrive, not just survive Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:58:34 PM
Our city is at a crossroads. After the Minneapolis Police Departments murder of George Floyd and the summers uprisings for justice, our city is making critical decisions about how to spend our money in the year ahead. We're in the midst of a devastating pandemic and recovering from a long, difficult summer. If there was ever a time for clear and courageous decision-making from our elected officials, it is now.
We must have the vision to see past MPDs threats and intimidation tactics while we build up the systems that keep us safe in Minneapolis. It won't be easy; it will be a transition that takes years. But for this transformation to be meaningful, it must include a major transfer of resources into Black communities and other communities facing oppression—and away from the murderous MPD. This is not a both/and question: every dollar that goes to MPD gives Bob Kroll's police federation more power in our city.
We believe in the possibility of a safer city and a police-free future. This is the year to start moving our money into life-affirming institutions. MPD has a track record of murder, abuse, sexual assault, and dishonesty. They receive billions of dollars and free reign of the city, yet so many people across the city are still not safe. We can't afford to keep doubling down on the same approach and expecting different results. It's time to try something new.
I am emailing to demand that there are cuts in the FY21 budget to parts of MPDs budget that can be eliminated without a transition to alternative response (like surveillance against protesters, militarization, image management, "community policing" initiatives, and unnecessary staffing). With the funding freed up by these cuts, we call on the city to:
1. Put health first.
As the pandemic rages on, it's more important than ever to fund city programs that support the health of Minneapolis residents—including mental health, substance use and overdose prevention, and environmental justice.
2. Prioritize people over profit. We are in the midst of an economic crisis and people are struggling. Minneapolis must make major investments in housing, the needs of unsheltered community members, childcare, direct economic relief, and worker protections.
3. Fund prevention, not punishment.
We all want an end to violence in our city: police violence, domestic violence, gun violence. If were serious about breaking the cycle for good, we have to put real money into tried and true programs that prevent violence (like community-based outreach teams that support communities in solving conflict) and respond effectively to violence when it happens (with restorative justice and domestic abuse transformation programming). We also have to divest from one of the biggest perpetrators of violence in our city: the police.
4. Help communities thrive, not just survive.
Let's plant the seeds for the future we want. Fund cultural institutions and art. Set aside funding to launch an annual participatory budgeting process. Fund the needs of sex workers.
Anna Zaros 4514 Blaisdell 612-518-4860 From: Lisa Abadeer To: Schroeder, Jeremy; GovDelivery Subject: Plea to not decrease police spending from a ward 11 constituent Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:42:52 AM
Dear Councilmember Schroeder,
I am writing on the topic of police funding. I am pleading with you not to decrease funding. I agree that the MPD needs to make changes. I also believe that the citizens of Minneapolis should not live in fear of being the next victim of crime whether violent or petty. Your support of decreasing police funding has emboldened the criminals, demoralized both the police and the citizens of Minneapolis of which I am one. Crime has increased exponentially in Minneapolis as a result of a decrease in number of police on the streets. The true people benefitting from your proposals to decrease police funding are the criminals. Minneapolis citizens and businesses are suffering and this suffering will only get worse due to lack of police. Businesses and residents of Minneapolis will leave leading to decreased tax revenues and more problems to solve.
I implore you to fund the police as Chief Arradondo and Mayor Frey request and work to change the MPD from the inside.
Your constituent,
Lisa Abadeer Hale resident From: William Robiner PhD To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Subject: Please abandon the defund the police initiative Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 6:09:36 PM
Dear Minneapolis City Council Members,
I have been training psychologists since the 1980s and am writing to share my personal belief that they are not equipped to be substitutes for police. Whereas I do believe more mental health funding would be helpful to address mental health needs, it should not be at the expense of funding police. Defunding the police is misguided, especially in an era where there are so many weapons on the street.
I have known only one mental health professional ever who took a gun away from a patient. Rather than being recognized as heroic, they were fired by the institution where they worked. The training of psychologists is very limited in terms of dealing with potentially violent individuals or working in chaotic environments. Of course they can be paired with police in dealing with some emergencies, however I suspect it is a small part of the overall work of the police.
Since the City Council announced plans to defund the police, some crime, such as car hijacking has skyrocketed in Minneapolis. Whereas I don't think this trend is likely all attributable to considering defunding, there is a shortage of police and greater policing efforts are needed to suppress it.
I fundamentally disagree with those who would pit having adequate levels of funding and staffing for the police against having adequate funding and staffing mental health services. Our citizens and society need both! I support other police reform initiatives to deal with the problems we have witnessed in policing and hope you will focus on them. However, efforts to defund the police are, in a word, crazy.
Please refocus your efforts to make our city safer for all citizens.
-- William N. Robiner, Ph.D., ABPP, LP Professor, Departments of Medicine & Pediatrics Director, Health Psychology Director, Psychology Internship University of Minnesota Medical School MMC 741 420 Delaware Street, S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 624-1479 From: Maggie Rittenhouse To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Please allow the Safety for All plan to Stand - NO AMENDMENTS Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 1:54:50 PM
Council Members Palmisano & Jenkins,
I understand you are considering an amendment that waters down the Safety for All Plan. I have been thinking about what could drive you to do this in the face of OVERWHELMING evidence that the system we have today is not working. I believe you know this. Your constituents know this. Even those fighting against changes to the police are not doing it based on any sound analysis of what works and what does not work.
More police do not lead to less crime and what you are proposing will hamstring new programs that actually address the ROOT CAUSES of crime. The Safety for All Plan is the least you can do -- the least you owe our city -- and you are proposing to water it down and make it fail before it starts. Please reconsider this and think about making a down payment on new community safety mechanisms that could actually keep your constituents safer -- rather than just putting more police on the street and creating an illusion of safety for some.
To be specific -- I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher and Cunningham and pass the People's Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services and allow new programs a chance to work.
Thank you for your consideration,
Maggie RIttenhouse Ward 11 38 Luverne Ave Minneapolis, MN 55419
From: Christa Byler To: Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Zaffrann, David; Sirdar, Deebaa; Palmisano, Linea; Moua, MaiTeng; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gangelhoff, Sara; Cano, Alondra (External); Jenkins, Andrea; Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Freude, John; Nelson, Kate R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Garwood, Robin D.; McDonough, Shannon; Fletcher, Steve Subject: Please appropriate MPD funds to other programs Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 2:16:35 PM
Dear Councilmembers and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K) - It is a waste of money to invest in a program that relies on police being the ones to punish police. The trial of Mohamed Noor showed that the Blue Code of Silence is pervasive. It works to expand the department’s overall budget, which we know MPD can direct as it chooses
Co-Responders: This $685K investment this year ($430K ongoing) is in direct opposition to the recommendations coming out of the 911/MPD Workgroup that was tasked at looking at MPD’s duties to see if there is opportunity to removed duties and reassign them to folks with different expertise. For example, the 911/MPD workgroup recommended that Hennepin County’s COPE program be more deeply invested in at a city level AND there are multiple prototyping sessions happening within the 911/MPD workgroup to determine recommendations for a 2021/2022 pilot. Allocate money towards the work group's recommendations and bolster funding so that staff may stay engaged in that project until pilots are complete.
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K) - With the current state of affairs and the way that general attitudes around policing have shifted across the country and the globe, when given an opportunity to join the force in 2021 who is realistically going to apply. We cannot create a pathway for more violence to be enacted upon Minneapolis residents.
Additional Overtime ($5M) - Through Frey’s proposal, MPD is due to shift and additional $5M towards overtime (on top of $3.5m). With reduction in response times and general interaction with the public (barricading themselves into precincts) there is no need to more than double their overtime expenses.
I want you to cut these from the proposed budget, and make deeper cuts to MPD’s $179M proposed budget. Instead of funding MPD, I want you to fund the things our communities really need, like: Access to low-income housing
Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
Direct economic relief *Educational apprenticeships for civil job opportunities *Financial advisors *Career advisors
We need the council to stop bankrolling the murderous MPD. I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
Thanks for your time and consideration,
Christa Byler-Ward 8a -- Byler Bodywork LLC www.massagebylerbodywork.com 3754 Pleasant Ave #211 Minneapolis, MN 55409 From: Caity Beaudoin To: Jenkins, Andrea; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Zaffrann, David; Sirdar, Deebaa; Moua, MaiTeng; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gangelhoff, Sara; Cano, Alondra (External); Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Freude, John; Nelson, Kate R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Garwood, Robin D.; McDonough, Shannon; Fletcher, Steve Subject: Please commit to the full Safety for All Plan Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:33:37 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime — good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, Caity Beaudoin From: Tamara Hillstrom To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please consider before you vote Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:59:22 AM
Please consider the safety of the people. We do not have the security we deserve. I have three teenage daughters who are not safe to leave our house. I am scared for our safety!
Please fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the newly available Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
Please Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
Please remove the "Schroeder $5 million amendment" and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Crime is NOT a perception, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote.
We need to bring back safety. Our beautiful city has fallen apart!
Thank you for listening to us.
Tamara Hillstrom Minneapolis resident for 33 years --
Tamara Hillstrom http://tamarahillstrom.com
El Amor de Patricia A Home for Children in Guatemala www.theloveofpatricia.org From: katie capistrant To: Palmisano, Linea Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Freude, John Subject: Please consider poverty, housing crisis and lack of resources as factors in increased street crime rates Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:08:08 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. From: Peter Hunter-Hanson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please do NOT "defund" the MPD Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:12:05 PM
Councilman Schroeder,
Minneapolis, the city I love, the city I was born and raised in, needs help now. We need more police. We need Police Chief Arredondo to be able to do his job. Please do not restrict the $5M in overtime.
We need to do something now to stop the crime in Mpls, before it is too late.
Sincerely,
A life long Mpls resident, Peter Hunter-Hanson. From: SHARON SOLFEST To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please do not cut the police budget during this time of heightened crime Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:25:36 AM
Hi Jeremy.
Sending you a quick message to encourage you to vote to improve funding and resourcing of police in south mpls.
This past week with a car jacking in front of my house and another failed attempt of a mugging/car jacking and block is further evidence that we need more protection at least in the near term in addition to long term. I’m in favor of overhauling police and removing systemic abuse and corruption but not in defunding them—-please don’t through the baby out with the bath water as the phrase goes.
I’ve been a resident of MPLS for over 32 years and loved this city. Unfortunately, due to safety, for the first time I’m wondering if I need to move. Please vote to support police budgets.
As always, appreciate your service to make minneapolis a safe and great place to live.
Sent from my iPhone From: Caroline Askew To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please do not define the police Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:56:56 PM
Our family bought our Minneapolis house in 1967. We were burglarized for the very first time in 53 years last week. During the night while we slept, they snuck into our basement and stole $2,500 of goods. When they were coming upstairs the dog scared them off and saved us. This is the third time in our neighborhood in the last few months since George Floyd. The city is being ruined by the lack of police. Please help us save Minneapolis!
Caroline Askew 613-817-0069 From: John Sather To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please do not defund police Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:38:53 AM
Dear Councilman Schroeder,
My wife and I live at 4500 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407 and I am on the BOD for our HOA. Our building has been broken into several times and significant robberies of personal items of owners have been taken. Personally, my scooter was stolen by 3 men (filmed by our security cameras). We have had such a big uptick in crime in our neighborhood and sadly some at gunpoint. It must stop!
With all due respect, my wife and I (and based on conversations in our condo building with other owners) do not want you or the council to defund the police or take any monies away from the police budget. Yes, we want renewed training of the officers, yes we want mental health professionals called on when needed but defunding of the police would be terrible!
In my nonprofit work, I have the joy of working with mostly Black and Brown pastors of neighborhood churches of Minneapolis. I was with a number of pastors recently (1:1) that do not want the police defunded. They want safety for their congregants and cutting the budget will increase crime and hurt the very people these pastors serve in neighborhood congregations.
Thank you for reading this. Please, please do not defund the police. My wife and I are 68 years old and can no longer go on walks at twilight due to the increase of crime on the streets.
John and Chris Sather Cell: 612-791-1683 From: anna herbert To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Zaffrann, David; Sirdar, Deebaa; Moua, MaiTeng; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gangelhoff, Sara; Cano, Alondra (External); Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Freude, John; Nelson, Kate R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Garwood, Robin D.; McDonough, Shannon; Fletcher, Steve Subject: Please do not water down the Safety for All plan to protect the police Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 7:15:23 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I am a resident of ward 8 with you Council member Jenkins and I urge you to not amend the Safety for all Plan.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely,
Anna Herbert 4220 3rd Ave S Minneapolis,MN 55409 From: Reiss Williams To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Nelson, Kate R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; Osman, Jamal; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Fletcher, Steve Subject: PLEASE DO NOT WATER DOWN THE SAFETY FOR ALL PLAN! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:11:40 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. From: Avi Aharoni To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please do what the people ACTUALLY want! Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 12:31:20 PM
Jeremy Schroeder,
I am BEGGING you, please use your power to actually do some good.
I’m writing to you to urge you to vote YES on the 5% budget cut to MPD and to vote yes on the people’s budget.
A police-only approach to public safety has not worked in making our communities safer. It’s time to invest in mental health responses, violence prevention, and removing report-only calls from MPD’s plate at a minimum.
Avi Aharoni [email protected] 1104 26th Ave NE Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418
From: Stephanie Vos To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John; Cano, Alondra (External) Subject: Please don"t compromise on the Safety for All plan -- Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 7:01:12 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your commitment to your constituents!
Best, Stephanie From: Anna Jeide-Detweiler To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Please don"t dilute the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 5:40:39 PM
Dear Councilmembers Jenkins and Palmisano,
I write to you as a Minneapolis resident from Councilmember Johnson's district.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime. The Safety for All plan would create good jobs, offer housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
I understand that the police department is working with diminished human resources at this time. That must be challenging for those individuals. There is no doubt that policing is a stressful job. Police deserve to take sick leave if they need it.
However, as city council members, your obligation is to the health of the entire community, not just the police force, many of whom are not Minneapolis residents. Please consider how passing the Safety for All plan could advance the health of the community you have sworn to serve. I understand that these changes won't happen overnight, but the Safety for All plan is a great way to start.
As a Minneapolis resident, this proposal has my full support. I hope you will support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services and divest from violent policing.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I thank you for all the hard work that you are doing as councilmembers.
Let us move forward together toward health, equity and justice for all Minneapolis residents.
Sincerely, Anna
From: Amy Colleen Finnegan To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Please don"t water down SAFETY FOR ALL! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 10:08:33 PM
Dear Council Members Jenkins and Palmisano, Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long- term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your consideration! I believe it is critical. Warmly, amy *** Amy C. Finnegan Living and working on occupied Dakota land in Minneapolis, Minnesota Pronouns: she/her/hers What does this mean? Collective participant in: EqualHealth | Windom Dual Immersion School | Justice and Peace Studies, University of St. Thomas From: Ellen Anderson-benge To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Ellison, Jeremiah; Johnson, Andrew; Goodman, Lisa R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Osman, Jamal; Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please don"t water down the Safety for All plan Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 1:19:40 PM
Hello,
My name is Ellen, and I live in Ward 10. I'm writing to ask you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and to pass the People’s Budget.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. Using one-time funds for the Safety for All plan is a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime; good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
Thank you, Ellen
Ellen Anderson-benge [email protected] From: Barb Gerdes To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Timothy Gerdes Subject: Please Fully Fund the Police Departent AND fund new pilot programs that use social workers etc Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:32:22 AM
Dear Jeremy,
I voted for you because you went door to door and we had a great conversation. I went to the precinct caucuses to support you. Right now I could not vote for you again unless you really support what your ward desires. Our Toyota Prius, parked and locked under a street light 10 yards from our front door, was attacked in an attempt 3 times to steal the catalytic converter in 4 weeks. Our neighbors' quick action 3 times at 5 am saved it. We have lived here over 20 years and the amount of crime in our neighborhood has changed the neighborhood for the worst. Ward 11 is sick of the crime. The police need to be fully funded, while at the same time they need to be trained as to how to de escalate and manage mental health and social issues. The chief needs to have the full authority to do his programs of change. Fully fund the Mayor's police budget and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. Remove the conditions from the Police Chief and please withdraw your amendment so that there are no strings attached to his job. He has a long rebuilding process and needs the freedom to do it. We also need to move toward new transformative public safety services that with be both an and not either or for funding. This is where most of Ward 11 is, we expect you to reflect our wishes with your vote. Thank You
Barb Gerdes 4513 13th Ave s Minneapolis MN 55407 763-760-3194 From: David Brownlie To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: PLEASE FUND THE MAYOR"S POLICE BUDGET Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:22:06 PM
Mr. Schroeder - I'm a resident of Ward 11 along with my wife and four young children. Prior to COVID, I traveled weekly to cities all across the US, and until recently have been very proud to say that I live in Minneapolis. Please do not put this city at risk of becoming the next St. Louis.
1. This needs to be an "AND" and not an "OR": Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, AND fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow. From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please fund the Minneapolis Police Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:20:41 PM
Dear Jeremy Schroeder, I have been a resident of downtown Mpls. for 8 years. My wife and I love everything about Mpls. We attend US Bank Stadium, go to the Twins games and enjoy the restaurant and theater scene. All this has change because the city is sitting on its hands. What are the facts: 1. 500 shootings 2. Carjackings are at a record number. 3. Seniors and women are being accosted with guns put to their heads 4. There are intersections in downtown covered with tire doughnuts from stolen cars. 5. Cars stop at red lights look both ways and then race through. 6. Seniors have to dodge cars going through red lights. 7. Criminals are embolden. 8. The hard working residents are paying the price.
Mpls is racing towards its old nickname "Murderopolis!"
Please vote to totally FUND the Minneapolis Police Dept. Sincerely, Malcolm W Johnson From: JenCthatsme To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Please fund the safety for All amendment Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 7:40:15 PM
Dear council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Minneapolis needs union jobs and permanent investment in violence prevention, mental health services, and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for Safety for All, it is a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and it sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, and no PTO. We have seen the Minneapolis police use their million-dollar budget to deliberately destabilize communities of color. Police don’t prevent crime. This is not news. Good jobs, affordable housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do prevent crime. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work.
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services and divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your time & attention,
Jenna Carr Mpls resident From: Ruby Levine To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External) Cc: Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Please keep the Safety for All Plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 3:27:35 PM
Council members Jenkins, Cano, and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely,
Ruby Levine Ward 9 From: Jamie Ronnei To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please reject divisiveness! We can support Chief Arradondo AND support alternatives. Please support cooperation. Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:40:57 PM
Dear Council Member Schroeder -
Across our city, and across our nation, citizens of all political persuasion are crying out against rampant political polarization.
Today you have a chance to do something about this.
Please do not fall for the false and needless intentional divisiveness of “defund the police”.
Today you can demonstrate how to problem solve through true thoughtful cooperation by voting to fully fund the MPD per Mayor Frey’s 2021 city budget proposal, and support exploration and validation of alternative and supplemental public safety proposals through proposed alternate funding sources.
Please help heal our city through cooperation and reject divisive polarization. Please fully fund the MPD.
Thank you,
James Ronnei Ward 13 From: Byron Richard To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please resist any attempt to dilute the Safety For All Plan budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:14:42 AM
Hi Jeremy,
Please do what you can to retain the full amount proposed for the Safety For All Plan. I've written to Linnea and Andrea, who I believe are authoring the amendment to reduce the proposed budget, urging them to fulfill on the plan. Supporting mental health participation on police calls is broadly approved in the community and we need to commit to a multi-year pilot, not a year-by-year patchwork pilot.
Thank you,
Byron Richard 4609 Lyndale Avenue South 55419 952 239 0752 From: John Till To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please Support Police Accountability Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:44:21 PM
Hi Jeremy:
Thank you for your recent responses about the small homeless encampment at the end of our block. The encampment ended and MN DOT removed the two remaining tents and waste.
I suspect you are about to be inundated by messages from many stakeholders who were part of Preserve the Parkway effort. For the record, I am opposed to any increase in funding for the police, and support a reduction in police funding. We need to reinvest in strategies that actually prevent crime, which our current model of policing does not do.
At this time there should be no funding for the police that is free of conditions related to police accountability, especially after the police murder of George Floyd.
There has been an uptick of violence in Minneapolis, and even an attempted carjacking with gun violence in Tangletown this weekend. But most of the increased crime has been in Phillips and Powderhorn, and on the North Side - and the police have NOT been proactive about addressing this gun violence.
After a shooting right in front of my organization's childcare center by Little Earth, it took the combined efforts of many Indian organizations and leaders to get ANY police presence on the day we reopened. I am very grateful that we were eventually able to get a police presence, but we need to begin investing in strategies that do not require armed escorts to operate childcare centers. Greater investment in neighborhood building and human service strategies should be the approach.
Regards,
John Till 101 E. Minnehaha Parkway Minneapolis, MN 55419
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Everway RPG blog: everwayan.blogspot.com From: Monica Stuart To: Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy; Palmisano, Linea Cc: Kent Stuart Subject: Please vote to fully fund the mayors police budget. Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:42:29 PM
Council Members Palmisano, Schroeder and Johnson.
We cant afford to compromise safety. We are residents of Ward 13 and have been since 1995. What is happening in the entire City is terrifying. We support Chief Arredondo.
Kent and Monica Stuart 4116 Zenith Ave S
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Do not support Council Member Schroeder’s alternative to funding the $5 million in police overtime with contingency money. It is a power grab - a disingenuous way to control the Chief and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. sent from my i From: Genevieve Frye To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please vote to keep police budget intact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:43:27 AM
I'm writing today to express my thoughts about the Minneapolis Police budget.
I feel very strongly that EVERYONE in our city - regardless of where you live, what you look like, who you are - deserves a police force able to respond and help them and we can't do it with fewer officers. I am extremely concerned about how the City Council is dealing with the staffing shortfalls and skyrocketing crime rate.
We NEED more officers. The need is greater than ever. It is shocking and disappointing that this Council has allowed the numbers to drop as much as they have, with no solution or endgame. In fact, I’m utterly disgusted that this Council has basically encouraged this result. This city needs a fully staffed police force. And we need a police force that feels they can do their jobs without physical harm or constant ridicule/threat of job loss/prison. Members of this Council have helped create the environment we have now. Officers have become society’s doormat, scapegoat, whipping boy, you name it. It’s a miracle we still have any officers left.
The groups who have been, and will continue to be, hurt most by the loss of police officers on the street are the very groups the Council claims they are trying to protect. The irony is off the charts.
Do your job. Staff the police department fully and give them your support. Listen to your constituents. The overwhelming majority of us want MORE police, not less.
If this isn’t done you will see homeowner and business flight unlike anything we’ve seen before. People will run. I know I will.
Thanks for your time, Genevieve Frye From: Colleen Kepler To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Osman, Jamal; Reich, Kevin A.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R. Subject: Please vote to support the Chief, this is my heartfelt plea! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:32:05 PM
Dear All - I have listened to every meeting and public hearing in recent weeks related to the Budget and Public Safety. Although I am constantly pressed for free time, it is that important to me as a resident. I have 3 teen children and a very FT job and wish I didn’t need to pay such close attention to what the Council is voting on. I wish I could just trust that ALL of you are representing us in good faith, with the wishes of constituents at the core of how you vote, instead of a personal agenda or pressure from outside groups. You are on this email because I have heard you say things that align with the majority of Minneapolis residents, and I sincerely thank you for listening. The other five of your colleagues are out of touch, not truly listening to regular residents and enamored with change at any cost. The cost we are facing is big. Without public safety, perceived or real, we have a city at the beginning of a long and painful decline. I don’t need to restate the obvious - the tax base from both businesses and homeowners will choose to go elsewhere. We can both fully fund the police at a minimum level (the Mayor’s recommended budget) and provide accountability for the police and social services needed to get at root causes of criminal activity. This money CAN be found in the budget without raiding the Chief’s department. Without the investment in police RIGHT NOW, we will have no future as a city. And why are we going it alone? Why aren’t we collaborating with County, State and Federal agencies to make this happen? The mental health needs are critical, but Hennepin County already has the outstanding Cope program, why do we need to duplicate that instead of expanding existing County services? Listen. Serve. Collaborate. Nothing less will be the end of a great American city.
Colleen Kepler 612-715-2136 From: Carol Schneider (123 Exclusively) To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Please Vote to Unify us Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:16:42 AM
It doesn’t happen often, but this time we don’t have to rob Peter to pay Paul. We can start shaping a more just public safety approach AND ensure sufficient police protection to better manage this crime wave and give new programs a chance to succeed.
Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. It’s’ the win-win. Help Police Chief Arradondo make change from within — don’t allow conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime.
Thank you.
118 W 48th Street Minneapolis, MN 55419 From: Karen Grabow To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Osman, Jamal; Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Subject: PLEASE!!!! DO NOT DEFUND the Minneapolis Police Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:22:23 PM Attachments: PastedGraphic-2.tiff
City Council,
I am a longtime Minneapolis resident.
I wholeheartedly support police reform - with mental health and violence prevention programs, demilitarization of police weapons, and enabling departments to get rid of officers who use unnecessary force and are otherwise not performing.
I am totally OPPOSED TO defunding the police at this time of increased violence.
I am totally OPPOSED TO standing in the way of the Police Chief as he is trying to address the increase in violence in our city.
I am totally OPPOSED TO only a short-term approval of funding for overtime that will need to be re-proposed for approval in 2021.
People are being hurt. People do not feel safe. The city’s reputation is maybe irreparably damaged, and Minneapolis is losing citizens and businesses. You are destroying what was once a gem of a city.
A colleague of mine was on the brink of closing on the sale of her house when the buyers changed their mind and decided not to move to Minneapolis.
We have always loved this city, but we are mighty disillusioned now.
Please do the right and sane thing. Find ways to make change WHILE providing the resources the Mayor and Chief request to address the current violence.
Thank you for wrestling with this very difficult issue, and thank you for your service.
Karen Grabow From: John Bedard To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police Budget - go for a win-win Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:15:09 AM
As I have expressed before, I and many of my friends no longer feel safe in Minneapolis. The rhetoric about defunding police and the rapid rise in the crime rate are major causes of this feeling.
Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
John Bedard.
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" A warm smile is the universal language of kindness"
--. William Arthur Ward -
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John R Bedard 612-369-3194 cell [email protected] From: Macy Topp To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police Budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 9:15:05 AM
Dear City Council Member,
Please consider the safety of this city TODAY. The future is another story. The lack of police in the city has exacerbated violent crime. Our worries are not non emergency crimes at this point.
I live and own a salon in south Minneapolis. I have purchased mace for myself and my co-workers. During covid we are working alone to reduce risk. But this in turn increases are safety. If crime continues more people will leave city and so will businesses. Please stop this from happening.
1) Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the newly available Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2) Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3) Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Crime is NOT a perception, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Macy Topp Pixie Salon From: john sierk To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: police budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 2:18:43 PM
As a long time Mpls resident experiencing increased crime in recent months, I am strongly opposed to cutting the police budget or the number of officers. I will campaign and vote accordingly.
John Sierk 5115 Dupont Ave S Minneapolis MN
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Melissa West To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 12:42:41 PM
I am a 30 year resident of Minneapolis and I am strongly opposed to cutting anything from the Mpls police budget or from the number of officers. I am fully in support of transforming public safety but it is absurd to cut resources from the police department BEFORE putting in place plans to improve public safety.
Melissa West 5115 Dupont Ave S Minneapolis
Sent from my iPad I agree that better mental health and drug induced crisis teams are needed to address these social problems. However, I am in opposition to the "Safety for All" proposal. It has been reported that 80% of the mental health calls received currently are non-life threatening and that 9% resulted in a police report; the "Safety for All" advocates use these statistics to project that this would reduce the MPD's workload by 15%, and plan on transferring those funds to create the new mental health response teams. This kind of linear thinking does not reflect real life situations and does not address multiple factors which affect outcomes.
A few of my concerns are the following:
Authority figures often times just by their uniforms help a person in a mental health crisis suddenly realize that their behavior has crossed a line aiding the de-escaltion process. I work in a hospital and have seen this affect when security personnel respond with mental health nurses to assist with behavioral problems with patients and family members. The above statistics do not show if this helped to reduce the number of incidents which required a police report.
Transportation is another problem; many persons in a crisis situation cannot remain where they are but will not willingly agree to go to a facility. What will be the protocol for the mental health team workers if there are no hospital and/or other mental health beds that can take an individual? This may require that the person to be transported to the local jail until other arrangements can be made. Most of the above situations may not be life threatening but do require police assistance.
Training the current 911 dispatch persons to better assess mental health crisis calls is needed, but no matter how inclusive the protocol is to flag a potential violent call; this will never be fool proof. How will the police be able to aid a mental health team in a timely way if the situation becomes out of their control and/or violent? It would seem that the MPD patrol officers would still need to be kept informed in real time of the crisis teams whereabouts in order to be of assistance in this manner.
There are many other factors that could be enumerated but these are just a few which come to mind quickly: for these reasons I support the both/and approach. The crisis teams should be up and running, co-ordination between current and new 911 staff members, how all of this will interface with the current policies of the MPD : kinks worked out and problems post implementation discovered and fixed before one can decide to reduce the police response (and therefore expense) before monies should be taken from the MPD budget.
As an aside note, I would just like to add that taking budgeted overtime expense away from the MPD curtails the department's ability to stretch current staffing levels rather than hire more officers. Chief Arradondo needs to be able to staff up quickly when need arises, taking that ability away reduces the safety for all Mpls residents and reflects poor management decision making.
From: DANIEL BREDOW To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police Budget Vote Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 5:50:59 PM
Dear Jeremy, As a concerned citizen in your Ward, I would like to formally request that you do not vote for cutting the Police Budget at this time. I understand that changes need to be made in the police force and their way of policing over the long term (and sooner than later), however with (violent) crime escalating in our neighborhood, we are not prepared with revised programs at this time to decrease the budget. Example:
Car Jackings - up 537% since last year; at least 375, which is more than 3 times 2019. Over 125 in the past two months alone)! My husband was surrounded in his by young folks a few weeks ago trying to break into his car after delivering pizza to a house for a local pizza restaurant - it is not safe on the street right now. 54th &14th - delivery person held up last evening - it is not safe on the street right now. South and Southeast Mpls are being hit hard - this includes your Ward!
Please do not vote to decrease the police budget. Debby Bredow Ward 11 Citizen From: Carrie Swanson To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: Police Budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:19:50 PM
Mr. Schroeder and Mr. Johnson,
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the newly available Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove the "Schroeder $5 million amendment" and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks. Crime is NOT a perception, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote.
Carrie Swanson, Minneapolis homeowner and lifelong resident From: C M To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police Department Funding Vote Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:02:17 PM
Councilman Schroeder,
Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow. If you choose not to represent our interests, we will work just as hard to ensure you are replaced with someone who will.
Regards,
Carrie McCabe
From: Paul Ryan To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Cano, Alondra (External); Jenkins, Andrea; Johnson, Andrew; Frey, Jacob; Schroeder, Jeremy; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Osman, Jamal; Palmisano, Linea Subject: Police Funding Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 10:17:43 PM
Dear Mayor Frey and Council Members,
I am 100% opposed to any cut in funding to the Minneapolis Police Department budget. Cuts to MPD funding are unnecessary to fund violence prevention programs and mental health services. Funding can be found from other departments. I have lived in Minneapolis for 25 years and I have not witnessed a crime wave like we are currently under except for possibly the mid 1990's when Minneapolis was labeled by International media as "Murderapolis." Sorry to say, but "Murderapolis" is back. Cutting MPD funding in the midst of such a crime wave with residents and visitors afraid, is reckless, irresponsible and foolhardy.
Paul Ryan 1934 Aldrich Ave So Minneapolis 55403 From: Suzanne Silverman To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police Funding Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:12:57 PM
I submit this very late but very important plea to you to please vote for more funding for police in our city. I am a 70-year old homeowner and resident of Tangletown since 1986. While we need police reform that reform will need to be funded- we need better recruiting, better training, better periodic reviews and evaluations. That takes money. Right now I hesitate to walk my dog, run an errand and be alone in my backyard. Between the park board and the city council, our public bodies seem to be doing their best to destroy this neighborhood and force us to move. So, please, use common sense and not over-reaction in the question of police funding. But once funded, you must follow through on oversight. Thank you. From: Linda Mehrens To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police funding Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:19:06 AM
Dear MR. Schroeder, I am a resident of Minneapolis who is concerned about police funding. I have been a resident of Minneapolis for 28 years and I have always enjoyed the parks, lakes, bike trails and the feeling of knowing that I could go anywhere in the city at any time without a public safety issue. That comfort level has vanished.
I am watching as my friends and neighbors are having their homes, cars and garages broken into. I am watching as neighbors and long time residents are putting their homes on the market to sell and move. I am watching my neighbors purchase firearms. I am watching and knowing neighbors who have had their business robbed at gunpoint in the city and who have had their cars hijacked. I am sick of it. I too am getting my home updated and preparing to sell.
Defunding the police is an abhorrent idea to even think about doing, let alone actually considering. Criminals have become emboldened because they know no police will show up. Add the fact that Gov Walz has once again shut everything down in our city leaving people unemployed, children out school, and many others who are abusing alcohol and drugs. People are becoming more violent and escaping consequences for their actions.
The police chiefs overtime pay should NOT be tied to anything other than hard work and dedication.
I sincerely hope the Minneapolis police force actually grows and is given pay incentives to remain strong. Do NOT vote to defund. Back the Blue and keep our city safe. Or, we won’t have a city left.
Sent from my iPad From: Karen Sternal To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police funding Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:43:31 AM
As a Minneapolis resident, albeit ward 3, I want to add my name to the list of residents who support Mayor Frey’s and Chief Arradondo’s “both-and” funding policy for police funding. As the vote is tomorrow I hope you will hear from more residents who are asking for you to reach an agreement with the mayor. Our city deserves safety and welfare during this crisis period.
Sincerely, Karen Sternal 117 Portland Ave Minneapolis MN From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police funding Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:15:58 AM
Do not defund the police. All that does is make Minneapolis an easy target for criminals. We need good, well trained police. We need more police not less. Think of all of us not just the vocal minority. Sent from my iPhone From: David Ferris To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police Funding Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:22:56 AM
Councilman Schroeder,
My name is David Ferris. I am a longtime resident of the City of Minneapolis. My wife and I love this city and hope to reside here the rest of our lives. I am writing to urge you to vote for the police funding levels proposed in the Mayor’s budget.
One of the primary responsibilities of any city council is to ensure the safety of its citizens. At this time, Minneapolis needs a fully funded police force to reduce untenable levels of crime across the city. We need city council members who recognize current safety issues as they lead the city toward a future safety model.
Thank you.
David Ferris
5210 Hampshire Drive Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 802-3815 From: Patty Hunter To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police Reform & Police Funding Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:25:03 AM
Dear Councilman Schroeder: I am a Minneapolis resident in your district. As you know, crime in Minneapolis is risking precipitously and becoming increasingly brazen and violent. This is NOT the time to consider cutting police funding. I strongly oppose the efforts you, Lisa Bender and a few other council members are making to cut police funding and staffing. I further oppose your efforts to gain even more power over management of the police department. A governmental department cannot function effectively with a whole council of bosses giving divergent directions. I agree that police reform is urgently needed, but I disagree that cutting police funding and decreasing police staff is the way to achieve the necessary reforms.
If you persist in this endeavor to cut police funding and increase council oversight, I will vote against in the next election and will urge my neighbors to do the same, based on this issue alone. Respectfully yours, Patricia Hunter 4912 11th Ave So. Minneapolis, MN 55417 From: Suzanne Tacheny Kubach To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: Police services vote today Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:26:20 PM
Dear Councilmembers Schroeder and Johnson:
I am one of the many, many people in this city who was a victim of car jacking, a spree of criminal behavior plaguing the city since the council announced it's intent to "defund/dismantle" the city's police force.
I write to ask you to fully fund the Mayor's police budget to keep the existing force in place, while exploring new systems through pilots proposed in the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
I further ask that you either back this chief or remove him. The games some on the council seem to be playing to tie his hands are hurting the city and it's citizens. Give him access to the funds he needs to run the force and let him do his job.
I am planning a longer letter to explain my experience, though understand today's is a crucial action.
There is much growing disconnect in my neighborhood as too many of us are being attacked on what used to be very safe streets, until this "defund" conversation began. I fully support the need for police reforms. But we will always need policing and we have a chief who also backs them. Please back him, or replace him. But don't micromanage him!
I appreciate your attention to these concerns,
Suzanne Kubach 1611 Dupont Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55403 From: penny ebbitts To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police staffing Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:58:02 AM
I want a fully staffed police department, and also money for mental health and other social services. This cannot be an either/or decision. And both have equal weight. One is not more important than the other. Please be very careful what package you put together for the city’s future.
Sent from my iPad From: Helen LaFave To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police vote Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 7:51:52 AM
Council Member,
I am deeply concerned about the votes the City Council took Monday that will reduce the number of authorized police in our city as of 2022, cut nearly $8 million in police funding and require the police chief to seek council authorization to access a reserve of funding for overtime.
Unfortunately the story in the Star Tribune did not list how each council member voted so I am emailing all members to ask they vote against these changes on Wednesday.
The goals to reform the Minneapolis Police Department are laudable, but cutting officer numbers and limiting our police chief’s ability to manage the department will not change the culture of the MPD nor will it improve safety and address the crime wave affecting neighborhoods in Minneapolis.
I moved to Minneapolis because I love this city and have lived here for for more than three decades. I have invested in my home here and plan to retire here.
Please take an approach that ensures that all residents will receive a prompt, respectful, appropriate response when dialing 911 AND provide the police department the necessary adjunct services to deal with those suffering mental health crises, investigate crime and reduce the amount of committed time officers are spending in a reactive mode. We need to promote community policing so officers can develop relationships with those they protect and serve. That requires time.
I fear the since scenario that is being put in place will only create more stressed out officers who do not see the humanity of those they should be serving — and it will further inflame the current crime wave and leave your constituents feeling less safe.
Please vote against the changes that council moved forward at its Dec. 7 meeting.
Best regards, Helen LaFave Fulton Neighborhood From: James Imsdahl To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Police Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:43:43 PM
Hi Jeremy,
My name is James Imsdahl and I lived in Minneapolis for 6 years and love this city. I ask that you please vote to fund police we need them AND we need reform. Both / and not either or.
Thank you,
James
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android From: John Shekleton To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Policing Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:18:05 PM
Please vote against the defunding of the police. The city needs stability and a more visible, trusted police force. The civic fabrice is tearing. Listen to the voices of all the citizens.
John Shekleton downtown resident From: Rob Carlson To: Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Public Safety Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:44:11 PM
Dear Mr. Johnson and Mr. Schroeder,
My wife and I live near Loring Park on Yale Place at the corner of LaSalle and 12th street. We are 71 years old, in good health and used to be very active downtown, walking, attending events etc. This was to be our last home before we needed help with our living. We have spent most of 40+ years living in Minneapolis and working downtown. We attend Westminster Presbyterian Church and are very, very active in social justice issues. Volunteering for and contributing to many causes. We wholeheartedly support reform of the police department. But not at the expense of citizens safety, our safety.
We moved downtown in 2006. My wife, working at Target Corporate HQ, was able to walk to work after 30 years of bus commuting. We enjoyed walking, shopping and the entertainment downtown. We choose to live near Loring Park for its diversity and the opportunity to serve in our neighborhood. Twelve members of our family are people of color or indigenous.
Our neighborhood started to change in 2017 with some assaults and a mugging in our building's lobby. We felt less safe on Nicollet Mall, on the Greenway and in Loring Park. Some more neighbors were assaulted in the neighborhood later that year. We had break ins and thefts from our building. We had the beginnings of the groups of intoxicated adult males gathering in the park and on the south end of Nicollet Mall and Oak St and 13th St.
Early in 2018 we had multiple shootings on south Nicollet and 15th street area. The police response was exceptional. DID and the police upped their presence and things calmed down except for the increasing number of intoxicated individuals hassling hotel guests and neighbors on Nicollet and in Loring Park. Their abusive language to female visitors to our city coming and going to the Millenium and Hyatt hotels was hard to fathom. We had several thefts at Westminster. With the Hyatt we decided to put these individuals on notice by telling them we were watching their behavior and we would call the police if they kept threatening pedestrians with abusive language. We were promptly told off, shown a handgun and told the police would not do anything. This harassment continued all summer and into the fall. It was so threatening that I started to drive to our church - a block away and to Lunds - two blocks away.
2019 was unbelievable for harassment on the street and in the park: aggressive panhandling (I find it unacceptable to grab my arm and ask for money), more assaults, some gunfire, people openly dealing drugs and displaying weapons and knives. Many mornings we saw new broken auto window glass in the street. The police clearly were overwhelmed. Our neighborhood first precinct meetings ended in the Fall (lack of police time). Our monthly Nicollet Avenue safety meetings continue with the police and prosecutors. The police continued to apologize for the lack of resources. The community policing that had started in such a promising way evaporated without the resources. My wife stopped getting her hair cut at Jungle Red as she had to run a gauntlet of abuse to get from 12th street to 13th on La Salle. We stopped walking to the Lotus restaurant since we had to navigate the angry, threatening drunks near their entrance. We started meeting our friends in the suburbs for dinner and entertainment - they were justifiably afraid to come downtown after numerous threatening encounters on Nicollet Mall and Hennepin. We started Ubering even a couple of blocks Downtown.
My point in all of this is that our safety started progressively deteriorating before this Spring.
Since the death of George Floyd our neighborhood is barely livable. We watch the intoxicated bait the police, set up anywhere they want and hassle pedestrians and motorists. None of us call 911 or 311 anymore. We know the police have too much to do to deal with drug deals, weapons deals, speeding, intimidation, public urination, etc.. The police apologize at every monthly safety meeting for not having the resources to continue the presence that was so successful in 2018. Our neighbor was carjacked on Nicollet and broke his pelvis. Most of our neighbors stopped walking in the evening and only walk in groups during the day. Businesses are closing near Loring Park. Customers and employees are threatened in daylight hours.
This morning, 12-7, at 3:45 AM two individuals tried to gain entry into our building, Loring Green East, and repeatedly threatened our desk attendee. The police arrived promptly and arrested at least one.
We love Minneapolis and hope we can eliminate racial inequality and reform law enforcement. We have been, and are, willing to dig in and do the work. We believe we can be safe and reform police at the same time.
Organizational change is difficult, tedious, often discouraging but well understood. It is past time to start a rational approach to reforming policing and adopt successful change strategies. Regrettably, momentum for change from the death of George Floyd has been squandered by thoughtless speech and various attempts to sneak change past the public. Reform is only, ever, successful, if all the stakeholders are at the table. Reform, change, is a fragile thing that requires constant responsible stewardship of the process and respect for all those impacted.
Andrew and Jeremy, thank you for your public service! Communities can only succeed and thrive with dedicated, responsible, thoughtful and caring leadership. Thank you for the same. All our best to both of you in your pursuit of meaningful change.
Respectfully, Bonnie and Rob Carlson
-- Rob Carlson From: Christopher Carr To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Public Safety in Minneapolis Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:20:36 PM
Councilman Schroeder,
I write you as a security professional in downtown Minneapolis, as well as a staunch advocate of social justice and systemic racial equity.
What is being proposed in cuts to the MPD budget without completion of the staffing assessment or committed community feedback will leave the city in a situation not unlike the federal deficiencies dedicated toward the pandemic. With no uniform plan that leans on apolitical experts to guide and instruct, we will be forced into siloed reactive posturing that will ultimately result in the most vulnerable, socioeconomically, among us to bear the brunt of a lack of support from public servants tasked with their protection. One cannot repair a bridge by tearing down the bad support without placing effective support systems in place first. That can be done and can be time-efficient. Without an incoming recruiting class and staffing levels that are commensurate to the public safety need, we will not be equipped to extract from the system and the department that which is racist and cancerous.
Please vote to support the committed process of evaluation and assessment with community input and dialogue over the next year. The security professionals in the city literally face life and death decisions and the more PD staffing has been reduced and not back filled, the more danger we face. And the majority of the private security staff in the city are BIPOC.
Thank you for your consideration and I wish you the best.
Chris Carr Security Director Minneapolis City Center
Sent from my iPhone --
This company is part of the G4S group of companies. This communication contains information which may be confidential, personal and/or privileged. It is for the exclusive use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s), please note that any distribution, forwarding, copying or use of this communication or the information in it is strictly prohibited. Any personal views expressed in this e-mail are those of the individual sender and the Company does not endorse or accept responsibility for them. Prior to taking any action based upon this e-mail message, you should seek appropriate confirmation of its authenticity. This message has been checked for viruses on behalf of the Company. From: Brad Wilkinson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Public Safety In South Minneapolis - Police Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:55:13 AM
Dear Mr. Schroeder.
I have lived in south Minneapolis since 1996. I have greatly enjoyed all Minneapolis has had to offer and I have often touted the advantages of life in the city to friends and family living in the suburbs. In the meantime my Wife and I have had two children and they have also grown up in the neighborhood on the 4900 block of 10th Ave. Our kids enjoy walking and playing by the creek. They like going to 48th and Chicago for ice cream or shopping at 14Hill or many of the other previous shops. My wife has her own business right across the street from Sovereigngrounds. So we are committed to our life experience in Minneapolis.
The tragic loss of George Floyd changed that in many ways. First it has brought to the forefront the racial disparities in our city and country. Living close to 38th and Chicago, my daughters were able to witness the result of Floyd's death and learn about the real injustice in the world we live in. At the same time they developed a real fear of the police, in that the police were out to get people and could not be trusted.
Floyd's Death has highlighted the negative culture inherent in certain members of our police force. I say that because it is not the entire police force which has that culture. The City Council did not make any exceptions, it simply cast all police in the same light and called for defunding of the department. However, there are many people who join the police because they want to make change for the good. The problem is that the public never really recognizes the good which comes from police work, perhaps it's not newsworthy. I feel it is important to be able to show my daughters that there are many good police and that they are there to help.
Now the situation in Minneapolis is far worse as a direct result of the City Council's statement to defund the police. Crime is up dramatically, Our neighbors house on the Parkway was forcibly entered in broad daylight at 5pm, we have unknown cars scoping out our alleyway. Then at 48th and Chicago, we have had to tell our Girls they can't walk over there anymore. I have been typically picking up my wife at the end of her work day. The consensus among the store owners is that business was bad with COVID now it is really bad with all the criminal activity going on. My wife is afraid that some of her customers from the suburbs will no longer patronize her because of the high crime and high news publicity all this is getting. That has a direct impact on her business and certainly those around hers. We can not simply let this continue and allow our neighborhoods and business to further decline. Therefore from my point of view now is not the time to cut any funding from the police!
Do they need some reform? yes. Do they need better training? yes. Could some police work, (mental heath) be shifted to other organizations? yes.
We need all these things, but most of all we need safety for business and safety for our neighborhoods. That has to be the top priority.
If we don't maintain these things that we cherish in this city, we will lose business investment, lose our neighbors as they move to the suburbs, and lose property values as a result. This can really put the city into a tailspin and it won't be just the police budget we are concerned with but the entire city budget.
Therefore I would like to ask for your consideration to maintain the police budget as is maintaining the overtime at its current level. If it is possible to find other funding, i.e through the sale of assets, for mental health support or others then by all means let's explore those options.
Minneapolis businesses and residents need to see that the City Council is truly acting to maintain the safety in our community. Additionally the criminal element needs to see that as well.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Brad Wilkinson 4905 10th Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55417 612-363-7115
From: Jon Gilbertsen To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Public Safety Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:29:01 AM
Good morning Jeremy,
I’m writing you this morning on the eve of the budget vote. I find myself disillusioned by our city leadership, including the City Council and the Mayor. The number one function of government is to keep citizens safe. There are clear and significant failures in doing so. Many people have died and will continue to do so as a result. I know much of this is due to early retirement and officers claiming disability/PTSD. However, taking actions to not increase, but decrease, the number of officers will only continue to exacerbate the problem and cost more lives. Perhaps I’m in the minority these days, as I believe in moderation and compromise. I think more gets done that way, but on both a local and national level that appears to be viewed by politicians as weakness. Reality is we need police officers and we should not be cutting the budget and number of officers at this time of significant increases in violent crime. We can and should demand better policing and fair treatment for every citizen. These are not mutually exclusive! I see political maneuvering in these proposals (my hunch is Lisa Bender running for mayor), rather than real attempts to address a current crisis in our city. I’m exhausted by politicians’ response to violence being either “thoughts and prayers” or “hopes and dreams.” I agree we need long-term multi systemic changes to address some of the causes of the violence. We also need a culture change in MPD and to be able to get rid of brutal and racist officers. That doesn’t mean we don’t need police! We don’t need to sacrifice people in order to get to a better future of fair, unbiased, safe and effective policing. While I’m sure your decision has already been made, I ask you to consider these responsibilities and the very real and immediate ramifications of the vote you cast.
Respectfully, Jon Gilbertsen From: Ellen Shriner To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: Budget thoughts re: policing and safety--fund BOTH Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 7:49:57 PM Attachments: Screen shot 2012-02-19 at 4.21.47 PM.png
Hi,
Thanks your your quick reply. I’m glad to hear you’re supporting a multi-pronged approach to address MPD reform, the crime wave, and ways to meet broader safety needs.
I appreciate your updates and hope we can begin to see real progress on all three fronts.
All the best,
Ellen Shriner
On Dec 4, 2020, at 5:18 PM, Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Ellen,
Thanks for writing in with your concerns and your comments are not too late, the City is still working on the budget. What I am hearing consistently from constituents is that MPD needs drastic changes to prevent the misconduct, loss of life and lawsuits we have seen and at the same time we need to address crime now. I’m working to do that in the budget by first supporting all of the proposed mental health providers and added resources for violence prevention, as well as supporting a base of traditional law enforcement. First, I will be supporting the Mayor’s level of officers for next year and the recruit classes suggested. Second, I am looking to add more short term solutions for reducing crime. The recruit classes will make sure we have new officers in the future, but it takes over a year to get a new recruit on the street and best option is to focus our officers on solving and responding to violent crime by having other non-law enforcement personnel respond to non-emergency calls. The City has been piloting and studying this approach for years but has never funded these programs enough to have a City-wide reach. Finally, I introduced a budget amendment to add $5 million dollars to fund MPD overtime from the contingency fund. My hope is that with this combination of funding and commitment to transforming public safety while addressing our current crime can bring the City together.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Ellen Shriner
Hi,
I’d prefer to have the MPD budget to remain fully funded (i.e. don’t subtract 5% for other safety initiatives).
I’d prefer that other safety initiatives (mental health interventions, social service interventions and violence prevention programs) be funded IN ADDITION to the MPD funding. Also/and.
I remain troubled that there are no concrete plans for —
—How MPD will address the crime wave —How MPD will address reforms within the department
AND
— How additional safety initiatives will be implemented.
It seems like the process is backwards—ask for the money, then decide how to use it. I’d really really like to see city council and MPD formulate actionable plans (they don’t have to be perfect) and then ask for the funding—here’s what we want to do and here's what we think it will cost.
If those plans exist, the information needs to be shared.
Sigh.
I’m probably sending my comments too late for your budget meeting, but I felt compelled to share them.
Thank you,
Ellen Shriner
Creative Nonfiction www.ellenshriner.com wordsisters.wordpress.com 651-815-1935
Creative Nonfiction www.ellenshriner.com wordsisters.wordpress.com 651-815-1935 From: Mark Bachman To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: RE: budget vote tomorrow... Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:44:13 PM
Hi Jeremy,
Thanks again for taking the time to do the video call with our neighbor group last Wednesday evening in advance of the budget meeting and public commentary session. It really shows that you care about your constituents here in Ward 11 and are seeking as much input as possible. Some quick background about me: my name is Mark Bachman and I've lived in Minneapolis for almost all of my 48 years and my family has well- established residential and commercial roots here dating back to 1885 and prior. I've lived at our current Tangletown address for almost twenty years, on a street where I used to run for track practice in high school. I've been President of the Washburn High School Foundation for almost twelve years, providing significant advocacy and value-added financial support to the students and staff at Washburn High School. I've also been the owner/operator of a successful dental practice for over twenty years. I know Minneapolis has a lot of fans and advocates, but I feel like I'm right up there as a proponent of its virtues as a wonderful place to live, enjoy the parks, raise a family, get a great education, be inspired by diversity, be enlightened by the arts, and have an opportunity to operate a thriving business.
None of this continues without public safety. Public safety for ALL of Minneapolis is not a privilege. It's a right as a taxpaying citizen, provided our elected officials do their jobs and prioritize public safety as the number one tenet of a successful urban society (followed closely by successful public education, in my humble opinion). Yes the MPD needs reform and we have opportunities now to better identify where supports are needed and evaluative processes can be refined. That said, cutting the MPD operating budget (including the $5M allocation for much-needed overtime during this wave of brazen and aggressive crime) is NOT the right way to go about this. We have to get back to being safe on our streets and in our cars as priority number one. The mental health and administrative support programs can and should be developed concurrently, but not in place of having police out in our communities protecting our citizens. I heard the callers on Wednesday night. To those who don't feel safe BECAUSE of a police presence, that needs to change. But micro-managing the MPD and undermining the Chief only creates greater division, polarization, and dissent in our community.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job. 3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, violent crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the concerns and priorities of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Thanks again for your service to our city and community, we look forward to your continued partnership and representation of the citizens of Tangletown and Ward 11.
Sincerely,
Mark W. Bachman, D.D.S.
C: 612-385-6369 From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 12:36:42 PM
I do appreciate your willingness to step back from supporting a reduction to MPD budget.
I support approval of the entire Mayors budget. The proposal to take away 8 million dollars from the MPD lacks any concrete, immediately, actionable ideas to reduce crime in Mpls, which is a high priority to all of us.
After 30 years of budget responsibility in a large corporation, and working organizational change issues, I am very concerned that many of the Council seems to view the world through only a radical liberal idealogy, with very little understanding of how to make things actually work in a complex world. My past experiences tell me that it is easy to sell an idea, but infinitely more difficult to implement the idea, especially if it viewed as "throw it over the wall" at others. The anti-police behaviors of some council members is toxic.
I believe that budget reduction begins with the identification/cost of core services. The police department is a core service in this time of crisis, and it is irresponsible to reduce it any further.
Without law and order to provide a sense of stability, the city will continue to decline. The credibility of our city leadership is at all time low. Defunding the police is any way at this time is exactly the wrong thing to do. What does make sense is finding sources of incremental funding to work on areas of needed change.
-----Original Message----- From: Schroeder, Jeremy
Hi Laura,
Thanks for copying me on this and hopefully you saw the amendment I introduced to add $5 million to the budget for MPD overtime. I hope that this additional money will help to both make sure we have officers to cover the current crime levels and fund transformative public safety services.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: [email protected]
All efforts to defund the police budget should be discontinued immediately, along with the highly inflammatory rhetoric surrounding "defund and dismantle". I have no resistance to ideas presented in the Safety for Now plan, the focus should be on funding these ideas from sources other than police budget, and ensuring there is support from the experts who have to make these ideas operational.
What does concern me is the continued "defund" message promoted by Black Visions, which is well funded and organized to help drowning the voices of those of who support the police. The vast majority of us do not protest in the streets and pay significant taxes to run the city. According to Wikipedia, Black Visions is based in Mpls..... how about Black visions kicking some of their many millions raised this year into the implementation of these initiatives?
Laura Murray Ward 11 5021 15th Ave S From: Joseph Drechsel To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: Carjackings Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:55:39 PM
I encourage a vote in favor of motion 14-B.
Thank you! Joe
On Sat, Dec 5, 2020, 7:55 PM Joseph Drechsel
Some more hoops to jump through for that money but I appreciate the intention. Good luck figuring everything out!
I think we all in Minneapolis want to figure out new ways of preventing crime that isn't just the traditional way--I'm concerned that short term safety (for all) would be sacrificed with the "safety for all" plan but I think you know that already!
I think the cuts are hard to stomach with current crime and won't go over well but I understand the frustration with status quo.
Have a great weekend! Thanks for your correspondence!
Joe Drechsel
On Sat, Dec 5, 2020, 7:45 PM Schroeder, Jeremy
Hi Joe,
One other thing I’ve done (things move fast during budget time) that brings the Safety for All proposal closer to the Mayor’s is to introduce a budget amendment to add $5 million for officer overtime. Things are still being worked out, but hope is that with this new money and commitment to officers to respond to crime, the Council and Mayor can agree on a package that both commits to changes in MPD and addresses the current crime level.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder
Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council
350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211
Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Joseph Drechsel
Thanks for your response!
I just want you to know that I and many of my neighbors are in support of the Mayor's budget and plans for our city--including the target level of officers at it's current level of 888. I hope you'll support a plan that doesn't cut that target.
Best,
Joe
On Thu, Dec 3, 2020, 8:31 AM Schroeder, Jeremy
Hi Joe,
Great questions! First, I’m not opposed to funding MPD, but before I increase any funding to MPD they need to vastly improve their accountability and transparency. Also, second, I am supporting the recruit classes in the Mayor’s budget but it does take over a year to get a new recruit on the street, which gets right to your question about what I suggest in the short term. The recruit classes will make sure we have new officers in the future, and best option in the short term is to focus our current officers on solving and responding to violent crime by having other non-law enforcement personnel respond to non-emergency calls. The City has been piloting and studying this approach for years but has never funded these programs enough to have a City-wide reach, and by doing these, the City is estimating that officers will gain 10-15% more time. When faced with the realities that over 100 officers have left the department on leave and that there are no available officers to hire in the short term, this proposal is the best compromise.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder
Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council
350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211
Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Joseph Drechsel
Hey Jeremy!
I'm increasingly concerned (as I'm sure you are) with the surge in violence across Minneapolis.
https://www.startribune.com/staggering-surge-in-violent-carjackings-continues- citywide/573257391/
I know you don't believe in more funding for the police currently. I'm wondering instead what practically you are advocating for today to help prevent this violence?
In other words if the police department isn't the best answer for our current violence what can and should we be doing right now? Does the Office of Violence prevention have plans to reduce say carjackings specifically in the couple months?
Not trying to be combative. Just honestly searching for answers! Feeling very disappointed in the current violence in our city and am frustrated that my leaders haven't been able to do anything about it.
Thanks as always!
Joe Drechsel
Windom From: Anna Erbes To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: City Council Budget Meeting Closing Statement, December 2, 2020 Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 11:31:57 AM
Hello Jeremy,
Thank you for your response to my Closing Statement email. As you know, I also sent to you and other members of the Council, the Mayor, and Police Chief, my full text for submission in the Public Comment.
I rewrote a very condensed version of my writings when I realized that the callers for the Virtual City Council Budget Meeting were limited to 60 seconds.There were 440 callers. I was #336. I diligently listened to 350 callers for 6 1/2 hours, wanting to understand the ‘voices of the people’. I do not believe that residents from all of the 13 Wards participated. I guesstimate that 100 of the 350 callers that I listened to supported the ‘People’s Budget’ to reduce the Police Department budget/staffing, with the remaining 250 callers supporting Mayor Frye’s Budget, to maintain the current staffing of 888 police officers, the addition of more police recruitment classes, and the provision for reform within the Police Department. I also watched much of the live stream City Council Budget Meeting on the following day. I have sent a request to the City Charter commission requesting a BALLOT QUESTION for Minneapolis residents to vote on the issue of changing the City Charter, which requires a minimum police staffing level based on the City’s population. I believe that a BALLOT QUESTION is crucial for residents to accept, and then support, the ‘will of the people’.
I do appreciate your email describing the budget allocations that you support, for reform of Police Department services/duties in the future, and addressing the ongoing increasing crime in Minneapolis. The ramifications of the ‘epidemic’ crime rate does effect ALL residents, directly or indirectly. I remain hopeful that our City leaders do read, and give thoughtful consideration of written communications received from all residents, in addition to the residents who participate in the virtual City Council Meetings.
Best regards,
Anna
On Dec 4, 2020, at 5:19 PM, Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Anna,
Thanks for sharing your statement and hopefully you can make a future community conversation! What I am hearing consistently from constituents is that MPD needs drastic changes to prevent the misconduct, loss of life and lawsuits we have seen and at the same time we need to address crime now. The proposal to cut 4.4% from MPD’s budget is to move money from MPD into other departments that are currently doing similar work in public safety and to fund programs to address non-emergency calls which will free up officers to answer emergency calls. Additionally, both the proposal and the Mayor’s proposed budget fund the same number of officers for next year. The proposal does not cut officers, but in fact keeps the additional recruiting class of new officers. The recruit classes will make sure we have new officers in the future, but it takes over a year to get a new recruit on the street and best option is to focus our officers on solving and responding to violent crime by having other non-law enforcement personnel respond to non-emergency calls. The City has been piloting and studying this approach for years but has never funded these programs enough to have a City-wide reach. When faced with these realities, this proposal is the best compromise with one addition. I introduced a budget amendment to add $5 million dollars to fund MPD overtime from the contingency fund. My hope is that with this combination of funding and commitment to transforming public safety while addressing our current crime can bring the City together.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Anna Erbes
CLOSING STATEMENT:
During the past many months, to garner an objective perspective, in addition to viewing local and national news broadcasts focused on the topic of increasing crime in our City, State, and across our nation, I have also diligently read neighborhood, local, and national publications. What I have learned from these multiple news sources is that we are enduring an unprecedented ‘crime pandemic, a ‘disease’ of sorts, that is spreading largely due to the widespread Covid pandemic.
Of great concern are the number of incidents of adolescents who appear to have become emboldened to commit violent crimes, injuring unsuspected persons for the purpose of stealing their property. These violations of personal safety are horrific ‘lessons learned’ by our youth. Factors contributing to their actions are: the family’s financial duress; the closure of schools, recreational and community centers; cancellation of sport activities; and a lack of employment opportunities. These are all important factors that do need to be addressed, and are worthy of planning for the future.
A shortage of patrol officers to respond to the violent crimes perpetuated by adolescents are reportedly also due to a lack of police officers to investigate these crimes; and the belief that they will not be held accountable for their actions. Given the latest statistics of solved carjackings in the City, 75% were committed by juveniles, with less than half of these crimes committed by repeat offenders. Prior to 2020, juvenile crime in Minneapolis was decreasing.
There is a reported record high number of weapons, and the use of weapons in crimes committed in our City. Lives are being adversely affected. Lives are being lost. NUMBERS MATTER. This cannot continue be our ‘normal’ today, or in our future. Full funding of our Police Department NOW is an ‘investment’ that would curtail these violent crimes by adolescents and adults alike. To do otherwise is a disservice to our citizens today, and in the future.
WORDS MATTER. Police REFORM for ongoing accountability and oversight is warranted. Regardless of one’s political viewpoint, progressive, liberal, or conservative, one cannot ignore the impact of increasing crime in Minneapolis. We, your constituents, are dependent upon your leadership, as we all are impacted on a daily basis, be it directly or indirectly, by the increasing rate of crime and weapons in Minneapolis. From: Paul Steiner To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: Constituent"s plea to support police funding during budgeting process Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 8:15:46 AM Importance: High
Councilmember Schroeder,
I am extremely disappointed in your vote in support of the budget proposal that reduces funding for the Minneapolis police department. Your actions, along with your fellow city council members (except for Goodman and Palmisano), simply make our city less safe. Period. My belief is that you are so intent on being seen as a progressive defunder of police that you are absolutely willing to sacrifice public safety in that pursuit. Period. Further decreases in public safety in Minneapolis will continue to be on your heads. Period.
The city council’s position on funding police overtime is simply bad policy. When police staffing levels are way down and crime is way up then the police are going to need to work overtime in support of public safety. Taking away overtime funds will clearly put public safety in further jeopardy. Then making access to potential overtime funding contingent upon coming to the city council to beg for the money really is insulting to a police chief who I believe is doing his best to keep the city safe (unlike the city council). And to put the city council in the position of approving overtime by the police is ridiculous. What is your personal experience with managing a police force? And the comment in the paper today that some council members see police overtime as a “blank check” makes it sound like the police force is doling out overtime for no reason rather than trying to make up for a shortage of officers during a public safety crisis.
Regarding the vote for reducing the authorized force from 888 to 750 officers, I am not sure which side of the 7-6 vote you were on but I strongly disagree with this proposal as well. Do not make decisions like that now. You need to see if current proposals have an effect on reducing crime before you decide to limit police staffing levels in the future. And I understand that this is not supposed to take effect until 2022 but passing it would still have an impact on recruiting and staffing levels now. You would not build up a force toward a number above 750 now if you knew that you would be having to bring it back down to 750 shortly.
Assuming that it does pass tomorrow, I am going to strongly encourage the mayor to veto the city council’s budget proposal. And, if you vote again tomorrow for final passage of this budget proposal, I am going to actively work against your re-election next year.
Sincerely, Paul Steiner
From: Paul Steiner Sent: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:46 AM To: Schroeder, Jeremy
Councilman Schroeder,
I greatly appreciate your response and your attempt at a plan. However, I still think that it is misguided and inadequate: Non-law enforcement officers covering non-emergency calls: I agree with this goal. However, I also want to make sure that there are enough officers to cover the emergency calls. My impression is not that the current police force is too busy with non-emergency calls to cover emergency calls. My impression is that they are too busy covering emergency calls to cover emergency calls, leaving non-emergency calls uncovered. Until all emergency calls are being covered adequately, you need officers available to cover them. Overtime: Why is funding overtime for police officers controversial and supposed to be seen as a gift from the city council to the community? What are the alternatives? If you don’t have enough officers working right now and you do not let the remaining officers work overtime, where does that leave public safety?
You talk about bringing the city together but all of the actions from the city council (at least the most vocal portion of it) seems more interested in fracturing the city further. Defunding for the sake of defunding without any actual action plan. From my perspective this seems to simply be grandstanding!
I insist on a “both-and” solution and not taking money from the police department in the midst of a public safety crisis the likes of which I don’t think Minneapolis has ever seen. I strongly believe that the current budget proposals that I have heard from the city council will only serve to make the city less safe for all. If you want to try pilot programs then fund pilot programs separately and do not try taking credit for funding police overtime as a gift to the city.
Thank you, Paul Steiner
From: Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Paul,
What I am hearing consistently from constituents is that MPD needs drastic changes to prevent the misconduct, loss of life and lawsuits we have seen and at the same time we need to address crime now. The proposal to cut 4.4% from MPD’s budget is to move money from MPD into other departments that are currently doing similar work in public safety and to fund programs to address non-emergency calls which will free up officers to answer emergency calls. Additionally, both the proposal and the Mayor’s proposed budget fund the same number of officers for next year. The proposal does not cut officers, but in fact keeps the additional recruiting class of new officers. The recruit classes will make sure we have new officers in the future, but it takes over a year to get a new recruit on the street and best option is to focus our officers on solving and responding to violent crime by having other non-law enforcement personnel respond to non-emergency calls. The City has been piloting and studying this approach for years but has never funded these programs enough to have a City-wide reach. When faced with these realities, this proposal is the best compromise with one addition. I introduced a budget amendment to add $5 million dollars to fund MPD overtime from the contingency fund. My hope is that with this combination of funding and commitment to transforming public safety while addressing our current crime can bring the City together.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Paul Steiner
Councilman Schroeder,
I am writing you to ask you to not support the budget proposal of your three fellow City Council members, Bender, Cunningham and Fletcher, that defunds the police department by 5% and that actively works toward significantly reducing the size of the police force. Yes, police reform is a great goal. However, public safety alternatives to the police should not come at the expense of current public safety systems during a public safety crisis, which is exactly what we are experiencing right now on a historic scale. This is not a time of “either/or” regarding police but rather a time of how do we fund alternative public safety initiatives going forward while maintaining the correct level of policing for a community of our size. People across the city are in fear of violent crime as criminals become more brazen. I, myself, am concerned about my 24-year-old daughter’s safety Uptown and also downtown where she works. And just a couple of weeks ago nearly every car on our block was broken into overnight here in the Hale neighborhood. And I know of several carjackings that have taken place nearby as well.
Please do not support police defunding efforts during this public safety crisis. But rather support at least the current level of policing while also working on funding for alternative public safety measures and for sensible police reforms.
Thank you, Paul Steiner From: avasatka To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: RE: COVID-19 Updates, Shop Local This Season, 2021 Budget, and more Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:31:45 AM
Mr. Schroeder,
Every year and every budget cycle has priorities. This year with an incredible spike in violent and nonviolent crime perfectly corresponding to a decrease in our police force, public safety is this year's top priority. Therefore, I ask you in this up coming budget to fully fund the police department per the mayor's request while you find ways to ALSO invest in other public safety initiatives. This is a good year to deprioritize non-public safety spend like infrastructure and tax reductions.
The MPD is currently the best way to hold crime at bay. If you aren't sure how police reduce crime, as some people seem to be confused about, I encourage you to read an article in last week's Star Tribune about an officer (with your same last name ironically) who took a gun off of a criminal that was used in at least 14 shootings. That MPD officer took that gun off our streets and likely stopped it from harming more of your citizens. It is clear that we need more of these good officers. Please, for the sake of the community you represent, fully fund the police and their reform efforts so that we can begin to bring this city back from the brink of chaos and unchecked violence on innocent people, while you explore other ways to reduce crime.
Thank you as always for your thoughtful consideration.
Alex Vasatka Ward 11 Resident
------Original message ------From: Council Member Jeremy Schroeder
The latest updates from Ward 11 City Council Member Jeremy Schroeder Jeremy schroeder
[email protected] (612) 673-2211
Ward 11 Neighbors,
Below you'll find the latest updates on key issues affecting our community. As COVID-19 surges in Minnesota, please stay home as much as possible, cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands frequently, wear a mask, and stay at least six feet away from anyone you don’t live with – whether you’re inside or outside.
As always, you are always welcome to get in touch with me directly about issues that matter to you. The best way to reach me is to email [email protected] or call 612-673-2211. If you have immediate questions about City services like garbage pick-up, potholes, parking violations, and more, please call 311 or use these online reporting tools for the most efficient service.
Download New COVID-19 Contact Tracing App If You Gathered for Thanksgiving, Get Tested Today Local Businesses Need Us This Holiday Season 2021 Budget Public Hearing This Week Providing Safety For All Bryant Ave Reconstruction Open House Pet Adoption Fees Waived This Month Have Your Waste Habits Changed During the Pandemic? Ward 11 Virtual Community Conversation COVID-19 Resources Download New COVID-19 Contact Tracing App
Our community is still seeing alarming spread of COVID-19, and it continues to be important that we all do whatever we can to limit that. You can now download COVIDaware MN – the state’s free COVID-19 notification app with secure, anonymous technology – to get an alert when another app user you’ve been exposed to tests positive for the virus. The more people that download and use the app, the better it works.
Bluetooth technology exchanges privacy-protected “keys” when two phones using the app are within six feet from each other for 15 minutes in a 24-hour period. If one of the app users tests positive, they can enter a randomly generated code into the app to anonymously notify people exposed to them – even folks they don’t know. The app is available in English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong. Get more information and see how to download COVIDaware MN here.
Not everyone who gets COVID-19 experiences symptoms, yet they can still spread the virus to others. This app is yet another tool to help protect yourself, your loved ones, and our community along with staying home, wearing masks when you go out, keeping at least six feet from others, and washing your hands. You can find additional information about COVID- 19 testing and resources for households below.
If You Gathered for Thanksgiving, Get Tested Today
State public health officials are urging anyone who gathered with folks outside their household over Thanksgiving to get tested for COVID-19 this week. You should get tested if you have symptoms whether or not you saw others on the holiday. There are many free testing options available, no insurance required. Remember to quarantine until you’ve received your test results and isolate if you test positive. I will continue to share this COVID-19 testing information in my newsletters and encourage you to share it with family, friends, and neighbors.
At-Home Saliva Testing
The state is offering free at-home COVID-19 saliva tests. You do not need to have symptoms in order to request a test, which must be taken during a video chat with a supervisor who makes sure the test is done properly. You then send the test to a lab which will test your saliva and email your results one to two days after they receive the sample. The saliva test is just as accurate as the nasal swab test and is available at no cost for every Minnesotan, and insurance is not required. Request your at-home COVID-19 test here. Results should be available within a day or two after the lab processes your test.
In-Person Saliva Testing
Free saliva testing is now available at a couple of locations that may be convenient for Ward 11 residents:
The Minneapolis Convention Center (1301 2nd Ave S; enter on the west side of the building off 1st Avenue). Testing is available daily, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Walk-ins are welcome but folks are encouraged to make an appointment to prevent crowding and long lines. Free parking is available and marked in nearby surface lots and parking ramps. Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, Terminal 1 (4300 Glumack Dr; signs will guide you from the inbound roadway to the clinic location itself, located in the lobby area on Level 2 of the Blue Ramp). Testing is available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome but folks are encouraged to make an appointment to prevent crowding and long lines. Parking validation is available. Learn more about saliva testing at the airport here.
No ID or insurance is required. Test results should be available within a day or two of your test.
Other Testing Options To see more COVID-19 testing opportunities, check Hennepin County’s upcoming community testing events and the state’s list of its upcoming testing events. In addition, this state directory can help you find a testing location near you.
Local Businesses Need Us This Holiday Season
This year has been extra tough on our small businesses, and I'm proud of the way Ward 11 neighbors have stepped up to support our local shops, restaurants, and service providers. Let's keep it up this holiday season and make sure our vibrant local economy starts the new year on strong footing. I reached out to some small business leaders who offered the following pointers on ways we can lift up our community this holiday season:
Shop early. Doing your holiday shopping as soon as possible will make a big difference for local retailers. This includes shopping online or visiting a local business in a COVID-safe way. Support minority-owned businesses. Expand your holiday purchases to include businesses you've never patronized before, especially including those owned by Black, brown, and Indigenous folks. Support local restaurants. Make it a habit to order takeout regularly, if you're able, and make sure you try new restaurants too. Promote your favorites on social media. Repost, share, and retweet content created by local businesses, and share your experiences with them. Buy gift cards. Purchasing gift cards from small businesses as gifts or for yourself is a great way to lift up local entrepreneurs who need your help.
By shopping local, we can keep our money in this community and ensure our local economy remains strong. Learn more about the benefits of supporting our small businesses here.
2021 Budget Public Hearing This Week
The City Council will hold its next virtual public hearing on the 2021 budget this Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 6:05 p.m. See how to participate and sign up to testify here. You can also add your written comments to the public record by emailing [email protected] or sending them directly to me at [email protected]. This is a key opportunity to be heard before my colleagues and I consider budget amendments later this week. We will hold a final public hearing on next year’s budget on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 6:05 p.m.
Like communities nationwide, our city is in the middle of an extraordinarily difficult budget process. The economic crises fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic has put tremendous strain on our resources – and at the same time, we face uncertainly about what federal and state aid may be available to us going forward. My Council colleagues and I will finalize details of the 2021 budget in coming weeks.
Providing Safety For All
This has been an unprecedented and painful year for our city. Business as usual is not working for anyone -- I hear routinely from Ward 11 community members about general crime and safety issues as well as lack of police response and fear of the police. I take these concerns very seriously. They make it clear that we need solutions that can make a difference on day one, that can actually prevent crime before it causes harm in our community. The past several months have left our community traumatized, and that is simply unacceptable.
It is time we unburden police officers who, under our existing one-size-fits-all approach, are expected to respond to many things aside from violent crime. Redirecting non-emergency calls like theft and parking problems to other City departments cuts down on the time officers are tied up with those calls. This in turn ensures police are available to respond to violent crime and other incidents that fit within their purview and training. And because it is safer for everyone when mental health crisis response is led by trained professionals rather than armed police, I support the launch of a non-police 911 response to mental health crises in Minneapolis. Mental health crisis calls are the third most common top-priority 911 call in our city, and fewer than 10% of them result in a police report. A new kind of specialized response will meet the need while allowing officers to focus elsewhere.
In addition, I support the expansion of violence prevention programming that would grow existing initiatives that have been shown to deliver results, including Group Violence Intervention and Next Step, as the establishment of a permanent presence for street outreach teams on both the north side and the south side. You can learn more about the ongoing work of our Office of Violence Prevention here. It is unacceptable to have a public safety system that mainly reacts after the damage is done. I’m tired of seeing harm caused in Ward 11 and across the city. We can do better by investing in prevention.
Our budget conversations are happening at a time of tremendous financial strain as we grapple with the economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. We face significant financial constraints and need to make sure that the community sees a return on every dollar we spend. We need to invest in a public safety system that is more specialized and more responsive, one that can better meet our needs. Find more details about budget measures that will help shape a city that's better and safety for everyone here. I am hopeful that the City Council, Mayor Frey, and Chief Arradondo can unite behind these responsible, common sense steps to fulfill our mission to ensure safety for everyone in Minneapolis.
Bryant Ave Reconstruction Open House
Learn more about the City’s plans to reconstruct the street on Bryant Avenue South between Lake Street and 50th Street at a virtual open house on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. This project, slated for 2022, is just west of Ward 11 but will impact our community. Public Works staff is exploring what it would look like to move transit service from Bryant to Lyndale Avenue to help balance the space required for all street users in this corridor. Visit the project website to get more information and see how to attend the open house.
Overall goals for this project include improving pedestrian safety and access, creating a bicycle connection accessible to people of all ages and abilities, supporting existing and future transit service, accommodating businesses in the area, and using green infrastructure to collect and treat stormwater runoff. Stay in the loop by subscribing to email updates on the project website, where you can also find more detailed information about ongoing work.
Pet Adoption Fees Waived This Month
Looking to add a furry friend to your family? Now is a great time -- Minneapolis Animal Care & Control is waiving adoption fees for all adoptable animals during the month of December. You can see adoptable cats and dogs here, then call 311 to request an adoption appointment. Because of COVID-19, the shelter is closed to the public and all adoptions are done by appointment only.
Have Your Waste Habits Changed During the Pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much about how we move around, work, learn, and more. Now, our Solid Waste and Recycling staff are looking for your help to understand how COVID-19 has affected your household’s waste habits. All Minneapolis households are invited to take a short survey to help City staff understand what’s shifted since March and how they can better communicate with residents as we head into 2021. Offer your input by completing the survey here.
Get tips on reducing your waste here.
Ward 11 Virtual Community Conversation
I will host my next virtual Community Conversation this Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. All Ward 11 community members are welcome to join online or by phone. To keep this discussion as productive and constructive as possible, and to avoid frustrating background noise, I will take questions by email and answer them on the call. If there are questions or topics you’d like to raise during our time together, please email them to [email protected].
To participate, click this link during the designated meeting time. Alternatively, you can join by calling 612-276-6670 and entering 810881541# as your conference ID.
COVID-19 Resources
As COVID-19 puts additional strain on families and individuals, there are resources available to help. I will continue to share the following resources in each of my newsletters, and I encourage you to pass this information along to any family, friends, or neighbors who may can benefit from these programs.
State Housing Assistance Program
Minnesota’s COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program has opened to cover housing expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities or other housing-related costs. This program will help keep folks in their homes and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners in communities across the state. People in Minnesota interested in applying for assistance can call the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 211 Resource Helpline at 651-291-0211, text “MNRENT” or “MNHOME” to 898-211, or apply online here. The 211 Helpline has dedicated multilingual staff to answer questions about the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For questions regarding the application process, review COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program frequently asked questions.
Rental Assistance from Hennepin County
Hennepin County continues to offer assistance to residents in need that can be used to cover this month’s rent or past-due rent from previous months. To qualify you must:
Rent anywhere in Hennepin County. Have had household income below 50% of the area median income (about $46,550 for a three-person household) before COVID-19. Lost income due to COVID-19 that has not been replaced by unemployment insurance or other emergency assistance. Can’t afford housing costs this month. Not currently receive Section 8 or other rental assistance.
Priority will be given to households with the lowest incomes and those not eligible for unemployment insurance. Learn more and apply for assistance here. If you do not have internet access or cannot complete the form in English call 612-302-3160.
Foreclosure Prevention Resources
The COVID-19 crisis continues to pose significant challenges for many in our community. If you or someone you know is struggling to meet your mortgage obligations, free assistance is available through the Minnesota Homeownership Center. A network of advisors can help you understand how to prevent foreclosure and connect you with resources to help during this challenging time. Learn more and find an advisor here.
Utility Bill Payment Options During COVID-19
Too many of our neighbors have to choose between paying their energy bills and paying for other necessities. The state's Energy Assistance Program offers eligible residents help covering energy expenses so they don't have to choose. Through this program, renters and homeowners can access benefits ranging from $200 to $1,400, based on heating costs, household size, and household income. This assistance can be used to cover energy bills, or to repair or replace old or malfunctioning furnaces. Get more information and apply here.
In addition, both of our local utility providers -- Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy -- have suspended shutoffs for non-payment until further notice. In addition, both companies are working with customers to provide help where possible. Arrange a payment plan by contacting Xcel Energy at 800-895-4999 and/or CenterPoint Energy at 800-245-2377.
Free Meals for Kids 18 and Younger
Free meal boxes are available to all Minneapolis families with children ages 18 and younger. Similar to the free food box program Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) operated in the spring and summer, all families are welcome to participate at no cost – children do not need to be enrolled at an MPS school. Families can pick up one box per child per week. Each box contains five breakfasts and five lunches with fresh produce and whole grains. Milk is available upon request. Meal boxes are available for pickup Monday through Friday at 29 school sites across Minneapolis. Find the full list of pickup sites and hours here. Call 612-668- 2820 or email [email protected] with questions.
Help for Older Adults
The Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging put together a list of community-based services and resources for older adults and their caregivers to support daily living needs and safety at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find more information here, or if you need additional assistance, you can call the Senior LinkAge Line – a free statewide help line for seniors and caregivers – at 1-800-333-2433.
Spanish/English COVID-19 Hotline
Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research (HACER) is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Health to launch a COVID-19 hotline in Spanish and English. This statewide service provides accurate and culturally relevant information regarding COVID-19 to Latinx communities. Call 651-304-6145 for assistance in Spanish with questions or concerns about where to get tested, what to do while you wait for results, and how to manage if you're test is positive. Program coordinators and hotline specialists are trained to best understand the needs of the Latinx community around the state as they relate to COVID-19 and will offer resources provided by the Minnesota Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local organizations.
Wash your hands and cover your face!
For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please call 311 at 612-673-3000.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.
Para asistencia 612-673-2700, Yog xav tau kev pab, hu 612-673-2800, Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.
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You are subscribed to email updates from the City of Minneapolis · Update Preferences · Unsubscribe This email was sent to [email protected] using govDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: City of Minneapolis · 707 17th St, Suite 4000 · Denver, CO 80202 From: Peter Schmitt To: Council Members Subject: Re: In Support of Safety For All Budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:57:21 AM Attachments: image.png
My apologies if this message is duplicative. I tried emailing [email protected] as listed on the city website and received a bounceback message indicating a fatal error and that the message couldn't be delivered. Seems like the website needs to be updated to [email protected]. Anyway, thank you for your time and please see my original message below.
image.png
Dear Esteemed City Council Members,
Short version: Among the many voices from across the city that I know you are listening to at the moment, I wanted to add in my quick note of support for the Safety For All funding. We need to try something and this is a very modest, incremental step that still leaves the MPD with millions and millions of dollars to work with. It also helps dismantle a perverse incentive structure that encourages officers to work extra hours.
Longer version: I won't claim that Safety For All is the end all, be all that is going to repair the relationship and reputation of MPD. It also certainly won't fully solve the current multifaceted public safety issues around the city. What this does do, however, is take a step. It shows those that live here that the status quo isn't good enough. It also allows the City to start focusing on problem units. If you remove certain responsibilities from MPD by reallocating their budget and the problem still persists, then the City Council and Mayor can look at that remaining money and department and continue to widdle away until you get to the core. Without this first step, we can't even try that.
Why should anyone believe that not changing anything within the department and simply paying out unlimited overtime will stop more of our citizens from being murdered by MPD? Especially without any sound justification for what more overtime hours or more officers would provide, any increase in spending would be simply ridiculous.
You have to try something. In any organization, if there was a major flaw (and MPD and public safety are major flaws right now), there would be an adjustment to correct that flaw. In bigger organizations, you would honestly hire a consulting group like BCG or Bane, hide behind their analysis, and have them come in and fire a bunch of people and do this reorganization for you (while paying them a ridiculous fee). The City can't do that and the police union would never allow it, so the City has to try something else. This is the first step.
So I urge you to try something. Don't delay another year. Try this and see if it works. This is a marginal, small step. The police will still have millions and millions of dollars to work with. Not incentivizing them to work overtime for 1.5 pay is a good thing. Trying anything to repair public trust in the MPD (an institution that hasn't shown a good amount of reason to be trusted lately) is a good thing. I urge your support.
Finally, I want to thank you all for the work that you do. This very much includes your aides and staff. I know that you all are sitting through hours of testimony and reading pages and pages of testimony. I appreciate what you are doing and hope that the result of that work is a Minneapolis that isn't stuck in the status quo.
Thank you for your time and diligence, Peter Schmitt From: TIM BERARDINIS To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: Please increase police Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:11:08 AM
Council Member Schroeder,
Thank you for the reply and explanation.
My ask is simply that the council give Chief Arradondo the backing, support, and officers needed to fight crime properly and stabilize the situation.
There will be better years ahead for the budget, but if crime continues at the current rate tax paying companies and home owners will relocate.
Thank you for finding a way to support the community's needs.
Tim Berardinis
------Original Message ------
From: Jeremy Schroeder To: Tim Berardinis Sent: November 23, 2020 at 3:11 PM Subject: RE: Please increase police
Dear Tim,
Thanks for writing in with your concerns and sharing your suggestions for what you would like to see. Due to the huge budget shortfall because of COVID-19, every department in the City will be cut, but that said, I will be focusing on funding public safety. In the next few weeks, the City budget will be finalized and I will be prioritizing proven programs within our balanced budget. With the large number of officers who have left on leave and a large amount of MPD’s budget paying for officers who are not working, there needs to be a strategy on how to reduce crime with the current resources. I’ve been asking for this since the summer and the Chief has not presented a plan either publicly or privately. That said, I am hopeful that the Council and Mayor can come together in the budget for public safety. The Chief last week was in a public forum where he highlighted the same issues I do (paying for officers who are not working and the reduced officers) and he said the way for immediate improvement is by focusing the current officers on crimes in progress and better utilize other departments for non-emergency calls. I agree with this approach and, combined with the harsh budget realities facing the City, believe a joint public safety budget can be created. We all need a public safety system that keeps us safe and I’ll keep working with the Chief to do that.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: TIM BERARDINIS
Mr. Schroeder,
I'm sure you've received many emails on this topic. Thank you for reading.
As a 20 year resident of the Northrup neighborhood, the crime and the feeling of unease has never been greater. The current situation is a safety concern and causes many to question living in the city.
My request: Please do not cut the staff or funding that staffs the police department.
I wish for our leaders to both support the police and provide what is needed for them to keep our streets safe, especially during this difficult moment.
I am in favor of: Eliminating inequality, injustice, and systemic racism in policing Providing staff and training to work with mental disorders Policing approaches that result in fewer confrontations Policing protocols that reduce use of firearms and lethal force Changing from a negative slogan of "defund" to a positive one that "improves community respect in policing" More law enforcement staffing for patrols, investigations, & community engagement
I truly hope that you and the city council can find a reasonable middle ground that both provides enough officers short term to reduce our current crime and put us on a path to wholistic law enforcement that is fair, equitable and just, and which is respected by the community. Thank you for reading, considering this request, and serving me and my neighbors.
Tim Berardinis 4704 18th Ave S From: Nstarsslr10s10 To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: Police = Lost Votes Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:58:41 AM
Good Morning Jeremy, As the vote nears this week on the police funding etc. Just wanted to remind you we will all be watching how you vote. I did see you presented a plan & that is actually a good start. JUST DO NOT VOTE FOR Less police officers than we already have ! And we need more ! You all do know that there will be protesting / rioting in the streets come March when the trial begin. Please do not leave the city vulnerable then or EVER! VOTE FOR THE POLICE !
In a message dated 11/16/2020 10:22:27 AM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
Hi Again Jeremy, Almost forgot :) Want to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!
No matter anyone's disagreements, it is our sincere hope, that we can put all of the recent political hate, vitriol, name calling and total lack of respect among the two political parties, behind us. I hope you are pretty tired of it too. We hope, & maybe that is "Pie in the Sky" dreaming, that the 2 parties can get together to work for what is best for the City, State & Nation. Seems that both parties are too entrenched & dug in to even work Together, for the Betterment of the citizens. Terri & I have always looked for the good in people, not the bad. Pipe Dreams these days? Maybe. But still a good way to go through life!
With that said, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year if we don't get a chance to talk before then.
Thanks Jeremy ! Mark & Terri Labandz
-----Original Message----- From: Nstarsslr10s10
Good Morning,
Thank you for responding, however it still sounds a lot like the spin doctoring rhetoric we have been hearing for way too many months.
I am a Homeowner & Senior & have not received ANY Covid-19 aid, nor asked for any that you mention. However, If there is Aid available, Please provide a list of Covid-19 related- City of Minneapolis programs etc. where we Senior- Homeowners can get some of this alleged aid? I have a good list of family & friends (Voters) that would be very interested !
Define the "Proven Programs" to reduce crime, YOU will be investing in ?
Once again, Please Stop passing the buck & passing the blame to the Chief. You all approved him for the job, so Give him the resources available. Yes, there is a need to weed out any "Bad Apples", but 99.% + of the police officers that sign up to risk their lives to keep our or other cities across the country, should not be worried about not getting the support of their elected city officials.
Once Again, we remind you: Your first & foremost job is to Keep your Ward Safe for the hard working, tax paying, renters & Home Owners (Many by "Seniors" now & the future! Your job is to represent the constituents in your ward, the majority of which are crying out for an end to this rampant crime, for Safer Neighborhoods, More Police Protection & Service presence, Not Less !
Jeremy, Please listen to all of your constituents I just listed. We are not going to come down to city council meetings & yell, scream, protest, riot & act like fools in your meeting rooms, we have enough respect for the elected officials to do stupid actions like that. We are though, going to continue to make our voices heard in a civil manner & we expect OUR councilman to represent & vote for those voices in Your Ward & not personal / or other council members radical agendas!
Kindest Regards, We'll be watching ! Thank you, Mark
-----Original Message----- From: Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Mark,
During the ongoing budget process, I will be investing funding in proven programs to reduce crime within our balanced budget. The Mayor and Chief’s proposal was none of these. When asked directly, the Chief could not explain how these additional officers would be used to reduce crime, let alone how the funding would address the car jackings and robberies that we have been seeing, nor could he explain how the historically high budget of over $180 million for MPD had been spent to address the crime we have been seeing for months. Additional, both agencies who were supposed to provide officers hadn’t been consulted. Hennepin County isn’t sure if they could do it and Metro Transit said it wouldn’t be able to provide officers: https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-city-council-narrowly-oks-plan-to-bring-in-outside- police/573066922/
We, along with other cities in the nation, are under extreme financial stress due to COVID-19 and every small business, homeowner, renter, senior, resident of the City will very likely need more aid in the upcoming months and that money would come out of the contingency/emergency fund. I’m not opposed to hiring outside officers while MPD does the work to address its multiple issues, but spending half a million dollars out of the contingency/emergency fund without a plan, or strategy, or any accountability is irresponsible.
That all said, the proposal was approved. My hope is that my questions will lead to a more comprehensive program and I will continue to work with the Chief to make this City safer.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Nstarsslr10s10
Good afternoon Jeremy,
Well after reading just now that you voted AGAINST the proposal to bring in additional police amid the shortage, you have now just lost 2 votes in our home, in addition to other family members, many friends & neighbors that VOTE & who live in Ward 11. Apparently all of our discussions have NOT made one iota of difference to you. Apparently you forgot our previous talks via email & on the phone that we have a police officer in our immediate family, who risks his life everyday in Chicago. That obviously fell on deaf ears.
How you can support a fellow council member, Jeremiah Ellison, who back just a few years ago, was Rioting & throwing Molotov Cocktails at the 4th precinct, (Look up past local TV video coverage, yes it is True) standing next to his father Keith, who was on a bullhorn inciting the people -Rioters- to escalate it.
“What I’m hearing is that we don’t have to put together a strategy. We don’t have to put together a plan. We don’t need to provide any budget transparency. ‘Shut up and pay us,’” said Council Member Jeremiah Ellison said."
You are actually backing up this councilman? Where is Your Plan? Where is HIS Plan ? Where is the City Council's Plan? Where is the Mayor's Plan? All you all are doing is passing the buck, to the hard working Chief of Police, who is battling everyday to keep police on the streets, to come up with a plan, that you all are too lazy, or not smart enough, to come up with on your own.
Crime, Murders, Burglaries, Shootings - Corner of 54th & 28th Ave,--- Car Jackings 57th & 14th Ave, just among a few of the ever growing list of crimes, on the weekly police reports we get emailed to us, IN YOUR WARD- are skyrocketing, yet you vote against more help for the police?
Lest you forget the demographics of the majority of your ward? These are the Voters who will not forget your voting against more money for the police department right now & in the future. Stop pandering to others. There is no longer time for the "spin-doctoring- rhetoric - BS" that the city council continues to spew out. People - VOTERS are Mad !
Build a New 3rd Precinct, Clean up 38th & Chicago Ave, now taken over by criminals, DO SOMETHING positive for crying out loud !
Come on Jeremy, grow a back bone, Keep YOUR WARD SAFE, and as you once said to me, "Ward 11" is my #1 priority. Prove it. YOUR voters are Waiting !
Mark
P.S. This is being blind copied to a large number of your constituents !
-----Original Message----- From: Nstarsslr10s10
Good afternoon Jeremy, Thanks for getting back to me! You knew I had to get my 2-cents worth in on this one :), and you know with my nephew a police officer in Chicago I am bias toward the police departments. So, you and all the city council & mayor have to expect the fear that the GOOD officers must feel every day, after seeing all of the violence & Killings of law enforcement officers throughout the country,' since Memorial day weekend. What happened in California, the attempted Assassination of the two officers in their car, is outrageous & what they are facing every day! It is an epidemic & there HAS to be more support coming from the elected "Leaders" in this city. (Leaders in quotation marks because I do not believe that some of your colleagues are way over their heads when it comes to having the intelligence to be council members. Many of them won, on a popularity contest, but that discussion is for a different time.) Hey, here is a thought on the 3rd precinct, put it in the 6 Million dollar warehouse that Walz purchased for a morgue for all the Covid-19 deaths he expected. I'm sure they would give the city a good deal on it. Again, thanks for getting back to me, I appreciate that we can continue to have our dialogue ! You know I will be emailing you on things, mostly on my support for MORE law & order officers, and staffing, along with a little sarcasm mixed in once in a while too !!! Thanks Jeremy, keep working on solutions for the betterment and safety of all of us in Ward 11. Take care & Stay Safe Mark
In a message dated 9/18/2020 12:55:31 PM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
Hi Mark,
Those are great points and let me take them one by one. First, it would be one thing if the police didn’t have the resources and that is a big question with the current call load (I’ll come back to that). The MPD budget was cut by a little over $10 million last year in the amended 2020 budget, bringing their budget down to a little over $183 million. That was their budget just a couple years ago. Additionally, the Police Chief re-assigned staff to patrols so there are currently more officers on patrol than last year. The biggest issue is that even with that, City Councilmembers throughout the City are hearing that police officers are not responding or saying they won’t handle certain calls. (you can see the City Councilmembers talk about this and the Chief’s response here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV0xxfOe80w) The data on this reflects what Councilmembers are hearing and you can read about it and see the data here: https://minnesotareformer.com/2020/09/15/data-show-a-slower-less-proactive- minneapolis-police-department-since-george-floyd-killing/
You didn’t bring this up, (and I think you would bring this good point up) but there has been a huge increase in calls. As I said above, the Chief has adjusted to try to meet this demand but it is an issue if calls are taking longer to respond to by officers, but I do think there are two areas the City needs more information on to have a data driven answer to whether there are enough resources for MPD. First is the priority being placed on the calls, some calls are more urgent than others and the City is working on better prioritizing these calls through the continued work of the 911 study group. You will see in the study session that one issue is that police are responding to lower issue calls when other calls are more urgent, but that is due to the current system of 911 call prioritization and not on MPD. That said, it needs to be improved to improve response times. Second, there are a lot of assumptions on staffing needs and there hasn’t been any data actually gathered. That’s why in the last budget I included funding for an efficiency and staffing study of MPD. While I think that MPD could improve its efficiency and response by utilizing a better mix of civilian and sworn officers based on previous budgets, a study will help everyone, including those who disagree with me, develop the best policy.
On the 3rd precinct, there was a lot of work that wasn’t done before approving a $1.2 million dollar lease. (I think this article hits a lot of the points: https://www.startribune.com/mpls-council-members-object-to-relocating-third-precinct- station-to-nearby-warehouse/572371872/) For me, the big issues for the 3rd precinct were the complete lack of reaching out to the community, especially because the proposed site were only a couple blocks from the previous 3rd precinct and second, that no reason was given for not doing this community outreach. On the second point, it would be one thing if MPD was saying that operating out of the convention center was impacting their service, but MPD has repeatedly said to Councilmembers that service has not be affected.
Hope this helps explain my reasoning and feel free to follow up.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Nstarsslr10s10
Good afternoon Jeremy, Hope you are doing well! I was really hoping that you & the other council members were doing some constructive work since we last spoke. Then I read two articles in the StarTribune. The 1st you were quoted: “What people want to know is MPD’s response, they want to know what you’re doing with your $185 million budget,” said 11th Ward Council Member Jeremy Schroeder. “Right now when folks are asking why the response time takes so long, or why can’t you work that investigation, the only response that we’re getting is that we don’t have the capacity.” Seriously Jeremy, you got your answer - The Police do Not Have the capacity! You are losing police officers left & right, and you can't see that or accept the chief's answer? Also , I have it from a Very Reliable Source, and I am hoping that you AND your colleagues are aware, that the city will be losing well over 100 + officers in the next year. How are you going to replace them & ADD to the depleting force!. 2nd: You & the council will not find a new home for the 3rd Precinct? the one the Mayor let burn down? Remember Ward 11 is IN the 3rd precinct ! Come on Jeremy, you are better than that, at least I am still holding out hope for. Stay Safe, Mark In a message dated 7/6/2020 6:32:35 PM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the note and I enjoyed our talk as well. It takes two to listen and I appreciate you taking the time.
And talk about timing! Thanks for sending the article.
Stay safe and healthy,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Nstarsslr10s10
Hi Jeremy, I just wanted to take a moment of your time to express my Sincere Thanks for calling me yesterday. I really appreciated you reaching out to me that way. Very glad that we agreed on something, "Agreed to Disagree" on some others, but I believe from our conversation we are an the same page on wanting to have a Safe & beautiful city to live in ! Most importantly we both took the time to "Listen" to each other, and that, in my opinion is vital. Hopefully more & more people will Listen, to both sides, as you go forward in the goals for the Ward 11, the Police department & the city. Again, thank you very much for the call on Sunday ! It meant a lot ! Be safe & keep in touch, Mark Labandz
P.S.Also, I saw this in the Star Tribune today about the "Requirement" of the police having to live in Chicago, What timing as we had just talked about it. Here is the link: https://www.startribune.com/chicago-is-well-served-by-residency-rule-for- police/571621202/
In a message dated 6/30/2020 4:43:39 PM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
Dear Mark,
With all due respect, your points assume a well-functioning department. While there are officers doing great work, the facts are that the homicide clearance rate is 56% and MPD solves rape cases at a rate of 22%. Additionally, the City has paid out over $23 million dollars in lawsuits due to police misconduct in the last few years. I am hearing from a large majority of constituents that the current department needs drastic change and I agree. The taxpayers of Minneapolis need a department that is efficient with its budget while keeping everyone, in all parts of the City, safe.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Nstarsslr10s10
Dear Jeremy, Thank you for responding to me with your canned email. You did not bother to address any of the points & concerns I made in my letter to you. After today's city council vote, I firmly believe you have all lost your minds. This is the most disappointing thing that has Ever Happened in the city I have lived in for over 60 years. A city's responsibility is to PROTECT the citizens of the city and provide services. NOT to scare the crap out of them. Did you happen to miss The shooting on 54th street & 28th Ave last Friday night? Did not hear, or read any comment from you Anywhere on that??? Why don't all you council members just send out an invitation to all the criminals- nation & world wide, to come to Minneapolis, a "Sanctuary" city, because that is what you have just done with you vote today. You need Law & Order, More Police, Tougher enforcement,or "Your" city will continue to spiral out of control with crime. Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that. You say you listen to your constituents? Maybe you only listen to select ones ??? Take from someone who has first hand knowledge & experience in law enforcement, (oh wait you missed all that in my previous email) , I repeat, you need to hire more police, enforce the laws, or the killings and crimes will be out of control & you WILL lose Hard Working, Tax Paying, Law Abiding, Home Owning citizens. Hopefully this will Not fall on Deaf Ears again!
Regards, Mark Labandz
In a message dated 6/11/2020 9:58:53 AM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
Dear Mark,
Thanks for writing in with your concerns and while there is no vote or proposal currently in front of City Council, hopefully this will give a better idea of my position. Mr. Floyd’s brutal murder represents the latest in a too-long list of reasons to build something different and better. I believe there is a place for focused and accountable law enforcement in this city. We know the MPD is not meeting that standard. Our community cannot survive under the current system, and we need change now.
The transformation of our public safety system will take time, and this process is only beginning. The process will involve immediately change MPD, such as the Council’s action last Friday to ban choke holds and require officers to intervene if other officers are putting the public at risk. It will be informed by community members across our great city, including in Ward 11. I look forward to ample public engagement, reflection, and planning. I hope the many, many Ward 11 neighbors who have contacted me about public safety in recent weeks stay engaged over the long haul. As we pursue changes and going forward, it is critical that the needs of our community are met. All of our neighbors must be cared for and safe. Here are a few steps we could take in the near term, which I’ve begun to discuss with my colleagues:
Shifting public safety funding from Minneapolis Police to violence prevention and community-based programs Completing the study I included as part of last year’s budget process to determine roles/job duties that can be transferred out of the Minneapolis Police Department to other parts of the City, then following through on making those changes Exploring in earnest the options to contract with other jurisdictions like Hennepin County to provide for public safety Fighting to unwind state law that prevents Minneapolis from imposing a residency requirement for police officers (Many people suggest this as a reform, but the City is currently prohibited by State Law) Fighting to undo state laws that limit civilian oversight of law enforcement, especially by prohibiting these civilian agencies imposing discipline on officers (This also is a good reform people suggest, but again, it simply is not possible under State law, as well as under the current police contract.) Pursuing the creation of and significant investment in a new City department to respond to community issues/conflicts and to provide help without force, totally separate from the Minneapolis Police Department Exploring ways to end the City’s relationship with the Minneapolis Police Federation
This is not a complete list, and I remain openminded as we consider the best path forward. What I do know is that incremental change has failed us so far. It is now time for full transformation. We simply must do better.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Nstarsslr10s10
Good Morning Jeremy, I understand this has been a very tough few months. Today on the news, I noticed that you were one of 9 council members to announce your support to dismantle the police department. Are you guys Nuts? This city needs MORE police to make it safe. Our police department is at what ? under 700 officers? Check out other major cities that have thousands of police officers. You cannot run a city without Law & Order ! What happened on Memorial Day was a tragedy, what you saw with the rioting, looting and total lawlessness was Horrible, and just showed how UNDER STAFFED OUR police department IS. I know the politically correct wave right now is to call for the dismantling of police departments, but seriously, HOW are you going to keep the residents of the city safe? I agree that there are reforms that need to be made, but dismantling the police department is NOT the Way. You will be inviting more & more criminals to from out of state, to join the thousands that are already here. My nephew is a police officer in Chicago, he put in a 24 our shift last Saturday in downtown Chicago to try to keep the peace during the rioting, he was shot at, dislocated his shoulder. He texted me" "24 Hours - We Lost- Pray for Me". took a nap and was back out on the street in a few hours TO PROTECT HIS CITY! He is a great Cop, that works everyday to protect & keep his city safe. A shining example of the need to KEEP the POLICE DEPARTMENT ! He knows for a fact the number of criminal that have left Chicago and now are in Minneapolis, the numbers are staggering. I was very disappointed to read you name as on of the council members that announced you are in favor of this . My wife & I both voted for you, and you really let us down with this action. I have PROUDLY lived in south Minneapolis for over Sixty Years, and used to brag about our city. Well, it is becoming more & more difficult to do that. So Please explain to me just HOW you are going to protect me, my wife, all the Hard Working- Tax Paying HOME OWNERS in our Wenonah/ Lake Nokomis neighborhood without a police department? I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you, drop by or call ! Thank you for your time.
Mark Labandz 5421 27th Ave So. Mpls, MN 55417 612 724-4066
From: Andy and Karen Uhler To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: Police Budget Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 11:25:21 AM
Thank you for your response. I'm in agreement about having other programs for things like mental illness. I worked with the Barbara Schneider Foundation that provides training to first responders in order to teach them how to recognize signs of mental illness to reduce the use of force. I agree with the long-term approach to changing mpls' public safety plan. In the short- term, I'm in support of your proposal to use $5 million from the general fund to offset overtime for police. We need something now. Thank you.
Andy Uhler
On Wed, Dec 2, 2020 at 1:00 PM Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Andy,
What I am hearing consistently from constituents is that MPD needs drastic changes to prevent the misconduct, loss of life and lawsuits we have seen and at the same time we need to address crime now. The proposal to cut 4.4% from MPD’s budget is to move money from MPD into other departments that are currently doing similar work in public safety and to fund programs to address non-emergency calls which will free up officers to answer emergency calls. The proposal does not cut officers, but in fact keeps the additional recruiting class of new officers. The recruit classes will make sure we have new officers in the future, but it takes over a year to get a new recruit on the street and best option is to focus our officers on solving and responding to violent crime by having other non-law enforcement personnel respond to non-emergency calls. The City has been piloting and studying this approach for years but has never funded these programs enough to have a City- wide reach. When faced with these realities, this proposal is the best compromise.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder
Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council
350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211
Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Andy and Karen Uhler
Council Person Schroeder,
As more budget talks occur this week, I would like to tell you, as a constituent, that I would like to see more funding for the Minneapolis Police Department. Plans to put people on the right path when they are young are critical to making productive members of the community, but that is in the long-term. We have police to respond to crime in the short-term. This simple difference is getting confused in the Council's refusal to help victims of crime.
As you've seen on "Nextdoor," we now have photos of people being carjacked in broad daylight. Or, the StarTribune published an article about a 66 yer old woman being assaulted at 5:15pm at the Uptown Kowalski's. It is sad to watch what was once a great city decline into regular violence as our leaders try to assuage activist groups instead of representing their constituents.
On behalf of whom are you acting? I'm utterly baffled. I cannot figure out who is benefitting from our becoming less safe.
Andy Uhler
5505 10th Ave. So.
From: rich thomasgard To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: Police Department Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 9:51:45 PM
Dear Council member Schroeder,
Thank you for responding to my email and sharing what you are hearing from the public and your perspectives. Unless what I am reading in the Star Tribune is incorrect, the Police Department was authorized 888 sworn officers for 2020 and what Council members Bender, Fletcher and Cunningham want to have is an an authorized force size of 750 in future years. I understand that there is a difference between what is authorized and the actual numbers of officers due to the on-going change in numbers as officers retire, new officers come in, etc. My gut feel is that there are not enough officers now nor were there enough before the upheaval that followed the killing of Mr. Floyd.
My feeling comes from having worked in the Seward neighborhood from 1991 to 2005 and now in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood since 2008. I manage the building where I currently work, a building that has seen vandalism, car break-ins and shootings, assaults, etc. on our block and close by. Our neighborhood is served by the 1st Precinct and, even though it is one of the most (if not the most) densely populated neighborhoods in the City, it feels like we are not adequately policed because resources have to be more focused on the downtown portion of the 1st Precinct. When officers actually have responded to problems at our property (and again I am talking about before the current upheaval) I hear that at any given time there may be very very few squads (let alone beat officers, which we recently lost) in our neighborhood. Going back to my time working in Seward, I saw how effective beat officers could be working along Franklin Avenue and developing the relationships that maybe are still called community policing. I don't think that that kind of police work can happen with a sworn complement that continues to decline.
I think it makes sense to look at ways that some of the things that are currently done by police could be done by others and ways that mental health professionals could be more involved on the street, but not at the expense of taking away sworn from the Police Department. Sometimes, however, I even wonder if the reporting of minor crimes needs to be done at all, given that I have never seen any follow-up on or resolution of property crimes that I have reported as part of managing the building where I work. Sorry to say that cynicism does "creep in" over time. I do believe in the ability of government to improve people's lives but not through piecemeal programs that are not well thought out, practical or adequately funded.
I have had many good interactions with police officers over the years, and a few that have hinted at the misconduct problems that get publicized. To me, in simplest terms, if you engage in some of the behavior (beatings of helpless people, verbal abuse, etc.) that gets reported you need to be dismissed or suspended, but not just have a report put in your personnel file and continue on with your job. Whatever is getting in the way of this happening needs to change. Police officers are public servants, and when you violate the public trust it should be easier to dismiss you than in the private sector, not harder.
I know these are difficult issues, but much of it just seems like it takes common sense and sometimes some courage to address. I appreciate the work you and others are trying to do and thank you.
Rich T.
On Thursday, December 3, 2020, 8:31:39 AM CST, Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Rich,
What I am hearing consistently from constituents is that MPD needs drastic changes to prevent the misconduct, loss of life and lawsuits we have seen and at the same time we need to address crime now. The proposal to cut 4.4% from MPD’s budget is to move money from MPD into other departments that are currently doing similar work in public safety and to fund programs to address non-emergency calls which will free up officers to answer emergency calls. The proposal does not cut officers, but in fact keeps the additional recruiting class of new officers. The recruit classes will make sure we have new officers in the future, but it takes over a year to get a new recruit on the street and best option is to focus our officers on solving and responding to violent crime by having other non-law enforcement personnel respond to non-emergency calls. The City has been piloting and studying this approach for years but has never funded these programs enough to have a City-wide reach. When faced with these realities, this proposal is the best compromise.
I don’t disagree about how the public input process could be improved and on public safety it is a combination of what you suggest of both experts suggestions and checkingin with the public. You can check out how that is going at the City website, which covers the changes being implemented by the Mayor and City Council as well as the MN Dept. of Human Rights racial discrimination lawsuit: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/community-safety/
Finally, your point about studying policing is a good one and there are multiple studies going on right now. First, I put funding in last year’s budget for a staffing efficiency study and the results of that should be out next year. Second, the City did a 911 study taskforce to look at the City’s 911 calls. Many of the suggestions of ways to have other professionals respond to 911 calls instead of law enforcement stem from that study.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder
Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council
350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211
Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: rich thomasgard
Dear Council Member Schroeder,
My wife and I live at 18 East 49th Street and I have lived and worked in the City of Minneapolis since 1977. As one of your constituents, I want to let you know that I believe the Police Department needs a sworn force somewhere around the 888 that I understand the Mayor is proposing in his budget.
I also believe there are better ways to do policing, and that we need better ways to attract and retain quality officers and assure that officers who behave inappropriately are counseled, disciplined or dismissed. I do not think that it is realistic that reducing officers and putting more money into housing, mental health, etc. is going to reduce crime, although I would like to see more money spent on housing, etc.- probably from county, state and federal sources. I would like to see the City study the "issue" of policing in a way that brings expertise to bear, and after careful study begin to make changes for the better.
While I think public input is important, I don't think a massive public engagement process around the issue of policing is the most effective way to make improvements. I think our elected officials and staff already know what some of the improvements should be, and some of those changes have already been made. Our elected officials and staff, after careful analysis, should take the lead in making more changes. That is what we have elected them and are paying them to do.
Thank you for considering my thoughts.
Sincerely,
Rich Thomasgard
From: Eric Erickson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: Police Funding Vote Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 4:33:04 PM
Dear Jeremy,
Thanks for your response. Your plan and the mayor’s plan to fund new public safety ideas while keeping the police force intact are sound solutions. Also, we should take advantage of the business community’s offer to help fund new pilots and to, hopefully, build a case for future, sustainable reforms.
Eric
On Dec 4, 2020, at 5:19 PM, Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Eric,
Thanks for writing in and there are a lot of the Mayor’s budget I will be supporting. First, I will be supporting the Mayor’s level of officers for next year and the recruit classes suggested. Second, I am looking to add more short term solutions for reducing crime. The recruit classes will make sure we have new officers in the future, but it takes over a year to get a new recruit on the street and best option is to focus our officers on solving and responding to violent crime by having other non-law enforcement personnel respond to non-emergency calls. The City has been piloting and studying this approach for years but has never funded these programs enough to have a City-wide reach. Finally, I introduced a budget amendment to add $5 million dollars to fund MPD overtime from the contingency fund. My hope is that with this combination of funding and commitment to transforming public safety while addressing our current crime can bring the City together.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Eric Erickson
I support police reform whole-heartedly. And yet now, in the midst of a crime wave, pandemic and mass exodus of police officers due to PTSD and retirements, seems a poor time to further hollow out the force. Imagine if hospitals chose now to cut nursing staff. I hope you will support the Chief's and Mayor's request to maintain funding, while still committing to meaningful reform.
Eric Erickson From: Susan Neet To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: RE: police proposal Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 5:45:53 PM
PLEASE VOTE TO KEEP THE NUMBER OF POLICE IN MINNEAPOLIS AT 888. I am in favor of a 911 system where calls are triaged to different levels of police or mental health professionals. I know this is about budget, but find other sources of money for a better emergency response system that does not rely on police only. I know two families who have already moved out of Minneapolis since George Floyd because they do not feel safe. I believe one of the reasons for the alarming rise in assaults is because the rumor on the streets is that there are not enough police. Susan Neet Resident of Hale/Paige/Diamond Lake neighborhood From: Richard Champley To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: RE: Public Budget Hearing Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:52:49 AM Importance: High
Dear Council Member Schroeder,
Thank you for your response. I apologize for not being more clear. These points are important to us:
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote.
Richard Champley Senior Analyst & Program Manager National Travel and Tourism Office/Industry & Analysis/ITA U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., HCHB 10003 Washington, D.C. 20230 Office phone: 202.482.4753 Email: [email protected]
From: Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Richard and Sharon,
Thanks for writing in and if you haven’t yet, I’d recommend checking out the budget proposal because I think it does strike the balance you are talking about: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MPLS/2020/11/27/file_attachments/1611801/2020- 11-27%20Minneapolis%20Safety%20For%20all%20Budget%20proposal.pdf
What I am hearing consistently from constituents is that MPD needs drastic changes to prevent the misconduct, loss of life and lawsuits we have seen and at the same time we need to address crime now. The proposal to cut 4.4% from MPD’s budget is to move money from MPD into other departments that are currently doing similar work in public safety and to fund programs to address non-emergency calls which will free up officers to answer emergency calls. The proposal does not cut officers, but in fact keeps the additional recruiting class of new officers. The recruit classes will make sure we have new officers in the future, but it takes over a year to get a new recruit on the street and best option is to focus our officers on solving and responding to violent crime by having other non-law enforcement personnel respond to non-emergency calls. The City has been piloting and studying this approach for years but has never funded these programs enough to have a City- wide reach. When faced with these realities, this proposal is the best compromise.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Richard Champley
Dear Council Member Schroeder,
Although some Police reform actions are called for we are definitely NOT in favor of Defunding the Police nor even cutting the PD budget. Rather, increase the City budget to cover social actions and traffic management ‘enforcement’.
Thank you,
Richard Champley & Sharon Farrell 312 W. 52nd Street Minneapolis 55419 Email: [email protected] Phone: 612-823-4079 From: Elizabeth Beltaos To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: Bender, Lisa Subject: Re: "Staggering" surge in violent carjackings continues across Minneapolis - StarTribune.com Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:33:27 AM
Jeremy,
One thing I’d like to point out is that while I certainly appreciate that you responded to my email, your response did not address how I feel- I feel scared. I am a woman and we are at risk in this city. Your email was an antiseptic policy argument. I am aware of the issues plaguing our black and brown residents in terms of policing, education, poverty and outright discrimination. I want a world where these things don’t happen. I want my niece’s sons who are black to not feel scared to walk down the street or to drive a car and fear an encounter with police. But I know what the reality is.
I want my government to address racial disparity in public offices including the police department. But I do not believe my safety, my family’s or anyone’s safety must be sacrificed to get to that stage. I believe this strongly.
I’d like my position noted that I disagree with redirecting MPD funds to other programs given the exponential increase in violent crime. While I absolutely agree our police department needs reform, it should be at the expense of personal safety.
It should not nor does it have to be an either-or position. I agree with those who have framed it as a both-and argument.
The council has had years to come up with reform and has failed to do so. Eliminating arbitration is a good first step.
Details of your colleagues’ proposal remain vague as the executive director of NAMI points out.
I don’t support misguided, reckless decisions regarding public safety. As a lawyer, facts matter. This is not the time to reduce police funding to address violent crime.
Elizabeth Beltaos
Sent from my iPhone
> On Dec 4, 2020, at 5:20 PM, Schroeder, Jeremy
Thanks, Jeremy. We appreciate you listening to us, but frankly speaking, in order to get us to the right place and to truly address the rising levels of crime in our city, we need even more from you. We can fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, while also funding new pilot programs we all so desperately want. We need you to back the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
1. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Sincerely, Tangletown
On Sat, Dec 5, 2020 at 8:37 PM Schroeder, Jeremy
Hi everybody,
Thanks for sending this along and thanks for coming together for the meeting on Wednesday. Glad you see the amendment I authored as a step in the right direction and I’ll keep working with my colleagues as well as the Mayor to get a budget that fulfills everyone’s commitment to transform MPD as well as address the high level of crime now.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder
Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council
350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211
Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Rick Reuter
Jeremy,
We wanted to follow-up from our meeting Wednesday evening with the rest of the Tangletown neighbors.
As we discussed, our neighborhood strongly supports advancing police reform and providing greater mental health resources, but we MUST ENSURE we maintain adequate resourcing to the policing needs of today as outlined by Chief Arrodondo. Crime continues to escalate against our neighbors everyday. We need to meet overtime needs and we need to maintain the targeted levels of officers as recommended by the Chief. It is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that we imminently address rising crime levels amid declining officers and do everything we can to increase our patrols.
After Wednesday evening's City Council meeting it was clear that there is great passion and care for the future of the city and it was also clear that there are people who are deeply hurting and looking for retribution. Unfortunately, certain council members such as the Council's President are more focused on fanning the flames of divide for their own political gain than they are on bringing our city together. Their games to create a scripted vocal minority may play well on Twitter and national news headlines but it is not the leadership we need to bring our city together.
Although we were disappointed to see this in the scripted groups they brought forward, we were encouraged to read in the Star Tribune of your proposal to use $5M from the general fund to support our policing needs. We appreciate you listening to us and we ask that you continue to do so.
We need a budget/plan that addresses current levels of rising crime on our streets today with more patrols - and we have yet to see one. Please do more to ensure our safety.
AS YOU KNOW, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality.
Regards,
Tangletown Residents From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy; "Rick Reuter" Cc: "Alicia Reuter"; "Aaron. Cherveny"; "Meredith and Dan Jurek"; "Sonia Toomey"; [email protected]; [email protected]; "Jeremy Graff"; [email protected]; "Tony Proell"; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; "Mark Bachman"; "Karl Ulfers"; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; "OBrien Family"; [email protected]; [email protected]; "April Reuter"; [email protected]; Frey, Jacob; Singleton, Marcus Subject: RE: Tangletown demands pragmatic leadership! tick tock Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:37:14 AM Attachments: Bullet shots.msg
Thanks, Jeremy. We appreciate you listening to us, but frankly speaking, in order to get us to the right place and to truly address the rising levels of crime in our city, we need even more from you. We need you to back the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
1. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Stop grandstanding and start fixing. We urge the City Council to work together – behind the scenes with your fellow Council, with the mayor, with the chief, with other experts – to find common goals to address the current crime waves as well as to seek unity to move forward with practical reforms. We need to adopt a “both-and” approach.
We agree that we can fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, while also funding new pilot programs that our city desperately needs. We urge you to become more informed. And in the words of two respected Black leaders in Minneapolis who have been involved with these issues for decades agree that:
“When it comes to public safety, we cannot be a city divided” - Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton
“Policing is not going to solve all our crime and safety issues. But we also know that without it, at the height of crime and safety issues, your citizens will remain unsafe. More are going to die; more are going to be carjacked.” Sondra Samuels – President, Northside Achievement Zone.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality(please see shots fired directly at my housekeeper). We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote today.
Sincerely,
Kathy Higgins Victor
From: Schroeder, Jeremy
Hi everybody,
Thanks for sending this along and thanks for coming together for the meeting on Wednesday. Glad you see the amendment I authored as a step in the right direction and I’ll keep working with my colleagues as well as the Mayor to get a budget that fulfills everyone’s commitment to transform MPD as well as address the high level of crime now.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Rick Reuter
Jeremy,
We wanted to follow-up from our meeting Wednesday evening with the rest of the Tangletown neighbors.
As we discussed, our neighborhood strongly supports advancing police reform and providing greater mental health resources, but we MUST ENSURE we maintain adequate resourcing to the policing needs of today as outlined by Chief Arrodondo. Crime continues to escalate against our neighbors everyday. We need to meet overtime needs and we need to maintain the targeted levels of officers as recommended by the Chief. It is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that we imminently address rising crime levels amid declining officers and do everything we can to increase our patrols.
After Wednesday evening's City Council meeting it was clear that there is great passion and care for the future of the city and it was also clear that there are people who are deeply hurting and looking for retribution. Unfortunately, certain council members such as the Council's President are more focused on fanning the flames of divide for their own political gain than they are on bringing our city together. Their games to create a scripted vocal minority may play well on Twitter and national news headlines but it is not the leadership we need to bring our city together.
Although we were disappointed to see this in the scripted groups they brought forward, we were encouraged to read in the Star Tribune of your proposal to use $5M from the general fund to support our policing needs. We appreciate you listening to us and we ask that you continue to do so.
We need a budget/plan that addresses current levels of rising crime on our streets today with more patrols - and we have yet to see one. Please do more to ensure our safety.
AS YOU KNOW, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality.
Regards, Tangletown Residents From: Avery Walstrom To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: the November vote for additional police Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 12:35:20 PM
Hello, Jeremy,
I completely support your decision on the November vote for additional support from other police departments. I do not believe it would have actually helped the current situation in Minneapolis and commend you strongly. I hope you make similar decisions in the future.
Thank you,
Avery Walstrom From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: Ward 11 Contact Form Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 9:21:50 AM
Hello again
I am watching the current police budgeting debate with great interest, like many citizens are I am sure. As the vote nears for the final budget, I hope the council can adopt a more measured approach to evolving public safety. I am concerned that the proposed police cuts are too much too fast. While I agree that public safety can be and should be more than just policing, I can't help but have the impression that these 'defund the police' proposals are rooted in attempts to satisfy emotional promises made on a stage at Powderhorn Park last summer during a dark period in our city's history.
Thanks again, Greg Stromgren
-----Original Message----- From: Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Greg,
Appreciate you following up. This was a tough vote because I agree we need some type of stop gap measure, but this proposal lacks a lot of important details that it needs to be successful, such as what specifically the additional officers would be able to do to reduce the crime we are seeing. One example is the car jackings. The Chief said specifically that more officers would not reduce the car jacking because the issue is with the County and how they charging suspects during COVID-19. This is a lot of money and I want to make sure it is going to be effective.
Finally, the proposal was approved and my hope is that my questions will lead to a program that actually reduce crime.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: [email protected]
Dear Jeremy
Thanks for the response. I totally agree that non-traditional public safety/policing programs are needed long term and as you mention, proven.
However, I look at the funding request as a stop gap in an attempt to help cover the exodus of officers from the MPD since May which has compromised public safety. From my perspective, the chief was quite clear. He needs feet on the street to respond to and hopefully arrest the assailants who are engaging in this criminal behavior. I realize this type of law and order approach is not in favor these days, but needed short term.
Again, thanks for the response and for your service on the council. Keep up the fight for Minneapolis and all its citizens.
Take care
-----Original Message----- From: Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Greg,
During the ongoing budget process, I will be investing funding in proven programs to reduce crime within our balanced budget. The Mayor and Chief’s proposal was none of these. When asked directly, the Chief could not explain how these additional officers would be used to reduce crime, let alone how the funding would address the car jackings and robberies that we have been seeing, nor could he explain how the historically high budget of over $180 million for MPD had been spent to address the crime we have been seeing for months.
We, along with other cities in the nation, are under extreme financial stress due to COVID-19 and every small business, homeowner, renter, senior, resident of the City will very likely need more aid in the upcoming months and that money would come out of the contingency/emergency fund. I’m not opposed to hiring outside officers while MPD does the work to address its multiple issues, but spending half a million dollars out of the contingency/emergency fund without a plan, or strategy, or any accountability is irresponsible.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council 350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211 Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: [email protected]
City of Minneapolis
Name * Greg Stromgren Email * [email protected] Phone (952) 217-7043 Phone Type Cell Address 5145 Portland Ave City Minneapolis State MN Zip 55417 Question/Comment * Hello: Please strongly consider voting for the additional police funding. The city is in a very bad situation right now with an unacceptable rise in crime. We do not feel safe! Thanks This is an email generated from the City of Minneapolis website. * Required fields are indicated with an asterisk.
From: Karl Ulfers To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Re: Your Pragmatic Leadership Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 8:10:16 AM
Jeremy,
I am disappointed to see you went back on your progress and ultimately voted to defund the police by $8M dollars. From a leadership perspective you have failed by continuing to fan the flames of divide and not following through on your actions from last friday.
I know you think Ilhan will protect you but you have gravely politically miscalculated. You see Ilhans tweets don't count for votes in your ward and she has broader political aspirations that if she is successful will leave you behind as a stepping stone on her path. Also you should know we have been Ilhan supporters until now but that officially ended when she used her political standing to drive support for defunding the police.
We are organized across ward 11, far broader than just Tangletown, and now that you have shown your true colors we will be putting our energy into finding someone that represents our needs not their own political aspirations.
-Karl
On Sat, Dec 5, 2020 at 8:02 PM Schroeder, Jeremy
Hi Karl,
Thanks for the kind words and I’ll keep working on getting the budget in order! Thanks for attending the neighborhood meeting as well. I heard you and your neighbors about your concerns and while I am really concerned about the level of the continency fund, you all convinced me that money would be well spent on reinforcing our current officers. I did get the email and what I can tell you is that I’m working with my colleagues as well as the Mayor to get a budget that fulfills everyone’s commitment to transform MPD as well as address the high level of crime now.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder
Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council
350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211
Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected] he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: Karl Ulfers
Jeremy,
As a show of neighborhood coordination and support you will receive an email in the morning from Rick Reuter and the rest of us. It will have a similar message to the below and also make sure we reiterate our asks around maintaining police levels in the 800’s.
Thanks again,
-Karl
On Thu, Dec 3, 2020 at 9:18 PM Karl Ulfers
Jeremy,
I wanted to follow-up from our meeting last evening with the rest of the Tangletown neighbors and express gratitude for the time you spent with us and for listening to our concerns and ideas.
As we discussed our neighborhood is strong supporters of advancing police reform and providing greater mental health resources while also ensuring we maintain adequate resourcing to the policing needs of today as outlined by Chief Arrodondo.
After last evening's City Council meeting it was clear that there is great passion and care for the future of the city and it was also clear that there are people who are deeply hurting and looking for retribution. Unfortunately, certain council members such as the Council's President are more focused on fanning the flames of divide for their own political gain than they are on bringing our city together. Their games to create a scripted vocal minority may play well on Twitter and national news headlines but it is not the leadership we need to bring our city together. Although I was disappointed to see this in the scripted groups they brought forward I was equally energized to learn of your leadership today. When I read in the Star Tribune of your proposal to use $5M from the general fund to support our policing needs I felt heard. This is the type of leadership we need and I can promise that if you continue with this approach you will find great support from our ward. I suspect that you will need more support in the upcoming days, weeks and months so please feel free to ask for our perspective and help, we are here for you.
Best regards,
-Karl
From: Kathleen Farley To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Reasonable Safety and Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:55:13 AM
Good Morning Mr. Schroeder,
My name is Katie and I've been living in the 8th ward of Minneapolis for about a year and a half. I taught public school in the metro area for five years, and have been an advocate for racial justice in my own classrooms and at the district level. My name is included in the dedication of Dr. Cassandra Glynn's book on equity in the world language classroom and I received training in Culturally and Linguistically responsive teaching from Dr. Sharroky Hollie. That being said, I am troubled by the false choice that has been set up by many on this City Council and their supporters.
This budget debate has been framed as a choice between police reform and a fully funded police force. It’s one or the other. That’s the kind of rigid ideology that has us in this crime-infested mess. Reality is we need both – we want a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves – and much further along in eradicating the systemic racism we all abhor. It is irresponsible to ignore the advances that have been made in recent years with technology like squad cameras, body cameras, and less lethal weapons. Not mention the fact that the officers on patrol have never been more diverse. I know for certain that St. Paul PD counts trans, gay, and lesbian offers among it's ranks and I hope MPD can say the same. I would bet the number of women and people of color on the force has never been higher, and the abuse and vitriol that Black officers especially are subjected to from the public each day has never been worse.
We also need a fully staffed police force, and we need our newest academies full of more BIPOC, LGBTQA+, and female officers than ever before to count on keeping their jobs. Police deter crime. Police respond to crime. Police make other public safety programs effective. I understand why you felt compelled to take action in June. I urge you to consider the consequences of those actions. Let’s be more thoughtful going forward. Before you rush to cut or transfer programs in a punitive manner – let’s see your fully baked plan for a new public safety department. It’s due next year. Until then, finish your job. Keep police funding and programs where they are. Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future to restore peace and calm.
Thank you for your time, Katie Farley 4128 Oakland Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 From: Mary Ann Schoenberger To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Removing funding from the police Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 8:56:52 AM
Councilperson Schroeder,
I am writing in opposition to moving $8 million from the Minneapolis Police Department to other departments. While I agree that the Minneapolis Police need to operate in a better way I am strongly opposed to this move for the following reasons: 1. The increase in crime in Minneapolis has transformed this city. I work in North Minneapolis and I live in Southwest Minneapolis and I have been concerned about crime for years. I attend monthly meetings of the Hawthorne Huddle and hear how crime affects that neighborhood. They work closely with the police there and need more, not less officers to help address the violence and the opiod crisis. 2. The increase in crime has made people all over Minneapolis afraid to leave their houses. I personally know three people who have been affected by car jackings in the last few months. The result is that people no longer feel comfortable leaving their homes to go for a walk or even to get groceries. In addition to COVID and the shame of the George Floyd murder, it feels like a huge loss to lose the one thing that we could always count on here-access to to our parks and outdoor areas (I know this has been an issue in other parts of the city for years and that needs to be addressed. 3. The Police need to include more mental health and violence prevention, but to move those staff away from the Police Department only keeps the department apart from the change that needs to be made. 4. If the City is to rebound and grow after COVID and the violence, we need people and businesses to feel safe and to be proud of the City. I am hearing of flight from the City because people are afraid. 5. I disagree with the City Council creating a separate fund for overtime that the Police Chief and Mayor would need to ask the Council to access. With so many police on leave, the Police Department needs to be able to move quickly if there is a need for overtime to address increases in violence.
I would like a reply and I urge you to change your vote. I love my city and I am very disappointed with the direction the Council is taking.
Mary Ann Schoenberger 4821 Garfield Avenue S. From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Safety Concern from Long Time 11th Ward Resident Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:34:00 PM
Mr. Schroeder, We have lived at 54th and Elliot since 1979 and have enjoyed the many amenities from nearby parks and schools, to ready access to freeways. Our children were raised here, we go to church and shop here, and we enjoy long walks in all directions. Last month my wife experienced an attempted carjacking just two blocks from home. We read ever increasing reports of break ins and vandalism in our once safe neighborhood. I have strongly considered arming myself when in my own neighborhood. Although we are “young” seniors, our adult children are urging us to get out while we can. This is the first time in 40+ years that I have ever written an elected city official. But frankly, if the City Council goes through with proposals to reduce or to restrict funding for the Minneapolis Police Department it will be the last straw for our family. We will not sacrifice our own safety nor our home investment to politically motivated wishful thinking. Please vote to support the concerns of your long-time neighborhood constituents. Stephen E. Osman
From: Kaitlyn Bohlin To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Safety for All -- It"s time! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:26:42 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I am a resident of Ward 1, and I am writing in hopes that you will consider changing your platform.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. I need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for your time, Kaitlyn Bohlin 1527 Jefferson St NE #2 Minneapolis, MN 55413 From: Kevin Chavis To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Safety for All Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:50:15 PM
Good afternoon, Council Member Schroeder.
I understand there is a vote today regarding the Minneapolis Police Department budget and moving $5 million from police overtime towards mental health crisis response and violence prevention. This could greatly reduce the burden placed on MPD and significantly save the city funds by allocating these funds in this manner. With crime already rising, the city should be looking at ways to use our limited resources in smart, strategic ways. This is a good step in the move towards this.
Thank you and keep up the great work.
Sincerely,
~Kevin Chavis Whittier Neighborhood, Minneapolis Board Member of AFSCME Local 34 and Our Revolution Twin Cities
ᐧ From: Jonathan Kaiser To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Safety for All needs long-term investment -- don"t water it down! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:48:32 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely, Jonathan Kaiser 612-598-1912 Resident of Ward 9 From: Kendra Anderson To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Safety for All plan cannot be watered down! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:39:31 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Hello, my name is Kendra Anderson. I am a third year student at the University of Minnesota. I am writing to you today regarding the Safety for All plan. What our city needs is good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response (that is NOT the police). When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt our community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. And the time has passed to continue arguing the contrary. We have seen time and time again how MPD has failed our community. It is time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work.
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing. Live up to the promises you made in June and do not let this community down again.
Sincerely, Kendra Anderson (she/her) University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | B.A. History College of Liberal Arts | Student Ambassador Orientation and Transition Experience | Orientation Leader University YMCA | Site Lead From: Marina Kittaka To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Safety for All plan concerns Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:47:11 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I don't understand why you have proposed making big investments in the police, while removing stability and benefits from the new mental health team. This seems to sabotage the purpose of the plan. Councilmember Jenkins, I remember seeing you on stage at Powderhorn Park pledging to end the police so this is a big disappointment. Please reconsider and give these new positions a fighting chance at helping public safety here in Minneapolis.
Sincerely, Marina Kittaka. From: Jeanne Fischer To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Safety for All Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:46:59 AM
Please support the Safety for All Budget.
Thank You,
Jeanne Fischer 4309 Elliot From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Save Mpls liberal agenda Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:45:32 PM
Council Member Schroeder:
I live in Tangletown, on 46th and Grand Ave. S., and I am extremely worried about the spiraling crime in the City. I support all efforts to reduce crime, including the use of non-police groups, but the Police department is not the source of crime. To reduce the Police departments budget to prevent crime is asinine.
In my opinion, the social efforts to reduce crime will take years, but if you reduce the city’s ability to fight crime immediately, you will likely destroy your ability to make any of those social efforts. Assuredly, as crime continues to skyrocket, more law and order candidates will easily replace the entire council.
Please support the Mayor and the Police Chief’s budget to ensure more can be done to help disenfranchised communities.
Alex Whitney 4641 Grand Ave S From: Katie Furr To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Save the Safety for All plan! Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 4:30:07 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
We need to invest in violence reduction now. We have a rare opportunity to re-shape our city into a healthier, happier place for everyone to live and work, and it starts with funding violence prevention rather than police.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely, Katie
-- Katie Furr 612-616-0327 Jane St. Anthony 5241 39th Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417
Minneapolis City Council City Hatl Room 307 350 South Sth Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415
December 2, 2020
Dear Council Members:
A lifelong resident of Minneapolis, I am mystified by the proposal put forth by Council Members Lisa Bender, Phillipe Cunningham and Steve Fletcher to deduct $8 million from the Minneapolis Police Department budget. The money would be earmarked for sectors that deal with some of the underlying problems of violence and much more. Certainly, it is a commendable goal. But it should nof be set forth at the expense of the department's needs. Please listen to Chief Arradondo.
Respectfully, ]lh,t7 C*n lane St. Anthony
Council Member Andrew lohnson Ward 12 11/17/2020 3:57:40 PM
I have been a business owner in the city of Minneapolis for 25 years. I have been expanding my business in Minneapolis and hoping to one day hand it down to my kids. Lately, I have been looking at different options as I feel Minneapolis is too dangerous and I don't want my kids to get killed or hurt. Two of the businesses around us have been robbed at gun point and the business owner beat up. We really need to be focusing on reducing the crime. Already people are moving out of Minneapolis in fear of getting robbed and hurt. I have personally been hurt this summer by a homeless guy squatting in one of my properties and he threw a piece of cement hitting me in the head, causing me to get 5 staples in my head plus a concussion. The next week my work truck and trailer got stolen, I was able to recover my truck which was painted black and BLM spray painted on the side. The next week we had the riots and I was having to go out to my properties to stop people from stealing and looting and to prevent them from burning down the buildings. Things are going downhill FAST. I would ask please put more resources into the police department. I'm guessing that most of the people in the city want a safe place to live and prosper. I feel like the government is protecting the homeless in Minneapolis but not protecting the business owners interests. If businesses continue to leave Minneapolis there will no tax dollars to help the homeless.
Jeffrey D. Olson 2245 38th Street East [email protected]
11/17/2020 8:12:14 PM
My wife and I are in our 70’s, have lived in Minneapolis, off and on, for over twenty years. We love this city and had planned to live out our lives here.
No more.
We don’t feel safe on the streets that we have walked, day and night for all those years. We feel betrayed by a City Council that seems to be blind to the dramatic increase on crime that has plagued our City over the past several months. If we are not sure that the Mpls police force will be properly funded and staffed for the near future, we will be forced to move. There is nothing in the budget that is more important than insuring the peace and safety of citizens.
We are very serious. We will not be comfortable with some sort of pie in the sky talk about “re- imagining” police security,
Please support the police force.
John Worley 121 Washington Ave So, Minneapolis, Mn [email protected]
11/17/2020 9:29:03 PM
Please support our police! Please do not slash their budget, but give them the resources they need so they can do their job well. Please supply them so they can protect the neighborhoods you claim to serve. If we care about the people who live here, let’s do our best to ensure our communities are safe. Considering the uptick in crime, it makes no sense to reduce the police budget, unless of course, you don’t see a need for their services. I grew up near North, and my husband and I have lived here for 22 years and are raising seven children. Has anyone on the council lived in a bad neighborhood? Attended an inner city school, like Patrick Henry? Perhaps if no one has it should be considered that they are lacking a big slice of reality for what life is like for other Mpls. Residents. Believe me, the police will always be needed, as long as there is crime, and especially in places like pockets of Northside. So even if you don’t understand the necessity of police presence, city council, please do right by the neighborhoods you represent and give them the adequate safety they need and pay taxes for. Or else hire private security for every common resident, in addition to council members, who no longer claim to feel “safe”.
Heidi Grant 4104 Washburn Ave N [email protected]
11/18/2020 2:54:36 AM
The city council is spending tax payers money on their radical agenda- without substantive dat- to back their agenda, while putting the safety of tax paying honest citizens at risk by literally defunding the police at every turn, and also demoralizing them. I as a hard working tax payer, lifelong resident am trying to sell my house and move.
Robin johnson 4207 4th ave south [email protected]
11/18/2020 9:52:01 AM
I strongly urge the city to divest from the standard police budget and instead invest in initiatives like the Office of Violence Prevention and to take inspiration from San Francisco to establish a Crisis Intervention Team.
The MPD has completely lost the trust of me and so many other residents. I place most of the blame on the heinous leadership of Bob Kroll and the complacency of those officers who continue to elect Kroll to represent them. I DO NOT WANT our city's resources going to police officers who continue to prove that they are ineffective, uncaring, and do not put the city of Minneapolis above their own fraternal order. The only way to change the culture of the police is to instead prioritize OVP and CIT-style workers... those who are invested in the community and in a true model of public safety.
I know I am not alone in my hesitancy to contact the police about any matter, even as I do see crimes going on in my neighborhood. I simply do not trust MPD to respond in a responsible manner. In order to have thriving neighborhoods, we need to have trust. That can only come from divesting resources from MPD and investing them in alternative models like OVP and CIT.
Thank you.
Andrea Brown 2615 Park Avenue, Apt 412, Minneapolis, MN 55407 [email protected]
11/18/2020 10:48:14 AM
I implore the mayor and council members of Minneapolis to please budget resources to those who are in dire need of housing resources and support our homeless population. Winter is coming and many lives are suffering greatly due to COVID-19 and the lack of resources available for affordable housing. Our homeless population is growing at a fast rate and we need to do something about it. We need to create welfare programs, psychiatric institutions, shelters with resources and support programs that can help our at risk for homelessness and homeless population emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Scarlett Xiong 1101 14th SE Ave [email protected]
11/18/2020 12:14:20 PM
I support the following public safety proposals:
It is imperative that the City Council keep the Mayor’s investments in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) intact – especially the recommended recruit classes and the Community Service Officers (CSOs).
As a City, we can’t expect the Police Chief to continue doing more with less. We need to provide the Chief with the staffing resources to do what they are charged with doing.
The Mayor has allocated funding to boost recruitment efforts, proposing three recruit classes in his 2021 budget.
These three classes will be critical in offsetting attrition and ensuring the department has improved staffing.
Recruit classes are a mid-term solution to the MPD staffing concerns as it takes six to nine months for a recruit to become an eligible sworn officer.
The Chief’s request for additional resources of supplemental Hennepin County Sheriff and Metro Transit support for the remainder of 2020 is critical to addressing the short-term staffing issues in MPD.
While these classes are in the Mayor’s 2021 budget, they still need to pass through final council adoption in December before the classes can begin.
For the 2021 proposed budget, the Mayor has also added back the City’s Community Service Officer (CSO) program that was cut during the council’s adoption of the 2020 revised budget. The CSO program is another recruitment tool and promotes diversity and community connections within the department.
The Mayor has also recommended funding to expand the Mental Health Co-responder program. The Mental Health Co-responder program has been a successful alternative response to mental health 911 response.
The Mayor has included funding for an Early Intervention System (EIS). This is an important tool to hold officers accountable and increase the Department’s ability to identify behaviors or situations through data as being risks for future escalations.
We also need to change the way that policing happens in Minneapolis so that black and brown people are treated with dignity and respect. While these changes are being implemented, we need to protect the safety of all citizens by supporting the MPD and ensuring that we have enough officers to respond to the increasing violent crime in our communities.
Kim McCoy 4549 17th Ave S [email protected]
11/18/2020 3:13:25 PM
I listened to a good portion of the first hearing on the budget and strongly agree with the comments made by the many victims of recent crimes and their loved ones and neighbors in that I fully support the funding requests made by Chief Arradondo and the Mayor as minimum funding needed for the police department. I also agree with the many folks who want the police budget fully replenished so the amount of officers really needed to restore peace of mind to residents and faith in the security of our City can be hired. Things were not exactly great from a crime perspective before COVID-19 and the riots. Support for better ways to respond to calls involving someone in mental health crisis should not be in lieu of police officer funding but an addition.
Marie Kulick 3936 Bloomington Avenue [email protected]
11/18/2020 7:45:08 PM
Earlier this summer, a number of city council members sided with the community and pledged to cut police funding and reimagine what public safety looks like in our city. In the months since, they have reneged on their promise. I would like to see the city council at the very least provide a massive cut to police funding, vow to not hire one more police officer that lives outside of Minneapolis, and outline a timeline for the end of MPD—an occupying police force that regularly terrorizes black people and immigrants—supplanting it with community resources that uplift our city and our communities.
Sam Greenstein 2820 1st ave s, apt #6 [email protected]
11/18/2020 7:53:47 PM
I would like to see a great effort to actually get the Nicollet and Lake Street area done in terms of the removal of Kmart, etc. I realize the set back since the community destruction this past summer, but even before that, it was on pause way too long. I hope we have a plan starting sooner than later to demolish the Kmart and expand the business opportunities in that area. There are a ton of cool things that could happen to really spark up that area, while being inclusive to the different ethnic communities who live there. It really has potential to have a park area along with pertinent retail and living communities. I think it will spark a series of city improvements that will go up and down Nicollet and its surrounding areas. Citizens are paying a ton of taxes in Mpls, and we need to start seeing some physical improvements happening soon, or we will start seeing an exodus of people heading to the other areas-- not to mention negatively influencing the potential growth of new residents. Thanks for considering my comments. David Braaten 3957 Pillsbury Ave [email protected]
11/18/2020 9:15:21 PM
I'm a property owner in the Kingfield neighborhood. I have significant concerns about the crime YoY increases we are seeing (both statistically and anecdotally). I am strongly against defunding the police. If this crime continues throughout spring and summer of 2021, more people and businesses will leave the city. My family and I already have left due to the lack of police presence this summer, general safety concerns and the loss of livability in our once-wonderful and stable Kingfield neighborhood. If this continues, we will sell our Minneapolis rental property as well and pull out of Minneapolis entirely. Defunding the police is the wrong approach - de-militarizing the police is one thing -but before any further change or disruption happens, it is imperative that we stop the hemorrhaging now and salvage the force we have and rebuild from there.
Kristin Koening 4410 Pleasant Avenue S, #1 [email protected]
11/18/2020 11:20:13 PM
It is unacceptable for the mayor to continue funding the Minneapolis police department as highly as he has been, and even worse for him to increase their funding. It is vital to increase public safety, and giving money to the police department decreases public safety.
The money given to the police department needs to be dramatically decreased and that money must go to creating and fully funding other programs to address public safety issues. Recently I have encountered multiple situations where people were behaving in ways that were unsafe for the public, but I didn't call 911 because the things they were doing didn't merit a death sentence, and calling the police would put a death sentence on the table.
In one situation, several people were wandering in a busy street at 1 am, very clearly high, asking for rides to a safe place and money from people in cars. This decreased public safety and the safety of those individuals. If calling 911 would lead to someone coming and giving them a free safe ride to a safe place, I would have done it instantly. However, they were all Black, and so it is likely that they would have been taken to jail for disturbing the peace and public intoxication, if not killed. Moreover, if those individuals could have called those services themselves rather than walking into a busy street and potentially getting into a car with a stranger, the situation would not have existed in the first place.
In another situation, it appeared that someone was living in the laundry room of an apartment complex. If there were homelessness services that would have brought the person to a safe place to live without the possibility of police getting involved, I would have called 911 for those services. However, since the person was likely living there out of desperation and would not have been treated with respect or dignity by the police, I did nothing. If there were dignified, easily accessible affordable housing, this situation would have been prevented entirely.
You cannot shoot, teargas, and assault people for protesting and then claim you are protecting them, and you especially can't do that and then ask for more money.
An EIS is not going to fix the problems of such an inherently unfit organization. Neither is the CSO program. It is insulting to suggest otherwise.
I do not expect the police to "do more with less." I expect the police to do less with less, and I expect the appropriate services to do more with more.
I expect the city council of Minneapolis to do better. I expect the Mayor to do better. I expect the government of Minneapolis to abide by the commitments they made in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.
If the city council and Mayor Jacob Frey do not do better, I expect the citizens of Minneapolis to vote them out. You should expect the same.
Paula Mattlin 2820 1st Ave S, Minneapolis MN, 55408 [email protected]
11/19/2020 1:35:55 PM
Please increase funding for the police department. We need more sworn officers on the streets in addition to civilian responders to assist with mental health, substance abuse, neighbor disputes, noise complaints and other quality of life issues.
Hornig Companies is an apartment management company based in the 10th ward with over 2,000 apartments in Minneapolis. Our residents are leaving faster than we can refill the apartments. Currently, our vacancy is at 10% in Minneapolis. This is not the case in our suburban portfolio. Our residents don't feel safe any more. Restaurants and retail in Uptown is emptying out. We need leaders to support our businesses!
As the days get shorter, our employees are scared as well. We have had numerous muggings and car- jackings within blocks of our office. We need our employees to feel safe responding to emergencies 24- 7 to serve our residents.
Our property taxes are increasing by double digits. The city keeps piling on requirements and studying ways to further regulate our business. Now, our residents our leaving and our employees are scared. Please stop this madness. We need more police. We need civilian responders. We need resources for our homeless. We need our small business to be able to re-open without having to board up their windows. We don't need TOPO, rent control and other costly programs. Let's focus on the basics! Bernadette Hornig 1000 W. 22nd St [email protected]
11/19/2020 2:42:25 PM
Police - We need quality policing for our city - money well spent. Restoring law and order should be of top priority in the budget.
Drug Intervention - at the heart of all our major problems as as city, drugs are most likely at the heart of the matters.
Mental Health - either police training or partnerships with civilian mental health workers to respond to those who are experiencing mental crisis.
Liberty for Landlords - No more spending taxpayer money forcing rental property owners and managers hands - the city is already milking NOAH landlords, heavily taxing and pulling all the puppet strings hoping the manipulation of landlords will work to solve a housing crisis - it wont work!
Darlene Sitarski 2211 Colfax Ave S, #202 [email protected]
11/19/2020 3:51:47 PM
There must be some other areas to cut the budget, but please not the budget for police. I am tired of feeling unsafe in my neighborhood. I don't want to leave the house at night and don't really want to have people over after dark even for a bonfire as I worry about their safety. This is not the way I want to live, worrying about stray bullets and car jackings. We need police to keep neighborhoods safe right now. Please find some other areas to cut.
Thanks
Carolyn Smith 3600 Elliot Ave [email protected]
11/19/2020 3:52:01 PM
There must be some other areas to cut the budget, but please not the budget for police. I am tired of feeling unsafe in my neighborhood. I don't want to leave the house at night and don't really want to have people over after dark even for a bonfire as I worry about their safety. This is not the way I want to live, worrying about stray bullets and car jackings. We need police to keep neighborhoods safe right now. Please find some other areas to cut.
Thanks
Carolyn Smith 3600 Elliot Ave [email protected]
11/19/2020 4:03:07 PM
Hello,
I am a property manager in Minneapolis. I believe the city needs more police officers and more mental health support. My experience with housing in Minneapolis over the last 8 years has made one thing very clear: police are over-worked and being called to situations that require specialized training. Again, in my experience with robberies, wellness checks, trespassing and crime calls officers are rude, unhelpful and rushed to move on. I feel that this is because they are asked to perform duties outside the scope of their calling.
Additionally, homelessness is a problem in Minneapolis for a lot of reasons - fixing homelessness will not be done with just one easy solution because there are so many factors. Graffiti has gotten out of control within the city. Lastly, as someone who works every day with renters I do not believe TOPO is a sound avenue to take. I don't think many of people will be truly interested in it if it came to reality. It is a waste of energy and resources to work towards it.
Kristin Sundmark 810 Thornton Street SE [email protected]
11/19/2020 4:58:02 PM
Dear Minneapolis Mayor and Council Members:
I work in Minneapolis and commute nearly every day into the City. I have worked in Minneapolis for over 20 years in the multi-housing industry and lived in Minneapolis from 1999-2005. I have seem many changes in the last few years. Police are needed desperately. Civilian mental health responders would not only be beneficial to the police force, but necessary during this high mental health crises we are finding our City/Nation/World to be in. The homeless need services.
Let's focus on what we have now instead of opening doors to new problems. I manage naturally occurring affordable housing. Tenants don't need to buy their apartment. They can buy a condo or a house (which they frequently do anyway). Rent control is not the answer either. Rent prices are dropping in the last few months--lower than they have been in years. They are lower than ever because so many are leaving the City because they are scared to be here and not many people are moving in. We need to make the City more livable again.
Good landlords only help the City. We can't afford another double digit tax hike when we have so many vacancies due to the mass exodus of people leaving the city due to the unrest. If taxes are increased then you have forced our hands to raise rents.
We have the resources and answers. It's time to be smart and hone in on what we can achieve. We need to be real and not go off lofty ideas in which many City dollars could be completely wasted.
Thank you for your time!
Tania Karlin 12935 55th Ave. N. [email protected]
11/19/2020 5:09:04 PM
Heard a woman get mugged a few nights ago, about 7pm by Thomas Lowry Park. Blood screams. I called 911 and ran over. The attackers had already taken off. Took 18minutes for police to arrive. 18minutes. Have heard there have been half a dozen car jackings right off thomas lowry park... people getting out of their cars are getting jumped, beaten up, and robbed.
I've been witnessing people leave the city but have considered myself a holdout - stick with the city! But, I'll tell ya, that woman screaming got to me.
We need police. We need more police. And community mental health and protectors - all of it, just please bring back peace and safety to our city.
Please bring back peace and safety to our City. Please
Charlie Hornig 809 Douglas Ave [email protected]
11/19/2020 7:23:49 PM
I think we need to support our police department. We need to secure downtown quickly and make it safe. You can’t let these young punks get away without paying large fines to get out of what you’re considering petty crimes. I like sending un-armed police to situations where guns aren’t needed. They can always have a radio to get more support if needed. Take care of small businesses. They are your lifeline and you let them slip through the cracks.
Marty Collins 511 Washington Ave N [email protected]
11/20/2020 6:38:45 AM
We need more police. We need more civilian mental health responders. We need support for small business.
Kevin Bruyette 3857 35th Ave S [email protected]
11/20/2020 8:35:10 AM
We need more police. We need more civilian mental health responders. We need support for small business. We need homeless services.
We don’t need more regulation on our industry. We can’t absorb double digit tax hikes with double digit vacancy. We don’t need this TOPO program – and the city can’t afford. The city shouldn’t waste resources putting a rent control referendum on the ballot.
Michael Doyle 2550 Pillsbury Ave South, Unit 3 [email protected]
11/20/2020 8:37:31 AM
We need more police. We need more civilian mental health responders. We need support for small business. We need homeless services. Mike Brehm 4816 Bryant Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55419 [email protected]
11/20/2020 8:52:23 AM
We need more police! The crime situation in Mpls is out of control. The budget should reflect an increase in officers and training. No other program at the City is as important as public safety. We don't want to become another Detroit.
Further, we as business and property owners can not absorb tax hikes as well as increasing vacancy. The city should not waste money on studies of rent control and TOPO. We need to cut burdensome regulations.
Nils Snyder 4930 28th Avenue S [email protected]
11/20/2020 9:13:38 AM
TOPO will negatively effect Minneapolis.
Property owners are already extremely regulated by the city.
Owners can't absorb the countless tax hikes and now vacancies at all time high.
821 Grand Ave, Saint Paul MN 55105
11/20/2020 9:51:22 AM
As a business owner employing hundreds of people in Minneapolis, most of whom are residents, it is imperative to keep them safe. It is important to keep the people visiting and traveling afar from other regions of Mn and out of state, safe. Safe to travel to and from their car for work. Safe in their General day to day errands. Safe to walk their neighborhood at night. Safe to walk out their hotel and go grab a bite to eat at a restaurant. These people have been hassled by people traveling in groups and trying to get into their car or threatening them on the street. Our customer base has diminished due to the perception of Minneapolis not being safe and more importantly their elected leaders not making the decisions to protect the residents, workers in the city and the visitors that come downtown. Less customers means less revenue for the business which means less sales tax and revenue for the city. We have to fix this image and we have to start now. This City in its current state and current conditions is not why I chose to bring my businesses to Minneapolis. This was once a great City and can be again. Please hire more police. Reform the training or add other community police or officers but we need more people, we need more law and order. The crime in this city is abundant and I see it every day because I’m in Minneapolis everyday. The city council rang the dinner bell for criminals when they said defund the police. Whatever they meant by it is irrelevant because what the criminals heard is that there will be no police, so let’s commit some crimes, we won’t get caught. Whether or not you agree with me is fine, but this represents a vast majority of the good and decent hard working peoples perception in this town. Please put away your agendas and see what is actually happening in front of you. If you. Any see it, please go walk the streets of downtown to get a sense of our reality. You can be on the right side of history here. We can move forward in a safe way, we can do this in a right way. We have a great police chief, please listen to him and give him a chance. Thank you.
Brent Frederick 730 Washington ave N, Minneapolis, Mn 55401 [email protected]
11/20/2020 11:35:44 AM
Please, please, please.
We need more police. We need more civilian mental health responders. We need support for small businesses - particularly restaurants.
Thank you!
Maggie Romens 521 Second Street SE #401 [email protected]
11/20/2020 1:15:33 PM
More small business support and less small business regulation
3733 154th St W
11/20/2020 2:01:35 PM
I am a resident and constituent of Minneapolis and am deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to the Minneapolis Police Department.
I feel very strongly that EVERYONE in our city - regardless of where you live, what you look like, who you are - deserves a police force able to respond and help them and we can't do it with fewer officers. I am extremely concerned about how the City Council is dealing with the staffing shortfalls and skyrocketing crime rate.
We NEED more officers. The need is greater than ever. It is shocking and disappointing that this Council has allowed the numbers to drop as much as they have, with no solution or endgame. In fact, I’m utterly disgusted that this Council has basically encouraged this result. This city needs a fully staffed police force. And we need a police force that feels they can do their job without physical harm or constant ridicule/threat of job loss/prison. You have helped create the environment we have now. Officers have become society’s doormat, scapegoat, whipping boy, you name it. It’s a miracle we still have the 400+ officers left.
The groups who have been, and will continue to be, hurt most by the loss of police officers are the very groups the Council claims they are trying to protect. The irony is off the charts.
Do your job. Staff the police department fully and give them your support. Listen to your constituents. And drop the ridiculous “dismantle the police” rhetoric because that is not what residents want.
If this isn’t done you will see homeowner and business flight unlike anything we’ve seen before. People will run.
Please oppose any efforts to reduce the size of the police force this year.
Genevieve Frye 4128 Oakland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407 [email protected]
11/20/2020 2:22:13 PM
As a lifelong Minneapolitan I am aware of the complexity of the issue of policing in our city, especially after the death of Mr. Floyd. With this in mind, I strongly support an increased funding for both our law enforcement to bring them up to and eventually beyond the staffing levels of 2020 AND the violence prevention efforts that have begun. It is not just anecdotal or some nebulous feeling of unsafety but a real and measurable dramatic increase in violent crime in our city that is making is unlivable for so many. We need to both support folks early in the criminal behavior to get them redirected, while we also hold accountable those who have consistently chosen to violate our mutually agreed upon laws. These are not mutually exclusive so I urge you to take a strong and nuanced approach which includes stopping the bleeding by including more officers, and then building on plans to strengthen our violence prevention programs. Chris Thompson 3209 Columbus Ave [email protected]
11/20/2020 3:40:14 PM
I have lived my entire 67 yrs in Minneapolis and until now have always felt safe. Now I am not even sure it is safe to go for a walk around my block alone. There have been asaults and carjackings within a half block from me. These incidents happened on quiet side streets.
Glenda Cox 4048 37th Ave So [email protected]
11/21/2020 12:00:08 AM
No funding to the MPD until the police union is gone, the police are required to live within City limits, and officers carry their own malpractice insurance. Without these measures in place, residents of Minneapolis can not afford to employ police.
I wholly support the institution and expansion of AIM, Guardian Angels, MASH, and other community- support services. Our money should support efforts that support our communities.
Melissa Cathcart 3018 38 Ave S. Mpls 55406 [email protected]
11/21/2020 10:12:06 AM
I have lived in this City my whole life. Never have I felt so unsafe. Please stop the defunding of the police process. We need our police. I have also witnessed police abuses of my fellow citizens. I believe in police reform not defunding our police. We need more police not less. I don't like going to bed at night and worrying about my home being broken into while I am sleeping. Violence is becoming a regular part of our landscape. Now is not the time to cut police. Please say no to the funds being taken from our police department. Let them get funds another way to start instituting Social justice reform.
Rita Lowinske 3224 22nd Avenue South [email protected] 11/21/2020 11:03:46 AM
A significant amount of money needs to go to housing all the homeless people. It is barbaric and immoral that our City has people with no home.
Remember, our city spent millions on a home for the Vikings and they are only there for 9 days each year.
We also made a home for the Twins.
Certainly, we can make a home for all the people.
Maggie Rozycki 3142 10th Ave. So., 1 [email protected]
11/21/2020 12:01:47 PM
I have personally seen crime everywhere I went I should never have to see that just like a suburb a city should be even safer than a suburb and with all the taxes we should have enough money to keep and put more police on over here what am I paying my taxes for for you to cut my grass I rather have you skip that I've seen women get body slammed I've been robbed with a gun I've seen a ton of drugs on the street I never see more than two police cars together I mean eventually I'm going to move and there will be no taxes because they should be towards the so I would make a decision and so can you
Anthony 2020 Garfield Ave [email protected]
11/21/2020 1:38:56 PM
Law and order is my top top priority. Without it, this city is useless to everyone that lives here. We absolutely need more police and fewer policies that criminals laugh at. Let police and judges do their jobs and arrest and prosecute criminals. As in every facet of government, increasing oversight and accountability is welcome but an adequate police force is imperative!
Carl Bretzke 510 groveland Ave., unit 604 [email protected]
11/21/2020 6:55:17 PM
I understand Mayor Frey's proposed City budget already includes material cuts to MPD's budget. I am opposed to any cuts beyond those proposed by Mayor Frey, to the MPD budget.
Community safety should be the priority for our city leaders. Right now, I don't feel safe in this city. Further reductions in MPD will make me feel even less safe.
I have lived in Minneapolis more than 25 years and planned to spend the rest of my life here, until this year. I loved Minneapolis but have fallen out of love with it this year given the crime, devastation caused by riots (that the city leaders unwisely allowed to occur unabated), and the free reign in our parks of the homeless. Our family has for the first time considered leaving Minneapolis. From conversations with friends and neighbors, I think there are many like us (long-time residents thinking about leaving). It is a very difficult position to be in after investing in our home and establishing our kids in the school system.
I don't disagree that the police are currently responding to situations that might better be addressed by different types of professionals. But, until new systems, programs and supports are in place, DO NOT cut the number of police officers in the street in Minneapolis.
Michael John Staloch 3230 Edmund Blvd [email protected]
11/22/2020 4:15:08 PM
I am a constituent in the Loring Park community reaching out in regards to the Minneapolis Budget.
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police.
I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K)
Co-Responders ($685K)
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K)
Additional Overtime ($5M)
I want you to reallocate from MPD’s $179M proposed budget and, instead, fund the things my community really needs right now:
Access to low-income housing
Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
Direct economic relief COVID response
We need the council to stop bankrolling the MPD. I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
Jennifer Weber 210 West Grant Street, Unit 609 [email protected]
11/22/2020 8:07:41 PM
Mayor Frey and members of the Minneapolis City Council -
I have lived and worked in the Whittier and Stevens Square neighborhoods for the past 12 years. It has been the best time of my life and I have grown to love Minneapolis after growing up in a small town in Illinois.
During my time in Minneapolis, it has seemed to just get better and better each year, by any measure. Since the start of the pandemic and then accelerating after the murder of George Floyd, that has not been the case. The lack of any meaningful response in the face of rising crime and livability issues has been disappointing.
I fully support the idea that we should shift a number of the duties currently carried out by the police into a social services division. I do not believe that the police should be the ones dealing with the majority of the addiction and mental health issues that could be handled more ably by a civilian agency.
However, it takes time to create new agencies. Right now we need more police to simply keep the city from falling apart. Right near where I live and work at the intersection of Nicollet and Franklin, one of the corners has been taken over by a group of people that openly drink, use narcotics, fight each other, harass passers-by, and generally ruin the neighborhood all day long. This has gone on for months. I have asked police officers why this is allowed and they have said there aren't enough of them to deal with this type of issue. That is insane. Hundreds of people walk by this corner every day and are worse off for having to do so.
The time to have a conversation about reforming and rethinking how policing works in Minneapolis was long over due. While my personal experiences with members of the police department have been positive, I recognize that many have not. That said, we cannot simply allow the current situation to continue while we figure out what policing will ultimately look like in the city. We need to stem the tide now.
When I went home to visit family earlier in the fall, every person I encountered needed to be reassured that Minneapolis was not a dangerous war zone. The perception outside the city, fueled by the national media and a contemptible President, is that every block is burning and we are all in fear for our lives every day. That is absurd. But things are not good, either. I want to live in the best city in America! Up until six months ago, I felt like I did. Please start taking the needs of the people living and working here seriously. Most people I know definitely feel like we need to make major changes to the policing methods used in Minneapolis. But I do not know anyone who thinks we need fewer officers right now.
Best regards,
Mark Severtsgaard
Mark Severtsgaard 2300 Harriet Ave Apt 302 Minneapolis, MN 55405 [email protected]
11/22/2020 10:14:22 PM
Pass the people’s budget. I feel strongly that the currently proposed minneapolis 2021 budget does not do nearly enough to make positive changes for social justice. This is too important to ignore.
charles Anderson-weir 3546 38th Ave S [email protected]
11/22/2020 10:56:33 PM
Dear Mayor Frey, Councilmembers, and staff,
As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police. Instead of the following expenditures from the mayor's budget, instead fund these alternate systems outside of MPD to make real, positive change for our city:
-NO to The Early Intervention System (230K), YES to independent oversight
-NO to Co-Responders ($685K), YES to the 911/MPD workgroup pilots and independent mental health response
-NO to New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K), YES to preventing pathways for more violence
-NO to Additional Overtime ($5M), YES to these priorities:
*Low income housing
*Opioid crisis harm reduction and prevention
*Direct economic relief
*Rebuilding small businesses, especially those owned by people of color and indigenous folks *Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice program and funding for other neighborhoods for restorative justice initiatives
Our community is in need. Use the resources we share and use them to meet these needs.
Melissa Andrie-Her 3211 35th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406 [email protected]
11/23/2020 1:26:30 AM
To whom it may concern:
Please give us our public safety back- I have lived in Uptown for 15 years and have a business for 9 years in the heart of uptown on Hennepin Ave. I lived just three blocks away. When it comes to the point I have to decide if I should drive three blocks home anf potentially get car jacked, or walk 3 blocks and be assaulted? This is not acceptable. I have left Minneapolis for the winter because I fear for my safety. I fear for my business being there.
Not backing up the police is not acceptable and Minneapolis is not okay with this.
Hazel Hinton 2827 Hennepin Ave S [email protected]
11/23/2020 11:02:03 AM
Hello,
Please focus on what is most important for 2021. We need more police. We need more civilian mental health responders. We need support for small business. We need homeless services.
We don’t need more regulation on the apartment industry. We can’t absorb double digit tax hikes with double digit vacancy. We don’t need a TOPO (tenant opportunity to purchase) program – and the city can’t afford it. Rent control doesn’t work, and should not be in consideration.
Jeff 221 N 1st Street [email protected]
11/23/2020 11:41:01 AM
Please reduce the budget for the police and increase the budget for social services such as housing and nonpolice crisis response. Police do not keep us safe
Elizabeth Evans 25 E 25th St MPLS MN [email protected]
11/23/2020 12:03:38 PM
I work in security at an art museum in Minneapolis, so I frequently have to call 911. About half the time it’s concerning someone benign who is either homeless or having a mental health crisis. Instead of Police, Fire, or Paramedics, we absolutely need a fourth branch of trained, unarmed medical professionals to help deescalate situations or provide resources for the mentally ill and homeless. These individuals are often either intoxicated, having a mental crisis, and/or looking for a place to stay warm, but are almost never armed or dangerous—but when they cause a scene or refuse to leave we don’t have a choice but to call police. Police escalate the situation by grabbing for their guns or threatening with force and should only be a second/last resort in these non-violent situations. I always struggle calling 911 (on people of color especially) because I don’t want to be the catalyst for another police murder.
2011 2nd Ave S Apt 3, Minneapolis MN 55404
11/23/2020 12:33:18 PM
The City of Minneapolis sent out postcards, about the 4d Affordable Housing Program, offering $40% off real estate taxes for residential rental properties if the owner signs a contract with the city. The city also offers to connect rental property owners with buyers.
Is the city saying, "sign our contract, sell to our buyers, or pay 67% higher real estate taxes than your competitors"?
To promote affordable housing, just lower taxes on affordable buildings.
John O'Neill 3501 14th Ave. S., #2 Apartment #2 [email protected]
11/23/2020 1:02:21 PM
The Sunrise bank I use located at 2100 Blaisdell Avenue South had been ROBBED twice, it's windowns broken and it's ATM destroyed. The Post Office I used to use located on East 31st Street was destroyed. All cities NEED cops. For those of you who disagree with that, just look at what has happened since May 29th. The city council's decision to defund our cops has caused a decrease in the number of cops. Appararently, you did not think this thing through. When the number of cops decreases, crime will always increase!
The Minnesota National Guard showed up on two occasions and I told them I was glad they were here. I really have a problem with nobody challenging the city council's decision to defund our police force. Better to defund city council and refund our cops.
BRIAN J PEDERSON 2020 Nicollet Avenue South, Apt 214, Minneapolis MN 55404 [email protected]
11/23/2020 1:05:05 PM
How about you actually fund the police properly so the crime rate will start to go back down and stop being cowards about it.
You want more transparency and accountability from the police I'm supportive of that (as long as it isn't blocking them from doing their job), but you still need to fund them properly.
Otherwise why would I pay my taxes? Let alone want to remain in this city or raise children here.
Tyler 1915 3rd Ave S Minneapolis MN, 55404
11/23/2020 5:21:12 PM
Anyone who is pushing an agenda for defunding the police by initially cutting budgets in this climate is out of their minds! What are you paying attention to? This city you are supposedly charged to lead is at a dangerous cross roads. Stability THEN major reform is the adult way forward. 28 years and I've NEVER been more disappointed in the lack of city leadership! A mayor who's largely absent and a council that is a gaggle of theorists with no practical approach to solving the current climate and moving this city forward. Shameful. Do the right thing...other than the vocal minority, the majority of citizens of this once proud city only ask that you do your jobs and represent All of the citizens. Jeff Morin 3124 45th Ave S [email protected]
11/23/2020 5:21:51 PM
We need more police our city Is getting terrorized on a daily basis! I don't even shop here anymore because of all the crime! I pay taxes here in the city and expect more from all the city council members! VOTE YES To add more police your becoming an embarrassment to our community.
Bonnie Davidson 3609 34th Ave south [email protected]
11/23/2020 5:39:54 PM
Hi-
My name is Kris Bennett and I live in the Fulton Neighborhood of Minneapolis. I moved to this city so that I could walk and bike safely in an urban environment and so that my son could have the freedom to go to neighborhood schools, neighborhood parks, and neighborhood sports and music events. I did not want to live in a rural area and I did not want to live in the suburbs. I wanted to live in an urban environment that provided a strong sense of community.
Please restore the sense of safety the people of Minneapolis need. Please fund the police department 100% and give them the extra resources requested by Chief Arradondo to staff a city in crisis.
I am a teacher and I see the idea of defunding the police as misconstrued as the idea of not funding schools that are "failing." Schools that are "failing" need more help and more funding, not less. A city with rising crime needs more support and more financing, not less.
Minneapolis needs families to stay here. The events of this summer and fall make me question my decision to stay here each and every day. The clock is ticking and we need full support of the police and the city council to restore safety. Please fund the police.
KRISTIN BENNETT 4732 Upton Ave S [email protected]
11/23/2020 5:42:23 PM
Providing any funds to the MPD is against the health of the community. I urge you to defund the MPD. Reallocate resources used to fund them into ACTUAL public safety programs that benefit instead or murder, enslave, and oppress our citizens. In this past year I had my vehicle stolen. I had an officer tell me it is the LAW that officers cannot pursue high sped vehicle chases. They told me if they spotted my vehicle, even if the plate was reported stolen they would not chase down the vehicle. A few months later, I read about how the exact same police department that told me it was against the law pursue a high speed vehicle chase that resulted in the deaths of 3 Black teens. The officers that chased down and MURDERED those 3 human children on the northside should be held accountable. That was manslaughter at the very least. That was illegal. They were trained on the law. This is one of THOUSANDS of times, and I do mean THOUSANDS, I have hard of our MPD acting incorrectly, unjustly, and UNLAWFULLY. Often their actions cost other their ENITRE LIVES. They are NOT here to protect or serve the community. They do not deserve any funds. They must go, and so must all of you that support it. Understand this. The MPD was created to catch those that escaped the chain gang. The MPD is a form of white supremacy, and you ALL are responsible for upholding it. That makes you white supremacists. That should disgust you if you are not the definition of a psychopath and if you do have any empathy. The blood of Minneapolis is on your hands. You have to the power to do something. LISTEN TO US.
Jasmine Bloomdahl 2804 Blaisdell Avenue, Apt 201, Minneapolis, MN, 55408. [email protected]
11/23/2020 5:46:49 PM
Hi-
My name is Kris Bennett and I live in the Fulton Neighborhood of Minneapolis. I moved to this city so that I could walk and bike safely in an urban environment and so that my son could have the freedom to go to neighborhood schools, neighborhood parks, and neighborhood sports and music events. I did not want to live in a rural area and I did not want to live in the suburbs. I wanted to live in an urban environment that provided a strong sense of community.
Please restore the sense of safety the people of Minneapolis need. Please fund the police department 100% and give them the extra resources requested by Chief Arradondo to staff a city in crisis.
I am a teacher and I see the idea of defunding the police as misconstrued as the idea of not funding schools that are "failing." Schools that are "failing" need more help and more funding, not less. A city with rising crime needs more support and more financing, not less.
Minneapolis needs families to stay here. The events of this summer and fall make me question my decision to stay here each and every day. The clock is ticking and we need full support of the police and the city council to restore safety. Please fund the police. KRISTIN BENNETT 4732 Upton Ave S [email protected]
11/23/2020 6:03:59 PM
I am writing about the upcoming vote to decide whether or not to have budget cuts to the Minneapolis police force. I sent many letters to the City Council last year, that were ignored, in response to this same proposal this Fall. I make this statement very unsure of it makes a difference. In short I love the idea of allocating some police funding to create a program that responds to mental health and other such problems. However, I have again not heard ANY plans as to what that would look like. Will this funding go to a program such as COPE? I think it is unfair to ask for the money without telling the public the plan. It really is disrespectful to us constituents. You have not consulted us at all about the plan. We will have to deal with a decrease in safety via less police on the force while we await you to come up with a plan, not knowing if it is going to be effective. I do not think this is representative of a council that respects its constituents.
Sincerely, Kristen Lund
Kristen Lund 3229 46th Avenue South [email protected]
11/23/2020 8:01:18 PM
This appears to be directed at Minneapolis residents. There is a reason I don't live in Minneapolis anymore. Some of that is directed towards personal experience with the racist, corrupt MPD and the complete utter failure of the city council, the mayor and other organizations of influence in the City of Minneapolis to take action against the MPD. The Minneapolis Police Department seems to be a governing body of their own and do whatever they please. For a couple months after the murder of George Floyd and the riots there was lots of talk of restructuring the MPD and reining in their terroristic rule of the city. Then that discussion just stopped. It's back to business as usual. The MPD does what they want and gets away with it. They are racists and bigots and thugs in uniform with the city of Minneapolis condoning and enabling their behavior by their inability and inaction. The leaders of Minneapolis need to put a stop to this. If the leaders of Minneapolis can't take some meaningful action to stop this disgusting behavior, then maybe it's time for Governer Walz and the state legislature to step in. This has gone on for too long.
What about Saint Paul residents? We are living with crime spiraling out of control. Mint Properties has lots of properties in Saint Paul. We will not be ignored in this conversation. Are the leaders of Saint Paul going to take a serious look at the crime and the Saint Paul Police Department and how they handle the city they are tasked with "Protecting and Serving"?
John Read 1947 Grand Ave, Apt 105 [email protected]
11/23/2020 9:17:15 PM
I graduated from North Magnet High School in the 1990s. I left Minnesota for college and finished in my home town of Tennessee. I took a job with the State of TN Purchasing Division and 10 years later returned to a Minneapolis I hard recognized. Mental illness raged through my family and after talking my mom into retiring from the MN VA after 25 years, moved her to a condo and myself to south Minneapolis. My brothers own businesses in North Minneapolis that I took a week off from my job in non-profit to help them protect earlier this year. I could talk about the blaring racism in Minneapolis to the point where when I moved here, the supervisors at work literally referred to themselves as 'higher ups' at jobs I received from my attendance at the 'People of Color Job Fair.' These subtle signs of racism were UNBELIEVABLE to the folks back home in TN. In fact, I was written off as being 'petty' and 'overly sensitive' for years. Folks back home would say things like, 'It's not state sanctioned racism or white guilt, it's just a way for them to make sure every has a fair chance at jobs," and my favorite, "they call themselves higher ups to make themselves feel better, you know who you are and that's all that matters." May 25th changed all of it. I am still filtering through the voicemails on November 23rd. Everyone now believes MN is the most racist state in America and this budget can either prove them right or wrong. I do believe you can fund and reform the police. I also believe that gun control should extend to the police. Why the men behind those badges don't share the same pride in their manhood as other men, we may never know. However, as long as they are okay and even proud of winning fist fights with bullets, they need to be made of rubber. Since when do we allow proven unqualified people to keep their jobs? We either lower their authority, their artillery, OR we will have to believe that they are perfectly qualified and they are indeed sanctioned to murder black and brown people indiscriminately. Only one or the other can be true and we are ready for either. Killer policemen cannot constantly be found not guilty unless we are to believe they are our enemy. We are also do not solely blame police officers and understand they are the face of a system allows them to murder. This budget will let us know where you stand.
Angela McDowell 2323 Clinton Ave Apt 206 [email protected]
11/24/2020 8:08:09 AM
My neighborhood association is what makes my neighborhood thrive! Please increase/restore funding for this important work that builds communities—which is the heart and soul that we need when we are all in this together.
Susan Stryk 3723 Harriet Avenue South [email protected]
11/24/2020 8:17:49 AM
Do not defund the police department. Reorganize to meet the needs of the community by providing appropriate responders within the police department or in conjunction with them. This could include mental health responders and other options for handling issues. I used 511 to deal with an abandoned car and it was efficient and dealt with promptly. Prioritize the needs of the community. Thank you, Kathryn Dole
Kathryn Dole 4136 Morrill Lane, Minneapolis, MN, 55406 [email protected]
11/24/2020 8:37:52 AM
I am not going out of my home, due to carjackings, robberies, beatings, shootings, and MORE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ! You on the City Council want to cut funding to our Police?
Are you really that STUPID? Or do you live in some safe ELITE SAFE neighborhood?
I have had it with the City Council. Do us all a favor and RESIGN ! You have NO CLUE what it is like to live in my neighborhood in South Minneapolis. Or my Friends neighborhood in North Minneapolis, 26th and Penn Ave North.
If you are honestly concerned? GET OUT ON THE STREETS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE !
Stop DE FUNDING our POLICE, and Leave Minneapolis, you are doing more harm than good.
Let Chief Areadondo do his job! He knows what is going on, and is working hard to bring less corruption and hate to the police department. Let him have a year to do this!
I can not go for a walk in my own neighborhood!
Get a clue, we need more police, NOT LESS.
Tired of your inept decisions. Kate Nelson
Kate Nelson 2912 41st Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55406 [email protected]
11/24/2020 12:01:26 PM
It seems everyone wants something and the council is convinced this is a zero sum decision to make, that in order to satisfy some they must take something away from others.
I am begging the council to break free of this narrative and be brave enough to solve the problem by providing a safe city for everyone. Implement alternative methods of answering calls as well as provide police presence on the street in adequate numbers to deter and follow up on neighborhood crimes, traffic, vandalism, drug peddling, car theft and much more.
This is based on every front going forward with strict rules about how people are treated by MPLS officers or intervention staff while patrolling, answering calls or in custody. And anyone unwilling to abide by the new approach going forward should be out of the system.
The city is responsible for the safety of all its citizens everyone counts and everyone must have confidence in how that is done or elise there is inequity. Let's go forward with a plan that works for everyone and not some.
Thank you,
Eric Lecy
Eric Lecy 2804 32nd Ave. S. [email protected]
11/24/2020 12:21:31 PM
Remember this from my email of 08-12-20 below?
" ... Furthermore, the pertinent majority membership of the MCC did so without so much as having made even a pretense of amalgamating all facts, data points, and evidence thereof relevant to a calculated process for rationally and deliberatively analyzing the causation of the alleged disparate mistreatment or maltreatment of minorities, generally, and people of color, specifically (racial animus notwithstanding), relative to certain endemic police practices by which said Council members (and their represented constituencies) claim to be aggrieved. Nor did those moving parties within the MCC, as part of a deliberative process, outline or even so much as suggest *a research method, data sampling and capture parameters, and appropriate metrics for both identifying and evaluating how proposed reforms would remedy any found deficiencies in police practices,* i.e., the likes of which would even plausibly justify such extreme imposition of their relevant conclusions (i.e., about policing in Minneapolis) upon residents, business owners and operators, business patrons, and investors alike."
The above said, all funds already diverted (or intended to be diverted) (initially, approximately $1.1M) from the Minneapolis Police Dept.'s budget to other "social justice" or crime/violence prevention programs should be frozen until the plausible efficacy of such programs can be demonstrated to withstand evaluative rigors that are on par with those proposed for use by the Council on Criminal Justice's independent Task Force on Policing, to wit:
The Following Excerpts Are Quoted Out-of-Context From: "Task Force Probes ‘New Approaches’ to Policing," By TCR Staff | 7 hours ago
The Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) think tank has started an independent Task Force on Policing [https://policing.counciloncj.org/] to identify policies and practices most likely to reduce violent encounters between officers and the public, and improve the fairness and effectiveness of law enforcement. [Contact: Jenifer Warren | [email protected] | 916-217-0780*] [Emphasis added. Citation supplied.]
The group says it will take an evidence-based approach to evaluate at least two dozen commonly proposed reforms aimed at preventing police use of excessive force, reducing racial biases, increasing police accountability, and improving the relationship between law enforcement and the communities it serves. [Emphasis added.]
The task force will publish an assessment of each proposal, weighing the advantages, disadvantages and efficacy.
Among issues to be examined by the group are hiring and training, use of force, technology, militarization, and officer and agency accountability. [Emphasis added.]
It will also evaluate measures that would shift some current law enforcement responsibilities to social service agencies or community-led initiatives. [Emphasis added.]
Once the alternative methods and modalities contemplated have been vetted by the above evaluation process, at a minimum, a pre-funds-transfer review should commence in order to examine the likely ability for the diverted funding to satisfy a specifically identifiable, quantitatively or qualitatively assessible, set of preconditional operating criteria, the likes of which reasonably confirms that a rational, empirically-verifiable basis exists to believe that such alternative modalities to traditional police practices can be credibly predicated upon evidence of the claimed successes that such alternative methods/modalities have been proven to demonstrate elsewhere.
This review process will require developing socio-ecological metrics for valid, reliable standardization and comparison. In other words, what makes you think it (e.g., the violence-sidelined violence interrupters who were at least in part funded by the $1.1M diverted from MPD) can work here? Prove it, and show the process before robbing Peter to pay Paul. Terry Gruzebeck 7350 York Ave. S., Unit 104, Edina, MN 55435 [email protected]
11/24/2020 2:34:47 PM
Please increase funding for the police. I have lived down town for more than 25 years and have never felt unsafe until NOW. Let's develop a city and a police force we can all be proud of.
Merry Keefe Loring Park neighborhood
11/24/2020 3:10:09 PM
If you defund the police and start cutting the budget, you will likely see a mass exodus of the highest tax payers. The solution isn't defunding. It's providing proper funding for training, mental health, etc. Please consider the citizens of this city and do your research before making such drastic and inappropriate decisions.
4316 46th Ave S
11/24/2020 8:41:38 PM
The City needs to stop cutting across the board and prioritize essential government functions only. Solid waste, police, prosecution, utilities.
The amount of money wasted by the city harassing property owners through the forestry department or housing inspections is disgraceful, people are driving less and yet the city has spent millions on street repairs and resigning streets, this is without mentioning the absolutely ridiculous position of spending millions on grants to private businesses and for art work for city buildings. Finally, the city council need to look close to home for cuts - the salaries of the council members is ridiculously high and far above the average the people in the city of Minneapolis make, plus each council member has a large staff in their office.
I ask that you not only pledge to not increase property taxes at all, but that you cut property taxes by at least 30% to return the city 2016/2017 levels of taxation. Johnny Freedom 3270 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55416
11/25/2020 4:32:07 PM
It it vital for the community to see the police budget reduced and to see that reduction be transferred to more impactful and crime-reducing programs. We need more funding going towards drug use harm reduction, homelessness, job training, and youth employment. It is inappropriate for police to respond to general welfare calls, non-violent crimes, etc. This is how we heal and move towards a wholistic and sustainable program for police abolition.
Nellie Jerome 2636 17th ave [email protected]
11/27/2020 8:56:37 AM
I am writing (begging) you not to listen to the crazies in Minneapolis. As a liberal, African American male living downtown it is unthinkable to cut their funds. We should be adding funds to support reforming it from top to bottom. Hiring even more cops, improve the training and getting of the bad ones. Please, the council cutting the budget will result in higher crime especially in brown neighborhoods and a takeover of the council. The alternative is a all Republican council dont think it can happen, let the crazy crime keep climbing and business start leaving. Thanks for listening.
Allen C Wolfe Jr. 740 Portland Ave S, unit 601 [email protected]
11/27/2020 3:29:57 PM
My businesses are losing customers because of carjackings and overall fear for their safety. It is real concern, not just a perception.
We need to fully fund the Mayor’s budget and rebuild the police force – not only to protect us but to allow businesses to thrive in an environment of peace, calm and security. Remember, businesses employ people and pay taxes. We’re not going to go far as a city if you do not fund the protection we need to succeed. Thanks, Steve
3844 York Ave S
Mpls, MN 55410
Steve Young 3844 York Ave S [email protected]
11/28/2020 7:59:05 AM
Deeply against any defunding of basic police functions. If anything fund more efforts in training.
Sue bennett 600 south second st, #305 [email protected]
11/28/2020 12:36:38 PM
I was born in Minneapolis in 1952 and have lived here most of my life. I have lived in Tangletown, Powderhorn, Cedar-Riverside, Whittier, Seward and Kenwood neighborhoods.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO REDUCE THE POLICE FORCE. Yes, we are in need of change and I am fully supportive of the reform that is necessary.
Mark McClellan 2030 Sheridan Ave So [email protected]
11/28/2020 1:49:09 PM
Crime prevention and control needs to increase across the city. Youth crime is a huge issue as are car jackings.
Please fully fund the police and increase officers. Find a way to get rid of the union if they are responsible for keeping problem officers. Recruit from the communities and put officers on foot in the neighborhoods so they know the people they are policing and the people know them as human beings.
The level of crime we are experiencing in Minneapolis is unacceptable and we need to rapidly decrease crime while treating people of all colors and backgrounds equitably. Donna Edelstein 5921 Emerson Ave S [email protected]
11/28/2020 1:54:17 PM
Lisa Bender declares "the city cannot afford the status quo in public safety..." Unfortunately she blames the current status quo of rampant crime, violent and otherwise, on the understaffed police which she thinks making further cuts to their budget will magically correct. Her concept, and others, for social engineering to correct unfettered criminal behavior is a direct threat to all of us living or visiting Minneapolis.
Jeffrey Peterson 28 Forest Dale Road, 1 [email protected]
11/28/2020 3:57:29 PM
All of us living in minneapolis (average level headed law abiding citizens) are unnerved by the recent surge in crime. It’s scary and real. Instead of slashing the police budget we need to be investing in the police dept to recruit and properly train officers and help current officers feel they can do their job. While it is a great thought to redirect funds to ramp other social services it’s not realistic to do
It by decreasing police funding. We don’t live in some warm fuzzy world contrary to the what people want to think (apparently the city council). We need people aka police officers to help decrease crime so that citizens can feel secure walking around their neighborhoods. We pay for this.
Ami Kaur 400 Marquette avenue [email protected]
11/28/2020 4:51:49 PM
I am appalled by the council's proposal to cut 8 million from the Mayor's budget. We need urgent intervention NOW to stop the escalating crimes of carjackings, assault, theft, and vandalism. Even more horrifying is the fact that our juvenile system allows young teens who commit these crimes to be quickly released back into the community to do it all over again. I've read the "Safety for all Budget Plan", and see no evidence that it included input from the MPD, or coordination with appropriate other city departments. The council is using ideology (with no law enforcement background) without a firm grasp on the practical reality of human behavior. . Although some of their ideas have merit, I see nothing that is going to stop young teens from hunting down citizens as prey in the days/weeks/months ahead. Instead, criminals are emboldened by the protection offered by the Council's ideology and extreme slowness in coming up with pragmatic solutions that can be quickly implemented. The MPD Chief has the qualifications to address pubic safety, and must be funded to the level approved by the City Charter.
At this rate, the actions of the Mayor and Council will leave a destructive legacy that will requires many years of recovery.
Laura Murray 5021 15th Ave S [email protected]
11/28/2020 6:14:31 PM
I believe the city needs to increase funds in 2021 budget for police resources - specifically we need more money for additional training and reform but also additional officers. I believe we also need to invest in alternative response models for non violent calls and also longer term crime prevention and community outreach strategies but those will not reduce the need we have for increased officers right now. The violent crime (violent carjackings in particular) has gotten out of control and we need to allocate resources to stop violent crime.
Philip Mumm 5042 Chowen Ave South [email protected]
11/28/2020 9:59:37 PM
My Last Nextdoor post: Now is the time to leave.. mass exodus from downtown is providing a short term boost in demand in south Minneapolis. The window will close if we don’t turn this around. I am pleading with those who read this and choose to be silent to stand up and make your voices heard. We are losing the city and by that I mean the people who fund all the services Minneapolis provides. Let’s not forget that someone has to pay and it’s not the city, it’s the city residents who choose to live here and pay the taxes because they appreciate what we have and continue to fund the city.
We have never seen anything like this. It’s scary. We have lost any sense of leadership and what we have is listening or has listened to a vocal minority of our cancel culture. I can no longer justify paying 11k in taxes while watching our home value drop and having shootings, breakins and carjackings within blocks of our house. We are lucky we can afford to leave if this does not turn around. We have lost our way and if this continues, we will be sad to leave. Sincerely, Jeff/Amy
Jeffrey Roe 5101 Dupont Ave Sout [email protected]
11/28/2020 10:02:04 PM
Lynne Olson
South Uptown neighborhood
Lisa Bender, council member
I’ve never felt so unsafe, and the same holds true for my neighbors. I have lived in this city for 42 years. Crime is out of control. Our city is in chaos. How the defunding pledge was handled is largely responsible for the mess we’re in. Police are gone. Criminals are emboldened. Our city is defenseless. And a small vocal group has distorted where our community stands. This is not at all acceptable and is a disservice to the residents of Minneapolis.
Here are TWO facts to bear in mind. FIRST – A majority of residents do NOT want to defund the police. This is true even in the black community, as the Star Tribune and national polls show. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! SECOND – Yes, we do need reform and other public safety measures – but not at the expense of the police. We need more cops on the street because cops deter crime. Studies clearly show this. Those studies have been submitted for the official record. Read them!
We have a police force working at 66% of recommended capacity. By late next year, it’ll be 60% or less. It’s a dereliction of your duty to let this happen.
Your obligation is to serve all residents of Minneapolis, not the vocal minority and to fully fund the police. Find the money for other programs elsewhere. Work with – not against – the Mayor and Chief for reform. And stop pretending that a vocal few speak for all of us.
Lynne Olson 3521 Girard Ave So, Minneapolis, MN 55408 [email protected]
11/29/2020 12:38:50 AM
I’m writing to share my perspective on the proposed budget cuts for the Minneapolis. I have lived in Minneapolis for almost 30 years, in 4 different neighborhoods and have never felt this concerned about the crime and my families safety. The current crime levels are directly related to the city councils irresponsible actions on calling for defunding the police without any plan to ensure the safety of Minneapolis residence. We have violent crime happening throughout the city, in the middle of the day. This is crazy - it demonstrates a complete disregard for the constituents you’re supposed to represent. I in no way support reducing the police budget. The city council and Mayer need to have an actual plan before undercutting the police.
Elizabeth erickson 5301 Clinton Ave [email protected]
11/29/2020 10:06:39 AM
Dear Council Members and Staff,
I live in the Bryant Neighborhood at 3939 5th Avenue South. As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police. I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
1. The Early Intervention System ($230K) that relies on police to punish police.
2. Co-Responders ($685K), instead use this as an opportunity to remove duties from MPD and
shift money to fund professionals with the actual expertise.
3. New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K)
4. Additional Overtime ($5M)
Re-allocate from MPD’s $179M proposed budget and, instead, fund the things my community really needs right now:
1. Access to low-income housing
2. Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
3. Direct economic relief
We need the council to stop bankrolling the murderous MPD and begin funding our communities to organize and support each other. Since the heinous murder of George Floyd by the MPD, my block 5th (approximately 39th - 41st) has formed the Block Power Union (BPU). We began organizing in early June and have been meeting weekly since then.
A regular topic on our weekly agenda is community safety and supporting our neighbors. We have identified gaps in our system that would fall into the category of substance use prevention and response. On two occasions BPU members have intervened to help individuals in our neighborhood who were clearly under the influence of substances. The individuals were neither escalated, nor harmful to any other people, but they were also not safe and were in vulnerable positions being out in a public space (bus stop and middle of the street). We had no community professionals to call. The individuals needed help and a safe place to come down and clearly the police could not provide such support and in fact, would likely have scared the individuals and caused an escalation of the situation. On one of the occasions we did call C.O.P.E., but they informed us they did not provide any on-site support due to the pandemic. This is unacceptable. We know the pandemic has exacerbated mental health needs and people are turning to subtances at incredibly high numbers. Please reconsider this budget proposal and fund our communities.
I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
Sincerely,
Jodi Henderson
3939 5th Avenue South
Jodi L Henderson 3939 5TH AVE S [email protected]
11/29/2020 12:57:36 PM
I want more police officers on the street. I also want stricter sentences for carjackers, muggings, robberies, etc.
James Sanem 4131 Wentworth Avenue [email protected]
11/29/2020 3:51:59 PM
As you consider whether or not to cut the budget of the Minneapolis Police Department you should consider what the -majority- of your constituents want to do FULLY FUND THE POLICE. It is perhaps less newsworthy than the Council's promise to defund police BUT fully funding the police is the right thing to do. I would go so far as to say that perhaps you should increase the budget of the department so they can do all of the following: fully staff officer ranks (including recruitment efforts, new recruit classes), enhance officer training, invest in community policing activities so that officers and citizens have a better understanding of one another, add mental health specialists to the force. It makes sense to me to have response to 911 calls all handled by one organization with common goals and common oversight. That would still allow you to triage 911 calls and send them to staff with the appropriate skills. Right now a significant majority of my neighbors are calling for defunding of the Minneapolis City Council because of their inability to understand what our priorities should be. Based on what I've seen since last May - I would agree. Get your act together and stop trying to think in terms of media "sound bites" - think about what this community needs.
Erin Dunn 4804 10th Avenue South Minneapolis MN 55417 [email protected]
11/29/2020 4:05:01 PM
As a mother of 5 and public health nurse who works all over the city, PLEASE do not cut the MPD budget. I understand some want to shift funding to other areas that may help respond to crime differently, such as bringing in mental health workers. This creative thinking is appreciated, but given the current, dramatic rise in crime in our city, we should not be cutting the MPD budget at this time.
We also do not need to chose over accountability/reform and adequate policing. We need both!
Thank you.
Karen Thill 5028 Thomas ave S [email protected]
11/29/2020 4:21:32 PM
“Safety For All Budget Plan” suffers from flawed assumptions and lack of data
The plan introduced by Council Members Bender, Cunningham and Fletcher has a name that could come out of George Orwell’s novel “1984,” where the Ministry of Truth’s building proclaims in large letters, “War Is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.” This plan promises “Safety For All” yet might in fact result in “Safety For None.”
Demographic factors worked in favor of Minnesota and Minneapolis since Governor Wendell Anderson appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in 1973. This is no longer the case. Almost fifty years later, the wave of increased wages and good jobs for a larger youthful population has crested. Today’s twin trends are accelerating crime and retiring boomer-generation police (“As veteran police officers retire across state, recruiting is a tough sell,” StarTribune, November 27, 2020). Our beloved city is in peril (“Minneapolis momentum is being crushed by the crime wave, op-ed by Kate Mortensen, StarTribune, November 25, 2020).
The three Council Members released a plan with a total price tag of $8 million, attempting to quantify the costs of a wish list they’ve pulled together without input from the citizenry, the Mayor, or City department heads (including the Police Chief). They claim their arbitrary proposals are “data-driven,” but don’t cite any data. There is no real plan, and there is no objective data to justify their proposal or the arbitrary way they have allocated taxpayers’ monies.
What is indisputable fact is that Hennepin County District Judge Jamie Anderson has allowed the suit of the “Minneapolis 8” to go forward (“Judge allows Minneapolis residents’ lawsuit alleging inadequate police staffing to go forward,” StarTribune, November 25, 2020). The City Council should think hard about the fact that one of the plaintiffs is former City Council Member Don Samuels, who knows a bit about process and policy after three terms on the City Council (during which he served as Public Safety Chair), a term on the Minneapolis School Board, and successful careers in the for-profit and non-profit sectors.
Quoting another of the Minneapolis 8, Cathy Spann: “…we need public safety while transformation is occurring….” It takes a lot to look at this as a “both/and” rather than an “either/or.” In 1650, a time of great civil unrest in England, Oliver Cromwell said, “I beseech you [in the name of God], think it possible you may be mistaken.” Council Members Bender, Cunningham and Fletcher, I ask: If a year and $8 million later the citizens are left with a “plan” only on paper, a weakened police force, and increased crime against young and old alike, what if you were wrong?
William A. Levin 1201 Yale Place #1209 [email protected]
11/29/2020 4:40:38 PM
I am writing in regards to the drastic increase in violent crime in South Minneapolis. For the first time in 25 years, I feel truly scared living in this city. We live in Tangletown, which I know might be somewhat safer than other neighborhoods, at this point anyway. That said we had a car jacking and shooting two days ago, one black from our home. This is a terrifying place to live now.
In normal times our 11-year-old would be walking to Starbucks and Patina with her friends. Today, it is just not safe. This is a very different Minneapolis than it was even a year ago. People have stopped walking their dogs, alarm systems are being added, converters are being stolen, gun-shots heard multiple times nightly, neighbors physically assaulted, homes are being broken into mid-day with people inside them, and people are moving out of the city. After many months of this exponential increase in violent crime, we can no longer call this a blip and you can no longer say that crimes are happening in limited locations. No area of the city is safe any more.
We have good friends living on the 5300 blocks of Columbus and within a span of 4 months, they have lost 5 neighbors to the suburbs. All are moving due to the terrifying crime in the area, they fear for the children, and their personal safety daily.
This is a crisis and it needs immediate attention. I want to know what is being done to save our beautiful city?Is it true that the invaluable Community Response teams will be cut? We need these teams, and so much more! Is it true that police funding may be cut further? That is outrageous. The crime must end, life like this is not sustainable. Thank you for your service to our city and thank you in advance for your timely response. Jody Peterson, 5117 Garfield Avenue, 651-208-7812
Jody Peterson 5117 GARFIELD AVE 55419 [email protected]
11/29/2020 7:44:41 PM
I called 911 on Saturday because I overheard that a person in ave hardware was suisidal. I waiting for 20 minutes and no one came to help. The man who was suisidal left. I felt sad for the man who needed help and didn’t get it.
Courtney ford 5033 1st ave s [email protected]
11/29/2020 8:41:34 PM
My name is Erin Hart and I live in Ward 8, Andrea Jenkins Ward. I would like to ask the City Council to approve the mayor's budget. I am not interested in rehashing whether or not the defund the police rally at Powderhorn Park should have happened. It is done. But I do want to talk about what we've seen happen to our city since then. Violent crime and car jackings have skyrocketed. I myself witnessed a man walk through an intersection to try to car jack Somali woman who was stopped at an intersection. Only by the grace of God did she get away. And as I write this, there is a police search for an armed man who robbed a delivery driver at gunpoint just 1 block away.
Let's face facts- a record number of police are now on leave. The police department is already understaffed at 66% recommended capacity and is on track to be at 60% or less next year. The city is being sued now because of it. If this crime wave comes back with warmer weather, I would not be surprised if more lawsuits are filed.
Yet some on the council are still trying to remove more budget from the police force to pay for nonviolent crime responses when we don't have enough money for the police to respond to violent crime. And this is all despite the fact that the mayor already budgeted for non-violent crime responses.
I have some very serious questions for Lisa Bender, Phillipe Cunningham, and Steve Fletcher. You said you look at the data to inform your recommendation. Did you see that violent crime is up 25% year- over-year? That it is up 41% over the past 2 years? And that's just through 11/27/20- the year isn't over. To those three council members, do you really think this city is going to be safer next year if you cut the budget further? What makes you feel that this is the right environment to be cutting the police budget given the stats that I just mentioned? Wouldn't it make sense to begin cutting the police force during a time of relative peace? Most importantly (I would hope), is cutting the police budget further what your constituents want? I would guess no. As you are aware the majority of people in Minneapolis do not support cuts to the police. constituents by and large believe that crime will increase if the police force is reduced. And the polling data I am referencing is from a Star Tribute poll released in mid-August. That means the poll was conducted probably before the end of July. Do you think that more voters back cutting the police force after the past August, September, and October? Honestly.
Please reflect on these questions and ask yourself- what do the people of Minneapolis want? The polls have been conducted. If you are willing to accept the answer and act on it, the data is there. I'm here to ask you to listen to us. We want a safe city for our children, our neighbors, and ourselves. Please do not cut the police budget further.
Erin Hart 4709 4TH AVE S [email protected]
11/29/2020 10:01:08 PM
To whom it may concern:
I hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving. As you know we are having an increase in car jackings and crime across our city. In the past two days we have had both a car jacking with an attempted murder directly in front of our house(Ward 11) and last night our neighbors house was broken into. We have been supporters of police reform but we do not believe that defunding the police is appropriate tactic to do so. In the car jacking on Friday the suspects got away because only one squad car showed up. This is completely unacceptable and I ask you how would you feel if this was your loved one who had three bullets fire into their car and only one squad car showed up so both suspects escaped... We love Minneapolis and we don’t plan to flee to the ‘safety’ of the suburbs. As President Biden paraphrased ‘we must walk and chew gum at the same time’...in Minneapolis this means we must reform police while maintaining public safety and right now this city council is failing at both by even considering reducing the funding to our police department.
Best regards,
-Karl
Karl Ulfers 339 Elmwood place W [email protected]
11/29/2020 11:11:29 PM
I’ve never felt so unsafe, and the same holds true for my neighbors. Crime is out of control. Our city is in chaos. There are many reasons for this – but there’s no doubt that how the defunding pledge was handled is largely responsible for the mess we’re in. Police are gone. Criminals are emboldened. Our city is defenseless. And a small vocal group has distorted where our community stands.
Here are TWO facts to bear in mind. FIRST – A plurality of residents do NOT want to defund the police. This is true even in the black community, as the Star Tribune and national polls show. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! SECOND – Yes, we do need reform and other public safety measures – but not at the expense of the police. We need more cops on the street because cops deter crime. Studies clearly show this. Those studies have been submitted for the official record. Read them!
We have a police force working at 66% of recommended capacity. By late next year, it’ll be 60% or less. It’s a dereliction of your duty to let this happen. In closing – Fully fund the police. Find the money for other programs elsewhere. Work with – not against – the Mayor and Chief for reform. And stop pretending that a vocal few speak for all of us.
Jocelyn 3240 Aldrich Ave south [email protected]
11/30/2020 9:30:15 AM
I am a resident of Uptown-Minneapolis in the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood. In my 10-years of residency I have never felt more frightened for my safety to the point of wanting to sell my condo and move. It saddens me because I have loved the vibrant city of Minneapolis but now it’s become a lawless city ran by chaotic criminals and teenage punks - the police are barely there to help the residents! I had called the police about suspicious activity of teenage kids checking vehicle door handles up and down my block one night a few months back and never got through on the phone lines - this could have possibly stopped a car jackings but regardless took this punks off the streets for causing trouble. Doing wrong on to others needs consequences by the law! Minneapolis is on a negative destructive path and criminals are taking advantage of this when they know there is a police shortage. Please do not defund the police - Minneapolis needs proper law and order to ensure safety is number one! Thank you for your time in reading this and I hope my message is taken in to consideration.
Gina Zappa 2500 Aldrich Ave S [email protected]
11/30/2020 10:00:10 AM
I moved to Minneapolis in June because I loved the city and enjoyed being in Uptown. Since I have moved here it has not been the city I once knew it as. I feel unsafe riding my bike around the lake, going for a jog and walking my dogs My car has even been broken in to and I am afraid my home will be next. I fear for the safety of myself and everyone else living in this community. We need the help of law enforcement to make this a safe and family friendly home again.
Kelly 2500 Aldrich Ave S APT 3
11/30/2020 12:59:12 PM
Car jackings are up in the neighborhoods. Just last night it happened on my parents block about five minutes before my two year old and I left their home, which is less than a mile of where we live. That could've been us - I barely slept last night playing out scenarios of what if it did happen? Again this morning, another notification within three blocks of our home of another car jacking. Defunding the MPD is not going to assist the safety in our community and because of these statements we are in this insecure climate we that are living in Minneapolis today. We need a lot of changes in the MPD but defunding is not the answer and is one of the reasons that we are in the circumstances we are in now.
We need better lighting on our streets and paid employees walking our streets and being ambassadors in our community, we need electeds to work in partnerships with the judicial bench and hold these individuals accountable for harming members of our community. We need to support our officers by funding them to have annual mental health checks, not overworking them through the traumatic calls they answer, they need more resources to support their work and wrap around services to support them as human beings. We need to hold them accountable when incidents do happen, so that statements are made within the department that they will not allow those types of incidents/behaviors. I can think of so many other ways to reform and hold MPD accountable than defund MPD's budget.
Now is the time to support the safety of our community, so that we do not see more of our neighbors selling their homes, telling their new neighbors how unsafe Mpls is and therefore no longer come back to support our local business community and economy.
ZoeAna Martinez 3419 E 40th st [email protected]
11/30/2020 1:24:35 PM
We must FULLY fund the police! This kind of talk is fueling the violence.. Mental Health is a small part of violence. The larger part is young people feeling disenfranchised from society due to many things. We need to put our emphasis on a strengthening the police force, not weakening it.
The other steps include equality and parent education and support, supporting the work being done now to build self esteem and providing training in jobs that don’t require a college education.
Mary Ann Jagodzinski 1514 E. Minnehaha Pkwy [email protected]
11/30/2020 1:34:47 PM
My name is Kimyatta Flowers of Ward 5. My Council Member is Jeremiah Ellison
I am a resident in North Minneapolis' 5th ward, one of the highest crime neighborhoods in Minneapolis 4th Precinct.
I am troubled by the false choice that has been set up by many on this City Council and their supporters. To them, this budget debate is a choice between police reform and a fully funded police force. It’s one or the other. That’s the kind of rigid ideology that has us in this crime-infested mess. Reality is we need both – we want a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves – and much further along in eradicating the systemic racism we all abhor.
But who is willing to do the job of the Police Officers in our neighborhood? Many of my neighbors and closest friends are often afraid to even check the mail at certain times of day because of the recent home invasions, robberies, and carjackings at gunpoint.
We in the 5th ward ESPECIALLY need a fully staffed police force. Police deter crime. Police respond to crime. Police make other public safety programs effective. I understand why you felt compelled to take action in June. I urge you to consider the consequences of those actions. Let’s be more thoughtful going forward. Before you rush to cut or transfer programs in a punitive manner – let’s see your fully baked plan for a new public safety department. It’s due next year. Until then, finish your job. Keep police funding and programs where they are. Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future to restore peace and calm.
Kimyatta Flowers 2518 Farwell Ave Minneapolis MN 55411 [email protected]
11/30/2020 2:33:24 PM
I have been a Mpls resident for 21 years and love this city. I am very concerned about the rise in crime and lack of response/follow through from the police. The criminals know they get a slap on the wrist if they are caught, so to them the risk is worth it. There was a n attempted car jacking with shots fired just 3 blocks from me in SW Mpls in broad daylight on a very quiet street. This has me concerned about coming and going from my own home. I have kids of the age (10 & 13) where they should be able to run to the store or library on their own, but I don’t feel safe letting them do that. I’m concerned for when In session school starts back up as my middle schooler walks every day.
Our next door neighbor had a break in this summer, as did a home 1/2 block away. Countless car break ins on our street, and our neighbors van was stolen last spring.
So many incidents right on our block.
Our neighbors put their house on the market out of concern for their safety and are moving to the suburbs.
Please reconsider police cuts, or many families will be leaving the city. Minneapolis has so much to offer with parks, restaurants and retail, we need to protect it.
Thank you,
Lara Tickle
Lara Tickle 4908 Harriet Ave [email protected]
11/30/2020 3:24:20 PM
Please do not approve the plan of some council members plan to remove an additional $8M in funding for the police next year. As a survivor of a violent crime, I cannot believe that the city is thinking of creating additional victims through its reckless desire to reduce the police force. The city has seen an uptick of crime by 25% this year - each of those crimes have impacted the victims lives forever - there is no do over.
Do policies, practices and culture need to be reformed in the police department? - Absolutely. But reducing the force prior to other social service teams being developed and trained is reckless and dangerous.
I ask all city council members to vote no to the new plan to reduce police spending by $8M.
Joan Kaminski 1323 W Minnehaha Parkway [email protected] 11/30/2020 4:23:31 PM
Hello, the Mayor and City Council must prioritize the public safety above all other city functions in 2021. Safety should be the most basic function of government, and without it, all other City services are greatly diminished. While we completely understand the opportunity for police reform, tactics using "budget" as a way to destabilize Minneapolis' comprehensive safety services will cripple our beloved city beyond repair.
What is happening right now in Minneapolis is an absolute disaster. Year-over-year crime is significantly higher, and we are seeing more and more brazen, violent acts committed across the entire city. I have family members who have lived in Minneapolis for years, improving their homes and contributing to a vibrant community, and have moved out because they were stalked and assaulted taking leisurely strolls in what used to be a wonderful park system. Just this week, I found a 9mm bullet casing in front of my house, and there was a carjacking just a couple doors down. What is this place coming to? This is not the Minneapolis I know. This is a disgrace.
Safety must be addressed immediately. It can take whatever form you would like...more patrols, more service workers, more officers, more prevention. But it must start NOW. Residents and business are fleeing this city, and the impacts will be irreparable if not dealt with in 2020 and early 2021.
Reviewing the budget, I believe that budget cuts to other non-police areas could go deeper. We can reduce infrastructure. We don't need more bike lanes. We can let weeds overgrow in our parks...but we CANNOT allow violent perpetrators to continue to terrorize our residents and businesses. The budget needs more cuts in order to make room for more crime prevention, safety (social) workers, and more officers (replacing the dozens or hundred that have left). This is the only way to get our city back on track.
Thank you,
Peter Eliason
Peter Eliason 5049 Belmont Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55419 [email protected]
11/30/2020 5:02:00 PM
Greetings City Council Members,
My name is Wendy Charles and I live in the South Uptown neighborhood with Lisa Bender as my council representative.
I am writing to you because I have never felt so unsafe living in any neighborhood as I currently do living in South Uptown. Crime is completely out of control. Criminals have taken advantage of our understaffed police department and are running our streets. In the words of Chief Arradondo, our city is bleeding! I no longer feel safe enough to walk in Uptown since there has been such an uptick in violence. I moved to Mpls. after living in the suburbs for 19 years because it was always my dream to live in Uptown. That dream has turned into a nightmare! I am constantly hyper vigilant of my surroundings, and as a woman, I feel especially vulnerable! I no longer feel safe driving with my car windows open. I don't go ANYWHERE after dark unless absolutely necessary. I am nervous simply waiting for my order in the drive-thru at Mc Donalds because I feel like I am a prime target for being a victim of crime. I do not frequent any gas station, supermarket or store after dark. I no longer walk to Aldi, the UPS store, Target, Trustone Financial, not even during the day. I don't feel safe in the Uptown Lunds and Cub parking lots anymore after there have been multiple muggings and carjackings at gunpoint. I no longer have my garage door open before entering and exiting my car due to the carjackings that are occurring and I am scared every night when I return home after dark from my job. To reiterate, I’ve never felt so unsafe, and the same holds true for my neighbors. Our city is in chaos!
There are many reasons for this, but there’s no doubt that the manner in which the defunding pledge was handled is largely responsible for the predicament we are in. Police are gone. Criminals are emboldened. Our city is defenseless. And a small vocal group has distorted where our community stands.
Please bear in mind the following facts: FIRST – A plurality of residents do NOT want to defund the police. Minneapolis does NOT want defunding! SECOND – Reform and other public safety measures are needed, but not at the expense of the police. We need more officers on the street because their presence deters crime. Studies clearly show this. Those studies have been submitted for the official record. Please read them!
We have a police force working at 66% of recommended capacity. By late next year, it’ll be 60% or less. It would be remiss of you to let this happen!
City Council, I implore you to fully fund the police! Visibility is a necessary deterrent! Please find the money for other programs elsewhere. Work with, not against, the Mayor and Chief for reform. A vocal few do NOT speak for all of us.
Sincerely,
Wendy Charles
Wendy Charles 3345 Colfax Ave. S #102 Minneapolis, Mn 55408 [email protected]
11/30/2020 5:42:47 PM
Please Do Not cut funding to the Mpls Police Dept. Please work with the Chief and Mayor for reforming the Police Dept. and changing how services are provided for citizens of Mpls. We NEED all the police we can get in the city at this time. Training of various "Helping" services will take time and we citizens cannot afford the wait as crime increases everywhere. NOTE my address. I am 2 blocks from the 38th St & Chicago Av intersection. We need this area opened. Dollars should be designated for a G. Floyd Memorial but you also need to collect more information from homeowners in the area, not just the Powderhorn neighborhood citizens. This needs community input and compromise. I am NOT for holding the city hostage in order to meet the demands of only a few people.
ANSWER these questions: Are the 3 council members wanting to re-distribute dollars from the police department willing to spend more time in our neighborhoods? Are they going to volunteer in our streets for the sake of safety for all of us? And are the council members bowing to Ms. Bender's desires? She is one of the least agreed with council members and I look forward to her leaving the council. She does not gain the right to impose her desires on the city as she departs when they are NOT wanted by the majority of us who live here!
I have lived at my address since 1970! I have never seen anything like this in the City I LOVE! I do not feel council members have mine nor the majority of Minneapolis citizens' interests in the work they are doing. YOU DO NOT have the pulse of the city. Again, please work with the Chief and the Mayor on the Budget and do the right thing! Thank You
Romell White 4017 Chicago Av. S. [email protected]
11/30/2020 6:03:00 PM
My wife and I have lived at our current address in east Tangletown, Ward 11, for fifty(50) plus years. We have been committed to the city since 1970. We raised our two kids here and I started my business in this city. There can be no stronger commitment. Over the last fifty years Minneapolis has gone from a city that was struggling in 1970 to one that people want to live in 2020. Demand for housing and city living has never been stronger.
However, I fear that reputation is in jeopardy. Our neighborhood has had robberies, and break-ins, an attempted carjacking at gunpoint just last week and an assault on the Parkway that hasn’t been solved. In all the years I have lived at this address I have not experienced such a crime wave. And nothing is being done about it! In fact, the City Council wants to reduce dollars for law enforcement. That seems absurd in the face of what the entire city of Minneapolis is experiencing. Tangletown is just one neighborhood. There are many, many other neighborhoods that are in the same or worse circumstances.
The City Council cannot turn their backs on this grave issue. You must take immediate steps on December 2 to address the crime wave we as citizens all face. We should not have to live in fear for our safety, or of being robbed in broad daylight or of being car-jacked trying to go to a work. Council members, turning a blind eye toward this blatant criminal behavior is a dereliction of duty and public trust. Please do not cut funding for our police. Please direct more funding to solving our safety issues.
Respectfully, April and Rick Reuter
Richard and April Reuter 17 Elmwood Place East [email protected]
11/30/2020 7:32:14 PM
Hello members of the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Frey,
My name is Kenzie O’Keefe. My wife and I are homeowners who live in Ward 12. We’re both white and born and raised in the Twin Cities.
We want to be clear that we don’t feel any less safe in the city now than we did six months ago or any less committed to living here for the long term. We understand that our privilege insulates us from the intersecting forms of violence that many in our city face now and faced long before the events of this year. We believe the wisdom of those who disproportionately experience violence in our city (BIPOC folks, poor and working class people, and folks intimately connected to the violence) should be prioritized when making decisions about how to structure and fund our mechanisms for achieving effective public safety moving forward.
We implore you to make a comprehensive plan to enact true public safety for all in Minneapolis and create a city budget that cuts all “nice to have” expenses and focuses solely on 1) lifesaving aid for residents that is needed now and 2) programs and supports that will enable those currently struggling and suffering most to thrive in the future.
Here are our thoughts on how we do that:
• Disrupt policing as usual and take a targeted, data-driven, anti-racist approach to preventing crime and keeping all people safe. Right now, we believe we have a system that is designed to make chronically enfranchised people like us feel safe at the expense of the actual safety of generationally oppressed people. Let’s not invest in things that are not proven to reduce crime but that often quell the theoretical fears of our city’s most privileged. We are absolutely opposed to more police officers and a bigger policing budget without an extremely clear, evidence-based articulation of how the department will operate fundamentally differently with those resources. We have not seen that yet and therefore find it difficult to support the current size of MPD’s budget—especially when there is so much need in other areas (housing, youth support, health).
• Significantly increase funding for programs and services that meet people’s basic needs for actually affordable housing and accessible, culturally relevant healthcare (chemical dependency treatment in particular), food access, and economic support. People need direct resources NOW.
• Invest in our city’s youth—this is both a moral imperative and violence prevention. Our youth are out of school; their mental health is suffering, many are self-medicating with opioids and other harmful substances, and hope is hard to come by. They need safe, culturally relevant spaces where they can heal, be supported by caring adults, and be inspired about the future, open around the clock. These spaces exist but they are chronically underfunded. Funding is needed to consistently staff them with safe, trauma-informed, and community connected adults NOW.
• Invest more in neighborhood organizations that are effectively doing grassroots work to connect residents with resources and each other in our city’s most chronically marginalized in neighborhoods.
• Invest in artists and their transformative visions for more just futures.
If you need to pick up our trash less often, forgo some development in our neighborhood, raise our property taxes (which actually went down this year), or give away city assets as a form of reparations in order to enact more dignified living for those who are most vulnerable, count us in.
Thank you,
Kenzie O’Keefe & Abbie Engelstad
651.245.2647
4456 44th Ave. S (Hiawatha Neighborhood)
Kenzie O'Keefe 4456 44th Ave. S [email protected]
11/30/2020 7:38:14 PM
Hello. I'm Lisa Timek and I live in the Kenny Neighborhood. My council member is Linea Palmisano.
I grew up in Mpls and have lived here almost all of my adult life. I want to feel safe in my city. Currently, I do not. The daily news about the rising crimes in this city is most unsettling. You, the City Council, represent US, the citizens of this fine city. We do NOT want cuts to the police force budget. Over 100 officers have already left the force and we can't afford to lose any more. We need to add more officers and give them the resources they need to keep us safe. The mayor has proposed a 14 million dollar cut to the police force yet the City Council wants a deeper cut. Shame on you. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future to restore peace and calm.
Thank you.
Lisa Timek 5529 Logan Ave S [email protected]
11/30/2020 8:29:38 PM
I have been a resident of the Kingfield neighborhood for 35 years. Until this summer, I have never felt afraid of crime in the neighborhood. This summer has been different. Cars racing up and down Lyndale Ave. And now we have teenage girls hijacking cars and mugging residents, because they have been emboldened by the lack of police. We here in Ward 8 have been mugged, carjacked, shot at. The situation around 38th and Chicago is miserable for residents and businesses. I understand the angst you feel between pursuing racial justice and restoring calm to our neighborhoods. This cannot be an either/or choice.
As a leader whose first priority is our safety, be pragmatic and let the reality of the moment be your guide. Even people of color want police protection. The Star Tribune poll in August showed that African Americans opposed defunding in larger numbers than others. In national surveys the same is true: A majority of people of color support more police in high-crime areas. These studies have been submitted to be part of the official record.
Please use common-sense in taking these 3 steps. FIRST- Fully fund the Mayor’s proposal. SECOND – Do not shift police programs and money. Wait until your new Public Safety Department is ready. AND THIRD – get city and state leaders to agree on what reform must look like over the next few years. Approve future police budgets if they meet reform goals. This is a much more objective way to achieve harmony – and move towards a just and safe city. Thank you.
Carl Allen 3920 Garfield Ave. [email protected]
11/30/2020 9:06:24 PM
This comment is about the proposal (as I understand it) to move $8 million from the Mayor's proposed MPD budget to other public safety systems. I understand and strongly support undertaking truly transformative change in how our city provides public safety, but I also insist upon the need simultaneously to address the current upsurge in violent crime, without -- of course -- further incidents of police abuse and misconduct. I think our city must go down both paths at the same time. As President-elect Biden said in one of the debates, “I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time”. I respect that proponents of this funding shift insist that this will actually free up MPD to respond to the upsurge in crime, an allow funding new critical first steps towards transformative change. However, as a downtown resident exposed to this upsurge in violent crime, I must rely on the expertise of Chief Arradondo relative to this point. If he says he needs this money to respond to the upsurge, please give it to him while doing everything you can to (i) eliminate abusive police behavior and (ii) march down the path of transformative change to our public safety system.
John Satorius 1235 Yale Place #1403 [email protected] 11/30/2020 10:09:15 PM
We have owned apartments in Minneapolis since 1999. We have never had as many empty apartments in our 20 years, not even close, as we do NOW. We typically run 1-2% vacancy and we are at 10% in Minneapolis. Our St. Paul apartments are at 3%. Almost every letter from an exiting Minneapolis tenant states their reason for moving is crime.
When the restaurants were open, my friends, family and I would love to explore Minneapolis restaurants. Now my suburban friends will NOT go into Minneapolis. "I don't want to be carjacked!"
We've needed to call the police over the years and have only had great interactions. If we have a break- in, it is nice to know that we can count on the police. During the riots we boarded up our apartment windows and doors, we saw our buildings on the news. Never have I been so scared in my life!
I understand the need for police reform, I support it. But now isn't the time to take money away from the police! We need the police! When will Minneapolis return to normal?
Laura Rubin 2609 Hennepin Ave [email protected]
11/30/2020 10:16:40 PM
I have lived in mpls for 70 years. I do not know anyone who wants to defund the police. Why don’t you listen to the mayor and police chief. Yes we want changes made in police force. We also want to feel safe in our city. The city councils rants on defunding has made our city less safe. It’s try living in the real world.reform police yes. Defund police no. If my councilman votes to defund police then he will never get my vote again.
John bartsh 200 east minnehaha parkway [email protected]
11/30/2020 11:42:31 PM
To everyone and Andrea Jenkins Ward 8
I live and have a small business in the Lyndale neighborhood . Ward 8.
Please approve the mayors police budget as proposed. Fund the police please .
Work with not against mayor and chief for REFORM . Also concerned for the good cops the morale must be low. So new cadets , new start. It’s something. I own a small business in this neighborhood (14 + years at this location) and live right down the alley (19 years)
The front door of my business broken by a wrench from O’Reilly’s price tag on it still. I was fortunate to have a citizen, a tenant of the building board up my front door. I was fortunate . Pretty sure it would of just kept on breaking glass for whatever reason.. Thank you Brian P!
Still, Citizens can’t handle this at this point .
Car jacking’s and well you all know . You see what’s happening.
Please fund the police.
Betsy O’Connor Home : 3441 Blaisdell Ave S mpls Mn 55408 Business: 3500 Nicollet Ave Minneapolis MN [email protected]
12/1/2020 6:56:31 AM
As you consider police dept funding, keep in mind that the police are necessary. We must have them out and about, and fact we need more of them walking the beat everywhere in the city.
The failure of some criminals to follow orders and thus end up getting harmed or killed is the criminal's fault in 99.9% of the cases.
You should be putting the citizens and victims first, not the criminals and their families.
Want to really save money, don't pay out to criminals and their families millions of dollars because you fell bad for the criminal and family.
Take those millions and pay for better education so people get and stay married, as fatherless homes are the biggest source of criminals.
Brent Christen 5032 Xerxes Ave South
12/1/2020 7:32:46 AM
I do not support the 8 million dollar funding cut to the police. What seniors want and need most is a safe place to live. That has to be the first priority and duty of government. Please do not cut the police
Daniel Hertz 4635 Garfield [email protected] 12/1/2020 8:04:29 AM
am troubled by the false choice that has been set up by many on this City Council and their supporters. To them, this budget debate is a choice between police reform and a fully funded police force. It’s one or the other. That’s the kind of rigid ideology that has us in this crime-infested mess. Reality is we need both – we want a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves – and much further along in eradicating the systemic racism we all abhor.
But let’s not kid ourselves. We also need a fully staffed police force. Police deter crime. Police respond to crime. Police make other public safety programs effective. I understand why you felt compelled to take action in June. I urge you to consider the consequences of those actions. Let’s be more thoughtful going forward. Before you rush to cut or transfer programs in a punitive manner – let’s see your fully baked plan for a new public safety department. It’s due next year. Until then, finish your job. Keep police funding and programs where they are. Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future to restore peace and calm.
Anthony Thompson 5101 Beard Ave S [email protected]
12/1/2020 9:02:45 AM
You all need to be voted out. If you had any brains you'd stepped down immediately. Everybody's moving out. You're destroying the city of Minneapolis. Look in the mirror.
People don't want to come to mpls
The way you act maybe you should move to Detroit. Nobody likes you guys. Everyday robberies carjackings to do robberies. You need to defend yourself and higher 3 times more police officers. Google the word NoW !!! Step out of your fantasy land.
Rick 2541polk [email protected]
12/1/2020 9:06:04 AM
Please do not let the noise dictate what should be done. This isn’t about protecting what you think is your voter base and protecting your future as a politician. Take accountability for what has happened to Minneapolis. Figure out the underlying issues THE MPLS area is facing. It seems as though our graduation rate for minorities is beyond subpar, why? Where is your focus on that? What happened to Nicollet mall? Why? What happened to all the great restaurants in uptown? Why? Under your handling of a very difficult time Tou continue to listen to your base and not what makes logical sense. More of us will leave MPLS when this happens. What will you do with all the investment people have out jnto MPLS that can’t be sustained?
MPLS will soon be full of large empty buildings. But, maybe that keeps your in office?
Ryan Nelson 509 east grant st [email protected]
12/1/2020 9:45:18 AM
Defunding our Minneapolis Police Department at this time is insane! We are the laughing stock of the country with the lawlessness that has occurred here since Memorial Day! I have faith in our Police Chief to bring about reform within our system!
It’s especially hypocritical that some council members used a private security force at the tax payers expense during this time! I agree with other types of interventions for nonviolent situations but how will that be determined? End this snowflake proposal to cut funding and increase it to bring the Police force numbers up to a level to meet the current level of crime and violence!
David Volz 4039-Blaisdell Ave South [email protected]
12/1/2020 9:59:29 AM
I am a business owner in downtown Minneapolis. Our firm has 25 employees in the Baker Building. I am worried about the safety downtown. I don't see a strong police presence down in downtown (especially away from Nicollet Avenue). I don't feel safe getting to work before the skyways open. I BELIEVE in Minneapolis and want to stay down here. I have 5 other partners who live in the western suburbs and they are more willing to move out of downtown Minneapolis. WE CANNOT LET MINNEAPOLIS BECOME A ST. LOUIS WITH TWO DOWNTOWNS (CLAYTON VS. ST. LOUIS PROPER)
We need to invest more in the police department. At the very least, lets get more patrols going and then we can do supplemental reform of their techniques and training. Those are needed as well - but lets not deplete the numbers of police randomly.
My contact information is attached if anyone has questions.
R. B. Kiernat
Managing Director HENNEPIN | PARTNERS
730 Second Ave South, Suite 285
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Direct | (612) 604-2062
Mobile | (612) 991-6745
www.HennepinPartners.com
RB Kiernat 730 Second Avenue South [email protected]
12/1/2020 10:58:48 AM
My name is Melissa and I live in Audubon Park. My council Representative is Kevin Reich.
I’ve never felt so unsafe, and the same holds true for my neighbors. Just this morning, I received a crime alert of police activity around the corner on Ulysses Street / 27th in a historically quiet, single family- home community. I no longer feel safe simply going on a daily run in the neighborhood, I carry a personal security alarm at all times as recommended by the Second Precinct community liaison officers.
I moved to NE Mpls from Uptown and my old house is tagged “people live here,” The neighborhood has been transformed to look like a poor city in Mexico and long-standing staple businesses are permanently closed down.
After living in Minneapolis for over 15 years I am looking to relocate elsewhere, in addition to friends who own long-term businesses looking to relocate as well. How much more can a business hemorrhage financially and continue to be defaced / vandalized?
I personally attend precinct meetings to keep abreast of the state of Minneapolis. We NEED MPD boots on the ground!!!
Additionally, Crime is out of control. Our city is in chaos. There are many reasons for this – but your defunding pledge is largely responsible for the mess we’re in. Criminals are emboldened. Our city is defenseless. And a small vocal group has distorted where our community stands.
We are in a state of the city where literally children are feigning needing help and carjacking victims.
Here are TWO facts to bear in mind. FIRST – A plurality of residents do NOT want to defund the police. This is true even in the black community, as the Star Tribune and national polls show. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! SECOND – Yes, we do need reform and other public safety measures – but not at the expense of the police. We need more cops on the street because cops deter crime. Studies clearly show this. Those studies have been submitted for the official record.
We have a police force working at 66% of recommended capacity. By late next year, it’ll be 60% or less. It’s a dereliction of your duty to let this happen. In closing – Fully fund the police. Including the $5 million in overtime to cover shifts that will otherwise go unstaffed. Finish your “reimagine” process before rolling out ideas in piecemeal fashion. That’s disingenuous. And stop pretending that a vocal few speak for all of us.
Melissa Ulrich
Audubon Park, NE Minneapolis
Melissa 2611 Hayes Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418 [email protected]
12/1/2020 11:05:43 AM
I have lived in Minneapolis and in the Downtown for more than 27 years and I am very disheartened and appalled at idea that several Council members and their supporters are reducing the budget debate to an either or situation, that we can only have police reform by reducing the police budget and that fully funding the police means there will be no change.
This is an absolute untruth. Change can be made and it requires a fully collaborative approach between the police, the community and the City. Removing funding from the police has created what we have now, a City where people are moving out, where crime has escalated to its highest level in years, where all neighborhoods are now unsafe, where businesses are leaving because they can no longer endure the vandalism, the burglaries, the looting. Downtown looks like a shambles.
We all know that we need police reform, that we need to implement additional preventative programs in several areas. However, we should not be establishing preventative programs in lieu of continuing to have appropriate funding for the police, which must have sufficient funding to effectively address the City's public safety needs daily. The idea that it is either one or the other will only serve to get us nothing in the end.
We need both, a police force that is transparent, more accountable and better reflects the community that it serves and additional preventative programs to reduce crime and violence at its sources and to eliminate systemic racism.
Daily we experience the effects of a reduced police force, with businesses shuttering, vandals rampant, innocent citizens and visitors victims of increased crime. We are even stretched to have police respond to the immediate 911 calls. This is not a world-class City. Those on the City Council that have made decisions to reduce police funding and now to further cut the police budget have left us with the mess we are in today, in a city where many residents are questioning whether they want to even remain, where businesses are already deciding to leave.
We must be more thoughtful about how to craft change that provides the entire community with effective public safety, a strong police force with a new direction toward reform and new preventative and transformational programs that will create lasting change.
We have yet to see a well-developed fully elaborated public safety plan, which is due next year. I do not know why you are thinking that creating a punitive environment with regards to funding the police department is the answer to our current situation because it is not.
It is a kneejerk reaction to a situation that requires a careful and robust approach. We need to keep funding where it is currently and work diligently to create a new direction and new programs that will support lasting change.
Cutting the budget will only result in having us able to focus on the immediate, not the future. We need to look to the future and current and additional financial resources to achieving reform goals, not the simple reductions that are proposed.
I urge you to consider a path that incorporates funding at current levels for the police and additional funding for new programs.
Mary Bujold 410 Groveland Avenue #1604, Minneapolis, MN 55403 [email protected]
12/1/2020 11:18:34 AM
Good Morning, I live in Andrea Jenkin’s Ward 8. I have lived here in South Minneapolis since 1978. There has never been a time where I have felt less safe in mine and surrounding neighborhoods. I lock my car doors as soon as I get in the car. I look in all directions before going to or from my car. I try not to go out after dark. Why? Because crime is out of control in South Minneapolis and the city as a whole.
Carjackings, muggings, assaults and shootings are a direct result of the message sent by city council members when they promised to defund the police department early this last summer. Criminals feel emboldened, the cops are understaffed and staying away from certain areas.
The situation at 38th and Chicago is untenable. I live two blocks from the George Floyd Memorial. The intersection needs to be opened back up. I am all for a memorial of some sort, but open up the intersection. People of all sorts are hanging around that don’t live in the area, contributing to the mayhem.
We need police reform, but we also need a fully funded police department. This much should be obvious by now. The experiment to defund the police was implemented with incompetence and poor planning. I am looking for a both/and here, but community safety should be priority #1 right now. This in an emergency. At this point I think all of your jobs depend on it.
Pass the Mayors budget including money for overtime for Police.
Regards,
Chris Tidemann
Chris Tidemann 4021 Chicago Ave SO [email protected]
12/1/2020 11:21:35 AM
My name is Anita Lloyd. I have been a resident of ward 8 / Andrea Jenkins rep, for over 20 years. My family and I feel very unsafe. The violence that is occurring in our neighborhood is alarming, car jackings, muggings, assaults, and home invasions. "Our city is in chaos". The lack of support and funding for our police is very concerning! I believe their is a need for reform and public safety measures, but not a the expense of our police! The statistics show a considerable rise in violence in our city. We need police protection more than ever! The city council is failing the citizens of Mpls. We DESERVE better! Thank you Anita Lloyd.
Anita Lloyd 4226 Pillsbury Avenue, South Minneapolis [email protected]
12/1/2020 11:37:06 AM
I URGE the City Council to put aside the proposal to cut the budget for policing. This is a hasty, ill- planned and ill-advised proposal that takes police away from our neighborhoods which are experiencing a surge in violence all over the city. I support reform, but in incremental steps that are considered and tested in a planned way, The current proposal is reckless and precipitous that could cause more injury and fear. It will further endanger the citizens of our city in ways we might not even currently imagine..
If City Council members think for one moment that all of us who live in our beautiful city want extreme, reactionary behavior by our elected representatives, I can assure you that this is not the case. We want a well managed city with people running it who think about what they are saying before they speak, who think about the short, mid and long term consequences of what they say, how they act, and what they propose. A very large number of us see none of this good, critical thinking going on right now.
Please stop this reactionary behavior and drop this very bad plan. Susan J Specker 1805 West Lake Street, Unit 303 [email protected]
12/1/2020 11:51:49 AM
Please do not take funds away from the Police. You are adding stress to both the Police and people of Minneapolis. This is a bad approach and short sided.
We need to help the Police connect with the communities' they protect. Their brand is so damaged. There is little respect and regard out there for what a difficult job the Police have. it is important we find a way to rebuild trust in our city.
Change is good but not by taking away from an already broken system. Put the money into retraining, rebranding, community activities, anything to restore faith. The City of Minneapolis deserves protection and the Police deserve a chance at regaining trust back but they need our support. There are a lot more good cops than bad.
Kim Cameron 4032 Sheridan Ave South [email protected]
12/1/2020 11:52:59 AM
We need more police now! Not less. Crime is way out of control and we don’t feel safe in our own neighborhood that we’ve lived in all our lives. We are also suffering financial loss due to lack of business.
David grant 3457 Buchanan st ne [email protected]
12/1/2020 12:34:45 PM
Please do not cut the Minneapolis Police Department's budget. Defunding the police is certainly not the answer.
The Department needs our help to reorganize and improve. It is foolish to say we should abolish the Police Department or cut back on the funds they need to continue our protection.
Howard Beyer Howard Beyer 4351 1st Ave S [email protected]
12/1/2020 1:05:06 PM
Hello, I my name is Vicki Zachary and I reside in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood in Ward 7.
I want to express my concerns of the alarming actions and proposals the council has put forth in recent months regarding budget cuts and the idea of defunding the police.
I have lived in this community for 48 years and have worked in downtown Minneapolis the past 40 years. I currently work virtually due to Covid-19. My employer has presented the opportunity for those who may want to return to the office environment to do so. I would love to rejoin some of my colleagues, in the office, however, the fear due to the rise in crime downtown, even in broad daylight, not the fear of contracting Covid-19 keeps me from doing so.
I’ve never felt so unsafe as I do now. Crime is out of control city wide and the council is mainly responsible. This crisis throughout our city is in large part because of the council’s actions and proposals and rhetoric of defunding and cutting the police budget.
Criminals hear you loud and clear and are emboldened to commit crimes without fear any real ramification or consequences from their lawless actions. Our city and its residents are defenseless. A small vocal group has distorted what our communities want/need. Most Minneapolis residents do NOT want to defund the police. As has been presented to the council in the Star Tribune and national polls . Stop claiming that Minneapolis residents want defunding!
We need to restore our police force. We need more cops on the street because cops deter crime. This is obvious just by looking at the facts. We currently have approximately 30+% less officers available, and crimes are at an all-time high.
I can agree that police policy reforms should be implemented. However, complete your vision of “reimagining” policing/community safety programs and present your thoughts to the residents of Minneapolis. Including us along the way. Before mandating changes and forcing an agenda that only a vocal few have who have yelled the loudest pushing their narrative, not the wants and needs beheld by the majority of us.
Regards,
Vicki Zachary
Vicki Zachary 21 Penn Ave S [email protected]
12/1/2020 1:20:00 PM
Statement from the Minneapolis Highrise Representative Council November 30, 2020
Public housing high-rise resident leaders wholeheartedly agree that policing, and the City’s response to public safety in general, require major reform. Residents, including high-rise Project Lookout volunteers, have experienced dismissive and rude treatment by some police officers when responding to 911 calls. Residents have also experienced inconsistent responses to 911 calls, which seem based on the judgement or mood of the responding officer(s), rather than established departmental protocols.
Residents have long said that Minneapolis needs more officers who know us and our communities – officers who actually live in Minneapolis, in our neighborhoods. This should be a budget priority – to recruit and train officers from Minneapolis. There used to be a designated police team serving public housing. It enabled officers to get to know and work with resident leaders, naturally increasing officer accountability. We have requested of the Mayor and Police Chief, and continue to request, that at least one officer be designated to serve public housing.
We also believe that the training of officers needs to fundamentally change so that excessive force is never a response. In May, the Minneapolis Highrise Representative Council board of directors passed a resolution condemning the killing of George Floyd and to work with the City and police chief on reforming the police department.
We support the Mayor’s funding request for the Community Service Officer (CSO) program which could help with the recruitment of a more diverse police force. We also support the Mayor’s funding request for expanding the Mental Health Co-responder program. We have heard first-hand reports how this program has resulted in the de-escalation of volatile situations in the highrises where mental health crises were involved.
We support any effort, including the Early Intervention System (EIS), to increase police officer accountability and to early on remove officers from the force when it is clear their temperaments prevent them from serving with compassion and restraint.
Eventually, it would make sense that the police department could reduce the number of sworn officers because roles traditionally filled by the police would be assigned to others, better equipped and trained to fill those roles. However, currently residents of the highrises are experiencing longer than ever wait times for a police response to their 911 calls. Sometimes the police do not respond at all. This means that vulnerable residents are left in volatile situations and are sometimes injured because they did not receive a response to their emergency. We need to feel safe in our homes and we should expect a timely response by the police when our safety is compromised. For this reason, we do not support any reduction in the number of police officers or overtime hours. We support the Mayor’s request for three recruit classes in the 2021 budget and ask that extraordinary efforts be made to ensure that new police officers are from and represent the diversity of our communities, and are well-suited for the job of being police officers.
Thank you.
Mary McGovern, President, Minneapolis Highrise Representative Council (MHRC) Michael Russell, Chair, MHRC Security Advisory Committee
Mary McGovern, President Minneapolis Highrise Representative Council 1225 South 8th St., #1102, Mpls, MN 55404 [email protected]; [email protected]
12/1/2020 1:23:35 PM
I support the position of Chief Arradondo and Mayor Frey on the Minneapolis Police Department budget.
Jennifer Gahnstrom 3733 5th Ave So [email protected]
12/1/2020 1:39:09 PM
Dear Council Members and Staff,
I live in the Bryant Neighborhood at 3924 5th Avenue South. As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police. I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
- The Early Intervention System ($230K) that relies on police to punish police.
- Co-Responders ($685K), instead use this as an opportunity to remove duties from MPD and shift money to fund professionals with the actual expertise.
- New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K)
- Additional Overtime ($5M)
Re-allocate from MPD’s $179M proposed budget and, instead, fund the things my community really needs right now:
- Access to low-income housing
- Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
- Direct economic relief
- C.O.P.E.
We need the council to begin funding our communities to organize and support each other. Since George Floyd’s murder by the MPD, my neighbors have met 25 consecutive weeks. We formed a union and have rebuilt a sense of community and managed to rebuild some sense of safety in these unstable times. This is the work we hope the city can fund to help these ideas spread into the community so that all neighborhoods and residents can feel safe and build community.
I look forward to hearing how the council can invest further funds into what our communities need, not police.
Sincerely,
Adam Bubolz
3924 5th Avenue South
Adam Bubolz 3924 5th Ave S [email protected]
12/1/2020 1:52:31 PM
I've lived in Minneapolis for most of my life. My wife and I raised our children in this city and have always been proud to call Minneapolis our home.
My wife and I now live in the Uptown neighborhood, a diverse and vibrant community. Unfortunately, a significant rise in crime is occurring now. It is imperative that the mayor, city council members, the police chief, and the police union work together to reduce criminal activity. Immediate action must address present conditions, as well as developing a workable and flexible long term approach to solving seemingly intractable challenges.
We look forward to listening and learning during tomorrow night's 2021 City Budget meeting.
Peter Garrard Beck 1805 W. Lake St #203 [email protected]
12/1/2020 2:17:43 PM
I am appalled at what is happening to my beloved city. Though I live in one of the most beautiful places in the city, I don't feel comfortable walking or biking in my neighborhood. This debate about police funding is absurd. Given the atrocious murder of George Floyd and others, the City absolutely needs to address training and reform. That said, we MUST get the crime issues under control before we lose more residents and businesses. We are in a crisis that needs more, not less funding.
Maureen Bazinet Beck 1805 W Lake St #203 [email protected] 12/1/2020 2:33:27 PM
I support Mayor Frey’s 2021 budget plan. I strongly disapprove of reducing the MPD 2021 budget by $8 million as proposed by City Council members Lisa Bender, Phillipe Cunningham and Steve Fletcher in their “Safety for All Budget”.
My husband and I have owned a home in the Victory neighborhood (Ward 4) for 25+ years and we have been block leaders/ambassadors since we have lived here. I have served on neighborhood association committees and chaired the Livability committee for several years. Over this time, we have been pleased with a real upswing in the vitality and diversity of our neighborhood. We believe that an engaged community does make a large difference in reducing crime, supporting victims of crime and confronting racism. But, with the frightening increase in shootings, car jackings and crimes across the entire city, reducing the police budget and staff will mean fewer officers to respond to the violence and crime. Especially during this increase in violence and crime, the “Safety For All Budget Proposal” would not address the systemic violence now. City residents would be left with even more delayed response to 911 calls involving crime and violence.
I believe some of the ideas in the City Council’s proposal to provide the “right response to calls for help” (i.e., mental health crisis response and Alternative Responses) are good ones. The idea to redirect certain types of calls (parking violations, theft reports, etc.) makes sense to free up police to respond to the appropriate calls. This alone could help reduce overtime funding, but it should be in addition to the 2021 budget and should not replace funds for the MPD.
The data cited in the Safety for All Budget reflect tracking data for requests and demographics, but not how the issues were resolved. It does not include data and research about solutions which have proven to be successful. Have recommendations in the proposal been tried and modeled successfully in other cities? The “Violence Prevention” program is a worthy long-term solution. Has it been tested to actually reduce crime and violence? The proposal has some solid ideas that should be piloted, but reducing the MPD is not a solution for reducing violence.
I especially question some of the ideas in the proposal. For mental health calls, I believe the police should always accompany a mental health worker. There are so many unknowns that could become violent. The Violence Prevention program doesn’t solve the number of guns on the street. Without sensible gun control, we still have the larger problem of a proliferation of guns. Community organizers cannot confront active shooting situations.
I think the City Council has done a very poor job of communicating their overall plan and their “Safety For All Budget Proposal”. If this plan has been in development for several years, then they should have communicated their goals, strategy and research in public forums. I question the ability of the City Council to make informed and good decisions for the city. Most residents heard about the City Council plan as a result of their reckless grandstanding at Powder Horn Park to “defund the police”. Instead of a well thought out communication plan with words like “reform or reimagine”, the “defund the police” term has become an empty, toxic slogan that negatively impacted state and national elections for candidates that might have supported sensible gun control. The City Council did not exhibit a professional and disciplined response to the riots resulting from the tragic death of George Floyd. In conclusion, I trust the experience and expertise of Chief Arradondo to reform the MPD. I have always been very impressed with his professionalism and demeanor. I believe he should be given the funding support to effectively lead the MPD in the necessary reforms for a livable city for all residents as proposed by Mayor Frey. I hope the City Council will listen to the majority views of their cons
Christine O'Neil 4000 Vincent Ave. N., Minneapolis MN 55412 [email protected]
12/1/2020 2:35:27 PM
Dear Council Members,
I support full funding of the Minneapolis Police Department as outlined by the Mayor's budget. With this funding, the City will be able to fully resource the department and invest in safety beyond policing. To reduce funding, or defund the department is irresponsible and reprehensible.
Regards,
Mark Nelson
Mark Nelson 400 Groveland Avenue #612, Minneapolis [email protected]
12/1/2020 2:48:37 PM
My wife and I are in our mid 70's and have lived in downtown Minneapolis for the better part of 25 years. While we have planned to live out our remaining years in downtown, recent events are making us consider moving.I sent an email to Steve Fletcher expressing my concerns about any further cutting of the budget for the police force. His response indicated to me that he is convinced that the plan put forth by he and the two other council persons would reduce the workload and reduce the need for the "excessive overtime"that has been required since the George Floyd death.
He did not seem to be cognizant of the fact that the "excessive overtime (his words) was due to two factors. First, the record-setting increase in shootings and carjackings and the roughly 125 reduced number of available officers due to medical leaves and early retirements. We need more cops on the streets, not fewer, especially now.
Thank you.
John Worley John Worley 121 Washington Ave So., Minneapolis [email protected]
12/1/2020 2:50:25 PM
My name is James Hartley, I live in the Lyndale Neighborhood, my City Council rep in Lisa Bender.
I am deeply concerned by the positions taken by many members of the City Council and their supporters with regards to Police funding. That somehow the only way to reform an admittedly flawed organization is by reducing or eliminating funding. It is not an either or proposition. Crime runs rampant across our city because our Police Department is understaffed and under funded.
Police still deter crime. Police still serve and protect this community. Police brutality is not the cause of systemic racism within our community, it is the symptom.
It is all too easy to scapegoat Police for these tragic outcomes, but these outcomes are rooted in failure of all of our societal institutions. No one dies when people of color are denied fair housing. No-one gets shot when people of color have unequal access to healthcare, physical and mental. No-one marches when a child of color is educated at 80% efficacy of their white counterpart. All of these things exist in our community today, and we still need homes, hospitals and schools...... but not a Police force? The sad irony is the very reason the Police budget is facing the chopping block is due to the combined failures of every other sacred institutional cow.
Reducing or eliminating funding for the Police department is an emotional, knee jerk reaction to tragic events. It will only exacerbate the crime spree we are all currently experiencing. Starving an already beleaguered organization of resources in an effort to improve performance or outcomes is ludicrous. Eliminating systemic racism within our community will require addressing the entire system, not eliminating a politically expendable component of it.
I support not only a fully funded Police Department, but even greater funding. Investment in transparency, community oversight, as well as mental and emotional support to those members of law enforcement who are committed to serving and protecting our city the right way. Believing across the board cuts to funding will somehow improve Law Enforcement and community safety is a deeply cynical political expedient, and I completely reject the assertion.
Thank you.
Jim Hartley 3441 Blaisdell Ave #2 [email protected]
12/1/2020 3:12:05 PM
Research supports the fact that during widespread crisis, crime rates increase. Knowing this, I understand that youth and adults who are most disadvantaged react in violent behaviors. Their lack of empathy may be compassion for others is a core challenge. To respond to this
I hope the City's budget takes into consideration support for Restorative Justice programs. Merely meting out punishments as a reaction to arrests will not address the underlying problems.
Please, please consider this evidenced-based practice.
Judy Myers 4247 Vincent Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55410 [email protected]
12/1/2020 3:44:49 PM
I have lived in Linden Hills for 42 years, raised two children here and sent them to neighborhood schools. I have never before felt unsafe walking in my neighborhood or felt that I needed to be ready to defend myself going to or coming from my car. That has changed in the past few months. I feel like I’m on my own in protecting myself. Defunding the police to the extent being proposed is not going to make me feel safer, though I do see the benefit of providing more mental health professionals to respond to some incidents.
Karen Kosel Lundgren 4107 Abbott Ave S karen55410
12/1/2020 3:59:10 PM
I am a lifelong Minneapolis homeowner. Last year we were the victim of a home burglary in the middle of the day. The MPD was very responsive.
I am extremely concerned of what I am now seeing in my neighborhood and the rising incidence of crime. Now is NOT the time to cut MPD.
We are driving out the good officers-- the hard working ones who need overtime.
Please, do not cut funding for MPD. We need them now more than ever-- REFORM THE MPD, DON'T GUT IT. Get the racists off the MPD, and reward our good officers.
Thanks for your service, Patrick Weiland 4942 Penn Avenue South [email protected]
12/1/2020 4:29:15 PM
I have lived in Minneapolis for over 20 years now. Until now, I was never afraid to go for a walk at night or go for a drive around the Lakes. I am running out of reasons to stay here and my family is begging me to move back home where it is safer.
I would like the city council members themselves to walk around their wards every night for a week or two. I mean by themselves, without city paid private security by their side. I bet you’d all sing a different tune! We need to get all of these offenders off our streets NOW!!!! Cutting the MPD budget right now, is not the answer! I say start a budget audit on the MPD a year or two down the road. I’m sure there is some “padding” going on that can be stopped! But NOT NOW!! We need protection NOW!!
Steve Matson 2724 Bryant Ave S [email protected]
12/1/2020 5:08:28 PM
I'm a Minneapolis resident who cares about racial justice AND good policing; police reform AND maintaining a sufficient police presence; more community mental health / social workers AND sufficient police. I'm fortunate to live in a low crime area (Lynnhurst) and recognize my good fortune, although Lynnhurst is now experiencing rising crime also. I have empathy for those in higher crime areas but recognize that we should not endorse the false choice of either/or (either police reform OR community crime mitigation services). I DO NOT SUPPORT "DEFUND THE POLICE."
Crime has recently risen dramatically in my neighborhood and those nearby. I no longer feel safe here and my husband and I have considered moving out of south Minneapolis to a potentially safer suburb because of it. We love Minneapolis and would prefer to stay, assuming the crime can decrease. Recently a friend in the Nokomis neighborhood was accosted in her garage as she got out of her car, with the perpetrators demanding her purse. She wasn't carrying her purse, and they seemed ready to beat her for something she didn't have. She fended them off with a garden rake while she yelled for help. We feel unsafe walking to and from our garage (which is about 200 yards away through the alley) because of threat of car jackings, muggings, and robberies. We've installed an alarm system. Many no longer feel safe downtown or Uptown. Defunding the police or decreasing their budget at a time of higher crime seems naïve. Yes, add crime prevention services, but not at the expense of police services. Surely intelligent people can do all of these:
1. INCREASE police budget and add more police 2. REFORM policing to be more just, especially attending to best practices around the U.S.
3. ADD crime prevention / mental health assistance.
I do hope you'll consider all three of these.
Sincerely,
Janice Skogstrom (Ward 13)
Janice Skogstrom 1310 W. 53rd Street [email protected]
12/1/2020 5:27:40 PM
Hello
We live in ward 10 Whittier. In a home that we bought 28 years ago., We have loved this diverse and vibrant neighborhood. We plan to stay as long as we can. We have felt safe most of the years we’ve lived here, knowing that things can happen if you are in a certain place at certain times.
For the most part we think it’s the right thing to do to reallocate some funds from the police department to other services, However using the word defund was not the right thing to do. Gives the wrong impression for most people. We want to be safe and we value the police department but bad police officers are really BAD for good police officers . We need police officers for safety and lately I have felt VERY unsafe. Friends and neighbors getting mugged and carjacked seems to be a daily occurance. I would love to see our police officers be part of the community and a certain % of officers should live among us. I think it’s important to know who is protecting and serving.
We are very concerned the way things are, Reform is needed but we can’t sacrifice safety
Thanks for listening
Carina Jacobsson/ Keith Christensen 2437 grand avenue south, mpls [email protected]
12/1/2020 5:57:11 PM
Please do not cut the MPD budget. We residents need protection. For the first time in 10 years, I do not feel safe in my downtown neighborhood. My yuh g daughter witnessed a shooting in broad daylight in front of her apartment at 1801 3 Av S. Yes police reform is needed but please do not take away our public safety which is a key role of government. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect us to protect ourselves. Downtown is a travesty. People are taking advantage of lack of police presence. I am trying y to I sell my beloved condo as no nobody will touch it, not when you have to step over drunk people and human excrement on Nicollet Mall!
Heather Hunt 1201 Yale Pl #1507 55403 [email protected]
12/1/2020 6:14:53 PM
I'd like to comment on the police budget. As a 20+ year resident of Minneapolis I'm very concerned about the drastic increase in crime over the past few months. I've had a neighbors house hit by bullets, witnessed a car jacking, hear gun shots and drag racing and hear about many other crimes.
We've always had crime, but it seems over the past few months the level of crime, the violence of the crimes and the boldness of those committing crimes is at a new level.
This is a beautiful city and have been grateful to live here for many years, but if we don't work and take steps to minimize the criminal activity this will change.
I'm in favor of fully supporting our police budget and restoring what has already been cut. It seems that the initiatives to defund our police has not helped and has hurt this city and our community. Please respect the people who live in this city and fund out police department, so that Minneapolis can remain a great place to live.
Thank you,
Pat
Patrick Staiger 2101 29th Ave S 55406 [email protected]
12/1/2020 6:23:14 PM
I urge you not to cut the police budget. We need to support the police as much as possible. Our city is out of control and dangerous. We live in fear, not only due to the enormous uptick in crime, but also police response time. In my opinion, whoever came up with the term "Defund the Police" was an enormous mistake, which created confusion, fear and anger in our city and across the country.
We need to retain police, hire additional police, and support them, while addressing systemic racism. I agree with developing mental health training and a division to handle traffic citations and minor issues to take some of the load off of officers. Thank you.
Kristi Russo 3150 Excelsior Boulevard #401 [email protected]
12/1/2020 6:51:36 PM
We have lived in Minneapolis for over 40 years, the last 26 in downtown Minneapolis. We have in the past owned and operated businesses in downtown Minneapolis. We are concerned about police misconduct and also the exorbitant cost of settlements for police misconduct. We are also concerned about bringing about necessary changes in a responsible way. We have not seen a responsible and realistic proposal from the city council. There is more work that needs to be done.
In the meantime we support the Mayor's proposed budget for the police department. WE are concerned about the spike in crimes over the past several months. We want the streets of Minneapolis to be more safe for everyone.
James Roth 1200 Nicollet Mall, No. 408 [email protected]
12/1/2020 7:45:52 PM
I’m Louanne and I live in ward 4
I would like to invite the mayor and all of the council members to my house to stay for just one week, maybe just a night. You will see many drug deals, the dealers and the buyers packing on either side of street, never stopping at stop signs, cars running all night long , on occasion shots fired. All of this in the quiet Shingle Creek neighborhood, I can even image what it’s like in real north. We were so happy when young families began moving in to houses on the block, and now two of them are leaving due to the drug pedaling on the block. You can’t convince them otherwise when they are removed bullets out of their houses to stay as things were never like this and maybe change. Problem is our problems are not treated as “real emergencies” as we are all aware compared to other areas in north things are worst than our drug and traffic problems. We need police presence, not to arrest but to actually patrol the streets so these dealers can’t stay in their cars over night or that the dealers won’t think it’s their streets and they can do what they please. I have lived here for 21 years and I have never seen anything like this.
I’ve never felt so unsafe, and the same holds true for my neighbors. Crime is out of control. Our city is in chaos. There are many reasons for this – but your defunding pledge is largely responsible for the mess we’re in. Police are gone. Criminals are emboldened. Our city is defenseless. And a small vocal group has distorted where our community stands.
Here are TWO facts to bear in mind. FIRST – A plurality of residents do NOT want to defund the police. This is true even in the black community, as the Star Tribune and national polls show. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! SECOND – Yes, we do need reform and other public safety measures – but not at the expense of the police. We need more cops on the street because cops deter crime. Studies clearly show this. Those studies have been submitted for the official record.
We have a police force working at 66% of recommended capacity. By late next year, it’ll be 60% or less. It’s a dereliction of your duty to let this happen. In closing – Fully fund the police. Including the $5 million in overtime to cover shifts that will otherwise go unstaffed. Finish your “reimagine” process before rolling out ideas in piecemeal fashion. That’s disingenuous. And stop pretending that a vocal few speak for all of us.
Louanne Cheever 4926, Washburn Ave N [email protected]
12/1/2020 8:42:18 PM
Hello,
I have lived at my address for over 30 years. I have honestly never felt so scared in Uptown. If I have to run any errands after work, I rush to get home before it even starts getting dark and I’m in my car......
The last few times I have been on Franklin going east at Lyndale, I sit at the light and look around. I’m so nervous, I feel like a sitting duck. This is between 4:00-4:30. It’s a busy intersection and from what I know, it doesn’t matter. I re-lock my locked car over and over again all the way home. The criminals are not fazed. They carjack at gun point, even if they get caught they are back on the streets.
I’m having a hard time with the fact that the City Council members have no solid plan. I feel they need to take a step back, the Mayor and police chief should have a chance to pull it together. They have not had that chance.
The future looks bleak and the decisions that the council members are making are going to destroy any chance of having our great cities back.
My city is in the hands of a few people who are turning a blind eye to these horrible, frequent acts of VIOLENCE!! VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE AND MORE VIOLENCE.
We NEED more police and the council need a plan. A real plan. I have seen nothing of a plan except to take money away from police and put it into mental health professionals. That does not make me feel safe. The mental health professionals are not safe without police protection.
My heart hurts for our city and the people of our city. People, people that are scared and have every right to be so. THIS IS NOT WORKING!! Thank you for your time.
Jeri Kaplan
Jeri Kaplan 232 West Franklin Ave [email protected]
12/1/2020 8:50:34 PM
PLEASE fund Mayor Frey's total budget for the police. We are afraid, crime is rampant. I am not against trying new strategies but they should be an add on to the budget, not taking away needed police. Sue Bennett
sue Bennett 600 south second st, #305 [email protected]
12/1/2020 9:41:12 PM
Please, please, please, find another source to finance community mental health workers. We need police presence more than ever. Develop a more effective arbitration system for police, and provide counseling for officers whose jobs are among the most stressful. The violence in our city has got to stop before people are afraid to walk on their neighborhoods-people like me who are fearful of walking my dog, and feel the need to carry a taser. Safety is a first priority! Do not defund!
Pam Canning 317 317 groveland ave, #506 [email protected]
12/1/2020 10:00:46 PM
Jackie Ulven
Kingfield Neighborhood - Andrea Jenkins’s Ward
In the 24 years I lived in Minneapolis, I have also lived in Lowry Hill East, Corcoran, Whittier and Loring Park.
I’ve never felt so unsafe, and the same holds true for my neighbors. Just two nights ago the elderly mother of new neighbors who moved in just last month was punched in the face during a car jacking. I hear about robbing, assaults and car jackings daily in my neighborhood and honestly don’t feel like going out without my husband after dark. How ridiculous is that?? I have never felt this way before and am concerned that reducing the police budget will only make this worse.
Crime in this beautiful city I love is out of control. Our city is in chaos. There are many reasons for this and a defunding pledge this summer is partially responsible for the mess we’re in and is an embarrassment. Criminals are emboldened and police don’t have the staffing to do their jobs and support the community. It feels like the only people you are listening to is a small vocal group that has distorted where our community stands. Police, 911 staff, first responders are dealing with increased crime, illness, COVID and you choose to give them less.
Here are TWO facts to bear in mind. FIRST – A plurality of residents do NOT want to defund the police. This is true even in the black community, as the Star Tribune and national polls show. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! SECOND – Yes, we do need reform and other public safety measures – but not at the expense of the police. We need more cops on the street because cops deter crime. Studies clearly show this. Those studies have been submitted for the official record.
We have a police force working at 66% of recommended capacity. By late next year, it’ll be 60% or less. It’s a dereliction of your duty to let this happen.
What are you doing to support the Chief Arradondo so that reform can be accomplished?
How many of the council members have done a ride along with police - at all times of day or night - or spent time in the 911 dispatch center to see what is happening in this city????
Until you do those things, how can you make decisions on what needs to be done to keep all residents safe and make common sense decisions about reform?
Defunding the police will only continue to drive out neighbors & businesses and will be the downfall of this wonderful city that is my home.
In closing – Fully fund the police. Including the $5 million in overtime to cover shifts that will otherwise go unstaffed. Finish your “reimagine” process before rolling out ideas in piecemeal fashion and obtain input from the community and work with MPD, not against them, to make the changes needed.
Watching our city burn was difficult for us all, but dismantling, defunding & demoralizing our police department is not the way to rebuild & restore our city.
Feel free to contact me via email if you would like to speak to me about my concerns.
Sincerely, Jackie Ulven
Ulven Jackie 4534 Wentworth [email protected]
12/1/2020 10:12:40 PM
My name is Nancy Gross. My husband and I have lived in the East Isles neighborhood for over 25 years. Thankfully, Council Member Lisa Goodman has been our hard working, supportive, and pragmatic council member for nearly all of that time. I have worked in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis for over eight years. Our son, now in high school, has always been a student in the Minneapolis public schools.
My husband has been a victim of crime, and October 2020 marked the 5th anniversary of the assault my husband experienced, while transferring from the light rail to the bus coming home from the airport, on a busy Friday night on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. The traumatic brain injuries that he sustained require him to have continued medical care to this day.
We are saddened and frightened by the increase in violent crime in Minneapolis, and particularly in the Uptown neighborhood, as well as the neighborhood where I work.
We do support fully funding the Minneapolis Police Department -- and we need them right now, more than ever, to handle these violent crimes.
We do recognize the need for, and support the funding of, police reform measures. We also support funding and using other services/agencies to handle mental health and other specialized situations. This will take time and additional resources, not a reduction of resources. This is “AND” not “or.” We want both!
One place we suggest to find funds for both of these needs to is to take it from bike lanes or new speed limit signage.
Thank you.
Nancy Gross 1427 W 27th St, Mpls, MN 55408 [email protected]
12/1/2020 10:14:17 PM
Marsai Richardson
Ward 4
Phillipe Cunningham,
Greetings,
I am troubled by the current position of the City Council and their supporters. To them, this budget debate is a choice between police reform and a fully funded police force. It’s one or the other. That’s the kind of rigid ideology that has us in this crime-infested mess. Reality is we need both – we want a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves – and much further along in eradicating the systemic racism we all abhor.
But let’s not kid ourselves. We also need a fully staffed police force. Police deter crime. Police respond to crime. Police make other public safety programs effective. I understand why you felt compelled to take action in June. I urge you to consider the consequences of those actions. Myself, friends and neighbors are sick and tired of the shootings and carjacking. We want to feel safe in and outside of our homes.
Can the council show us a plan that is research based and results driven not a knee jerk reaction? Let’s be more thoughtful going forward. Before you rush to cut or transfer programs in a punitive manner – Keep police funding and programs where they are. Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future to restore peace and calm.
Regards,
Marsai Richardson
Marsai Richardson 1214 Lowry Avenue North, #102 [email protected]
12/1/2020 10:29:33 PM
Born and raised in Minneapolis,now living 2 blocks away from city line.I am so sad and scared by the criminals taking over the city.The thinking of most of the City Council members to reduce funding for the police is crazy.The safety of residents must be the priority .Have you been living under a rock to not see how dire the situation is? I have nothing but respect for the majority of the men and women on the Minneapolis police force. They need the funding and your support now. People are bailing out of the city.Downtown is a ghost town.The new light rail from the west will be a route to nowhere.Lake street and Uptown are not safe. Businesses already in decline from Covid, now boarded up or burned in the riots following George Floyds death need people to not be afraid to come back.I am not coming back till the police are funded and able to hire more so there is a police presence.
sarah caswell 3317 Glenhurst Ave [email protected]
12/1/2020 10:32:23 PM
Hello, My name is Mark Bachman. I've lived in Minneapolis for almost all of my 48 years and my family has well-established residential and commercial roots here dating back to 1885 and prior. I now live in the Tangletown neighborhood, on a street where I used to run for track practice in high school. My City Council Member is Jeremy Schroeder. Mr. Schroeder knocked on my door while campaigning, and I enjoyed our meeting and conversation. I felt that he would represent our ward well. That said, I wonder what Mr. Schroeder would have done or felt if, while standing at my front door, he witnessed an attempted carjacking turned attempted murder with three shots fired at the driver-side window of the would-be victim, because that is just what happened this past Friday morning. Would he say, "let's divert a significant amount of police funding that takes cops off the streets to unproven adjunct and preventative programming in hopes that at some point is deters criminals from committing violent crimes in Minneapolis?"
I am troubled by the false choice that has been set up by many on this City Council and their supporters. To them, this budget debate is a choice between police reform and a fully funded police force. It’s one or the other. That’s the kind of rigid ideology that has us in this crime-infested mess. Reality is we need both – we want a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves – and much further along in eradicating the systemic racism we all abhor.
But let’s not kid ourselves. We also need a fully staffed police force. Police deter crime. Police respond to crime. Police make other public safety programs effective. I understand why you felt compelled to take action in June. I urge you to consider the consequences of those actions. Let’s be more thoughtful going forward. Before you rush to cut or transfer programs in a punitive manner – let’s see your fully authenticated and research-based plan for a new public safety department. It’s due next year. Until then, finish your job. Keep police funding and programs where they are. Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future to restore peace and calm.
Thank you for your service to our city and its future well-being, health and prosperity.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Mark W. Bachman
MARK BACHMAN 323 ELMWOOD PL W [email protected]
12/1/2020 10:50:48 PM
I want to understand how Minneapolis has gone from a descent family city to the violent war torn city it is since the current Mayor and so called City Council took over. Yes police reform. But you have spun it in your minds to a free for all crime spree because you only want support frim a chosen few. You all have failed to serve your citizens and we will do what it takes to vote all of you out so we can restore our city to reality. You have turned us into Chicago Christine Satriano 3525 Blaisdell ave.s [email protected]
12/1/2020 10:59:34 PM
Hello Everyone,
As a resident that has been trying to engage many of you on the council and as a Ward 1 Resident, I am writing to urge you all to support the amendment by CM Bender, Cunningham and Fletcher. We have to begin to move toward a system of public safety that works for everyone. Currently residents such as myself are urging others and worried if we were to call MPD to anything. So we don't call. The current police force we have is beyond repair and we need to find clear alternative, eight million dollars is quite diminimous these days.
Further I will attempt to keep it to the Budget here and that alone is a moral document.
You cannot keep throwing money at MPD when they do absolutely nothing while people di!
Dan Engelhart 525 19th ave ne [email protected]
12/1/2020 11:47:55 PM
I have lived in S Mpls for the 18 years and have grown to lover the city. However, the current crime environment must stop or I will be forced to move my family. I currently live in Tangletown. Of my two next door neighbors, one is currently moving because of the increase in crime and the other was victim to a break-in, while they were home, and stole their wallets and car keys while they were sleeping. Another neighbor had their car stolen and just this week there was a car jacking near by. I frequently travel for work, pre COVID, and do not feel safe leaving my wife and two daughters alone. I have to stand outside to watch my family walk to the car to make sure they leave safely and then get a call to come outside when they return home. No one should have to live like this.
I implore the city council to table whatever items that are up for budget discussions and prioritize funding for more police presence to stop these problems immediately. We can lead reform and increase police funding at the same time. Thank you.
Jon Tickle 4908 Harriet Ave, Minneapolis, MN. 55419 [email protected]
12/2/2020 12:27:32 AM
With violent crime on an uptick cutting the police force is the last thing you want to do. Yes the police aren't preventing crime, especially when they are cut to a minimum. Is your service in a grocery store going to be efficient if you cut half of your staff. The solution to your problem is not cutting the police force but reform the union. I want my city to be safe like it was last year. There needs to be more diversity training and better vetting when you hire cops. Did you notice that as soon as there was cries for defund the police violent crime went up. If you keep up the attitude of defund the police you will lose citizens and business. Of course we are already losing business because of the pandemic don't make it worse. We need a better police union to weed out the bad cops and we need the good cops to speak up. What we certainly don't need is cutting the police force when there is so much violent crime. Please consider these comments and work for our safety not against it.
Christine Popoowski 2630 Pleasant Ave, 101 [email protected]
12/2/2020 2:10:33 AM
I grew up on 48th and Bloomington. My parents each moved to Minneapolis as kids. Mom grew up next to Powderhorn Park, dad by Lake Hiawatha. My siblings all live and raised their kids in the city. Between us we have served as a Representative in the State Legislature, Minneapolis election judge, head judge, City Clerk, City Coordinator, paralegal for the City of Minneapolis, member of the Metropolitan Council, member of the Charter Commission, board member at Vail Place, delivered Meals on Wheels, had paper routes and more. In short, we are a Minneapolis family born and bred.
I am a teacher. In the past several years we've seen more and more news stories about teachers who have abused their students. Teachers are in a position of power which makes this abuse particularly heinous. And yet, as a society, we have not identified ALL teachers as abusers. We have not decided that ALL teachers should be seen through the same lens and treated the same way. We have not decided to take money away from schools or disband them. We understand that there are bad teachers, some of whom are just not good at their jobs, and others who are actively hurting children. Neither is acceptable and those teachers need to be removed from their positions and in the cases of abuse, penalized. But, most teachers are in it because they believe that they can help, they want to help. They work with people, every day. They do not know what they are walking into each morning. Most the time, things are fine, sometimes they are not and teachers must adjust their actions for the situation. Teachers don't get recognized for the actions and often split second decisions that they need to make, and they go in to work anyway. They care, sometimes to the point where it has a detrimental impact on their own lives. Yet, they go to work, because they believe in what they are doing.
I use this analogy because I believe the same scenario applies to the police. There are officers who should not be officers. They use their authority to hurt or demoralize others. But, like teachers, I believe most officers are doing the job because they want to help. Right now many officers are on leave. Have you asked yourselves why? If you are in uniform and you have people shouting in your face, telling you that you are a racist, a murderer, evil, do you think that might have a impact on you? The people who hate you because you wear a uniform do not know who you go home to each night. They don't know what you have seen or what you have had to deal with in the line of duty. Going to work each day knowing that any call you respond to could end in your death is a lot to take on mentally. Most of us do not have to deal with being hated because of the career we chose.
Taking money away from a service that we need, and let's be clear, we do NEED a police department, does not make the job easier for the good people who are in it to protect and serve. Supporting Chief Arradondo means we, as a city, can work together to make things better. We can work to improve officer training and ensure responsibility of the actions of both officers and citizens. We can work to provide mental health care individuals to people who need them. But, taking from Peter to pay Paul is not the answer. Chief Arradondo needs to be fully budgeted in order to have the people and resources needed to do his job.
At present it appears that it is the Police Department vs. The City Council. Chief Arradondo has expressed a willingness to work with you, but there seems to be little movement on your side. I ask you, how do you expect to make any progress if you can't work together? Working together means a give and take from both sides. It means being willing to negotiate and see the issue from various perspectives. It means listening to others even if you don't agree. It requires empathy. Please, don't cut the police budget and work WITH Chief Arradondo to improve Minneapolis safety for us all.
Dana Schwarzkopf
Dana M Schwarzkopf 4901 Girard Ave. S [email protected]
12/2/2020 7:40:55 AM
I live in Lowry Hill. My 70 year old neighbor was parking his loaner car in front of his home at 10:30am on a weekday morning when he was brutally assaulted and pistol whipped to the ground in order to steal his car. He was so badly injured he had to crawl back from the street to his home for safety. We are in crisis as a community and need more police on the streets, not less.
I (and most of my neighbors) pay $20,000 a year in property taxes to the city of Minneapolis, if we don't have basic safety (on top of our local businesses and restaurants closed permanently...Apple, The North Face, Chino Latino, Giordanos, Red Cow, etc), it may be time to leave.
Elizabeth Shaffer 1776 Colfax Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 7:50:40 AM
I have lived in my home for 33 years and have never experienced the level of crime and fear that we have now. I bought my home as a single woman because of its proximity to Lake Harriet and the creek and parks which no longer feel safe to enjoy. My daughter went to public schools here and also enjoyed the parks and lakes safely. I’m now a 64 year old (active) widow and am a primary target for robberies, assaults and carjackings! I pay my very high property taxes but no longer feel I have any of the benefits of living here. I don’t want to move but it may be my only option if I can’t feel safe and protected to live an active lifestyle. The city is now wide open to crime because the criminals know that they can get away with it. We have basically a catch and release system primarily for angry juveniles! We need more police officers who actually live in the city to increase our sense of community and safety! We do need reform but mainly need to increase the number of officers. Please do not defund them!!
Linsner Nancy 4733 Colfax Ave So [email protected]
12/2/2020 7:57:48 AM
Dear Minneapolis City Council,
Please do not reduce funding for the police. Violent crime has drastically increased since nine of you pledged to "defund" the police. I know your intentions were positive, but the streets of Minneapolis are objectively less safe now, with a 500% increase in car jackings over 2019 (Strib Dec 2, 2020). I no longer feel safe going to Uptown. My neighbors don't feel safe. Many are electing to shop in the suburbs or online rather than risk getting robbed or carjacked by going to MInneapolis storefronts.
PLEASE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POLICE ON MINNEAPOLIS STREETS
Thank you -
Judy Meath
Judy Meath 2700 Kenilworth Place [email protected]
12/2/2020 8:21:53 AM
I am worried that I might have to sell our Uptown home where I have lived for 39 years. I’ve never felt so unsafe. Crime is out of control. People roam through our alley and around our building at all hours of the night (video surveillance). Our city is in chaos. There are many reasons for this, including Covid-19 – but your defunding pledge is a large part of the mess we are now in. Police are gone. Criminals are emboldened. Our city is defenseless. And a small vocal group has distorted where our community stands.
Most residents do NOT want to defund the police. This is true even in the black community, as the Star Tribune and national polls show. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! We definitely need reform, adequate training and other public safety measures – but not fewer police.
We have a police force working at 66% of recommended capacity. By late next year, it’ll be 60% or less. It’s a dereliction of your duty to let this happen. In closing – Fully fund the police. Including the $5 million in overtime to cover shifts that will otherwise go unstaffed. Finish your “reimagine” process before rolling out ideas in piecemeal fashion. That’s disingenuous. And stop pretending that a vocal few speak for all of us.
Diane McFadden 2724C Humboldt Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 8:25:42 AM
Pat and Kerry Wethington, 4615 Casco Avenue, Edina, MN 55424. Parents of 4 girls who go to and live in inner city schools, an inner city church and the Univ. of Minnesota West Campus with a strong hearted request urging the city of Minneapolis council to approve Mayor Frey and Chief of Police Medaria Arradondo budget of a police force with 888 police officers included in Frey’s budget proposal.
We have never felt so unsafe, and fear for our daughters safety and the same holds true for my neighbors. Crime is out of control. Our city is in chaos. There are many reasons for this – but your defunding pledge is largely responsible for the mess we’re in. Police are gone. Criminals are emboldened. Our city is defenseless. And a small vocal group has distorted where our community stands.
Here are TWO facts to bear in mind. FIRST – A plurality of residents do NOT want to defund the police. This is true even in the black community, as the Star Tribune and national polls show. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! SECOND – Yes, we do need reform and other public safety measures – but not at the expense of the police. We need more cops on the street because cops deter crime. Studies clearly show this. Those studies have been submitted for the official record.
We have a police force working at 66% of recommended capacity. By late next year, it’ll be 60% or less. It’s a dereliction of your duty to let this happen. In closing – Fully fund the police. Including the $5 million in overtime to cover shifts that will otherwise go unstaffed. Finish your “reimagine” process before rolling out ideas in piecemeal fashion. That’s disingenuous. And stop pretending that a vocal few speak for all of us.
Never has there been a time for each of you to do the right thing for your citizens and to provide the leadership needed. The rights of citizen safety if paramount necessity of any civil society. Please approve and end this violence and chaos no!!!! Best regards,
Pat and Kerry Wethington
PATRICK AND KERRY B WETHINGTON 4615 CASCO AVE [email protected]
12/2/2020 8:44:00 AM
Dear Council Members,
Violent crime (carjackings, assaults, gunshots and homicides) is at levels not seen in this city in more than two decades. I implore you to please support the Mayor’s entire Public Safety Budget; not cut it.
We need more police (along with reform) and not fewer officers as we face skyrocketing numbers of violent crime. AND, we need complementary crime prevention and public welfare strategies. Mayor Frey’s budget has all of this! He has added back into the budget, several social outreach and crime prevention programs cut last year. We need everything in the proposed 2021 Public Safety Budget ... and then some.
Moreover, research clearly shows that more police officers reduce crime; not heighten it as some Council Members suggest. See e.g., Beat Cops Cut Crime, City-Journal.org., November 20, 2020 (reporting on a study done on crime rates using information from the Dallas, Texas Police Department.). I witnessed this first-hand when I moved into my neighborhood approximately 18 years ago. It was a sketchy, yet up and coming neighborhood. We worked with MPD to ensure we had beat cops, and we worked on building a community. It worked to make the neighborhood a safe place for all to enjoy. Now, as the beat cops have disappeared, the crime has increased. This year we have seen a crescendo.
I used to be able to walk my dog in this city at all hours of the day or night without paralyzing fear of danger. We used to go, late at night or in the early morning hours before sunrise, to the park after a large snowfall and romp in the soft new snow free of fear of danger. That is no longer possible. Reports of assaults, gunfire and carjackings with lethal force are all around us. Now, each evening, I only HOPE he can make it without having to go outside until it is daylight once again.
This dog, about whom I write, is a Rottweiler. When we walk, not a day goes by that I do not hear another resident or visitor comment about him being the kind of dog you now need in order to feel safe while living in this city. This is a very sad commentary. I rescued him and made him my companion. I did not believe I needed an attack or guard dog. But right now, sadly, I do.
I look forward to our city once again being restored to a welcoming and safe place that cares equally for all of its residents, with low crime rates and a police force that is respected and reformed. This can only be done through your vote in support of Mayor Frey’s Public Safety Budget.
Council Members Bender, Fletcher, Ellison, and Cunningham, you are out of touch with the needs of our city and are merely moving forward without regard for the deterioration of public safety and livability issues we are facing. Your actions are dangerous and reckless and violate your fiduciary duty to keep residents of this city safe. It is not too late to change course and join those other Council Members who support the budget and put the safety of our City’s residents over an impractical and unworkable ideological agenda.
PLEASE support the Mayor’s Public Safety Budget Proposal as presented and without the drastic cuts being proposed.
Thank you.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephanie J. Kravetz
Stephanie J. Kravetz 700 S 2nd Street, Minneapolis 55401
12/2/2020 8:51:49 AM
I am concerned at the allocations to additional police. The conversation needs to move into the complexity of the times. So, I am assuming that you are taking seriously the alternatives proposed in The People's Budget. A truly thoughtful document that needs to be taken seriously if you claim to be holding your office as part of our representative government. https://docs.google.com/document/d/16- 3SKF5E040Zax0nemxedPWRRsv3FJgStKO4s0lCeWw/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you for your service
Krista Pearson 2223 5th Street NE [email protected]
12/2/2020 9:05:21 AM
The first priority of government is the protection of the people. We need a fully funded and staffed police department. If you want to develop other programs to attempt to reduce crimes do not take the funds from the police department for your experiment.
The entire police department has been unjustly condemned by the city council over the actions of a very few officers. Even before any crime has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This is absolutely wrong. This has led to criminals being emboldened and the public perception the this city is unsafe. Ultimately, with this perception, people and businesses will start leaving and this will erode the tax base.
Re-establish full funding for the police department and give our police chief the ability to effect change from within. Develop separate programs to deal with homelessness, youth violence and other issues that promote criminal behavior.
Thank you for the opportunity to be heard.
Wayne Sander.
Wayne Sander 4419 Pleasant Ave [email protected]
12/2/2020 9:12:38 AM
In the past 10mo the city has really went down hill. Uptown looks like a war zone with most buildings boarded up and is not enjoyable to be in the area. Crime rate is up exponentially. Every time I drive on Hennepin and Lake st it just reminds me how our city leadership has failed our community.
My wife does not feel safe around our house in uptown anymore. We have a ring doorbell installed at our house and every time it alerts when we are not home our heart jumps because we think someone is trying to break in or steal something. So far in the last few months we had our light fixtures broken, fountain fixture broken, lightbulbs stolen, and people walk up the entry and look inside the house through windows in the middle of the night.
This is not acceptable way to live America, in constant fear. We need to allocate more money to police and provide them with better training and more officers to patrol our community. Criminals do not understand anything besides blunt force. If enough get arrested they will stop. In my opinion new programs with community crime fighters are a waste of taxpayers money. Crime fighters have no authority or training.
In this difficult time we need more police force. I’m against any budget cuts for the police. Budget cuts should be made in other areas. Such as pay cuts to our city’s leadership that has failed us, and other non essential programs developed by city council such as 2040.
Pavel 1622 w 31st st Minneapolis MN 55408 [email protected]
12/2/2020 9:14:53 AM
Money should be redirected away from MPD towards alternative violence prevention strategies. Our return on investment in MPD is exceptionally poor, and throughout 2020 and indeed history, have demonstrated that they do not intend to be held accountable for their failures. That money is better spent on increased funding for mental health response teams and housing for the homeless.
John Czaplewski 3026 48th Ave S
12/2/2020 9:37:45 AM
The prepared statement below directly aligns with my opinion as well as virtually everyone I have spoken with in SW MPLS. The idea that defunding the police is going to address the needs of our community is terribly irresponsible. Police reform is needed...no question about it. But don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. I would gladly add to my tax bill to further fund police and police reform as well as some of the more well researched and thoughtful community services supported by the council. In short, if you defund our police force, I and many of my neighbors will take our tax money and leave for safer pastures. Do NOT be so short sided and myopic about this.
******
I am troubled by the false choice that has been set up by many on this City Council and their supporters. To them, this budget debate is a choice between police reform and a fully funded police force. It’s one or the other. That’s the kind of rigid ideology that has us in this crime-infested mess. Reality is we need both – we want a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves – and much further along in eradicating the systemic racism we all abhor.
But let’s not kid ourselves. We also need a fully staffed police force. Police deter crime. Police respond to crime. Police make other public safety programs effective. I understand why you felt compelled to take action in June. I urge you to consider the consequences of those actions. Let’s be more thoughtful going forward. Before you rush to cut or transfer programs in a punitive manner – let’s see your fully baked plan for a new public safety department. It’s due next year. Until then, finish your job. Keep police funding and programs where they are. Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future to restore peace and calm.
David Novak 5123 Wentworth Ave S. [email protected]
12/2/2020 9:54:48 AM
I Cindy Timmermann am a resident of Ward 7 - Lisa Goodman is my council member.
I agree with Mayor Jacob Frey and Chief Medaria Arandondo's to OPPOSE the budget proposal that would shift nearly %8 Million from the Police Department's 2021 budget.
We MUST KEEP the 888 officers and not cut budgets per the request of three irresponsible city council members.
I’ve never felt so unsafe, and the same holds true for my neighbors. Crime is out of control. Our city is in chaos. There are many reasons for this – but your defunding pledge is largely responsible for the mess we’re in. Police are gone. Criminals are emboldened. Our city is defenseless. And a small vocal group has distorted where our community stands.
Here are TWO facts to bear in mind. FIRST – A plurality of residents do NOT want to defund the police. This is true even in the black community, as the Star Tribune and national polls show. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! SECOND – Yes, we do need reform and other public safety measures – but not at the expense of the police. We need more cops on the street because cops deter crime. Studies clearly show this. Those studies have been submitted for the official record.
We have a police force working at 66% of recommended capacity. By late next year, it’ll be 60% or less. It’s a dereliction of your duty to let this happen. In closing – Fully fund the police. Including the $5 million in overtime to cover shifts that will otherwise go unstaffed. Finish your “re-imagine” process before rolling out ideas in piecemeal fashion. That’s disingenuous. And stop pretending that a vocal few speak for all of us.
Cindy Timmermann 510 Groveland Avenue, #322 [email protected]
12/2/2020 10:02:17 AM
I want to state my objection to the police budget cut. During this time of heightened crime it makes no sense to cut the police budget. I like many others do not feel safe going about my day for fear of being car jacked, assaulted and robbed. I’ve changed how I go about my day, always on high alert when out, never carrying my handbag or wallet.
I was at Ingebretsens this morning and parked right in front of the store. When I was done shopping there were 3 young men just standing around. I immediately went back inside and waited for 10 minor so until they left. I was not going to take the chance that I would be carjacked.
We have serious crime problems in our city right now. Do not reduce the police budget.
Wendy Wethington Wendy Wethington 1823 Irving Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 10:06:32 AM
To the city of Minneapolis,
My name is Anne Wethington and I live in Ward 7, Lisa Goodman is my Council Representative. We must grant Mayor Jacob Frey and Chief Medaria Arradondo's their budget request of 888 officers and not shift $8 million from the Police Department's 2021 budget. I agree with Mayor Frey, the proposal to decrease the authorized size of the force from 888 to 750 is "irresponsible". The significant spike in crime is affecting people from all over the city.
I’ve never felt so unsafe, and the same holds true for my neighbors. Crime is out of control. Our city is in chaos. There are many reasons for this – but your defunding pledge is largely responsible for the mess we’re in. Police are gone. Criminals are emboldened. Our city is defenseless. And a small vocal group has distorted where our community stands.
Here are TWO facts to bear in mind. FIRST – A plurality of residents do NOT want to defund the police. This is true even in the black community, as the Star Tribune and national polls show. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! SECOND – Yes, we do need reform and other public safety measures – but not at the expense of the police. We need more cops on the street because cops deter crime. Studies clearly show this. Those studies have been submitted for the official record.
We have a police force working at 66% of recommended capacity. By late next year, it’ll be 60% or less. It’s a dereliction of your duty to let this happen. In closing – Fully fund the police. Including the $5 million in overtime to cover shifts that will otherwise go unstaffed. Finish your “reimagine” process before rolling out ideas in piecemeal fashion. That’s disingenuous. And stop pretending that a vocal few speak for all of us.
Anne Wethington 510 Groveland Avenue [email protected]
12/2/2020 10:18:09 AM
Please approve the budget for the MPD at the level the Mayor recommended. Any proposed shift of responsibilities to other departments or personnel, such as social workers, should be considered only when it can be assured that such personnel are willing and able to serve i and are available and trained for this role. In the meantime, any diminution of funding for the police will only serve to embolden the criminals and exacerbate the crime wave in the city. 134 Groveland Terrace, Minneapolis
12/2/2020 10:29:01 AM
Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines
The funding model used for allocation of financial resources to neighborhoods through the Citywide Neighborhood Network fund is insufficient for a neighborhood organization to meet the goals in the Minneapolis 2040 strategy. The proposed funding is a reduction of over 50% immediately and moves closer to 75% over three years.
The Linden Hills Neighborhood Council has recommended that a floor be set on funding of $25,000 annually. This is still a reduction of more than 30% from current funding levels but should alllow the Council to continue to operate and work towards the goals of the 2040 strategy.
I urge you to give this compromise some serious consideration.
Gerard Albanese 3815 Washburn Avenue S [email protected]
12/2/2020 10:57:02 AM
As a 40-year resident of Minneapolis, I am writing to express my strong opposition to cutting the police budget. Crime is skyrocketing in the city and it is reckless to cut the MPD budget. We need more officers, not less and they do need help with mental health professionals for situations that do not require force. So let’s invest in this department, more officers, add mental health support, get rid of bad cops and get crime under control. Any proposals for cutting budget and/or officers is putting residents in danger. The mayor and police chief asked for 400 more officers before the pandemic, now certain council members wish to cut 100 officers. That is a net of 500 officers as crime grows ever more pervasive in the city. Reckless, dangerous, not acceptable.
Stephen Mulholland 4433 Colfax Avenue South [email protected]
12/2/2020 11:04:28 AM
To Whom It May Concern:
I am taking time today to voice my concerns regarding the decision making process for 2021's budget.
My name is Tara Koenig, my business address is Hen House Eatery
114 S 8th St
Mpls MN 55402
Lisa Goodman is our council rep. Yes we have been looted during the riots. Yes Covid has hit us hard but I believe that the lack of our business has been devastingly compounded by the chaos of crime that you have enabled. We are losing a huge customer base because they are fearful of coming into the city. My employee numbers have also slimmed due to their safety of being able to get to work unharmed.
As a business owner, I rely on data. Data states that having cops on the street deter crime. I have seen this for a fact myself. Every morning that I come to work I pass the Greyhound station. In the beginning of Covid and all summer long that corner has had drug dealers sitting in their cars dealing drugs with people lining up. I then noticed that the police started spending more time sitting in their cars on that corner and surprise. . . . the dealers have moved along. I feel safer passing that corner now than I have had earlier this year.
I believe that we need to fully fund the Mayor's budget and rebuild the police force not only to protect us but to allow businesses to thrive in a peaceful and secure enviroment. Businesses do employ people, pay taxes and keep the city moving forward. We need your help to fund the protection we need to succeed!
Tara Koenig 114 S 8th St [email protected]
12/2/2020 11:05:06 AM
We need MORE POLICE on the streets, not less. Our neighbors support POLICE REFORM, but not abandoning the police force. SUPPORT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES AND GET RID OF THE UNION THAT PROTECTS THE BAD OFFICERS. My neighborhood has been a war zone for the past couple years. The criminals are allowed to do anything they want. If the city does not protect the tax-paying residents, we will be forced to leave. Some neighbors have already moved out, which means more properties turned over to absentee landlords.
Melissa A Marjamaa 2815 18th Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 11:11:54 AM
I grew up in the Twin Cities and I always come back for shopping, the arts, and medical. I am currently in the process of resuming living in the Twin Cities suburban ring. I DO have a stake in the Minneapolis budget. Without sufficient public safety, I am unwilling to even drive to Minneapolis. Even during the pandemic, there were businesses that I want to patronize on Lake Street. My community's only ethnic grocery store is on Lake Street. Safety is not privilege. Safety needs to actually exist in order for the creative climate to flourish in Minneapolis. The climate has a direct impact on Minneapolis' bottom line. Because the surrounding suburbs and outstate Minnesota are part of the tax picture for the Twin Cities. Without us, your restaurants, retail, sports, arts and other shared amenities will be damaged. And well beyond that and at the very pinnacle, any person who resides in or visits Minneapolis should be able to do so in safety. That is the first duty of government. Yes, I completely support anti-crime initiatives and proper mental health support as outlined by NAMI. I believe that you need to create a focused gang and organized crime task force to create strategies to end the level of violence. But these things are all an adjunct to the situation at hand. You MUST restore order to the streets. That is the imperative NOW. And then work to create the structures that will move the people of Minneapolis forward over time.
Jill M Johnson PO BOX 123 [email protected]
12/2/2020 11:18:01 AM
As a citizen of Minneapolis, I'm frightened by the increase in crime and appalled by the city council's declared desire to 'defund' the police. While this was retracted (sort of), there does not seem to be any reversal of this direction with any emphasis on broadening the funding and policing models. We need the city to FUND and increase funding to the police departments who protect our city and our citizens. We need more actual policing of our city. Crime is massively up, deaths and shooting are massively up -- criminals are clearly feeling that there will be no reprisal and the lack of policing decreases any risk of being caught. Stop this crazy madness. Fund a decent and expanded police force so that we (the residents who pay property taxes that fund this and all the other services for the city) feel safe in our homes and don't look to move outside the cities to get the security we must have for our families. Continuing in the direction we have been will reduce property values, decrease budgets, drive people like us away.
KYMBERLY EIDE 38 W MINNEHAHA PKWY [email protected]
12/2/2020 11:19:12 AM
Please continue to support our police department financially as we have been doing (NO BUDGET CUTS). At this point our neighborhoods are not safe and crime is daily occurrence. I feel that the past 6 months, the actions of the majority of the city council members have discredited and devalued what the police are here to do- which is to keep our city safe. Unfortunately due to the reckless nature of disrespectful talk and a petition to defund the police, the general public is paying the price- this is not fair to us who live and love the City of Minneapolis. We need continued financial and community support to let our officers know we want them in our neighborhoods, parks, trails, businesses, and community. I am simply asking that our leaders make decisions that support the people in the community, decisions that provide us a safe place to live.
Lana Huberty 5716 Pleasant Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 11:51:01 AM
Neighborhood Councils need $25,000 a year, each, to keep going effectively.
Sufficient funds are available across the city with unallocated and uncontracted Neighborhood Revitalization Program dollars to meet the needs of the Equitable Engagement and Partnership Engagement portions of the Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines while still providing sufficient funds for neighborhood councils to continue to operate.
Barbara Lunde 4322 York Ave. S [email protected]
12/2/2020 12:00:30 PM
Dear Councilwoman Palmisano,
I have been a resident of Linden Hillis for over 9 years. My husband and I were eager to relocate to Minneapolis after living in the suburbs for many years. We have never regretted that decision to move until the recent spate of crime our city has been experiencing. Our adult children have recently moved back to Minneapolis after having lived in other cities for several years. They too, are now rethinking their decision to live here because of the rampant crime. Car-jackings, muggings and looting are going unchecked. It's a sad and scary time to live in Minneapolis -- it really feels like a crisis.
The Mayor and Police Chief have submitted a budget that is already $14 million less than last year’s. I feel strongly that the police should NOT be cut even more. I support the five new budget items – we need more staffing, more crisis intervention for people with mental illness and I’m glad officer behavior is going to be tracked in a more accountable and actionable manner. If money is needed for other programs, that funding should be taken from the other 88% of the city's budget.
In summary, I strongly oppose further cuts to our already seriously depleted police force. I really appreciate your past support for adequately funding police to secure outside officers. I urge you to continue your support for adequately funding our police by supporting the 2021 budget submitted by the Mayor.
Sincerely,
Shelley Strohmaier
Shelley Strohmaier 3714 Upton Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 12:00:46 PM
The Mayor’s proposal and the Alternative Proposal should not be “either-or” alternatives. These are both extremely high priorities — maybe our highest priorities. The city should extract the money from other lower priority parts of the budget to pay for both options
Linda Satorius 1235 Yale Place #1403, Minneapolis, MN 55403 [email protected]
12/2/2020 12:08:20 PM
Please do not pursue the possibility of reducing/defunding the MPD. The citizens of Minneapolis need to know that our safety is critical. I am appalled at the number of carjackings and attacks that are happening in our city. It must be stopped.
Judy Lund 510 Groveland Ave, #210 [email protected]
12/2/2020 12:11:00 PM
On the one hand, we must have confidence in Chief Arradondo. It’s his job to recommend how to address the alarming upsurge in violent crime, and if needs more cops, then that’s what we need to do. On the other hand, I totally respect the concern that this increase will delay starting on the transformative changes that we desperately need in our public safety system. Therefore if this budgeted increase is approved, I would like to see the Council, Mayor Frey and Chief Arradondo commit to a specific, detailed, and URGENT timeline for moving forward on that transformation. We’ve heard for too many years that it will take a long time to change our public safety system. If it needs to take a long time, then let’s get started and move forward with determination and persistence.
John Satorius 1235 Yale Place #1403 [email protected]
12/2/2020 12:34:53 PM
I speak against the cutting of any more funds from MPD. As a chaplain with the department, I see how hard these men and women work and how much more dangerous their job is with the current losses of officers. I have seen so many excellent officers leave Minneapolis - and they find jobs in cities where they are appreciated and supported. I have seen what might appear to be a non-violent call quickly go bad when someone pulls a gun or a knife, and watched as additional squads have to leave calls they are on and come to provide additional help to prevent further violence. I have talked with officers following calls where young people, the ages of their own children have died by gunshots or deadly accidents or drug OD. They have to be there and then immediately leave to answer other calls that are piling up and waiting - not a minute to grieve about the other family's losses. I have seen all the wonderful community outreach programs we had be dropped because of a shortage of street officers. PAL - one of the best ways for cops to get to know kids and coach them and support them - is gone. Neighborhood BBQs are gone. Coffee with the Cops, which offered free coffee and a time to talk with officers are gone. I live on the north side and the gunshots are constant - I don't call 911 anymore unless there are over 8 to 10 shots. I know how busy the officers are and how few of them are left to take calls. I am fearful of going downtown and of walking the dog at night on the parkway, and I watch constantly for unknown people in the alley and checking out cars on our streets. This is no longer a healthy place to live. Bring back our officers and give them the tools they need to do the job that we ALL need - let them keep us safe.
Linda Koelman 4427 Logan Av N [email protected]
12/2/2020 12:41:00 PM
I support the mayor's budget of an 888 member police force. The absence of police since the George Floyd incident has made criminals more brazen and has lured more young people into crime, especially carjackings, robberies, and car thefts. Many of theperpetrators of these crimes and gun crimes, both perpetrators and victims, are young African-American boys and men and deterrence is the first order business of keeping these young people from heading down a path of no return. They have intrinsic worth that ought to be protected.
Dale Hulme 4230 Colfax Ave. N. [email protected]
12/2/2020 1:09:51 PM
I want Minneapolis to be a place where all residents are able to feel safe and thrive. In order to make that vision a reality, the city needs to direct resources in a way that builds community safety and well- being. We need to start transitioning away from an oppressive "criminal justice system" - less money for policing, fewer people arrested and in jail; more money for public health, education, housing, neighborhood revitalization.
I support the proposals outlined in the People's Budget submitted by Reclaim the Block and Black Visions Collective.
Alexandra Dart 1810 Thomas Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411
12/2/2020 1:23:19 PM
I wish to express my support for the police component of the Mayor's budget proposal—and against the disingenuously named “Safety for All" plan. Minneapolis is in a public safety crisis, as well documented by escalating crime statistics, daily news reports, and the testimonials you have heard from crime victims, over and over again, at City Council hearings. This crisis has also become a crisis of faith in our city government, which is viewed as failing its most fundamental responsibility to its citizens.
As a progressive city, Minneapolis has no shortage of good intentions. There has been broad public support for police reforms, for a continuum of public safety services, and for addressing the root causes of crime and violence. But that public support is itself in danger of falling victim to badly chosen words and poor decisions by some on the city council. The “Safety for All" plan is said to offer "data- driven, research-backed" solutions, but it is an ideology-driven proposal that, if enacted, would jeopardize the very progress it seeks to achieve. There is no reputable research that advises gutting basic law enforcement as a rational means of achieving police reforms or addressing root causes. Our mayor and highly respected police chief have denounced this proposal as "irresponsible and untenable.” Our focus in this crisis MUST be on the city's primary responsibility: to ensure that Minneapolis is safe and welcoming city for everyone. Mayor Frey's MPD staffing proposal provides the minimum level of policing support needed to do this. Please do the right thing for our city, and support this proposal. Thomas Schmid 700 South 2nd Street [email protected]
12/2/2020 1:37:46 PM
My name is Andrew Flesher; I live in Ward 7 and Lisa Goodman is my council representative. We MUST grant Mayor Jacob Frey and Chief Medaria Arradondo their budget request of 888 officers and not decrease $8 million from the police department's 2021 budget. I agree with Mayor Frey that the proposal to decrease the authorized size of the force from 888 to 750 would be "irresponsible". If anything, I would support the addition of more police- not less. Crime has become so terrible in my neighborhood (Lowry Hill) that I am concerned for my safety and property values. The significant spike in crime is not only affecting people in my neighborhood, but all over the city.
Andrew Flesher 2124 Fremont Avenue South [email protected]
12/2/2020 1:42:00 PM
I think the idea of using funding/budgets for reforming the police department is the wrong way to go about it. I do strongly think the police department needs reform and there are more than just a few bad apples, but most officers are trying to do the right thing.
With the current high crime occurring in the city, reducing the force is the wrong thing to do right now. Due to not feeling safe, we are avoiding walking to some of our downtown neighborhood stores (e.g. Lunds, Target, Walgreens, etc.) and instead, driving to suburban locations where we feel safer. Instead of walking in our local parks (e.g. Loring Park, Mississippi River, etc.), we're driving to suburban parks to get exercise.
As a long time Minneapolis resident, this is the first time I've ever looked at homes for sale outside the city, and if the crime doesn't get better, we will likely look harder. We need to fully fund the police department and get the crime under control while continuing to reform through policy and law changes.
Thank you.
Paul Barber 1235 Yale Pl Apt 1308, Minneapolis, MN 55403 [email protected]
12/2/2020 2:25:13 PM
The city council needs to loudly and consistently state that they support police reform, police union culture and contract language that supports deescalation and accountability rather than escalation and deflection AND a working relationship with law enforcement.
Replacing 100s of officers and over time hours with a dozen interrupters (who are intended to prevent shootings and Partner WITH law enforcement, not address car jackings, etc) and a few social workers will result in increase gang activity, car jackings, burglaries (my good friend was robbed and pistol whipped in her business at 48th and Chicago), and gun dealing (open up 38th and Chicago as this is now a gun dealer haven).
Rhoda Lundgren 5300 Hampshire Drive [email protected]
12/2/2020 2:36:12 PM
We need a strong and sufficiently funded police department to keep our citizens safe. Funding other areas to help take any unnecessary burden off of the police force is appropriate, but a sufficiently funded police force needs to be a top priority while other areas of augmentative support can be developed through appropriate study.
Currently the citizenry do not feel safe and are not safe because criminals are brazenly emboldened by the ridiculous statements and actions of City Council members determined to defund the police.
Jeanne Long 4516 York Av So [email protected]
12/2/2020 2:37:40 PM
As a 20 year Northside resident, I strongly support continued and increased funding for the Minneapolis Police Department. We need the Police to keep our communities safe AND we need them to continue all efforts to be held accountable for treating all citizens with respect and equality.
Julie Pinomaki 1927 Washburn Avenue N [email protected]
12/2/2020 2:41:34 PM
We need to fund the police department, not defund or disproportionately reallocate to other services. I do completely agree with police reform, but our city is rife with crime and now is no time to take police off the streets.
Terry Tremain 500 e Grant St
12/2/2020 2:49:12 PM
I am strongly opposed to defunding the police in any manner. In the current environment I would support INCREASED funding of the basic police department and increasing officers on patrol.
I would also support additional funding for social services or crisis intervention specialists to help handle situations where such specialists might be useful. But any such personnel should be in addition to a full active police force. Those services should augment a fully funded police force, but not replace any officers in the police force.
Bruce Benson 4516 York Ave S, Minneapolis MN 55410 [email protected]
12/2/2020 2:54:25 PM
Dear City Council,
I would like put into the budget funds for those business owners to clean up the piles of rubble along E. Latke St. It looks like Syria. That area of the city where I live and did all my shopping etc. was the sacraficial lamb and I'm no conspiracy theorist, but if one over-layed a map of where all the developers want to build (by 2040) and the part of the city that got destroyed, it's pretty coincidental. I have heard little from Minneapolis Forward since they put out that video in August. So, what's going on? Who's going to benefit from the rebuild? And are there funds in the budget to clean up the rubble?
Don't defund the police. We are being over run with crime since roomer had it that the City Council has been hell bent on doing so. If you want more social workers, mental health facilities, more housing etc. take it out of the other 88% of the budget, not the 12% of the police budget, which has already been fleeced by City Council of millions of dollars. If it were up to me, none of you guys would be voted in again! Donna Pususta Neste 2616 14th Ave. S. [email protected]
12/2/2020 3:08:08 PM
I live in the southwest Minneapolis area, and I am very uncomfortable with the increase in crime in our city! With the disability issues facing many on our police force, the officers remaining are under even more strain. And now we are talking about cutting the budget. We can't put the cart before the horse.
I am troubled by the false choice that has been set up by many on this City Council and their supporters. To them, this budget debate is a choice between police reform and a fully funded police force. It’s one or the other. That’s the kind of rigid ideology that has us in this crime-infested mess. Reality is we need both – we want a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves – and much further along in eradicating the systemic racism we all abhor.
But let’s not kid ourselves. We also need a fully staffed police force. Police deter crime. Police respond to crime. Police make other public safety programs effective. I understand why you felt compelled to take action in June. I urge you to consider the consequences of those actions. Let’s be more thoughtful going forward. Before you rush to cut or transfer programs in a punitive manner – let’s see your fully baked plan for a new public safety department. It’s due next year. Until then, finish your job. Keep police funding and programs where they are. Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future to restore peace and calm.
Steve Kenney
Steve Kenney 219 W. Minnehaha Pkwy [email protected]
12/2/2020 3:13:19 PM
I would like significantly less money spent on the Minneapolis Police Department. They've proven to be ineffectual at preventing crime, and I think a lot of us know that stopping crime means starting at the source, before it happens.
More money into social services and housing would do wonders more for our city than a bloated police budget. Not to mention the fact that the MPD never has to show any data about how all this money helps them out.
Crime has risen in Minneapolis because we're in the middle of a godawful pandemic. People can't pay rent, they can't eat. Of course crime is going up!! More police money isn't going to put food in the bellies of the people who need it most. I'm sick of paying for the MPD to kill people.
Let's start investing in our community and the people who live here, not the people who commute in and terrorize the folks who do.
Thank you.
Grant Nemzek 2211 Colfax Avenue South, Apt 211 [email protected]
12/2/2020 3:14:51 PM
GIVE US MORE POLICE!
Gail Billingsley 4849 14th Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 3:23:38 PM
I am writing to strongly urge you to resist the budget proposal by council members Bender, Cunningham and Fletcher to reduce the funding for police officers. While I understand the logic and the desirability of using some law enforcement revenue to fund alternatives that will lighten the load for uniformed police officers, now is not the time. In light of dramatic and frightening rise in violent crime in the wake of calls for defunding the police and a dramatically reduced police force, this is not the time to shift resources away from regular front line police officers. For the first time in 25 years that I have lived in the Windom neighborhood, people are being carjacked and robbed at gunpoint (in broad daylight) in Tangletown and other neighborhoods in our immediate area. See today's paper -'Staggering' surge in violent carjackings continues across Minneapolis - Such attacks were up 537% compared with last November, worrying residents. By Liz Sawyer Star Tribune DECEMBER 2, 2020.
What was once unimaginable has become a terrible reality in a few short months. You have seen the statistics. This City is on fire and the budget proposal is the equivalent of diverting funds from firefighting to planning more fire resistant building construction. We need to first put out the fire or there will be no City. People and businesses are already fleeing the City. If crime is not brought under control very soon, this will continue and there will not be the tax revenue needed to fund the initiatives and reforms that are desired.
I suggest that the City really needs to increase funds for re-staffing the ranks of the police officers in the near term to get crime back to historic levels. The planning envisioned by the council members should be done in addition to that not instead of that. Finally, I encourage the board to seek input from the Chief of Police in the future for any such initiatives. James E Duffy 5533 Pleasant Avenue S
12/2/2020 3:23:49 PM
Dear City Council and Mayor Frey,
The death of George Floyd was the tragic result of one police office who never should have been an officer. Stricter hiring and training practices for MPD should be required, as well as limiting the power of the union. George, and many more like him, could have easily been properly restrained with Jiu Jitsu, or some other grappling techniques. The police officers on todays streets are incapable of subduing one man when there are four officers; this is completely unacceptable. Police should be experts in hand to hand combat. For this to happen the MPD needs to reallocate their funding to hand to hand training.
Life in Minneapolis has changed for me since moving here 6 years ago. My girlfriend and I used to feel safe when going for walk, but now I'm on high alert and am waiting for someone to mug us. This is not a community I feel proud of anymore, and seeing my $6k/year property tax dollars being wasted makes me sick. Friends and family call to make sure I'm safe, but in years past they would call for a visit. We will be leaving Minneapolis if this crime continues to run rampant through our communities. The city council and the mayor need to understand that public safety is at a crisis level and there will be a mass exodus if things are not changed.
Do not defund the police department. Reallocate money to funding where it is needed the most. Offer incentives so MPD officers can afford to live in Minneapolis and the communities they serve. Require annual fitness tests and refresher training on hand to hand combat. Please make our communities safe again.
Andrew Kohlmeyer 4300 pleasant ave, #1 [email protected]
12/2/2020 3:35:57 PM
How dare you reduce funding to the police force during a crime wave! Minneapolis needs safety, and the police have been slowly defunded for the past twenty five years, chipping away at their budgetary needs every year except last year. WE HAVE A DEFUNDED POLICE FORCE ALREADY AND THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. I absolutely agree that there are other tools and approaches to use, and some are a good idea and should be funded but not by transferring money from the police funds. Community policing is not structured to work. Special security for the Minneapolis city council members, and a crime wave for the rest of us. Not good optics and not good policy. This is one of a handful of reasons the livability has been declining. Leadership and activism are not the same thing; both valuable in different ways but the council and mayor are expected to lead and most have failed to do so.
Mike Stebnitz 3740 Chicago Ave
12/2/2020 3:46:46 PM
We have lived in the Elliot Park neighborhood in Minneapolis for 16 years and no longer feel safe in our city. We are grateful that our City Council representative for Ward 7, Lisa Goodman, understands the importance of safety for our community.
The City Council President and the council members calling for defunding our police department are negligent in your actions and your words. Yes, we need to address issues in policing as do many communities, but defunding the police department and reducing the budget and staffing levels in the face of the increasing crime is reprehensible.
We must stop the murders, robberies, carjackings, and crime in our community and adding more funding for bike lanes and visioning sessions are not going to make that happen.
You are largely responsible for the current state of affairs in our community and the damage to our reputation and future will not be easy to repair. Please listen to your constituents and stop destroying our city!
Mari J Johnson 500 East Grant St [email protected]
12/2/2020 3:46:46 PM
Do not defund the police. 79 deaths should convince any one that is a stupid idea.
orlando hagen 801 upton ave n [email protected]
12/2/2020 3:51:46 PM
Although major structural and behavioral changes must come soon, the police department's funding should not be reduced right now. It is currently under-staffed, in the midst of surging crime. It's not "either/or;" right now it must be "both/and," in order to reflect immediate needs. Please do not reduce the police budget!
Judith Mackenzie 1235 Yale Place, # 607 [email protected]
12/2/2020 3:57:23 PM
I am the owner of a small rental property in Uptown. Over the last year, my neighborhood has gone from a vibrant and peaceful place to live, to a hotspot for carjackings. The story about an elderly healthcare worker being carjacked at the Kowalski's near me makes me sick.
The City of Minneapolis needs to get its act together. We need more police, not fewer. The proposed $22 million cut to the police budget is the dumbest possible thing you could do right now.
COVID had devastated the City's revenues. I get that. But you need to make cuts elsewhere, not cut funding for police. For example, instead of spending $1.2 million on solar grants to businesses burned down by the riots you failed to keep in check, you should be investing that in law enforcement resources.
If you wanted to help businesses rebuild, you shouldn't have forced them to pay their property taxes before issuing permits to clean up their incinerated livelihoods.
I'm not a "BLUE LIVES MATTER" bootlicker, either, but I recognize that the benefits of police outweigh the costs.
Your literature says you "partner" with landlords, but it feels a lot more like a shakedown than a partnership. This isn't reality TV. This is real life, and your poor decisions and irresponsible "defund the police" rhetoric have led to a giant spike in crime that has gotten people killed, shot, and mugged.
Not everyone gets to have a private security team financed by the taxpayer dime. Meanwhile you're overseeing a decline in the quality of life in the City. When people don't feel safe in an area, they aren't as willing to rent their.
That affects my ability to pay the property taxes you regularly raise to fund your pet projects.
You all need to grow up.
Best regards,
Isaac M. Orr Isaac M Orr 2409 Colfax Avenue South, Apt 1 [email protected]
12/2/2020 3:58:07 PM
Thank you for asking for thoughts on the budget. I'm sure I'm not the only person to appreciate investing in mental health crisis support, violence prevention strategies, and other ways of making the city safer and take workload from our police department.
However, I'm also sure I'm not the only person who is deeply concerned and anxious about rising levels of carjacking, violence, speeding, graffiti and general lack of safety in our city. My daughter is anxious whenever we leave the house, we've had gunshots outside our house, our neighbor was assaulted when unloading groceries, there's graffiti all over the buildings in our neighborhood - a huge and worrying change in the safety and atmosphere of where we live. While investing in other strategies seems like a good idea, this really feels like the wrong time to be reducing police funding.
I understand that funding is not a bottomless pit, but surely safety in our city is very close to top priority. I would be in support of reducing funding next year if we're seeing that the mitigation strategies are working, but to reduce funding now sends a terrible message and I'm very anxious that it will result in real harm.
Thank you for your consideration
Andrew Mogendorff 2400 Grand Ave S, Minneapolis MN 55405 [email protected]
12/2/2020 3:59:54 PM
The budget alternative proposal by Bender, Cunningham, and Fletcher is a disguised attempt at brushing off their constituents' dire needs and serious concerns regarding out-of-control crime spikes. The city council has turned into a group of radical ideologues whose mission has become a reflection of a 'personal agenda' rather than an agenda of service to the entire community. The city council members, especially Bender and Cunningham, have engaged in deflection tactics and passive-aggressive crushing of constituents' opinions when it comes to crime and the need for police protection. We need accountability. We have every right to demand public safety and protection and the city council, as our employees, have the duty to listen and to ensure that its provides to its residents the basic demand of security and safety. The answer is not less police. The answer is a better police force. Funding AND Reform are the answer! If the city leaders are incapable of doing this work, then step down. George Saad ECCO Neighborhood, Ward 10 [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:06:09 PM
I have been robbed. I had my friends car stolen Minneapolis has really changed in the sense of public safety it’s not like how it was before because of the way we treated our police officers. I am deeply saddened also the way our First Black Police Chief was treated. He is here to ensure our safety yet a group of the City Council demonizes him just because he is apart of the Minneapolis Police Dept. DONT DEFUND THE POLICE!
Mohamed 2848 Pleasant Ave [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:06:29 PM
Public safety should be your first priority. Make a plan. Do whatever it takes to make Minneapolis a safe city.
Gretchen Gross Wheelwright 4363 E. Lake Harriet Pkwy [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:09:08 PM
We need to be safe first and foremost. I DO NOT support ANY cuts to the police budget! There should be funds enough for both without compromising public safety. The quality of life has gone to hell in Mpls lately. Each day as I my dog I wonder if this is the day I will get mugged? I wear a loud whistle on my wrist at all times. When I take my car out I wonder if this is the day I will get carjacked? Not a good way to spend my planned retirement years in my formerly safe, wonderful neighborhood after 30 years as a public school teacher in Mpls. Most neighborhood businesses at 48th and Chicago have been broken into, the Walgreens up the street was looted three times and never reopened. We need help and eliminating funds for police is certainly not a viable consideration.
Jane Enfield 4500 Chicago Ave #211 [email protected] 12/2/2020 4:12:18 PM
Please do not de-fund the police! crime is getting out of control. The carjackings alone are insane. We need to support our police! alyssa keller 1616 Louisiana Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:18:55 PM
Hello and thank you for giving me the opportunity to send in this question/comment.
Part of the Safety for All Budget Plan includes an increase in resources for civilian-led police accountability.
What about holding criminals (including multiple offenders, who may also be juveniles) accountable for their violent criminal activity?
If the carjacking juveniles are known to the police, why can't they be taken off the street?
These teens and young adults gain access to guns and continue to terrorize our communities, both BIPOC and white communities - all citizens of Minneapolis are affected by these violent crimes.
Where is the accountability?
Where are the consequences?
I would appreciate an answer on this question.
Susie Goldstein
1805 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-819-8536 [email protected]
Susan Goldstein 1805 W LAKE ST, UNIT 403, Mpls, MN 55408 [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:23:26 PM
OUR VOICE, to you as our Ward 9 representative and to the Mayor, I hope this email finds you well. I’m writing to voice my disappointment with City Council members whom are supporting the defunding of the Minneapolis Police Department. My husband and I bought a home in the Corcoran Neighborhood in 1995. We have lived and loved our neighborhood for all of these years with the exception of this past unsettled year. Crime is up and policing down. We do NOT agree with this temperament time and our city leaders support of defunding and dishonoring the Minneapolis Police.
Watched an educated report from an UofM professor on how crime and neighborhood comfort is improved with uniformed police and showing a presence. We’d like to see spending funds on educating police (esp those that are discriminative and intolerant of minorities) in tolerance and new methods of enforcement, etc. We’d like our taxes to support and give a healthy increase in police funding towards education and more police! We’d like to see the requirement of police to live and have pride in our communities. We’ve worked hard and have spent our monies on neighborhood improvements these many past years and our tax monies come back into the community…. We do not want to live in a neighborhood that does not fund and support the local police. So like many of our neighbors that have thrived and felt safe knowing how history repeats and proves these theories…. We too will move if the policing continues to be under-funded and unsupported, as some of our dearest neighbors already have.
Last, how are our police supposed to feel confident when they are not being supported?! Maybe City Council doesn’t care and believes that funding only mental health and other community minority projects is the only answer? While we believe that is part of the solution, so is supported policing. Enough is enough, Please get behind the Minneapolis Police!! They are still our heroes, when did they stop being yours?!! We hope you don’t think that defunding the police is what all residents you represent believe, because it is not. We will not support City Council and Mayoral positions that continue to defund the police!
We don’t need to hear all the citing of erroneous bad apples and lack of educational programming in the police departments, there are bad apples and cultures in every sector of living. EDUCATION and confidence building within the sorely needed police departments are a MUST!!
Katherine McNeil
James Helwegen cc: sent this exact email to Mayor Frey’s office via Mayoral web access
Katherine McNeil 3333 24th Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:47:55 PM
I live in the CIDNA neighborhood and my Council Member is Lisa Goodman. I was carjacked at gunpoint at my home at 5pm on 9/28/20 by four juveniles. I feel unsafe in my city. Minneapolis needs both more cops and police reform. This cannot be accomplished with defund-dismantle-abolish rhetoric or budget cuts.
Tina Kubat 3363 St Louis Ave, Minneapolis, MN. 55416 [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:50:17 PM
December 2, 2020
My name is Alicia Reuter. I live in Tangletown, I am a resident of Ward 11. I have lived in Minneapolis my entire life. My family has lived here for generations.
On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, a person on my street was attacked by two young males in an attempted carjacking. This crime quickly turned into ATTEMPTED MURDER when one of the attackers shot at the victim’s head three times. Luckily, the victim escaped, but it was so close!
This ATTEMPTED MURDER was reported today in the Star Tribune in an article highlighting the staggering surge in violent car jackings across Minneapolis. These car jackings are appalling and represent yet another example of the brazen violence rising across the streets of our city since George Floyd’s tragic death. This violence is not a perception, it is a reality felt by all of us.
Enough is enough! The Cunningham, Fletcher, Bender amendment, which includes police cuts to both targeted staffing levels and much needed overtime is untenable. It does not complement or support the Minneapolis police and it does not represent what most Minneapolis residents want.
We need more officers, not less, on our streets, supporting our communities. We need a fully funded and staffed police force AND we need police reform – we need BOTH, not one or the other.
Our police and Minneapolis residents have been alienated by the rhetoric of many of you, while criminals have been emboldened.
Listen to ALL of your constituents.
Fully fund the Mayor’s budget proposal. DO NOT shift police programs and money until you are able to present your new plan next year. Do not cut police staffing levels or overtime. WORK WITH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY ON REAL REFORM and tangible goals relating to a comprehensive safety and reform effort.
Above all else, do your job and protect the safety of this city.
Alicia Reuter 300 ELMWOOD PL W [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:50:39 PM
Dear Mayor and Council Members:
As a 25-year resident of Minneapolis, it is depressing news to hear that so many council members want to continue to cut yet more funds from the Minneapolis Police Department -- particularly at a time of increased need. I no longer recognize the city I was born in, and like many I know, question our continued residency and investment of time and energy in Minneapolis due to recent unwise moves made by city council members.
While your efforts to use a standard social work model in conjunction with MPD activities may possibly be useful and has essentially been tried for years, it is not the "be all end all" that some of you seem to think it is. Too many 911 calls are inappropriate for the social work model that you and the OVP have suggested. I think of the times I have had to call 911. It has not been a "privilege," as some of you suggest; it has been a requirement - and one that has saved me from further harm and distress. Would I have wanted or needed a social worker or citizen intervener? Most definitely NOT! I needed a traditional police response, and I was happy to receive that from MPD. I want to be assured by you that this will continue, but I have lost faith that the city council (based on your own statements and actions) has the wisdom to accomplish this.
While many parts of town have major issues with the most serious of Part I crimes, you need to address not only those issues but other crimes as well so that they don't become the most serious of Part I crimes. That seems to be neglected and ignored in your pronouncements on policing, public safety and OVP.
I ask that you stick with the minimum budget that the mayor has suggested and not cut it any further. He has already cut it to levels that are concerning.
In addition, the city needs to maintain an assigned level of police staffing based on population, as outlined in the current city charter that many of you want changed for reasons beyond sensibility. The more our population increases, the more need there will be for police. What's more, you need to set the same level of staffing requirements in the charter (or at least in your policies) for the FIRE department. That need too expands as population increases and as population ages or has an increased number of people with special needs that need trained, quick response. Some years ago, the city understaffed the fire department at the fire station near my home to levels that fell below national response time stands. We do not need or want this substandard staffing for either fire or police in this city.
Finally, for all the meetings, community forums, and city hall rhetoric, you have yet to suggest how you intend to deal with the main elephant in the room: the police union, particularly its head. Without reform in this city-union relationship, you will not make progress. What are you proposing? And why don't you seem to have any actual members of MPD involved in the meetings, community forums, etc. that are taking place now? You seem to talk about the patient's condition but avoid actually talking to the patient!
Please make public safety your top priority and focus on basic services for a change. It appears the city is not doing this and hasn't for the past several years. We are getting fed up! Gayle Bonneville 3231 Pierce St. NE [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:52:34 PM
We oppose any/all financial cuts to the Minneapolis Police Department. For one thing, even before George Floyd died, the city needed more cops than it had. If the City Council members who want to take money from the police department have a detailed plan for changing the nature of police response in the City, then they should submit that plan to the public for consideration & comment and perhaps even a vote, not just say we're going to cut $$$ and make changes without having a specific plan. To the Council we say, "Do your research, come up with a plan, show us what it looks like. While you're at it, justify your thinking that somehow having fewer cops will result in less crime." There's an old phrase: don't throw the baby out with the bath water. We think this applies here.
Jim & June Stuhr 3033 46th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406 [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:53:43 PM
Minneapolis needs to hire more police offices and to stop this BS about reducing police funding. Crime is out of control in Minneapolis and it is due to city console not doing their jobs and to provide police protecting to the residence of Minneapolis!!! This has resulted in large parts of our city being dangerous and unsafe!!!
Also, time for the city console stop this BS about stopping police from doing their jobs!!! The city console member attempts to micro management the police and how they do their jobs has resulted in creased crimes and in a failure to to provide police protection and safety for residents in Minneapolis. This has continued all year and is at a breaking point. I believe the city console has and continues to fail to do your basic job to provide police protecting to residents of Minneapolis!!!
Maybe city needs to perform a Micro test for defunded police in smaller selecting parts of city that align to console person who want defunding who want to defund the police department. City can to reduce/defund police in this select small part of city. Suggest picking wacko console people areas that want to defund police (i.e. like Lisa Bender, or Keith Ellison) then reduce police/funding in their area. The experiment with them having reduced police and reduce police funds to see what happens after 6 months. Also would need maintaining fully funded/staffed police presence in neighboring parts of city to maintain current police protection. Note, city could move police staff from defunded parts of city to funded parts of city and this would help maintain police staffing presence in funded parts!!! Again, Minneapolis not only needs to maintain a full police presence (i.e. fully funded police department) in Minneapolis, but I would also say Minneapolis need more police officers and needs to hire more good police people!!!
The city console has failed to do their job continually by forcing police department to reduce police staffing level and presences in our in our city resulting in increase in crime and murders. This is total failure by city console members to do your Job as console people!!!
Please fund police, hire more good police people and protect the resident of Minneapolis and start doing your job!!!
Thank you,
Daniel Walsh
DANIEL WALSH WALSH 5635 UPTON AVE SOUTH [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:54:49 PM
I'm in Andrea Jenkins' ward and live less than a mile away from the site of George Floyd's murder. The violent crimes have consumed our Bancroft neighborhood since his death.
About a month ago, an elderly female member of our church was carjacked when she was at her vehicle right outside our church at 4120 17th Ave S. She had gone to be part of a church service they were recording for Sunday. She lives in Richfield. She was approached by two teen females and was threatened to give up her vehicle keys. She complied with their request so was not harmed. The police were called and came but she was in a state of shock and seemed to be experiencing some heart issues so went to the hospital. She is recovering now at home and is taking some medication for her heart issue but is still trying to recover from her loss of feeling safe at our church and in our neighborhood.
It is eroding our sense of ever feeling relatively safe again in our neighborhoods as these crimes are continuing to happen every day. We have lived in our home for 43 years and raised our 4 children here who went to Bancroft, Folwell, Roosevelt and Washburn Schools.
We have heard that the police department is short of officers from Covid-10 and from the riots, vandalizing and destruction of businesses and from the trauma they experienced. Since these crimes continue, it seems that we need more help from the police. We need to keep our police department well staffed and adequately trained to deal with the systemic racism, excess force, etc. But I also strongly feel we need to have certain community organizations trained in mental health, drug addiction, domestic issues, etc. to also help with 911 calls. Do NOT take budget money from the police department to fund these organizations. We need to provide them with separate funds for their help in answering 911 calls. Fund them all adequately so we can have safety, strong communities in Minneapolis, and a vibrant downtown area (after Covid). I feel that Chief Arrondondo has done a great job under these trying times. I don't want to lose his leadership. Is the additonal help from outside sources out of the picture now? I think it was $500,000 cost for helping for the rest of this year. Can't we get help right away to help the police who are overwhelmed?
Continue to work on a plan to bring on outside sources and resources in 2021 so adequate time can be given to prepare for this transition. Don't rush into doing this now and throw Minneapolis into further violence.
Please give us support in all of our communities in every part of MInneapolis!! Don't let us be taken over by this violence and destroy any hope of continuing our neighborhood communities who gather together to celebrate National Night Out. I am willing to pay more in taxes for this to happen. I love south Minneapolis and don't want to see it slowly destroyed because of crime increasing.
I wish there was something to be done for the young people and others involved in these crimes. To give them better choices, jobs, schools, homes, food, whatever we can do to get them on a different path.
Sincerely,
Rebecca A Johnson
Rebecca Johnson 4020 14th Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 4:59:03 PM
I am not in favor of any budget changes that take anymore money from the police budget. I didn't like the previous proposals and I don't like the new one.
Marie Kulick 3936 Bloomington Avenue
12/2/2020 5:08:39 PM
I am fully and unequivocally in support of fully funding the police at above current levels. Any discussion of reducing funding in light of the crime wave hitting our city and our neighborhoods. I support the Mayor and the Chief of Police and their current proposal.
Chris Moertel 219 West 52nd Street [email protected]
12/2/2020 5:08:51 PM
Given the violence that's impacting all segments of our city, I'm concerned about the substantial cuts to the police budget. I encourage the maximum funding of our police department and, should other violence disruption priorities be pursued, I encourage council members to produce additional evidence of their effectiveness as they've not produced replicated, causal, rigorously reviewed evidence to support their interventions.
3009 HOLMES AVE S
12/2/2020 5:11:05 PM
Mayor and council members,
I am writing to urge you to vote no on the mayor's proposed policing budget for 2021, and to instead make the $53,308,662 cuts proposed by the Reclaim the Block organization and reallocate that funding into the programs proposed by their "People's Budget."
The goal of a criminal justice program is to reduce crime and increase safety. It has been proven, time and time again even in our own city, that increasing police presence does neither of these things.
Instead of reducing crime, police presence increases crime rate and simply relocates it to suppressed, low income areas. This is achieved primarily by over-enforcing low-level and non-violence offenses and by immorally profiling and targeting sex workers and people of color. I believe advocates for police presence either do not understand or do not care how overpolicing actually affects crime rates, and advocate for policing out of either the misguided notion that policing increases safety or the insidious (albeit correct) understanding that it will increase the apparent safety of higher income, privileged areas at the expense of underserved areas.
Which is the second point I would like to make: policing does not increase public safety. In fact, it has been proven in Minneapolis again and again that overpolicing actually reduces public safety for a majority of the cities' population by further suppressing low income and disenfranchised communities, perpetuating the economic and social circumstances that force the underserved to commit crimes in the first place. Proponents for policing believe that increased police presence increases their safety because that presence relocates the site of crime activity to areas of the city where they don't live. In other words, the police serve as a means of protecting the (primarily economic) interests of the privileged at the expense of the marginalized. This creates a system whereby the marginalized are further disenfranchised and the privileged benefit disproportionately from city services. This is not a system that public officials sworn to represent the interests of ALL of their city's people should support.
Instead, I urge you to reallocate budget resources toward programs like ending houselessness, providing pandemic support, preventing evictions, funding mental health support, and community-based restorative justice programs. Not only are these programs more humane than a police force that has repeatedly proven violent, prejudiced, and completely unaccountable, but they are also FAR more effective means of achieving the purpose of a criminal justice program: to reduce crime and improve public safety.
I urge you all to make the right decision and invest in your communities and the future of ALL Minneapolis residents, not the wealthy few.
Thank you.
Harry Mackin 1919 Dupont Ave S Apt. 204 Minneapolis, MN 55403 [email protected]
12/2/2020 5:17:42 PM
Taking money away from our police force is not the way to solve the problem of police brutality. I believe most of our officers are well intentioned and go into this line of work to be of service to the community. The problem that is created by doing this, is a larger issue with crime. You are basically telling the criminals they have even more opportunity now to commit crimes. Without enough officers to keep up with the phone calls the criminals know this and will continue to commit more crimes because they know they won't get caught. They have become very brazen. Don't demonize the entire police force because in doing so you are giving the good officers reason to leave the department. How can they put their lives on the line everyday if they are not valued for what they do?
Kim Pogue [email protected]
12/2/2020 5:27:56 PM
To the Mpls City Council:
The proposal to decrease funding for the Minneapolis Police Department is a harebrained idea. Mpls is the most violent I have experienced in 40 years of living here.My wife who is fearless just bought a treadmill so she wouldn’t have to take her walks after work in the dark and risk being robbed at gunpoint. Neither of us have ever had that fear living in the city before. In addition, property crimes are violent crimes. People work hard for the things they have and when someone destroys or steals that is an act of violence in my book. Certain city council members don’t seem to think that this matters.These nonviolent crimes need to be investigated and they need to be prosecuted. The city Council has created an atmosphere in our city that gives permission to those who would wreak havoc on the lives of Minneapolis residence to take what they want without fear of being caught or punished. Police are not just needed for violent crimes. They are needed for nonviolent crimes, property crimes, break ins, vandalism, theft, car accidents, texting while driving… Anything that violates the public trust needs to be enforced by somebody wearing a badge. A social worker or a psychologist cannot get the job done. They have no authority. Reform AND fully FUND the police.
Increase the budget of the MPD.
Mark Conway
Mark Conway 4800 Harriet Ave [email protected]
12/2/2020 5:34:11 PM
Increase funding for the police and add more police... rebuild the 3 precinct building. Crime is out of control....
James Mccluskey 3329 47th Ave South [email protected]
12/2/2020 5:36:20 PM
Hello, my name is Rachel and I live in Ward 6. Living and working in the heart of Minneapolis, I understand the urgency that we all feel towards building a safer city for ourselves and each other - but the solution does not lie with the MPD, which is like all police departments in that it innately works to punish and institutionalize citizens while preserving property and the comfort of the powerful.
Instead, we NEED REAL CHANGE. We need to prioritize the people, many of whom have basic needs that go unmet because the city has chosen to financially back the MPD rather than life-giving resources -- namely, housing. To bring justice to our neighbors, we need to defund the MPD now and reallocate those resources towards proven methods of crime prevention, dignified housing for all, addiction recovery, better schools and grocery stores, and mental health response teams -- in ways that are independent from carceral systems like the MPD that only create more lasting harm. A well resourced community is a less violent one, a safer one, for ALL. This is a proven and well documented phenomenon. Put our health and well-being first! Do not continue to throw all of our money away on a police department that claims they somehow still cannot do their jobs well enough with the enormous power currently given to them. The MPD does not prevent violence, despite their massive funding. If they are unable to keep a city safe with millions allotted to them and all the resources in the world, then something is wrong with depending on them as a violence prevention system in the first place.
So I am writing to ask that you support the People's Budget. I and many other Minneapolitans believe that parts 1 and 2 of the "Safety for All" proposal from the City Council is the bare minimum, and that we must dream bigger if we want to provide real solutions. We need to take tangible action! Reform does not work. Reform traps us in the cycles that led to George Floyd's death this past Spring. You must demonstrate your investment in our communities by divesting from the department that by nature is harmful to them.
Minneapolis has tried reform after reform - for YEARS. Nothing less than defunding the MPD and re- funding prevention and community resources will break this cycle. I am urging you to take a clear look at the facts and history of this department and policing in general! See the patterns before you and consider the fact that if you so chose you could create real restorative change in Minneapolis that prioritizes the needs of the many, rather than the few.
Approve The People's Budget.
Thank you.
Rachel 2921 5th Ave S, Unit 2 [email protected]
12/2/2020 5:46:14 PM
We need more police. Cutting the budget is irresponsible. Our community is tired, covid fatigue is bad enough with our dictator governor. People don’t have the energy to fight for their businesses, motivation, social life, and now police. Our city council members are ruining this city, and I truly mean it when I say people are too tired to be involved.
The blocks of 26th and 27th Ave, cross streets 42nd and 43rd street are tired of the crime, tired of feeling unsafe and wish we would have payed closer attention when these council members were elected.
Stop defunding the police, we want the crime to stop! We want reform but not in the exchange for police on the ground in our city!
Thank you,
Alli Wangerin
Alli Wangerin Wangerin
12/2/2020 5:55:31 PM
I am opposed to defunding the police and moving funding away at this time of increased crime Elizabeth Reeve 4800 Harriet Ave [email protected]
12/2/2020 6:00:25 PM
Here are TWO facts to bear in mind. FIRST – A plurality of residents do NOT want to defund the police. This is true even in the black community, as the Star Tribune and national polls show. Stop saying Minneapolis wants defunding; we do not! SECOND – Yes, we do need reform and other public safety measures – but not at the expense of the police. We need more cops on the street because cops deter crime. Studies clearly show this. Those studies have been submitted for the official record.
This isn't San Francisco. This isn't a college urban project. This is real life. Actions truly speak louder than words. I urge you to do what's best for all citizens and not your political agendas.
Kileigh E Carpenter 2525 Blaisdell Ave, 205 [email protected]
12/2/2020 6:33:01 PM
I am a lifelong democrat and 29 year resident of Minneapolis – I am asking you to INCREASE the police budgets.
Crime
• Protecting all residents is the most fundament responsibility of city government
• I moved into Minneapolis in the early ‘90s during the Murderopolis era – today after ~30 yrs of decreasing crime rates – we have never been less safe.
• Reforming the police, improving citizen involvement, and increasing police budgets are not mutually exclusive except in the mind of the woke, progressive mayor and city council.
Minneapolis and your legacy
• Over the last 2 decades Minneapolis has emerged as one of the great American cities
• This summer you have allowed it to become a dumpster fire of: looting and vandalism, car jackings, 500+ shootings, and 70+ murders – you allowed Minneapolis to become a national disgrace.
• Many people who have worked downtown for decades no longer find it safe. In the future who come to a convention or as a tourist
Mayor and City Council • Having spent your energies indulging in woke nonsense (renaming lakes and holidays) and utterly failing to planfully / meaningfully address the issues of crime and safety – you are the worst government in our cities history.
• Read the Star Tribune or Next Door comments, read the WSJ or Washington Post the voters of Minneapolis are coming for you next year… good riddance
John Michaels 1000 west 46th street
12/2/2020 6:38:51 PM
I do not support the "defund the police" movement as currently proposed. I support the reform measures as proposed by Chief Arradondo and the Mayor. I also think this is the wrong time to significantly cut the budget and eliminate overtime funds. The current level of crime in the city is unacceptable and needs to be brought under control.
Audrey Boyle 2901 35th Ave So [email protected]
12/2/2020 6:44:16 PM
Crime is rising in Minneapolis. It has been increasing since the spring. Car jacking are happening multiple times a week. We are fearful of carrying valuable items. Neither we nor our neighbors go for walks in our neighborhood after dark. It is urgent that we increase the number of police. Moving any funds away from the police is dangerous. The police department needs to evolve and be more responsive to the public. However, reducing funding is wrong. There are ample funds in other areas that can be redirected. Consider reducing the bike lane expenditures for a few years.
Jon Silverman 3325 Irving Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 6:48:53 PM
First, I think all the council people should take a 10% pay cut to pay for two police officers. Secondly, are you not listening to your people? What will you do if you get car jacked. I grew up in New York City and i felt safer there than I do in Linden HIlls. How many times have you spent a day in North Minneapolis?
Ashok Dhariwal 4507 France Ave S Minneapolis MN 55410 [email protected]
12/2/2020 6:51:38 PM
Please don't cut the police budget. I understand, and want our society to recover from racist ideas and actions and I don't believe that depriving resources is the way to do that. The process of changing any public safety budget should be researched and not rushed.
As a social worker I know that mental health and criminal behavior sometimes occur together. Thats not a simple issue and social workers can not address criminal behaviors. A panel of social workers, public safety experts, police, and community members needs to be put together to pool their strengths and find sustainable solutions before any other action is taken.
Thank you for your consideration.
Jennifer Schweitzer
Jennifer Schweitzer 2218 CALIFORNIA ST NE [email protected]
12/2/2020 6:59:48 PM
I am in support of increasing the funding for Minneapolis police. The council has sent a message to the police and to the community that the police do not have your support. That an issue that the police have will not be supported and that they are on their own. That creates stress, fear, and destroys the force. The community members that choose to take advantage of this situation are not the community members that choose to create a positive affect on their fellow members.
I've been a teacher for 31 years. I know what an impact good social services can accomplish. These services cannot begin to address the issues we have right now.
I've lived here for 22 years and as many have said, this is the first time I've felt the city was out of control. I will promote the removal of any council person that votes to remove funding from the police department. Tom Altman
THOMAS ALTMAN 4533 31st Ave. S [email protected]
12/2/2020 7:39:18 PM
The East side of Lake Nokomis is seeing increased suspicious activity and many in our neighborhood are concerned that with less police presence and potential emergency assistance, that our safety could be in jeopardy. A decrease in the police budget would be devastating. My concern is that the City Council is insensitive to the safety of the community. Been in South Minneapolis for 42 years and this is the first time I have had concern for our area and city. Moving is a reluctant alternative.
Lon Fowler 5501 Woodlawn Blvd [email protected]
12/2/2020 7:52:48 PM
I support the mayor's budget proposal. We need to fully fund the Mayor’s proposal – including $5 million in overtime to cover shifts that will otherwise go unstaffed. This city is being destroyed and is unsafe for everyone right now. We absolutely must be investing in public safety, INCLUDING appropriately funding police.
Paul Massmann 4842 37th Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 8:07:49 PM
Hello,
I was scheduled to speak at the budget hearing and after an hour and 45 min I gave it up.
Many people spoke about their concern about safety, then some talked about philosophical ideas of global warming and housing and arrest on people breaking the law on the freeway who supported the "peoples budget". Safety is different from changing the police. They are confusing it. We need both. Without safety we get none of the rest.
I support the mayors budget and personally I feel it doesn't go far enough as far as having enough police.
Without the support of business, we have nothing. And I am not talking about only business in "cultural zones".
We had a meeting at work talking about how safe people felt coming into work with COVID. A woman spoke up and said she felt fine with the COVID protocols but didn't feel safe coming into Minneapolis and parking in a ramp and then walking down the street with a back pack that everyone knows has a laptop in it. Then 6 others expressed their concern about safety also. Including a man who takes the light rail from St Paul. The company decided not to reopen. These people buy lunch almost every day, get their dry cleaning, go to doctors, pick up prescriptions or milk. Those are all things that add to money for small businesses. Which provide jobs and tax to the city.
I also have a small business of property management. I have had 4 people move out and 3 of them said it was due to safety. They were all women and two of them were women of color. One moved back to her family in Richfield, one moved with her roommates to Minnetonka and one moved up north. The thing that really was hard to hear is when the one woman said, "you have no idea how unsafe this city is for a woman,especially a woman of color".
A neighbor is a manager of an investment firm near the Loon Cafe. The investment company has 5 offices through out MN. A few months ago the women of the firm asked for escorts to their cars. The owner of the business said why are we located here? Find out when the lease is up and lets find a safer place.
With out safety, there is no business, with out business, there are no jobs. And of course no money for anything else like housing and teen centers etc.
Please vote for the mayor's budget with overtime. The city is in financial crises and nothing will change without business and jobs.
Thank you ,
Leo Zaback leo zaback 4405 aldrich ave south [email protected]
12/2/2020 8:27:29 PM
Mayor Frey, President Bender, and Council Members, I am a resident of the Kingfield neighborhood in Ward 8. I have lived in Minneapolis since 2014 and expect I will live here for many more years. I am writing today to express support for the Safety for All Budget Plan.
I agree wholeheartedly with the authors of the plan that "Minneapolis can no longer afford a one-size- fits-all approach to public safety." I have had similar thoughts in regard to our existing public safety infrastructure many times. As the old adage says, "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." All we have is a hammer right now in Minneapolis. Even at its best, this system is woefully unqualified to address the numerous aspects of public safety. At its worst, the system actively causes harm to many of the residents of Minneapolis.
As the authors of the Safety for All Budget Plan recognize, continuing this status quo is unacceptable. We can, and we must, shift resources from this system to invest in other aspects of public safety. The proposal, which shifts a modest percentage of the total budget for the police department into necessary programs for violence prevention and mental health resources, is the least we can do. I strongly urge all of you to support the Safety for All Budget plan.
Josh Martin 4403 Harriet Ave Minneapolis, MN 55419 [email protected]
12/2/2020 8:38:17 PM
I know you've all heard the moral and political reasons for defunding the police so I'm going to be brief and stress why it's in your personal benefit, as well as the rich and business people you primarily serve, to defund the police and redirect resources to actual solutions. Your short sightedness in upholding the current situation is only worsening the inevitable consequences that are coming your way if you continue to serve the interests of cops and the wealthy. If you want to avoid more precincts burning, more unrest and more pressure on you personally, you would be wise to fund social services that actually address problems instead of falling back on deploying jackboots when you are criticized. There are a lot more desperate people than rich people and with the pandemic straining many to their breaking point, you will find out what real consequences are for your inaction that will make angry phone calls look like a cakewalk. I urge you for the sake of those who need our help and for your own sakes, to defund the police and adopt the People's Budget.
Chris McCollom 2652 Marshall St NE [email protected]
12/2/2020 9:00:09 PM
My name is Rick Reuter. I live in Tangle Town, I am a resident of Ward 11, my council representative is Jeremy Schroeder.
I have lived in Minneapolis for my entire life, for 44 years.
On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, a neighbor on my street was attacked by two young males in an attempted carjacking. This crime quickly escalated into an attempted murder when one of the attackers shot at the victim’s head not once, not twice, but three times. Luckily, the victim was able to escape, but narrowly!
This ATTEMPTED MURDER is appalling and represents yet another brazen and chilling escalation of violence on the streets of our city.
I emailed all council members with a description of this incident, thanks to the few of you who have responded. Thank you very much to the Mayor for responding and for listening to our concerns.
I’ve never felt so unsafe, and the same holds true for my neighbors. Crime is out of control.
I feel insulted by the rhetoric many of you use regarding growing crime in our city and public safety with respect to policing. Public safety is not a privilege, it is a basic human right.
I feel equally insulted by cuts to the police budget included in the Cunningham, Fletcher, Bender amendment, which includes cuts to both staffing levels as well as much needed overtime to deal with short-term needs. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL hired private security detail at the expense of Minneapolis taxpayers. MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL gave themselves a raise last year.
We are supposed to fund your security, but you will not fund ours? We don’t have the luxury to wait and see if your pilot programs work.
Enough is enough! We need more officers, not less, on our street, supporting our communities. We need a fully funded
(including overtime) and staffed police force AND we need police reform – we need BOTH, not one or the other.
Our police have been alienated by your rhetoric, while criminals have been emboldened. And yet so many of you continue to put targets on our backs.
Listen to ALL of your constituents.
It is not too late to do the right thing.
Fully fund the Mayor’s budget proposal. DO NOT shift police programs and money until you are able to present your new plan next year. Do not cut police staffing levels or overtime. WORK WITH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY ON REAL REFORM and tangible goals relating to a comprehensive reform effort.
Stop spreading a self-serving, misleading, and divisive narrative with snappy slogans and empty promises. Do your job and protect the safety of this city.
Rick Reuter 300 W Elmwood Place [email protected] 12/2/2020 9:18:01 PM
How can you vote with out allowing everyone to speak. Half the people dropped off due to the hours long meetings.
Without safety you do not have anything. Those of us with business can't survive with out people feeling safe coming into the city. coming in to the city to visits businesses, but also to work. Business is leaving the city and residents are going out to the suburbs. No business = no jobs, no jobs= no tax, no tax = no money to do ANTHING.
Support the mayors budget!
Thank you.
4405 aldrich ave south
12/2/2020 9:56:37 PM
Dear Mayor Frey and City Council Members,
I moved to downtown Mpls. 8 years ago, because US Bank was going to be built, the Twins had a beautiful stadium and Mpls. was a center for fine restaurants and superb theaters. I didn't even mind paying higher taxes than the suburbs because of all the extraordinary opportunities. Now all that is gone.
The reasons are simple:
1. Over 500 shootings in Mpls.
2. A record number of carjackings.
3. The newspaper reports that women and seniors are having guns put to their heads
4. The crimes are happening in broad daylight.
5. I walk through my downtown neighborhood and see where stolen cars have been spinning
doughnuts in the intersections.
6. Every single day I watch cars go through red lights that make seniors run for their lives!
7. I add this last point reluctantly, my property values have gone done 125K. The only reason I add this is, because of you, the city now has less revenue to fund the police. This actually compounds the problem! This is a lawless city because the City Council decided to make everyone and I repeat, everyone on the Mpls. Police force demons. The city council has this backwards. The Mpls. Police Dept are heroes. Every time I see a police officer or a veteran, I say, " Thank you for serving."
They are heroes. No one on the city council could walk in their shoes. I personally see the City Council as weak with no leadership and the head of the City Council bailing out of a problem that she has exacerbated. Criminals are emboldened by the city council sitting on its hands.
Let's call Minneapolis what it is, "Murderopolis," once again!
This is the City Council's legacy.
Please start serving the people that live in this beautiful city. Protect the residents that are leading productive lives every day. Make sure everyone is safe from criminal violence.
Diverting funds to social workers is not going to erase any of the criminal activity listed above.
Put more money into the Minneapolis Police Dept.
I live in fear because of the Minneapolis City Council's lack of vision for the city and empathy for it's residents.
Malcolm W Johnson
Malcolm W. Johnson 100 3rd Ave. S, Mpls, MN 55401 [email protected]
12/2/2020 10:08:58 PM
While we need changes with the police department, I was appalled to see a proposal by some in the city council to reduce police funding. We need need more and better trained police officers now. We need to feel safe in our community and have pride in a police department that exists to 'protect and serve' us all. I would encourage you to reject any proposals that make our city less safe. Thanks.
Kevin Mahon 3935 Washburn Ave S [email protected]
12/2/2020 10:38:19 PM
My name is Dan Brazil and I am the owner of Brazil Law Group. I moved my law practice from the Loring Hill neighborhood to the heart of Uptown to expand our injury practice and become a boutique law firm for local residents. Since moving to Uptown, we have had teenage thugs brazenly walk into our building and threaten my staff and neighboring businesses. We have had to lock our doors to keep out unwanted and potentially dangerous assaults on our staff, tenants and clients.
As a business owner, my situation is a bit more complex. Yes, I worry for my family’s safety – but also for my livelihood. The impact of Covid on my business has been truly trying. It is compounded by the uptick in crime that you have enabled. I am losing customers who are fearful of visiting. My most treasured employees are afraid to come to work and I am afraid I will lose them.
As a businessperson, I rely on data and experts to make decisions. Studies show cops on the street deter crime. You have those studies as part of the official record. In addition, our most reliable expert – our Police Chief – has been telling us for a while that he does not have enough cops. The current exodus is making things worse. My business would struggle if I had to operate with one of every three positions vacant. Yet that’s the challenge the Chief has.
We need to fully fund the Mayor’s budget and rebuild the police force – not only to protect us but to allow businesses to thrive in an environment of peace and security.
Remember, businesses employ people and pay taxes. We’re not going to go far as a city if you do not fund the protection we need to succeed.
I have worked for 20 years in this neighborhood and dedicated my professional life to develop a successful law practice. I moved my family home six blocks from my practice. And now, I want to sell our home and I want to move out of our current office suite for fear that my family and employees are no longer safe. And I am one of the last people that would ever want to leave the city. I love the city.
Your actions and language is tone deaf. You are killing the very hear of what made Minneapolis beautiful. Shame on you.
Daniel Brazil 1622 Lake Street [email protected]
12/2/2020 11:02:27 PM
I am not in support of defusing the police.
I am in support of rehabbing the police culture. Get the bad cops out. Let the good cops have the power to do the right thing. We need safety. We need smart capable police. I believe they have the PRIORITY to PRTECT and SERVE. Training, priorities and the power to get rid of the bad cops. Most police are in it for the right reasons- we need to support and find them while changing the system.
Thanks
Catherine
Too much crime I feel unsafe in my wonderful city. Catherine vennewitz 4335 blaisdell avenue [email protected]
12/3/2020 12:16:27 AM
With a 193% increase in homicides, 56% increase in robberies and 23 % increase in aggravated assaults in the 3rd precinct alone, 2 to 3 squads per precinct is not enough. While I hear people in the public hearings say they feel totally safe in their neighborhoods, I and many of my neighbors do not. Violent crime is up 42% from last year.
After being car jacked by 4 men in my alley and witnessing a woman get robbed with her 5 year old child in the car, having a 2 car shoot out two houses away from my house with children in the front yard, having police with K-9’s and guns drawn in my yard looking for an armed suspect and watching two neighbors sell their house because it’s too dangerous to raise their children here, I want to stress this is not a “perceived problem.” Not to mention, our car was used in an armed robbery after it was stolen from us. Think about that…a person had a GUN pointed at them for their property. The police CAUGHT this armed suspect after a short chase. Thank you Minneapolis Police Department.
I’m asking you to fully support the Mayor’s public safety portion of the proposed budget. We need proper police staffing for 422,000 residents. We cannot expect Chief Arradondo to continue functioning at this level of crime while down 120 officers, with more to come after the first of the year. It’s imperative the council support the 2021 recruit classes and Community Service Officers knowing that 85-90% of the chief’s budget supports salaries and benefits.
It’s also imperative we support the Office of Violence Prevention, produce smarter ways to address public safety and create healthier policing. I think most residents asking you to support the Mayor’s budget agree. This isn’t an either/or solution.
The Minneapolis City Council is charged with keeping the largest economic driver in the state stable and healthy. The year-to-date crime statistics are horrendous. These statistics aren’t just numbers, they reflect real people and businesses affected by real crime, which deteriorates livability. It deteriorates people’s sense of safety, sending the message that Minneapolis is not a safe place to live, work, visit or run a business. And if people don’t live, work, visit or run businesses here, we have no money to support programs/services/infrustructure.
There is a lot of work to be done over the next year and we have two incredibly talented leaders in Chief Arradondo and Director Cotton. Support and let them work together to create a public safety model that is successful and envied by the nation.
Kim Brown [email protected]
12/3/2020 7:37:38 AM
I do not support taking massive amounts of money from the police OR reducing their numbers. I would like to see more police on the street. Crime is up considerably in our city.
I do strongly support REFORM of the police department and would like to see more mental health and social workers embedded in the police dept.
Also, Bob Kroll has got to go and how the police union functions needs to be changed.
Respectfully,
Karen Norberg
Karen O Norberg 4012 Queen Avenue South [email protected]
12/3/2020 8:24:51 AM
The crime in Minneapolis is at an all time high! I moved here from Philadelphia almost 40 years ago. South Minneapolis seemed like a suburb. I have never felt this unsafe in Minneapolis as I do now. Please do not defund the police. Restructure the police, they need to be fully funded but trained in nonviolent tactics. I do not support police brutality. But right now crime has to get under control. Then you need to move on to planning how to make the police force into one that values all human beings.
Joanne Ortendahl-Lucas 4532 Columbus Ave [email protected]
12/3/2020 8:25:29 AM
I'm writing to request that you not fund the hiring of a new class of police officers. The murder of George Floyd this summer highlighted long standing problems with racist violence in the department. Funneling more money into a problematic program will make many in our community less safe, which I'm sure is the opposite of your intent. The money could be better spent funding social workers, mental health resources, and housing for all of our neighbors living in parks. Such a refocusing of priorities would go a long way toward building a safe community for all of us.
Laura Shannon 1817 Franklin Ave SE [email protected]
12/3/2020 8:37:10 AM
As a resident of this city for over 20 years I have never feared more for my family’s everyday safety. The direction of this City Council continues to support criminals over law aboding citizens. I fully support our police.
Please place a priority on this city’s safety. Your actions to date do not show that.
Brett McCabe 3824, Upton Ave S [email protected]
12/3/2020 8:58:22 AM
As we have seen from this past summers drastic increase in (violent) crime. Minneapolis needs MORE officers who are better trained.
Council members need to put aside their personal vendetta against MPD and act upon the wishes of their constituents. Which overwhelmingly want to FUND the police. Do your jobs council members. Not all of us can afford private security like you.
Connor Graham 2800 Girard Ave S
12/3/2020 9:05:46 AM
I support Mayor Frey’s budget plan. Police reform is necessary, but this is not the time to cut funding when we need to recruit and train more minority police. Ideally they will live in the communities they serve. All officers need to learn new ways of avoiding use of force. Police investigators and detectives are needed to catch car jackers , track down guns used in crimes, and prosecute the gun violence that has hit many black residents. I like the idea of partnering them with mental health professionals. The city needs to rebuild and give assistance to areas hit hard by the unrest following the murder of George Floyd. In the time of a pandemic our city must also be prepared to keep a mask mandate and social distancing in effect, and help with a vaccine when it becomes available.
Lila M Smith 2619 Talmage Ave. SE [email protected]
12/3/2020 9:38:14 AM
I urge you to fund the police AND to revise the ways in which the police are used in certain situations. There absolutely should be more mental health support and social services to meet some of the needs of people in the city. Housing and poverty are key issues that need to be addressed. But, we need a police presence to also deal with crime and deter those from committing crimes.
Beth Russell 5315 Dupont Ave. So [email protected]
12/3/2020 9:41:40 AM
Dear City Council,
I listened and waited for my time to speak at the budget meeting into the early morning hours, but despite unmuting myself about six times and yelling into my phone, I was unable to be heard. I think it's my phone, which has been acting up. Therefore, I am emailing you what I was going to say.
I am just an old white lady who has lived on a tight, supportive Midtown Phillips Neighborhood block for over 25 years. It's the kind of block that was described by many of the activists who called in and told us that they rely on their neighbors for protection. Retired now, I also worked just blocks from where Mr. Floyd was killed, organizing neighborhood kids programs and working in the neighborhood with families for a church for 30 years. Often I was on the street with my kids, picking up litter, or recording graffiti for the city. Though, I don't own a dog, ( a talking point of the defund people calling in) there is no way I would even walk the streets today.
I think it's the most insidious form of racism to assume that only white people want police protection. Fifty percent of people of color in Minneapolis do not want to defund the police according to a NYTimes survey. My black business owner friend with a shop on E. Lake St. wants more police presence for his business and his customers (another talking point I heard a lot about how police presence doesn't prevent crime. I would like to see the stats the callers are using for that arguement). I called in to the last budget meeting in which I followed a lady who read a litany of names of black persons killed by the police. I don't have the time to name the 49 black and brown people out of the 60 homicide victims in Minneapolis since the murder of Mr. Floyd.
I would also like to answer some of the talking points given last night and into early morning by those for defunding the police.I kept hearing that the police department hasn't even been defunded yet, so it has nothing to do with the rise in crime. Well, I guess I would like to know what cutting $8 million dollars and giving to other organizations is? And it has made a huge difference in the growth of crime in my diverse neighborhood, where the criminals know that we have weakened, and demoralized the police. I heard that the police's slow response to the serious crimes happening in our city is retaliation. No, it is not. Since the riots, 150 officers have either retired, quit, or have taken a leave of absence. They are seriously short-handed. I heard one activist say "I don't care about car jackings." But, my brown neighbor who got a gun shoved into her face while getting into her car cared. And now she is moving to the suburbs.
The Minneapolis Police Dept. is one of the most racist in the country. They have a union that ties the hands of those who have pushed for reform for years, including our Chief, who sued the department for their racist behavior before he became our Chief. We need to fight WITH him, not AGAINST him in order to make the changes needed. I too agreed with one of the callers who complained about most of the force living outside of the city. However, that is not the city's fault as the union took this issue to the state legistator several years ago and the state made the practice of hiring only within the city illegal.
I support the mayor's budget and I support the chief. This is longer than I would have been able to give in one minute. I'm glad I emailed.
Donna Pususta Neste 2616 14th Ave. S. [email protected]
12/3/2020 10:21:23 AM
Good Morning,
Thank you for your service to our great city. I have lived in Minneapolis for almost 15 years, and I love calling this city home. That said, we are at a major turning point in our city's history. We have the opportunity to be a national leader in police reform, housing, native rights, and providing BIPOC communities the opportunities and support they deserve. We can be a model that other cities will look to in the very near future.
I am asking you to vote for this model by supporting The People's Budget. Parts one and two of the "Safety for All" proposal is the bare minimum that we need from the council and the city to begin this process. More funding for the police department as it stands will not lower the unprecedented wave of crime our city is currently experiencing. It will not help Minneapolis communities grow. It will only fuel the cycles of inequality that have led us to this divisive moment and perpetuate existing systemic violence.
While this transition will take some time, we need to take the first steps NOW to move in the direction that benefits all Minneapolis citizens. You all have the power to make change, to listen to your community members, and to usher in the next iteration of a prosperous Minneapolis.
Please consider adopting the People's Budget, restructuring the police force from the ground up, and making meaningful investments in the communities that need it the most. We cannot wait any longer. These issues will not go away and will only get worse without serious systemic change. Be the leaders the rest nation will follow. The whole world is watching Minneapolis, let them know we stand for a better future.
Thank you, Dr. Meagan Manning
Dr. Meagan Manning 3544 Columbus Ave [email protected]
12/3/2020 10:24:17 AM
I signed up to speak last night, and it got too late for me, so I would like to submit the below as part of the official record in place of what would have been my testimony last night.
My name is Kris Kelly and I live in Ward 11. My rep is Jeremy Schroeder.
I have lived here my whole life, and I love this city more than I can explain to you. We saw crime start to increase this summer, and it continues to get worse. The other night my 10 year old daughter told me she didn’t think living in Minneapolis was safe for us any longer. For the first time, I am scared walking from my house to my car. I know people on the call last night said they have never felt safer, and those of us who do feel unsafe are white and privileged, and we don't understand what real crime feels like. That may be the case, but I can tell you that if the level of crime continues to increase, people will leave the city. If people leave for the suburbs we will be in a world of hurt. Home values will decrease, schools will lose funding, and businesses will relocate. Instead of telling the neighborhoods that are experiencing crime at a new level to get over it, we should be asking why this is happening. The data shows that crime is increasing, regardless of how safe people on the call last night say they are.
Safety is a reasonable expectation for all of us. I want to feel safe walking my dog. I want to feel safe enough to allow my kids to walk home from school. I want to walk to my car in the morning without looking out the window first to ensure car jackers are not waiting for me.
I am invested in this city. I believe in this city, and I believe in you as the city council to make the right decisions for the people that choose to live in Minneapolis.
I ask that you approve the budget that was put forward by Mayor Frey. I am not pretending to understand the relationship between police and those who have spoken about their terrible experiences. I can only speak to what I know, and we have seen a triple digit increase in crime. We need to retrain, rebuild, and reform, not defund. In this moment, our city needs help, we need boots on the ground to save our city. Please don’t let your legacy be one, where the people that love this city flee to protect their families.
Thank you
Kris Kelly, Minneapolis Resident since 1981
Kristine Kelly 312 Prospect Ave [email protected]
12/3/2020 10:25:58 AM
I believe in police reform and significant restructuring of the current way we deal with non violent crimes and situations. I don't think this should come at the expense of our community's safety with decreasing the police budget at this time.
4741 Chowen Avenue South
12/3/2020 10:49:43 AM
I am a resident of North Minneapolis I recently had my townhome shot with gunfire on two different incidences.
I definitely do not want to defund the police, I feel programs should be expanded not retracted.
Troy Bermel 5108, Humboldt Ave N [email protected]
12/3/2020 11:28:25 AM
Please please please address the increase in crime in Minneapolis. We need more visible and responsive policing with better training. Disband the police union leadership. nancy anderson 3208 Irving Ave So [email protected]
12/3/2020 11:46:49 AM
To Minneapolis decision makers,
Now is not the time to take reform steps, there is no reform while chaos and crime is running rampant. I support reform, it has to happen, it will happen, but this current crises needs intervention NOW, or it will mutate into a cascade of negative outcomes in this amazing city.
I support the Mayor's budget. I also support our chief and MPD. Let them do this! This is what police officers can do. They cannot reform the system, that's up to all of us. Please vote without ideology. We need healthy decisions from you for the good of all.
Jenny 4938 Garfield ave s, Minneapolis MN 55419 [email protected]
12/3/2020 11:48:22 AM
To the City Council,
I enthusiastically support the many powerful testimonies of my fellow community members who voiced their support at public hearings for The People's Budget. Time and time again the police department in this city has proven themselves to be violent, racist, and unethical -- it is time to divest from an unreformable, carceral institution and to reinvest in our communities by financially supporting violence prevention, mental health services, housing for all, harm reduction, and environmental justice.
At a minimum, I hope that you pass the first two demands in the Safety for All Budget, but I want to be clear that this is not enough. The People's Budget envisions a way forward that lifts up our entire community.
Thank you,
Ari Baum-Hommes
Arianna Baum-Hommes 3311 Elliot Ave S, Apt 2 [email protected]
12/3/2020 11:53:19 AM
The budget overall seems to be a thoughtful attempt to deal responsibly with a difficult year. The Mayor’s summary seems to weave a path through a minefield of critical considerations, all of which deserve the careful attention they are receiving. I would ask that the City Council refrain from interjecting hardline abrupt changes, in particular refrain from reducing the number of police officers in the next budget year. Citizens are already seeing the negative impact of disruption in the department. I would encourage the Council to find other ways to address the legitimate policing concerns and to develop a plan that can be implemented with due speed as established benchmarks are achieved.
Charles Gould 1715 Morgan Avenue South [email protected]
12/3/2020 12:36:05 PM
Mayor Frey & Council Members,
I have lived in Minneapolis for nine years. I am a current resident of ward 9.
The only good experience I’ve had with the MPD, was when two on-duty officers were staring at loose chickens, laughing, taking selfies with them, while looking very confused-- presumably because the officers are not from South Minneapolis. This made me chuckle.
On the other side of the spectrum, an officer recklessly pulled a right hook on me (a maneuver responsible for the majority of fatal bicycle and car collisions) when I was bike-commuting on Franklin Ave, just barely grazing my tire. They used no lights and no siren.
This summer, the MPD ordered an EMT to inject Ketamine into a friend (and teacher and linguist and actor) whose landlord (his friend) felt their only resort was to call the police when my friend was experiencing a mental health crisis. He was then shackled and confined in a mental ward against his will.
The threat rarely justifies the force and the force almost never solves the actual problem, in fact it only serves to exacerbate or perpetuate it. We need to invest our city’s money in prevention, mental health and education, not the police.
My friend is now experiencing homelessness during a pandemic with no culturally sensitive treatment plan for his mental health concerns. He is scared out of his wits whenever he sees a police officer or is told to see a doctor. I am trying best as I might to help along with a team of other supportive friends— but even with others helping, the weight of his trauma is rooted in generations of systemic exploitation and brutal policing of black and brown bodies which individuals, even as they organize with mutual aid and on a grassroots level, cannot atone for alone. The source of this shared trauma, more than 500 years later, still needs to be reckoned with, starting with a new model for public safety because all our security and safety and success is bound together.
Please, take an immediate step toward divesting from the MPD. Please vote to support The People’s Budget. What will your legacy be?
Allison Osberg
Allison Osberg 3333 21st Ave S
12/3/2020 12:40:25 PM
Kathleen Farley
Ward 8, Andrea Jenkins My name is Katie and I've been living in the 8th ward of Minneapolis for about a year and a half. I taught public school in the metro area for five years, and have been an advocate for racial justice in my own classrooms and at the district level. My name is included in the dedication of Dr. Cassandra Glynn's book on equity in the world language classroom and I received training in Culturally and Linguistically responsive teaching from Dr. Sharroky Hollie. That being said, I am troubled by the false choice that has been set up by many on this City Council and their supporters.
This budget debate has been framed as a choice between police reform and a fully funded police force. It’s one or the other. That’s the kind of rigid ideology that has us in this crime-infested mess. Reality is we need both – we want a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves – and much further along in eradicating the systemic racism we all abhor. It is irresponsible to ignore the advances that have been made in recent years with technology like squad cameras, body cameras, and less lethal weapons. Not mention the fact that the officers on patrol have never been more diverse. I know for certain that St. Paul PD counts trans, gay, and lesbian offers among it's ranks and I hope MPD can say the same. I would bet the number of women and people of color on the force has never been higher, and the abuse and vitriol that Black officers especially are subjected to from the public each day has never been worse.
We also need a fully staffed police force, and we need our newest academies full of more BIPOC, LGBTQA+, and female officers than ever before to count on keeping their jobs. Police deter crime. Police respond to crime. Police make other public safety programs effective. I understand why you felt compelled to take action in June. I urge you to consider the consequences of those actions. Let’s be more thoughtful going forward. Before you rush to cut or transfer programs in a punitive manner – let’s see your fully baked plan for a new public safety department. It’s due next year. Until then, finish your job. Keep police funding and programs where they are. Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future to restore peace and calm.
Kathleen Farley 4128 Oakland Ave [email protected]
12/3/2020 1:18:03 PM
I live in the Whittier neighborhood and, in non-pandemic times, work in downtown Minneapolis. I support the People's Budget proposed by Reclaim the Block and Black Visions Collective. It would move money from a police department that has had a dismal rate of crime solving and a ghastly record of violence long before this year, and it would put that money toward actually serving our communities and addressing the problems at the root of crime. Short of this, the Safety for All budget proposal would at least be a step in the right direction. I emphatically do not support Mayor Frey's proposed budget as it now stands. Continuing the status quo will not make anyone safer; the police have demonstrated their ineffectiveness as stewards of public safety again and again over many years. Try something different. Try investing in the people of this city. Amy Fitzgerald 2427 Blaisdell Ave, Apt 28 [email protected]
12/3/2020 1:46:15 PM
I am writing to support the mayor's budget. A false dichotomy is being created by the members of the council and supporters of the people's budget. Money can be pulled from other parts of the budget to fund the initiatives proposed, but reducing the police budget should not be the first priority during a significant rise in crime.
Thanks, Tony Kocanda 11th ward resident
Tony Kocanda 6041 Columbus Ave So. [email protected]
12/3/2020 1:50:05 PM
The lack of effective crime prevention, is reflected in the numbers. While I would agree that bad "egg" police officers need to be weeded out, at this time I would strongly urge you not to decrease but rather increase the budget for police protection.
The number of car jackings and break ins in our neighborhood and throughout the city is alarming , increasing the risk of exposure to violent crime for all of the city's citizens, and should be a wake up call to the city council. At the least it should be seen as an embarrassment and black mark on the city I have called home for the last 40 years. matt monsein 3807 Xerxes AveS [email protected]
12/3/2020 1:58:50 PM
There can be police support and police reform at the same time.
City Council - you represent all of the people of Mpls who live and/or work here. You do not represent activists and other people that do not live and/or work in Mpls. You do not just represent the activists. You represent all people who have a stake in this city. I am still angered over the Powderhorn Park "abolish the police" failed public relations event back in June. It was an amateur move to take that strong public position out of the gate. All it did was emboldened the criminals and angered many of us and gave talking points to the far right. Trump highlighted that reckless message - is this a reason why they won back seats in the US house?
To be able to work to a common solution you need to work in the middle of the opposing views. We need effective policing. We need more officers actually patrolling the trouble spots and we need that now. You aren't even following our city charter that dictates the number of police we need to have. Add more police officers so they can patrol the streets and stop crime before it happens. We do need to train the officers and provide other public safety solutions you are recommending like moving non- violent calls to other non MPD departments perhaps but you can not throw out what we have now and expect the city stakeholders to feel safe in the short term. Crime isn't going to decrease without action.
I do not feel safe. I do not go into the retail areas of the city much anymore except for Lunds on West Lake Street. I do not drive down Hennepin or anywhere else in South Mpls. My car was broken into on the mall in 1985 when I rented by Lagoon and Lake. I have owned and lived in my house since 1987, which was broken into in 1988 during the cocaine crazed murderapolis years. I am more afraid now because of the current car jackings and muggings that happen at all hours of the day with knives, mace, guns and just plain old strong arm tactics by one or more teens or adults. One of my good friends was car jacked this fall in her own driveway south of Uptown. I have the citizen app and follow other twitter feeds so I am aware of the types of crimes and descriptions of their perpetrators. I follow this info for my own personal safety so I can develop plans and strategies to stay safe.
When Covid 19 is finally conquered I hope to continue to go out downtown, go to Viking, Twins and Lynx games; ride my bike downtown to sit on a patio, go to Orchestra Hall and other concert venues; go to theaters downtown and uptown. I am not going to do any of that if crime is not under control. In fact I would likely move away because paying the taxes I do without the benefits would be crazy. I love this city but if I can't live my life in safety I'm gone.
So you City Council Members need to listen to all sides and not just the one side you seem to be listening to. I wrote to Lisa Goodman (my council rep) the day after the abolish the police statement but now I need to be sure that all of you council reps hear this feedback.
To move forward you are going to have to work on being in the middle. Is is not an either or. I think if you work with that message you will get farther and people will be inclined to work together. Let the activists take the far side because thats what activists do but you need to govern for everybody.
Julie Neal 2836 Chowen Ave. So [email protected]
12/3/2020 2:12:07 PM
Please, please , please, don’t cut the police department!!!!! Instead, add to the department good and sensible human beings. Crime is rising! You know this. Mary Linstroth 4525 Park Commons Drive, Minneapolis,MN 55416 [email protected]
12/3/2020 2:16:49 PM
I am writing in support of the People’s Budget. 2020 has been a year of unprecedented loss and treating the 2021 budget like any other will not help many members of this community. More of the same amidst the economic fallout of a global pandemic will further hurt our city. It is time for significant changes that start to reckon with the racist, sexist and predatory funding that have led us to where we are today.
The People’s Budget calls for a culturally competent commitment public health. Increased access to mental health care can only improve outcomes across the board. We also need to focus on children, increasing their access to mental health resources as they process living through and the after effects of the pandemic. The opioid epidemic has been raging for years and policing has done nothing to curb it, we need a new approach as presented in the People’s Budget. We are in a growing HIV epidemic where education and resources are needed. Additionally, providing harm reduction and alternatives to traditional healing will expand the reach and ability for quality care. We also need to have a realistic approach to sex work and stop pretending this doesn’t exist or isn’t a valid form of work.
The nationwide increase in violence we are seeing in our communities is a direct result of the global pandemic. People are unemployed, unhoused, hungry, sick and anxious and the federal response has been nearly non-existent. Focusing funding on covid relief, childcare and truly affordable housing would provide life-altering resources, create jobs and lead to a decrease in violence. Funding existing mutual aid sites that are already embedded within communities only expedites access to essential needs.
The People’s Budget calls for re-imagining community safety by focusing on the community. The relationship between the MPD and the residents of Minneapolis is forever broken. The events of the summer have led many to call for alternative options for safety and justice. The answer to our problems isn’t a more of the same approach to policing, it is time to focus on prevention and repair to create lasting changes to our city. Reallocating funding to support mobile mental health teams, community centers, art spaces or collective healing would be an excellent use of city resources. Funding existing restorative justice groups would provide alternatives for those who seek to use them.
Brittan Donohoe 3612 13th Ave South [email protected]
12/3/2020 2:22:32 PM
We are in our eighteenth year here on Knox Avenue South. In the last six years crime has been steadily increasing in Minneapolis and in Southwest as well. Crime has turned from petty garage break ins into robbery, increased theft of vehicles and catalytic converters, as well as assault.
It is absolutely absurd to me that the council would even consider at this time to defund the police. We are currently battling many issues in the city all of which contribute to more crime. We have a pandemic, joblessness, major drug use and addiction as well as an increase in homelessness.
Please, for the safety of everyone who lives anywhere in the city of Minneapolis, don’t reduce the budget for the police department. The negative effects on the city will be experienced by every neighborhood. Especially at this time we need a larger budget to have more police. After all, the first call made when a citizen is in trouble in any neighborhood in Minneapolis is to the Police Department.
Sara Abernathy 5413 Knox Ave S [email protected]
12/3/2020 2:31:10 PM
Thanks for making a priority when passing the 2021 City of Minneapolis budget to continue equitable investments in energy efficiency, rebuilding, resilience and climate solutions!
On behalf of 30 neighborhood environment committees across Minneapolis active with our Mpls Green Teams coalition with Minneapolis Climate Action and Resilient Cities & Communities www.rccmn.co/minneapolis/
Please make sure that full amount of annual revenue from the .5% Franchise fee increase approved to fund climate and energy action is spent on equitable investments in energy efficiency and climate solutions.
While it looks like the 2021 proposed budget for the Sustainability Office and Climate Investments is at about 1.4 million, please work to increase that number to closer to the 2.1 Million the City included in its 2020 budget for this work. While the city is facing a revenue shortfall for 2021 investments in energy efficient and resilient reconstruction must be a priority because of the long term benefits of building back better.
We are excited that the Mayor Frey and Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins have announced the Minneapolis Forward: Rebuild Resilient program on Nov 17 which includes $1.17 million in small business energy efficiency grants aimed at small businesses owned by people of color, immigrants and those affected by this year's civil unrest.
Please prioritize maintaining energy efficiency and solar incentive investments for home owners and businesses city wide that are funded by the .5% franchise fee increase. Resident and business demand for city supported energy efficiency programs is increasing rapidly city-wide through the Energy Benchmarking program and the Truth in Sale of Housing ordinance that requires energy audits when you are selling your home.
Let’s get the city on track to meet the new climate targets of 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050 while reducing energy burdens for residents and businesses and expanding good paying jobs in energy efficiency and solar.
Thanks so much! Sean
Sean Gosiewski, Program Director
612 250-0389 [email protected]
Resilient Cities & Communities
In the Greenway Building,
2801 21st Ave S. Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55407 www.rccmn.co
Visionary Leaders. Vibrant Places. Regenerative Futures. cc. Russ Adams, Executive Director, Resilient Cities and Communities, [email protected]
Kyle Samejima, Executive Director, Minneapolis Climate Action [email protected]
Kristel Porter Executive Director, MN Renewable Now [email protected]
Sean Gosiewski Resilient Cities and Communities 2801 21St Ave S Ste 100, Minneapolis, MN 55407 [email protected]
12/3/2020 2:41:18 PM
PLEASE INCREASE OUR MPD TO 1000 POLICE.
IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOCIAL WORKERS, THAT SHOULDN’T BE INCLUDED IN THIS COUNT, RESEARCH HOW THEY WOJLD BE UTILIZED, LET THE MPD BE ACTIVE IN THAT DECISION MAKING.
Those making decisions this past summer brought our city to it’s knees. It Is unbelievable, heartbreaking, aNd DISRESPECTFUL to those good police that do exist and to the citizens of this once magnificent city.
Wendy Fine [email protected]
12/3/2020 3:00:27 PM
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I strongly support the movement to re-imagine the MPD Use of the terms de-fund or abolish the police create fear in many minds and I regret they were used in initial efforts.
I encourage re-examining and narrowing down the traditional role of officers, including:
- low-level crimes like theft, property damage, and traffic incidents are directed to 311 or
non-police city staff.
- reduce weaponizing or police and train de-escalating
- including mental health professionals, instead of armed police, to respond to mental
and behavioral health crises.
-Investing resources in the existing Office of Violence Prevention to prevent
violent crime, rather than simply respond to it.
- build community oversight and community-led police accountability
Thank you~
Lyn Rabinovitch 3940 Harriet Ave [email protected]
12/3/2020 3:04:50 PM
I believe the Mayor's proposed budget is a responsible exercise of the executive function and any further diminution in resources to the Minneapolis Police Department will only lead to heightened levels of violent crimes, deterring businesses from remaining within the city and discouraging others from considering a Minneapolis location. As taxes fall as a result, social services will naturally be underfunded and unsustainable. Ignore the so-called "People's Budget" , please.
Steven Katkov 6027 Thomas Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55410 [email protected]
12/3/2020 3:39:11 PM
You need to support the MPD. Stop the defunding nonsense. We need more officers on the force as our city is being taken over by thugs and more officers will deter some of this crime that is going on. Please budget the department more money so they can turn our city around and make it a safe place once again.
Jeanne Stevens 4445 Zenith Av So
12/3/2020 3:40:16 PM
I support the Safety for All budget proposed by councilmembers Bender, Cunningham and Fletcher and urge the council to pass that budget.
Colin Grove 2850 CEDAR AVE S, 207 [email protected]
12/3/2020 3:43:14 PM
I don not believe that this is the time to cut the budget for the Minneapolis Police Department. The recent rise in crime requires an intact enforcement agency.
That said, I am very unhappy with the performance of the Minneapolis police department. I believe that they practice in a racially unfair fashion and desperately need immediate reform. The Police Union is a blight on the city. As long as Bob Kroll remains president of the union, other officers cannot claim a "few bad apples". I'm sorry if the officers are demoralized by criticism. They have brought this on themselves by poor performance and support of a hateful labor organization.
Ultimately, I agree with the hope to shrink funding for armed enforcement but don't believe that this is the appropriate time. I do see the need for police reform to be urgent.
John MxcClure 2222 Irving Avenue South [email protected]
12/3/2020 4:06:29 PM
It is quite shocking that with all the increase in crime, anyone would be suggesting we shrink the police budget. We need absolute assurance that moving money around would allow the police to be freed up and we not need as many resources. HOWEVER, currently we need more police resources than we have, so at the least keep the budget where it is and redirect activity to other departments if it can be, i.e. maybe a net increase in funding for public safety if that is what it takes.
Stop cutting things before it is proven. Let's move small pieces, measure if they are effective and keep moving more. The urgency to try to correct all the wrongs of the past, is has the effect of hurting everyone, including people of color that are dying more often from violent crime.
Matthew Kalan 2400 Lake Pl, Minneapolis, MN [email protected]
12/3/2020 4:19:03 PM
Thank God and pass the Meatballs-WE DON’T LIVE IN MINNEAPOLIS, or MURDEROPOLIS, as many call that cesspool you call a City! NOW, that I’ve got that stuff off my chest here, we are outraged and appalled that your City Council is running your City...or as we call it: Running it into the ground! Who is really running the City? The City Council or the Mayor? We all know and it’s not Boy Mayor! I’ve lived in the TC for decades and never have we witnessed such despicable governance, or lack thereof by a pitiful few who seem to love the control they have and/or the notoriety/limelight being on the City Council has afforded them!! Outrageous conduct on behalf of all the members of the Council. I simply love how members over the summer stole money for their home protection from the City budget. This happening when they’re calling out cops for THEIR behavior. Double standard and oh, “how the pot loves to call the kettle Black (love the reference to Black). If you don’t reign in the likes of many on the Council, I am afraid MURDEROPOLIS will remain a cesspool breeding ground for crime and NOT the shining star it once was in the Midwest! P.S. I wouldn’t live in MUDEROPOLIS if you gave me a house FREE. We have a family member living in your lovely city and she would love to move. But, honestly she’d like it to be HER decision and not one of escaping!
Terry Fergon 4026 BIRCH KOLL DR., WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110 [email protected]
12/3/2020 4:51:24 PM
Mayor Frey and Minneapolis City Council Members, New City Church is a place that centers the voices of the marginalized. We know that 2021 will be difficult for our entire community, particularly BIPOC residents and low-wealth communities disproportionately impacted by both historical disinvestment and COVID-19. We are concerned to see multiple inspector positions help vacant in Reg Services. Now, more than ever, the City must use its power and resources to keep people safe in their homes and demonstrate the commitment the City claims to racial and economic equity.
New City Church is concerned that not funding these positions will limit proactive enforcement and result in slower response times to habitability complaints, which impacts the health, safety, and housing stability of renters in our community. When other core City services that engage community differently, like housing inspections, are underfunded, the police will continue to be overburdened and reactionary.
Insufficient numbers of housing inspectors could lead to increased occurrences of lead poisoning in kids, which is a life-altering harm. We know these children are more likely to be BIPOC, renters, and with low incomes.
Renters deserve safe, dignified housing. While we’re happy to see base budget increases for a number of housing programs within CPED, City resources for housing development and preservation should prioritize the deepest affordability, for the longest time, for people who are currently unhoused or unstably housed, including renters and homeowners.
In everything we do at New City Church, we continually commit to centering marginalized voices. This means creating a space for people who do not get a chance to be heard in broader society. We are committed to centering the lives and experiences of Black, indigenous, and people of color. We are committed to centering the lives and experiences of queer people, particularly trans- and nonbinary people. We are committed to centering the earth. We believe an equitable recovery is possible in Minneapolis with intentional investments and accountability to the City’s racial equity goals. This starts with a commitment to the health, safety, and dignity of Minneapolis renters by fully funding inspection staffing in the Regulatory Services department in 2021 and prioritizing City resources for deep, long- term affordability in both rental and homeownership programs.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Rev. Tyler Sit 2920 Dean Parkway, Unit 202, Minneapolis MN 55416 [email protected]
12/3/2020 6:00:33 PM
Hello , I would like to add a comment here.. You think those cops are murderers .. Well wait till Next Summer when there is more less Police.. Who will take the BLAME when there is MORE murdered then ? When your daughter or your wife gets raped and there's not a cop to come and help them , when your neighbors been carjacked and shot in the head because they wouldn't give up their car ? Who will be the murderer then? It will be on your conscience if you decide to defund the police.. we need more cops out there right now I'm too afraid to go walking like I used to around the lake I've lost 125 lb because of walking and I'm putting on weight again so who do I give the blame now to because there's not cops around when people are getting shot , carjacked murdered in our neighborhood that I used to feel safe in.. you're going to be losing residents here they will move out of Minneapolis and you will be sorry because you won't have all that money the taxes that you used to count on so think hard before you do it PLEASE !! �
Sandy Hoskins 3909-45 Avenue South [email protected]
12/3/2020 6:09:21 PM
I strongly support adding mental health professionals and tools to our public safety’s resources. I do not support funding those resources out of funding for police. In fact we need more police right now until we see a reduction in crime. We needed more police a year ago, two years ago. I’m willing to pay more taxes to fund both efforts!
Cheri Merritt 5029 Vincent Ave So [email protected]
12/3/2020 6:20:16 PM
Let's use metrics to determine if we need more police (so far this year it sure says we do!) and let's uses best practices from other cities of our size to develop programs to tackle the instances driven by homelessness, mental illness, addiction that where we currently (mis)use our police. AND hold police accountable and improve programs to eliminate racial bias. Once we have sorted out how much this will all cost, we can THEN decide the budget. Reversing this, by saying "reduce police funding" without doing the hard work of determining what specifically should be done, is in my opinion sheer lunacy, gambling with our city's safety, the people and businesses in our city, and with lives.
Guy Fisher 4217 Aldrich Ave S [email protected]
12/3/2020 6:44:18 PM
As a citizen of Minneapolis I would like to say I do not support defunding the police. The City needs more police. The City needs police reform as well as a competent adults to serve in the city council members . They act out of hate and intolerance and do not represent many residents of the city. I understand this group doesn't care about anyone but themselves as one flees to duluth when she feels threatened (re imagining public safety from 150 miles away) and the others hire private security at the expense of tax payers. I cant imagine a more pathetic group of individuals than those who serve on the city council. I dont expect them to do what is best for the people of this city they are a soulless group that cares only for themselves. Mayor Frey im praying for you. I cant imagine having to work with a bigger group of imbecIles than these city council members . Voters have failed and need to make better choices of who they elect to office.
James imsdahl 5315 Oliver Ave S [email protected]
12/3/2020 7:58:23 PM
Increase taxes. Increase the number of police. Build more Covid-19 era jail space for both juveniles and adults. Make more traffic stops and get guns out of cars and off the streets. Go after the drug gangs sending juveniles out to different areas of the Twin Cities to find guns and cash in cars, and who move up in the gang with carjackings, shootings, and murder. The number of police needs to surge now since Covid is going to increase unemployment, hunger, and homelessness in Minneapolis. Improve police training. Get rid of Kroll and his cronies. Reform police arbitration and get rid of the rogue cops. Make the facts of past complaints known to the public. Kroll brags about being able to defeat civilian oversight on radio programs. Get rid of him.
Kevin Callahan 1102 26th Avenue SE [email protected]
12/3/2020 8:22:27 PM
Please do not refund the police. My husband and I are concerned about the crime in the uptown area.
Susan young
Susan Young 2760 Drew Avenue south [email protected]
12/3/2020 8:37:49 PM
I support The People's Budget. Parts 1 and 2 of the 'Safety for All' proposal are a start, but I am concerned about any increase in recruitment and funding to the MPD and I think stable housing, harm reduction, and restorative justice are also important components of creating true public safety. For years MPD officers have engaged in racist violence and racial profiling. They do not keep our communities safe and actively harm black and brown people. The deaths of George Floyd, Jamar Clark, Travis Jordan, Thurman Blevins, Terrence Franklin, and many others demonstrate this all too clearly. We need new systems in place to help create true safety for everyone in Minneapolis.
Rachel Thompson 3027 Bryant Ave S, Apt 3 [email protected]
12/3/2020 9:27:31 PM
For the Minneapolis 2021 budget, I support “The People’s Budget”. I believe Minneapolis will benefit most from funding our communities, people and prevention programs over militarization, punishment and profit.
I request Mayor Frey and the Minneapolis City Council to make cuts to parts of MPD’s budget that can be eliminated without a transition to alternative responses, for example surveillance against protesters, militarization, image management, “community policing” initiatives, and unnecessary staffing. With the funding freed up by these cuts, I call on the city to meet the following demands:
Our city residents need funding for healthcare: mental health, substance use and overdose prevention and environmental justice.
Due to the pandemic, our city residents need economic relief. People are struggling and need funding for the needs of unsheltered residents, sustainable and affordable housing, childcare, direct economic relief, and PPE for workers.
I would like an end to violence in our city: police violence, domestic violence, gun violence and juvenile violence. Funding research based, proven programs that prevent violence from occurring in the first place is a productive way to invest in the city of Minneapolis. Funding Neighborhood Watch Programs in conjunction with Crime and Safety Specialists is another positive funding source to deter crime and make our neighborhoods safer.
Thank you.
Barbara Tarrant 3815 27th Avenue South [email protected]
12/3/2020 10:20:18 PM
Obviously, things need to change. Although rare, there are way too many bad outcomes when the police are called to violent and nonviolent situations. However, there’s also too much craziness and violence happening all over the metro.
I say don’t cut the budget. Have trained social workers respond to mental health and domestic issues with police backup as needed. Strictly change the rules of engagement. Learn from cities that are backing off on police engagement.
But don’t cut the staffing until new staffing and protocols and training are in place.
Sue Smukler 2320 Girard Ave S [email protected]
12/4/2020 2:04:45 AM
I was scheduled to speak last night(#306) but it was after midnight and so I packed it in so I am sending you my statement.
While I have multiple concerns about the proposed cuts to the police department, my focus is on the intersection of policing and mental health crises.
As a clinical social worker of 40 plus years, I am flattered that you have such high regard for my profession and appreciate your vision of how social workers can have a major role in helping to build safer and more humane communities, especially for the underprivileged and people of color. That said, I am very concerned that some of you believe that social workers can supplant the need to have police officers respond to those individuals in severe emotional or mental crises and who pose potential danger to themselves or others. While there are some outreach workers who are doing in person contact at this time, due to Covid the mobile crisis team are not seeing people out in the community, but responding to crisis calls and coordinating with police and healthcare systems as deemed necessary. I do not know the exact percentage of calls that the mobile crisis unit can handle without law enforcement but I can assure you it is not as great as number as some of you wish. Further, I personally do not know licensed social workers or mental health professionals, and I know quite a few, who would risk going into an unknown home or out in the streets where someone is reportedly exhibiting high risk behaviors without having law enforcement as back up. I acknowledge there have been cases where the police have responded very poorly, even tragically, to persons who was very impaired and vulnerable but what we don't hear is about the thousands of cases where there was effective and compassionate coordination among the crisis workers, the police, and the health care providers. I work with some of the most competent and caring psychiatrists on an outpatient basis who do everything they can to calm the patient but even they occasionally need to call in law enforcement when a patient is at very high risk of harm to self or others and refuses to be hospitalized The police I have observed take directions from the psychiatrist and treat the patient with respect and care. I have known hospital personnel from charge nurses to housekeepers who have sustained serious injuries from psychotic patients. I say this not to be dramatic or denigrate anyone but to highlight the potential dangers in working with severely mentally ill or drug addicted persons. Thankfully, the dangerous make up but a small minority of the folks who have psychiatric issues, but they are overrepresented in 911 calls. It takes a village to address folks in the throes of a potentially life threatening crisis.
I live in Loring Park and I observe on a frequent basis persons who are having a major psychiatric episodes or they are extremely high or intoxicated. They are acting out but are are far from being hardened criminals but I cannot imagine a social work team handling most of these situations without at least some level of law enforcement involvement.
I support Major Frey's budget specifically for its funding for a co responder program to address the more riskier incidents involving psychiatric and substance abuse issues. I also believe that the overall budget is reasonable and has good potential for a more responsive, effective, and respectful type of policing that can eventually evolve to a transformative public safety alternative to conventional policing. But now it not the time given how our city has been ravaged by Covid 19 and the murder of George Floyd's and its aftermath, especially given the horrific rise in violent crime.
Thanks you for letting me voice my concerns.
LaDonna Meinecke Ward 7
LaDonna Meinecke 210 West Grant St., #501 [email protected]
12/4/2020 6:53:45 AM
We see over the years how out of control our police department has become. The heinous and grotesque public lynching of George Floyd stands as a moment in history that stands at the same level as the murder of Emmit Till.
If you don’t proceed with your promise from this summer to begin the process of seriously shifting resources from police to community organizations that can actually work on the root causes of violence.
Yes crime has risen. But police don’t stop crime. If you’re lucky they might respond to your call. If you’re as lucky as a lottery winner, maybe they will do some perfunctory investigating.
But at this point the only crimes the police pursue are the non violent ones that can make them money or allow them to assault black and brown bodies with impunity.
Its time for real responses to the root causes of crime. Not more officers itching to crack skulls and shoot black men.
Mikael Pensec 2224 Emerson Avenue S Minneapolis, Mn 55405 [email protected] 12/4/2020 7:41:29 AM
PLEASE, PLEASE increase the number of police. I am a single woman who for the first time in my life am thinking about getting a gun to protect myself. Crime happening in the middle of the day in great neighborhoods, things are getting out of control.
I beg you, please!!!!
Much thanks,
Nancy Kelliher
Nancy E Kelliher 7609 Edinborough Way 4113 [email protected]
12/4/2020 8:03:49 AM
I support the people’s budget! This is an essential moment for us to do the right thing.
Joanne Garlich 3254 15th Ave S. , Apt 1N [email protected]
12/4/2020 8:08:51 AM
Dear Mayor Frey & Mpls City Council members,
Hello, my name Melissa Imsdahl and I live in the Lynnhurst neighborhood in Linea Palmisano ward. I have been a resident of Minneapolis since 2004. I love our city and neighborhoods and I have been proud to raise my son in Minneapolis. But my attitude towards living in Minneapolis is changing. I am very troubled by the reckless decisions and choices this City Council members are making on behalf of citizens of Minneapolis. To them, this budget debate is a choice between police reform and a fully funded police force. It’s one or the other. That’s the kind of rigid ideology that has us in this crime- infested mess. Reality is we need both – we want a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves – and much further along in eradicating the systemic racism we all abhor.
But let’s not kid ourselves. We also need a fully staffed police force. Police deter crime. Police respond to crime. Police make other public safety programs effective. I understand why you felt compelled to take action in June. I urge you to consider the consequences of those actions. Let’s be more thoughtful going forward. Before you rush to cut or transfer programs in a punitive manner – let’s see your fully baked plan for a new public safety department. It’s due next year. Until then, finish your job. Keep police funding and programs where they are. Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future to restore peace and calm.
After living here for 16 years and raising my sons, I am now forced with making the very hard decision of whether I want to stay in Minneapolis based on the increasing crime and continuous actions by the City Council that are not aligned with my views. It is heartbreaking to think about moving my oldest son to a new school district as he enters high school next year. But, I am forced to seriously consider this option because the thought of enrolling my youngest son into Kindergarten next year in a city that currently holds no regard for keeping our neighborhoods safe, does not feel like a smart choice.
Please pause and listen to all of the concerned citizens. Please begin to take into consideration how we can keep the peace, hold our police and city council members accountable and ensure ALL residents of our city feel safe and respected. We need to strive for mutual respect between all citizens, police and political leaders in this city. Respect and decency is not a one way street. We need to be willing to listen and work together to make change.
Sincerely,
Melissa Imsdahl
Melissa Imsdahl 5315 oliver ave s Minneapolis, MN 55419 [email protected]
12/4/2020 9:50:14 AM
I am a proponent of a restructured (not necessarily a defunded) police department which would include professionals of a different disciplines ie. mental health, chemical dependency, social work, homeless professionals in addition to a trained police force which would prioritize more violent and interpersonal crimes. Neighborhood safety is a priority. It appears that interagency collaboration has not proved effective enough in the past and present so that a single safety interdisciplinary department may be a worthy change. Please consider these thoughts in your efforts to increase the safety in our community.
Marjorie Paller 1805 West Lake Street [email protected]
12/4/2020 10:34:10 AM
I strongly support the People’s Budget, and expect implementation of parts 1 and 2 of the Council’s Safety for All plan at the bare minimum. MPD has proven over the years that reforms don’t work. Especially when the institution of policing started as a white supremacist machine to capture “runaway slaves”, protect wealthy white families’ property, and bust unions, and has continued to evolve and adapt to legally extend racism in the present day. From 2019 to 2020, over 100 people have been shot and over 70 killed by MPD. The recent discovery of hundreds of untested rape kits and the militarized approach to protesters (when the violence is what they’re protesting in the first place) also reveals a lot about MPD’s priorities.
Punitive systems do not reduce recidivism rates and only fracture communities. We cannot trust MPD to utilize funding to effectively engage in community outreach, as Chief Arradondo claims. I saw one such example of attempted outreach over the summer that was a not so subtle pandering event. MPD decided to host a screening of Black Panther at the same time a protest was scheduled, instead of scheduling a meaningful dialogue or actually meeting community needs. Police officers are not sufficiently trained in de-escalation techniques, how to authentically engage the community, or in handling mental health crises, and why not create a department that can manage these situations and isn’t trained primarily in violence. Many families, BIPOC and white, live in fear of the police and they should never have to.
We should be funding life affirming institutions like affordable housing and mental health programs, such institutions can prevent poverty and crime from happening in the first place.
Thank you for your time.
Maggie Warwick St SE [email protected]
12/4/2020 12:56:38 PM
To whom it may concern: We need more police. We need more civilian mental health responders. We need support for small business. We need homeless services.
We don’t need more regulation on our industry. We can’t absorb double digit tax hikes with double digit vacancy.
Olivia & Jeff Hornig 1910 Ist Avenue Co-owners Olivia.hornig@lakesmn
12/4/2020 12:57:42 PM
To whom it may concern: We need more police. We need more civilian mental health responders. We need support for small business. We need homeless services.
We don’t need more regulation on our industry. We can’t absorb double digit tax hikes with double digit vacancy.
Olivia & Jeff Hornig Fisher Box Building 221 S 1st Street [email protected]
12/4/2020 1:10:25 PM
1. Please support the MPD with the mayor's and the chief's recommended level of funding. Meanwhile, create a plan to integrate needed social services into public safety. We can do both. Cutting police funding now is like removing the oxygen from a pneumonia patient in an effort to get him/her to learn to breathe without it.
It is such a stupid idea I can't even get my head around it; the fact that it makes so little sense means it is politically motivated. Considering the cost in lives, that is irresponsible and ourtrageous.
2. Please continue to fund neighborhood organizations at the current minimum funding. If you don't, many will simply disappear, disempowering entire neighborhoods and leaving a whole range of local issues — from education to environment, to the issues of the elderly to the support of small business and more — unaddressed. The "total pie" should be enlarged to provide additional resources to neighborhoods that need it.
Mary Pattock 2782 Dean Parkway [email protected]
12/4/2020 1:12:09 PM
We need a stronger smarter police presence in MPLS, during this current crime wave instigated by the lack of law and order due to city council’s rhetoric and attacks on MPD we have seen crime after crime, shooting after shooting and murder after murder go unchallenged by the government we hire to protect us. The city councils’ ideas of defunding seem to not understand the presence of sociopaths that live around us who gladly take any opportunity to plunder whatever they can and viciously fight it out in our streets over turf and other petty differences. We need the cops full force to deal with this, start hiring actual smart people from inside the neighborhoods and all around to help the working class of this city before they start fighting back on their own, so yea it will get a lot uglier if that route is played out as the city council lets us rot. MORE COPS!
Robert 3922 Russell Ave N
12/4/2020 1:17:09 PM
Mayor Frey & Council Members:
I support the People's Budget, and if you won't pass that, then I also support the Safety for All budget.
We need violence prevention, not punishment.
Patricia Good 3617 Oakland Ave [email protected]
12/4/2020 2:39:23 PM
The proposed $8 million dollars from the police budget to fund the creation of a Safety for All initiative is modest.
Police reform has been demanded - and promised - for years. The few, and weak, changes instituted following the killings of Jamar Clark and Philando Castile have been woefully inadequate.
The murder of George Floyd made that abundantly clear.
Now reforms are still being promised, and more money being asked for, by a police department that is blatantly not serving the needs of Minneapolis’ people.
We need drastic change. Change far more drastic than this modest budget reallocation represents. But it is a start.
It is, almost literally, the least we can do.
I entreat you, as a taxpayer and a voter, to effect this transfer of funds.
I include a link to an article that outlines many of the issues at hand. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/minnesotas-decades-long- failure-to-confront-police-abuse/amp
Thank you, Sarah Lechner
Sarah Lechner 3217 Park Avenue [email protected]
12/4/2020 3:22:19 PM
I urge the council to pass the safety for all budget plan. It's the first step in the police divestment process, which I believe has to start now. The pressure to increase the police budget in response to recent crime trends is strong, but I don't believe that it's the right solution. Instead, the city needs to invest in alternative solutions to public safety, starting with identifying new ways to address mental health crisis and homelessness that don't involve violence. We need to address crime by making the city a better place for everyone, not by increasing the presence of a police force that has squandered community trust.
Meg Reid 2201 3rd Ave S Apt 304 [email protected]
12/4/2020 3:54:03 PM
I would like the budget for the police department to be reduced and more funding going to rethinking community safety. Teams for mental health interventions, supportive jobs, education, housing to prevent poverty and mental and emotional stress, which can lead to sickness and violence.
We must begin this change and we must be bold about how we do this. I don't see how giving funds to the same department with the same structure and police union, policies that allow police to live outside the city they work in, and limited immunity will do anything but perpetuate the status quo, which has been structural racism.
Please please let's make Minneapolis a leader in this change. Please be responsive to the local, national, and world-wide outcry that George Floyd's murder evoked! I want to be proud of my city! I am not proud of my city at the current time. I want to be in a creative, enterprising, BRAVE place.
Thank you, Colleen Sheehy
Colleen Sheehy 4851 5th Ave. S. Minneapolis 55419 [email protected]
12/4/2020 4:25:43 PM
We emphatically do not support any cuts to the police department - we would prefer to add officers. Reversing nearly thirty years of falling crime which has produced a tremendous increase in the standard of living of the poorest people in our city is a huge mistake. The most disadvantaged people have gained the most from the reduction in violent crime. The US spends relatively less on police and more on prisons than any European country - increasing the number of police on the street would increase capture rates and deter crime and by doing so it would also reduce the prison population. A survey of crime and policing that Jon Klick and Alex Tabborok wrote in 2010 provides a remarkably consistent estimate that a 10% increase in policing would reduce crime by 3 to 5%. A dollar spent on policing is more effective at reducing crime than a dollar spent on imprisoning.
Colleen Ryan 2212 Oliver Avenue South [email protected]
12/4/2020 4:35:48 PM
My name is Kate Moore, I live in Ward 8, in councilwoman Jenkins district.
I am a white, queer, homeowner in the bancroft neighborhood & I strongly support The People’s Budget, and ask that the council adopt this plan.
The analogy of giving extra buckets to someone in a sinking boat vs addressing the source of the problem seems like an apt metaphor. Why is our boat sinking? Our boat is sinking b/c folks lack dignified housing, jobs that pay a living wage, and affordable health care & mental health resources.
Our problems will NOT be solved by more policing, but by more support and resources!
My personal experience with the police has been that they consistently escalate situations, which, more often than not, results in increased harm to black, brown, trans & indigenous bodies. Safety for one group (wealthy white landowners) that also includes the frequent murdering of another group (black, brown, trans & indigenous bodies) is not how I envision safety.
I want to be represented by a city council that puts people over profits and property, and one that demonstrates *with their actions* their commitment to social justice and repairing the harm done over the last 150 years by the MPD.
And I believe the first step of that healing journey looks like our city council adopting the People’s Budget, and I strongly encourage the council to support this plan.
Thank you for listening to the voice of one of your constituents.
Kate Moore 3833 15th Ave South [email protected] 12/4/2020 5:29:27 PM
My name is Nathan Roberts I am a Ward 9 homeowner.
I am a Pastor with ISAIAH. I have worked as a Minneapolis Public Educator.
My wife is a small business owner in Uptown.
I support the Safety for All Budget Plan from Cunningham, Fletcher, and Bender and I also support the People’s Budget.
For years I have witnessed too many undisciplined Minneapolis Police officers bullying my neighbors and students. This reached a deadly end with the police murder George Floyd.
I live right across the street from South High where I used to work. Outside the school 4 Minneapolis Police falsely accused me and two black teens of smoking weed. They held us at gunpoint in front of a public school.
I don’t feel safe calling the police to respond to crimes in my neighborhood. We have families living on the street, teens out of school, and people out of work.
We are in a pandemic and a recession. We need increased funding for affordable housing, homeless outreach, Youth programming, and non-violent Mental health interventions. Please stay brave and keep the promises you made this summer.
Nathan Roberts 3136 19th Ave S [email protected]
12/4/2020 5:58:59 PM
I am a lifelong resident of South Minneapolis. My husband and I own a home in the Bryant neighborhood, three blocks from 38th and Chicago.
The escalation in violent crime in Ward 8 over the past eight months has made living here an anxious and difficult experience. Residents all over South Minneapolis are being targeted, mugged, assaulted, and carjacked. I venture out nonetheless, but with this unprecedented rise in violent crime it is increasingly clear that there is simply no safe place to be in South Minneapolis right now. We are in trouble. Please help.
The residents of this city seek racial justice. We seek radical police reform. And we seek the right to be safe, to move freely through our neighborhoods, and to live our lives. I know that we can find a way to do all of these things, and that we need to do all of these things. Safety and justice are not mutually exclusive. We have no space or energy to do the hard work of reform without simultaneously having our basic human need for safety met in the places we live and work.
I urge you to fully fund the mayor’s proposal. Please wait to shift police programs and money until the new Public Safety Department is ready to move forward. Get our city and state leaders to agree on what reform must look like over the next few years. And then approve future police budgets if they meet reform goals. Let’s move as quickly and fairly as possible toward a more just and safe city. Thank you.
Carmine Profant 4040 Columbus Ave [email protected]
12/4/2020 9:51:42 PM please fund a full police force. please make sure that the police treat everyone fairly. please do everything you can to prevent violence. now, get to work.
Larry Bontreger 5159 North Penn Avenue [email protected]
12/5/2020 9:36:43 AM
Do not reduce the police budget! We are already in need of much more enforcement
Sarah rand 2329 Newton Ave S [email protected]
12/5/2020 11:48:29 AM
We need more police, not less!
Teri Joyce 4916 Washburn Ave S [email protected]
12/5/2020 1:16:42 PM
BOTH/AND
We need deep police reform AND sufficient police coverage on the streets. Please don't pit these objectives against each other. Add a broader range of professionals as a temporary increase in staff and see how it works out -- then reduce the number of officers if there appears to be an excess. Take advantage of the Mpls Foundation's offer to fund innovative ideas while continuing to support the same number of working police as in 2018 (minus staff for whatever jobs are transferred to 311). Find the the money somewhere. Raise taxes if you have to.
As a woman with some grey hair and a bad hip, I'm afraid to walk around in my own south Mpls neighborhood (Ericsson). I have never felt this way before. I do my grocery shopping in Richfield -- out of fear for my safety. I would like to visit the many shops and restaurants on Lake St but I don't dare go alone. A few days ago a friend a few blocks away was mugged at gunpoint while chatting with a friend on her front steps. This is simply not ok.
Many Mpls people continue to report bad experiences with the cops. We need to support deep reform, including allowing the police chief to discipline and fire (keep pressing the state legislature for that one).
Avis Thomas 4124 Longfellow Ave [email protected]
12/5/2020 1:46:23 PM
Dear Council Member,
I have been a resident of downtown Mpls. for 8 years.
My wife and I love everything about Mpls.
We attend US Bank Stadium, go to the Twins games and enjoy the restaurant and theater scene.
All this has change because the city is sitting on its hands.
What are the facts:
1. 500 shootings
2. Carjackings are at a record number.
3. Seniors and women are being accosted with guns put to their heads
4. There are intersections in downtown covered with tire doughnuts from stolen cars.
5. Cars stop at red lights look both ways and then race through.
6. Seniors have to dodge cars going through red lights. 7. Criminals are embolden.
8. The hard working residents are paying the price.
Mpls is racing towards its old nickname "Murderopolis!"
Please vote to totally FUND the Minneapolis Police Dept.
Sincerely,
Malcolm W Johnson
Malcolm Johnson 100 3rd Ave S [email protected]
12/5/2020 3:18:54 PM
DO NOT DEUND THE POLICE!
Kay Gregory 5431 Cumberland Rd [email protected]
12/5/2020 3:39:50 PM
Fully fund the Minneapolis police department and put as many good cops on the streets as possible! Residents are SCARED, full stop. High crime will directly lead to a lower tax base. Get crime under control and THEN work on police procedure reform.
Well done city council members who called for defunding the police, you alone caused this crime wave. You should be forced to solve this problem before you leave the council.
signed,
almost a life-long resident, 57 years, currently considering re-locating from a city I love.
Leah Stich 1615 W. Franklin [email protected]
12/5/2020 4:12:32 PM
To all that will receive this message,
I await a headline in the Star Tribune or any neighborhood publication that says " Mayor, Police Chief and City Council Unite"
The article would identify what they have united on and how that impacts the budget. I would look for Police Training Reform, Police and Mental Health Collaborative Response, Police Disciplinary Checks and Balances, Police Union and Police Chief Agreements, Goals for Public Protection with measurable outcomes.
You get the idea. This is not about trying to appease the public. It is about compromise and a well developed plan with monthly indicators of success.
Your house is divided, and we are all falling. We are falling into discontent, fear, and helplessness.
I moved to Minneapolis to be part of a diverse, vibrant community.
Please, please--find ways to unite. Find ways to compromise with high expectations for all.
Thank you for reading my comments. I do think everyone's voice matters, yet I am tired of hearing what sounds like voices who are unwilling to find common ground and build from there.
Pam MacKinnon
Pamela MacKinnon 1805 West Lake Street, Unit 101 [email protected]
12/5/2020 5:42:26 PM
I apologize as this is my second email. On the council meeting call the other night, you, the council members were asked to have the courage to keep their commitment made in June at Powderhorn Park. I am also going to ask that you have the courage to step back from your original commitment after seeing the damage that has been done as a result. Have the courage to see through the political pressure and take a stand that safety is important in Minneapolis. Have the courage to say we will not reduce police funding but we will invest in Divsersity and Inclusion training. Have the courage to say that the goal is to make the entire city feel as safe as those in South Minneapolis have always felt. The criticism of South Minneapolis residents who are asking to feel safe walking their dogs is ridiculous. Why shouldn’t people feel safe walking their dogs? People will leave!! And, it will be the people with money that will leave. It will ruin the city. Please do the right thing and support Frey’s budget proposal.
Thank you
Kris Kelly Kristine Kelly 312 Prospect Ave [email protected]
12/6/2020 1:34:12 AM
City Council,
Please keep the MPD portion of the proposed budget intact, fully funding the MPD and the 3 new classes of MPD recruits and keep the Community Service Officers funded. also. With the increase of crime brought on by the defunding language used at Powderhorn Park, which emboldened criminals, we need to get the safety of the community under control BEFORE any discussion of shifting funds to other untried programs. It's notable that some CMs get private security but the rest of us rely on MPD for our security. Chief Arradondo needs the full budgeted amount in the Mayor's proposed budget to get a handle on the increase in crime. But this is not an either or issue and funds raised in the community, specifically the promised $5 million Minneapolis Community Safety Innovation Fund will provide a start to trying new avenues to reforming MPD to make it better and provide a start to reform which is needed to make the MPD the best it can be. PLEASE DO NOT CUT THE POLICE BUDGET! Please use The Minneapolis Community Safety Innovation Fund to try new avenues for public safety while keeping a fully funded MPD. Thank you, Darlene Huss
Darlene Huss 1502 Jefferson ST NE [email protected]
12/6/2020 7:30:47 AM
Your responsibility as elected city council members is to do the very best to represent your constituents only after you've seen to the needs of the city as a whole. Even if you focus only on your Ward, you absolutely must understand what happens to the city happens to the ward. I am seriously concerned and disappointed by the job performance of our city council.
The 2021 budget plan put forth by council members Bender, Cunningham, and Fletcher to divert police funding to new programs is emotional-charged thinking, wishful at best and dangerously delusional. The councils desire earlier this year to defund the police, absent of a well-established plan, was embarrassing. Prove to me - with data - that defunding the police is a wise decision while crime continues to climb. The narrative that is coming from the council members is embarrassing and perhaps is emboldening criminal activity by normalizing and downplaying the news. Ironically, it’s very Trump- eqe in how some of the council members suggest the news is blowing things out of proportion (insert “fake news” here). If I was not living in and watching the deterioration of the city that I love so much, I might even laugh at the irony. As city council members you must listen to your constituents and subject matter experts to find ways to advance some of the council members’ ideas without cutting police. These are hard times, and I realize you are in a stressful spot. But you signed up to do the very best to represent your constituents and in tending to the needs of the City of Minneapolis. Right now your city is on the knifes edge, and your constituents’ basic needs are not being met. We are scared.
Leah Cunningham 4231 Nokomis Ave [email protected]
12/6/2020 8:48:39 AM
Good Afternoon City Council Members,
Again, as you move through this budget process, I really need you to consider and figure out how to hold the MPRB accountable for their fraudulent City of MInneapolis Parks arms race and their continued investment in indulgent park facilities and NO FOCUS on YOUTH and HUMANS.
Now, just this week, they announced another project to build a new facility at Bde Maka Ska. It will most likely cost millions of dollars. https://www.minneapolisparks.org/project_updates/design-team- selected-for-bde-maka-ska-pavilion-rebuild/
Sure, there used to be a building at Bde Maka Ska but it's gone now. and WE DONT NEED ANOTHER FACILITY or EVENT CENTER or RESTAURANT near Bde Maka SKA in the City of Minneapolis. We have enough buildings. I am so tired of this continued overinvestment in buildings that do nothing to help humans. Invest in HUMANS not buildings. Tell the MPRB their funding is canceled for this.
TO add to that, the City has OTHER HIGHER PRIORITIES NEEDS like funding for public safety programs, housing and homelessness services, and COVID-19.
PLEASE, Tell the MPRB we DONT NEED A FANCY BUILDING AT BDE MAKA SKA. They can put in a small restroom facility and water fountain and turn the rest of the area into a NATURE SPACE. WE dont NEED MORE FANCY BUILDINGS. I am so tired of the MPRB.
Shift and Cut 1/2 of MPRB funding to the City of Minneapolis public safety, (not MPD, other programming), homelessness and housing services and youth development programs. Also, cancel the MPRB's operation outside of the City of Minneapolis structure. It's wasting millions and millions of tax payer dollars.
Thank you for your efforts and time. I hope we can make positive investments in the city of Minneapolis moving forward.
--
Courtney L. Sanders Courtney Sanders 1331 marshall st ne, 514 [email protected]
12/6/2020 9:00:00 AM
Dear Council Members and Staff,
I live in the Bryant Neighborhood at 41st and 5th Avenue South. As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget in 2021, I urge you to fund our communities, and not the Minneapolis Police. I do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K) that relies on police to punish police.
Co-Responders ($685K), instead use this as an opportunity to remove duties from MPD and shift money to fund professionals with the actual expertise.
New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K)
Additional Overtime ($5M)
Re-allocate from MPD’s $179M proposed budget and, instead, fund the things my community really needs right now:
Access to low-income housing
Harm reduction & prevention for the opioid crisis
Direct economic relief
We need the council to stop bankrolling the murderous MPD and begin funding our communities to organize and support each other. Since the heinous murder of George Floyd by the MPD, my block 5th (approximately 39th - 41st) has formed the Block Power Union (BPU). We began organizing in early June and have been meeting weekly since then. This type of grass roots community organizing holds the key to understanding what the city needs - block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood. Take this time to listen to the residents of this city - not to fearmongers or special interest groups.
We need new solutions that work for everyone. I hope you take this time to really do it right.
Beth Schmieg 4140 5th Ave S [email protected]
12/6/2020 9:39:35 AM
Hello, all. I am a lifelong resident of Minneapolis and this is the first time in my life I've considered leaving. It is my view that not only should the police department not be defunded, it should be increased to 1000 members. Obviously reforms need to be made within the department, and the council members who would like to divert funds to other preventative programs- I believe your ideas are good ones. I love what I read in the paper today, that Mayor Frey and private parties are working to create a separate fund for those goals. But please, don't cut the police department. katie McCollow 4754 Washburn Ave S [email protected]
12/6/2020 11:56:03 AM
Dear Mayor Frey and Council Members:
I support the "People's Budget" recently released by a number of local organizations. The Safety For All budget currently under council discussion is a thoughtful incremental compromise that is a bare minimum of progress towards a safer city and should not be compromised any further. The MPD has failed on so many fronts for so many years, and has not once stepped up to be held accountable for its ongoing failures, appears to consider the people of this city their adversaries, and has no turnaround plan as was made clear in recent council discussions over supplemental funding. Shrinking MPD and redistributing support to community groups and individuals in need is the way forward, the sooner and faster the better. The current trends in crime are continued evidence that MPD does not (cannot) keep us safe, not evidence that it needs or deserves sustained funding.
Thank you,
Andrew Arsham
Lyndale Neighborhood
Ward 8
Andrew Arsham 3426 Grand Ave S [email protected]
12/6/2020 12:20:26 PM
I support approval of the Mayors budget. The proposal to take away 8 million dollars from the MPD lacks any concrete, immediately, actionable ideas to reduce crime in Mpls, which is a high priority to all of us. Many of the Council seem to view the world through only the lens of radical liberal ideology, without any understanding of how to make things actually work on a complex world. Selling an idea is easy, delivering on that idea is infinitely harder.
After 30 years of budget responsibility in a large corporation, I believe that budget reduction begins with the identification/cost of core services. The police department is a core service in this time of crisis, and it is irresponsible to reduce it at this time.
Without law and order to provide a sense of stability, the city will continue to decline. The credibility of our city leadership is at all time low. Defunding the police is any way at this time is exactly the wrong thing to do. What does make sense is finding sources of incremental funding to work on areas of needed change.
Laura Murray 5021 15th Ave S [email protected]
12/6/2020 1:18:58 PM
I really object to being called a racist for simply wanting to be safe in my home and my neighborhood. First of all, not everyone who is calling for more funding for police is white. Our police chief himself is minority.
Secondly, this kind of name calling is cowardly, divisive, and simply not helpful.
Janet Skidmore 3029 3rd Ave S [email protected]
12/6/2020 1:27:47 PM
I have not read all the details of the budget. If housing the homeless immediately is not in the budget. Please do it.
Transportation should be free for very poor people. I hope this is in the budget too.
Maggie Rozycki 3142 10th Ave. So., 1 [email protected]
12/6/2020 3:27:55 PM
As a soon-to-be father, and husband, I ask the city to increase and improve our city’s police presence and capability to restore peace in our neighborhoods. I was born and raised in Phillip’s neighborhood and it felt safer back then, than it does in Linden Hills now. This is a failure of leadership and if not corrected, I cannot imagine raising children in a city where violent crime in broad daylight is unchallenged by police. Please do not let trendy voices of anger lead to unfounded destruction of the peaceful communities of citizens who can help this city rebuild better for the future. Thank you.
Chris Johnson 4005 France Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55426 [email protected]
12/6/2020 4:02:33 PM
Do not cut the funding for the police, stand your ground against the council.
Karen Cossette 45 University Ave SE Unit 306 [email protected]
12/6/2020 5:05:11 PM
Things will not improve if members of the City Council think it's their job to punish the Police.
If officials want to improve the welfare of the overlooked, by all means develop a plan to implement alternatives to force and action.
But don't do it at the expense of safety.
And quit encouraging the bad element.
Some of you city council people need a dose of common sense.
Scott Seal 408 Sheridan Ave S [email protected]
12/6/2020 5:41:16 PM
Stop the rhetoric on eliminating the police force, vilifying the only line of defense between us and anarchy/crime, and emboldening criminals in this city. What we need is smart police reform WITH additional funding and police officers. I submit you consider not only ideological battles but also the realities of living in this city. If nothing is done to stop the current bleed, you won't be left with tax paying citizens but will be Detroit in the 60's and 70's, which is still recovering to this day.
Nik
Nik Larsen 1805 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408 [email protected]
12/6/2020 7:13:16 PM
Please don't change the Safety for All plan! We believe in you, and in our neighbors, to strike the right balance in resources for dealing with our most vulnerable populations. Please think of us, as we think of you -- heroes and neighbors (regardless of what you may hear in other formats, this is the depth of our message). Thank you for all you do, and please thank us for our support by keeping the Safety for All plan fully funded, as originally proposed!
Dashon Burton 3908 5th Av S [email protected]
12/6/2020 9:24:21 PM
I would like to make my opinion very clear that I do not believe we should currently decrease the police budget. On the contrary, I have never seen Minneapolis with such a spate of violent crime as we have experienced over the past 6 months. Before this year, carjackings were virtually unheard of in Minneapolis, and robberies on the street at gunpoint were rare. Two months ago, a friend of mine was carjacked with five guns pointed at her. There have been several armed robberies in the past couple weeks in historically safe neighborhoods of Northeast Mpls. I have lived in North Mpls. for almost 15 years, and I have never heard so many police sirens as I did this summer, all throughout the day. At night, I would hear gunshots, then sirens, and then helicopters. Last week, I was trying to teach online from my home, and I kept hearing a police helicopter flying overhead, searching for someone. The current level of violence and crime is unnerving, to say the least. I do not feel safe in my city any longer, and I am not confident that I would get a response if I needed to call 911 because of the shortage in police staffing. I have given serious thought to moving out of the city, and I have been a proud resident of Mpls. for over 38 years. Because we have a dire need for increased police presence at this crucial time, I would even be willing to pay more in taxes for greater police protection. Please don't misunderstand me. I, too, grieved over the death of George Floyd, and find police brutality to be abhorrent. It needs to stop. I believe we should reallocate certain tasks to others, such as writing crime reports. Social workers and psychologists need to be working in tandem with the police, not in place of them We also need to allocate more money for crime prevention and mentoring programs for at-risk youth. Parents also need to take more responsibility for supervising their children, or truly affordable day-care options need to exist.
It is truly naïve to believe that we can have a policeless society. That's like saying that educators can stop trying to end bullying in schools. Unfortunately, it is human nature for some people to try to exert power over others, often through violence. We need to keep policing, and we also need to keep policing the police.
Tanya Novak 3930 Washburn Ave. N., Mpls, MN 55412 [email protected]
12/7/2020 3:45:01 AM
I feel it is hypocritical that the City Council get's FREE private security for your home and families while calling to defund the Mpls Police Department, while violent crime is skyrocketing!
Especially when you throw 'safety is a privilege' in our face. As soon as you felt threatened, you called the police. Why did you not call a friend or neighbor as we are told to do?
Defund City Hall and give $1.5 million to MPD if you need to make cuts.
The lack of acknowledgement from this Council that there is even a problem is irresponsible! I see no sense of urgency.
I'm sure you know the latest crime statistics: Carjacking is up 537%! Over 500 shootings, 80 homicides and 3,000 shots fired!
This is not acceptable!
The violence is escalating and i fear a blood bath is emanate. Minneapolis citizens are arming themselves and guns are flowing into the neighborhoods. These are people who would never consider owning a gun but feel no one has our backs.
Minneapolis needs help!
I understand you must plan long term and look 10 - 20 years into the future for your reforms/initiatives. I support that 100% but not at the expense of cops on the street when crime is at an all time high. Lots of ideas look good "on paper" but don't necessarily work out in real life. Reimagining modern day police policies needs time to take root, grow and mature. Then if the results are what we want the force can be reduced proportionately as the crime rate drops.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not good policy. If this is a funding issue then by all means get alternative funding for your reforms. I feel this is not and cannot be an either/or proposition. We must reform MPD AND provide safety and security for all citizens.
Unless you stop this chaos and restore order to the streets there is no future to plan for.
A strong visible police presence will make criminals less emboldened.
More police = more arrests, more quickly.
AND the investigations will move along more quickly.
Our own experience is that my wife was carjacked, robbed and assaulted. The police told us it was the 3rd carjacking they responded to in 2 hours at the time.
Four weeks later an investigator called for details. FOUR WEEKS!
We asked about our car that was at the Impound Lot under police hold. We were told that there was one forensics investigator to work on over 100 hundred cars!
I ask that you fully fund the Mayor’s police budget and give Chief Arradondo what he needs to do his job.
Peace out,
Doug Tanner
Ward 8/Bancroft
Doug Tanner [email protected]
12/7/2020 6:58:54 AM
Please be really careful and thoughtful with the police funds.
When my employees are not doing their best job, I step back and evaluate what help they need before jumping to punishment. Often times it’s different or better training. Which often requires extra money.
We likely need more funds to go to the police to drive the change we desire. Please focus on a compassionate reform plan rather than defunding the people who are intended to keep us safe. I want to stay living in this nice city but it’s starting to get scary lately. I lived in Chicago for 10 years but left after I was attacked by 5 men and had to undergo surgeries to rearrange my face. I don’t want anyone to experience that pain and emotional agony.
Thank you!
Angela Martin, mom of 2 boys
Angela Martin 15 circle w Minneapolis MN [email protected]
12/7/2020 9:31:27 AM
The police need restructuring but not less officers on the streets...I live in North Mpls. and parts of it are behaving like the wild west! We need better trained officers or at least a means to get rid of the ones giving the "good guys" a black eye! Reform of the heads of the police union is in order! And to expect a social worker to go after and talk down someone high on drugs and threatening with a weapon is flat- out stupid! Yes we need more services for the mentally ill and addicted but doing so by having less officers is at best verry foolish and short sighted!
Nancy Marvy 3931 Washburn Av. N. [email protected]
12/7/2020 10:11:59 AM
I feel strongly that we need to *increase* the number of police that are on the street. I will gladly pay higher taxes to support more personnel.
Police will be vilified if they are only used to respond to violent crimes. We need them to be trusted, and thus they need to be a part of our community. Which means residents need to have contact with police to develop a relationship. We need more of them, and they need to be visible and on the streets. From my experience, just the presence of an officer discourages certain crimes.
I agree that there are problems within the police force. Better vetting at the time of hiring, more thorough psychological testing and ongoing training would be a good start to make a stab at change.
Most importantly, I believe that police should have to provide their own professional insurance, like doctors do. If there is "malpractice", the taxpayers should not have to shoulder the burden of paying for their mistakes.
Longfellow neighborhood
12/7/2020 11:42:16 AM
The economic engine of Minneapolis is running on one cylinder. This is due to covid, but also crime in the streets... Many of us that frequent downtown weekly, monthly are reluctant to enjoy the wonders of our beautiful city. How much of Minneapolis's revenues are generated by downtown commercial and entertainment taxes?? Cutting funds for policing will further drive business and entertainment revenues down... Is counter-intuitive to conclude that cutting police budget is going to have a positive outcome.
I worked at the U for 30 years. My kids went to high school in Minneapolis. I love Minneapolis.
Stella Jane Lang 15520 Holdridge Rd E [email protected]
12/7/2020 12:06:36 PM
I support the Safety For All budget proposal be included in the city's 2021 budget. I am a North Minneapolis resident and a physician who works at Broadway Family Medicine clinic and at North Memorial. I see daily how violence disproportionately harms my BIPOC neighbors and patients. I think the Safety For All budge proposal will allow us to invest in new strategies and not rely on old strategies that are a part of a broken system that have not led to safety for all. Sincerely, Hanna Nedrud
Hanna Nedrud 719 Printice Lane, Minneapolis, MN 55411 [email protected]
12/7/2020 2:15:45 PM
Hello – I am writing to you all over my concerns for cutting the police budget. I have lived in Logan Park in NE Minneapolis for over 25 years and never have felt so unsafe in my neighborhood until now. In the past week alone – 3 armed robberies occurred, using guns and knives (that was within blocks of my house) along with car jackings and who knows what other crimes have happened in Northeast last week! Your job as city council members are to serve the people and protect us. Defunding the police is just an open invitation for criminals now.. there is not enough police and they know this and crime will only get worse. 150 officers are leaving and we need more cops (not less). We have had enough of the City Council’s totally out of touch with reality policies and demand safety now!
• Keep Chief Arradondo
• Keep Mayors budget
• We need more cops and reform.. DO both – not one or the other!!!
• Your job is to keep us safe… DO IT!!
• GET A plan for police reform. When Lisa Bender goes on CNN and announces to defund the police without a plan.. it is a publicity stunt
• You can make plans for bike lanes that are never used and expensive high rises…why over the years haven’t you addressed the inequalities of the city? Why didn’t you focus on real affordable housing, jobs training and youth programs years ago?
• Your ideology is insane. The police are dangerously understaffed and unable to keep up with rising crime. We will have an even smaller force next year. Studies show police deter crime. We need more cops to keep us safe. Instead of fighting the will of the people – work to keep the cops and make reform happen.
• Long time residents of Minneapolis are moving out of the city in record numbers and businesses closing because of your idiotic policies and inactions. The sign that was recently hanging on 394 might well come true under your leadership - RIP Minneapolis
PA Hoffman
1213 Adams St NE
Minneapolis, MN
patricia Hoffmann 1213 Adams St NE [email protected]
12/7/2020 2:22:06 PM
It is hypocritical to say the least, that the City Council get's FREE private security for your home and families while calling to
defund the Mpls Police Department, at the same time violent crime is skyrocketing!
Especially when you throw 'safety is a privilege' in our face. As soon as you felt threatened, you called the police. Why did you not call a friend or neighbor as we are told to do? May we be afforded the same protections that you have? And by we, i mean we, the taxpaying citizens that foot the bill for this City.
We need more police on the streets, not less, that's just common sense. Defund City Hall and give $1.5 million to MPD if you need to make cuts.
The lack of acknowledgement from this Council that there is even a problem is irresponsible! I see no sense of urgency.
I'm sure you know the latest crime statistics: Carjacking is up 537%! Over 500 shootings, 80 homicides and 3,000 shots fired!
This is not acceptable! Denying there is a problem will not make the problem go away.
The violence is escalating, the carjackers are becoming more proficient and it's being used as a tool for gang initiations. It is open season on women. Minneapolis citizens are arming themselves and guns are flowing into the neighborhoods. These are people who would never consider owning a gun but feel no one has our backs.
Minneapolis needs help!
I ask that you fully fund the Mayor’s police budget and give Chief Arradondo what he needs to do his job.
Peace out,
Doug Tanner
Ward 8/Bancroft
Doug Tanner 4040 11th Avee. S. [email protected]
12/7/2020 2:40:27 PM
My husband and I have lived in SW Minneapolis since the early 80s. I am appalled at the increase in crime, especially violent crime. Pulling $22 million from MPD is not the answer. While additional social services are needed, you seem to be approaching safety from a longer term perspective. When there is a fire,would you talk about the need for a fire alarm or would you move to put it out?
Please bear in mind that many of us in SW have the means to move. Simply put, we pay a lot of taxes to support other parts of the city. Your inaction has made living here much less appealing. I used to feel comfortable walking around the neighborhood after dinner. Now, however, I only walk during the day and carry mace. How sad.
Kathy Schoenbauer 5054 Drew Ave S [email protected]
12/7/2020 2:58:50 PM
The Mayor's budget already includes a cut of 13% to the Minneapolis police department budget. Crime in our city has escalated at a shocking and disturbing rate this year*.
Please do NOT make any further cuts to the police department budget (such as the suggested additional $8 million cut proposed by council members Fletcher, Bender, Ellison and Cunningham last week.)
Thank you,
-Lora Joshi - Minneapolis Resident
* 23% 40% . 500 𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴𝑴 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊, 𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉 𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒂 𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄 𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄 𝒄𝒄 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗𝒗 𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄 𝒄𝒄 𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄 𝒄𝒄 𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕 𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚 𝒘𝒘𝒘𝒘𝒘𝒘𝒘𝒘 𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎 𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑 300%. 𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝒂𝒂 𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝒓𝒓 𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑 𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉 𝒃𝒃𝒃𝒃𝒃𝒃𝒃𝒃 𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕 𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚𝒚 𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕 𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉 𝒓𝒓𝒓𝒓𝒓𝒓𝒓𝒓 𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉 𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏 𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅 𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂 𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄 𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂 𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉 𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄 Lora𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂 𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖Joshi𝒃𝒃 𝒃𝒃 𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎 𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕𝒕 4937 Zenith Ave. S. [email protected]
12/7/2020 4:55:06 PM
Hello-
I write in support of the People's Budget, and the Safety for All re-allocation of resources allowing public servants to do the jobs for which they are trained. Law enforcement are not trained in engagement with vulnerable populations, nor should they be called upon in many emergency situations.
As a 30 year resident of the city and constituent in Ward 10, and property owner in Ward 6, I ask the city to set up a dedicated Mental Health Crisis Response Unit of mental health professionals to address mental health crises and a Social Services Response Unit of social workers, outreach workers and other responders to handle other calls that don't require a law enforcement response.
My substantial property tax dollars should be used to help my neighbors be healthy and housed. Housing and health are human rights. With the meeting of these needs, crime decreases. Militaristic response and behavior do not solve humanitarian crises. We are facing a housing crisis, as well as a pandemic, and people with mental illness are the group most likely to be killed by police. People with mental health issues are under the most stress in normal times, as well as being over-represented in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness, and in these pandemic times are truly in danger on multiple fronts. Calling for help shouldn't be one of them.
Despite their lack of training in mental health and de-escalation, police have filled the role of de-facto mental health crisis responders. Our current system is not working, and enables those that need mental health care most to fall through the cracks. I’m calling on the City Council to take action that minimizes police contact with people in the midst of a mental health crisis, and support a dedicated mobile mental health crisis response team. Thank you for your work on this issue. Please support the human rights of our citizens and proper allocation of our resources to provide Safety for All citizens.
Wendy Darst ward 10 [email protected]
12/7/2020 8:11:10 PM
I understand the mayor's proposed 13% budget reduction for the police primarily as a result of retirements and people out on medical leave. I also applaud efforts to find money to rethink how the city provides public safety. I want to see a thoughtful city leadership which balances current needs while working to develop alternative ways to meet the needs of our citizens. That said, I think it is imperative that our city leaders show public support and appreciation for the police in uniform and the work being done. Accept the mayor's proposal but cut no more from the police budget. I want to see a city budget that bolsters the current level of police resources to gain ascendance over those perpetrating the crimes. This, I hope, is a short term focus to regain what I think is lost ground. Send the message ' We are not going to accept the behavior from bad actors while we rethink public safety.'
EDWARD JANEZICH 3212 BLAISDELL AVE [email protected]
12/7/2020 8:13:35 PM
My wife and i have been home owners in Mpls for 40 years and have a lot invested here because we love it. She worked at Abbott Hospital during that time and took the bus from 40th St/11th Ave S, up Chicago Ave and never had a problem. Our kids went to Mpls public schools and never had a problem.
Now Mpls has a problem. A big crime problem. Mpls is not safe. I have never seen anything like what is happening now, not even close. My wife got carjacked, robbed and assaulted in the carport of our house.
I understand you must plan long term and look 10 - 20 years into the future for your reforms/initiatives. I support that 100% but not at the expense of cops on the street when crime is at an all time high. Lots of ideas look good "on paper" but don't necessarily work out in real life. Reimagining modern day police policies needs time to take root, grow and mature. Then if the results are what we want the force can be reduced proportionately as the crime rate drops.
Unless you stop this chaos and restore order to the streets there is no future to plan for. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not good policy. If this is a funding issue then by all means get alternative funding for your reforms. I feel this is not and cannot be an either/or proposition. We must reform MPD AND provide safety and security for all citizens.
We need more cops on the street, not less.
I ask that you fully fund the Mayor’s police budget and give Chief Arradondo what he needs to do his job.
Peace out,
Doug Tanner
Ward 8/Bancroft
Doug Tanner 4040 11th Ave S [email protected]
12/7/2020 10:00:59 PM
I am very concerned about the rising and widespread crime in Minneapolis. I have lived here my entire life and have never felt as unsafe in the city as I do now. I agree that a culture change related to use of force and systemic racism in the police force is needed, and I have confidence Chief Arradondo. I do not support defunding our police force or decreasing the police presence or number of officers.
Ann McGinn 5114 Knox Ave. S. [email protected]
12/7/2020 11:04:12 PM
I strongly feel that we should not defund the police and the high crime and murder rates are very alarming.
JP 4201 11th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
12/8/2020 8:56:12 AM
I am writing today in support of the People’s Budget, because I believe it gets us closer to the actual safe city we all deserve. I am concerned about the amount of money currently allocated to the MPD, as police do not inherently make us safer, and also creates significant harm. Research has shown us that more police does not in fact reduce crime, and I would argue that much of the crime as defined does not cause harm in a true way, and we would all be better served by creating new processes and procedures utilizing restorative and transformative justice approaches and improving social supports for the most marginalized than for policing.
Andrea Westby 4058 Vincent Ave N [email protected]
12/8/2020 9:17:09 AM
Come on Mpls city council! What are you doing to our city? You're turning it into Detroit. The crime is out of control. You're not representing the citizens but instead your own personal out of touch extreme agendas. Cutting the police budget is ridiculous. Are you aware of the crime surge? Are you aware of the car jackings? Are you aware of the constant property crimes in our city? No safety no peace. The election is only a year away.
Andrea Fenton Abbs 4726 Girard Ave S [email protected]
12/8/2020 9:44:05 AM
I support community-based violence prevention programs, better mental health crisis management, and non-emergency call responses. I DO NOT support more money for police. I support the Safety for All plan. Our city is raw and wounded and we need more community programs and support that will actually help our communities, especially those that are the most vulnerable.
PLEASE pass the Safety for All plan, it's a step in the right direction for our city and the people that live and work here.
Emily Harris 4540 47th Ave S [email protected]
12/8/2020 9:47:31 AM
I want a budget that financially supports community strategies over increases for the police.
1. Training for 911 dispatchers to be able to identify different kinds of mental health crises and funding unarmed mental health crisis professionals and EMTs answering Emotionally Disturbed Persons (EDP) calls in addition to the MPD co-responder program.
2. Add resources to the violence prevention work which is just starting to be funded.
3. Civilian-led oversight of police.
4. Money to permanently maintain the George Floyd memorial.
5. Money for housing folks has to be a priority! We have people living in tents in our city in freezing weather.
6. Fund job training and opportunities for out of work folks.
7. COVID assistance for restaurants, music venues and theaters and the people who work for those places.
Alison Nowak 5623 Nicollet Ave [email protected]
12/8/2020 10:04:57 AM
I am terribly disappointed that the Council continues to support the reduction of police protection for our city. I have lived in our current house near Lake Harriet since 1981 and lived elsewhere in Minneapolis for many more years.
I have never felt as unsafe as I do now, especially with the increased car jackings in our part of town.
I completely agree that police reform is needed, but not at the expense of safety. There are too few police in our part of the city right now and a further reduction is entirely unacceptable.
Margo Struthers 4621 Fremont Avenue South [email protected]
12/8/2020 11:04:49 AM
I am opposed to reducing the budget for the Minneapolis Police Department by $8 million dollars. I understand the need to invest in more social workers, etc., to deal with some of the issues the police are currently dealing with, but we need more police officers that are better trained in how to handle the vast variety of crimes they face every day.
Sandra L. Puckett 5029 ALDRICH AVE S [email protected]
12/8/2020 12:52:24 PM
I am writing to support the Peoples' Budget proposal, in general, but to voice strong opposition to the funding for the "sex worker community."
At $1.45 million, this represents one of the largest allocations under the heading "Thriving, Not Just Surviving." In the midst of a pandemic and budget crisis, this is throwing a huge amount of resources at a complex problem that has nothing more than a vague outline in this budget, and isn't addressed very in the content of the larger principles of the budget.
Helping workers EXIT the sex trade is the best use of resources, but that is not addressed here. Rather, the budget is suggesting devoting resources to helping sex workers REMAIN in the trade by offering help for accounting.
The budget is dangerously vague and seems under-informed in this area. In fact, it provides $200,000 in "grants for formerly incarcerated and felony sex workers", without specifying to what end. In addition, since the crimes most likely to be committed at the felony level are those of pimps and john's, this is providing resources for the most pernicious in the sex trade. Creation of a "sex worker community center"– whatever that purports to be– makes for a way pimps can find workers easily.
At a time when we must allocate resources carefully and there is so much competition for them, this budget item appears more like a special interest group handout– which includes the organizations that will receive the funding– than a targeted proposal with clear goals and expertise behind it.
Thank you for your consideration,
Brian Heller
Brian Heller 4236 Pillsbury Ave #3 [email protected]
12/8/2020 2:42:00 PM
Please Increase the mpd to 1000 and imbed social workers in every precinct. The recent increase in crime has changed my family’s attitude about living in this city. I’m a homeowner who pays lots of taxes. William schwartz 3342 holmes [email protected]
12/8/2020 2:46:02 PM
Hello,
My name is Jenna Severson, I live in Ward 6, just spoke with my CM, thank you CM Osman, but I want all council members to read these resources please before they make their decision on 12/9 about the 2021 budget. I agree with all of these documents. If the Council votes to fund hotels to housing/vacant apartments all over the city as a interim solution until the City/County/State come up with funds to permanently house people in need of housing, that is a minimum step for the safety of our thousands of unhoused Minneapolitans. Housing is a human right, especially during a deadly pandemic and deadly winter. The council can save lives by funding immediate housing resources. These are very practical and direct solutions:
MPR Defund Police Minneapolis Poll--way over majority of support to defund the 2021 MPD budget to fund necessary community needs:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/08/15/poll-mpls-residents-dont-like-police-department-but- still-want-to-fund-it
Article about how North Minneapolis how police do and do not respond written by D.A. Bullock, a resident of the North side: https://minnesotareformer.com/2020/12/07/black-america-is-over-policed- and-under-protected/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=e9579190-5a16-4f5e-b888-e2afd752e635
The People's Budget (where to fund money) I agree with all of this: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16-3SKF5E040Zax0nemxedPWRRsv3FJgStKO4s0lCeWw/edit#
Reclaim the Block's document (only 3 pages) that shows where to specifically "defund" or reallocate funds from the MPD/Mayor Frey's Proposed 2021 budget: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CVOqSq2dsHpzdd1yZTVo-XTPjla-OJpf2ZcGtLnp5O4/edit#
We need to fund immediate transitional housing like hotels and vacant apartments, youth centers, health and education, unarmed 24/7 mental health response and other specific, planned out services for addiction, career services, etc. If they cannot vote for all the cuts proposed, can they commit to cutting non-essential MPD items like K9 and Special ops and intelligence units, mounted patrol, CSO Program, Co-responders, homeless outreach response, Budgets of all precincts + patrol line item, Overtime due to attrition, all with explanations on the reclaim the block document.
Can any CM tell me what is the ethical use of teargas? Is there an ethical use? Also, here's an article about the MN DNR flying in more "less-than lethal" ammunitions to combat peaceful protesters in May/June: https://unicornriot.ninja/2020/behind-the-law-enforcement-response-to-the-george-floyd- uprising-pt-1-munitions-delivery/ There may be more they haven't considered and would see as a fair defund from the MPD while keeping police. If they could read through these documents and relevant articles, that would be highly appreciated. I want the CMs to be well informed so they can make the best decision tomorrow.
I think we need to prioritize housing people, even if they do not have money, keeping people housed (no evictions), physical and mental health (access to free, excellent healthcare/Covid healthcare), clean water access, fresh food, resources for youth. We're at a time we need to give people money and life saving resources not just assign police officers to deal with every crisis we don't have a good system for yet especially when it is not proven that police prevent or solve the majority of crimes people experience. Prioritize people over property always. Please do right by George Floyd, please do right by the thousands of protesters and hundreds of comments you are receiving about police and how they do not keep us all safe. They abuse some while being the hero in the minds of others. Why elevate abusers? Words matter. This budget is the time to back up your words and promises made earlier this year, and an act of good faith to build trust again between the community and our elected officials. Mayor, do not veto your community’s voices.
Jenna Severson 1516 10th Ave S 55404 [email protected]
12/8/2020 2:55:03 PM
Violent crime in Mpls is at an all time high. Carjacking is up 537%! Over 500 shootings, 80 homicides and 3,000 shots fired this year. Not acceptable! This chaos needs to be stopped and order restored to the streets. People are dying!
We need a strong visible police presence that will make criminals less emboldened.
More police = more arrests, more quickly.
AND the investigations will move along more quickly.
Our own experience is that my wife was carjacked, robbed and assaulted. The police told us it was the 3rd carjacking they
responded to in 2 hours at the time.
Four weeks later an investigator called for details. FOUR WEEKS!
We asked about our car that was at the Impound Lot under police hold. We were told that there was one forensics investigator to work on over 100 hundred cars! Again, not acceptable!
Where does common sense factor into the equation? We need MORE police, not less! How do you justify taking police off the streets while the crime rate is skyrocketing?!
I ask that you fully fund the Mayor’s police budget and give Chief Arradondo what he needs to do his job. Peace out,
Doug Tanner
Ward 8/Bancroft
Doug Tanner 4040 11th Ave S [email protected]
12/8/2020 3:40:43 PM
Hello Council Members-
I am writing to ask you to support the Mayor's budget and fund the new pilots through the proposed Transforming public safety reserve funds. Businesses throughout the city gave this money to contribute a need for a both/and approach and not take away funding from MPD. I am disappointed in the vote on Monday, Dec. 7. I hope you are listening to your constituents and represent what they want and need at this time.
I support the Safety for all plans but I believe it irresponsible to take away funding from our current public safety without knowing if will lead to a reduction in crime. I understand there have been studies and experts, but it is still in a pilot phase with people's safety. Many of my family and friends in this city want transformative change however we have crime impacting people's everyday lives at an unacceptable rate NOW. I hope the Safety for All plan leads to success however as I have seen with other initiatives, we won't see the impact or success rate for a year if not longer. I have continued to lose hope in some leaders of this city that instead of looking at the best interest of all who live here, it is more of a power grab! Many ignored the rise in crime even when most of the city was screaming for someone to listen.
We will always need law enforcement in this city! Majority of this city support Chief Arradondo and I hope someday some of the city council members would support him as well. The Safety For All Plan continues to drive a divide between the community and MPD. Our city will not thrive if we continue to isolate departments.
Again, I understand the complexity of your position and hope we can work together to build safe city for all Minneapolis residents. Thank you.
Angie Marie Kingfield [email protected]
12/8/2020 3:43:05 PM
Please do not reduce the budget of the police department to redirect funds to other services. Please instead allocate new funds for mental Health and violence prevention
Stephanie Corbey 45 North 4 th Avenue #103 [email protected]
12/8/2020 3:52:19 PM
I want the Safety For All Budget amendment included in what passes. It is inexcusable that Mayor Frey is threatening to veto any budget over a difference of 150 future officers that: first, can still be hired later when needed in the Council’s proposed budget and second, he could have easily budgeted for and shown how he would pay for them. He chose not to.
I implore the Council to not allow this Trump-like bully behavior to win. Mayor Frey could have done the work but instead set Council up to be the bad guys. I am furious and not being served well as a citizen by this type of behavior.
Please do not let any mayor’s threats undo a mission to best serve the people you are supposed to represent. The loud ones and the silent ones. Council forwarded a 2021 budget after much discussion and work. Do not back down from that, please. The Council’s work included a ton of representation by the public! One man with an agenda who doesn’t include citizens in his budget development cannot be allowed to change that process. Go ahead, Mayor Frey, and veto it if doing so, despite the 150 officers not even being prevented as you have tried to claim in your threat, is what you see as your calling. As citizens and Council members, we will deal with that afterward together. You certainly won’t have my vote next time around.
Lisa Metzbower 4042 Emerson Ave N [email protected]
12/8/2020 3:58:52 PM
I am writing to support the broad outlines of the People's Budget, though I have serious problems with some aspects of their detailed proposal, especially the $1.4 million they propose spending on promoting the sex trade in Minneapolis.
Broadly, I support reducing the size of the Minneapolis Police force and shifting funds freed up to social services, affordable public housing and public health. I was disappointed that this proposal does not include any new revenues from taxing corporations. Target Corporation specifically has made huge windfall profits from the pandemic and in a time of crisis like this, profitable Minneapolis businesses (especially the largest ones) should pay in to meet the huge needs of our community. Paring back the excessive police budget is good, but it doesn't go far enough to meet the scale of the need in Minneapolis. We should reject an austerity budget in a pandemic and unemployment crisis.
Section 4, subsection 3 of the People's Budget proposal would send large amounts of municipal funding to vaguely worded projects of dubious merit like $700,000 to start a new strip club. I worry that adopting measures like this would open us up to public ridicule and de-legitimize badly needed police reforms and better approaches to social service needs.
I am very concerned that the City is being increasingly lobbied to adopt the perspective on prostitution that it is a business like any other and a good place to promote people "thriving." The reality of prostitution is sexism, exploitation and a high degree of risk. We simply cannot look aside from the reality that johns are paying to have sexual activity with people who they KNOW do not want it. Consent cannot be meaningfully given if by saying "no," a woman in the sex trade risks not paying rent or going without groceries. Of course allowing johns to make these transactions has a pernicious effect on women in the sex trade, all women, and really our whole community. All sexual intimacy should be sincerely desired, free of economic, mental or physical coercion.
I firmly support devoting public health and social services towards people (disproportionately women) in prostitution, and I support decriminalizing solicitation. However, I support the approach that other countries like Canada, France and the Scandinavian countries have used to reduce demand for the sex industry by issuing civil penalties for johns and criminal violations for pimps and traffickers. Importantly, they also work to foster a climate that only callous losers pay for sexual contact. People in the life need real, long term support to exit prostitution. That should be the focus of our approach to the Sex Industry.
Though I have concerns about many of the specific line items ($500,000 for artistic visioning?) in the People's Budget, I agree with much of the overall approach of shifting funds away from our scandal ridden, incompetent police force which has shown again and again that it is a hotbed of racism, sexism and impunity.
The Minneapolis Police Department has never done anything to justify the monstrous expenses we lavish on them. Every year it seems they cost me taxpayer dollars to settle brutality claims and civil rights violations. MPD as an institution is untrustworthy, spiteful, corrupt and totally unaccountable. We should be dealing with this organization in the severest possible way, remembering clearly their decades of failures after being given chance after chance to improve.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
A. K. 3220 5th Avenue S
12/8/2020 4:05:24 PM
Please don’t approve the budget without funding the police at at least the amount they received last year. I am a Democrat and don’t agree with this direction of defunding the police.
Claudia Bruber 3307 14th Ave So [email protected]
12/8/2020 4:21:48 PM
I think social programs and a mental health task force are good ideas, however I'm not sure how much they will help. While having a place to live and food on the table may deter some criminal activity, I don't think carjackings, vandalism, and assault are the result of people going hungry. I am opposed to reducing the size of the police force until we can see these initiatives working. If we got rid of officers and needed to increase the force at a later date, how would we accomplish that? It would take years to hire enough officers and nobody would apply.
Thank you
Nathan P.
Nathan P 2509 Dupont Ave S [email protected]
12/8/2020 4:28:33 PM
My name is Marjorie Kyriopoulos
I’m a Greek American, Retired Tax payer in Ward 11. I’ve lived in this area for 20 years. I’m not a wealthy homeowner. Just a single parent and grandparent.
* My Grandson is 17 years old. He is mixed race and I worry about him every day now that he is driving.
* On Memorial Day, we were shocked and in awe. I always believed he was safe in south Minneapolis, a diverse community. But that is a distant memory. And now, suddenly, with all the carjackings, armed robberies, and destruction in my neighborhood, I am also worried about my own safety every day.
* Thank you for listening to those of us who live in Minneapolis. I oppose any additional budget cuts to the police department for many reasons:
* The Mayor and Police Chief have submitted a budget that is already $14 million less than last year’s. Given the times we live in, I do not believe the police should be cut even more. I support more staffing, more crisis intervention for people with mental illness and tracking officer behavior in a much more accountable and actionable manner. But this is not the time to take funding from the police. I recommend that you find a funding for these changes in the other 88% of the budget.
* I agree that radical reform is needed. I also trust Police Chief Arradondo, with his personal and professional experience, to continue down the reform path. It’s a difficult job, and collaborating with him instead of berating him would go a long way. You all need to work together, not against each other. I’m embarrassed by the way some city council members have treated the chief when responding to his needs. He is telling you what he needs to keep us all safe. For example, when he requested emergency help to control the crime in our neighborhoods, you criticized his approach. Jeremy Schroeder responded to my email that there wasn’t a clear plan. Think about it for a minute. If there’s a raging forest fire, what does the fire chief do? Put together a committee to discuss the destruction? No. In such an emergency, firefighters from across the country are called in to help. We are in a state of emergency. There is a season and a time for everything and when the city is raging with violent acts against its citizens, it’s time to act. Your job is to work with the police department not against the chief.
* Cutting the police department budget not only hurts our safety, it sends the wrong message to everyone. It will further demoralize our officers and we’ll have an even bigger staffing crisis. Who will want to work here? We need the best of the best to protect everyone in our diverse neighborhoods. I and other many other residents and businesses are already thinking of moving out. Imagine what that will do to Minneapolis’s tax base? And people from St. Paul and the suburbs will stay away if the violence continues, further eroding our highly rated restaurants, stores, cultural attractions and large events that bring in more business. Big venues may reconsider coming to our city, especially if the national media continues to cover this growing trend of violence.
* Finally, this should not be a question either/or. The police need to protect all of us. They don’t need defunding. They need more training for de-escalation, weeding out the “bad” apples, support from social agencies on some 911 calls, and a change at the top of their federation (union) leadership.
* Safety has never been a bigger concern for me. I strongly encourage you to fully fund the police budget as submitted by the Mayor. I for one will work to vote out any council member next year who votes to further cut the mpd budget.
Marjorie Kyriopoulos 6124 Portland Avenue South [email protected]
12/8/2020 4:33:54 PM
I support the Mayor's policing proposal to keep the force at full strength, expand the Mental Health Co- responder program fund, and fund an Early Intervention System (EIS) to hold officers accountable and increase the Department’s ability to identify behaviors or situations through data as being risks for future escalations. This is not the time to cut back the police force when car jacking, murders and other violent crime is at a high. The perception is that crimes can be committed with impunity anywhere in the City.
Catherine V. Jordan 3232 Harriet Ave [email protected]
12/8/2020 4:42:49 PM
I very much oppose the proposal to reduce funding for the Minneapolis Police Department.
I believe the action to reduce the police budget without the substitute programs in place and the lack of a comprehensive study that is shared with the public is very irresponsible.
The majority of Minneapolis residents disagree with this action, it is only a small but noisy group that supports this type of action without further research.
Mayor Frey - Please veto this budget and force the City Council to reevaluate this plan.
Thanks
Phil Kelly 401 North 2nd Street #416, Minneapolis, MN 55401 [email protected]
12/8/2020 4:45:32 PM
I am a resident of Minneapolis and think cutting the budget is wrong without proper studies and statistics showing that your proposed plan will be totally yes totally successful. This is no time to have a hit and or miss plan. Crime is out of control. I assure you not one of you will get my vote next election. You need to act like grown ups not some high school glee club. Get the data and then make a proposal. The residents should have a vote on the subject.
Lindsay Anne Scheeler Nicollet Ave [email protected]
12/8/2020 4:50:00 PM
Please Please stop the Cutting of the MPLS Police dept this is crazy !!! Myself and everyone I know who used to love to take the Metro Rail to downtown and enjoy downtown MPLS will never come downtown again for fear of being beaten or robbed . Also the small Business owners who are running from the city in fear . Open your eyes People !!!! SJ
Steven Jackson 697 Hanover court [email protected]
12/8/2020 4:58:53 PM
I support, and strongly encourage, the Mayor to veto the City Council's proposed 'Public Safety Budget'. I believe that Mayor Frye is committed to reform of the Police Department, and to addressing the ongoing surge in crime in Minneapolis ... improved safety today for all residents, and improved safety tomorrow for all residents.
‘Doing the math', with the 2019 population of 437,068, divided by one officer per 588 residents, equals a police force of 744. Staffing at 750 officers exceeds the City Charter staffing mandate for the 2019 population. However, out of our current police force of 888 officers, 150 officers are on leave, leaving an active force of 738. As we all are aware, our current police staffing is not sufficient given the increasing crime in ‘Murderapolis’. Adding 6 more officers to our current active duty status of 738 officers for the entire City does not appear adequate, in spite of the recommended changes for police services in the ‘Public Safety’ plan.
Given the need, I do support the 'Public Safety Budget' provision for the Police Chief to add 20-40 additional officers to the force. However, ’tying the hands’ of the Police Chief for prior Council approval to hire additional officers, as an overseer, appears inappropriate and controlling. It implies that the Police Chief’s professional judgment cannot be trusted. This is hardly a cooperative/collaborative working relationship.
As a matter of public record, I request a tally of the viewpoints of all of the public speakers on December 2nd, compiled from each of the 13 Wards. Data driven info is important when telling the public the "majority of callers supported the ‘People’s Budget’." A Council member made this statement in the December 7th Budget Meeting. Without the data to support this message it may, or may not be, be misleading rhetoric. I believe that residents in each of the 13 Wards should be made aware of the tally of support from the callers in their neighbors.
Anna Erbes 4737 Blaisdell Avenue [email protected]
12/8/2020 4:59:46 PM
Dear Mayor Frey,
Please veto the ridiculous idea to take more from the police as our city is being overwhelmed by crime. We all agree on the need for changes to be made, but find a way to fund the police and implement new programs at the same time. I just saw Steve Fletcher arrogantly state he doubts you would ever take the drastic step to veto the council. Please prove them all wrong and show the citizens of Minneapolis that even though our council members do not listen to us, at least our mayor does.
Thank you for your support.
Lezlie Nelson
Lezlie Nelson 3712 19th Ave So [email protected]
12/8/2020 5:04:14 PM
Please do not cut police funding. We've all seen crime go through the roof. It's a statistical fact that this city is not safer than it was this time last year. You can say that policing doesn't impact crime but that isn't something that has been unequivocally proven. In fact, the only scientific studies I've seen on the issue shows that police do in fact reduce crime- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0144818808000732. There's even a Vox article on it from last year - https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/2/13/18193661/hire-police- officers-crime-criminal-justice-reform-booker-harris.
By reducing the number of police and their ability to tap into an overtime budget while we suffer through police shortages, you will be making this city less safe. Yes, we do need mental health professionals handling 911 calls that do not require police. But in a year of skyrocketing crime, when all communities across the city are crying out for help, you should not be cutting the police budget. You need to find this money elsewhere.
Erin Hart 4709 4TH AVE S [email protected]
12/8/2020 5:11:17 PM
I am writing to state my strong opposition to the funding cuts for the police department and shrinking the number of officers. Everyone in our neighborhood lives in constant fear that they will be the next person carjacked, robbed at gunpoint, or assaulted. We have had numerous incidents on our single block. The police are overloaded and responses are not sufficiently fast to make us feel safe. Many of my neighbors have now bought guns.
When violent crime is skyrocketing, the answer is not to cut the overstretched police force. The police force needs drastic reform. Budget cuts won't accomplish this reform, but rather serve to merely worsen the situation. To reduce overtime costs, we need more officers. We need better trained officers. We also need mental health programs. Minneapolis has one of the lowest ratios of officers to residents of any major city in the country; no wonder our crime is surging.
The city is not so cash strapped that it cannot find this money elsewhere and do a "both and" program. One block from me millions of dollars are being poured into restyling Bryant Ave S. While it looks lovely, and I love to bike, it matters more to me that I am not shot in my own neighborhood.
As a person of Middle Eastern ancestry, I know all too well the scourge of profiling and discrimination. 9/11 changed my life forever. However, the remedy to the discrimination I faced from law enforcement and others after 9/11 was not to eliminate those who protect us, it was to teach those who protect us how to understand what’s a real threat.
Finally, I fail to see a clear plan based on these budget cuts. This seems extremely impulsive before our city council has figured out what it’s going to do. Many of the social ills that cause crime can’t be fixed by the city council. The city council can’t change the economic situation in this country, and it can’t create jobs. However, the city council does have the power can scare away employers and residents. It can ruin the lives of those residents who are too poor to leave by making them even more unsafe.
Rafi W Mottahedeh 3015 Colfax Ave S [email protected]
12/8/2020 5:17:12 PM
We support the mayor's proposal for MPD funding.
Brendan Donahue 3015 Colfax Ave. S. [email protected]
12/8/2020 5:22:20 PM
I am extremely concerned about the proposed budget with respect to the City Council’s planned cuts to police. The council and council leader has positioned public safety and police reform as an either/or proposition. We CAN do both; bolster our embattled police ranks AND cleanse the culture of brutality. I implore the Mayor’s and Council to find away to both drive the reforms and fund a full force. To suggest as some leaders have that a fully staffed police force is a privileged expectation is unacceptable. Robert Raike 3017 Colfax Avenue South [email protected]
12/8/2020 6:03:14 PM
I feel like the city council is throwing their constituents under the bus to further their own political agendas
Do they live in their own zones? They don’t seem to know what is going on in the streets. While you vote yourselves raises more and more people are becoming homeless and desperate. And you want to cut police.
For those of us who are able to keep housing etc, conditions are also becoming more desperate. This is due not only to financial and pandemic problems but also due the rising crime rates. And you want to cut police.
Frankly as a senior I am afraid not only when I go out but here in my own home.
Criminals from here and from other places know that this a is a safe place to perpetuate crimes. And you want to cut police.
The city is going to see a large exodus of citizens if this continues. There are already people planning to leave and for sale signs are more obvious than usual this time of the year. And you want to cut police.
Yes I think that these other programs of other first responders are greatly important but the funding needs to come from somewhere else not the police dept. maybe the gentrification programs under way for the 2040 program or whatever it is called, especially since everyone is moving out. Or is the plan to get rid of long term residents like me (46 years) and replace Us with younger “hipper” people. But you want to cut police.
Do you seriously think we will be voting for you all next election? And touwant to cut police and hang us out to dry. Who cares what happens to people who live here as long as you feel self satisfied, right?
Beverly Adams 2523 16th Ave S [email protected]
12/8/2020 6:03:57 PM
My name is Steve Beck. I am a life-time resident of South Minneapolis and currently live in the Lynnhurst neighborhood of the 13th Ward with my wife (also a life-time resident of South Minneapolis) and my two girls that attend our neighborhood public schools. Obviously, that makes Linea Palmisano our council rep.
As a business owner, a husband and a father, I am deeply disturbed by the direction the city council is heading regarding the Minneapolis Police. I have always taken great pride in how well regarded Minneapolis is in the eyes of visitors to our great city. Words consistently used to describe Minneapolis by countless people I have met over decades of business travel include clean, safe, comfortable and friendly. The Minneapolis Police (along with our other critical service providers) have contributed to this positive global reputation our city enjoys. Another reason Minneapolis is respected is that when challenges have faced our city in the past we have been reasonable and thoughtful in finding solutions vs emotional and rigid.
Defunding never has been, and never will be, a proper tool for pushing reform. The police are an absolute necessity to ensure the safety of our community. And, in light of recent events, so is reform. Continued funding and reform are not mutually exclusive. Ultimately, we need a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves, but to get there and function properly it needs to be properly funded.
Facts are facts. Police deter crime and make other public safety programs effective. Without the police the businesses and the communities they serve suffer. While you may have felt compelled by recent events to react the way you did in June, I (along with my family, neighbors and business colleagues) urge you to reevaluate the consequences of those actions. Please take the time to be more thoughtful and less emotional/ political to formulate a reasonable and balanced approach. Before you rush to cut or transfer programs in a way that can only hurt our city, come up with a real plan for next year. Until then, keep police funding and programs intact to ensure the safety of our communities and allow everyone to be comfortable reemerging from the haze of a difficult time to reinvigorate Minneapolis and set us back on a constructive course. Let the police rebuild into the force we need now and in the future.
Steven Beck 4721 Girard Av S, MPLS MN, 55419 [email protected]
12/8/2020 6:41:28 PM
The budget proposed by the city council is inadequate, incomplete and hastily composed. It artificially positions police reform against social change. Increased funding for mental health and social services should be in the budget. However, that must be in addition to funding for law enforcement, not at its expense. To feel safe and protected by an armed, well trained and qualified police force is not a white privilege. It is a fundamental expectation of most residence and independent of race, as shown by data. As a resident who is concerned daily about getting car jacked, robbed or shot in this new climate of precipitous crime, cutting funding for police is unacceptable. Sustainable and measurable change will require significant investment in, as well as, collaboration and alignment between law enforcement and communities. I strongly oppose the city council’s proposed budget.
Nicole Victoria, PhD 3017 Colfax Ave S [email protected]
12/8/2020 6:52:10 PM
Minneapolis needs to hire more police offices and to stop this BS about reducing police funding. Crime is out of control in Minneapolis and it gotten to the point resident need to provide their own personnel protect!!! The city console people have failed to do your job and to meet the city charter to provide police protecting to the residence of Minneapolis!!! I believe we need to hold console people personnel liable for not doing their jobs!!!
Also, time for the city console must stop this BS about stopping police from doing their jobs!!! The city console members efforts to stop and/or micro manage the police has into interference for the police to provide police acceptable protection and residential safety in Minneapolis. This has continued all year and I believe the city console has and continues to fail to provide police protecting to residents!!! The special useless city console people get special private security protection which is wasting our tax dollars while resident get police people who are under staffed and over work due to under police department staffing level and under funding!!!
Maybe city needs to perform a Micro test for defunded police by smaller selecting small parts of city that align to console person who represent that area of city and who want police defunding. City reduce/defund police in this select small part of city. Suggest picking one of wacko console people areas that want to defund police (i.e. like Lisa Bender, Keith Ellison) then reduce police/funding in their area. The experiment with them having reduced police and reduce police funds to see what happens after 6 months. Also would need maintaining fully funded/staffed police presence in other parts of city to maintain current. Note, city could move police staff from defunded parts of city to funded parts of city so called defunded parts of city so they can help maintain police presence!!!
Again, Minneapolis not only needs to maintain a full staffing level of police who ar. fully funded police department in Minneapolis. I would also say Minneapolis need to fully staff police and need to hire more good police people!!! This city console has failed to do their job continually by forcing police department to reduce police presences in our city and this has resulted in uncontrolled crime levels!!!
I requesting you to step up and demand the city console fully fund police department, hire more good police people and protect the resident of Minneapolis and start doing your job!!!
Thank you,
Daniel Walsh DANIEL WALSH WALSH 5635 UPTON AVE SOUTH [email protected]
12/8/2020 7:00:40 PM
Time to eliminate funding of Minneapolis city console!!! they have and continue to neglect to do their jobs to provide police protection!!
Minneapolis needs to hire more police offices and to stop this BS about reducing police funding. Crime is out of control in Minneapolis and it gotten to the point resident need to provide their own personnel protect!!! The city console people have failed to do your job and to meet the city charter to provide police protecting to the residence of Minneapolis!!! I believe we need to hold console people personnel liable for not doing their jobs!!!
Also, time for the city console must stop this BS about stopping police from doing their jobs!!! The city console members efforts to stop and/or micro manage the police has into interference for the police to provide police acceptable protection and residential safety in Minneapolis. This has continued all year and I believe the city console has and continues to fail to provide police protecting to residents!!! The special useless city console people get special private security protection which is wasting our tax dollars while resident get police people who are under staffed and over work due to under police department staffing level and under funding!!!
If police department funding is reduced I want my Tax dollars back!! It is not acceptable to utilize my tax dollars of some social service people who wacko city console people want to utilize to replace police offices with!!!
Again, Minneapolis not only needs to maintain a full staffing level of police who are fully funded police department in Minneapolis. I would also say Minneapolis needs to increase police department staffing level and need to hire more good police people!!!
This city console has failed to do their job and to meet the city of Minneapolis charter!! Their effort c to reduce police presences in our city has resulted in uncontrolled crime levels!!! people are being forced to provide their own personnel protection which means someone is going to get hurt and the city console will be to blame!!!
I demand the city step up and do your jobs to fully fund police department, hire more good police people and protect the resident of Minneapolis and start doing your job!!!
DANIEL WALSH WALSH 5635 UPTON AVE SOUTH [email protected]
12/8/2020 7:40:14 PM
The decision to reduce funding for the MPD in the midst of escalating crime is reckless, and endangers Mpls citizens by further emboldening criminals.
The budget must keep the Mayor's investments in MPD intact, particularly the recommended recruit classes and CSOs.
Permanently reducing the 2022 future police force beyond the Mpls Charter approved levels is outrageous and dangerous, as is forcing the Police Chief to get their approval for overtime.
The Council has not listened to the many taxpayer objections to defunding the police, and shows no accountability or remorse for the great damage they have brought down on the city. I am concerned the money for "Safety Now" vague plans will get frittered away with minimal results, such as the Violence Interruptors" program.
There is a huge difference between theory and practical application, and most council members appear to practice theory, with little common sense or understanding of how to actually make programs work.
Laura Murray 5021 15th Ave S [email protected]
12/8/2020 7:54:38 PM
Dear Mayor Frey and Council Members:
I am writing in regard to police funding in the Minneapolis City Budget. I am very much in favor of improving the skill sets of emergency responders and reforming the behavior of the police with revised standards, policies and retraining. However, doing this by reducing the number of Minneapolis police and the Department budget is - in my mind - extremely unwise and damaging to the residents of the city. In both my home neighborhood (Linden Hills) and work location (UMN), violent crime has skyrocketed, occurring in broad daylight. Police responses have been much slower than in the past. My neighbors and colleagues no longer feel relatively safe. To further jeopardize our safety is an abrogation of your responsibility to the citizens of Minneapolis. Your each should read what happened in Baltimore when the similar well meaning changes were instituted and completely backfired: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/opinion/policing-crime-baltimore.html
I hope that you will read this with an open mind. I am STRONGLY opposed to this plan.
David Ingbar 3800 YORK AVE. SOUTH [email protected]
12/8/2020 7:56:50 PM
I support full funding for the police and public understanding of how tough that job really is. We need to make this city safe as a first priority and it needs to happen now. We need more police not fewer! What is wrong with this city council? Are they giving our streets to gangs and people who see us as easy pickings? We taxpayers spent millions to rebuild downtown, were we live, only to have it dark, boarded up, and vacant. Yes there is a pandemic never the less we do not feel safe to go out even though we live there. By the way we are liberals, we vote and I am registered. not safe 210 West Grant St.
12/8/2020 8:01:04 PM
I've lived in the 3rd precinct my entire life. Our 3 kids went to Southwest and South High Schools. It hurts me to say this, but I no longer hope my children make Minneapolis their home. Please do not cut.the budget for the MPD. The proposed changes to keep Minneapolis residents safe can be attained by cutting other departments such as bike paths. Bike paths can wait. Safety can not.
Julie Hillenbrand 3949 41st Ave So [email protected]
12/8/2020 8:20:55 PM
While I'm still a resident of this hellhole, I want to express my outrage at the juvenile council people who refuse to let the facts about crime in this city cloud their fantasy of a utopian ideal where we all live together in peace and no police are needed. The only people you're helping by reducing the number of police and vilifying the rest are the criminals, who are having a great time doing whatever they want to whoever they want. I am hoping to get out of this city where we own a beautiful home for the last 25 years but many are not so lucky. I am also hoping that someday adults will be elected to the city council but I'm not holding my breath on that one.
Carolyn R. Muchow 4557 Portland Avenue South [email protected]
12/8/2020 8:30:11 PM
The increase of violent crime in Minneapolis, and inability of our police department to respond in a timely and appropriate way, is unacceptable. I have lived in south Minneapolis my entire life...for 66 years...and this is the first time I have ever been afraid to live here. Yes, the MPD needs lots of change(!) and additional services need to be added, but we cannot have fewer police on the street. I support Mayor Frey’s budget and agree with his concerns.
Annette Karner 5889 Portland Avenue 55417 [email protected]
12/8/2020 8:31:53 PM
To the Members of the Minneapolis City Council,
I am writing to you in regards to your proposed budgetary changes to the Minneapolis Police Department, specifically the reduction of funds for the Mounted Patrol Unit in the amount of $230,000.
The Mounted Patrol Unit has been an easy target for budgetary cuts for years, both in Minneapolis, and across the country. It is not as easy to see the immediate clear cut benefits that come from a Mounted Unit the way you might in more data driven initiatives. That makes its value hard to put a number to, and all to often, Council Members like yourselves find themselves wanting to put it on the chopping block without looking below the surface at the value that a Mounted Patrol Unit brings to a city like Minneapolis. Please allow me to help pull back the curtain and explain why this Unit is crucial to the long term peace and equity in Minneapolis that you so desire.
Mounted Patrol Units are one of the most dynamic and multi-faceted departments in the entirety of the police department. From community engagement opportunities like National Night Out or Night to Unite, to standard patrols or security for large public events, to more serious applications such as crowd control and riot de-escalation, these officers both human and horse provide more public facing opportunities than almost any other department. In a time where we are looking for our officers to understand the communities they serve better, and to help bridge the gap dividing officer and civilian that only seems to grow, a unit like the Mounted Patrol stands uniquely qualified to help bridge that gap. The interaction that every human has with an animal is something that goes back to the early days of our evolution, where man and animal learned to work together, bonding in their survival. Now is not the time to discard that bond and interaction, but to strengthen it, to give our community an opportunity to see those officers and the bonds with the animals that serve with them. Seeing the humanity that comes through an officer and mount's bond strengthens a civilians belief that that officer is someone they can trust, and rely on in times of need.
If an emotional appeal is not enough, I would also present the argument from a budgetary standpoint. Your proposition to eliminate $230,000 of the Mounted Unit's Budget and then redirect to other civilian violence prevention initiatives squanders a far reaching application of those dollars. In the budget's proposal, the closest line item in value was $317,000 put towards hiring and training 3 FTE operators for the 311 information line, and to produce a campaign to increase awareness about the 311 hotline's services. Taking the budget of the Minneapolis Mounted Unit, which provides for 12 horses, 1 FTE officer, a Sergeant, and 27 part time officers, and shrinking it to 3 telephone operators, reduces your public interaction and outreach by unfathomable levels.
Your proposed cuts of the Mounted Patrol Unit only serve to weaken the interactions of the police with the public. The loss of the officers and animals that serve in this department will leave a vacuum of both public perception and public awareness that will only result in further distancing of the department from the people it serves. I strongly urge you to reconsider this choice, especially given the current climate of the city, and ask yourselves if cutting off one of the most accessible and vital public facing departments of the Minneapolis Police Department is truly the best choice for this city and its people.
Respectfully,
Dr. Zach Loppnow
Dr. Zach Loppnow 16445 70th St. NE, Elk River, MN [email protected]
12/8/2020 8:31:55 PM
I have lived in Minneapolis for 50 years, we have owned and managed three story brownstones in the inner city for 45 years. We have cleaned and repaired and painted many units. I love Minneapolis and have always felt safe and comfortable in and around the brownstones and my house until now. We choose to live in Minneapolis. I craved city blocks, corner stores and crossing paths with neighbors on the sidewalks.
I now choose to have Minneapolis be smart and adjust to the current problems. Methodical review and better planning with both Minneapolis police and mental health services will inform us of how to change. New proposals should come from these conclusions.
I think it is wrong to cut back on the police budget in the midst of the rising number of car jacking and increase in violent crime. I want people in the city to be protected. And we can do good planning now for a future when we need fewer police and mental health services can be increased.
Safety is very important now if we want Minneapolis to thrive. I hope that the best and the brightest of the decision makers can do both - protect public safety and plan for increased mental health services in the future.,
Diane Hansen 3723 E Minnehaha Parkway [email protected]
12/8/2020 8:35:05 PM
Our lovely city has many stakeholders including those that work, spend money, and go to school in Minneapolis. Less visible policing will further drive people away from the city. One of the most visible gentle policing is the Mpls. Mounted Patrol. Along with crowd control, they have been an integral reach out to the neighborhoods especially children. Without visible policing,, stakeholders will fear the downtown area. Corporations will move to the suburbs, people will find entertainment elsewhere. The budget shortfall will be magnified with lessened entertainment taxes, corporate taxes.
Please reconsider, I have lived in Minnetonka for 40 years, but last 30 years worked at the University. We would dine downtown. I ran the Lakes. My children went to high school in Minneapolis. I love Minneapolis.
Stella Jane Lang 15520 Holdridge Rd E [email protected]
12/8/2020 8:55:31 PM
It’s important to maintain financial support for the Minneapolis Mounted Horse Patrol. In a time when some people do not always trust the police, the MPD Mounted Horse Patrol works to bridge the gap between communities and officers. The Mounted Police officers provide an invaluable service to the downtown business owners and citizens by providing safety and security in a non-combative manner.
Chris Mullin Minneapolis, MN [email protected]
12/8/2020 9:49:18 PM
I am STRONGLY opposed to reducing the Minneapolis police budget by any amount, and certainly NOT by $7.77 million.
Our police officers need additional training to prevent the use of excessive force and to learn skills for deescalating encounters involving mental health and substance abuse. However, to throw the baby out with the bath water is TOTALLY irresponsible. I have lived in Minneapolis for 27 years and 2018 was the safest I felt. Now, with the violent crime rate increasing in 2020, largely due to a shortage of police officers, it is unconscionable to propose a reduction in the police budget. Just as one unnecessary death by covid 19 is a tragedy, one avoidable death, serious injury, or even property damage during a financial crisis is horrific. Council members who vote for the reduction of our police budget should be held personally responsible for each and every such incident. When your self-proclaimed social justice strategies result in the death or harm of numerous law-abiding citizens, where is the JUSTICE?!! Where is your true conscience you hypocrites?
Mayor Frey has stated that he is "actively considering a veto due to the massive, permanent cut to officer capacity." I certainly hope you do more than just "actively consider". If you play Pontius Pilate, and fail to accept your leadership responsibility, you will not be able to wash your hands of the shedding of innocent blood.
Susan Klein 4856 15th Ave. S.
12/8/2020 10:24:37 PM
I grew up in North Mpls, now own a home in South Mpls. Do not defund the police. I have liberal friends all over the country, we are quickly becoming the laughing stock. I can’t walk my dogs & feel safe in this city any longer. There are so many mugging, car jacking, etc that never even get reported. Do you not see & hear the terror that we have been living since May? Criminals rule & run this city. I see many cars without license plates as I walk Nicollet ave daily. I don’t feel safe walking in neighborhood blocks any longer. I was a part of many BLM peaceful protests, my life matters too. Our city & it’s vibrancy matters too, our city is decaying under this lawlessness that has run amok, help bring back law & order. Fund our police & help Mpls feel safe again so business can return.
Ginger Galas 4011 Blaisdell Mpls [email protected]
12/9/2020 12:50:02 AM
Dear City Council,
You are making a huge mistake if you cut the Mounted. Did you know majority of young kids and young adults say the horses are the good cops. Horse on the unit is what you need. They are some major useful resources. Security, crowd control and traffic control just to name a couple. Horses put smiles on peoples faces, they bring joy and at the end of a stressful officer's day, the horses will put a smile on your officer's face. Just picture this... you have hundreds of people and need to clear the street so you bring in 15-20 officers on foot.. the crowd doesnt move. You bring in a few horses, and suddenly the crowd moves like a herd of cattle. Please let that sink in...
A fellow County Reserve Mounted Posse member Elaine Hurrle 1340 E 280th St [email protected]
12/9/2020 7:34:42 AM
The police force is already underfunded. No cuts! The crime in Minneapolis is horrendous and we need more police, not fewer. I support reform, but frankly, this entire "Defund the Police" schtick of the city council has been pure stupidity.
Ellen Wolaner 3117 34th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55406 [email protected]
12/9/2020 8:06:05 AM
Please DO NOT cut the MPD budget. Our Chief is a trusted and willing partner who will work in cooperation with residents/neighborhoods, and is our best chance for real change to occur within MPD. While it is good and necessary to hope and reimagine our current state of public safety, as Gov. Walz says, "Hope Is Not A Plan". We've already seen what happens when you imagine a plan and hope that it works. Violence Interrupters and mental health workers going with police sounds good in theory but was not thoroughly thought through - The Devil is in the details. You MUST have the details worked out or the plan will FAIL. Until the plan, with details is worked out, there needs to be a full compliment of law enforcement personnel. We don't have an "uptick" in crime, we have an explosion. Chaos, crime and criminal activity are quickly filling the void and will continue to do so while the strategy for the future is being discussed. But residents live in real time with the shootings, murders and violent car jackings. We need MPD here NOW - before we lose anymore lives and crime/criminals becomes more organized and entrenched. I ask the Mayor to consider strongly the option to VETO if there is insufficient details that supports the City Council plan to cut the Police Department budget. Thank You. 4th Ward Resident, Terri Hoy
Terri Hoy 3400 Xerxes Ave N [email protected]
12/9/2020 8:17:35 AM
"Reclaim the Block" and the like aren't your constituents - people like me, the law-abiding, taxpaying, VOTING residents and business interests of Minneapolis, are your constituents - and we INSIST on the appropriate funding of the MPD in the interest of public safety and livability.
BOTH/AND, and I'm not saying it to you again. We have had ENOUGH of this City Council and the chaotic mess it has created with its malfeasance.
John Whalen
Victory Neighborhood Resident
John Whalen 4354 N Oliver Ave [email protected]
12/9/2020 8:23:49 AM
I live in Seward. What used to be a peaceful beautiful nook in the midst of the city.
On my morning walks since the "troubles" I routinely step over used needles and have 2x seen staggering men with weapons. Yes we call the police.
There is open air drug dealing all over Lake Street between 13th and 18th. Not to mention the lovely park provided for the corner boys at Franklin and Chicago.
Carjackings are real. Many neighbors are reporting car jackers coming up in back of the car at red lights looking for unlocked vehicles and distracted driver, they jump in and grab your car.
Are you OUT OF YOUR mind cutting the police budget?
We need to train better cops. Get the union out of the equation and have honest men and women work on our streets.
We also need a ton of investment in programs for youth, mental health quick response teams and better and available chemical dependency treatment options.
Look for funding outside the police budget. Are you ALL so unimaginative that you can't conceive a model not based on punative measures?
How about the worthless DID program....they have salaries in the 1.8 million range and spent another 2.5 on "safety"
I found 4 million now DO YOUR JOBS
Mary Beth Mueller 2621 39th Ave South [email protected] 12/9/2020 8:23:55 AM
I live in Seward. What used to be a peaceful beautiful nook in the midst of the city.
On my morning walks since the "troubles" I routinely step over used needles and have 2x seen staggering men with weapons. Yes we call the police.
There is open air drug dealing all over Lake Street between 13th and 18th. Not to mention the lovely park provided for the corner boys at Franklin and Chicago.
Carjackings are real. Many neighbors are reporting car jackers coming up in back of the car at red lights looking for unlocked vehicles and distracted driver, they jump in and grab your car.
Are you OUT OF YOUR mind cutting the police budget?
We need to train better cops. Get the union out of the equation and have honest men and women work on our streets.
We also need a ton of investment in programs for youth, mental health quick response teams and better and available chemical dependency treatment options.
Look for funding outside the police budget. Are you ALL so unimaginative that you can't conceive a model not based on punative measures?
How about the worthless DID program....they have salaries in the 1.8 million range and spent another 2.5 on "safety"
I found 4 million now DO YOUR JOBS
Mary Beth Mueller 2621 39th Ave South [email protected]
12/9/2020 8:42:47 AM
I'm writing to urge you to vote in favor of The People's Budget. We can't keep funding the same priorities and expect different priorities to thrive. I'm asking that you put health first, and fund city programs that support the health of Minneapolis residents in a holistic way including mental health, substance use and overdose protection, and environmental justice. I'm asking that you prioritize investments in sustainable housing, increasing the quality of life of unsheltered community members. I'm also asking that you prioritize worker protections and low-wealth communities through direct economic relief during this pandemic. I'm asking you to fund crime prevention programs instead of continuing to fund the police who too often have decided to function as all parts of our criminal justice system--judge, jury and executioner.
Please prioritize the health and safety of the residents of Minneapolis, especially those who are struggling most. Thank you. Kate Roarty 3824 Bloomington Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 9:54:04 AM
Hi!
My name is Janice Geis Shovein and I live and work in Minneapolis.
When I first started working as a leasing agent in Minneapolis in 2014, my family was concerned from my well being. Crime has always been a concern of my parents, and knowing that I was going to be showing units in south Minneapolis scared them. I then moved to Minneapolis a few months later. After a few months, my parents fears began to wane as I talked about how lovely the city is. The Minneapolis that I knew, worked in, and lived in was safe. I knew my neighbors, I felt safe walking the streets, etc. However, I knew I lived in a city, so I had to be safe and alert. Crime happens everywhere.
This year, my husband and I purchased a house in south Minneapolis, about 14 blocks from where George Floyd was murdered, and while I feel safe in my house, the Minneapolis that I know and love has changed. Our neighborhood lost its police precinct. Every day on NextDoor someone new is telling us about a break-in or a car-jacking or a new crime. My husband, an avid biker, used to live biking on the Greenway and now he avoids it as its often full of tents and people loitering. Instead of heading toward the lakes, he heads to St. Paul and the suburbs. I want to live in a city where I feel safe using its amenities.
I work in property management in South Minneapolis and the amount of after hours calls from residents calling about crime has tripled. From 2014 to 2019, we would maybe get a call about crime once a month from residents. The crimes typically were not violent. We have over 80 apartment buildings, so the calls weren't unexpected. Now, it feels like once a week, if not more, we get calls from residents about violent crimes taking place.
I believe in Minneapolis, but crime (whether real or perceived) is hurting the city. I want to live in a city where people believe in each other and the systems in place.
Thank you.
Janice Geis Shovein 5222 Elliot Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 9:55:38 AM
If you have never seen what a Mounted officer can do in a crowd, you should. Horses can split a crowd with less resistance than using ground personnel.
Our horse unit should not be cut !!!
Ben Dye 7110 Meridian Ave S Montrose MN [email protected]
12/9/2020 10:32:18 AM
As a 12 year business owner in downtown Minneapolis I want to go on record that I am against cutting the police budget. 2020 has been a very tough year for business's especially in or near the downtown area due to COVID, rioting, and concerns for safety. My employees and clients do not feel safe coming to and from work and have commented on the lack of police presence. I agree that Minneapolis could benefit from adding a task force specializing in mental health issues but not at the expense shrinking police presence. If the Council moves forward with their plan to cut the police department budget directly affecting the number of officers on the street I will need to take a strong look at moving my business out of Minneapolis .
Bolin 705, South Marquette Avenue, C, Suite 1000 [email protected]
12/9/2020 10:33:59 AM
I have lived in South Minneapolis for all of my 54 years. The current city council and president, along with the mayor, have created an environment that invites crime and the people who commit them. I no longer feel safe in many of the areas I used to go. If you continue down the "defunding" path, it will only get worse. I will be forced to move out (which I have already considering). Please DO NOT cut the police budget!!!
Robert Timm 5711 1st Ave So [email protected]
12/9/2020 10:48:11 AM
Please do not reduce the funding for the police and do not cut the number of officers.
Crime and fear in Northeast Mpls has skyrocketed, as well as city wide.
Other community safely programs are needed, pull a little money from several other departments.
No one has made ANY reasonalable case that reducing funding or numbers of police officers would have ANY effect on behavior within the force. thank you
Christine Burtness
Christine Burtness 1626 Adams St. NE [email protected]
12/9/2020 10:58:38 AM
The cut to the police budget is irresponsible and is essentially the city council sticking its head in the sand hoping that the substantial problems plaguing our city will simply disappear. I have no issue with involving mental health professionals to give police officers' relief and potentially avoid some confrontations, but that will not solve the issues in our city and puts the safety of thousands of people in jeopardy so that the council can further an agenda that they spent very little time developing or thinking through. When is the council going to wake up and realize that they are destroying our city? These victims' blood is on your hands.
Christopher Huntley 1930 Irving Avenue South [email protected]
12/9/2020 11:08:51 AM
The mounted police unit has played a crucial role in establishing safety through non-violent tactics in our community. This has recently been demonstrated more publicly during Minneapolis's riots this year. There are many mixed emotions and mistrust in the police. The mounted police are a effective tool to open the gateway to communication between the community and officers. Please consider not eliminating this important resource.
Sara Damiani 1127 Silverwood Rd. Woodbury, MN 55125 [email protected] 12/9/2020 11:25:44 AM
Hi there,
I support the Mayor's Budget, including full funding for the Minneapolis Police Department, with 888 staff over an extended period. The increased violence in this city demands efforts to systematically deal with the problem.
However, I also support the provision of $8 million for the "Safety for All Budget Plan". As someone who has previously worked in county and state social services for many years, clearly the need is obvious.
How can both these initiatives be accomplished? (1) I understand that city business people have pledged some money to replace the $8 million cut; (2) and that there is sufficient money in city several funds to assist in replacing the $8 million.
In my own building, the last time I checked there were 32 units for sale out of 500 units (which is a substantial increase from previous time periods). My dermatologist has left his office in Medical Arts building for Plymouth and his staff told me he is not coming back. My chiropodist in Medical Arts building tells me that his children (who work across the street) have had negative experiences with the downtown environment. A gay friend of mine from the Towers was assaulted while walking toward the downtown Target store: Luckily he had training in jiu-jitsu, and flattened the assailant; but is that training necessary for someone who simply wants to buy groceries in our city? Another gay friend of mine tells me that a 17 year old resident near his home in south Minneapolis was a victim of a car- jacking. The (Lesbian) president of the current Board of Estimate and Taxation had the catalytic converter sawed off of her car (which is not drivable as a result). My(lesbian) lawyer working in the Lumber Exchange will not board the light rail terminal at Hennepin Avenue after dark; and moved her office to avoid the problems there. We have had two daylight assaults of downtown workers near the former Theatre de le June Lune a block from my condo; and a shooting aimed at a taxi driver on the Hennepin Avenue bridge that I can see out my north window.
If both of these initiatives are not included in the final budget package, I am concerned that businesses and residents will begin to leave the city in substantial numbers. The decision to this rests in the hands of our Minneapolis City Council. I hope for the sake of our city that the proper decision is made...
Dr. Wallace ("Wally") Swan
Past President and Vice President, Board of Estimate and Taxation
15 South 1st Street, Minneapolis
Wallace Swan 15 South 1st Street, Unit A-420 [email protected]
12/9/2020 11:30:06 AM
The mounted unit is such a incredible asset to your department in so many ways. They are always a positive for the public, especially thru these difficult times. I'm a volunteer for Scott County Mounted Patrol for going on 16 year's. When a big crowd is needed to move people send in a couple horse's instead of 20 officer's and they can get it done. Much more efficient. It takes a special horse to do the job, and I know the unit has some great horses, I have ridden with them at the Urban trail rides and seen first hand how the public welcomes them. I really hope each and every council member would really look at how much of an asset these teams ( horse and rider) are to the department. They are an asset you can not afford to lose. Don't just look at the dollar but look at the overall picture of greatness they provide. Please don't lose a great asset to your department.
Annetta Williams-Novak 24166 Langford Avenue [email protected]
12/9/2020 11:39:38 AM
I'm extremely disappointed with where the conversation and direction around safety in Minneapolis and Police Department has gone. This is a great city and has been under some very challenging times. Defunding the Police is the most irresponsible statement and actions we can take as a city. As we have all seen, the crime rate is only increasing and beyond the times when MPLS was sadly nicknamed Murder-apolis. The unrest has increased because of the actions of a few, NOT ALL, Police officers and the actions of citizens, some with extensive criminal records, but we want to hold the entire MPD to the fire, but not he individuals who continually break the law. We cannot hold the entire MPD accountable for the actions of a few officers as we would not hold all the citizens of MPLS accountable for the actions of a few citizens. The Police department needs reform, accountability and funding. Citizens should also be accountable for their actions too! Removing the funding removes the personal and tools that are needed to keep ALL citizens safe. As a leader in downtown MPLS business, I have employees and clients that are uncomfortable coming to and from our office and their safety is a MAJOR concern. This has only increased and will only continue to increase when said citizens know they can get away with breaking the law, because we have taken away 100's of officers to enforce the laws to keep the rest of us law abiding citizens safe. The city councils needs to drop their private security officers and be protected like the rest of us are and that is from the officers, that were sworn to protect us, at MPLS Police Department.
Chris Rose 705 Marquette Ave So [email protected]
12/9/2020 11:42:53 AM
Mounted Patrol is all positive. I served in Sherburne County Mounted Patrol for 12 years. Nobody ever asked to pet a squad car. People warm to the horses.
Patricia Ady Nelson 27297 136 St NW [email protected]
12/9/2020 11:50:16 AM
Minneapolis needs police and law enforcement. Look at our city right now. We are struggling with crime due to a lack of police presence. Criminals know this. Please approve a budget that fully funds MPD!!!!!
Kelly St John 6129 upton Ave s [email protected]
12/9/2020 12:03:46 PM
To whom it may concern,
The Minneapolis Police Mounted Patrol is a long standing and very effective unit of the police department. I have been affiliated with the unit as the farrier for the horses for the last 20 years. To see the good that the unit has done is nothing short of amazing. From holding lines at the RNC in 2008, to assisting clearing the streets at bar closing, to helping to build bridges between the police department and the community. The mounted patrol is an essential part of Minneapolis with their bravery and kindness.
Don’t let the destruction of Minneapolis be your legacy.
Respectfully,
Mark Thorkildson CJF AWCF
Mark Thorkildson 22144 Zeolite St NW Nowthen MN 55330
12/9/2020 12:09:49 PM
Dear City of Minneapolis City Council Members,
I am a concerned citizen writing to address the proposed budget for 2021 and the detrimental effects cuts to certain programs will illicit.
A little about my background and the lenses from which I am viewing these matters. I am a former alumnus of Minnesota Girl’s State and have an understanding of civic engagement, policy and legislation formation, and political involvement. I have advanced medical training and as part of that community have concerns for the well-being of the officers and the populations they serve, as well as an understanding of the impact high stress, trauma, and mental illness have on our communities. I have worked intimately with law enforcement agencies in multiple aspects, including disaster response with the American Red Cross. And I come from a family with multiple generations having served with law enforcement. I have also worked with event coordination and know how vital support from law enforcement is for the success of these events both financially and from a public experience and reputation/marketing standpoint.
I would like to address the elimination of the Minneapolis Mounted Patrol Unit. This non-profit is a fantastic asset for community relations and support- multiple sources state how a mounted patrol unit connects with citizens of every age and demographic from kindergarteners to senior citizens. The Facebook page for the Minneapolis Mounted Police Patrol has over 4.2K likes and provides a positive encounter for many. Data shows people feel more comfortable approaching an officer with an equine officer to report concerns or share helpful information which can lead to crime reduction and has been reflected in crime statistics. While an historic method of policing, there is significant evidence to support the need and benefits of modern mounted patrol police units. These units serve important roles with crowd control for a myriad of events including sports, concerts, parades, ceremonies, fairs and carnivals, and holiday patrols when increased presence is necessary and events which bring joy to our communities. The high visibility of a mounted officer not only deters criminal activity, it increases visibility and access for those needing assistance. Mounted officers provide a very unique and double- valued service in an intimidation and power factor for crowd control including breaking up violent riots and being more approachable and memorable for positive community interaction. "If you've got one horse, it's like having 10 coppers on the ground," "There's nothing like a horse to draw people in for discussion and to be remembered," "And that's the beauty of it, when people see horses and police officers on horses, they remember. "If we put horses in a neighbourhood, we see a reduction in crime and it lasts...” (Abc.net.au/news)
The cost to benefit ratio is so small and the returns are of extreme value especially give the current climate of police and community relations. You cannot possibly replace the positive representation of the Minneapolis police department and community engagement with the funding which currently supports the mounted patrol unit. This is absolutely critical at a time when the reputation of the department has been marred on a world-wide stage.
“We were approached by a young boy who was seeing his first interaction with the police that wasn’t associated with a negative event, like a crime or TV show. Here we were, on our horses, and able to speak with him like people.” ( IMPDmountedpatrol.org) Eliminating this component of the police department would be a disservice to both law enforcement and the citizens you represent.
Evidence for Mounted Patrol support:
https://impdmountedpatrol.org/indianapolis-crime-and-statistics/ https://andragogytheory.com/2015/09/05/mounted-police-patrol-a-tradition-of-community-service/ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-03/why-do-we-still-need-police-horses-in-2020/
Thank you
Krista Loppnow 13469 2nd Ave S Zimmerman MN 55398 [email protected]
12/9/2020 12:11:53 PM
I would like to address the proposals to not increase funding to the Co-responder program and cuts to the Early Intervention System.
. It makes absolutely no sense to make cuts to a program when doing so will make an already vulnerable underserved population even more vulnerable- cutting mental health and social service trained responders to community members with medical issues best served with this type of trained response. Your constituents include members of this vulnerable group with mental health issue and their families. It is your duty to make sure they are well-served with resources to assist and not endanger them.
. Research shows that the Co-responder program has been widely successful in both actual results and community perspective and views of the department. It seems absolutely foolish to not focus on this and continue to support the program which looks like the type of reform many across the country are demanding.
. “The MPD’s Early Intervention System helps ensure each employee’s performance is appropriate for his or her assignment, training, experience and factors that are unique to each person (www.insidempd.com)
. It is grossly irresponsible to cut the Early Intervention program without providing a public explanation of how the program was inefficient or ineffective without also having a suitable replacement program in place to support the men and women who serve and are present in the community and frequently exposed to high stress, trauma, and compassion fatigue. It is equivalent to sinking a ship with everyone aboard before transferring them to a rescue ship—you are essentially abandoning our officers to drown in the tumultuous seas- especially in the current climate. . It is increasingly irresponsible to not to have a mental and emotional health support service and screening in place while increasing the recruitment of minority populations recruitment into the service. Due to disparities and cultural differences, if anything these services will become even more critical.
. It is reckless to have armed and trained officers out in the community without monitoring and supporting their mental health and appropriateness of actions. It only takes one bad encounter to sour a person’s view of the entire system of law enforcement and the representatives.
. Not having a system which allows for officers actions to be evaluated for concerns and held accountable and assisted with additional training and appropriate adjustments at a time when the entire department is under a lens of public scrutiny seems like a failure to both the officers and the communities you represent.
Resources EIS and Co-responder: https://www.insidempd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Focusing-on-Procedural-Justice-Internally- and-Externally-2018-5.pdf https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2019/01/how-co-responder-teams-are-changing-the-way- minneapolis-police-deal-with-mental-health-calls/ http://www2.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/@civilrights/documents/webcontent/wcmsp- 174908.pdf
Thank you.
Krista Loppnow 13469 2nd Ave S Zimmerman MN 55398 [email protected]
12/9/2020 12:13:42 PM
I urge you not to decrease the police budget this year. The Minneapolis police department is in need of police conduct reform most definitely (starting with the police union!), but we also need police on the street! As a resident of Ward 7 for over 10 years, this is the first time I have ever felt unsafe in my own neighborhood. If Minneapolis is to have a fighting chance of getting both residents and visitors to come back into the city we need more police, FAR more, or downtown isn't going to make it. Please do not destroy our city by decreasing the already decreased number of cops protecting our city.
Janine Hogen 317 Groveland Avenue, #407 [email protected]
12/9/2020 12:16:13 PM
Please vote no to reducing funding to the police. Additional funds should be budgeted for increases in other public/health and safety measures. Only If and when the additional measures prove to be successful in meeting the safety needs of our community, should funding changes be considered.
The lack of police visibility combined with the visible increase in crime is ruining our city. We need rule of law and a visible police force to rebuild.
Patrick OBrien 5012 Aldrich Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 12:31:51 PM
Hello
My name is Janet Hogge.
I live outside Minneapolis, but I spend a great deal of time in downtown Minneapolis and it’s neighborhoods for both business, visiting family/friends, and to take part in all the amazing events and entertainment it has had to offer. I am writing to provide my thoughts on the possible upcoming budget cuts I am hearing about. Specifically the Minneapolis Mounted Patrol. This unit has played a big part in both safety for residents and visitors along with connecting with the community overall! Their mere presence in a crowd makes criminals or unruly people think twice before acting out. I have seen this first hand. They also have the ability to maneuver into areas vehicles cannot go, get there quickly, and see above crowds for a better informed vantage point. This unit also is more approachable and encourages interaction with all ages, ethnic groups, and identities bridging the gap betweeen law enforcement and the community. Their effect on how the police are perceived by young people has made a positive impact on their future! This unit is what everyone has been asking for—Safety and Community! And it’s already in place with officers that are passionate about their roles! They should actually be more of a model to follow and mascots for law enforcement.
Please keep the Minneapolis Mounted Patrol on the streets-for residents, those that work in the city, and visitors that want to enjoy Minneapolis!
Thank you,
Janet Hogge
Janet Hogge 9205 Cedar Forest Rd, Eden Praire, MN 55347 [email protected]
12/9/2020 12:33:18 PM
I am writing to you as a resident of Powderhorn, a landlord in Powderhorn, and a business owner in Powderhorn. Please support the 14A1 - 14A5 "Safety for All" portion of the people's budget. I support the entire People's Budget but at the bare minumum we need the Safety for All section. Lifelong resident of mpls, 10 years in the 9th ward. I currently operate Prairie Crow Bikeworks in Powderhorn, and live in that neighborhood as well.
Some of my experiences with MPD:
-I worked for 7 years working at The Hub Bike Coop, right next to the third Precinct. The precinct parking lot was what I had to look at as I took my lunch break outbehind our store. After 7 years of interacting with those officers and observing them, it makes me furious to think I fund their paychecks and it is no surprise when I hear that they have killed or injured someone. When 3rd precinct cops were violent towards protesters it was no surprise. Many of the crooked cops that worked as part of the now disbanded Joint Drug Squad were reassigned to the 3rd. These police were criminals years ago when they were caught stealing seized evidence, and they are criminals now.
-When first moved to Powderhorn I lived at 3032 17th ave with several friends. We were all new to the neighborhood, and in our early 20s. Our first week living there, me and one of my housemates were out on the porch late enjoying a summer evening. Suddenly, a police car pulled down the street, and two cops got out and tackled a man who had been walking down the street. While we watched, stunned, the two cops kicked and punched this man on the ground for several minutes. We heard the man on the ground trying to protect his face with his hands while they hit him with nightsticks. Then they said something to him we couldn't hear, and got back in their car and left. We were stunned and scared. We did not know what to do. Thankfully, the victim eventually pulled himself to his feet. We called over to him asking if he was okay. He held up his hand and waved back to us to show he had heard, and then went on his way, limping. I think back to this experience often. I wish we had intervened. We didn't have smartphones so taking video in the low light of night wasn't an option. The man those cops beat was not arrested. He was not accused of any crime. And he was beat mercilessly.
I attended several protests after the murder of George Floyd by police officers. I witnessed police striking protesters who were already on the ground holding their hands up. They shot rubber bullets at street signs at head height where they ricochets into the crowd, injuring people. During one instance, I watched a white police officer handcuff a young black man and force him to sit on the curb, and scream into his face "these are our streets and we are taking them back!" He then uncuffed the young man, and sent him on his way. No arrest, no paperwork, just intimidation.
I watched cops in riot gear slapping their batons in their hands and doing "wind ups" like they were stepping up to bat in a game of baseball.
On the third night of the the initial Curfew this summer I was on the porch of our house with my partner and upstairs tenants. When police pulled a car over on our block they pointed guns at us and screamed at us to "return to out homes". We were on our porch. Guns remained pointed at us until we were inside, and an officer continued to stand at our front sidewalk with his rifle at the ready. These officers are protecting their own power and their own people, not the people of my neighborhood. Police have continued to punish our neighborhood by refusing got follow up even when called. Spending more money on this police department is a waste, and we need to redirect our tax dollars to other programs.
Thank you.
L. Alex Heegaard-LeGros
Prairie Crow Bikeworks
3451 18th ave S
Leo Alex Heegaard-LeGros 3451 18th Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 12:33:27 PM
Dear City of Minneapolis City Council Members,
I am a concerned citizen writing to address the proposed budget for 2021 and the detrimental effects cuts to certain programs will elicit.
A little about my background and the lenses from which I am viewing these matters. I am a former alumnus of Minnesota Girls State and have an understanding of civic engagement, policy and legislation formation, and political involvement. I have advanced medical training and as part of that community have concerns for the well-being of the officers and the populations they serve, as well as an understanding of the impact high stress, trauma, and mental illness have on our communities. I have worked intimately with law enforcement agencies in multiple aspects, including disaster response with the American Red Cross. And I come from a family with multiple generations having served with law enforcement. I have also worked with event coordination and know how vital support from law enforcement is for the success of these events both financially and from a public experience and reputation/marketing standpoint.
First, I would like to address the elimination of the Minneapolis Mounted Patrol Unit. This non-profit is a fantastic asset for community relations and support- multiple sources state how a mounted patrol unit connects with citizens of every age and demographic from kindergarteners to senior citizens. The Facebook page for the Minneapolis Mounted Police Patrol has over 4.2K likes and provides a positive encounter for many. Data shows people feel more comfortable approaching an officer with an equine officer to report concerns or share helpful information which can lead to crime reduction and has been reflected in crime statistics. While an historic method of policing, there is significant evidence to support the need and benefits of modern mounted patrol police units. These units serve important roles with crowd control for a myriad of events including sports, concerts, parades, ceremonies, fairs and carnivals, and holiday patrols when increased presence is necessary and events which bring joy to our communities. The high visibility of a mounted officer not only deters criminal activity, it increases visibility and access for those needing assistance. Mounted officers provide a very unique and double- valued service in an intimidation and power factor for crowd control including breaking up violent riots and being more approachable and memorable for positive community interaction. "If you've got one horse, it's like having 10 coppers on the ground," "There's nothing like a horse to draw people in for discussion and to be remembered," "And that's the beauty of it, when people see horses and police officers on horses, they remember. "If we put horses in a neighbourhood, we see a reduction in crime and it lasts...” (Abc.net.au/news)
The cost to benefit ratio is so small and the returns are of extreme value especially given the current climate of police and community relations. You cannot possibly replace the positive representation of the Minneapolis police department and community engagement with the funding which currently supports the mounted patrol unit. This is absolutely critical at a time when the reputation of the department has been marred on a world-wide stage.
“We were approached by a young boy who was seeing his first interaction with the police that wasn’t associated with a negative event, like a crime or TV show. Here we were, on our horses, and able to speak with him like people.” ( IMPDmountedpatrol.org)
Eliminating this component of the police department would be a disservice to both law enforcement and the citizens you represent.
Krista Loppnow 13469 2nd Ave S Zimmerman MN 55398 [email protected]
12/9/2020 12:56:01 PM
As a downtown resident and business owner I am deeply concerned about the city council's direction in regards to the police department budget and the disconnect that exists between the council, the MPD and the Mayor.
I have seen first hand the enormous increase in crime and my employees do not at all feel safe coming into downtown. The MPD is understaffed. Period. And you want to cut services?
Quit hiding behind your private security guards and step into the city like we do. Maybe you will understand the problems we face as a city?
What happened to George Floyd was unacceptable, but it was the fault of 2 veteran cops. You are punishing the entire department.
I hope someone will come to their senses very soon. Time is running out and our city is falling apart. David Haines 705 Marquette Ave S, Suite 1000 [email protected]
12/9/2020 1:00:34 PM
Hi. I would like to comment on the agenda to eliminate the Minneapolis Mounted Police. The mounted unit bridges the gap between the community and the police force through education, animal interaction and uniqueness. They are approachable because people love animals and the officers are not sitting in their vehicles closed off by windows and metal but on the back of the horse right there with the community.
The mounted unit is extremely efficient in controlling large group settings. They can cover a lot of ground in a safe, timely manner. Crowds tend to respect the large size of the mounted officers versus officers on foot or bicycles. Because of this, the unit does not even need to think about the thought of excessive force! They are very easily able to use non-violent tactics to get a situation under control because on their size.
The mounted unit single handedly saved the first precinct during the recent protests. They were instructed to give it up, not because they couldn't handle it.
The people of Minneapolis want the community to come together and defund the police. I would love an explanation as to why. The crime rate has sky rocketed recently and people continue to call the police for help, right? The complete and utter disrespect for the officers is absolutely disgusting. These people are humans too. This is their career; their lively hood. They all went into this career to risk their lives, running into a crime scene to save your life when everyone else is running away. And the amount of disrespect portrayed towards them not only from the community but from some of the local government representatives is astounding. I for one, definitely feel much safer when an officer is around. The mounted unit is an absolute key to getting the community back to being respectful towards the men and women officers so they can continue doing their jobs protecting us as citizens. The unit is roughly the same cost as any other unit and can be significantly beneficial to the safety of the community.
All in all, I'm asking you to please reconsider eliminating the mounted unit. They are an amazing group of men and women here to help bring peacefulness and safety back to our community.
Thank you for taking the time to read my message.
Sincerely,
Shannon Gohr
Shannon Gohr 9920 271ST AVE NW Zimmerman, MN 55398 [email protected] 12/9/2020 1:14:12 PM
The number one function of any government is the safety of its citizens. Minneapolis needs more police not less and we need them now. Do not cut the MPD budget-increase it!
We can look at adding new non policing efforts in the future. The very long time line that would be needed for any programs like those mentioned by the city council to have an effect on reducing crime are moot right now.
Our elected officials owe ALL of the people of Minneapolis a safer environment , do not be swayed by the loudest noise makers.
Todd Hanson 2221 Girard Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 1:49:08 PM
I would like to urge the Mayor and City Councul to continue the funding for the MPD Mounted Patrol unit. The mounted unit is essential for community policing and community relations with the PD.
I will volunteer for fundraising, as this is something that I believe in.
Sincerely,
Jean Fredlund RDH
Jean Fredlund 797 Marshall Ave, St. Paul [email protected]
12/9/2020 1:52:16 PM
Council Vice President Jenkins,
As a lifelong Democrat, a regular voter, a Kingfield homeowner, and a 20+ year resident of the City of Minneapolis I support police reform but I do not support removing police from the streets and cutting their budget, especially considering recent happenings and the spike in violent crime. If anything, the police need more resources for better training and higher salaries to attract qualified officers, not less. In my entire social circle of liberally minded Democrats in their 30s and 40s, I don't know one person that supports our City Council's efforts to defund the police. Everyone can get behind supporting additional mental health services and innovative new public safety programs, Iet's find a way to make the "both and" approach work. Don't deny Chief Arradondo the tools he needs to train and maintain our police force, we may not have faith in the entire police department after the murder of George Floyd but I know most residents do have faith in Chief Arradondo. I fear that Council is only proposing these cuts as a reactionary response intended to appease the demands of a small but vocal group whose opinion differs from that of the majority of Minneapolis residents. As our elected leaders it is your responsibility to maintain your integrity, represent the will of the people, and do the right thing for our city. If the answer is not clear then take steps in the right direction by improving and adding to the existing system rather that dismantling it. Don't make decisions without majority public support or the knowledge gained by public discourse.
John Northrup 4019 Wentworth Ave [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:06:47 PM
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
I encourage you to fund the Safety for All Budget for 2021 as a first step in redesigning public safety to serve citizens and creating accountability for the police department. It is important to see the city focus on funding for services like mental health and violence prevention, and I encourage you to use the city budget for these items, rather than rely on short term allocations or one-time charity from private businesses.
Mayor Frey, I also ask that you not compromise this entire budget by vetoing over a planned police staffing number for 2022, which could be negotiated and updated over the next year. The representation of this as a "permanent cut" in media statements is frustrating and feels very misleading. I appreciate your work on the main budget including long-term funding for the office of violence prevention and funding toward affordable housing, and don't want to see the progress made for our city with this budget lost over this staffing number. I am hopeful that with relieving the police of a variety of tasks (such as mental health and report-only responses) as planned in this budget, plus better focus on policing priorities going forward, the police department will find the current staffing level sufficient to meet their obligations without excessive overtime.
Thank you for your time,
Marie
Marie DesHarnais 3533 Sheridan Avenue North [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:13:02 PM
I am concerned with cutting the budget for policing under the current conditions with rising crime rates. It seems inappropriate and sends the wrong message to our current police force. I listened to a recent presentation regarding ideas for mental health services which in most cases make sense however we need to run multiple pilots to work out the details first. We are sending the wrong message by cutting policing without a well established plan which I have not seen.
Larry 2225 22nd Ave NE [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:15:56 PM
DON'T TAKE ANY MORE MONEY AWAY FROM THE POLICE!!! We need to remove bad, racist cops but also need safety. The level of crime is through the roof to the point where I don't want to leave my apt. or walk in my neighborhood. I was assaulted and mugged two block from my apt,. during the day on 10/15/20. Keeping 38th and Chicago closed is hurting the neighborhood. We need more police on the street.
Polly Kiesel 3731 Park Ave #3 Mpls 55407 [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:16:15 PM
Please look around at what is happening in our city and realize that we NEED a functioning and well funded Police department!!!
The increase in crime in our city is causing financially stable folks to flock to the suburbs and big businesses to pick up roots. This will leave downtown only with those who are financially insecure and more likely to be pushed to crime, and remove your tax base.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF YOUR ACTIONS AND NOT JUST CATER TO WHAT HAPPENED LAST SUMMER. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE WALKING OUTSIDE EVEN IN EARLY EVENING, OR GOING GROCERY SHOPPING AFTER DARK. I PREPARE MYSELF FOR A CARJACKING EVERY TIKE I COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK. When I see a police car in the parking lot of Lunds, I feel comforted. Please start looking at both sides of the equation and not just the vocal minority. Yes, there needs to be some more funds allocated to helping those who are insecure, but please don’t do that at the expense of public safety. Minneapolis CANNOT AFFORD that at this time. Marnie Huntley 1930 Irving Ave S, Minneapolis 55403 [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:23:18 PM
Safety is a basic right of the citizens of Minneapolis and you have a responsibility to adequately fund the police provide law enforcement to keep the citizens safe from criminals, especially violent criminals.
Mike Metz 4814 Thomas Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:24:25 PM
I vehemently oppose a reduction of police officers during the crime-wave infecting our City. We need to keep staffing of officers the same because they are needed to investigate and arrest the criminals running loose in this fine City. The City Council, lead by Lisa Bender, has done nothing but give the green light to criminals and criminal behavior since their "defunding" comments and now staff reductions proposals. The first duty of a government is to protect its citizens and preserve their rights to live without fear.
Larry Ludeman 2817 Garfield Ave. So. [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:24:42 PM
Thanks to you all for your work on this - making a budget is tough in the best of times, and we're far from those now. I appreciate that you're giving 75% of Mpls residents a small drop in property tax, but honestly, I'd rather you kept that money, leaving property taxes flat. That way, you could use the increased revenue from the expansion of the tax base to support a YES-AND solution for the police budget. Yes, we need to spend more money to fund non-police responses (mental health teams, family counselors, etc.) to many current 911 situations, AND we need to fund our police so they're able to respond to calls that require a more authoritative (or armed) response. Cops are not the right first responders for a whole lot of problems, and it'd be great to find a way for 911 calls to be differentiated.
Thanks for listening, and good luck. Robin Gillette 2113 East 22nd Street [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:26:33 PM
I am against decreasing the budget for the Minneapolis Police Department.
Reducing the number of officers while crime rates are increasing is irresponsible and will have a long- lasting negative impact on city businesses, home values, and make it more challenging to attract residents to live and work in Minneapolis.
There are more effective and less impulsive ways to address racial issues in our police system: hiring a more diverse group of officers, requiring more officers to actually live in Minneapolis, better training on the restraint from using deadly response tactics, focus on pursuing serious criminal activities - not counterfeit $20 bills, holding officers accountable for their actions, replacing Bob Kroll as President of the Police Officers Federation, whose incompetence is well documented as he has been suspended, demoted, and sued multiple times for excessive force and creates a racist representation for the city of Minneapolis and all of its officers.
Chad Olson 5217 16th Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:35:28 PM
I agree with the vote to transfer budget from policing to the Safety for All Plan.
Let’s give the tasks that police aren’t trained/equipped for (or don't really want to do) to qualified people. Let’s allocate our resources wisely and use the right tool for each job. Why should we pay police overtime to do tasks that would otherwise be done more effectively through the Safety for All budget:
* A violence prevention fund and additional staffing
* Training dispatchers to assess mental health calls and to dispatch mental health professionals to applicable calls.
* Train non-police staff to handle property damage and theft reports
* Move parking problem calls to the 311 and traffic control systems
* Add additional staff to the Office of Police Conduct Review in the city's Civil Rights Department We still need police to respond to and take action on violent scenarios. But we are paying police overtime to do paperwork and social work. Cops are spending too much time on that and not enough time catching the violent criminals.
I’ll add that a police officer shouldn’t be the first responder for non-violent mental health calls. Police are not equipped with the right training to deescalate this type of situation. We see it in the news over and over again. The unfortunate result is that too often, that situation escalates into a violent situation that puts everyone involved at higher risk of injury or death. We need a better system that is proven, and that cops agree with too.
I’m disturbed by the recent rise in crime and I expect an effective policing to be a part of the response. But simply responding to this surge of crime with more police and more overtime in the long term won’t make it go away, and - worse - it fails to address the fundamental disfunction that is perpetuated in our justice system over and over.
I believe that the crime wave that we are seeing now is a result of socio-economic disparity that has been immensely exacerbated by the pandemic. There are too many disenfranchised people with nowhere to go and no support systems in place. We are also in the epicenter of a global awakening to blatant racial injustice through policing. We should be thinking about how to use our resources to proactively address these issues. That’s what our city council has voted to start doing.
Cops do not prevent crime, they deal with the aftermath and after years of our black and brown neighbors being over-policed and under-protected, we need to look to alternative ways to get at the root cause of crime. Crime is not specific to any one race, it is a result of dis-investment in our communities.
We've all seen the call to end systemic racism. Well, the Safety for All plan is the start of what that might look like…this is the first step, albeit small to change the system to make it more safe for everyone.
Matthew Rittenhouse 38 Luverne Ave, Minneapolis, MN [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:43:29 PM
I support approving the budget advanced by the city council. It’s a responsible step to redirect resources towards a new model of response to mental health calls and other needs.
Kristin Thompson 545 N 1st St Apt 115 [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:43:51 PM
Hello - I'm a 52 year old resident of Mpls.and have lived in Kingfield for last 20. I can't even read the Next Door news app anymore because of the constantly reported carjackings, muggings, assaults, shootings, break-ins and burglaries followed by the angry, hateful speech and frustrating comments of my fellow neighbors...It's heartbreaking and just sad and goes nowhere. This country is divided and this city is divided and let's STOP blaming and calling everyone a racist and a bigot and use some COMMON SENSE and FACTS to address the problems we are facing. 1.Taking money away from the police department IS NOT going to help the police department be better in any way. They need good cops the right amount of cops good facilities, good training and good community programs. 2. Preventing crime initiatives can be funded in other ways and those programs should be based on FACT - not just throwing money at programs that don't really make any difference! 3. If teenagers are the main reason behind most of this crime then LET'S GET THE SCHOOLS OPEN, LET'S GET THEIR PARENT'S INVOLVED IN KNOWING ABOUT THEIR ACTIONS, LET'S KEEP THEM ACCOUNTABLE! No release without charges and a slap on the hand?!! No wonder we have this crime spree...there are NO repercussions for these people? And there are NOT ENOUGH COPS! It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure this one out. To see Minneapolis on the national news almost every day because of our CRIME uptick is a complete disgrace and an embarrassment to our great city. This is completely FIXABLE but we have people playing games with politics and money and people's lives and well-being...I DON'T KNOW HOW SOME OF YOU PEOPLE SLEEP AT NIGHT? FIX THIS NOW or WE WILL HAVE TO VOTE NEW PEOPLE IN WHO WILL. THANK YOU.
Barbara Moen 136 W. 43rd St. [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:45:41 PM
The city council should not be defunding the police department. Crime is increasing in the city and people are fearful to go downtown. Neighborhoods are experiencing more break-ins and carjackings and violence. If we want our town to remain vibrant, it must be safe. Get rid of bad police and increase training in how best to handle difficult situations. Most of the police are good, well intentioned individuals who provide a much needed service. Add funds for mental health and social workers. Stop funding bicycle paths and further traffic calming. These won’t be needed if no one wants to work or live in the downtown area. The city will lose businesses and its tax base will decline. Please reconsider your vote and vote no on defunding the department.
Mary Orfield 5624 Edgewater Boulevard [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:55:03 PM
I believe that all residents of the city want the same things: safe streets and public places, the police to treat all people with equal consideration and decency, and the laws applied to all fairly.
Unfortunately the proposed reduction of 7.7 million dollars to the police budget seems like a good idea that is being rushed into place before its time. If the number of police officers is to be reduced and then replaced with violence protection workers or mental health professionals, it will take time to put those people into place and develop the procedures and structures to make it all work. While this is being developed the number of police officers should remain the same. It will cost more money initially, not less. It may save money over time, or it may not, but the real goal should be achieving better public safety.
Please do not reduce funding for the police department until the other public safety supports are in place
Jeff Stromgren 5245 Irving Ave. S. [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:55:19 PM
It is Irresponsible and dangerous cutting the budget of MPD. Look at the stats on crime. It has risen to an unbearable level. Criminals are taking advantage ànd willfully commiting crimes. Defunding the police works against the safety of our citizens.
Linda Levin 2912 18th Ave. N [email protected]
12/9/2020 2:55:30 PM
Thank you all for your work on the issue of the budget in general and public safety in specific. We face simultaneous crises in Minneapolis, all of which are tied to public safety and public health, and all of which are deeply worsened by the steady effects of white supremacy, violence, and racism in our culture, housing, healthcare, and *especially* in our policing.
I am cautiously encouraged by discussions of alternatives to policing, specifically with regard to handling mental health calls, and I want to stress that funding these alternatives would have a positive ripple effect beyond the singular metric of crime prevention. Funding these alternatives is a necessity much like funding the police is considered a necessity. This is what the Budget Plan for All is all about. Police already consume an outsized portion of the Minneapolis budget, and they often make matters worse for the distressed people who call them for help. Police do not prevent crime. Police are not equipped to handle many of the calls they currently respond to. The arrival of police often signals a shift from a distressing but nonviolent situation into something potentially violent and deadly. ENOUGH.
Funding alternatives to policing will improve quality of life for all communities throughout Minneapolis because these alternatives will address the root causes of crime. Funding alternatives to policing will reduce violence and trauma experienced by those people and bodies most heavily policed, especially black and brown citizens who face existential threats in this city every single day. Funding these alternatives will yield a social return on investment that we will never, ever achieve by funding policing.
I commend the City Council for their work on the Safety Budget for All which passed out of committee just recently. Please vote yes for it, everybody. You're almost there!
And, even though he threatened to veto the Safety Budget for All, I nonetheless expect Mayor Frey to vote yes for it. This budget reflects the will of the people of Minneapolis--a democratic city last time I checked. It also reflects a HUGE amount of necessary, good work by lots of coordinated individuals, organizations, and entities who care deeply about creating nonviolent, just solutions to our greatest problems. Voting YES on the Safety Budget for All is the right thing to do.
Thanks
Meghan Kosowski 814 27th Ave NE [email protected]
12/9/2020 3:04:53 PM
I am writing to express concern with the City Council's current plan to put limits on the number of MPD officers and cuts to the budget. I think that most people would agree that we do need changes to policing, however it feels premature and irresponsible to make these kinds of cuts without a coherent, well-thought out plan that is ready to go into place to offset the impact of the cuts. While the kinds of changes may make sense in some cities that are trying to make changes, many of those cities are not facing the significant uptick in violent crime that Minneapolis is currently facing. I never thought I would see Minneapolis become a city where elderly people are pistol-whipped and car-jacked in broad daylight - but that is what we currently have and I don't hear any plans from the City Council about how we are going to currently address those issues. Plans for shifting resources and pulling in different types of professions to help out are great -- but those are going to be in place immediately, there will be plenty of details to work out and they are more long-term, rather than short-term solutions. All actions have consequences - by moving this quickly and without a well-developed plan, the more likely it is that there will be significant unintended consequences.
I urge you to try harder to work with Chief Arradondo to find solutions here, rather than causing even more division than we are already facing. Emmett Robertson 121 Washington Avenue S, #1010 [email protected]
12/9/2020 3:18:39 PM
My neighbors, friends who live in the city and myself are EXTREMELY concerned.
The city is in financial crises. Crime is soaring- look at the numbers, talk to your neighbors.
The city council actions and the mayor's budget are not addressing how to stop the crime. The financial crises will continue as a result.
People are afraid to work downtown, shop ANYWHERE in the city, much less drive or walk in the city.
STOP the madness. Lead with crime prevention and protection...NOW. It is so obvious to the average citizen and yet it is not being addressed by the city leaders.
The council president Lisa Bender has fractured the city council, fractured the city council's relationship with the mayor, fractured the council's relationship with the police.
Out of control crime will lead to more financial crises for the city in every form.
Less cops guarantee more police victim payouts will occur as each cop becomes even more important and will be even more unable to replace.
Ken Zaback 4405 aldrich ave south
12/9/2020 3:30:00 PM
I have live in Minneapolis for over 50 years. I am deeply concerned about the proposed cuts in the budget of the Minneapolis Police Department. I strongly urge the Mayor to veto this.
Willliam Garrard 1234 West Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55419 [email protected]
12/9/2020 3:48:47 PM
Give us more police, and more funding for police! Gail Billingsley 4849 14th Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 3:54:54 PM
I am a white, middle age, middle class woman living in SW Mpls and I think we should Defund the Police.
I have never had an incident for which I called that police that they could have prevented from happening. I've only had the occasion to call a few times, mostly for domestic abuse happening in the apartments behind my house and once because I was following a drunk driver who eventually crashed. The police never arrived in time to manage the situations before they ended. There are very few situations where I see calling the police as a possible deterent. I absolutely believe that there are lots trained professionals who could have shown up much faster and with many more skills to help the neighbor women who were being abused. And of course once the drunk driver crashed, he needed an ambulance. I imagine there are plenty of current police officers who could proudly be rehired to fill roles on new public service teams.
I fully support completely defunding the police.
Thank you for your time
Andrea Gair
Andrea Gair 4538 EWING AVE S [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:00:38 PM
I would like to express my enthusiastic and strong support of The People's Budget. I would strongly request that during the budgeting process you bear in mind the cost, not only monetary but in human life, that MPD has inflicted on this city. People keep talking about change taking time and needing to be incremental, but if 2020 has taught us anything it is that massive changes can be enacted swiftly and efficiently when needed. The time to move quickly and decisively on shifting funding and support away from the failed, abusive, gang-like, white supremacist Minneapolis Police Department is NOW. Not a few years from now. You have the power, the people have spoken in the streets, on the phones, via email, online, and through all other manners of communication. Please listen to us, not your fears or your corporate masters or MPD. Please put your money where your mouth is and start focusing on supporting homeless people, providing resources to our neighbors in need of help, and doing work that actually has been proven to prevent crime before it happens. Thank you. Brianna Thull 5015 Nokomis Ave [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:02:09 PM
As a member of the East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association. It is my recommendation that the Neighborhoods 2020 require a base funding of $25,000 per Neighborhood to do effective work within our neighborhood and beyond. Funding for a staff member along with adequate funds to implement our programing will make it more possible for equitable engagement opportunities and outreach.
Maria Finsness 3649 Aldrich Avenue South [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:06:47 PM
Please support the police with a full budget. Some ideas on where to find the money for the public Bryant, also the tree issues with Dupont. Another idea is not to do Bryant at this time and to shuffle the money to the public safety (which you have no plans for) use this money as s start- what works what does not.
The police budget should not be the place to find the money. kathy Drozd kathleen Drozd 4132 colfax ave south [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:11:28 PM
Please support the police full budget. More police not less. We need them.!!
Steve Woldum 4132 Colfax Ave South [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:12:30 PM
Please support the police with a full budget. Some ideas on where to find the money for the public Bryant, also the tree issues with Dupont. Another idea is not to do Bryant at this time and to shuffle the money to the public safety (which you have no plans for) use this money as s start- what works what does not.
The police budget should not be the place to find the money. kathy Drozd kathleen Drozd 4132 colfax ave south [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:21:23 PM
I do NOT support the proposed $8 million reduction in the MPD budget. I do support the idea of police and safety reform, but not a reduction in police officers. We must support those police officers who perform their duties appropriately, and, conversely, hold those officers accountable that are abusive.
Gary Baardsgaard 111 4th Ave N Apt 505 [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:26:00 PM
I urge you to take a both/and mentality. We need police, reforms and investments in other areas. I do not agree with the proposal to take funding from the police dept and move it elsewhere - both need funding. As a white woman, I recognize my privilege and feelings of safety. As such, I have listened to people of color who do not share the feeling of safety - and the vast majority have NOT asked for reductions in the police force. Follow the Mayor and Police Chiefs lead and approve their budget that is both/and.
Barb Nicol 4025 Queen Av S [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:28:32 PM
PLEASE DO NOT REDUCE the police budget and number of police officers in Minneapolis. My house was broken into at 3:30am while I was home and it is a horrifying experience. My car was stolen but that is nothing compared to the fear of someone breaking into a house or being car jacked at gunpoint etc. too many awful crimes including murders occurring right now. Citizens afraid to leave their houses and afraid to be alone inside of them.
I fear for all of those who go to work in the city of Minneapolis in the dark many who are healthcare workers going to the hospitals. I fear for the elderly and children who live in my neighborhood who have been harmed and are vulnerable to being attacked
My neighbor had three men attempting to enter his house at 10 pm and if it wasn’t for another neighbor calling the police he would have been harmed
Please listen to the police chief Medaria Arredondo and all of the very concerned, and shocked residents of Minneapolis that do not want the cuts to the police budget
Linda Reuber 5309 Park Avenue [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:33:09 PM
Public safety is bigger than policing.
The purpose of defunding the police is to reinvest those funds into services to alleviate the overwhelming and wide-ranging responsibilities of our officers. The majority of 911 calls do not require an armed person to intervene.
Advertise 311 and bulk up their staff. Fund the numerous organizations with mental health crisis lines and develop a program to humanely address these calls. Prevent crime through outreach (which cannot involve officers whose image sparks anxiety, fear, and mistrust).
See MPD 150 "Enough is Enough" pages 29-35 for inspiration and other ideas.
This is about having MORE presence on the streets, not less. More unarmed, caring, community- centered professionals, and, ideally, less unchecked thugs in blue.
Consider the People's Budget and George Floyd Square's Justice Resolution.
Robert Hendrickson 2801 Park Ave, Apt B5 [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:40:54 PM
Hello, my name is Emma, I live in Whittier in Ward 10. I would like to voice my fervent support for the People's Budget. Minneapolis has been a poster child for police reform for decades, and yet we continue to see them commit countless murders and do nothing to prevent crime. What this city needs is a profound shift in how resources are allocated and how safety is conceptualized. We are living through a genocidal pandemic and more cops will do nothing to give folks the safety and security they need to thrive. Passing the People's Budget is the only way forward, the Safety for All proposal to skim a little money off the police budget while keeping the same number of officers is not enough.
Emma Sherman 2621 3rd Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 4:59:28 PM
I am opposed to the "Safety for All" plan to move $5.7 million from the police budget.
I am in favor of reforming the police and having them provide equitable, fair, effective services to the public, but I don't see anything in this plan that achieves that. My neighborhood is experiencing a crime wave, and nothing about this plan addresses that. I think I hear a lot of talk, especially from certain city council members, about only sending police for violent crimes and dispatching social workers for the rest. I would say social workers are much more highly trained and educated in their field- 4-6 years of higher ed as opposed to 10 months in a police academy- and their time & expertise is wasted to dispatch them to take property crime reports.
I would like the city council to take seriously the fact that property crimes like muggings, burglaries, and car thefts are not just a nuisance that they laugh off, but are creating an atmosphere of fear that affects our daily lives and our psyches. I would like the police to be trained to be respectful and take initiative to actually stop crime, collect evidence and prevent crime- most of which I do not see them doing; but I do not see this budget move as addressing any of those problems;
Laura Burlis 3845 Cedar Ave [email protected]
12/9/2020 5:02:56 PM
We need police protection AND NOT more bike paths, I have lived in the city since 1971, paid my taxes and supported city parks and schools. I have been a proud city dweller but the actions of this council are an embarrassment. You have allowed the destruction of our city and do NOT have solutions for the problems. Too many buildings are boarded up with NO help from the city; car jackings, robberies and break-ins are rampant and we need the support of the police NOT social workers.
Jean M Dehning 3200 W Bde Maka Ska Pkwy #202 Minneapolis 55416 [email protected]
12/9/2020 5:15:19 PM
I think everyone of you on the Minneapolis and Saint Paul City Councils should be removed from your positions, by force if necessary. As someone who’s served more than twenty one years in prison beginning at age 15 I have never seen such lunacy but from that of those who sit on the above City Councils. If the streets were so safe then some of you wouldn’t be using taxpayers dollars for your own privately armed security detail now would you. This ideology that many of you’ve that talk therapy is gonna cut it on the streets is pure insanity. The only damn thing it will accomplish is getting people killed and crime will flourish across the Twin Cities, fact
In short, there won’t be social order without laws and those who’re paid for enforcing these laws, police. The same God damn way we can’t have effective policing without the threat of force being used as a deterrent or force itself. Now look at the astronomical rise in violent crime across the twin cities since the numbers of law enforcement has been done idiot, it’s skyrocketed for fuk sakes...
Rick Meihofer 6414 [email protected]
12/9/2020 5:32:24 PM
We are in Ms. Jenkins' Ward. Please remember that people, regardless of color, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other differences, simply want to feel safe in our neighborhoods. In this respect I believe we are far more alike than different, so please fund the overtime needed to provide protection for all people in this great city of ours. I don't doubt that police reform is needed, but I ask that you think of the big picture and the future of Minneapolis in making these decisions that will be life- changing for many of its residents. Thank you.
Gloria Kittock 4021 Grand Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 5:57:50 PM
I am wondering what your goal is? Are you doing things to try to make the city of Minneapolis empty of people? Many, many people are trying to move out of the city is that your goal to make your job easier? Do you thing we want to live here with less police protection and your bright ideas of letting people out with no bail when they have committed a crime. If there are repeat robber and car jack offenders they need to be kept in jail not let out right away like they have just gone through a revolving door!
Wake up do you thing you are representing the public you were voted in to represent?
Diane and Ronald Williams 2221 E 34th Street Minneapolis MN 55407 [email protected]
12/9/2020 6:00:39 PM
Hello,
I am writing to Mayor Frey and the City Council on this date to implore the City Council to pass the 2021 budget as amended by the City Council earlier this week with the "Safety for All" amendments.
I implore Mayor Frey to pass the 2021 budget as amended because these amendments which establish a mental health response and move tasks outside of MPD are a first step in reforming public safety in Minneapolis.
It's imperative that we show we can move forward and create a model of public safety that works for all Minneapolis residents.
Joshua L Christianson 2841 Bryant Ave S Apt. 228 [email protected]
12/9/2020 6:15:32 PM
I encourage the City Council to keep the Mayor’s investment in the Police Department. While we need changes in the department we also need to be safe. It is not question of this or that, we need both, more police and more mental health professions.
Kevin Mahon 3935 Washburn Ave S [email protected]
12/9/2020 6:24:03 PM
I am writing to support the People's Budget.
In the last six years, the MPD budget has been increased by 40 million dollars, which only has resulted in well publicized police murders of Philando Castile, Jamar Clark, Justine Ruszczyk, and George Floyd and hundreds of thousands of dollars in civil settlements due to the MPD's violence. It is clear that keeping the MPD budget as is does not actually prevent crime or keep our fellow citizens safe.
Further, in a time where we have a housing crisis throughout Minneapolis, it does not seem prudent continue to inflate the MPD budget when other imperative social services are clearly needed in our City.
I call on all council members to keep their commitments from this summer to defund the police and support the People's Budget.
Shaina Praska 1018 19th Ave NE, Apt. 103 [email protected]
12/9/2020 7:10:45 PM
Mayor and Council,
My name is Benny Manibog and I have been a resident of Minneapolis since 2012 and have lived in Ward 10 since 2016.
I urge you to pass The People's Budget put forward by Reclaim the Block, Black Visions Collective, and so many others. Reallocate resources from the MPD and move them to social services, affordable housing, and other public services that support residents.
I fear any interactions with the Minneapolis Police Department because I don't know if I would walk away alive due to the color of my skin. I don't feel that the MPD serves me or other people like me. Fund programs and policies that equitably serve residents and other community members of Minneapolis.
If The People's Budget is not passed, I urge the Mayor and Council to pass the Safety for All Budget. It is a step in the right direction, but we have an opportunity to do more for our Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color within the city.
The Mayor's Budget will not bring Minneapolis to a better place in regards to public safety.
We must prioritize people over property in Minneapolis. We must fundamentally change public safety in our city. Too many people like George Floyd have died at the hands of the MPD for us to wait any longer. Pass the People's Budget now.
Black Lives Matter. Benny Manibog 2446 Colfax Ave S, Apt 105
12/9/2020 7:47:42 PM
It’s necessary to remember that we are in a pandemic. The crime increase as nothing to do with the city council declaring that they want to defund the police and everything to do with the pandemic. Pandemics have a history of unrest. Defund the police. Transform public safety.
Lora pedersen 3735 Columbus ave [email protected]
12/9/2020 8:20:50 PM
I do not support taking funds directed for public protection (MPD Police Department) and moving them to new public health and safety initiatives. Please source those funds from a new revenue stream or take them from another social program.
You are trying to make a point with the wrong funds!
Dan Schulzetenberg
Dan Schulzetenberg 1240 South 2nd Street, 302 [email protected]
12/9/2020 9:03:12 PM
Hi, I'm sending in comments intended for the budget hearing tonight, which I signed up for but did not receive a number for. If my name was called I didn't hear it. The only number info I had was "row 686" in the Smartsheets email - a better process for this would be greatly appreciated.
My comments are below:
I'm a homeowner in Ward 8 and I support the Public Safety for All plan.
Over the summer after murdering George Floyd police spent their time inciting violence. At one point they teargassed our neighborhood so badly I got rashes on both arms. We had people sleeping at our house overnight because the police slashed protestors' tires, stranding them across town in a pandemic. Police have a documented history of using their ludicrously inflated budgets to terrorize people of color. They haven't been defunded a dime yet, they're just refusing to do their jobs. I can't tell my boss, hey I spent my week injecting random black people with ketamine but give me more money and I'll do my actual job - that's MPD right now.
We're in the middle of a pandemic and people are hungry and desperate. Poverty and institutional abandonment provably causes crime. You don't solve that by giving MPD a bigger stick to beat people with, you solve it by funding housing, access to addiction services, access to food, and other community services. Thank you.
Candace Elena Palmer 3306 Nicollet Ave [email protected]
12/9/2020 9:50:29 PM
City Council Members,
I listened to the City Council Budget Meeting for 6 1/2 hours on December 2nd, and for 5 hours this evening. My guesstimate tally for both of these meetings is a majority of the callers supported the Mayor’s budget. I join the ‘voices' that I heard speak tonight, that were loud and clear, to:
* SUPPORT Mayor Frey’s Budget.
* SUPPORT Mayor Frye to VETO the proposed City Council Budget.
* SUPPORT NOT 'tying the hands' of Chief Arrando to manage the Police Department.
* SUPPORT the need to maintain the Mounted Patrol budget, which provides a valuable service for the safety of our City’s residents.
* SUPPORT REFORM in the Police Department, for safety and justice for ALL.
* SUPPORT City Council members to participate in ‘ride alongs’ with police officers, for a better understanding of the services the police are needed to provide.
* SUPPORT City funds being allocated to assist residents in need of social services, mental health services, housing assistance and community services, but NOT through a reduction in the police force.
The alarming number of crimes, deaths, and violence occurring in the City continues to put ALL residents at risk. A reduction in the police force and/or Mounted Police will NOT reduce crime, deaths, and violence, NOW, and/or in the future. City Council members need to compromise/collaborate with Mayor Frey and Chief Arrando, to unite the residents, NOT to divide the residents.
Individuals, especially adolescents, have been embolden to continue to commit crimes, which will have a lifelong impact on their lives. The use of inflammatory words by City Council members after George Floyd’s death, Defund the Police, was irresponsible, and has contributed to the unprecedented increase of crime in Minneapolis. If the safety of residents and businesses is not restored, there will be an exodus from Minneapolis.
After the December 2nd City Council Budget Meeting, I requested to have the tally of callers’ support for the Mayor’s Budget, versus the Council's Budget. During the City Council Meeting on December 7th, I heard a Council member state that there was overwhelming support for the Council’s budget. Was that comment pure rhetoric, or blatantly deceptive, to support the Council’s budget? Is there data to support that statement? It would be inept planning if calls were not recorded and tallied. I ask EACH Council member to inform their constituents with the support of the callers. Today, I ask once AGAIN to have the data released. Otherwise, the ‘voice’ of the people is no more than ‘lip service’.
I have a concern with a lack of transparency by the Council in regard to sharing the data for the ‘voice’ of the callers. I wonder whether or not the City Council members actually read, and thoughtfully consider, the content of these writings. Our residents are divided on the topic of safety in our City, and funding of the Police Department. The citizens of Minneapolis have the right to have their voices heard through a VOTE for how BEST to address the crime epidemic, before drastic budget reductions are made to impede the Police Department.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this correspondence.
Anna Erbes
Anna Erbes 4737 Blaisdell Avenue [email protected]
12/9/2020 10:18:56 PM
I am NOT in support of funding programs at the expense of fewer police. While change and additional programs needed you can’t fund these programs with benefits not yet realized from the changes. Please, please Mr Frey veto if the council votes to reduce the MPD.
I’d be happy to participate in forums to solicit ideas, etc. even work for free on citizen committees to make progress on the need.
I’ve lived in Mpls all my life, gone to MPS, and been a proud resident. My father, his parents, and his grandparents lived, worked, went to school in Mpls.
This council is qualified and should not be allowed to initiate these changes.
I worked as a senior level leader in corporate America and never once saw such incompetence in my 30 year career.
Stop the council. Can we defund them and use the funds towards the change needed?? Michelle Ingersoll 4928 17th Ave So [email protected]
From: bruce lundeen To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Staff and funding Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 8:45:31 AM
At Don Samual’s recommendation I submit the following
I do not see why the staffing decisions and fund transfers are limited to the Minneapolis Police Department. Personally, I believe that much more than is acknowledged Police answer calls and their actions are acceptable given the situations they face. Police Officers bleed just like everyone else. When they perceive a potential for physical harm to themselves, they react as we should expect. The situation we have today is not all of Police actions: The deprivation and marginalization in employment of many people has led to today’s problem. Regulatory agencies, like Minneapolis Regulatory services and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industries has been instrumental in depriving and marginalizing people from gainful employment. These government agencies have used their authorities discriminatorily or created a body of rules and regulations that can be applied discriminatorily. The difference is that Police actions are easy to criticize; regulatory agency actions not so much.
Bruce A. Lundeen Owner, Bruce Arnold Mechanical 612 978 8973 From: Carmen Nusbaum To: Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Zaffrann, David; Sirdar, Deebaa; Palmisano, Linea; Moua, MaiTeng; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gangelhoff, Sara; Johnson, Andrew; Gordon, Cam A.; Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Freude, John; Nelson, Kate R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Bender, Lisa; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Garwood, Robin D.; McDonough, Shannon; Fletcher, Steve Cc: Jenkins, Andrea Subject: Strong Support for the Safety for All Plan Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:48:20 PM
Hello,
I work and run businesses all over this city (North Minneapolis, Lake Street, and Uptown) am a proud member of Ward 13 from the Kenny neighborhood, and I am emailing today to empathetically express my support for the Safety for All budget as proposed by Council Members Bender, Cunningham, and Fletcher.
We cannot water down the Safety for All budget. Our city needs permanent, sustained, long-term investment in violence prevention and alternative safety response groups. We have a chance to lead the nation on re-envisioning public safety and we cannot waste it.
I manage people and I can tell you without a doubt that hiring employees to join in this huge and critical undertaking of completely revamping the way our city tackles public safety, but without job security and PTO, is setting them up for failure either through burnout or turnover. We must commit to long-term solutions, and we must do it now.
Police do NOT prevent crime; we know this - good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do.
I strongly urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you, -- Carmen Nusbaum Curtis L. Carlson School of Management University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | Class of 2019 Women in Business | President [email protected] | 320-248-2427 From: Marilyn To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Support for funding of MPD + diversionary alternatives/ resources Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:23:42 PM
Council Member Schroeder:
I write to seek support of Mayor Frey and Chief Arradondo's requests for additional future training classes and increasing MPD personnel plus diversionary alternatives / resources to address Minneapolis' rising crime.
I realize you did not support the Nov. 13th council vote to fund hiring of outside police forces to assist MPD during these unprecedented times; however, increased crime throughout Minneapolis combined with the depleted MPD force is not the time to "reimagine" MPD or decrease staffing during a global pandemic.
Sondra Samuels "both-and" approach to the multi-faceted challenges facing MPLS and its citizens is among the solid alternatives towards diversionary programs. Avoid creating another new or duplicative program when MPLS has social service resources that can address some of the issues.
The current situation requires a process, not a quick solution. It is a pivotal issue for MPLS' future that demands a strategic timeline to identify immediate steps in 2020 and 2021.
Thank you for your service to the citizens of Minneapolis.
Marilyn J. Doyle 4308 Zenith Ave South Minneapolis, MN 55410 [email protected] 651.491.8399 From: Angie LaCompte Subject: Support for Mayor"s Budget and Additional Public Safety Reserve Funds Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:35:57 AM
Dear City Council Members, Mayor Frey, and Chief Arradondo-
I have been a resident of Minneapolis for over 10 years. We are all aware the city needs changes and different ways of looking at safety. I do have major concerns with building something up while depleting the other component of public safety. I want a safer city but we will always need law enforcement. Our city will never be able to thrive if we continue with our division of leaders pushing their own agendas instead of working together.
Please fully fund the Mayor's public budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming public safety reserve funds. Businesses throughout this city saw exactly what we all saw in the budget meetings, a need for both/and while not taking resources from MPD.
My concerns for the safety for all budgets: 1. If COPE is a full functional Mental Health approach why are we not building the pilot within what they have already created/piloted? I know they don't have a mobile response but are we rebuilding something new already in place? What are the cost savings for staff and resources with embedding within the county? 2. Overtime pay. The MPD will still be short staffed throughout most of next year. We have the largest crime records this year and feel this will carry into next year. Similar to this year, will we have to rely on outside agencies to have to come in and help Minneapolis because we do not have the resources to protect the city? You all voted in this Chief to run this department, I agree there should be accountability but also trust in his decisions. 3. This plan takes our resources for any engagement MPD has with the community.
Please remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming funds. The Chief needs resources for the rebuilding process and not an action that delays his decision maker authority. It's also a disingenuous way to unsurp the Major's authority. I get the union "bargaining" is the big focal point in this debate however this year our city needs action and the union debates will take years!
The Chief and Major need funds for rebuilding and looking at transformative public safety services. Our communities also need healing and rebuilding. I have always considered Minneapolis a place where I could raise a family, it saddens me to say I am now doubting if I see that in my future.
I appreciate the work you do! This is a challenging time for all especially those in public office.
Thank you! Angie Marie Ward 8 Resident, Minneapolis
From: Jesse Amdahl To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Support for the Safety for All Plan Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:24:05 PM
Council members Palmisano and Jenkins,
I am a member of Ward 13 from the Kenny neighborhood, and I am emailing today to express my support for the Safety for All budget as proposed by Council Members Bender, Cunningham, and Fletcher.
We cannot water down the Safety for All budget. Our city needs permanent investment in violence prevention and alternative safety response groups.
Asking employees to join in the undertaking of completely revamping the way our city tackles public safety, but without job security and PTO, is setting them up for failure. We must commit to long-term solutions, and we must do it now.
Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do.
I strongly urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Kind regards,
Jesse Amdahl Ward 13 From: Andi Cheney To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Subject: Support Mental Health Crisis Teams Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 11:11:33 PM
Dear Councilmembers,
At your direction, city staff and community members have spent hours and hours over the course of two years studying data and research to come to the common sense conclusion that mental health professionals should respond to mental health crises.
Now is not the time for further delay while you study this yet again.
Now is not the time for half measures, pilots, or temporary programs.
Being thoughtful about implementation and engaging in continuous improvement of the program once it has started is good. Implementing half-measures or temporary programs, however, will set this initiative up to fail.
We need confidence that when we call with a mental health crisis a mental health professional will respond rapidly. We need confidence that during a mental health crisis we will not confront an armed police officer because our crisis happened outside the pilot hours or there weren't enough mental health professionals to cover all the crises happening at once.
Mental health professionals who might apply for what will undoubtedly be intensely stressful, often traumatizing jobs must have the health benefits, vacation, sick pay, and stability afforded to permanent employees. If you fund this program with contingency or foundation dollars, you are setting it up to fail.
This has been a horrible year. The City Council has made big promises and so far delivered nothing. This proposal is a tiny part of the change Minneapolis desperately needs.
If you are not going to fund the full People's Budget as you should, please, at the very very least, specify and fund Mental Health Crisis Response teams meaningfully, authentically, and permanently.
Please do not create an underfunded and/or unstable symbolic program that is set up to fail.
Sincerely, Andi Cheney Ward 12 From: Minneapolis Mounted Police Foundation To: Bender, Lisa; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Goodman, Lisa R.; Palmisano, Linea; Reich, Kevin A.; Cano, Alondra (External); Jenkins, Andrea; Johnson, Andrew; Osman, Jamal; Ellison, Jeremiah; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gordon, Cam A. Subject: Support of the Minneapolis Police Mounted Unit Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:03:06 AM
Dear Councilmembers:
My name is Amy Sizer. I have been a 911 dispatcher with the City of Minneapolis for 16 years. I am also the daughter of a retired police officer, 25 years with MPD and 15 years with Metro Transit. Today I am speaking on behalf of the Minneapolis Mounted Unit, of which I am a founding foundation member. I joined the foundation to support MPD and the community. The foundation provides ongoing financial support through fundraisers and private donations.
I was disheartened to hear that the Mounted Unit is one of the line items that is facing a significant cut in the budget. If these funds were to be taken from the Mounted Unit, it will very likely lead to the end of an era and a part of MPD that has done so much for the City of Minneapolis.
At a time when MPD staffing is at one of the lowest in its history, one officer on horseback is equivalent to ten on the ground. Officers sit high above the crowd and can see and be seen for blocks, acting as both a deterrent and a lookout. It is an integral part of MPD, providing crowd control during large scale events such as the Super Bowl, Final Four, and Aquatennial. The horses can move large crowds of people with zero force and are frequently used during bar close and more recently, civil unrest. The Mounted Unit can go in areas where motorized vehicles cannot. This was essential during recovery missions for the Northside tornado in 2011.
Of special note is that MPDs Mounted Unit received federal grant money and is the ONLY department in Minnesota that has the equipment and staff capable of conducting Large Animal Rescue. It is used throughout the state as a resource. In October, the unit rescued two horses when a trailer overturned on I-35E.
Horses provide a great connection to the community, as many people that live in the city have never been up close to one. Children are especially drawn to these docile animals and it provides a unique opportunity to engage with a police officer while petting a horse. MPD horses are always one of the most popular attractions during precinct open houses and other events in the community. Additionally, the Minneapolis Mounted Police Foundation sponsors an Urban Trail Ride through downtown Minneapolis every fall where 100 riders from all over the state come to enjoy our beautiful city.
This might seem like an easy line item to eliminate. Horses are so 1800s! Just know that it is a part of MPD that you will not understand how much it is needed, until you no longer have it. Lastly, I invite any of you to visit the stables and meet the officers and horses that are making such amazing connections throughout our city during such difficult times.
Regards,
Amy Sizer
Board President
Minneapolis Mounted Police Foundation [email protected] Cell. 612-236-8050
These are my own opinions and do not represent those of the City of Minneapolis.
From: Ted Martin To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Support our City Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:33:35 AM
Jeremy,
I live in your ward, and Minneapolis is in trouble. I've had neighbors move out of the city of Minneapolis because they believe the city is failing.
I believe there is a racism issue within MPD, but I don't believe you fix it by reducing the number of police.
While I understand that the council is trying to show that its heart is in the right place, it's obvious it's not connected to its head due to the lack of thought or detailed communications around positions. We need thoughtful actions, not reactions.
If you vote to reduce the MPD budget, I guarantee that I will not vote for you again. I will also begin to search for and support a replacement candidate that supports a thoughtful approach to ideas and directions that will serve ALL Minneapolis residents.
Ted Martin Enterprise Technology Strategist 612.263.9809 | [email protected] | www.SkyNorthSoftware.com
From: Mary Belfry To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; [email protected] Subject: Support our Police Chief and the MPD Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 6:18:45 PM
MONDAY'S VOTE - LET'S GET THIS RIGHT! I hope you are reading this before the start of the meeting. If you choose to listen the majority of us support the Police Chief. Have you paid attention to some of the callers that have a history with our city that serve(d) in office. Former Mayor Sayles-Belton was direct and eloquent in her stand for the police as was Don Samuels.
These are people that have lived through so much and can speak to experiences they have directly had as blacks living in our city. You’re roll is to listen versus making decisions based on your own biases.
Actions have direct consequences. If you vote Yes it’s a direct message that your lack of support to MPD and staggering crime rates are on you. I’m head of our Crime Watch program, encompassing 10 square blocks. This may be a small sampling but not ONE person supports your actions. And I know that this is in numerous areas.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. 2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job. 3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks. This is a win-win. Clean and simple. The Chief gets what he needs (no strings attached) to start what will be a long rebuilding process. At the same time, we also begin to move towards new transformative public safety services that will bring the holistic approach we all require. This is where most of Ward 11 sits, we expect you will reflect our wishes with your vote.
Regards, Mary Belfry 5150 Wentworth Av 612-834-6279 -- Regards, Mary
Mary Belfry, Realtor http://marybelfry.kw.com [email protected] 612-834-6279 From: Katrina Croft To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Support Safety For All Plan - don"t water it down Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:51:13 AM
Dear Council Member Jenkins and Palmisano,
Listening to the hours of callers at the City Council meeting, I heard many people saying that the Safety For All Plan was the LEAST we could do. Please don't water down the plan.
Our city needs good union jobs and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham.
Sincerely, Katrina Croft From: Diane CONNOR To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: SUPPORT THE CITY BUDGET! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:02:49 AM
Jeremy,
As 50 year resident of Minneapolis, I have seen the ebb and flow of life in the city. It was once a vibrant and safe environment. Now it is not. The question is will it ever be again or is it destined to remain an ugly shadow of its former self? There are many challenges facing our leadership but one of them should not be “either or”. We can give the City the adequate policing and pursue other avenues of community engagement for diffuse conflict.
I strongly urge you to:
1. Support the Mayor’s Budget.
2. Keep Community Policing & Engagement programs within MPD, especially the Community Crime Specialists. The Neighborhood Community Relations Dept is NOT a place for these professionals. We need and they need direct interaction to foster communication & Coordination w/community.
3. The Chief asked for 3 Training Classes. Not 1 and then having to beg City Council for 2 more. This directive sounds like an Overseer mentality. Is that really the message the Council wants to send? I don’t think so, but simply bizzare treatment of our 1st Black Chief, raised southside and Central HS Grad.
4. Addressing Mental Health - Expand the Co Responders Program and work with Hennepin County to expand the COPE program. THIS is what is recommended by the Mental Health industry. COVID prevents in person visits at this time, the industry and the Barbara Schneider Foundation have been working with the Chief and with the County.
I support Chief Rondo & his expertise.
Thank you,
Diane Connor From: Dusty Wahl To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Palmisano, Linea; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Support the entire Safety For All Plan!! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:46:40 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Please take a moment to review this email before you vote this afternoon. Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
We urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you,
Dusty Wahl From: Heidi Hamilton To: Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Support the Mayor’s Police BUdgt Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:39:30 PM
Council Members,
Please do not vote to cut police funding today.
Vote for the win-win solution: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
I do not support Council Member Schroeder’s alternative to funding the $5 million in police overtime with contingency money. With the police force at the low level it is currently at, overtime will be needed. Contingency funding is meant for unforeseen needs. We know that public safety needs the funding in 2021.
Please do not cut the resources needed to fund the investigation into the ongoing broken window violence occdurring on the 5100 block of Cedar Avenue, as well as address skyrocketing carjackings and murders.
We are depending on you two.
Thank you,
Heidi Hamilton 5040 16th Ave S. From: Robert Bruininks To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Subject: Support the Mayor"s Budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:00:28 PM
Dear Council Members, I am writing to urge your strong support for the Mayor's Budget, including the full funding he recommends for the Minneapolis Police Department. Given rising concerns regarding public safety, it is not the time now to reduce this budget beyond the Mayor's current recommendations. We do need reforms in policing and public safety, but we should find additional resources and collaborations with Hennepin County's Mental Health Services, following the development of a sound plan. We should also send strong support to our courageous Police Chief in his efforts to reform policing practices and accountability. Respectfully yours, Robert H. Bruininks 100 3rd Ave., South, Unit 902 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
-- Robert H. Bruininks Professor and President Emeritus University of Minnesota From: Mike Curran To: Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Palmisano, Linea; Osman, Jamal; Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy; Goodman, Lisa R.; Reich, Kevin A. Subject: Support the Safety for All Budget—don"t just make them pilot programs Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:47:10 AM
Hi Councilmembers—
I am writing to you because you have not yet supported the Safety for All budget, which is a necessary, innovative next step to help transform public safety in our city.
I am additionally disappointed to learn that Councilmembers Cano, Jenkins, Osman, and Palmisano want to dilute this initiative by turning it into a one-time pilot program that would use contingency funds and temporary hires instead of full-time staff. By not fully investing in mobile mental health care teams, ensuring they have the resources and staff they need, you are setting them up to fail.
Please fully implement the Safety for All Budget with permanent funding.
Thank you, Michael Curran Ward 2 From: Ann Tobin To: Palmisano, Linea Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Support the Safety for All Plan Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:10:02 PM
Council Member Palmisano,
As a long time resident of Ward 13, I am writing today to encourage you to support the Safety for All plan as it has been written. After the trauma in our community this year, this has always seemed like the bare minimum in changes we could move forward with.
We need permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health/alternative safety response. We need to move away from investing in a police department that has completely failed us and now seems to hold our community hostage.
I hope that you'll support the Safety for All plan as it was written and move away from an amendment that creates poor jobs and sets the project up to fail by only ensuring short term investment, while returning money to a department that doesn't actually keep us safe.
Thanks so much for your work, Ann
Note: I am resending this email since I neglected to include a subject line in my prior email to you. In addition, I am copying the full City Council.
Ann Tobin 4827 Aldrich Ave. S Minneapolis, MN 55419 [email protected] From: mary madryga To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Support the Transform the police fund Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:01:23 AM
Since the murder of George Floyd, Minneapolis has become an unsafe city. I have experienced crime affecting my family and neighbors.
A woman was attacked and robbed in my sister’s alley at 51st and Abbott/Beard.
2 blocks away a woman in her 70’s was beaten and car jacked.
My brother’s truck was broken into and all his work tools stolen.
His truck was totaled by a man racing in a car on Chicago Ave and he was not able to collect his insurance or pursue it in court even though there was a witness. The police paperwork was not completed.
The police need more help not less.
Please support the added funds through the Transform the Police Fund.
Sent from my iPhone From: Rick Reuter To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: Alicia Reuter; Aaron. Cherveny; Meredith and Dan Jurek; Sonia Toomey; [email protected]; [email protected]; Jeremy Graff; [email protected]; Tony Proell; [email protected]; Kathy Higgins Victor; [email protected]; [email protected]; Mark Bachman; Karl Ulfers; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; OBrien Family; [email protected]; [email protected]; April Reuter Subject: Tangletown demands pragmatic leadership! tick tock Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 2:20:40 PM
Jeremy,
We wanted to follow-up from our meeting Wednesday evening with the rest of the Tangletown neighbors.
As we discussed, our neighborhood strongly supports advancing police reform and providing greater mental health resources, but we MUST ENSURE we maintain adequate resourcing to the policing needs of today as outlined by Chief Arrodondo. Crime continues to escalate against our neighbors everyday. We need to meet overtime needs and we need to maintain the targeted levels of officers as recommended by the Chief. It is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that we imminently address rising crime levels amid declining officers and do everything we can to increase our patrols.
After Wednesday evening's City Council meeting it was clear that there is great passion and care for the future of the city and it was also clear that there are people who are deeply hurting and looking for retribution. Unfortunately, certain council members such as the Council's President are more focused on fanning the flames of divide for their own political gain than they are on bringing our city together. Their games to create a scripted vocal minority may play well on Twitter and national news headlines but it is not the leadership we need to bring our city together.
Although we were disappointed to see this in the scripted groups they brought forward, we were encouraged to read in the Star Tribune of your proposal to use $5M from the general fund to support our policing needs. We appreciate you listening to us and we ask that you continue to do so.
We need a budget/plan that addresses current levels of rising crime on our streets today with more patrols - and we have yet to see one. Please do more to ensure our safety.
AS YOU KNOW, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality.
Regards, Tangletown Residents From: Kelsey Gross To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Thank you for Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 5:57:17 PM
Dear Council Member Schroeder,
My name is Kelsey Gross and I live in the Diamond Lake neighborhood. I just wanted to reach out and thank you for supporting the Safety for All Budget proposal.
I am pleased to see you and other council members take steps to help everyone feel safe -- no matter where they live or who they are. More of the same won't work. Now is the time for Minneapolis to re envision how to do public safety, and find ways to support all people.
I'm also excited the opportunity fund will support mental health crisis teams, violence prevention, and more civilian oversight.
Thank you again for your leadership and willingness to move forward with a new path, even when many others fear change.
Kelsey Gross From: Wendy Rubinyi To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Thank You Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 5:10:14 PM
Dear Council Member Schroeder, As a resident of Minneapolis, I want to thank you for supporting Mayor Frey’s Budget to keep the funding of the police as he has proposed. There is universal agreement that police reform is needed. The statistics, however, clearly indicate that violent crime in Minneapolis is out of control. We need to have additional police resources in the community addressing the current violence in our city NOW. Reform does not happen overnight and will take research, time and hard work. Process is important and rushing reform does not produce good outcomes. Cutting funds for current public safety needs will only expedite the exodus of businesses and residents from our city. Instead, the council and citizens need to band together for sensible and thoughtful paths forward for public safety. The new Minneapolis Community Safety Innovation Fund (5 million dollars and growing), managed by the Minneapolis Foundation, gives the City and the Council the money and the pathway to do the ground work necessary for reforms in our public safety efforts. These new monies will help forge a path that uses engagement for all citizens and businesses to reform how we look at public safety. It is our Minneapolis City Council’s responsibility to act for ALL citizens to keep our city viable, vibrant and safe. Let reform, based on research and engagement of all citizens, create a city that is a model for human rights and dignity. I appreciate your good work and your support for Mayor Frey’s budget for ALL the citizens of Minneapolis. Sincerely, Wendy Rubinyi 215 10th Ave. S, Unit 318 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Ward 3 763-438-9075 [email protected]
From: Keith Olstad To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Thanks for leadership on the budget Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 5:49:48 PM
Hello, This is Keith Olstad. I’m usually contacting you in my role as chair of the Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis. Today however I’m writing simply as a citizen of your ward, specifically Tangletown.
I’m writing to thank you for your leadership in supporting the Safety for All Budget proposal. No matter where we live or what we look like we all want to feel safe in our neighborhood. Right now our current system of public safety isn’t working and more of the same just isn’t going to work. I am excited we have an opportunity fund our lives and the things that create long lasting safety with a 24/7 mental health crisis team, expand the work of the Office of Violence Prevention, and fund more civilian oversight of the current police department. We can shift non emergency calls to other departments to reduce the work of the current police officers. This is a common sense step we can take as a city to create public safety and restore public trust in our public safety system. Thank you again for your leadership. It’s appreciated in this time.
Stay well, Keith Olstad
From: Becky Smith To: Jenkins, Andrea; Ellison, Jeremiah; Fletcher, Steve; Frey, Jacob; Gordon, Cam A.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Cano, Alondra (External); Cunningham, Phillipe M; Palmisano, Linea; Bender, Lisa; Johnson, Andrew Subject: The Budget and Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:52:30 AM Attachments: VFMN_Member List_1120.pdf VFMN_MPLS Budget Statement.pdf
Dear Councilmembers,
Violence Free Minnesota is the statewide coalition working to end relationship abuse. We represent more than 90 member organizations throughout the state and over 25 organizations in Minneapolis, who share the goal of enhancing public safety and supporting victim/survivors and their families. Our programs provide a variety of public safety services including advocacy, emergency shelter services, safety planning, 24-hour crisis hotlines, trauma- informed training, domestic abuse transformation programming, and more. These organizations work in and with a variety of systems, including the criminal-legal, healthcare, housing, and education systems. Individual programs are community-based, enabling them to respond with nuance to victim/survivors’ unique needs in their own communities. As a coalition, Violence Free Minnesota provides technical assistance to our member programs and advocates for improved public policy. Together with our member programs, we share decades of expertise on the conditions necessary to create lasting safety and overcome the systematic barriers faced by victim/survivors.
In Minnesota, over 50,000 people experiencing harm reach out to domestic violence programs each year. While this number is staggering, over half of all people experiencing abuse never reach out to services. Programs working to end relationship abuse need financial support to explore new initiatives outside of the criminal-legal system so that advocates can support isolated victim/survivors.
In 2015, the National Domestic Violence Hotline released the results of a survivor survey titled, “Who Will Help Me? Domestic Violence Survivors Speak Out About Law Enforcement Responses.” Of the survivors surveyed, both the women who had called the police and the women who hadn’t called the police shared a strong reluctance to turn to law enforcement for help:
1 in 4 reported that they would not call the police in the future; More than half said calling the police would make things worse; Two-thirds or more said they were afraid the police would not believe them or do nothing.
Clearly, victim/survivors need more varied resources beyond law enforcement and criminal- legal system responses. As you consider how to use the city’s 2021 budget, we urge you to reallocate funding into community-based safety solutions outside of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and its budget.
We do not support the Mayor’s recommendations for additional funding for:
The Early Intervention System ($230K): We do not believe a system can hold itself accountable and oppose any program that relies on police evaluating themselves. Co-Responders: The $685K investment this year ($430K ongoing) is in direct opposition to the recommendations coming out of the 911/MPD Workgroup that was tasked at looking at MPD’s duties to see if there are opportunities to remove duties and reassign them to folks with different expertise. For example, the 911/MPD workgroup recommended that the city more deeply invest in Hennepin County’s COPE program AND there are multiple prototyping sessions happening within the 911/MPD workgroup to determine recommendations for a 2021/2022 pilot. We request that you allocate money towards the work group's recommendations and bolster funding so that staff may stay engaged in that project until pilots are complete. New Recruits/Cadets ($400-$503K): The police department is adequately staffed. Additional Overtime ($5M): The pandemic has seen drastic cuts to much needed healthcare workers, homeless outreach workers, mental health workers, and more; there is no need to more than double law enforcement overtime expenses.
Through our decades of experience, we know that creating safety for survivors and their children creates safety for the entire community; when survivors and their children have the resources and conditions to heal and thrive, entire communities thrive. As advocates working to provide safety and stability to victim/survivors of violence and abuse, we urge you to cut the aforementioned items from the proposed budget and reallocate funding from MPD’s $179M proposed budget into real safety initiatives as proposed by the People’s Budget and parts one and two of Safety for All. We encourage the City Council to reallocate MPD funds into community and survivor driven safety measures, including:
Domestic Abuse Transformation Programming (DATP) to change abusive behaviors. Currently, DATP programs are without stable funding sources but are still being implemented at organizations like Domestic Abuse Project, Division of Indian Work, La Oportunidad. The City must invest in changing behaviors of people who harm and support domestic violence programs serving Minneapolis to develop culturally responsive DATP programs:$650,000. Direct economic relief to gain stability for victim/survivors, including direct cash assistance to support housing and food security:$150,000. Domestic and sexual violence advocacy services to provide support and collaborate with developing public safety solutions outside of the MPD:$750,000.
We encourage the City Council to invest in and work with community experts in the following areas:
Alternative crisis and 911 responses; Access to safe, permanent, low-income housing for families; Culturally responsive, no-cost harm reduction, drug addiction, and mental health services; We welcome the opportunity to discuss how we and our member programs can inform the budgetary decisions faced by the City Council, to transform and enhance public safety. We need the Minneapolis City Council to reallocate funds from the MPD into other programs and solutions to increase safety and stability in Minneapolis. Victim/survivors need - and deserve - more than one pathway to safety.
Thank you,
Liz Richards Executive Director VIOLENCE FREE MINNESOTA [email protected] Ph. 651.646.6177 x125
Becky Smith Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Communications Director
VIOLENCE FREE MINNESOTA 60 Plato Blvd., E. - Suite 230 St. Paul, MN 55107 Ph. 573.881.4647 (cell) www.violencefreeminnesota.org
Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | From: Julie Solfest To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: The Budget Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 1:24:57 PM
Rep Schroeder
Please do NOT vote to support Lisa Bender’s amendment which would cut nearly $8 million from the police budget.
If you are determined to implement the redirection of non-emergency and mental health calls and the creation of violence prevention programs, the money must come from another source. These changes must also be done by working with Chief Arradondo, not against him.
The Minneapolis Community Safety Innovation Fund (currently standing at $5 million) is a unique and exciting opportunity to add to public safety without subtracting the safety our police force provides.
It is a false choice that we must choose between a fully staffed police force and public safety reforms.
Please be a bridge to unite our fractured city by voting against cuts to our police budget and vowing to work with the our partners supporting the Minneapolis Community Safety Innovation Plan and with Chief Arradondo.
Thank You, Julie Solfest 4717 17th Ave S
Sent from my iPhone From: Rick Reuter To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: The mayor’s budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:22:09 PM
Dear Mr. Schroeder,
For fifty years I have lived in Tangletown East. I have seen great progress and development over these years and want it to remain so. Crime is weighing us all down. Who wants to move into a city that isn’t safe. Reminds me of the rap the city took in 1970 when I moved in—too full of crime!
Let us not have a return to those bad old days. You must vote for the mayor’s budget so we can get a handle on some of this lawlessness and get it under control. In fact I would prefer we did both. Approve the mayor’s budget and the Transforming Fund!
Thank you, Richard D. Reuter Sr.
Get Outlook for iOS From: Erin Anderson To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: The original Safety for All Plan is the bare minimum--please do not water it down! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:56:18 AM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
My name is Erin, and I am a resident of Minneapolis. Our city needs secure, union jobs and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. Using one-time funds for the Safety for All plan protects police rather than really striving to meet the demands of the plan as intended. It’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, and no PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. I have seen this firsthand myself working in immigration law: countless of my organization's clients would not be in the precarious situations in which they find themselves if we had a robust, well-supported alternative safety response team. Police don’t prevent crime--good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
As a lifelong Minnesotan and resident of Minneapolis, I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham, and I urge you to pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Thank you for reading this email.
Erin From: Gary Johnson To: Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: The recent council decision Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 10:20:55 AM
I have run a business in downtown Minneapolis for 40 years. We have employed thousands of people who live in Minneapolis. We have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes. I love the city. My mission of my business is to promote the consumer and business quality of life in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The city is in turmoil. We have to make changes to the police department but now is not the time to cut back on essential; policing services. There will be time to do the right thing and add services that are not designed for violent crime. The Council has to strong about first supporting it’s police department and controlling the increasingly rampant spread of violent crime and lawlessness. Once we have found a way to rebuild our MPD then you can deliver on the promises you made after the Floyd murder.
First things first!
Gary Johnson MSP Communications
From: Greg Pelc To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: The Safety for All plan should not be weakened Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:01:04 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
Police don’t prevent crime. They are a reactionary response to it. To prevent crime, we need good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services. We need community investment and support, not more law enforcement. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work, not continue to spend millions of dollars on a failed strategy. The increased reports of crime have as much to do with economic strife and disparities from the COVID-19 pandemic. Let's change our city for the better. Let's take care of each other.
Our city needs good union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up this new pilot project for failure. This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to cause as much harm as they have provided benefit.
Help to transform our system by adequately supporting Safety for All points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham. Help to pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Sincerely, Greg Pelc, MD Minneapolis resident From: Heather Silsbee To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: The Safety for All plan Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020 10:46:50 PM
Council members Jenkins and Palmisano,
I am very disappointed to hear that you intend to propose an amendment to change the funding source for the Safety for All plan. When any department of government, or any kind of organization, is performing a job so poorly that they are physically and mentally harming, even killing, those that they are supposed to "serve," both that job and the money should be transferred elsewhere.
We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt our community in a multitude of ways. Even if you believe the MPD do provide some valuable services, you seem to agree that they are not successfully helping our community members living with mental illness and addiction. So, how can you agree to move this large chunk of labor to a new department without also moving the budget with it? Taking this money from the MPD is not a sacrifice, it's common sense.
Police don’t prevent crime - that's not their job. Their job is to enforce laws, not help our people. Good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do prevent crime. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. I need you to provide good jobs for critical services and divest from violent policing.
Thank you,
Heather Silsbee Ward 13 resident From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: The votes today Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:02:41 PM
Hi Jeremy
I am a long time resident of the Northrop neighborhood, almost 50 years, have loved the community feel of my neighborhood and have always spoken highly of living in the city. Over the years I've been active in neighborhood activities, served as a block leader and volunteered in the schools, long after my kids were grown.
However, now the city is shaky, grappling on ways to stop the racism in our police department, to keep our neighborhoods safe, to improve the quality of life for all of our residents and for all of us to be equally/fairly treated. There is work to do, for sure, but right now I think the police department has to be fully funded. I need to know that there is a police representative available when when I call for help. I don't want to be looking every which way when I go out to my garage.
As my elected representative of Ward 11, I want you to know how I would like you to represent me with the vote this afternoon. I am in favor of the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund proposal. It's a source of funds to direct toward pilot projects to test new approaches to help our citizens. I want the mayor's budget fully funded. Don't add words that restrict Chief Arradondo's ability to lead.
I hope you can do what is right for us today.
Kay Kurtz
From: CindyLou Ferris To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: This Afternoon"s Vote Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:42:27 AM
Jeremy,
Thank you so very much for taking the time to talk with me on Sat. It is comforting to know you recognize the rapid rise of we are seeing in our city and the unease it is causing residents of Ward 11.
I like the idea you proposed of merit increases or bonuses. People work harder if they are rewarded for their efforts. This is an innovative idea and one I’d support. We both agree that police salaries while in line with similar cities our size, are low when considering the value of the job they perform.
I commend you for proposing $5 million for police funding. Good step in the right direction.
The portion of your proposal that causes me heartburn is that the Chief can only access those funds with consent of the Council. I’m uncomfortable circumventing City protocol by giving the Council control of police funds. The Chief is already under staffed and we know that in March when the George Floyd trial begins we’ll need more officers on hand. Don’t make the Chief beg for bucks to protect our safety. It feels like a power grab and doesn’t set well with the citizens of Ward 11.
For these reasons, I urge you to support the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. The stock gains that generated these funds don’t effect other proposed spending and they come with no strings attached.
CindyLou Ferris Ward 11 Resident for going on 20 years From: Tim Weeks To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Todays (Monday) Vote Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:10:27 AM Attachments: 03_06172020033845PM_1.jpg
I live a few hundred feet from the George Floyd memorial. I am getting very tired of waking up at midnight or later to 20 to 30 gunshots and gang wars going on in my neighborhood that I have lived in for 30 years. I have attached a photo from earlier this summer. The same camera captured several teenagers not only posessing a gun but actually firing it over my neighbor's house. Please vote to re-define the police, not defund them. Please give the Police Chief what he needs to do his job. I rarely see the police in my neighborhood. They should be driving the streets and alleys and be highly visible. I am lucky, I can stay home during this pandemic, but my wife must go to work every day with the risk of possible robbery or carjacking. I really shouldn't have to be armed to go and walk my dog. Please think of the residents of Minneapolis and their safety when you cast this vote Tim Weeks
From: Steve Kenney To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: Steve Kenney Subject: Today"s vote - Please read Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:21:48 AM
Jeremy-
I have lived in Minneapolis since 1963 and have many brothers and sisters that live in the city. I currently live in the 11th ward.
I strongly support the mayor’s budget. I was speaker #387 the other night.
It was clear from so many callers the other night that there is deep frustration with the Minneapolis PD. That does not mean that a strong well-functioning PD isn’t possible. We have a window where everyone is watching. Fix it.
The proposal called the People’s Budget plan has support, but polling indicates a majority of our community supports investing in a well-functioning PD. We are people, too.
It is clear to me that we have a huge issues with systemic racism that are very real, and it is time to stop kicking the can down the road. Funding and fixing our PD is not synonymous with kicking the can down the road. As an earlier caller the other night said, investing in well thought out programs that deal with very real social inequities and fixing our police force do not have to be binary choices.
Slashing the number of cops on our streets because they are not performing well is not a good idea. It’s like remodeling the basement while the roof is on fire. Fix the roof. Then you have a house to remodel.
I agree with Don Samuels, Sharon Sales Belton and Steve Cramer, public servants that have given their careers to supporting our city.
Take this next year and fine tune our plans and hold our fine chief of police accountable for fixing his force. He says he needs 1000 cops. We have nowhere near that number and the job requires extensive training. A cut in the budget will ripple through the next three years.
Thanks so much. I appreciate very much the serious approach you are taking.
Steve and Molly Kenney 219 W. Minnehaha Pkwy From: O"Byrne, Eileen To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Today"s vote for Major Frey"s budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:40:21 AM Attachments: image466085.png
Hello Jeremy,
As one of your constituents (at 45 E. Minnehaha Pkwy for 34 years) I am writing to express my support of Mayor Frey’s budget for the police department. Although I whole heartily support police reform, with the current crime wave this city is experiencing I don’t think it wise to cut the police department funding any further than what Mayor Frey proposes. We were promised a long and thoughtful approach with community engagement towards repairing the many issues we have with systemic racism. I have not seen any of the promised deep community engagement and although the People’s Budget has some good points, it doesn’t need to be funded by the police department at this time. Please be more thoughtful and deliberative with reform and engage the entire community that you serve.
I urge you to pass the budget as proposed by the Major.
Eileen
Eileen O'Byrne, CPA, MBT Senior Manager 7500 Flying Cloud Drive, Suite 800 Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344 T 952.841.3043 | F 952.841.2979 [email protected]
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HELPING YOU GET THERE...
This message (including any attachments) is confidential and intended for a specific individual and purpose. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by replying to this message and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. From: Daniel Strombeck To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Today"s vote on police funding Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:49:24 AM
Dear Jeremy,
My name is Dan Strombeck and I have worked and lived in Minneapolis all of my 57 years. I just can't believe how bad public safety has become in the last 6 months. We are being terrorized by 14 year-olds. How did that happen Jeremy? Years and years of neglect and indifference to what the police were doing to people of color. A real problem. And now the solution to fighting this incredibly awful crime wave is to reduce the police budget? Say that to yourself a few times so you can hear how foolish it sounds. Crime is worse than ever before, and much, much more violent, and we're going to reduce the budget? Do you hate your constituents? Are you happy that they are under the constant siege of crime? And you want to cut the budget? Are you crazy Jeremy? We can do both of the things that need to be done to fix the problem. If we have $20 million to pay for Justine Diamond's death, we have $5 million to pay for a fix to this horrible crime wave. Jeremy, the Mpls. Council has become as bad as the Republicans. You all are just the other side of the Trump people. You and the council are just as destructive to our way of life. In Minneapolis crime is out of control because the criminals know there is nobody to stop them. And to produce a double whammy, the criminals know nothing is going to happen to them if they are caught. If the council has a better way of policing, please bring those ideas forward. You all act as if you know something about policing the rest of us don't. How did you gain such insight that you're unwilling to share? I think you're all full of crap. I want the police to be way more responsible for their actions, but you haven't shown anyone that you have a better plan. Do you? Anyway, do the right thing today Jeremy and vote to protect the people that pay your salary. The council sides with criminals too often. Let's change that narrative huh?
Sincerely Dan Strombeck From: Klint Jr., Thomas To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: today"s vote suggestion Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:41:27 AM
Good morning
We need more resources, not the same or less.
The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
Thank you, tk 5100 Oakland Ave. South
Thomas A. Klint Jr. BSN, RN Pre-Liver transplant coordinator 612-624-9228 direct 612-365-0256 fax [email protected]
From: DAN A GIESEN To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Unifying Vote Option - Oppty for Win-Win Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 5:57:06 PM
Jeremy, thank you for responding to my earlier email message regarding my concerns about reduction in police funding. I know you and I are both interest in better policing outcomes and the key is figuring out the way to get there. A few points I feel are important.
1. We can accomplish all desired outcomes, I think, by fully funding the mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilot initiatives through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Let's ensure Police Chief Arradondo has the funds right away to do his job and ensure he has the money to recruit and hire new cadets, Community Service Officers, and any additional necessary funds for ensuring our officers are available to protect our neighborhoods (i.e. the additional overtime pay requests)
3. Please back the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund, and let go of the other amendments. Let's not reduce the levels of officers the mayor and Chief Arradondo are requesting. Let's let them do the immediate work of ensuring we have adequate police to provide for public safety while we figure out the best structure for an improved public safety organization/effort.
As a constituent, I ask you to provide the necessary tools to provide safety for our neighborhood. Right now, we're failing and reducing budgets and officers is not an immediate solution. We need stability now, and that will provide a nutrient rich environment for change. Thank you
Dan Giesen 6038 Elliot Aven Mpls
On 11/20/2020 3:02 PM Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Dan,
Thanks for writing in and thanks for giving me the opportunity to elaborate on my position. And thank you for including your reasons for supporting. One big issue I have with this proposal is that the money comes out of the City’s emergency/contingency fund. If the City wouldn’t tap into this fund with the huge needs of small business owners as well as the immediate need for more shelter over the last few months, this proposal does not rise to that level to spend part of its funds. I would change my vote if the Chief could provide a plan or strategy on how he is going to use the officers (and to your point, the Chief didn’t answer that these officers would be able to free up time for officers to do other work) and why he does not have the money for this out of his historically large budget. Being that I’ve been asking for those details since July, I am not hopeful. Additional, both agencies who were supposed to provide officers through this proposal hadn’t been consulted. Hennepin County isn’t sure if they can provide any officers, let alone 20-40 and Metro Transit said it wouldn’t be able to provide officers: https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-city-council-narrowly-oks- plan-to-bring-in-outside-police/573066922/ We, along with other cities in the nation, are under extreme financial stress due to COVID-19 and will very likely need more aid in the upcoming months. I’m not opposed to hiring outside officers while MPD does the work to address its multiple issues, but spending half a million dollars out of the contingency/emergency fund without a plan, or strategy, or any accountability is irresponsible.
On the building alternatives in our public safety system, my colleagues and I are working on a budget plan that will get directly to how the City can make people safer right now, focus police calls so that officers aren’t just going from call to call and getting people the help they need. That proposal should be out in the next couple of weeks, let me know if you want me to send you a copy.
Kind regards,
Jeremy Schroeder
Council Member, Ward 11
City of Minneapolis – City Council
350 S. Fifth St. -- Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office: (612) 673-2211
Cell: (952) 923-6691 [email protected]
he/him/his
Subscribe to the Ward 11 email newsletter here.
From: DAN A GIESEN
Dear Jeremy,
I would like to express my appreciation that the City Council voted to approve the additional funding to bring in law enforcement assistance, for the near future, to assist in providing safety to the public in this time of escalating crime and violence in Minneapolis.
I know you did not vote to support that funding, and I would like to explain why I believe the funding is the correct decision. In fact, I don’t believe we are going far enough.
Before I get to that, however, I want to communicate that I am very in favor of a re-inventing of our public safety structure.
I do believe a better structure exists using other people/roles in place of police officers in appropriate situations.
I do believe the police officer corp needs to expect better of themselves, police themselves better, and support those that are willing to speak truth even when unpopular. in other words, hold their brothers and sisters more accountable for good behavior.
First, I’ll explain my reasoning for supporting the allocation of funding for additional law enforcement assistance.
This isn’t a perfect analogy but it’s the best one I can come up with right now. Think of our situation as a counterinsurgency environment.
We have rising crime and violence, and more and more our citizens are victims or fearful of becoming victims of crime.
We know we need to fix our public safety systems, but the right answers aren’t perfectly clear and would be impossible to properly implement in a very short period of time.
Therefore, we need to buy time for those restructured plans to be developed and properly implemented.
The analogy is counter-insurgency. The military has a counter- insurgency manual. It’s not perfect and the variables always change in every situation. But historically the way counter-insurgency works is by having enough troops on the ground that they can work closely with the citizens (villages, towns, hamlets, etc.) to provide security and peace to the population.
Once the population has safety and peace, they begin to trust the military and the authorities more. They are willing to cooperate with the authorities.
This gives the government time to devise, introduce and implement plans to improve the lives of the population which minimizes the grievances that lead people to become insurgents.
But you can’t do this without security and safety.
This is why we need more police presence, and NOW. We need a LOT of officers and we need them quickly.
We must protect our citizens and make them feel safe. If they feel safe they will be more supportive of ideas that will improve the structure of our public safety visions.
There is another perspective that I believe many on the city council are not considering.
Our police forces are under a ton of stress every day. Do you, or I, go to a job where we don’t know if we will come home unhurt or alive at the end of the day? No. But they do.
If we don’t have enough officers, then fewer officers have to respond to more situations. This leads to greater stress, more burnout, poorer decisions. The result can be unfortunate and normally avoidable outcomes.
If we spend more on policing and spread the workload out over more officers, then we reduce their stress. We give them more time to make the right decisions. We will see better outcomes. The population sees more and quicker police response.
Officers have time to actually get to know the people on their "beat". This builds relationships and familiarity. This helps police to do their work, and it helps the citizens to trust the officers they see and interact with daily.
Indeed, we should not “defund” the police. We can't do this on the cheap. We need to properly fund the police…perhaps even increase police funding to hire more officers and provide more time for neighborhood interaction, training and other skill development, as well as mental health services so they can maintain their own health while they keep us safe.
We should spend additional money developing other ideas to improve our public safety…..implementing ways of bringing mental health/social services professionals to handle mental health crises, etc.
But we can’t do anything of this while our neighborhoods are in chaos.
I would be happy to discuss any questions further. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dan Giesen
6038 Elliot Avenue
Minneapolis
612-590-8078 [email protected]
From: Seward Police Abolition To: Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Gordon, Cam A.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Fletcher, Steve Subject: Urgent Budget Input Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 1:11:45 PM
Dear Councilmembers Cunningham, Bender, Fletcher, Ellison, Gordon, and Schroeder,
First, thank you all for standing by the Safety for All Plan, which represents much less than the very least of change that we should expect in this horrible year.
Second, we have heard that the council is considering further amending the budget in tomorrow's session. We do not support any amendments that weaken the Safety For All plan. We do urge you, however, to introduce and consolidate support for further amendments adding common-sense, implementation-ready parts of the People's Budget that will:
1.2.d. Restore funding to the health department cuts that disproportionately affect BIPOC communities, including the cuts for nurses who address asthma and lead exposure, air quality testing, and the Lead and Healthy Homes program ($90,000)
1.3.c. Fund grassroots harm reduction groups like Southside Harm Reduction (had existing health dept contract in 2020) and SWOP MPLS’s outreach teams ($100,000)
1.3.d. Fund harm reduction supplies, including clean syringes for existing syringe exchanges, grassroots programs and outreach programs outside of Syringe Service Programs (ex. public health outreach workers, shelters etc.) ($500,000)
2.1.c.ii. Match funding for the Tenant Resource Center to be at least equivalent to MPD’s Police Athletic league ($65,000)
2.5. Increase funding to existing contracts to provide direct economic support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Support must be meaningful and go beyond reimbursements or gas cards. ($30,000)
2.6. Protect community contracts for education and outreach on worker rights, including sick and safe time and liveable minimum wage, and fund 6 investigators in Labor Standards Department ($600,000)
3.4 Fund the replacement of a federal community safety coordination grant for community safety activities for and by Little Earth residents and to restart restorative justice programming ($200,000)
3.5 Increase funding to the Office of Immigrant and Refugee affairs ($750,000) to expand the office into a fully staffed city department (similar to those that exist in Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and New York)
4.3.a. A taskforce that brings diverse stakeholders of people in sex trades to the table to investigate best practice and policy reform to improve lives of people in the sex trades ($200,000)
4.3.b. Neighborhood conflict resolution and and mediation services led by SWOP to address neighborhood concerns about commercial sex economies ($100,000)
4.9. Permanently maintain George Floyd Square with the sculpture in the middle of the intersection, with gathering spaces on the Chicago side of Cup Foods ($500,000)
We stand ready to rally support for any amendments you offer authentically implementing the People’s Budget!
Sincerely,
Seward Police Abolition From: Allison Klint To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: VOTE Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:45:25 AM
Good morning, Councilman Schroeder.
I hope that this finds you safe and well.
I have been a lifelong resident of Minneapolis, our children are fourth generation Minneapolitans and we intend on continuing that multi-generational commitment to this city and urban living. I have lived on busy streets and less busy streets- southwest Minneapolis, Uptown, Lake Nokomis area. I have never felt unsafe in my bed at night until the past number of months, and especially the past month or two. My husband and I have never considered moving out of the city. We plan to stay in our home when our children are grown, out of the house, and when we hopefully one day have grandchildren. I am worried about my children, myself and my husband. I used to start my car in the morning to warm up- now I am worried about GOING to my car in my quiet neighborhood. I do not want to be a part of the "white flight" that is real and happening. I know personally 4 households that just moved this last month- people who never planned to move out of the city. We do not want to become a city that cannot recover. Minneapolis is a city that has always been a great place to live. Now my out of state relatives are asking if we are safe based on what they have seen and heard on the news.
Living in Minneapolis should not have to include astronomical levels of crime and living in constant fear.
With the vote today, I ask that you:
1. Put aside your political agenda and financial shell games and fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a sad and frightening reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we ask you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Thank you for your service to our city and your constituents,
Allison Klint -- Allison M. Klint From: Heather Magnuson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: vote for safety of your constituents Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:03:47 PM
As you know, I have been a resident of this ward for 17 years and have written to you numerous times regarding my thoughts on public safety and the need to support Chief Arradondo. The time to do this has never been greater and it has to happen now. We can no longer afford to play political games with Minneapolis residents' safety and lives. The explosion in crime has got to stop and it isn't going to be social workers running toward the gunfire we've experienced in this ward over the past six months. Chief Arradondo needs the appropriate resources to do his job effectively. Do not restrict him by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, CSOs and the $5 million for OT. OT pay should not come with strings attached and we all know it's a ploy to usurp the Mayor's authority. Stop playing games with my tax dollars and support the man who has been doing this job for 30 years. The constituents of Ward 11 are organizing and talk more than you probably care to realize, and we know where your constituents stand. We expect you to REPRESENT us and vote the direction your constituents are asking you to so that we can all stay safe while still demanding reform and accountability in MPD. Heather Magnuson From: Erin Dunn To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote for the Mayor’s Budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:35:31 PM
I really hope you see that the Mayor’s budget is the right move for now. We need to secure our communities before we decide how and what to change. We need change - but that change is not reducing the MPD budget.
Erin Dunn From: Lemaster, Jilian F To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote for the Win-Win: Approve the Mayor"s Budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:29:56 AM Importance: High
Good morning Jeremy, I understand there is an important vote this afternoon regarding the MPD budget, and I’m writing to urge you to vote to fully fund the Mayor’s police budget.
I am a lifelong Minneapolis resident, most of my life in the 11th ward. I love Minneapolis; I have two young sons and we love walking the creek, exploring the falls, enjoying the lakes, and socializing with neighbors (pre-covid). I (would typically) work downtown, and I fully believe in the power of a thriving city.
I care deeply about the disparities that people of color experience, and believe strongly in the reparations that are due them as a result of past and current injustices.
That being said, defunding the police during the current crisis of violence our city is experiencing is NOT the way to achieve a thriving city and to repair past harm. It puts too much stress on our police force, and is causing scared citizens to leave the city. Our next door neighbors just moved to the burbs. My husband is talking about it too, and more and more I can see his point.
A vote to fully fund the budget AND fund new pilots through the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund is a win-win. I implore you: 1. Do not restrict Police Chief Arrandondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets and Community Service Officers. Give him access to funds on Day 1, including overtime, that allow him to do his job.
2. Remove your $5mm amendment and back the Transforming Fund.
Thank you for your commitment and service to our city – I so appreciate your communication and love your weekly newsletters.
Jilian Lemaster
Jilian F LeMaster Vice President | Sr. Product Manager p. 612.436.6153 | m: 763.292.0578 | [email protected]
U.S. Bank Corporate Payment Systems – U.S. Bank Freight Payment 901 Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402 | EP-MN-A16S | usbank.com
U.S. BANCORP made the following annotations ------Electronic Privacy Notice. This e-mail, and any attachments, contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications privacy laws, and is also confidential and proprietary in nature. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you are legally prohibited from retaining, using, copying, distributing, or otherwise disclosing this information in any manner. Instead, please reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error, and then immediately delete it. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
------From: Don Samuels To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote No Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 7:55:38 PM
Jeremy,
Please help us on the Northside. We need a full complement of police to even tamp down the violence here. We are in very real distress. Contrary o some opinions, this is not an exaggeration. For the first time in 24 years living here, I have said, if this cut passes, we might have to move. I just don’t think I could stay, and the damage would be so depressing and so difficult to repair. Gang hierarchy would be etched into the community culture and it would be another decade of arrests and incarceration before sanity is restored. Please stand with us.
-- Don Samuels 612) 419-7179 Be the Change From: Jen Knight Snodgrass To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Fund the Mayor’s budget Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 11:22:57 AM
My name is Jen Snodgrass, and I live in Ward 11. You were elected to represent your constituents, and we expect you to reflect that in your vote today. The crime in our community is terrifying and is different than I have ever experienced in my 20 years here. You must fully fund the mayors police budget. We need police on our streets to stop the car-jackings, violent attacks, and robberies. I and my neighbors do not feel safe and we all have stories to tell about threats of violence, lack of police and crime migrating into our neighborhood. It makes us fear what our city is becoming and your vote to fund the Mayor’s budget Is a vote that represents your Ward. We can address police brutality while simultaneously keeping crime at bay. The crime in our neighborhood is not a perception, it is our reality. Jen Knight Snodgrass 5536 Park Avenue Minneapolis, MN. Knight Snodgrass Consulting From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: Palmisano, Linea; Laurie Helling Subject: Vote to fund the Mayor"s Police budget Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:40:59 PM
To: Schroeder, Jeremy
Dear Councilman Jeremy Schroeder,
As a lifelong resident of Minneapolis, with 2 of our children & 7 of our grandchildren in Ward 11 (the Ward you serve), we are disgusted with the new high levels of crime there and in the City of Minneapolis.
With your vote tomorrow, I ask that you:
1. Fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. The Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should not be reduced. Your job includes helping ensure our public safety. If you don’t fund the police force (like your constituents are asking) is this not inequitable and irresponsible?
2. Allow Police Chief Arradondo to do his job by putting no conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One. We need quick responsive teams to thugs and rioters crime & violence.
3. Remove your proposed $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with NO strings attached. To do so usurps the Mayor’s authority like the City council did this summer. You call that leadership? It’s not! The cost to our City was horrific and hurt businesses, jobs & health. Trying to micromanage needed funds, without the guaranteed approval & trust in advance, does not help rebuild the Minneapolis Police Department & the City of Minneapolis.
Please represent the desires of your constituents and vote tomorrow to have the MPD fully protect and serve our family of 3 generations & our neighbors who live in Minneapolis.
Thank you for your service to our city.
Thomas Helling Ward 13 Cc Linea Palmisano Ward 13, Laurie Helling Ward 13 From: Jody Peterson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: Marth, Ryan W. Subject: Vote to reflect our wishes today Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:14:02 AM
Councilman Schroeder,
I am begging you to vote the wishes of your constituents in today's vote. The crime in our city of at horrific levels. We moved into Tangletown at the end of the summer believing this uptick was a blip. It is not. This is a serious trend, and it is worsening by the day. I know that urban living does not have to include astronomical levels of crime and living in constant fear. Please, please consider the needs, wishes and, the very and real fears of your constituents.
1. Please fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new the pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - LET HIM DO HIS JOB.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. It is not isolated as you have stated in the past, it is widespread. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote today.
Thank you for your service to our city and your constituents, Jody Peterson & Ryan Marth 5117 Garfield Avenue, Minneapolis From: jennifer hall-lande To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to support public safety Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 6:38:02 AM
Council Member Schroeder,
Good Morning. I hope you are well today. Please vote to support public safety and do not cut the public safety budget. The majority of residents in your district do not want the public safety budget cut. We need to address the surge in crime, and restore public safety in our community.
Honestly, I am concerned by the false choice being presented. This budget debate has been framed as choice between police reform and a fully funded police force. The reality is we need both – we want a police force that is more transparent, more accountable, more reflective of the community it serves.
We need to first restore public safety in Minneapolis. We also need a fully staffed, responsive public safety department. Police need to respond to crime. and promote public safety programs. I understand why you felt compelled to take action in June. We need to be more thoughtful going forward. Keep police funding and programs where they are and let's work as a community to reform and rebuild. We can simultaneously restore public safety and work to reform and innovate the system. I encourage the city to both keep current funding and actively pursue additional grant funds for innovation in public safety.
Let the police rebuild into the force we need now to restore peace and calm in our community.
Sincerely, Jennifer Hall-Lande
Jennifer Hall-Lande From: Kathryn Rozin To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Cc: Goodman, Lisa R.; Michael Rozin Subject: Vote to support the Police Budget today! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:23:50 AM
Dear Jeremy and Andrew,
I’m writing this morning because as I understand it you two are the final two votes needed to fund the police. We desperately need a both / and approach. We cannot do more with less.
1. You must vote to fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the newly available Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove the "Schroeder $5 million amendment" and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. We need to get away from politics and focus on rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Crime is NOT a perception, it is a horrific reality that is quickly impacting everyone in our city while rapidly diminishing our tax base. Businesses will continue to shutter and residents will move out of Minneapolis or worse, our of Minnesota permanently. Our national reputation is alarming right now.
We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote today.
Best,
Kathryn & Michael Rozin
Sent from my iPhone From: Tanner & Michelle Hanson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: Tanner Hanson Subject: Vote to support the safety of Minneapolis residents Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:22:54 AM
Councilman Schroeder,
I am begging you to vote the wishes of your constituents in today's vote. The crime in our city is at horrific levels. We’ve just moved from the Hale Diamond Lake neighborhood to Tangletown. In both neighborhoods, my family has witnessed crime at heightened levels and it cannot go on. We don’t want our daughters to live in fear of walking to the store or taking the dog for a walk around the neighborhood. For the past several months, I've feared going for a run around Lake Nokomis alone — and I’d taken the same route for 16 years. My daughters asked me if it will ever be safe for them to ride their bikes alone. Please, please consider the needs, wishes and, the very and real fears of your constituents.
1. Please fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new the pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - LET HIM DO HIS JOB.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. It is not isolated as you have stated in the past, it is widespread. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote today.
Thank you for your service to our city and your constituents, Michelle Winter Hanson and Tanner Hanson 5061 Garfield Avenue South Minneapolis (and recently, 5605 14th Avenue South Minneapolis) From: Erika Arms To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:15:44 AM
Dear Council Member Jeremy Schroeder,
Our family has lived in this community since before 1992. We have watched the growth and strength of this community through the years and have watched in horror how the crime and uncertainty has come to fruition with ‘Defund the Police’ and other real life incidents that affect our safety since the George Floyd murder and protests. The recent car jackings happening at any hour of the day in our neighborhoods is especially scary for teen drivers who are just learning to drive. Please don’t make decisions that reduce police protection.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote today.
Arms Family South Minneapolis/Tangletown ward resident. From: Kristine Kelly To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:56:16 PM
My name is Kris Kelly, and I live in Tangletown. My husband and I bought our dream home here in May of 2020, and unfortunately we arrived just in time to see crime sky rocket. We hoped that after summer crime would start to decrease and that is not the case. There was a shooting a block from our house. I grew up in this neighborhood and never before have I felt scared, but I do now. I ask that you have the courage to take back what you committed to in June, in Powderhorn Park. Have the courage to say, the world looks different than it did in June, and our city and safety are at risk. I can tell you, listening to my neighbors that people will flee, and that will kill this city.
Please consider the below before Monday’s vote. We need protection in our neighborhoods.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Kris Kelly Ward 11 From: OBrien Family To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 6:15:30 AM
Councilperson Schroeder,
I am a resident of Ward 11. Though I’m deeply committed to reforming the MPD, I would like to see what Chief Arradondo could do if his plan were fully funded. I therefore agree with the following points and ask you to support Mayor Frey’s budget.
Regards,
Allison O’Brien 315 Longview Ter
———————————————-
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote today. From: Benjamin Braaten To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:28:07 AM
Our city has mourned George Floyd's murder this year along with nearly 80 additional deaths of through gun violence. These are all lives which are gone and CANNOT be brought back.
An "Both/And" policy requires both an adequately funded Office of Violence Prevention AND Minneapolis Police Department. If the MPD isn't adequately funded and has limited capacity (Included high demand times when we have multiple shootings.) then we don't have "both/and", but one and kinda another.
1> Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the newly available Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2> Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3> Remove the "Schroeder $5 million amendment" and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Crime is NOT a perception, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Braaten From: Jennifer Oberpriller To: Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:29:29 AM
Dear Council Members Johnson and Schroeder,
1) Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the newly available Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2) Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3) Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Crime is NOT a perception, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Oberpriller Hiawatha neighborhood
Sent from my iPhone From: Alicia Reuter To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:01:55 AM
Hi Jeremy,
This is Alicia Reuter, Rick’s wife. Please, please, please keep listening to us! We need you to do even more. Please vote to fully fund the Mayor’s police budget and vote to fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund! We can do both! We can do this together!
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Alicia Reuter
Sent from my iPad From: Bill O"Brien To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:30:06 PM
Jeremy,
My name is Bill O'Brien and I'm writing you as a constituent in neighbor who lives within Tangletown.
I am writing you to express my support to have a fully funded police force within the city of Minneapolis and to not have funds diverted or shell games created for the sake of political gain.
Crime has become a real issue not just in our neighborhood but within the whole city and we are asking for pragmatic and realistic approaches to the problem and has our representative we are asking for your support to do the right thing and fully fund the police force.
Some things that we'd like you to think of include...
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Thanks.
Bill O'Brien 315 Longview Terrace Minneapolis Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android From: Rhonda Geere To: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 2:04:34 PM
Hello,
I'm writing you to please unify the city of Minneapolis by fully funding the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the newly available Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job!
We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks!
Crime is NOT a perception; it is a horrific reality. We need to continue to make Minneapolis a strong city, instead of one full of crime and people who are afraid to leave their homes for fear of car jackings and other awful crimes!
We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote today!
Thank you, Rhonda Geere From: Sondra Samuels To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:38:10 PM
Jeremy,
Thanks for our conversation today! I appreciate you! AND I still ask that if you can see your way to support the Mayor's budget and the Transforming Public Safety amendment, that you will.
I don't want to leave this city that I love but if the Safety Now plan has its way and we lose more cops because of the budget and the continued demoralization they are receiving at the City Council's hands, while we are at the height of violence and murder, we will.
Please support the Chief. Don't make him come back begging for what you know he already needs.
For our children; For our city,
Sondra
SONDRA SAMUELS President & CEO 2123 West Broadway Avenue #100 Minneapolis, MN 55411 p: 612.594.8316 | c: 612.669.1980 | @NAZMpls
Chief of Staff: Erica Gates | [email protected] (I will do my best to respond to emails within 2-3 business days. If a response is needed sooner, please feel free to contact Erica.)
Hope is the main impulse of life. —Ilia Delio,
"We cannot face large-scale crises as individuals; we cannot carry the pain of this reality on our own, nor can we only look out for ourselves. The pain is communal and so too must be the response." Barbara Holmes
The Northside Achievement Zone physical offices are closed and all staff is working remotely until further notice. I am available by e-mail or by phone during the hours of 9am - 5pm Monday-Friday. Thank you and be well. From: Aimee Lundberg To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea; Arradondo, Medaria Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 2:45:59 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing you today deeply concerned and scared for the future. This last summer and fall has been painful and beyond sustainable. I am reaching out to you with my concern/story as a Northsider and with our request as residents for the 2021 budget.
My Concern: Since June - we have experience a huge increase in violent crime and the depletion of the MPD. Both at the same time. Crime going up, MPD numbers going down.
It was obvious right away in June it was going to be beyond our ability to withstand. Our family since then has experienced almost daily and nightly gunfire (and I’m talking automatic guns and with numerous chaotic rounds that sound back and fourth - beyond what was previously “normal”). We heard a story of an older neighbor being shot in the stomach while sitting on her couch. Lived through another neighbor across the street having her car shot up with 8 bullets while her infant and toddler where in the car with her. Wittness another neighbor's house being shot up with bullets in their couch while she was gone to a doctors appointment. Saw a grandmother’s house with 15 plus bullets on the side. Experienced neighbors cars stollen, break-ins, loss of multiple lives - one life a teenage mom who just had a baby. And worse of all we have bullets in my own home. My oldest slept next to me on the floor from June until Sept unable to go to sleep. My middle child would hear a loud noice and start crying. Both kids refuse to go outside beyond our yard and are scared after dark. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and depression. I went from normal and stable to needing counseling and support because of the violence around me.
Our request as tax payers and residents: The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots (mental health and violence prevention) through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. Don’t cut anything, and work together to build a better tomorrow.
It does not happen often, but this time we can have Both/And. We can start shaping a more just public safety approach AND rebuild police protection that is essential to stopping this chaos and giving new programs a chance to succeed. Thank you, Aimee
-- Aimee Lundberg Proud Northside Resident From: Aimee Lundberg To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea; Arradondo, Medaria Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 2:45:59 PM
Dear City Council,
I am writing you today deeply concerned and scared for the future. This last summer and fall has been painful and beyond sustainable. I am reaching out to you with my concern/story as a Northsider and with our request as residents for the 2021 budget.
My Concern: Since June - we have experience a huge increase in violent crime and the depletion of the MPD. Both at the same time. Crime going up, MPD numbers going down.
It was obvious right away in June it was going to be beyond our ability to withstand. Our family since then has experienced almost daily and nightly gunfire (and I’m talking automatic guns and with numerous chaotic rounds that sound back and fourth - beyond what was previously “normal”). We heard a story of an older neighbor being shot in the stomach while sitting on her couch. Lived through another neighbor across the street having her car shot up with 8 bullets while her infant and toddler where in the car with her. Wittness another neighbor's house being shot up with bullets in their couch while she was gone to a doctors appointment. Saw a grandmother’s house with 15 plus bullets on the side. Experienced neighbors cars stollen, break-ins, loss of multiple lives - one life a teenage mom who just had a baby. And worse of all we have bullets in my own home. My oldest slept next to me on the floor from June until Sept unable to go to sleep. My middle child would hear a loud noice and start crying. Both kids refuse to go outside beyond our yard and are scared after dark. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and depression. I went from normal and stable to needing counseling and support because of the violence around me.
Our request as tax payers and residents: The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots (mental health and violence prevention) through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. Don’t cut anything, and work together to build a better tomorrow.
It does not happen often, but this time we can have Both/And. We can start shaping a more just public safety approach AND rebuild police protection that is essential to stopping this chaos and giving new programs a chance to succeed. Thank you, Aimee
-- Aimee Lundberg Proud Northside Resident From: Brenda Scherping-Westphal To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:59:57 PM
Dear Jeremy Schroeder,
The crime has gone up significantly in our Tangletown nieghborhood. Something needs to be done about it now.
We see the following as important issues:
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Brenda Westphal
From: Priya Morioka To: Goodman, Lisa R.; Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 1:38:09 PM Attachments: image001.png image002.png
City Council Members,
Please do not pass the reforms you are considering for the Minneapolis Police. As a life long resident and now business owner, we need our police to be properly funded and supported and held accountable through partnering with the community for what that looks like. Current proposals cut the police chief off from working through a solution which will return Minneapolis to a safe place for all its citizens. Reducing funding at this time without a well thought out plan from the communities most impacted is lighting a match to an already very highly flammable situation. Community members and local citizens want reform, however to date the narrative has been led by a few who are not as directly effected by the proposed changes, yet who will feel the impact with an even more detrimental effect than the current challenging situation.
In addition to the impact on people’s lives, peoples prosperity in home values decreasing and business shuttering as a result of people not wanting to come to the “dangerous city” is having an impact that will already take years to recover.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots (mental health and violence prevention) through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One of 2021 - let him do his job.
3. Do not support Council Member Schroeder’s alternative to funding the $5 million in police overtime with contingency money that the Chief will have to come back and ask for in 2021 with no guarantee. It is a power grab - a disingenuous way to control the Chief and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval.
It does not happen often, but this time we can have Both/And. We can start shaping a more just public safety approach AND rebuild police protection that is essential to stopping this chaos and giving new programs a chance to succeed. Thank you.
Priya Morioka COO
Global Language Connections 3618 East Lake Street Minneapolis, MN 55406
Office: 612-249-6100 Cell: 612-432-2679 [email protected]
Certified by:
From: Dan Jurek To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:18:04 PM
Hello Jeremy,
I appreciate your time and effort you're investing in the Minneapolis Police Department budget. I am a ward 11 homeowner with an 11 yo daughter at Justice Page, 15 yo son and 17 yo daughter at Washburn.
The sad state of criminal activity in our neighborhoods really hit home after the Tangletown shooting a block from our house. My 17 yo daughter asked me how she could avoid being a carjacking victim.No parent should have to provide such advice.
Please support of the win-win option:
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Thank you in advance.
Dan Jurek 325 Longivew Terrace Minneapolis, MN 55419 612-481-0389 From: Melissa Ellering To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us — Choose the Win-Win Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 10:59:08 PM
Hi City Council Member Jeremy,
I am a long term resident of Minneapolis and unfortunately a victim of crime in 2020. Please consider the following in your budget vote.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the newly available Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. 2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job. 3. Remove the "Schroeder $5 million amendment" and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Crime is NOT a perception, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Thanks, Melissa Ellering From: Jana Friedrich To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us - Chose the Win Win solution! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:04:26 AM
Jeremy,
I understand the city council will be voting this afternoon on the police budget. With that I am asking you to act with your constituents in mind. I’m a resident of Minneapolis.
Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from the consensus we desperately need right now. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the newly available Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job. Please remove the "Schroeder $5 million amendment" and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks. The safety of your constituents have been eroded and further actions to withhold what MPD needs to restore safety to this city is at risk. Crime is NOT a perception, it is a horrific reality today. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote.
Thank you, Jana Friedrich From: [email protected] To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: "Claudia Chaves" Subject: Vote to Unify Us Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:25:01 PM
Jeremy, We talked earlier this summer about concerns with crime in my neighborhood on 12th and the Parkway. Unfortunately, crime is not a perception here, it’s a horrific reality.
I’m strongly encouraging you to support the Palmisano/Jenkins budget amendment.
Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget and new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. Do not restrict Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets. Give him immediate access. Let him do his job. Remove your $5mil amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached and it definitely should not come with a reduction of officers.
Remove the bottlenecks. Rebuild MPD without politics.
Sarah Anton 4905- 12th Avenue South
Virus-free. www.avast.com From: Jon Tickle To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us- Choose the Win-Win Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:57:11 AM
Jeremy,
My name is Jon Tickle and I am a long time resident of South Minneapolis, currently residing in Tangletown with my wife and two daughters. Funding the MPD is of great concern to me, my family and neighbors as crime has recently spiraled out of control. The very basic core of any community is public safety and currently we are scared and it must stop. Please consider:
*Do NOT restrict Police Chief Arradondo by financially limiting him with what he needs for new officers in training, community service officers and at least $5 million for additional overtime. He needs this now.
*This is no time for politics and financial shell games. Please fully fund the Mayor’s police budget AND new pilots through the new proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
*Remove the $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. The Chief’s OT pay is ESSENTIAL.
Again, crime is out of control and I am afraid for my family. This is reality. Please uphold your end and vote accordingly.
Sincerely,
Jon Tickle
From: Jon Tickle To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify Us- Choose the Win-Win Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:57:11 AM
Jeremy,
My name is Jon Tickle and I am a long time resident of South Minneapolis, currently residing in Tangletown with my wife and two daughters. Funding the MPD is of great concern to me, my family and neighbors as crime has recently spiraled out of control. The very basic core of any community is public safety and currently we are scared and it must stop. Please consider:
*Do NOT restrict Police Chief Arradondo by financially limiting him with what he needs for new officers in training, community service officers and at least $5 million for additional overtime. He needs this now.
*This is no time for politics and financial shell games. Please fully fund the Mayor’s police budget AND new pilots through the new proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
*Remove the $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. The Chief’s OT pay is ESSENTIAL.
Again, crime is out of control and I am afraid for my family. This is reality. Please uphold your end and vote accordingly.
Sincerely,
Jon Tickle
From: Jonathan Lundberg To: Reich, Kevin A.; Gordon, Cam A.; Fletcher, Steve; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Ellison, Jeremiah; Osman, Jamal; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Cano, Alondra (External); Bender, Lisa; Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew; Palmisano, Linea Subject: Vote to unify us! Choose the Win-Win! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:01:57 PM
Distinguished members of the Minneapolis City Council,
I have been a resident of North Minneapolis and involved in community development here for 13 years. I believe this lengthy and strategic immersion has afforded me the privilege of recognizing and feeling the pulse of the neighborhood. The overwhelming sense here is that we NEED our police AND we need the reform that Chief Arradondo has the plan and capacity to carry out if you will only give him the opportunity to do so.
Fund the Mayors Police budget and fund the new pilots through the Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. Refrain from restrictive conditions on the money needed to get back the diverse cadet classes that the chief had in place before madness ensued in our city. Give him access to funds on day one of 2021 so that he may begin preparing for the warmer weather when our greatest fears may be realized. DO NOT let us return to the unprecedented violence that we have seen in 2020.
My wife and my son have both been clinically diagnosed with PTSD because of all that they have been exposed to this last year so I feel that I have earned the right to plead for their sanity and safety. I know that if these immediate and preventative measures (the both/and approach) are not taken we will be joining countless others in making the difficult decision to leave this neighborhood that we love so much. You will be left governing a shell of a city. Please vote to help me protect my children and so many others in powerful and practical ways now and in the future. History has its eyes on you and so do we. From: KATHERYNE MORAN To: Cano, Alondra (External) Cc: Schroeder, Jeremy; Johnson, Andrew Subject: Vote to Unify Us Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:58:41 AM
My 26 year old daughter was a victim of a carjacking, at gun point, on 11/24/2020 in the Powderhorn neighborhood. Six young men stole her car, it’s contents and made her hand over anything of value on her including her iPhone. This type of crime along with assaults are happening all too often over the last several months - it’s an epidemic. Please do not vote to defund the police.
It doesn’t happen often, but this time we don’t have to rob Peter to pay Paul. We can start shaping a more just public safety approach AND ensure sufficient police protection to better manage this crime wave and give new programs a chance to succeed.
Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. It’s’ the win-win. Help Police Chief Arradondo make change from within — don’t allow conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime.
Thank you,
Katheryne Moran (612) 240-4268 From: Annie LaMere To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: Ryan LaMere Subject: Vote to Unify Us-Choose the Win-Win! Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:22:15 PM
Councilman Schroeder,
This is my first time emailing you, so let me introduce myself. My name is Annie LaMere, and I live in the Tangletown neighborhood along with my husband Ryan and our four children. I grew up in the HPDL neighborhood, and in fact my sister is now raising her three children in our childhood home on Second Avenue South. I love Minneapolis. I love my house, my neighborhood, my city. What I do not love is this immense spike in crime with no police available to respond. I watched a carjacking occur as I sat in my car in front of my house. Another violent carjacking occurred down the block from me, and the driver of that car was lucky to get out alive. This is not the city I know and love. My children are becoming more and more aware of their safety (or lack thereof) when they’re out and about in our city. The adults in charge need to do better. We all need to come together to stop the crime that is tearing our city apart.
With the vote tomorrow, I ask that you:
1. Put aside your political agenda and financial shell games and fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As I stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Thank you for your service to our city and your constituents,
Annie LaMere From: Sara Blissenbach To: [email protected]; Sondra Samuels; [email protected]; Frey, Jacob; Palmisano, Linea; Ellison, Jeremiah; Cano, Alondra (External); Johnson, Andrew; Fletcher, Steve; Gordon, Cam A.; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Schroeder, Jeremy; Bender, Lisa; Osman, Jamal; Reich, Kevin A.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Jenkins, Andrea; Arradondo, Medaria; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Don Samuels; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; gyantos2004; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Vote to unify Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:14:03 PM
My family is new to hillside but have felt welcomed by some very kind and concerned neighbors. You are quite aware of these amazing fighters for the community who have lived here for many years. some as long as 45 plus years others like my family 5 months who are have upset at some council members choices and with others of you enjoyed conversations about their vision with for reform of the police BUT NOT Dismantlement or To defund . In just our families 5 months I have heard far too many gun shots from my home, see cars speeding down our hillside streets and alleys, heard on the news, through citizen app and Mn crime Facebook page at the car jacking, Cadillac converter stolen from cars stabbings assaults the list goes on. We had The unfortunate vent of a neighbor just a couple houses up from us has their car stolen and once found the Cadillac converter windshield and radio broken/ gone. Many are fighting and willing to fight for their vision of better policing with out defunding and some want to leave cause they are just not sure they can believe in their council memebers hearts and ideas of defunding and making the polices jobs even harder then it currently is. I will be honest my family is one of them really considering leaving even though we just moved here and I do not want to repack and unpack again. Please make our choice of staying here easier. Thank you
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots (mental health and violence prevention) through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One of 2021 - let him do his job.
3. Do not support Council Member Schroeder’s alternative to funding the $5 million in police overtime with contingency money that the Chief will have to come back and ask for in 2021 with no guarantee. It is a power grab - a disingenuous way to control the Chief and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval.
It does not happen often, but this time we can have Both/And. We can start shaping a more just public safety approach AND rebuild police protection that is essential to stopping this chaos and giving new programs a chance to succeed. Thank you for you thought and care into your decision.
Kindest Regards,
Sara B.
Sent from my iPhone From: Beth Gyllstrom To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote to Unify---Choose the Win-Win Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:25:15 AM
Dear Councilman Schoeder,
I am one of your constituents and have lived in Minneapolis since 1994. I'm a state health department employee who has been fully reassigned to the COVID response since March. My husband is an essential worker and we have both been working overtime since March. I'm a mother of three, one of whom was able to go off to college this fall, but lost out on quite a bit of his senior year, another who is full-time distance learning at Washburn as a junior, and an 8th grader who is struggling with distance learning due to speech and developmental delays. It's a complete disaster for her.
I try to lay all of this out to convey that while we may live in south Minneapolis, our lives are not necessarily ones of ease and luxury. When I send my newly-minted driver out I don't worry about him being in a car accident, as I did with our oldest when he first started driving solo. I worry about him being carjacked and/or assaulted. Try to imagine what it is like to tell your sixteen year old to look around before getting into or out of the car, to not stop and assist anyone asking for help or direction, and to keep going if he is "gently" rear-ended. This is where we are now in Minneapolis.
I recognize that crime occurs in large cities---but it is now raging completely out of control. I worry about the future viability of this once amazing city. My husband and I voted for you---we liked that you were idealistic and hoped you would bring positive ideas and the ability to work collaboratively. But the reality is when you are actually elected, you need to be a realist too. You need to provide structure and governance, not just a utopian ideal of where you think this city needs to be by 2040. If this crime persists, there won't be residents or visitors to our city in 2040.
We are experiencing what I hope is the only major pandemic of our generation. It has brought illness, death, social isolation and economic destruction with it. Your constituents are tired and worn out...we need to feel confident our leaders are capable of making informed, rationale decisions. Reforming the police does not need to be an all or nothing situation. I would ask that you please consider the following:
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks. As we stated before, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote today.
Thank you for your consideration--- Beth Gyllstrom From: Laura Benson To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote YES on the 5% cut to the police budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 10:59:44 AM
Jeremy Schroeder,
I’m writing to you to urge you to vote YES on the 5% budget cut to MPD and to vote yes on the people’s budget.
The budget committee passed the measures on Monday and now we are looking to the full council to do the same.
A police-only approach to public safety has not worked in making our communities safer. It’s time to invest in mental health responses, violence prevention, and removing report-only calls from MPD’s plate at a minimum.
Please honor the vote you took this summer and vote YES on the 5% cut to MPD.
Thank You,
Laura Benson 3001 Tyler St NE Minneapolis, MN 55418 262-498-0591
Laura Benson [email protected] 3001 NE Tyler St Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418
From: Sarah Petersen To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote YES on the 5% cut to the police budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:35:55 AM
Jeremy Schroeder,
I’m writing to you to urge you to vote YES on the 5% budget cut to MPD and to vote yes on the people’s budget.
The budget committee passed the measures on Monday and now we are looking to the full council to do the same.
A police-only approach to public safety has not worked in making our communities safer. It’s time to invest in mental health responses, violence prevention, and removing report-only calls from MPD’s plate at a minimum.
Sarah Petersen [email protected] 3421 34th ave s minneapolis , 전라북도 55406
From: Karen Lunde To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote YES on the 5% cut to the police budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 12:37:29 PM
Jeremy Schroeder,
I’m writing to you to urge you to vote YES on the 5% budget cut to MPD and to vote yes on the people’s budget.
The budget committee passed the measures on Monday and now we are looking to the full council to do the same.
A police-only approach to public safety has not worked in making our communities safer. It’s time to invest in mental health responses, violence prevention, and removing report-only calls from MPD’s plate at a minimum.
Please vote for the new “safety for all” budget on Wednesday December 9th.
A police-only approach to public safety has not worked in making our communities safer. Investing in 24 hour mental health response, furthering our work in violence prevention, and removing report-only calls from MPDs plate is the bare minimum we can do to improve safety in our city.
Please do send a 3rd person out on a police call, a mental health response person. This person could help both the police officers AND the person or people that provide the reason for the call. A mental health response person would help to stabilize the scene, and to serve as a witness. Both the police officers and the citizens of Minneapolis could be calmed and comforted by the presence of a mental health response person. The outcome of the situation would likely be much better.
Thank you for your consideration of this issue. In May/June 2020, Minneapolis got the attention of the whole United States. Now, let's serve as a great example of how to run effective police calls with mental health responders in 2021.
Sincerely,
Karen Lunde (PhD Biology)
Karen Lunde [email protected] 4322 York Ave S Minneapolis, Minnesota 55410
From: crystal yakacki To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote YES on the 5% cut to the police budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 1:43:50 PM
Jeremy Schroeder,
I’m writing to you to urge you to vote YES on the 5% budget cut to MPD and to vote yes on the people’s budget.
The budget committee passed the measures on Monday and now we are looking to the full council to do the same.
A police-only approach to public safety has not worked in making our communities safer. It’s time to invest in mental health responses, violence prevention, and removing report-only calls from MPD’s plate at a minimum.
crystal yakacki [email protected] 3001 johnson st ne Minneapolis, 전라북도 55418
From: crystal yakacki To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote YES on the 5% cut to the police budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 1:43:50 PM
Jeremy Schroeder,
I’m writing to you to urge you to vote YES on the 5% budget cut to MPD and to vote yes on the people’s budget.
The budget committee passed the measures on Monday and now we are looking to the full council to do the same.
A police-only approach to public safety has not worked in making our communities safer. It’s time to invest in mental health responses, violence prevention, and removing report-only calls from MPD’s plate at a minimum.
crystal yakacki [email protected] 3001 johnson st ne Minneapolis, 전라북도 55418
From: Kevin Chavis To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote YES on the 5% cut to the police budget Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 10:58:14 AM
Jeremy Schroeder,
I’m writing to you to urge you to vote YES on the 5% budget cut to MPD and to vote yes on the people’s budget.
The budget committee passed the measures on Monday and now we are looking to the full council to do the same.
A police-only approach to public safety has not worked in making our communities safer. It’s time to invest in mental health responses, violence prevention, and removing report-only calls from MPD’s plate at a minimum.
Kevin Chavis [email protected] 15 e Franklin avenue #325 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
From: Sharon Haas To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Vote YES on the 5% cut to the police budget Date: Friday, December 4, 2020 12:51:36 PM
Jeremy Schroeder,
I’m writing to you to urge you to vote YES on the 5% budget cut to MPD and to vote yes on the people’s budget.
A police-only approach to public safety has not worked in making our communities safer. It’s time to invest in mental health responses, violence prevention, and removing report-only calls from MPD’s plate at a minimum.
Sharon Haas [email protected] 3828 40th Av South Minneapolis , Minnesota 55406
From: Carolyn Brownlie To: Schroeder, Jeremy Cc: David Brownlie Subject: Vote Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:00:07 PM
Councilman Schroeder,
You have heard from me many times before and you will continue to hear from me every single time there is an incident. I have been a lifelong resident of Minneapolis, our children are fourth generation Minneapolitans and we intend on continuing that multi- generational commitment to this city and urban living. With that said, urban living does not have to include astronomical levels of crime and living in constant fear.
With the vote tomorrow, I ask that you:
1. Put aside your political agenda and financial shell games and fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief's targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
As I have stated before, and personally witnessed, crime is NOT a perception in our ward, it is a horrific reality. We elected you to represent the desires of your constituents, and we expect you to reflect our wishes when you vote tomorrow.
Thank you for your service to our city and your constituents,
Carolyn Brownlie From: Lonna Bartsh To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Voting to unify us Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 9:24:45 PM
My name is Lonna Bartsh. I’m 67 years old and have lived in Minneapolis all my life. This is a very important issue for me, my safety, and that of my family and friends and neighbors. I would like you to vote to unify us, and fully fund the Mayor’s Police Budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, community service officers, and $5 million for overtime. Give him access to funds on day one and let him do his job. We do not believe the Mayor and the Chief’s targeted levels of officers should be reduced. We need to get away from posturing politics and focus on the #1 concern—rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks. Crime is a horrible reality in our ward, and we elected you to represent our desires and we expect you to represent our wishes tomorrow. Lonna Bartsh
Sent from my iPhone From: Korina Barry To: Palmisano, Linea; Jenkins, Andrea Cc: Cano, Alondra (External); Kesti, Dylan; Faulkner, Graham R; Pennington, D"Ana M.; Hans, Dani; Ellison, Jeremiah; Bender, Lisa; Cunningham, Phillipe M; Moua, MaiTeng; Johnson, Andrew; Nelson, Kate R.; Goodman, Lisa R.; Sadler, Patrick A.; Reich, Kevin A.; McDonough, Shannon; Sirdar, Deebaa; Osman, Jamal; SanCartier, Ryan J; Gordon, Cam A.; Garwood, Robin D.; Schroeder, Jeremy; Gangelhoff, Sara; Fletcher, Steve; Zaffrann, David; Freude, John Subject: Ward 8 Constituent Request - Do not water down the Safety for All plan Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 5:04:22 PM
Boozhoo Council members,
As a lifelong resident of South Minneapolis and a licensed social worker, I urge you to invest in people, to invest in our communities - NOT police. Whether as a community member supporting neighbors or family involved in domestic violence situations and hearing police victim-blame those harmed, witnessing police brutality against my Native and Black family members, or during my many experiences in child welfare witnessing police intervene while discriminating and treating Native and Black families poorly.
Our city needs good, union jobs, and permanent investment in violence prevention and mental health and alternative safety response. When you try to protect the police by using one-time funds for the Safety for All, it’s a poor labor practice, a poor fiscal practice, and sets up any pilot project for failure.
This proposal is asking employees to take on an entirely new program with no job security, no vacation pay, or PTO. We have seen the police use their millions of dollars to hurt the community. Police don’t prevent crime, good jobs, housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and holistic services do. It’s time to reinvest MPD’s budget into long-term solutions that work!
I urge you to support the Safety for All plan points 1 & 2, as proposed by councilmembers Bender, Fletcher, and Cunningham and pass the People’s Budget. We need you to provide good jobs for critical services - divest from violent policing.
Miigwech,
Korina Barry Ward 8 Resident 55407 From: Cole Brenny To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Ward 11 and the vote Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 8:11:57 AM
Jeremy, we now are forming a group of many ward 11 residents that want to see a more centrist approach to managing the city. We want the police funded and new pilot programs for public safety alternatives. We do not want the police abolished... We want the council to act responsibly and wisely. We will be watching your vote closely.
Cole From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Ward 11 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 7:18:47 PM
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First Name Skye
Last Name Smith
Question/Comment As a person who pays property taxes (outrageously high in Minneapolis!), I am 100% opposed to any budget cuts to the Minneapolis Police Department. Give them more money for more staffing, please! Police reform, yes! Police defunding, no way! Set limits for police on what levels of brute force will no longer be tolerated. We still need a strong police force. I’m a common sense Democrat. ‘Just Mercy’ is one of my favorite movies.
Email [email protected]
Phone 6128232684
Phone Type
Address 3929 Aldrich Av So
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55409
Changes made by [email protected] You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to a workflow "Ward 11 Online Contact" (ID# 7934642272659332) on sheet Contact Ward 11 - Jeremy Schroeder Exclude your changes from all notifications | Unsubscribe Powered by Smartsheet Inc. | Privacy Policy | Report Abuse/Spam ‑–‒———————‒–‐–‑‒–‑‐– From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Ward 11 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:01:37 PM
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First Name Mary
Last Name Bussman
Question/Comment Dear Council Member Schroeder: I am very concerned about the approach put forth by council president Bender and members Cunningham and Fletcher to defund the police in Minneapolis. I agree that we need to shift funds, but we cannot do so in a hasty process that doesn't involve the community. We also cannot defund the police at a time when homicides, carjackings, and assaults are at an alarmingly high rate and in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic. I believe that simultaneously developing jobs, social support networks, engaging programs for youth, and rehabilitation programs with a well- funded police force will lead to a future need for less police. BUT, we cannot move forward with this revolution without a fully developed vision of reformation that is co-authored by members of communities of color the city council, and members of the police force. Leadership is bringing all of us together to work together. It isn't voting one way because a small group has the power to do so when they think the time is right. The time is not right, but the time for creating the programs so that we can reallocate funds in two years is the way to go. Please continue to develop programming that will lessen our need for police, but maintain the current level at this time. Thank you. Dr. Mary A. Bussman
Email [email protected]
Phone 6129649159
Phone Type Address 4142 Colfax Ave S
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55409
Changes made by [email protected]
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to a workflow "Ward 11 Online Contact" (ID# 7934642272659332) on sheet Contact Ward 11 - Jeremy Schroeder Exclude your changes from all notifications | Unsubscribe Powered by Smartsheet Inc. | Privacy Policy | Report Abuse/Spam ‐‑‑‒‒–—‒‐—‑‒‑—‑‑‐‑‒‑ From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Ward 11 Online Contact Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 9:22:24 AM
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First Name MARGARET
Last Name SULLIVAN
Question/Comment I sent a letter to Jacob Frey asking him to veto the budget you just voted to approve. Again, I agree with you and other council members about the general idea for changing the police OVER TIME, but where is the data driven and well-researched planning? Rash, emotional promises and fairy tale thinking will not get us to where we want to go. Here's what we ALL want: • to feel safe in our community (safe from rogue cops and safe from rogue carjackers); • to help our businesses and communitiest thrive; and • to make progress toward a new way of intervention and policing to serve people struggling with addiction, family strife, and mental illness. Also, I have heard NO ONE on the council talkng about the already maxed out mental health system and where/how we're actually going to help youth and adults who need earlier intervention. I work with families whose kids experience mental illness and there is absolutely not some “quick response” social service or mental health system in place in the county or state, and there is a LONG waiting line for help for kids with mental illness and criminal records. Child Crisis/COPE is being rejiggered because it’s not working well. The System of Care changes that the state and Hennepin County are working on will still be some time in the making. I don’t know where these “violence interrupters” are going to come from and how they will magically procure services for the youth they are trying to divert. They can get in line after the EMTs, child protection, doctors, hospitals, schools, and courts. So please, get a grip, and be a realistic adult in the room.
Email [email protected] Phone 6128259615
Phone Type
Address 5449 12TH AVE S
City MINNEAPOLIS
State MN
Zip Code 55417
Changes made by [email protected]
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to a workflow "Ward 11 Online Contact" (ID# 7934642272659332) on sheet Contact Ward 11 - Jeremy Schroeder Exclude your changes from all notifications | Unsubscribe Powered by Smartsheet Inc. | Privacy Policy | Report Abuse/Spam ‒—–‒–‒‑‑—‐‑‒—‐‑‒‑‑—– From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Ward 11 Online Contact Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:14:55 AM
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First Name Kimberly
Last Name Vashro
Question/Comment I am saddened to read that the city council voted to drop the number of police officers in Minneapolis and to hold off with over time funding for MPD. Since this Summer, my life living in Mpls has turning into one of constant fear. Because I am terrified of being robbed/car jacked whenever I leave the house I have developed the following safety measures: I only carry my ID and one credit card in a small pouch (no longer a purse)... as I drive down my street to park, I am hyper aware of any other cars on the street, making sure that I have everything in order before I leave my car and run inside...I will only shop for groceries when I know that my significant other is there to call 911, watching from the window if I'm attacked...I am going to a gun range to become comfortable protecting myself... I can no longer sit on my neighbor's backyard deck at night for fear of someone attacking from the alley. I do support BLM. Wholeheartedly. But wanting to have some respite from crime in my own neighborhood, my own home, and wanting this city's residents of color to have the same are not ideas that I have to pick one or the either.
Email [email protected]
Phone 6127512566
Phone Type
Address 745 E 51st St City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55417
Changes made by [email protected]
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to a workflow "Ward 11 Online Contact" (ID# 7934642272659332) on sheet Contact Ward 11 - Jeremy Schroeder Exclude your changes from all notifications | Unsubscribe Powered by Smartsheet Inc. | Privacy Policy | Report Abuse/Spam —‑–‒‐—‒–‑‑—‐–‑—‑–‑—‒ From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Ward 11 Online Contact Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 1:55:43 PM
Contact Ward 11 - Jeremy Schroeder Changes since 12/8/20 1:53 PM
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Created 12/08/20 1:53 PM
First Name Laura
Last Name Murray
Question/Comment I am outraged, frightened and disheartened with the Council's decisions on the budget, particularly the intent to permanently reduce the police force. There is no data to support this decision in light of escalating crime and Pandemic stress. If these decisions are implemented, I expect the council to provide frequent updates on how the "Safety Now" ideas are being implemented, costs, and results. Beginning with the status on the Violence Interruptors..., what is our return on this 1+ million investment? Where is their accountability? Who exactly manages this effort?
Email [email protected]
Phone 612-825-1209
Phone Type Home
Address 5021 15th Ave S
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55417
Changes made by [email protected] You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to a workflow "Ward 11 Online Contact" (ID# 7934642272659332) on sheet Contact Ward 11 - Jeremy Schroeder Exclude your changes from all notifications | Unsubscribe Powered by Smartsheet Inc. | Privacy Policy | Report Abuse/Spam –‑–—‑–—‒—‐‐—‑–——‒——‑ From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet To: Weinmann, Karlee Subject: Ward 11 Online Contact Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 3:01:35 PM
Contact Ward 11 - Jeremy Schroeder Changes since 12/7/20 2:58 PM
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Created 12/07/20 2:58 PM
First Name Mary
Last Name Bussman
Question/Comment Dear Council Member Schroeder: I am very concerned about the approach put forth by council president Bender and members Cunningham and Fletcher to defund the police in Minneapolis. I agree that we need to shift funds, but we cannot do so in a hasty process that doesn't involve the community. We also cannot defund the police at a time when homicides, carjackings, and assaults are at an alarmingly high rate and in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic. I believe that simultaneously developing jobs, social support networks, engaging programs for youth, and rehabilitation programs with a well- funded police force will lead to a future need for less police. BUT, we cannot move forward with this revolution without a fully developed vision of reformation that is co-authored by members of communities of color the city council, and members of the police force. Leadership is bringing all of us together to work together. It isn't voting one way because a small group has the power to do so when they think the time is right. The time is not right, but the time for creating the programs so that we can reallocate funds in two years is the way to go. Please continue to develop programming that will lessen our need for police, but maintain the current level at this time. Thank you. Dr. Mary A. Bussman
Email [email protected]
Phone 6129649159
Phone Type Address 4142 Colfax Ave S
City Minneapolis
State MN
Zip Code 55409
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You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to a workflow "Ward 11 Online Contact" (ID# 7934642272659332) on sheet Contact Ward 11 - Jeremy Schroeder Exclude your changes from all notifications | Unsubscribe Powered by Smartsheet Inc. | Privacy Policy | Report Abuse/Spam ‐‐‑–—‐‑‒‒‑‑‑‑‒–‑–—‑‒ From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Ward 11 Online Contact Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 11:40:49 PM
Contact Ward 11 - Jeremy Schroeder Changes since 12/6/20 11:38 PM
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First Name Sara
Last Name Stenzel
Question/Comment I am writing to express my concern about violent crime in Minneapolis. I have lived in the Lyndale neighborhood over 20 years. I have never before seen as much random, violent crime as we are seeing now. I am afraid in my own neighborhood. I am afraid to let my children be independent in our neighborhood. I am afraid to let my son drive in Minneapolis due to all the carjackings. My neighbors are getting assaulted at all times of the day as they are walking on our sidewalks. Just last night, my neighbor walked two blocks to a convenience store at 8pm and was violently attacked. Fortunately, she was able to cry for help and struggled to get free. Police came and supported her. We NEED our police officers, now more than ever. Please do not restrict funding to the police department. Please approve the mayor’s police budget and allow Chief Arradondo to support officers by allowing funds to be used for overtime without any restrictions. Thank you for your consideration.
Email [email protected]
Phone 6128256509
Phone Type
Address 3411 Garfield Ave
City Minneapolis State MN
Zip Code 55408
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You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to a workflow "Ward 11 Online Contact" (ID# 7934642272659332) on sheet Contact Ward 11 - Jeremy Schroeder Exclude your changes from all notifications | Unsubscribe Powered by Smartsheet Inc. | Privacy Policy | Report Abuse/Spam —‑‒——‒‐‒‒–—–‒‒—‒———‑ From: Robin Taylor Hartwell To: Goodman, Lisa R. Cc: Reich, Kevin A.; Osman, Jamal; Bender, Lisa; Ellison, Jeremiah; Gordon, Cam A.; Palmisano, Linea; Johnson, Andrew; Schroeder, Jeremy; Fletcher, Steve; Cano, Alondra (External); Jenkins, Andrea; Cunningham, Phillipe M Subject: We can tackle this both ways! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 12:13:18 PM
I live in Minneapolis Ward 7, an area that has been hit hard with carjackings and other violent, and non-violent crime. My parents, who live in the suburbs and read the news about the chaos in Minneapolis, are begging my family to move out of the city. I do not want to move, but I am deeply discouraged by the lack of constructive decision making I see happening in the City Council. For the sake of those us who live in Minneapolis, we need you to find consensus and make some common sense decisions that can move this city forward. You can’t do everything all at once and you must give the police the resources they need to keep all Minneapolis residents safe. I support much of the change you seek, but do not support your rhetoric and the divisive way you’ve managed your work to date.
1. Please fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots (mental health and violence prevention) through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One of 2021 - let him do his job.
3. Do not support Council Member Schroeder’s alternative to funding the $5 million in police overtime with contingency money that the Chief will have to come back and ask for in 2021 with no guarantee. It is a disingenuous way to control the Chief and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval.
We can make progress, together. With the approach above, you can start shaping a more just public safety approach AND rebuild police protection that is essential to stopping this chaos and giving new programs a chance to succeed.
Thank you
Robin Taylor Hartwell, Minneapolis From: Jeri Kaplan To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: We Need More Police Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020 8:13:43 PM
Hello,
I’ve live in Uptown for over 30 years. I have honestly never felt so scared. If I have to run errands after work, I rush home before it even starts getting dark and I’m in my car.....
The last few times I’ve been on on Franklin going east at Lyndale, I sit at the light and look around. I’m so nervous, I feel like a sitting duck. This is a busy intersection and from what I know, it doesn’t matter. I re-lock my locked car over and over all the way home. The criminals are not fazed. They carjack at gun point, even if they get caught they are back on the streets.
I feel that we definitely need social services and mental health professionals, in addition to a full police force. Why can’t we have everything? Work together with the mayor and the police chief to keep our city safe. This is the perfect time to train the cadets and the few cops that are left, with a more humane and responsible structure.
The decisions you make in this time of transition will effect our city and everyone in our city for years to come, if not forever. Do we want to be another Detroit? The city is in the hands of a few people who are turning a blind eye to these frequent act of violence.
Don’t you want our city to thrive, again? I heart hurts for our city and the people in our city. People that are scared and unfortunately have every right to be.
I would like to remind you, these are our tax dollars. Don’t we have the right to be safe and protected? Please help get our great city back.
Thank you for your time,
Jeri Kaplan From: Shelley Huot To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: WEDNESDAY’S VOTE - LET"S GET THIS RIGHT! Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 4:58:47 PM
Councilman Jeremy Schroeder,
My name is Shelley Huot and I moved from Chicago to Minneapolis in 2010. I have now lived in Minneapolis for 10 years and as a single female I have never felt more unsafe as I have in the last 6+ months. Despite having many businesses that I could easily walk to and patronize I no longer feel safe doing so and now leave the city for all my shopping both necessities as well as pleasure and non-essentials. I love this city and feel like it’s crumbling all around. I feel this can be turned around by both fully funding the mayor’s police budget AND funding new programs to improve public safety for EVERYONE. Below are some bullet points to consider:
▪ Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund.
▪ Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job.
▪ Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. I do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
This is plain and simple a win-win. The Chief gets what he needs, without strings attached, to start what will be a long rebuilding process. At the same time, we also begin to move towards new transformative public safety services that will bring a holistic approach we all require. This is where most of Ward 11 sits, and I expect you will reflect our wishes with your vote. Thank you.
Shelley Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone From: Sirdar, Deebaa To: Council Comment Cc: Jenkins, Andrea; Bourgerie, Zoe J Subject: Yes to Safety for All budget amendment Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 12:01:34 PM
From: Grant Johnson via Smartsheet
Contact Ward 8 - Andrea Jenkins
Changes since 12/8/20 10:52 AM
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First Name Daemeon
Last Name Stanton
Question/Comment As a fellow trans human on this earth I am deeply confused and disappointed by your decision to alter the Safety For All proposal in favor of the police that kill our community. I have worked as a temporary hire for the city of Saint Paul and it is not a sustainable way to work, especially if you are being charged with such a serious task as public saftey. I am told that 150 officers are getting paid off of sick leave, I also understand that a lot of these people are not sick but cowardly. Wise enough to know they are not wanted nor needed but cowards for not severing the chord and instead taking the city's money as they provide no services. Why would we give these people 5 million more when that could be better spent supporting the "temporary" workers who would actively be aiding our state in become safer and healthier for all? I am confused by these actions since day one you have been speaking against police brutality, I saw you when I was on ground during the uprisings, I thought you were here to support us. I guess I am just wondering... what happened to you Ms. Jenkins? Email [email protected]
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‑‑——‑–‐‑‐‐‑‑‑‒‑‐‒‒‐— From: leighton holmes To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Your vote counts Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 10:19:59 AM
Jeremy, Your vote this afternoon should be for your ward constituencies. Please do not vote to cut funding for our police.Do not cut police budget,nor funding for police cadet training or community service officers. Let the police do their jobs. Do not limit overtime for the police. We are very concerned and upset over the continued rise in crimes in our fair 11 th ward. Do not take away from the police and what they can do. We are losing faith in YOU and in our City. Please consider this when you vote, E. leighton Holmes 4909 10 th Ave. S Minneapolis
Sent from my iPad From: SHEILA WATERS To: Schroeder, Jeremy Subject: Your vote... Date: Monday, December 7, 2020 9:53:12 AM
Dear Mr Schroeder, We have lived in the neighborhood for 30 years and have NEVER experienced the kind of violence that is happening now.
1. Political agendas and financial shell games are keeping us from consensus. The win-win is obvious: Fully fund the Mayor’s police budget, and fund new pilots through the proposed Transforming Public Safety Reserve Fund. 2. Do not restrict Police Chief Arradondo by putting conditions on the money he needs for new cadets, Community Service Officers and $5 million additional for overtime. Give him access to the funds on Day One - let him do his job. 3. Remove your $5 million amendment and back the Transforming Fund. We do not believe the Chief’s overtime pay should come with strings attached. It’s a disingenuous way to usurp the Mayor’s authority, try to micromanage and dangle needed funds without guaranteed approval. We need to get away from politics and focus on the No. 1 concern - rebuilding MPD without unnecessary bottlenecks.
We voted for you, but rest assured that you will not get our vote in the next election cycle. In the meantime, please do the right thing for the safety of your constituents.
~~~ Sheila and Tim Waters
~~~s