Evening everyone and welcome. I will call our Bloomington City Council special listening session to order. Tonight is Monday, February 2nd, 2026th. Thanks for everybody who's joined us here this evening for this very important uh listening session. Greatly appreciate it. Uh we are we we are very
tight. We've got a lot of folks who want to speak and we've got a a tight time frame. So I'm going to just kind of laid lay out what we're trying to accomplish here and uh how we're going to do this. Excuse me. [clears throat] We have our list here of folks who have called in. And I think we have 25 people, which I think is the max that we're going to be able to get to
tonight. Uh what I'll do is call up uh I'll call you in groups of three. So basically it'll be the person speaking on deck and in the hole if you're a baseball player. So uh speaking on deck and in the hole and just so we can keep things moving along, we would like you
to sign in, but ideally sign in after you've spoken. Just kind of step to the side and be able to sign in if you could. We are going to limit everybody to three minutes and we're going to have the shot clock going and uh I will keep you to the three minutes. And as I tell everyone, not because I'm mean, but because I want to make sure that we
everybody gets the same amount of time and we get through as many people as we possibly can. Uh I mentioned it last week when we when we all got together. Uh because it it being a city council meeting, uh I I would prefer I know there's going to be some people that you agree with. Certainly there may be
people that you disagree with. What I want to avoid uh is is either the clapping or the booing. If I allow people to clap, then I've got to allow people to boo. And I think we should just maintain the respect and the decorum that we I think all agree to here and uh just kind of keep this
moving along in a in a in a a good manner. And I would greatly appreciate it if you would do that. What we will do also then is um because we are very tight, we're not going to answer questions as we go. Council, I'm going to remind you this is a listening session. Let's treat it as a listening session tonight and do more listening
than talking. If there are questions that come up, we will collect all of them. Uh the city manager will be writing those down. And if we have time at the end, we'll try and answer some of them. More likely what we'll try and do is get them included in an FAQ or uh just in in a way that we'll try and find a way to get them out to everybody. Does
that all make sense? >> Mr. Walker, did I forget anything? Miss Manderstein? >> We're good, sir. >> Council, everybody good? All right. Why don't we get started here? So, as we are now, uh, Kendra Almond Weinberg, you are
up. Will Clark, you're on deck. And Paul Coat, you're in the hole. Kendra, good evening. Welcome. >> Hello. My name is Kendraman Weinberg. Thank you for supporting the community during these challenging times. I'm happy to see that Bloomington is one of the 10 suburbs supporting Attorney
General Keith Ellison's lawsuit against unlawful ICE activity. Even though it was denied, I'm glad the lawsuit will continue on. I'm thankful for the proposal to make part of the local affordable housing aid available as emergency rental assistance to nonprofit
organizations. Thank you. I have a few comments to make. This may already be in progress, but I think it would be great if Bloomington could follow Richfield's example in designating parking lots, garages, parks, and vacant lots as ice-free zones and not allowing ICE
agents to stage in those locations. I agree with what another community member said last listening session. How it's sad we get an Amber Alert if a child is kidnapped but not if they get taken by ICE. It's necessary that actions be taken to protect our neighbors, families, and children in the community.
Taking steps to make school zone safe is important. I also want to say the resources on the Bloomington.gov website are really helpful. I appreciate the banner at the top that takes you straight to resources, know your rights info, and frequently asked questions. I noticed it's up to date with food and
rent and um I think it would be helpful to have mental health aid on there as well. Virtual health opportunities are important and I was doing some research about groups that offer emotionally focused therapy with volunteers that schedule free sessions and have
translator services available. These are um something that would be important to put on um resource assistance sheets um of course after housing and food. And then um yeah, I want to say that the cope mental health crisis line is listed
on the Henipe County website. However, it takes longer to navigate to that. So, it might be nice to include that on the resource list as well. Sorry, going really fast here because I don't want to run out of time. Um so, I'll slow down for this last one. Um recently, I went to a presentation about different types
of trauma, which is really helpful in addition to ongoing therapy. And these stressful times may not be ending anytime soon. So I believe mental health should be a priority on resource lists after housing and food. Speaking of times of collective trauma, during the pandemic, there was an eviction
moratorum and I think it's important for councils and all of us community members to keep imploring the governor to enact an eviction moratorum during this time. Thank you for all you do. It's really helpful for our community. We appreciate it. >> Thank you, Kendra. I think you might have a a future as an auctioneer,
Kendra. Well done. So, >> uh, Katon Dane, you're in the hole. And we have Will Clark. >> All right. [snorts] Good evening. Thank you for, uh, hosting this special session tonight. Um, I've lived in Bloomington for 10 years. My wife and I chose Bloomington because it was a well-established city with good schools
and lots to offer a growing family. It was a good choice. We love it here. Um, over the years, we've been focused on our kids and spent any free time supporting and volunteering for their activities. Part of the reason we were able to do that and focus on them is because Bloomington worked. The schools are good, streets are plowed, roads are
maintained, overall city is safe and stable. So, up until recently, I've naively never paid much attention to city government. As you can probably imagine from my being here, that perception has changed. Uh, [snorts] it's not working. Not for my family, not for many of the attendees tonight, and
certainly not for most of our vulnerable residents who can't be here. Uh, I'm just one person, but I'm part of a community hoping we can get back to working. Government overreach has come to Bloomington. We've been horrified by the images and stories of Renee and Alex,
Liam, and the unknown hundreds pulled from safety, intimidated with threats of violence or incarceration. Uh, I could not not pay attention anymore. I joined online groups. I've been to meetings. I'm coming to listening sessions. What I found is an amazing community of
residents working together on their own time, using their own money within their community to provide that safety and stability I took for granted just weeks ago. I've seen them coordinate donation collections and distribution, open food pantries, run errands for their
neighbors, observe and report uh record our occupiers. What I haven't seen enough of is the city backing them up with action rather than just some words or video on a press release. While I applaud Bloomington joining our neighboring city's lawsuit, we need concrete shows of support on the street
here in Bloomington. We're facing an aggressive federal department tasked with impossible quotas in support of a cognitively diminished bully. So yeah, there's risk in resisting that machine, but there's a greater risk in losing our sense of community long-term if in
action continues. It's past time Bloomington enact emergency ordinances to restrict the use of public space for staging storage or coordination, ban the use of masks while requiring body cameras are on as recently passed by or suggested by um the DHS leader and
during immigration enforcement operations. Last week I heard we know they'll ignore these and don't want to pass things that are just performative. And that sounds like fear talking. The community feels that and many felt betrayed by those comments last week because when those things are ignored,
they even though those things may be ignored, they still send a message from this city. Just like the tactics of the federal agents send a message to our public. When the fed's message is to intimidate while the Fed's me message is to intimidate anyone in their path, your constituents are sending a message of
support to the vulnerable. They're showing their strength, resilience, and compassion. I'm asking you to show solidarity with concrete action demonstrating the city is here for the community and the feds can't go unchecked. >> Mayor, last week you said running your fist off the desk is
>> Excuse me. No, I'm sorry. We're at three minutes. I'm sorry, Will. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh Paul Coat and then uh Katon, are you here? >> Uh then uh how about David Valander? David, you are on deck. And then Sarah
Zion is in the hall. >> Good evening, Paul. >> Good evening. Uh Paul Coat, resident. Um I first want to thank council for the things that you have done to support public safety, for being willing to receive constituent messages so that they can be turned into further action.
I want to thank the council for joining the AG's lawsuit, for releasing emergency funds for impacted residents, um and for listening tonight. I ask that you ban DHS from using city property, posting signage to that effect like like Richfield did. And I also would like you
to look into ordering our police to document every infraction by ICE and every potential illegal federal immigration tactic just like Chicago did. Law enforcement's authority is not derived from a badge. It's derived from public trust. The badge is a symbol of
service, not a mandate for power. That public trust has been broken at the federal level by its leadership and by the abuses of power and violent tactics of its agents. Claims that ICE is only going after the worst of the worst is
false. If ICE was only going after violent criminals, we wouldn't be here. ICE is violating constitutional rights, defying court orders, engaging in racial profiling and targeting, intimidation tactics, excessive force, inhumane treatment, and lethal violence. Mayor,
you said last week that if you stand up to ICE at a two, they'll punch back at an eight. And I understand where you're coming from, but it also indicates that the feds are not going after the worst of the worst. They're being led by them and in many cases are hiring them. Our
citizens and our residents are fearful from some of them are in hiding because of how they look or sound. Others are holding tight to their papers. We're talking about our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors, our families, immigrants, and indigenous people who were in Bloomington way longer than most
of the people in this room. Now, despite the cruelty of all this, Bloomington residents have been beautiful through this crisis. Thousands of neighbors gathering donations, delivering groceries, keeping watch over our school children and our families, being observant of our surroundings,
recording what we see, talking to our neighbors however we darn well want, holding vigils and protesting. And no, we are not some crazy internet conspiracy. The Cword you're looking for is community. Our community was
pre-organized and pre-connected long before this. Expertly trained in organization after years of preparing church potlucks. Expertly trained in surveillance because we look after as parents, grandparents, teachers, and neighbors our children. Expertly trained
in the virtues of care and compassion, especially when some would support, signal, and engage in violent cruelty. So please don't be intimidated. If someone is bullied, you stand between the bully and the victim. Don't be at a
two for fear of an eight. Instead, join us in loving the good people of Bloomington through this at a 10. Thank you. >> Thank you, Paul. No, no, no, no. Uh, David and then Sarah on deck and then Andrew Lou, you'd be in
the hole. Thank you. Good evening, David. >> Good evening. Um, I guess why I'm here is uh I'm a resident of Bloomington only three years, so I'm a newbie. Um, and I was a 35-y year teacher of uh
American history and global studies. And I think I taught over 7,000 students during my 35 years. And I would be a hypocrite if I didn't show up today to say that um first of all to the people who don't look like me, that aren't like
privileged or whatever, you matter. If there's anyone listening out there who was afraid to come to this meeting, you matter. Um, another reason I'm here is that the abuses that all of us are seeing, um, I'm not a primary target of that, but as
someone much wiser than me once said, silence is complicity, and we're not going to be silent. Okay? The abuses we're seeing of our constitutional rights, don't make me sit here and read them all out loud to everybody, the first, second, fourth, and fifth. We know what they are. But
we're seeing it and I never thought I'd see it like this. And I'm asking for our council to one make a resolution or whatever term that gets used condemning the unconstitutional practice of the ICE agents.
We need to see our city stand up and say what's being done is wrong. Second, um I was a teacher for 35 years, so I use visual aids. Real quick, I took kids for 31 years to Washington DC. I'm that crazy guy that would take 150 eighth graders there to show them
democracy in action. And uh one of my favorite places is um Ford's Theater. So I got this t-shirt there because that's where Abraham Lincoln was killed. And it's it's a quote for Abraham Lincoln. I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended
upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts and beer. We can get our own beer. I'm asking for the city council to call for a resolution calling for a fair, transparent investigation of the killing
of two of our Minnesota citizens on not just the federal level, but on the local level by agencies such as the BCA. Third, um like I'm kind of new to the city and stuff, so I went online to check. Man, you guys have an awesome
awesome chief of police. Okay. And I want I'd like to ask for a resolution by our city council supporting our 135 professional law officers that we have led by Booker Hodgeges. I want it noted the professional way that these trained
officers do the job of law enforcement compared to the tactics of the barely trained ICE agents that are out there. And I know we we support our uh our police, but I I would like at this time something special said to them, you know, maybe I'll just bring some donuts.
you guys could send something, you know, special. In closing, I appreciate this effort that you guys are putting on and um it's it's nice to be a part of a democracy like I taught for 35 years. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, David. >> Sarah
Sarah Zion here. All right. Then Andrew Lou Jamie Wagner, are you here? You're up next. You're on you're on deck. And then Cody Wright is on in the hall. Hi, good evening uh council members and mayor busy. Uh thank you for making extra time in your busy schedules to come listen to us. Um I also want to
thank everyone that uh has made time to come speak. Um I wanted to bring up the diversity numbers here um by speaking myself. So my name is Andrew and I was born and raised here in Bloomington. Uh my first job was at BECTV. I also worked at the city council here. Uh my wife and I met at Jefferson High School and now
I'm a homeowner not living too far from where I grew up. Um I'm as much of a native Bloomington resident as you can get. Uh due to recent events events from ICE and Border Patrol, um I must tell you that I have felt so much fear for myself, my family, and my neighbors. However, anger is what I feel most. I
have Caucasian friends telling me to just carry my passport and obey instructions from ICE agents when prompted. But why do I need to prove that I belong here? I'm just as uh that just makes me a secondass citizen. I'm here tonight to speak uh up for a community that is feeling fear and pain right now when the current occupation um
is with these federal ICE agents. The people of Minnesota have been a shining example of what it is to be a good neighbor. Ordinary citizens are putting themselves at risk by protesting in person, working together in rapid response groups to observe ICE agents abduct and detain their neighbors, as well as simply getting groceries for those that are too afraid to leave their
houses. The demonstrations against ICE have largely been peaceful as people show their opposition to the violent tactics ICE agents have been using. I do fear that the public's patience is wearing thin as the federal government is looking to for people to become violent to give agents an excuse to push
back even harder with impunity. I feel I believe in the rule of law and demand that accountability be restored. While I understand the need for uh constraint as you mentioned last week uh mayor uh I feel that's fair but uh there is a line between constraint and
analysis paralysis. At what point does the council slide into inaction? I want to thank the council for participating in the federal lawsuit last week. But I do want to challenge and ask you what else are you doing our elected officials doing to curb this lawlessness is happening in our streets besides furring
your brows and writing strongly worded statements. You cannot in good conscience ask the residents of Bloomington just wait for it all to blow over while our neighbors are being brutalized and taken from their homes. Um, tonight I urge you to use the authority we've entrusted into you and lead by doing what is right and that is
what is easy. Thank you. >> Thank you >> Jamie and then Cody and then Samua. >> Council members, Mr. Mayor, Chief Hodgeges, I feel that I must begin by repeating a portion of my remarks from the listening
session last week. I am Jamie Wagner and I am here because the social contract has been broken. If you'll forgive me and allow me to put on my professor's cap for a moment, the social contract is a piece of philosophy that was a core part of the intentions and dreams of the founders of this
country. It embodies the idea that a community surrenders a portion of our rights to a government in order to guarantee the safety and essential human rights and conditions of all those who are part of our community. Our social
contract with federal government having been broken is something that all of us recognize, particularly, Mr. Mayor, in your remarks closing the session last week. I understand the sentiment of restraint when facing the reality of a federal
government that acts to punish any disscent. I understand the desire to prevent retribution against the most vulnerable of our neighbors and our families. But I what I feel that you collectively do not seem to understand is the gravity of our current situation.
When Director Hullman spoke to the people of Minnesota two days ago, he referred to our state and the Twin Cities in particular as a theater, not as a community of people, not as fellow citizens of the Americas, as a theater
of war where he, Mr. Boino, and the rest of ICE view us as the enemy. They see our home as a battlefield where they have deployed an army of men who are not trained in the nuances of immigration policy or in how to operate legally in our state while still
respecting the rights, liberty, and freedoms of their fellow citizens. They have deployed agents who are offered rudimentary training on how to conduct themselves. And now they go out just like their ancestors who hunted black men, women, and children to be sold into bondage because of the color
of their skin. or men who are indoctrinated with hateful rhetoric who put on brown shirts and went out to smash windows knowing that if they could not find an enemy to engage, they can make one up when they are finished.
We are not dealing with members of law enforcement who by that social contract we trust will be trained to safely enforce the law and protect the rights of our neighbors. We are not dealing with professional soldiers who are given extensive training on how to safely handle
weapons, interact with civilians, and are instilled with honor and discipline as part of their traditions of duty and service. We are dealing with a mob empowered by an administration of bullies. And I think that many of you, including many in our state and some of you on this
council, believe that your privilege, your position, your wealth, and your status as either a birthright or properly naturalized American will protect you. And I am here to tell you that is not true. Thank you, Jamie.
Cody, and then Saw, are you here? I don't see Saw. Uh Danielle Isacson. Oh, remote. I'm sorry. Uh can we make sure that Danielle and then Jody Johnson are our next two speakers and they'll be remote. So Cody, thank you.
>> Thank you. Um I was here last week. Uh Cody Wright, I have to say when I left the meeting last week, I was very proud of you specifically, Mr. Mayor. Um, I jumped in and interrupted you a little bit at the end and I saw some fire out
of you. You got upset and I was glad to see that because I hadn't seen it up to that point. And I am very proud of what most of the council voted for to join the lawsuit this week even though it did not go our way. Um, it's my understanding that there's one member of
the council that did not vote to join that lawsuit. And I would just like for that person to remember that your duty is to this community, not to MAGA, not to Donald Trump, and not to ICE. If you don't want to do what's best for this community, I think maybe it's time
for you to step down. I know that this is not what you all thought you would be doing when you ran for city council. And it's scary and that's okay. But I can tell you that if you guys keep doing the things that you've been doing,
this community is going to rally behind you regardless of what the Trump administration does. We don't need We don't need you to bang your fists on the table. We just need you to be there. We need the police to be there. Just be
around. ICE is not going to do things and hurt people if the police are around. I don't know if you all saw what happened in St. Peter uh a few days ago, but there was a peaceful protester that was arrested by ICE. She was being brought up to the Whipple facility and
the chief of police of St. Peter called somebody and those ICE agents turned around and brought her back. So, they are afraid of the people who are actual law enforcement officers. They will not
try to harm when they are there. I feel for all of you that this is the position you found yourself in because I know running for city government is wasn't the plan, but you're here and there's not a whole
lot we can do about that. So, I'm just asking that you guys be continue to be brave because you showed some bravery this week. continue to be bold and no matter what happens, this community is going to stand behind you. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you, Cody.
Uh, last call for either Saw or Danielle or excuse me for Saw. I don't see Saw. Uh, Danielle Isacson. Is she available remote? Danielle, if you are uh waiting and listening online, if you could raise your hand, we will uh get you live so
you can speak. And same with Jod Johnson. Uh you're our second remote person. Why don't we move on? And if they uh if they raise their hands and we can confirm it is them, we'll go to them. Uh we have next on our list, Anita Smithson. Are you here, Anita? There you
are. Uh Lois Norard, are you here? Lois, you're on deck. And then Paul Scott is in the hold. >> Hi mayor and city council members. My name is Anita Smithson and I'm speaking today on behalf of the Human Rights Commission. Uh last week before your listening session, we met uh to vote on
a letter that I am reading to you today. The Bloomington Human Rights Commission was established in 1968, shortly after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to aid and advise the city council in ensuring equal opportunity and the protection of human rights for all members of the Bloomington
community. Recently, the HRC has heard from community members who have both observed and experienced human rights violations within the city, particularly in connection with the increased presence of federal agents. Regardless of immigration status, every person has the
right to due process and protection under the law. In response, we respectfully request that the city collaborate with the HRC to take the following actions to ensure residents are informed of their rights and know how to seek help if these rights are violated. We also want to acknowledge
that some of the these efforts may already be underway by the city council. One, develop and distribute clear and accessible communications in multiple languages outlining individuals rights, the steps to take if a human rights violation occurs, and how to report such
violations. Two, ensuring this communication includes key rights that many community members may not be aware of, including the right to refuse consent to search of one's person, vehicle, or home and the right to record police activity, provided it does not interfere with law
enforcement duties or violate other laws. And three, provide or endorse appropriate know your rights and welcoming signage for residences and businesses alike that both affirm inclusivity and clearly state our legal rights. Now more than ever, our community needs
to hear consistent, visible, and reassuring communication from the city to help alleviate the fear and anxiety that many residents are currently experiencing. In addition to written communication, members of the HRC would welcome the opportunity to partner with the mayor and city council on a short
community-f facing video that reinforces the connection, our transparency, and trust with each other. We also request that the city publicly report aggregate human rights violation data and share that data with the Henipin County Attorney's Office and the Minnesota Attorney General's Office to support
broader accountability and documentation efforts. As members of the Human Rights Commission, it is our duty to inform and advise the city council on matters affecting human rights. We urge you as elected leaders to use your position and privilege to ensure that all Bloomington residents feel their rights are
understood, protected, and respected. This is signed by a majority of members, myself, the chair, vice chair Cammonson, and commissioners El Mustafa, Gansar, Lewis, Musinak, Perry, and Thornton. I also wanted to add a personal note um that I am just lifting up every single
day in prayer, Manuel, a community member who I saw violently ripped from his vehicle by ICE agents just a few weeks ago. Manuel had all of his documentation in his car. He was treated horribly and I think of him every day and I hope that he is returned to his family and I ask that you all think of
him as well. Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Lois is up next. Uh Paul Scott, are you here? Paul, >> Paul will pass. Uh Christy Wimma. Okay, you're on deck then. And then Jamie McCarthy.
No, Jamie McCarthy. Hold on one second. Pardon? Oh, there you are. I didn't see you. Sorry. So, you're in the hole then. Oh, okay. Please. >> Yeah. Hello. Um, yeah, Mr. Mayor, members of the council, I'm Lois Narot, a resident of East Bloomington. Our
community members are standing up every day and doing what we can to try and keep our neighbors and friends safe because we know the difference between right and wrong. We are angry, upset, scared, but determined. As we take action in our communities, we are
waiting to see you stand up in a truly meaningful way to end the crisis, not with token gestures, but real steps towards safety and accountability. I do thank the city for joining the lawsuit that others have mentioned. In fact, a number of my comments have already been
mentioned, so I'll kind of be moving quicker. But I also really um appreciate the web portal that you put together, response to immigration enforcement. Sounds like there's some additional pieces that should be put there. I urge Bloomington to follow Richfield in
making the ice free zones that people have mentioned. Again, on Richville signs, it says property may only be used for city purposes. Unauthorized use, including but not limited to staging for civil immigration enforcement activities is prohibited. Their public works
department has placed these signs in areas in Richfield. And I agree with the other speakers, but I also want to say we should do the freeze on evictions and pause utility bills for people who are um unable to go to their jobs. The Bloomington Police must protect our
residents and community members and not stand on the side of ice. No sharing of any department's personnel information or any um any other databases that they might be asking for. No sharing of any building codes or anything else with
ICE. We need to also send a strong statement to Congress. I know people have been asking the city council to do this as well and perhaps there is a way that you can, but passing ordinances to um urge them to stay strong and tightening the use of warrants, ending
roving patrols, enforcing a code of conduct compared comparable to policies for state and local law enforcement and for ICE agents to remove their masks, their guns, and wear body cameras. Wear the body cameras. ICE does not make us
safe. It's the opposite. Other humane solutions to immigration can be found. We are angry that we are unprotected in the town we call home. Thank you. >> Thank you,
>> Priyanka. Do we have any of our remote speakers yet? Not that we know of. Okay, thank you. We will continue on then. Uh Christa is next or Christy, excuse me. >> Um Christy Waba, um I brought my daughter the listening session last week
and on the drive home she said only old people were talking. No offense. I consider myself that too. So she got home she wrote up a thing that she would like to share tonight. >> Oh, very good. >> Good evening, >> mayor and city council. I attend one of the Bloomington public schools and kids are scared. Lately at my school, most
conversations with my peers have been centered around ICE and the latest events related to them. News has passed through schools and students about ICE visiting other Bloomington schools and that a dad was taken from a Westwood students bus stop. Rumors are also circulating about ICE having visited
other schools pickup lines after school. Many of my friends are afraid that our school is next. School is supposed to be a safe environment, but clearly it's not a safe enough environment for some students to show up for inerson learning. While all schools are now required to have online lessons,
students should be able to be with their friends in an environment where they're free of harm. There used to be a designated safe zone around schools that had strict perimeters around ICE since 1993, but that was rescended in January of 2025 by the president. I'm asking you
to pass a resolution to reinstate a safe zone around schools. This would be a good first step. Finally, the last idea I would like to put forward is that if ICE has a presence in Bloomington, police would alert the school staff so they can protect students better. I'm
sure you've heard stu schools say place school is a place where everyone belongs. But those are just words. What really matters is if people feel like they belong. Thank you for considering. >> Thank you. So then Jamie and uh Trina Sutto, are
you here? Trina. Trina is on deck and then Chris McCormack. Chris, are you here? How about K20? Okay, you are in the hole. So, good evening, Jamie. >> Hi. Um, all right. Uh, sorry, I'm really
nervous and also a little emotional. Uh, so I apologize. And I just want to say uh to my fellow citizens here uh speaking tonight, I'm really proud of you all and impressed. Um, so thank you. Um, good evening, mayor and city council members. Thank you for the opportunity
to speak with you tonight. Um, I want to thank those of you who voted um to join AG Ellison's uh lawsuit. I think that was a good step. Um, a lot of what I wanted to say has already been said, so I will try to kind of uh move along. Um,
but the reason I'm here is because I see our children, schools, businesses, and normal daily life um impacted by unnecessary violence and intimidation tactics um of this ice surge and regular motans, not paid protesters or outside
agitators, um have been asked to and have protested, organized, provided aid to families in need and risk personal safety um and peace of mind even knowing what the risk are. I am looking for leaders
um particularly elected leaders um to demonstrate the same courage to meet this perilous moment in American history to help us find a way through this authoritarian power grab and um and to commit to holding those responsible and
those that help them accountable when we get through this. Leaders need courage, creativity, and boldness. Um, and I believe that there's more that can be done on the local end uh in conjunction with the state and and the
county. And a lot of great suggestions have been made here tonight. Um, I think there's both immediate and long-term. Um, one thing that has not been mentioned is to make sure that we are not partnering with companies that are providing data uh to ice such as Flock,
Nest, Ring, and Palunteer. um the moral imperative and issues will not change after this current crisis ends. Please do not assume that any action you take will be meaningless or ineffectual. If the laws and or ordinances are not on the books, they
can never be enforced. And while I understand the instinct to be cautious or for fearing retribution, as Teddy Roosevelt said, [snorts] in any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.
So please be courageous, be creative and bold for us. Please be the leaders we need. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jamie. >> Trina, good evening.
>> Good evening, mayor and council members. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. I'm here to ask the council for two urgent actions. First, to add Bloomington to the requests to the state for an eviction moratorum. Second, to increase financial resources for community- based organizations
responding to a rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis in our state. This request comes from conversations with organizations and volunteers who are responding daily to housing instability, food insecurity, and emergency needs.
The message has been consistent. The scale of need is outpacing available resources. Nonprofits and community organizations in Bloomington are working hard to keep families housed. They are providing rental assistance and emergency support to families at risk of
eviction. The level of need they are seeing right now is significant. Currently, hundreds of families in Bloomington and by the time rent is due in March, it will be thousands. Minneapolis, St. Paul and Roseville have already asked the state for an eviction
moratorum. They recognize that action now can prevent widespread displacement. I do want to acknowledge that the city has already taken important steps. Bloomington's HA has announced 350,000 for housing assistance. That support matters, but it will not meet the full
need, not even for a month. What we are seeing is not a short-term spike. As the occupation continues, this will be a longer term challenge. This is also more impactful than CO was on families and their housing stability.
The Bloomington community is also stepping up in powerful ways. Over the weekend, a food and supplies drive and NM Brewing brought in hundreds of pounds of essential items. Thousands of families who are homebound for safety are receiving weekly grocery deliveries
delivered entirely by volunteers. These efforts show how much this community cares about one another and about doing what is right. At the same time, nonprofits and community organizations are under real financial strain. And that began well before this new crisis.
Since January 2025, changes in government policy have reduced both funding and flexibility for nonprofits while community need has increased. Grassroots fundraising and philanthropy are critical, but they cannot carry a crisis this size on their own. This is
where city and state leadership are essential. Government action provides stability that philanthropy cannot replace. Without it, families will fall through the cracks. Children are falling through the cracks and the organizations supporting them will be pushed beyond
capacity to act. The request for you tonight is simple. include Bloomington in the request to the state for an eviction moratorum and increase financial support for the organizations doing this work on the ground. This is a moment to act with
urgency and to stand with the families and community members who are stepping up every day. Thank you for your time and your commitment to our community. And because I have one last second, I don't I just want to say to the kids who are hearing this, the kids who are
living this, we are sorry. We are sorry and we will fight for you. >> Thank you, Trina. Uh, so Chris McCormack not here, right? Oh, Chris did. Oh, there >> is an overflow.
>> Thanks for joining us. >> When the righteous increase, the people rejoice. But when the wicked man rules, people groan. Mayor Busy, members of the council, thank you for allowing us the privilege to share our thoughts. It is my prayer that these words will fall on
fertile soil and the cities of Bloomington, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the state of Minnesota at large will once again rejoice as righteousness increases. The people of Minnesota and the United States as they watch on have been groaning for quite some time. riots
in our streets, glaringly obvious fraud in government sponsored programs, and now unrest as authorities aim to carry out their duties against obnoxious and oftentimes violent resistance. Regardless of where you are politically, I venture to guess I'm an outlier here.
There is no question that there is groaning, which must mean a wicked man is ruling. When public servants who have been entrusted with a level of leadership use that leadership to urge on agitators or promote scandalous speech, comparing what we see now to the
senseless murder of six million Jews less than a century ago, it is no wonder that we have civil unrest and the tragic loss of life. What we need now is leadership. Leadership that promotes righteousness and goodness. leadership that understands that the only reason
they hold their current position is because God Almighty, the sovereign ruler of the universe, saw it fit to place them there. And before you allow that to tickle your ears, please understand you have a serious responsibility. For to whom much is
given, much will be required. You are to use this authority to reward good behavior and punish evil. I understand that you may not have the ability to exercise your authority over Minneapolis or the state of Minnesota as a whole, but you have the ability to communicate to those that do and hold them
accountable to the responsibility entrusted to them. You also have the ability to set the tone for the people here in Bloomington. And we the people are in desperate need of a leader who will prioritize righteousness, reward good behavior, and punish evil. To the people, I would like to exhort you in
your responsibility to submit to authority. For when you resist authority, you oppose the ordinance of God and will receive judgment upon yourself. Rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Those that have broken the law and reside here
illegally should be punished. Those that did not break the law and reside here rightfully should not be punished, but should also not provide any reason for punishment to arise by acting unruly. I implore all of us as citizens of the United States to fight for what is good, to prioritize the word of God over the
ways of this world, and to live righteously so we all may once again find the ability to rejoice. In closing, look to Christ, turn from your sins, and aim to carry out the will of God through obedience to his word. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Chris. K is up next. And then Michael List, are you here, Mike? Michael List, are you here? I don't think I had seen him. Uh, Kathleen Bagby Coat, raise your hand if I'm calling your
name. Just There we go. Okay, I see you now. And then Janice Erikson Pearson. Okay, you're the next three then. Okay. Good evening. Welcome. >> Good evening, honorable mayor, esteemed, members of council. Uh, first and foremost, I wish to express my gratitude
for this platform, a space where voices of residents can be heard and valued. My name is Kay. I've had the privilege of calling Bloomington home for the for nearly five years now. Uh I'm a small business owner. Uh I'm a dedicated husband and I'm also an immigrant. Uh
people before me spoke here trying to speak for me. I feel as an immigrant I should have a voice and thank you for actually listening to us. Uh it is with this perspective I speak today hoping what I have to say how immigration
enforcement needs to hand to be handled in our city carries some weight and is valued. My work takes me frequently around Minneapolis and Twin Cities. Uh where I've observed and experienced firsthand how various cities have
responded to Operation Metro Surge. Uh for instance, Minneapolis has adopted um standown policy uh instructing its police force to refrain from intervening when protesters or observers escalate or impede ICE operations. Such directives
not only expose local law enforcement to undue risks but also inadvertently escalate tensions uh leading to clashes between protesters and federal agents who are completely untrained to manage larger crowds. On the other hand, I've
seen Maple Grove's police department has demonstrated a more strategic approach uh to this. Just five days ago, uh Maple in Maple Grove, protesters ga gathered outside a hotel uh that was suspected of harboring ICE agents. Recognizing the
potential for unrest, Maple Grove officers uh stood between the protesters and the property. When the protest started to escalate, they deployed crowd control measures uh declared an unlawful assembly and successfully deescalated the situation
before it turned violent. Uh the outcome was clear. Minneapolis suffered a damaged hotel uh with multiple people injured. Uh on the other hand, there was no property damage reported in Maple Grove. People still got the right to
exercise uh their protesting rights and no one was seriously injured. Uh this is this contrast I believe underscores an essential truth. The First Amendment guarantees the right to peacefully protest, but does not guarantee a right
to riot. I have unwavering confidence in Bloomington's finest uh in their professionalism and their training and their capacity to maintain order. Compared to the federal forces, our local officers are better equipped in
handling larger crowds and safety with restraint. It is my firm belief that it is the responsibility of our city leaders and our law enforcement uh to serve as a buffer safeguarding its peaceful protesters from federal authorities who
are conducting uh arrests and vice versa. >> Okay. Excuse me. I'm sorry. Your three minutes are up. >> Just one last statement. Uh, if there's one thing uh I want you guys to hear, as an immigrant resident of Bloomington, I feel the safest when our city police are
actively maintaining law and order during ICE operations rather than simply standing down. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Kathleen. >> Hi, Kathleen Coat. Thank you. I'm reading an email that uh my family
received from a family friend who could not be here and wishes to remain anonymous. She's one of the many community volunteers we've been hearing about. She says, "My children and I have been driving children to and from school for parents who are too terrified to
leave home. One of these families was being actively abducted during a morning pickup. I had vulnerable children in my car and had to pretend like everything was fine, but my nine-year-old knew what was happening. They just didn't realize
it was their friend being kidnapped. I cannot express the trauma and stress of having to explain to your child why why their friend is gone and why our own government took them away. This is still being processed and the struggles are
real. I've had lawyers and state officials, including Nathan Coulter, assist me in the search for our abducted Bloomington community members to no avail. Meanwhile, within the day, we started driving new children to school because they had the need to get there,
and I now had more room in my van. Our community feels attacked at the federal level of our government and largely ignored at the state level. We continue to hope that more is done to help our immigrant community members while doing everything we can to provide
them the safety they deserve. Thank you for listening to this story. >> Thank you for sharing it. Janice Erikson. Uh Wade Lunberg, are you here? Wayne. Wade. There's Wade. Uh Tyler Thompson is in
the hole. Are you here? Tyler goes down. Look at this. >> Isn't that Isn't that's fancy? >> Is that a good >> Wow, that's cool. >> Mr. Mayor and >> Good evening, >> council members. Thank you very much for
the privilege of being able to speak with you. We've lived here for a whole year and um had no idea what we were getting into when we moved to Minnesota. We love it here. We're really privileged to be here. And one of the things that
impressed us the most first of all was how much the city of Bloomington was adhering to the various um um diversion diversion diversity um inclusiveness
um and um the other um [snorts] I have Parkinson so sometimes I forget words. Um, in any case, we were really grateful to be a part of this community and we still are. And I am very grateful
to my fellow citizens for articulating so very clearly many of the things much of what I might have wanted to say so I don't have to say it. Um, I did want to um make a modest proposal. um many of
the homeowners um that we're living near just still don't know quite what they could do. And um so I had a very modest proposal um that I bring um that we're putting up on our bulletin
board and I don't know if you want to put around town but um says will you join us a white candle 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. This is a particular date Wednesday February 4th. It could be any date a
corner near you. Support our neighbors and care for our country. It seems it's just some small thing that um we could all do. And so if it goes no further than those who hear our voice tonight, um that's okay. If it goes um if you're
able to receive it, um that's that's great, too. Um I also want to speak on behalf very briefly of Francis Skull, a member of my church, the church we belong to. Um he is an usher. He's lived
here for 20 years. Um, has done everything he needed to do, was fully in the process. He was boxed in and abducted on a Sunday morning right before Christmas from right outside our church. He was literally turning into
the parking lot of the church when ICE came, boxed him in, and abducted him in front of his family. One of the tasks or privileges um that I have is writing him a letter every week.
What do I say? What do we say? Can't give too much hope, but want to offer some. He gets his mail. He's responded. That's good news. Um but what do we do?
Thank you very much. Thank you. Thanks for your comments tonight. >> Thanks to my husband. >> Wait. >> And you get to work the magic desk there, too, if you could.
>> I'm not sure. >> Thank you, Elizabeth. Great. >> Mayor and councel, uh, Wade Lunberg with Unite Here Local 17, the hospitality union here in Minnesota with 24 union hotels. We're in our convention centers.
We have 1,200 people on the field at MSP International. Uh, also in our sports facilities across the Twin Cities. Tonight, I wish to speak uh to the safety and well-being of hotel workers in the city of Bloomington. First, we request that if you are a hotel
operator, you choose not to allow immigration and customs enforcement or other immigration enforcement agencies lodging at your facilities in Bloomington. This is about the safety and well-being of workers. Immigration enforcement can escalate tensions, increase
confrontations, and place workers in unsafe situations that they are not trained for or paid to manage. The presence of ICE can deter people from accessing work, food, necessities while also placing the workers in the
impossible position of navigating frightened customers and the aggressive immigration enforcement. There is also a danger to the customers that we're that are staying in the hotel. ICE has proven that they are not focused on criminals or even just
immigrants that may be undocumented, but on numerous occasions have taken US citizens into custody and worse. There should be a consideration by the city to create a safer place for workers and for customers.
We believe that a liquor license is a privilege and that privilege should be reserved for the businesses who keep the public safety in mind. Our union has been in contact with workers at hotels that ICE is staying at who report harassment, unsecured firearms, and
abductions. Adding liquor to this mix has a terrible potential. Council members, there are guns in your hotels. We believe the city of Bloomington should strongly consider a potential around the safety of workers and the
consumers in hotels when considering liquor applications and renewals in the future. I thank you for your time and your work. Thank >> you, Wade. Tyler Thompson, are you here? Very good, Tyler. Uh and then we'll have a chance,
I think, to get a bit into our weight list. Uh is Douglas Bruce here? Doug, you you scored. You're you're up next, Douglas. Tyler, please. >> Hi, everyone. Uh, my name is Tyler Thompson. Uh, me and my wife have lived in Bloomington for a little over one
year now, and we love this city. This is my first time attending something like this, and while I'm somewhat ashamed it has taken me this long to get involved in my local community, I'm happy to be in company of most of the other speakers I've heard so far. Over the past two months, I have
looked on in horror at Operation Metro Surge and the tactics that ICE agents have been using in our state. I have seen ICE agents repeatedly break the law and violate the Constitution in their operations. I have seen them brutalize everyone, undocumented citizens, non-citizens with legal status,
documented immigrants, observers, protesters, and citizens alike. I have seen them use tear gas at our schools, and I have seen them kidnap children. I have seen them perform insane vehicle maneuvers to box people in or run them off the road. I've seen them break into
homes without warrants and threatens motans who are simply recording them. I have seen them kill two American citizens on our streets without facing as so much as an investigation. I've seen them do all this in the name of public safety. According to ICE itself, only 7% of their arrests account
for violent criminals. They claim to be going after the worst offenders, but they are grabbing absolutely everyone they can. Their stated mission may be immigration safety, but their only outcome has been chaos in our communities and violence in our streets. I know parents who are exhausted because
they are continually volunteering at their kids' schools to make sure the kids can get home safely without being kidnapped by ICE agents. I have friends who are having to tell their immigrant parents, "You need to keep your ID on you and your passport on you at all times. My immigrant neighbors are
fearful fearful and our cities are collectively traumatized. This is not the America I imagine living in as a kid where people are chased down the streets demanding show us your papers where the constitution is trampled by ICE and DHS where the federal government invades my
state and demands our voter roles if we want this invasion to end. The actions of ICE in Minnesota put us all at risk. And it is time we put an end to this madness. Bloomington must do everything it can to resist these unconstitutional ICE operations. Minnesota needs an
immigration process that is sane, fair, efficient, and accountable. The ICE enforcement we have seen this year is none of these. Yet, I am so proud of my fellow neighbors who have come together to strengthen their communities in this time. My fellow motans give me hope and
strength to believe that there is a better future on the horizon. Until that day comes, let us continue to be excellent to one another. Thank you all. >> Thank you, Taylor. Douglas, mayor, city council members, I'm Douglas
Bruce, a member of I'm a resident here. I used to chair the city c and not the city council the planning commission [laughter] and [clears throat] worked with the parks on
uh golf courses as well as taken part in the placemaking commission here which is another excellent one. But I'm here because I have some expectations of the police in Bloomington. I expect
that lawlessness in the execution and the follow and in a criminal if you're enforcing the law you can't do it unlawfully because if
you do that's a crime. I have high expectations of the people here in Bloomington. I have the same expectations for Henipin County, the state, and the federal government.
There are no exceptions to this rule. The law applies to all of us. Um, we're not the law. We are subjects of the law. The law is something that people 250
years ago sat down and said, "If we're going to organize this organization here, we the people in order to form a more perfect union, not a perfect one, but a more perfect one, are going to do these things so that we
can be a more perfect union. Also, I believe I've heard the story that an old man in the Middle East went up on a mountaintop and brought down some tablets and he had some rules on it.
And there were no exceptions. I wasn't accepted from that. They weren't. You weren't. It applies to all of us.
We do need leadership. And I'm really proud to hear the ideas that are coming forth here, but we elected you to be leaders, not followers. Thank you, Douglas.
So, we passed through a number of folks who were, I believe, registered to speak, but they were going to do so remotely. I'm going to ask any of our call-in speakers to press star three if you are uh if you were on our list and we've missed you here. Star three.
Anything, Priyanka? caller number with starting with 818 919. You're now unmuted. >> Hi, thank you, mayor, council members. Thank you. Um, I'm here really today because the city has a choice to make and this isn't a
political one. It's about trust. When people believe their city is connected to federal immigration enforcement, even loosely, they stop calling for help. They stop reporting crimes. They stop showing up. Not because they don't care, as we've heard all night tonight, but
because they're afraid. That doesn't make Bloomington safer. It makes us quieter. And quieter isn't the same as safe. ICE operates on fear. And when this city stays vague, using policy language, that fear fills the silence.
The message people hear isn't complicated. It's stay invisible. I don't want to live in a city built on silence. I'm asking you to be specific. Clear enough that a parent knows if it's safe to call 911. Clear enough that a
traffic stop doesn't feel like a threat to someone's family. Clear enough that no one in the city has to guess whether they're being protected or exposed. No voluntary collaboration with ICE. No local resources used for federal enforcement. No ambiguity. You don't
have to solve immigration policy tonight, but you do control how this city shows up for the people in it. Choose clarity. Choose trust. Choose humanity. Choose community. Thank you for your time. >> And thank you. And I don't think we got
your name. Could you could you share that with us, please? >> Yes. I'm sorry. Uh Mike Garrison. >> Mike, thank you much. >> Yeah. Thank you. Bianca, is there anyone else have pressing uh pound or star three to speak?
>> Mayor, we have one more. >> Phone number starting with 952884. You're now unmuted. >> Hi, thank you. My name is Jod Johnson. Uh I've been a resident of Bloomington for 47 years. Um I'm not prepared like
other people. Other people have spoken so beautifully and I thank every one of them. Um I'm moved to say something very simple which is that there is no such thing as placating a bully. Whether you're
talking about a you know schoolyard or a country. Attempting to plate a bully makes him bigger and more greedy and more perverse. The one and only thing that works in responding to a bully is to stand up
fully and straight without fear and say no. We are here in this time for a reason. I believe that uh we are made for these times. That is why we are here and we can meet it. I want to encourage everybody that every single thing that
you are doing matters. every single thing that you are doing to make what is right prevail, you you are making a contribution. Um research shows that um um when an individual or a group of
people attempts to impose an authoritarian type of regime on a country that had formerly been a democracy, uh that We still there. Jody, we lost you. Jod, are you there? >> Jody, if you if you're able to, please
call back so we can finish up your remarks. >> I am here. Can you hear me? >> There you are. You're back again. Yes. Yes. >> I'm so sorry. Where did I lose me? >> I'm not sure. [laughter] Okay. Well, I I just um I wanted to speak to the bully behavior. There is no
such thing as placating a bully. Attempting to do so feeds the bully and makes him bigger and more greedy for power and more perverse. The one and only thing that works in responding to a bully is to stand up fully and straight
without fear and say no. We are here I believe that we really are here in this time for a reason. We're not here by accident. And because of that, we are made for these times and we can meet it. So I want to encourage everybody who's doing even the smallest
of thing. I don't care if it's lighting a candle, every single thing you do to make right prevail in this time matters. It is crucial. um they've done research and when an individual or a group of people attempts
to impose an authoritarian type of regime upon a former democracy that you have about a one and a half year window to fight it. We're into we're past the one-year mark. So this may very well be the most crucial time
in the history of our country for for many many decades. So, I do encourage uh the mayor and the city council to meet this um this illegal activity. Uh they are the ones that are criminals. They are violating the constitution and the law. Uh to meet
them with the greatest amount of response that you can possibly muster. This is not a time for timidity. Uh and this is not a time for wavering or trying to duck and cover. This is a time to stand up. Uh, and if I still have a
minute or so, I would actually nonviolence. >> Jody, >> can you hear me? >> Excuse. Yes, we can. But I'm I'm afraid your your time is up. I tried to give a little extra as we were back and forth here and we lost you for a bit there, but I'm afraid your three minutes are up. >> That's no worry. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you for calling in. Let me just double back on our list here and make sure that anybody that was on the list may have shown up late. Uh Keven Dayne, Sarah Zion, Samua,
uh Paul Scott, Michael List. All right, I think that is everybody. Uh oh, and Daniel Danielle Isacson who is remote. And Danielle, if you are on the phone, if you could push star three
right now, we will uh we'll pass you through. And then I think the last person possibly is Chelsea Goblets. Chelsea, if you are there, if you could push star three as well. All right, while we're waiting, folks, we we are officially scheduled to go
until 6:15 here. Uh we we think we probably have time for a couple more speakers. If you weren't registered and would like to speak now, you're welcome to come forward. Please come on forward. another. >> My name is Louise Borman and I've been a
Bloomington resident for about 30 years, but I taught in Minneapolis schools for 30 years. And you do not want the fear and tension that
those neighborhoods my students Renee Good was killed two blocks from one of my former students home. You do not want the tension which I feel all the time and I you don't want that here and it is
here already. We have to stop it. It will eat our souls. The only two other things is that um why would somebody who can't train a dog be in charge of training ice?
My other thing is to say that I have not verified this yet. I just saw it on Facebook or something today, but uh The Nation magazine nominated Minneapolis and Minnesota for a Pulitzer
Prize. >> A Nobel A Nobel Prize. >> I'm so sorry. No. And that would make somebody really mad. >> Thank you. Probably time for one more. Any others?
Please come forward. >> Hi, my name is Lucy. Uh, I just had a question. Sorry, it's really quick. I just had a question. So, if if you're a legal immigrant here, you have all the paperwork you have and everything and I still wants to arrest you. Are you
allowed to call the police to get help? >> The answer to that question is yes. Anytime you feel unsafe for any reason, you should dial 911 and talk to the Bloomington Police. >> Awesome. Thank you so much. Have a great day. >> Good evening.
>> Good evening. Uh my name is Melinda Morvari. I absolutely hate doing things like this, so to get me to come up here takes a lot. Um, my husband and I have been uh residents of Bloomington for
about 13 years. I was born and raised in South Minneapolis. My husband was uh uh born and ra actually born in Baldwin, raised Wisconsin, raised in on the east side of St. Paul. We are both from
immigrant families. My father's side of my family is Mexican. My stepfather was black, my brother was biracial. They're both gone now. Um, I grew up in a diverse community. Um, my f
or my um, sorry, I don't, like I said, I don't I don't like doing this, but I felt like since I had time, it was really important. Um, my husband's family is um, Iranian. Uh, we are a rainbow coalition. My
family is what our state in the Twin Cities is going through right now is breaking my soul. I was born and raised in the area where Renee Good and Alex Freddy were killed.
This has paralyzed me. I'm a small business owner and I was so excited for this new year because I had so many things that I wanted to do and I can barely get myself to do any of it. I don't know what to do. I feel helpless.
But I'm doing everything that I possibly can because this is too important. Silence is complicity. Silence is complicity. Please don't be silent. Our neighbors
are so important to us. Every single color is important. If we all look the same, imagine how boring it would be here. Please, everyone, continue to do everything that you can. Donate, volunteer,
get your neighbors to their appointments, get your kids to school. Everybody needs to do something because if we don't do anything, we're going to fall apart. We are going to fall apart.
Now is the time to do something. It doesn't matter how small it is. You have to do something. Please. Thank you very much for listening to me. I don't like doing stuff like this at all.
I have 14 more seconds. I just want all of my imig immigrant neighbors to know how much I love you and how much you belong here. This is your home. We will fight for you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. You did a good job even though you don't like to do it.
Um what I think I'd like to do just very quickly here is as we wrap up, we're scheduled to to be done here by 6:15 because we have a city council meeting now at 6:30. Uh first of all, I want to thank everybody for being here and thank you to everyone who spoke. Thanks to everybody who didn't speak. It's greatly appreciated that you speak up, you come
forward uh tonight and always, as Melinda just said, and always. I want to thank you all for the work that you're doing in the community to build community to protect this community. And it it it's obviously not going unnoticed across the United States.
And so, thank you for that. I greatly appreciate it. I do want to tell you quickly some of the things that Bloomington is is undertaking right now and a couple of people mentioned it. Uh we have signed on to uh Attorney General Ellison's uh brief. Uh we we submitted
an Amikas brief, friend of the court brief. Uh and so we're part of that. We did approve last week $350,000 in rental assistance and $250,000 in food assistance to that that VEP is going to help us distribute. Um, VEP does a
wonderful job and they had their finger on on the pulse of so much going on in this community. Um, Bloomington is part of a a coalition of cities that uh, it was just announced today the work that we've been doing and will continue to do to try and figure out a path forward on
that on all of this. As part of that, I was in Washington DC last week at the US Conference of Mayors meeting and actually within about 48 hours spoke to I think 80% of our Minnesota congressional delegation and the very good conversations that we
had were with the offices of our Republican members of Congress urging them to step forward and speak up. the the silence is deafening from our Republican members of Congress and we're urging them to spec step up and and do something and to to speak on our behalf.
I know that uh Chief Hodgeges has been working extensively uh behind the scenes which yes I know Chief Hodgeges and behind the scenes that doesn't go together very well. I know that Chief Hodes has been working extensively behind the scenes with the Minnesota Police Chief's Association, been working
with the Sheriff's Association, working to try again to find a solution, to find a way that we could not only uh deescalate the work that's going on, get them to a level of professional law enforcement and ultimately to to really bring down the temperature and the the
amount of work going on here in the Twin Cities. And um what did I miss, council? Is there anything else that I that I missed? Uh oh, and the web page. Thank you so very much. And we do have uh a web page for uh with with information that uh I
think it's it's growing based on the notes that were being taken tonight. I think growing in terms of the information that we could have on that. And I want to to let you know also that we're taking care of city employees also. I mean, these city employees, they're they're all of our they're our co-workers. They're your city employees.
They're affected by this also and the work that they do. uh some of them are are at risk as well and so we're working with them to keep them as protected as we possibly can. And then the final piece of the puzzle that I did want to mention uh we're we're looking into small business assistance and trying to
find ways that we can keep our small businesses afloat much like we did through co the suggestions that everybody made tonight greatly appreciated. We'll continue to talk about those as a council to see what the the appropriate path forward about additional things that we could do. Uh it it isn't um it
isn't a matter of the council not caring about this. It's not a matter of the council not doing anything. It's a matter of the work that the council is doing and we just need that to line up with with what we hope that people hope uh we will accomplish with all of this. Uh on a personal note, ask me about my
ICE interaction and I'll uh describe to you how growing up as a construction worker, I can swear with the best of them. And um it it was an interesting it was an interesting interaction that ultimately led to an ICE agent knocking
on my door that evening. So uh it it's uh interesting and troubling times for everyone. It really is. And the community coming together like this and and talking like this I think is an important step forward. Having your voices be heard not only by the city council but by the rest of this
community that people in this community do care. So thank you. Thank you for this. As I said, we're going to continue to talk about this as a council. If by some terrible instance this is still going on and continues to go on, we will likely do additional listening sessions
to be able to continue this conversation with the residents and to be able to listen to you a bit more. But again, thank you. With that, council, I look for a motion to adjurnn. >> Still move. >> Got a motion and a second to adjurnn our listening session. All in favor? We are
adjourned. We will reconvene at 6:30 for our city council meetings.