You are Invited to a Community Gathering on Proposed Reframing of Public Safety
in The Minneapolis Charter
The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police set off a worldwide wave of
protests, including an uprising here in our city that left hundreds of
businesses and homes damaged or destroyed. It is clear that the status quo is
broken, and that it is time to make a transformative change to the way that we
approach community safety. I believe that we have a unique opportunity and an
obligation to transform the way we provide for each otherâs safety this year in
our City. The Council unanimously passed a resolution committing to do just
that on June 12, stating that âthe City Council will commence a year long
process of community engagement, research, and structural change to create a
transformative new model for cultivating safety in our cityâ:
https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/File/3810/Transforming%20Community%20Safety%20Resolution.pdf.
As a next step, on June 26 the Council voted unanimously to put forward a
Charter amendment, which I hope will be on this yearâs ballot. Folks can find
it here:
https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/File/3866/MPD%20Charter%20Amendment_VII%20062420%20Final.pdf.
This amendment, if placed on the ballot, will do a few major things. It will
remove the Police Department as a Charter department, and replace it with a new
Community Safety and Violence Prevention department, which will âhave
responsibility for public safety services, prioritizing a holistic, public
health-oriented approach.â It will not preclude the City from continuing to
employ licensed police officers, but will also not require us to do so. The law
enforcement division, if we choose to have one, will report to the Community
Safety department, and the director of Community Safety will appoint the head
of law enforcement, with the Councilâs approval.
I strongly favor this change, which in my view is a necessary first step that
will give us the flexibility we need to make the deep community engagement we
will be doing on the future of community safety meaningful. Whatever the
results of that engagement, and the path forward we all choose together, this
Charter amendment will give us the ability to move forward.
I believe that itâs time for that engagement to start now, so I am hosting a
number of community gatherings to discuss the Charter amendment, answer any
questions people may have, and discuss further how this might move forward this
year. Keeping in mind that we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,
I will be hosting these meetings in neighborhood parks. Please feel free to
join the meeting in your neighborhood, or that is most convenient for you.
Please remember to bring your mask, and expect to remain physically distant
from other attendees.
Brackett Park, Saturday, July 4, 11:00 am
Murphy Park, Sunday, July 5, 1:00 pm
Luxton Park, Monday, July 6, 6:30 pm
Matthews Park, Saturday, July 11, 1:00 pm
Van Cleve Park, Sunday, July 12, 2:00 pm
I also understand that some of these times may not be ideal for everyone. I
want to assure everyone that this will definitely not be the last opportunity
to get engaged on this important topic.
Please donât hesitate to reach out, if you have any questions, ideas, or
concerns. You can email me at
<email obscured><mailto:cam.gordon@minneapolismn.gov>, and my
Policy Aide Robin Garwood at
<email obscured><mailto:robin.garwood@minneapolismn.gov>.
in The Minneapolis Charter
The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police set off a worldwide wave of
protests, including an uprising here in our city that left hundreds of
businesses and homes damaged or destroyed. It is clear that the status quo is
broken, and that it is time to make a transformative change to the way that we
approach community safety. I believe that we have a unique opportunity and an
obligation to transform the way we provide for each otherâs safety this year in
our City. The Council unanimously passed a resolution committing to do just
that on June 12, stating that âthe City Council will commence a year long
process of community engagement, research, and structural change to create a
transformative new model for cultivating safety in our cityâ:
https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/File/3810/Transforming%20Community%20Safety%20Resolution.pdf.
As a next step, on June 26 the Council voted unanimously to put forward a
Charter amendment, which I hope will be on this yearâs ballot. Folks can find
it here:
https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/File/3866/MPD%20Charter%20Amendment_VII%20062420%20Final.pdf.
This amendment, if placed on the ballot, will do a few major things. It will
remove the Police Department as a Charter department, and replace it with a new
Community Safety and Violence Prevention department, which will âhave
responsibility for public safety services, prioritizing a holistic, public
health-oriented approach.â It will not preclude the City from continuing to
employ licensed police officers, but will also not require us to do so. The law
enforcement division, if we choose to have one, will report to the Community
Safety department, and the director of Community Safety will appoint the head
of law enforcement, with the Councilâs approval.
I strongly favor this change, which in my view is a necessary first step that
will give us the flexibility we need to make the deep community engagement we
will be doing on the future of community safety meaningful. Whatever the
results of that engagement, and the path forward we all choose together, this
Charter amendment will give us the ability to move forward.
I believe that itâs time for that engagement to start now, so I am hosting a
number of community gatherings to discuss the Charter amendment, answer any
questions people may have, and discuss further how this might move forward this
year. Keeping in mind that we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,
I will be hosting these meetings in neighborhood parks. Please feel free to
join the meeting in your neighborhood, or that is most convenient for you.
Please remember to bring your mask, and expect to remain physically distant
from other attendees.
Brackett Park, Saturday, July 4, 11:00 am
Murphy Park, Sunday, July 5, 1:00 pm
Luxton Park, Monday, July 6, 6:30 pm
Matthews Park, Saturday, July 11, 1:00 pm
Van Cleve Park, Sunday, July 12, 2:00 pm
I also understand that some of these times may not be ideal for everyone. I
want to assure everyone that this will definitely not be the last opportunity
to get engaged on this important topic.
Please donât hesitate to reach out, if you have any questions, ideas, or
concerns. You can email me at
<email obscured><mailto:cam.gordon@minneapolismn.gov>, and my
Policy Aide Robin Garwood at
<email obscured><mailto:robin.garwood@minneapolismn.gov>.
