>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AISHA CHUGHTAI, THE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER OUR ADJOURNED MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2025. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, I WANT TO OFFER A REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERSES, SFF, AND PUBLIC
THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THESE INCLUDE REAL TIME CAPTIONING AS A F FURTHER METHOD TO OUR INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY. ALL SPEAKERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE RATE OF THEIR SPEECH SO
OUR CAPTIONERS CAN TRANSCRIBE ALL COMMENTS FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK SPEAKERS TO MODERATE THE SPEED AND CLARITY OF THEIR COMMENTS. I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL TO ROLL TO VERIFY THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. >> PAYNE. >> PRESENT. >> WONSLEY IS ABSENT. RAINVILLE. >> PRESENT. >> VETAW. >> PRESENT.
>> ELLESON IS ABSENT. OSMAN ABSENT. CASHMAN.>> PRESENT. >> YE JENKINS, ABSENT. CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT. >> CHOWDHURY. >> PRESENT. >> PALMISANO. >> PRESENT. >> VICE CHAIR KOSKI. >> PRESENT. >> CHAIR CHUGHTAI. >> PRESENT. >> THAT IS NINE MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> WE HAVE A QUORUM. I'LL REMIND MY COLLEAGUES WE'LL BE USING SPEAKER MANAGEMENT TODAY. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SIGN IN. WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING. WHICH IS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE MAYOR'S
RECOMMENDED 2026 BUDGET. MAYOR FREY PRESENTED HIS BUDGET ON AUGUST 13th THIS FALL. PROVIDING A PROPOSED FISCAL PLAN FOR THE CITY'S OPERATIONS IN 2026. TOTALING JUST OVER $2 BILLION, WITH AN INCREASE TO THE CITY PROPERTY TAX LEVY OF
ABOUT 1 P 7.8%. THE BOARD AUTHORIZED A TAX LEVY UP TO 8%. WITH THA INCREASE, UMM, FROM 7.8 BEING TO PAY FOR, UMM, SOME SERVICES FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD.
COPY OF THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS POSTED TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV/BUDGET. A PDF VERSION IS ALSO VARIA AVAILABLE ON LIMS. SINCE THE MAYOR PRESENTED HIS RECOMMENDED
BUDGET, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE RECEIVEDDED A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS TO EXAMINE THE DETAILS OF EACH DEPARTMENT'S BUDGETS REQUESTS. THESE MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON DEMAND ON THE CITY'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL. THIS IS THE THIRD OF FOUR THE
COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT ON THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET. OUR FOURTH AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING, WHICWILL BE THE STATUTORILY REQUIRED TRUTH AND TAXATION HEARING IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE, UMM, IN A MEETING OF THE CITYOUNCIL ON TUESDAY,
DECEMBER 9th AT 6:05:00 P.M. AND NOW BEFORE WE OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, I'LL ASKSTAO PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS I WILL INVITE BUDGET DIRECTOR TO JOIN US AND BEGIN THE PRESENTATION.
WELCOME, DIRECTOR. >>OOD EVENING. JANE DISCENZA. I'M HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL OF YOU AND TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. AS NOTED, WE'VE HAD PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE 2026 RECOMMENDED BUDGET. FOR THOSE O ARE INTERESTED IN
HEARING MORE ABOUT THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDED BUDGETS, THERE WAS A MORE ROBUST PRESENTATION OF THAT INFORMATION ON SEPTEMBER 8th. THAT IS AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE. SO TODAY I'LL GIVE A BRIEF
PRESENTATION. WE'LL START WI WITH -- AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2026 BUDGET DOCUMENT HIGHLIGHTING KEY SECTIONS HELPING YOU IDENTIFY CHANGES WITHIN THE BUDGET. FOLLOWING THAT, I'LL PRESENT THE MAXIMUM PROPERTY TAX LEVY AS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND TAXATION, AND PROVIDE A
DEMONSTRATION OFHE LEVY IMPACT ESTIMATOR. AND THEN, FINALLY, WE'LL CONCLUDE WITH THE TIMELINE AS NOTED BY THE BUDGET CHAIR. THE BUDGET TEAM WORKS HARD TO PUBLISH THE BUDGET BOOK
ANNUALLY. AND WE STRIVE TO MAKE REFINEMENTS EACH YEAR BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND Y. THE GOAL IS TO PRESENT A READABLE DOCUMENT THAT EXPLAINS THE FREQUENT I WILL ASKED QUESTIONS, AS IT RELATES TO FINANCE AND POLICY DECISIONS. EACHAGE IS DESIGNED TO ANSWER
THOSE KEY QUESTIONS. THIS YEAR THERE IS MOR DETAIL ON EACH DEPARTMENT PAGE ABOUT STAFFING, IN PARTICULAR. IT WAS INFORMATION THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE IN THE SYSTEM LAST YEAR BUT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND. SO NOW IT'S DIRECTLY ON THE PAGE. THERE'S ALSO A SECTION IN EACH DEPARTMENT PAGE ABOUT THE BUDGET
CHANGES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR 2026. THAT WILL NARRATE THE FUNDING REDUCTIONS AND THE LIMID INCREASES, AS WELL AS TRANSFERS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE A PDF VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT AVAILABLE ON THE LIMS FILE FOR THE 2026 BUDGET.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL BE TRANSITIONING SYSTEMS IN 2026, SO THAT PDF VERSION IS DIRECTING FOLKS TO NEXT YEAR AS WE'RE SETTING UP THE NEW STEM. THE LINK ON THIS SLIDE, AS WELL AS
THE QR CODE, WILL TAKE YOU TO THE BUDGET PAGE OF THE CITY WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE 2026 MAYOR'S RECOMMEND BUDGET, ALONGSIDE THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, AND A BUDGET ARCHIVE. SO THAT'S A GREAT RESOURCE! WHEN YOU GET INTO THE BUDGET
BOOK, YOU WILL SEE A NAVIGATION PAY PANE, AND CLEAR TABLE OF CONTENTS GIVING YOU SUMMARIES AS WELL AS DEEP DIVES ON DEPARTMENTS. THIS IS A PREVIEW
OF THE BUDGET BOOK SECTIONS. FOR MOST READERS, THE BUDGET IN BRIEF IN THE 2026 BUDGETS SUARY SECTION IS GOING TO BE A GREAT PLACE TO START. YOU GET A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE EXPENSES AND REVENUES OF THE CITY AND THE KEY TRENDS. THE OPERATING DEPARTMENT SECTIONS, WOULD BE
THE MOST FREQUENTLY VISITED. IF YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT'S BUDGETS AND CHANGES, YOU CAN SEE THOROUGH DISCUSSIONS IN EACH OF THOSE. THERE'S ALSO A CAPITAL PROGRAM SECTION, WHERE EACH OF THCAPITAL PROJECTS AND THEIR
FUNDING ARE DESCRIBED. MOVING ON TO THE MAXIMUM PROPERTY TAX LEVY. AS I MENTIONED, THERE IS A PROPERTY TAX LEVY ESTIMATOR IMPACT TOOL THAT THE ASSESSING
DEPARTMENT PRESENTS. WE'LL SHOW THAT. BUT, FIRST, THIS IS THE MAXIMUM PROPERTY TAX LEVY SUMMARY. SO YOU'LL SEE THE 8% LEVY INCREASE. AND THE GREEN BOFOR 2026. THAT IS THE PERCENT CHANGE AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT WE'RE COLLECTING
THAT WE'RE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT AS A CITY FOR ALL OF THE LEVIES THAT ARE LISTED ABOVE. SO THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS THE PARK BOARD, THE PUBLIC HOUSING THORITY, AND OTHER PENSION/RETIREMENT FUN. WHILE THE APPROVED GROWTH IN 2026 IS
HIGHER THAN THAT OF 2025, YOU'LL NOTE THE FINANCIAL DIRECTION SHOWS THOSE PERCENT CHANGES DECREASING IN THE OUT YEARS MODERATING A BIT, AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN. THE LEVY IMPACT ESTIMATOR
IS A TOOL THAT IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE ON THE CITY WEBSITE, AND IS A VISUALIZATION OF WHAT THESE PROPERTY TAXES MIGHT MEAN FOR INDIVIDUALS OR PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE CITY. YOU CAN SELECT A PROPERTY GROUP, RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AS WELL
AS A WARD TO E WHAT THAT IMPACT MIGHT BE FOR THE PARTICULAR HOME VALUES. THE IMAGE ON THIS SLIDE SHOWS A GRADIENT OF BLUE WITH THE DEEPEST BLUE MEANING THE LARGEST PERCENT CHANGE. AND THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT OFAXES PAID. AS NOTED BY THE BUDGET CHAIR, WE DO HAVE JUST ONE MORE PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THIS. WHICH IS THE SAME NIGHT AS BUDGET ADOPTION ON DECEMBER 9th. AND WITH THAT, I'LL CONCLUDE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, DIRECTOR DISCENZA. DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE DIRECTOR'S PRESENTATION? I'M NOT SEEING ANY. I'LL NOTE WE HAVE BEEN JOINED IN THIS
MEETING BY COUNCILMEMBER JENKINS. SO BEFORE I PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, I WANT TO REVIEW A FEW PROCEDURAL MATTERS. IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN COMMENTS OR MATERIALS TO SUBMIT, PLEASE GIVE THOSE TO THE CLERKS EITHER OUTSIDE AT THE REG
REGISTRATION TABLE OR AT THE END THE DAIS. WE HAVE PRINTED COMMENT FORMS AVAILABLE AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUBMIT A COMMENT ON THE PROPOSAL. AND HAVE THAT INCLUDED INHE PUBLIC RECORD OF THIS 2026 BUDT. I ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE
EVERYBODY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUBMITTING YOUR CMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET IN OTHER WAYS. THE EASIEST WAY TOUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS AND ENSURE THEY ARE ADDED TO THE PUBLIC RECORD IS TO SEND THOSE TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE
AT MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV/PUBLICCOMMENT. ALL SUBMITTED COMMENTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC RECORD RELATED TO THE 2026 BUDGET. IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO RUNS OUT OF TIME WHILE YOU'RE OFFERING YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY, I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUBMIT WRITTEN
COMMENTS TO THE CLERKS. IF YOU ARE -- IF YOU ARE SOMEONE THAT ENDS UP NEEDING TO LEAVE BEFORE YOUR SPEAKER NUMBER IS UP, IN ADDITION TO BEING WELCOMED TO JOIN US AT OUR FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9th, ALSO AT
6:05:00 P.M. IN THESE CHAMBERS, YOU ARE ALSO WELCOME TO SMIT YOUR COMMENTS IN WRITING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM YOU. WE'LL BE TAKING SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER THEY ARE REGISTERED. IF YOU'D KE TO TESTIFY, I INVITE YOU TO REGISTER YOUR NAME WITH THE CLERKS AT THE TABLE IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER.
UMM, OR YOU CAN DO S UMM, WITH THE CLERKS, UMM, TO MY RIGHT AND YOUR LEFT. AT THE END OFHIS DAIS. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE, UMM, AN ASSIGNED NUMBER. WE
WILL BE CALLING SPEAKERS BY NUMBER. IN THE ORDER YOU ARE REGISTERED. BECAUSE WE ARE LIMITED ON AVAILABLE SEATING IN THIS ROOM, THERE IS AN OVERFLOW ROOM WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN MONITOR THIS MEETING. IUNDERSTF PARTICIPANTS HERE TODAY. THAT IS REALLY EXCITING! I KNOW THERE AR PEOPLE THAT ARE
GATHERED ON THE SECOND FLOOR RIGHT BELOW THE ESCALATORS, AS WELL. IF YOU'RE REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT AREN'T ABLE TO SIT IN THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE HEAD TOWARD THE CHAMBER AS WE GET CLOSE TO YOUR SPEAKER NUMBER. PLEASE LET
THE SECURITY PERSONNEL KNOW THAT YOUR NUMBER IS BEING CALLED UP. SO YOU HAVE AN EASY TIME GETTING IN. EACH REGISTERED SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES T ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE. WE HAVE A TIMER AVAILABLE, UMM, TO MY
RIGHT AND YOUR LEFT. THAT HELPS MONITORS -- THAT HELPS SPEAKERS MOTOR THE USE OF THEIR TIME. WE ASK YOU TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS WHEN YOUR TIMEAS EXPIRED. SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE ALL SPEAKERS TODAY AND B FAIR TO EVERY PERSON. WE ALSO ASK
THAT EVERYONE BE RESPECTFUL OF ALL SPEERS AND OF ALL OPINIONS OFFERED. WE HAVE A R A ARRANGED FOR INTERPRETATION FOR THOSE THAT MAY NEED THAT ASSISTANCE. IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE FROM AN INTERPRETER, PLEASE LET THE CLERKS AT THE
REGISTRATION KNOW. WE HAVE INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE NEEDING SPANISH AND SOMALI TRANSLATION SERVICES. FOR THOSE UTILIZING AN INTERPRETER, THE SPEAKER TIME WILL BE ADJUSTED TO FOUR MINUTES, TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ALSO OTHER INTERPRETERS THAT ARE
HERE WITH -- UMM, WITH ORGANIZATION, UMM, PARTNERS THAT ARE -- THAT ARE HERE TO OFFER TESTIMONY. UMM FOR FOLKS THAT, AH, WOULD PREFER TO, UMM, HAVE A CITY INTERPRETER,MM,
ASSIST YOU. YOU CAN DO THAT. OR YOU CAN WORK WITH WHOEVER YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE WITH, HONESTLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 37 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ALREADY. AGAIN, BEFORE I OPEN THE FLOOR, I WANT TO INVITE ANYONE WHO
HASN'T ALREADY REGISTERED BUT WISHES TO SPEAK TO REGISTER WITH THE CLERKS AT THE TABLE IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE OF THESE CHAMBERS. AND WE'LL ASK EACH SPEAKER TO SELF-IDENTIFY FOR THE PUBLIC RECD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS. THAT LOOKS LIKE
JUST SHARING YOUR NAME, YOUR WARD, OR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR, GENERALLY, THE PART OF THE CITY YOU LIVE IN. AND ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATION, IF THAT APPLIES TO YOU YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE. I WILL ALS NOTE THAT WE -- ANY
PERSON WHO WISHES TO SIGN UP TO SPK CAN DO SO AT ANY POINT BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MM, SO THAT WILL CONTINUE TO ASK YOU AND REMIND YOU OF THAT. THE LAST THING I WILL NOTE BEFORE WE OPEN THIS
HEARING, IS, AH, RELATED TO THE MIC. SO, UMM, IF YOU'RE COMING UP AND WANT TO THE ADJUST THE MIC TO BE UP HIGHER OR LOWER. DEPENDING ON YOUR HEIGHT. PLEASE BE SURE TO MOVE THE MIC FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE YOU SEE
THE GREEN LIGHT. AND NOT BY THE BLUE TAPE AT THE TOP. AND IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS COMING UP HERE TO TESTIFY AND YOU HAVE AN INTERPRETER WITH YOU. BOTH TO YOU AND TO THE INTERPRETER, I'VE ASKED YOU SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE
MIC SO WE CAN CAPTURE AND TRANSCRIBE YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE LIVE BROADCAST. WITH THAT, WE ARE READY TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS WHO WE HAVE REGISTERED HERE TODAY ARE SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, ANTHONY
TAYLOR. SPEAKER NUMBER TWO, JOHN EDWARDS. SPEAKER NUMBER THREE, PETER. SPEAKER NUMBER FOUR, MAYA OELRICH, AND SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, AREW WHITE. WITH THAT, I WANT TO WELCOME SPEAK
NUMBER ONE, ANTHONY. >> HI, I'M ANTHONY TAYLOR. LIVE IN WARD 8. ANDREA JENKINS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR US. I'M HERE SPEING SPECIFICALLY TO THE ELEMENT
BUDGET. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND I AM, UMM, AS THE CITY COUNSEL PREPARES FOR THE 2026 BUDGET. THE EMERGING RIVER DISTRICT ANCHORED 7th AND BROADWAY IS WORKING ON A PROJECT
FOCUSING SIGNIFICANTLY ON CLIMATE CHANGE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND CITY AND RECENT HISTORY. RIVER NORTH IS DEFINED AS THE AREA BETWEEN PLYMOUTH AVENUE AND LOWERY AVENUE AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER A I-94. THE OPPORTUNITY IS NOT HYPOTHETICAL.
IT IS ACTUAY REAL. AS YOU KNOW, GEORGE OPENED THIS YEAR. IN 2024 AND BEGINNING TO HIRE, BRINGING JOBS, APPRENTICESPS, PATHWAYS, CONSTRUCTION TECH TRAINING AND ON-SITE PRODUCTION IN NORTH MEMBER MINNEAPOLIS. THE LAUNCH OF
PHASE ONE IS SECOND AND BROADWAY IS PLANNED FOR 2026. BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE IDEA OF AN INNOVATION DISTRICT. WEE LEANING ON AND LEARNING FROM THE TOWER SIDE INNOVATION DISTRICT. THE TOWER SIDE INNO VISION DISTRICT ANCHORED AT
PROSPECT PARK EXPANDED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND PART PARTS OF SAINT PAUL IS THE FIRST. IT WAS, UMM, CREATED IN 2015 THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED. AND WHAT IT SAYS INSIDE CPE DEFINITELY BUCKET, IF
WE CAN GIVE THE STAFF ROOM TO INNOVATE. THE OUTCOMES ARE SUBSTANTIAL. IT WASES A FIRST DISTRICT STORMWATER SYSTEM IN MINNESOTA. THEY CREATED THE WALKABLE GREEN MAIN STREET. INTEGRATING FEATURES. THEY CAME UP WE A DISTRICT ENERGY PLAN
THAT WAS SEEDED BY A $2 MILLION CITY LOAN. AND SIGNIFICANTO2 SAVINGS. AND ♪FROM IT CAME NEARLY $1BILLION IN PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. AND MORE THAN $6 MILLION IN COORDINATED PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT.
DISTRICT KEY INTERNAL LESSONS. IT RUCES COMPLEXITY AND COSTS -- >> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. >> THANK YOU. >> I WLD INVITE YOU TO PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS IN WRITING. YOU CAN DO THAT WITH THE CLERKS OR YOU CAN VISIT
MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV/PUBLICCOENT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER NUMBER TWO. JOH EDWARDS. >> THANK YOU, GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I'M JOHN EDWARDS. THE SAFETY NAVIGATOR WITH THE LAKE STREET COUNCIL, BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SOUTH
MINNEAPOLIS. HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE GWTH AND EXPANSION OF SOME OF OUR ESSENTIAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING SOME WONDERFUL WORK IN THE CITY AS IT PERTAINS TO SAFET AND THE WELL BEING OF OUR CIT CITIZENS. HERE. LET EVERYONE
ADVANCE FOR DIGNITY. REMAINING AN INSTRUMENTAL AND DECREASE IN THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT THE MMUNITY AND LAKE STREET CORRIDOR FACE FROM THE EFFECTS OF OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION. LEAD IS ACTIVELY OUT IN THE COMMUNITY CONDUCTING OUTREACH AND RECRUITING MEMBERS OF OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION AND CONNECTING THEM WITH HOUSING AND
TREATMENT OPTIONS. NEXT TO THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT PILLAR IN THE SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS AND LAKE STREET CORRIDOR THAT PROVIDES A VA VARIETY OF RESOURCES AND SERVICES STEMMING FROM MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY, EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE, AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR
FAMILIES WITH LIVABILITY ISSUES. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS A WHOLE, MPD, OUR VLENCE INTERRUPTER GROUPS, TOUCH OUTREACH, AND MAD DADS, BOT ORGANIZATIONS REMAIN VALUABLE ASSETS IN OUR CITY AS THEY PROVIDE SAFETY AND SECURIT TO OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS
OWNERS BY ACTIVELY RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES AND PEOPLE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS. ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME WHEN POLICE RESOURCES ARE AT A SHORTAGE. THEY'RE EFFECTIVELY ABLE TO ASSIST AND MITIGATE URGENT SAFETY ISSUES AND OFTENTIMES WITHOUT THE NEED FOR POLICENTERVENTION. WITH
CONTINUOUS EFFORTS AND COLLABORATING AND BUILDING EFFECTIVELY RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LIMIT LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY'LL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE POSITIVE SAFETY RESULTS. LASTLY, OUR SAFETY AMBASSADORS. AMBASSADS ARE BECOMING IMPORTANT PIECE TO THE LAKE STREET AND FRANKLIN AVENUE
CORRIDOR. AND BEEN USEFUL IN PROVIDING OUTREACH TO ADDRESS QUALITY OF LIFE CCERNS AND REPORTING HAS ARTS AND EMERGENCIES. ALL AND ALL, PROGMS LIKE THESE SHOULD BE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE CITY'S SUPPORT OF OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATIS AND THE OVERALL SAFETY FOR FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE, AS WELL AS THOSE JUST VISITING.
I WOULD LIKE TO URGE THE CITY TO MAKE A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THESE SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS. SO PLEASE CONSIDER THESE ORGANIZATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING WHEN YOU CONSTRUCT YOUR UPCOMING BUDGET. THANK YOU. SO MUCH. . >> >>: THANK YOU, MR. EDWARDS. NEXT SPEAKER NUMBER THREE, PETER. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER
NUMBER FOUR, MAYA. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M HERE TOAY THAT MOST HOMEOWNERS WHO RECEIVE THEIR TAX
BILLS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY'RE PAYING. I'M HERE TO OFFER A WAY TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAXES AND MAKE IT SAFER FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE AMBULANCE AND FIRE
PARTMENT TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND THE SAFEST POSSIBLE MANNER. SO WITH THAT BNG SAID, MY PROPOSAL PRIORIZATION
PUTS NO EMERGENCY -- THE OVERVIEW WOULD BE PRIORITIZATION FOR ALL CITY PLOW TRUCKS DURING SNOW EMERGENCIES. THIS STRATEGY OPTIMIZES ] REDUCES OVERLAP, AND MINIMIZES IDLING.
LIVERING FASTER, CLEANER, AND MORE COST-EFFECTIVE SNOW REMOVAL. KEY BENEFITS: FUEL SAV SAVINGS, LESS WEAR AND TEAR, LOWER AIR POLLUTION, NOISE REDUCTION,UDGET EFFICIENCY,
AND FASTER EMERGENCY RPONSE.. ESTIMATED SAVINGS IS MORE THAN $80,000 PER YEAR. FOR THE F FUEL SAVINGS, MAINTENANCE SAVINGS, MORE THAN $75,000 A YEAR. THE LABOR OVERTIME
SAVINGS IS MORE THAN $25,000 A YEAR. THE TOTAL POTENTIAL VINGS IS MORE THAN $200,000 AYEO HAVE OUR SERVICES FULLY FUNDED
BUT WISELY SPENT. NOW WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL HERE FORHARING THIS MESSAGE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL
WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER FOUR, MAYA OELRICH. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, ANDREW WHITES. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS MAYA OELRICH. I LIVE IN WARD 5. AND I WORK IN WARD 7. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THE
COENFORCEMENT BUDGET. I BELIEVE ROCK ARE VITAL TO ENSURING THAT OUR WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY IS INFORMED, SAFE, AND SUPPORTED. AN EXAMPLE OF THE CARE RECENTLY WAS WHEN ONE OF MY COWORKERS TRIED TO USE HIS EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME. HE WAS IMMEDIATELY
LOCKED OUT OF OUR EMPLOYEE PORTAL, AND INFORMED HIS REQUEST FOR TIMEOFF WAS DENIED. SHORTLY AFTER, HE WAS INFORMED HE W NO LONGER AN EMPLOYEE AT OUR COMPANY. AND THEN THEY CONTINUED TO ILLEGALLY WITHHOLD HIS PAY. WITHOUT THE KNOW YOUR
RIGHTS TRAINING AND SUPPORT GROUPS THAT CTUL AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE HOSTED. I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THIS RETALIATN AGAINST MY COWORKER IS A LABOR LAW VIOLATION. MUCH LESS WHERE TO GO F IMMEDIATE AND TANGIBLE SUPPORT. THE ESST HAS BEE IN PLACE SINCE 2017.
ALMOST A DECADE. IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THROUGH IGNORANCE -- WE CANNOT COUNT ON BOSSES TO DO THE RIGHT THING CONCERNING OUR LEGAL RIGHTS. WITHOUT THE TEAM AT CTU WILL, MANYF WHOM YO HAVE DECADES OF KNOWLEDGE IN MY FIELD,S WELL AS DEEP
RELATIO RELATIONAL TIES TO COMMUNI. I WOULD NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE LABOR LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN E EBB ENACTED. THEY MAKE ME FEEL DEEPLY RESPECTED AS A LABORER AND PERSON. AND PROTECTED ME AND MY COWORKERS.
SOMETHING GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACIES FAIL AT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I IMPLORE YOU TO PROTECT WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE. AND NOT ONLY BUSESS INTERESTS BY RESTORING FUNDING TO THE BUDGET AND CONSIDERING APTING THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE WORKPLACE ADVISORY COUNCIL MADE TO FULLY FUN THE AMAZING
PROJECT. AT $800,000. THANK YOU. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> BEFORE WE CONTINUE TO SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, THE FOLLOWING FIVE SPEAKERS AFTER THAT:SPEAKER NUMBER SIX, CLARENCE HIGHTOWER,
SPEAKER NUMBER 7, AL FLOWERS, FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 8, LESLIE JACKSON. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 9. NEXT UP
SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, ANDREW WHITES. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ANDREW WHITES. I'M A LINE COOK AND I WORK IN WARD THREE. LAST FEBRUARY, A NEW CHEF WAS HIRED TO MANAGE MY KITCHEN. HE BEGAN HIS TENURE BY IMMEDIATELY FIRING AN EMPLOYEE AFTER AN OUT OF WORK JURY FORCED HIM TO TAKE TIME
OFF. THIS WAS A SHOW OF POWER THAT REMINDED ALL WORKERS OF OUR EXPENDABILITY AND CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT OF FEAR IN OUR KITCHEN. IN MARCH, A WORKPLACE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN SERIOUS BURNS ON MY RIGHT HAND. INSTE OF GOING TO THE ER, I FINISHED MY SHIFT, DESPITE EXTREME PAIN, AND RETURNED TO WK FOR THE
NEXT THREE DAYS. THIS CHOICE WAS MOTIVATED BY THE PROVEN UNDERSNDING THAT MY SHIFT COULD AND WOULD FIRE ME. AFTER THREE DAYS OF WORKING WITH AN UNTREATED WOUND, IT BECAME UNTENABLE TO CONTINUE. I LEFT WORK AND WENT TO URGENT CARE. THE DOCTOR TOLD ME I WAS AT-RISK
FOR INFECTION AND PERMANENT T TENDON DAMAGE WAS A POSSIBITY. THE MEDICAL AND HEALING PROCESS PUT ME OUT OF WORK FOR TWO WEEKS. WORKERS COMP INSURANCE COVERED MY MEDICAL EXPENSES BUT NOT COMPENSATED FOR THE TWO-THIRDS OF MY TWO-WEEKS OF
LOST WAGES THAT WORKERS COMP INSURANCE GUARANTEES. WHEN SPOKE TO THE WORKERS COMP INSURANCE PERSONNEL ON THE PHONE, I FOUND MY MANAGER FALLS FIED THE REPORT. IT MEANT RECOVERING MY LOST WAGES REQUIRING ME TO GO THROUGH AN APPEALS PROCESS. I CHOSE NOT TO DO THIS, BECAUSE IN COST-BENEFIT
ANALYSIS, THE LOST WAGES ARE NOT VALUABLE ENOUGH TO RISK MY FUTURE WAGES FORWARD. THIS SCENARIO ILLUSTRATES FAILURE O LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS AND THE NEED FOR COENFORCEMENT. THE NATURE AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT.
WHILE PURSUING MY LEGAL RIGHTS IS HIGH RISK. THE LEGAL PROTECTIONS AS AN AT-WILL EMPLOYEE ARE MOSTLY ABSTRACT. ADVOCATING FOR MYSELF JEOPARDIZES MY LIVELIHOOD. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS WORKERS LIKE ME IN HOLDING MY EMPLOYER ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LAW WITHOUT THE FEAR OF REPRISAL. PLEASE
VOTE TO INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER SIX, CLENCE HIGHTOWER FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER SEVEN, AL OWERS.
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. CLARENCE HIGHTOWER. I SERVE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP AT HENNEPIN COUNTY. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER INCLUSI OF COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP IN
YOUR 2026 BUDGET. LAST YEAR COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF HENNEPIN COUNTY SERVED OVER 23,000 HOUSEHOLDS. OF THOSE 23,000 HOUSEHOLD ABOUT HALF,
11,300 WERE MINNEAPOLIS HOUSEHOLDS. THE SERVICE AT COMMUNITY ACTION PROVIDED TO THOSE 11,300 MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS, INCLUDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT EVICTION, VEHIE REPAIR TO ENSURE RESIDENTS HAD DEPENDABLE AND
FE TRANSPORTATION TO WORK, AND SERVICES TO HELP RESENTS FIND AND RETAIN LIVING-WAGE JOBS. SUPPORT HELPING FOLKS PAY THEIR ENERGY BILLS, ENABLED THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR HEAT DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. FINA
FINANCE AND SUPPORT TO PAY THEIR WATER BILL. WE DID THIS ALL IN 2025 WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AS WE GO INTO 2026, FOR COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY, TO SER 11,000
MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS, WE NEED THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. >> THANKOU. NEXT WE'LL WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER SEVEN, AL FLOWERS. LLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER EIGHT, LESLIE JACKSON.
>> THANKS, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WANT TO SAY -- I HAD LIKE, SEVEN PEOPLE THAT CAN'T GET IN THE BUILDING BECAUSE YOU GOT SO MANY PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT -- I GUESS THEY'RE IMPORTANT ISSUES. BUT THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES WITH THE HIGHTOWER JUST TALKED ABOUT. AND THEY -- AND I HOPE
THEY CAN SUBMIT IT TO THE RECORD. THAT'S WHAT I DID. AND THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT ENERGY -- MC EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, VEHICLE REPAIRS, SENIOR SUPPORT, FIRST-TIME HOME
BUYER SUPPORT. AND COMMUNITY IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION. THEY WANTED TO COME UP AND SPEAK. THEY COULDN'T GET IN. THEY DON'T KNOW -- THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE PROCESS THAT YOU -- TO GET HERE EARLY IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK AT ONE OF THESE KIND OF FORUMS.
AND I TOLD THEM THERE AIN'T NOTHING I CAN DO. I HATED TO TELL THEM THAT. AIN'T NOTHING I CAN DO. WE CAN'T KNOCK NOBODY OUT. IF THEY CAN SUBMITHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, WE'LL DO THAT LATER. AND SO JUST SUPPORT OF
THAT PROGRAM. AND THEN JUST TO SAY I HEARD THE LAKE STREET COUNCIL COME UP HERE AND TALKING ABOUT T.O.U.C.H. I NEED YOU TO FIND OUT WHY T.O.U.C.H. GOT ALL THE MONEY AND DIDN'T PUT IN RECEIPTS AND Y'ALL DIDN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND LAKESTREET COUNCIL GOT MONEY. IS THEY SHOULD GET SOME. THEY GOT A LOT OF MONEY FROM THE LEGISLATURE. ND QUIT PLAYING ON THE COMMUNITY. BUT YOU NEED TO FIND THOSE KIND OF THINGS OUT. I'M GOING TO KEEP IT NICE.
AND SWEET. I DON'T WANT TO CREATE NO DISTURBANCE. BUT I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME ABOUT THESE PEOPLE CAN'T GET IN DOWNSTAIRS. WHEN I CAME IN, I'M LUCKY I GOT HERE AT 5:15. I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET IN. WE NEED TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. PEOPLE
NEVER BEEN HERE WANT TO COME A TALK TO THE COUNCIL. AND THEY CAN'T GET IN. AND I FINISHED ON TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. FLOWERS. I WILL NOTE, A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST, THE FRONT DOO ARE STILL UNLOCKED. ANY PERSON WHO COMES
IN FOR NOW UNTIL WHEN WE CLE THE PUBLIC HEARING, IS WELCOME TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK. IF THEY WOULD LI TO SHARE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. YOU KNOW, WE STILL HA ABOUT 30 SOME PEOPLE LEFT TO GET THROUGH . THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME. I WILL ALSO NOTE, THAT ANY PERSON
WHO WISHE TO IS WELCOME TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS. YOU DO THAT BY VISITING MINNEA MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV/PUBLICCOMMENT. OR WE HAVE COMMENT FORMS THAT YOU CAN ACCESS AT THE SIGN-IN
TABLE RIGHT BY THE ENTRANCE TO THE CHAMBERS. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO WRITE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS WHILE YOU ARE HERE AND WAITING. AS YOU'RE LISTENING TO OTHERS OFFER TESTIMONY. ANY
COMMENTS SUBMITTED IN WRITING WILL BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD ON THE 2026 CITY BUDGET. I'LL NOTE THAT THERE ARE QR CODES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
BY THE CLERKS TO MY RIGHT. YOUR LEFT. YOU CAN USE TO ACCE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PAGE. AND AT ANY POINT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO ACCESS THAT, IF THAT IS HELPFUL. WITH THAT, WE'LL
CONTINUE WITH THE REMAINDER OF OUR -- [ OFF MIC ] NEXT I'M GOING TO WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER EIGHT, LESLIE JACKSON. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER NINE, QUARICE. >> I'M LESE JACKSON. I STAND
BEFORE YOU TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION TO ELIMINATE THE EAST AFRICAN HOME OWNERSHIP EDUCATION PILOT. FREEING UP $95,000 IN ONGOING GENERAL FUNDS. THE INTENTION OF THIS PILOT IS ADMIRABLE. BUT ITS SERVICES ARE REDUN ASSISTANT.
AS MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY, WE HAVE SEEN INCREDIBLE,MAZING RESULTS DELIVERED BY OUR EXISTING HUD-CERTIFIED PTNERS, MINNESOTA HOME OWNERSHIP CENTER, AND BUILD WEALTH MINNESOTA. THESE AGENCIES ARE FULLY CAPABLE
OF PROVIDING CULRE-SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO ALL RESIDENTS. INCLUDING EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY. ENSURING THE -- THEY RECEIVE THESE VITAL BENEFITS THRGH -- I'M SORRY. THROUGH AN ESTABLISHED
SYSTEM. THEREFORE, MAINTAINING A SEPARATE DUPLICATE OF $95,000 PILOT IS INSUFFICIENT. WE CAN ELIMINATE THIS DUPLICATE PILOT AND REINVESTMENT EVERY ONE OF THOSE $95,000 IN A NEW UNIFIED
INITIATIVE DESIGNED FOR BROAD BLACK EQUITY. THIS PROGRAM MUST BE EXPLICITANDATED, PROVIDED DEDICATED, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC OUTREACH AND ADVOCATING FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHILE STRONGLY SUPPORTING OUR HUD
PARTNERS TO ENSURE THE EAST AFCAN COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO RECEIVE EXCELLENT ESTABLISHED SERVICES. E MUST STOP PIVOTING BLACK COMMUNITIES AGAINST EACH OTR FOR LIMITED RESOURCES. LET US, INSTEAD, BUILD UNIFIED,
RES RESILIENT FOUNDATIONS FO ALL BLACK RESIDENTS. ENDORSE A COMPREHENSIVE VISION FOR HOME OWNERSHIP EQUITY. ALSO, IT'S HARD FOR ME TOIND WORK THROUGH YOUR BUDGET. IT'S FOR REGULAR PERSON THAT DOESN'T KNOW ACCOUNTIN THEY'LL HAVE A
HECK OF A TIME TRYING TO NAVIGATE AND FIND THIS INFORMATION. THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING TO EACH ONE OF YOU. >> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I'M GOING TO NOTE WE HAVE BEEN JOINED IN THIS COMMITTEE MEETING BY COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY. NEXT
WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER NINE, CLARICE. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 10, RUSS. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M THE MANAGER OF PLACE MAKING AND
ACTIVATION ATHE LAKESTREET COUNCIL AND RESIDENT OF WARD 10. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE AND TO STRENGTHEN INVESTMENT IN PLACE MAKING, ARTS, AND CULTURE CORRIDOR WORK ACROSS MINNEAPOLIS. ESPECIALLY WITH
CULTURAL DISTRICT FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIESHROUGH THE GROWING ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. ON QUARTERS LIKE STREET WHERE COMMUNITIES ARE HEALING FROM THE TRAUMA FOLLOWING 2020, CULTURAY GROUNDED PLACE MAKING HAS BEEN ONE OF THE STRONGEST TOOLS FOR RECOVERY. MURALS, MUSIC,
COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND WELL-MNTAINED PUBLIC SPACES SIGNAL THAT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS MATTER. THEY ARE CARED FOR, AND THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS BELONG. WE HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE LAKE STREET LIFT INITIATIVE THIS YEAR THAT ALLOWED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN YOU MEANINGFULLY INVEST IN ARTS AND CULTURE. WE SAW THE CULTURAL DISTRICT FULLY ACTIVATED AND BURSTING WITH VIBRANCY. WE SAW DOZENS OF CREATIVES AND CULTURAL ORGANIZERS BREATHE ENERGY INTO THE CORRIDOR. AND WITH THEIR EFFORTS, CAME A HUNGER TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK IN THE
FUTURE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HANDOUT WE CIRCULATED, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE HOSTING A CELEBRATN AT ONE OF OUR NEWLY-TRANSFORMED VIBRANT PUBLIC SPACES. THE MIDTOWN MINIPARK TOMORROW AT 4:00 P.M. IT'S A SITE THAT WE HOPE TO SEE
ACTIVATED REGULARLY WITH ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING IN THE FUTURE. SO, AS YOU FINALIZE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, I'M ASKING YOU TO MAINTAIN AN EVEN EXPAND FUNDING FOR PLACE MAKING AND CULTURAL DISTRICT PROGRAMS. AND TO SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS WITH COUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND CREATIVES THAT KNOW THESE CORRIDORS BEST. WE KNOW THAT CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN ARTS AND PLACE MAKING ISN'T JUST BEAUTIFICATION. IT'S COMMUNITY HEALING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SAFETY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO A VIBRANT MINNEAPOLIS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 10, RUSS ADAMS. MR. ADAMS -- OPE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME UP -- >> SORRY. I'M GOING TO TAKE THE PLACE OF RUSS ADAMS. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M A BUSINESS ADVISOR WITH LAKE STREET COUNCIL. AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF LAKE STREET AS YOU HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUE. AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DEFINE OUR CITY'S CULTURE AND ECONOMY. RIGHT NOW OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
FROM STORE FRONTS TO CULTURAL MALLS ALONG THE LE STREET CORRIDOR ARE STRUGGLING. IN THIS CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE, PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO SHOP AND MANY BUSINESS OWNERS ARE AFRAID TO OPEN THEIR DOORS. THOSE FEARS ARE NOT ABSTRACT. THEY'RE SHOWING UP IN DECLINING SALES EMPTY STORE FRONTS, AND
ENTREPRENEURS ARE BARELY HOLDING ON. WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES FFER, ENTIRE COMMUNITIES SUFFER. LAKE STREET HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HUB OF CULTURE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND OPPORTUNITY BUT WITHOUT STRONG CONSISTENT SUPPORT, WE RISK LOSING THE VERY BUSINESSES THAT MAKE IT VIBRANT. THAT'S WHY
CONTINUI FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS LIKE DTAP IS NOT OPTIONAL. IT'S VERY ESSENTIAL. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT LIKE MARKETING, PLACE MAKING, SAFETY STRATEGIES, BUSINESS ADVISING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES DEPEND ON TO STAY OPEN AND STAY COMPETITIVE.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE DIFFERENCE THAT THE INVESTMENTS CAN MAKE IN PREVIOUS YEA, FUNDING HELPED STABILIZE THE CORRIDOR, SUPPORT VIOLENCE PREVENTION, IMPROVE BUILDINGS, AND BRING CUSTOMERS BACK. BUT THE WORK IS FAR FROM OVER. I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO PROTECT AND EXPAND FUNDING FOR SMALL
SINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN THE 2026 BUDGET. LAKE STREET BUSINESSES ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO SURVIVE. AND RIGHT NOW THEY NEE THIS CITY TO CONTINUE TO STAND WITH THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT. >> THANK YOU. THE NEXT FIVE
SPEAKERS WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKER NUMBER 11. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 12, LESLIE ARIANA. SPEAKER
NUMBER 13, BENJAMIN. SPEAKER NUMBER 14, ROBERT. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 15, COLINE.
WELCOME, SPEAKER NUMR 11. LOO [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ] >> INTERPRETER: HELLO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10. EARLIER THIS YEAR, I WAS A VICTIM OF WAGE THEFT. I FOUND A CLEANING
COMPANY ONLINE. IT SEEMED LIKE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS OWNED BY LINOS AND CLAIMED ONE OF THE MISSIONS TO EMPOWER WOMEN. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ] >> INTERPRETER: UNFORTUNATELY, MY EMPLOYER ENDED UPTAKING ADVANTAGE OF ME AND DIDN'T PAY ME WAGES I WAS OWED. I WAS
UPSET . NOTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED BEFORE. IIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN. AS AN IMMIGRANT WHO DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, I FELT INTIMIDATED BY THE SYSTEM AND DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEFEND MY RIGHTS. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ]
>> INTERPRETER: LUCKILY A FRIEND T TOLD ME ABOUT CTUL. THE ORGANIZER IMMEDIATELY GUIDED ME THROUGH THEEXT STEP. WRITING A WAGE THEFT COMPLAINT LETTER TOGETHER. IELT EMPOWERED TO ACT QUICKLY AND FELT CONFIDENTLY TO DELIVER THE LTER TO MY
EMPLOYER'S HOME THAT SAME DAY. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ]
SPHWHRT WHEN THEY DN'T SUPPORT, MY ORGANIZER SUPPORTED ME IN ESCALATING THE CASE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. I RECEIVED PART OF THE WAGES I WAS OWED. I NEVER RECEIVED THE FULL AMOUNT I WAS OWED, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE KNOWLEDGE I GAINED ABOUT THE SYSTEM.
[ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ]
>> INTERPRETER: EVEN WHEN A COMPANY APPEARS TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE RIGHT VALUE WORKERS RIGHTS CAN STILL BE VIOLATED. THAT IS WHY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CTUL AND THE OTHER ALLIANCES IN THE COENFORCEMENT PROGRAM ARE ESSENTIAL. CUTTING FUNDING FOR JOINT ENFORCEMENT WOULD LEAVE WORKERS LIKE ME UNPTECTED AND
ALL VULNERABLE. I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THIS LIFE-CHANGING SUPPORT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> >>: THANK YOU. NEXT WE'RE GOG TO WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER 12, LESLIE ARIANA. FOLLOWED BY
SPEAKER NUMBER 13, BENJAMIN GARCIA. >> HI. MY NAME IS LESLIE. I LIVE IN WARD FIVE. EARLIER THIS YEAR, I EXPERIENCED WAGE THEFT OUT AT A MEXICAN RESTAURANT. OUR BOSS STARTED DRINKING A LOT
AT WORK. AND THINGS BECAME UNORGANIZED. DAYS WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE WHEN WE LOST OUR LIQUOR LICENSE. THIS CAUSED OUR TIPS AND REVENUE GO DOW DRASTICALLY. RUMORS WENT AROUND THAT HE MIGHT NOT PAYS. AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT. BECAUSE HE
HAD MENTIONED HE WAS OPENING UP SECOND RESTAURANT. SO I HAD JUST ASSUMED HE WAS BUSY WITH THAT. UNTIL HE GAVE US A LATE PAYCHECK. GIVEN HE'S NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE, I ASSUMED HE WAS BUSY. UNTIL THE CHECK BOUNCED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FUNDS. WE WOULD CALL AND TEXT
HE WOULD NOT RESPOND. HE STOPPED SHOWING UP TO WORK. I FELT I HAD A DIFFERENT TREATMENT THAN MY NON-U.S. CITIZEN COWORKERS. SOME HAD ANXIETY TO SAY YTHING ABOUT THE WAGE THEFT. BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID HE WOULD RALIATE. I TOOK LEAD
IN ORGANIZING MY COWORKERS AND ADVOCATING FOR THEM BECAUSE OF MY CITIZENSHIP STATUS. THE DISORGANIZATION WORSENED AND WE WERE MISSING ESSENTIAL ITEMS LIKE STRAWS, MEAT, AND NAPKINS. WE ALSO LOST OUR LIQUO LICENSE. I TEXTED MY BOSS AND LET HIM KNOW I WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO WORKOR FREE AND EVERYONE TRIED
ASKING WHERE THE CHECKS WERE HE BLOCKED US. WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF -- WE HAD SENT LETTERS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. TY RETURNED. WE WASTED SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY DOING THIS. I FELT LIKE ALL MY COWORKERS FELT IT 10 TIMES WORSE THAN ME, GIVE THEIR SITUATION.
THERE ARE 10 AFFECTED BY T INJUSTICE STILL. CTUL HELPED BY NOT GIVING UP ON MY CASE. 'RE FIGHTING THE FIGHT RIGHT NOW. WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING SINCE MARCH. I KNOW WE WOULD HAVE LOST HOPE IN RECUPERATING OUR WAGES IF IT WASN'T FOR CTUL. THIS IS WHY WE
CANNOT CUT THE FUNDING AND SHOULD EXPAND IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO LCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 13, BENJAMIN GARCIA. FOLLOWED BY
SPEAKER NUMBER 14, ROBERT. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ]
>> INTERPRETER: HELLO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BEN. I'VE BEEN A MEMBER FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND WORKED AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS, INCLUDING DOWNTOWN. I'M HERE TODAY TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. AND THE BUDGET THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT
FOR LOW-WAGE WORKERS, LIKE MYSELF. BECAUSE OF THIS BUDGET, CTUL HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME AND MANY OTHERS NAVIGATE MY RIGHTSS A WORKER. WHERE I WORK NOW, IT'S ACTUALLY DIFFICULT TO TAKE SICK TIME. EVEN THOUGH IT IS MY RIGHT,
LEGALLY I'M SUPPOSED TO CUMULATE SICK HOURS, BUT I CAN SEE THAT I DON'T HAVE THOSE HOURS ON MY PAYCHECK. CTUL HAS BEEN SUPPORTING ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CA DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE WITH MY EMPLOYER. CTUL HAS BEEN EXPLAINING TO ME DIFFERENT WAYS
TO ADDRE IT, LIKE, SENDING A LETTER TO MY BOSS. TOGETHER WITH MY COWORKERS. HOWEVER, IN MY EXPERIENCE, MANY OF MY WORKS DON'T KNOW THE LAW OR BELIEVE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEY DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN CLAIM AND RECLAIM OUR
RIGHTS. AND, UNFORTUNATELY, IT FEELS COMPLICATED TO BE ABLE TO ORGANIZE OURSELVES. AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO FEEL MOTIVATED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AT ALL. WHICH IS WHY THE COENFORCEMENT BUDGET IS SO IMPORTANT. WITH THE COENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, LIKE
CTUL, WE'RE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR RIGHTS AND HOW WE CAN DEFEND THEM, REGARDLESS OF OUR RACE OR GENDER. AND THAT'S WHY IT'S CRUCIAL THAT THE COENFORCEMENT BUDGET IS NOT CUT. AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RESTORE THATFUNDIU LISTENING TO MY STORY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 14, ROBERT FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 15, CAROLINE. >> HELLO. I'M A RESIDENT OF
NORTH MINNEAPOLIS IN WARD 4 NAME IS BOB. I CALL ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO REMOVE THE 2026 FUNDING OF THE CITY'S $500,000 COMMUNITY PERCEPTION SURVEY CONTRACT WITH SIN CITY AN ISRAELI TECH COMPANY. I
OBTAINED THE CITY'S REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, AND THE VENDOR RESPONSES TO IT THROUGH THE OPEN CITY SYSTEM. THERE WERE TWO OTHER STRONG CANDIDATES. THEIR BIDS WERE ROUGHLY ONE-THIRD THE COST OF D ZIN CITIES. AT
TIME WHEN FUNDS ARE SCARCE FOR URGENT NEEDS, LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE CITY AND THE MPD PICKED, BY FAR, THE MOST EXPENSIVE OPTION. WE ARE TWO YEARS INTO THIS CONTRACT, AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THERE'S LITTLE OR NO BENEFIT TO THETAX-F
MINNEAPOLIS. WE KNOW VERY LITTLE BECAUSE THE M AND THE MAYOR HAVE CHOSEN TO SHARE VERY LITTLE. WHAT THEY DID SHARE ISD INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS FEEL SIGNIFICANTLY LESS SAFE THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTER PARTS. THAT
WAS TRUE AT THE START OF THE CONTRACT, AND REMAINS TRUE TODAY. THE MPD PUBLISHED NOTHING ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY VIEWS THEIR PERFORMANCE, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CENTRAL PILLAR OF THE SURVEY BENEFITS.
SO ONE HAS TO WONDER WHY NOW. WHAT CHANGES HAS THE MPD MADE BASE ON THE SURVEY? NOT ENOUGH, JUDGING FROM THE ANGER MY RESIDENTS EXPRESSED AT THE MPD'S LACK OF PROGRESS IMPLEMENTING REFORMS DURING THE PACKED AUGUST
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING. IT'S TIME TO CALL IT. TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A LARGE SUM OF MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT UNWISELY. LET'S LIMIT THE DAMAGE OF THE MISTAKE, INSTEAD OF WASTING YET MORE MONEY O A FANCY SURVEY,
LET'S SPEND IT IN WAYS THAT IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU. >> BEFORE SPEAKER 15, I WANT TOW
GO OVER THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS. SPEAKER , CHRIS JOHNSON, 17 SYDNEY OXBURROW, 18, 19, LIZY PALMER. AND SPEAKER NUMBER 20,
AARON STEINY. WELCOME. >> MY NAME IS CAROLINE. I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD 4 IN MINNEAPOLIS. I'M HERE TODAY TO DEMAND THAT THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS END ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH ZEN CITY. ZEN CITY
PRETENDS IT BUIS COMMUNITY POLICE RELATIONSHIPS. IN ACTUALITY, THE TECHNOLOGY IT USES INVADES OUR PRIVACY IN THE NAME OF MORE SURVEILLANCE. ZEN CITY HAS ITS ROOTS IN --
ISRAEL'S SURVEILLANCE OF PALESTINIANS HAS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FACIAL RECOGNITION, CELL PHONE HACKING, AND A -POWERED TECHNOLY SPILLING INTO NONMILITARY USE. I DON'T WANT MY TAX DOLLARS GOING TOWARD USING MY SOCIAL MEDIA ALGORITHM
TO POLL ME ABOUT THE MPD. IF YOU WANT MY OPINION, I'LL TELL YOU NOW. AS A RESIDENT OF NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, I HAVE SN FIRST-HAND THAT INCREASED POLICING IN SURVEILLANCE DOESN MAKE ANY COMMUNITY ANY SAFER. IN FACT, IT JUST MEANS THERE'S AN INCREASE IN INAPPROPRIATE AND VIOLENT RESPONSES TO COMMUNITY
WITH BASIC NEEDS. I ALSO DO NOT WANT MY NEIGHBORS TO BE SPIED ON BY THESE INTELLIGENCE COMPANIESES I INSISTED THERE'S A BETTER AND DIFFERENT WAY TO BUILD UP COMM COMMUNITY SAFETY. WE NEED PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS. A WE NEED COMMUNITY RESPONSE. WE NEED
MEASURES TT PREVENT CRIMES, SERVICES THAT PROVIDE FOR AND BUILD UP OUR COMMUNITY, N MORE WAYS TO SURVEIL PEOPLE. WE SEE OVER AND OVER THE POLICE FAIL OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CALL FOR SUPRT DURING INSTANCES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND MANY OTHER TIMESES WHEN THEY'RE
LOOKINGOR HELP. AND ENDS IN VIOLENCE. WE NEED APPROPRIATEAT THE CONTRACT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, Y'ALL. HANK YOU. MY NAME IS CHRIST JOHNSON. I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THREE DIFFERENT UNIONS IN THIS CIT PROUD RESIDENT OF THE COOPER NEIGHBORHOOD, WARD 12. I LIVE,
WORK, BIKE, EAT, SHOWER WHEN I'M BETWEEN JOBS. AND OCCASIONALLY AUTIFY MYSELF IN THE WATERS OF LAKE MINNETONKA. I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF COENFORCENT. THE RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITIES MINNEAE EVERY TIME A BUDGET COMES OUT, WE'VE GOT TO STAY ON AND ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING THAT OUR
MAYOR SLASHES OUTF THE BUDGET. I JUST ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN PUTTING THAT BACK. IT'S NEEDE IT'S NECESSARY. I AM A CHEF IN A DOWNTOWN HOTEL. I ALSO WORK AT VARIOUS MUSIC VENUES. AND I USE
R.O.C.K HAS A RESOURCE FOR MY COWORKERS. I'VE GOT -- I'VE HAD A CAREER FOR 45 YEARS. IN THIS BUSINESS. I'VE SEEN A LOT. I HAVE SEEN HARASSMENT, I'VE SEEN SEXUAL HARASSMENT, I'VE SEEN WAGE THEFT. I'VE SEEN SICK AND
SAFEIME THEFT RECENTLY. TO HAVE THAT COENFORCEMENT THAT CK GIVES THE RESTAURANT WORKERS OF THIS CITY IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED. TO ADVOCATE AND NAVIGATE THESE DIFFERENT
OFFICES, YOU NEED HELP. I'M NOT ASKS FOR TWO BOWLS OF OR RID OR RIDGE. I'M ASKING SO WE CAN
DO OUR JOB AS WORKERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 17 SYDNEY OX BORROW. >> I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD SEVEN
IN L ALREADY . WE'RE HERE TO ASK YOU TO CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. THEY'RE AN ISRAELI COMPANY. THE CONTRACT FOR $500,000. CUTTING
THE CONTRACT WOULD SAVE THE COUNTRY $112,500 FOR 2026. AND THE CONTRACT IS FOR SURVEYS TO GET THE OPINION OF RESIDENTS
MINNEAPOLIS PD. WE THINK THAT COMPANY STARTED BY AN IMPERIALIST APARTHEID INTELLIGENCE AGENTS SHOD NOT BE THE COMPANY THAT RUNS THIS SURVEY. PARTICULARLY WITH THE OVER HUNDRED-YEAR -- OF RACIAL
PROFILING AND RACIST TACTICS OF TH MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION DID A DOCUMENTARY. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW LONG THE HISTORY AND HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO REFORM THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS. AND WE, AS JEWS
FOR PALES PALESTINE KNOW ISRAELI SURVEYS CAN LIE ABOUT PUBLIC OPINION. PARTICULARLY THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE TOLD THAT MOST JEWS SUPPORT THE ISRAELI APARTHEID. IN FACT, MOST JEWS THAT I'VE TALKED TO, AND MOST
PEOPLE THAT I'VE HEARD SPEAK ABOUT IT, UMM, ARE AGAINST IT. AND SUPPORT PALESTINIAN STATE. HOWEVER, THE SURVEYS ARE TAKEN FOR PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT IT, WHICH MAKES US LOOK LIKE WE ALL SUPPORT IT. MAYOR FREY USES HIS
JEWISH IDENTITY. IF HE IS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, HE SHOULD LISTEN TO US. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 18. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M A PROUD RESINT OF WARD NINE. AND I'M A MEMBER OF JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE TWIN CITIES, AS WELL AS
THE CUT THE CONTRACT CAMPAIGN. TODAY I SUBMITTED FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD THE OVER 2,000 SIGNATURES WE COLLECTED THIS SUMMER URGING CITY COUNCIL AND MATE YOUR TO CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. THAT'S OVER 2,000 RESIDENTS AND OTHERS WHO ENJOY OUR CITY, WHO ARE SUBJECT TO TARGETING FROM
ZEN CITY SURVEY ADS, WHO BELIEVE THAT DISEN CITY CONTRACT IS BAD FOR MINNEAPOLIS. WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS THE POWER TO CUT THE CONTRACT TODAY, YETE HAS DECLINED TO DO SO. THAT'S WHY WE URGE YOU, CITY COUIL MEMBERS, TO DEFUND THE ZEN CITY LINE ITEM DURING THE BUDGET
PROCESS. YOU'VE HEARD TESTIMONY AS TO WHY THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT IS BAD FOR OUR CIT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT TESTIMONY TONIGHT. SURVEYING US ON OUR OPINION OF MPD IS NOT A GOOD USE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY DOLLARS. NOR DOES ITULFILL THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE MINNESOTA HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT CONSENT
DECR TO, QUOTE, "MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE WITH AND COLLECT FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED BY MPD'S POLICIES." I ATTENDED A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT IN AUGUST AFTER THE JULY ONE WAS SUDDENLY CANCELED WITHOUT 24 HOURS NOTICE. THIS AUGUST MEETING WAS A 45-MINU
PRESENTATION ON HOW GOOD THE COPS ARE DOING, WITH ONLY 15 MINUTES FOR COMMUNITY QSTIONS AND INPUT. IT WAS EGREGIOUS. THE $500,000 THA THE CITY SPENT ON THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT COULD HAVE GONE MUCH FARTHER BY WAY OF REAL, DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH THOSE IMPACTED. THAT MONEY
COULD BE SPENT IN OTHER WAYS TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SUCH AS INCREASING THE BUDGET FOR THE NEIGHBORHD SAFETY INITIATIVE, OR SUPPORTING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS IN ACCESSING SERVICES. OR MANY OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT. IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING DURING THI BUDGET PROCESS, AND CUT THE ZEN CITY
LINE ITEM, AND THE CONTRACT IS CANCELED BY DECEMBER 1st, YOU'LL SAVE THE CITY OVER $100,000, THAT COULD GO TOWARDS THE MANY THINGS YOU'VE HEARD SUGGESTED THIS EVENING. OUR CITY DESERVES BETTER. AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THIS CITY COUNCIL TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT WE'LL WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 19, LIZY PALMER. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 20 AARON STEINY. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS
LIZY. A WHITE ORGANIZE WITH THE BLACK LED ORGANIZATION TWIN CITIES COALITION FOR JUSTICE. WE FIGHT ACROSS THE COURY. I'M A WARD SIX COMMISSIONER FOR THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT. WE'RE HERE TO
OPPOSE THIS WASTEFUL AND UNNECESSARY CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY A. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT IS EMPOWERED BY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE TO MONITOR POLICING STATES
LIKE MICHIGAN. FOLLOWING THE POLICE MURDER OF A YOUNG REFUGEE IN 2022. POLICE RESPONDED BY MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRACK PROTESTS AND COMMUNITY OPINIONS ABOUT THE MURDER. IN A CITY WHERE MAJOR FRYE AT THE HELM, ZEN CITY WILL NOT MAKE
MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS SAFER. BUT GIVE POLICE YET ANOTHER TOOL AGAINST VULNERLE COMMUNITIES. IT WILL ENABLE HARASSMENT AND SILENCING OF SURVIVORS OF POLICE BRUTALITY AND AID IN THE ONGOING
COVER UP OF THE MPD CRIMES. A NATIVE WOMAN WAS KILLED BY HER ABUSER AFTER CALLING MPD FOR SIX TIMES BY HER HELP. THEY FEEL EMPOWERED TO BREAK INTO BLACK
RESIDENTS. AND THEY ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COMPLY WITH I.C.E. OPERATIONS IN OUR CITY AND GASLIGHT RESIDENTS INTO BELIEVING I.C.E. WASN'T THERE. IMAGINE HOW IT MIGHT USE THE SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY TO ANTICIPATE WHERE WE MIGHT SHOW UP TO DEFEND OUR IMMRANT
NEIGHBORS. [ SPEAKING VERY FAST ] WE DON'T NEED MORE MONITORING OR POINTLESS ENGAGEMENT SURVEYS. WE NEEDY VESTMENT FROM COMPANIES THAT PERPETUATE AGAIN SID AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. WE NEED A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT IS CAPABLE OF LISTENG TO THE
PEOPLE WHO PAY THEIR BLOATED SAL SALARIES. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> A WE WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 20, AARON, THE NEXT FIVE
SPEAKE AFTER THAT WILL BE SPEAKER NUMBER 21, JAMIE. SPEAKER NUMBER 22, LAST NAME IS ZI LSKI. SPEAKER NUMBER 23,
JACOB ENDALL. AND SPEAKER NUMBER 24, DOUG CARMODI. AND THEN SPEAKER NUMBER 25, BECKA ANDERSON. WELCOME, AARON. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORNITY TO
SPEAK TONIGHT. MY NAME IS AARON SEENY.I'M A MEMBER OF THE FREE PALESTINIAN COALITION. I'M ONE OF THE PRIMARY CUT THE CONTRACT ORGANIZERS. I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD 12. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE CITY FUNDING DESIGNATED FOR THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT. THE
CONTRACT IS A MISUSE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES. ALL THOUGH IT I FRAMED AS A TOOL FOR UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC SAFETY OPINIONS, IT PRODUCES A NARROW AND PERFORMATIVE SNAPSHOT THAT HAS LED TO NO REAL IMPROVEMENTS. THESE FUNDS SHOULD BE INVESTED IN GENUINE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN
INITIATIVES, OR THINGS LIKE COENFORCEMENT, WHICH ACTUALLY KEEP OUR CITY SAFE. ZEN CITY IS AN ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY COMPANY. PALESTINIAN IS NOT DISTANT. WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONTRACT WITH INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES. WHERE
DATA CROSSES BORDERS AND FEDERAL POLICY SHIFTS CAN IMMEDIATELY AFFECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. ON NOVEMBER 7th, THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO ADDRESSED THE UNITED NATIONS BECAUSE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S OCCUPATION OF HIS CITY AND THE RESULTING VIOLENCE. IF LOCAL LEADERS ARE SEEKING PROTECTIONROM AN
INTERNATIONAL BODY, IT SHOWS HOW INTERTWINED GLOBAL AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE. IT BRINGS ME BACK TO ZEN CITY. THE CITY OF MINNEALIS HAS NOT PROVIDED CLEAR ANSWERS ON WHAT INFORMATION ZEN CITY COLLECTS. HOW IT IS STORED, OR HOW LONG IT'S KEPT. IN A BH MOMENT
WHEN T TRUMP ADMINTRATION IS TARGETING UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS. IT'S PLAUSIBLE THIS DATA COULD BE ACCESSED AND USED TO HARM PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE CONTRACT IS UNETHICAL, AND NOW ACTIVELY PUTS OUR UNDOCUMENTED NEIGHRS AT WASTE.
AT-RISK. IT'S A WASTE OF CITY DOLLARS. T'S NOT TOO LATE TO CUT THE CONTRACT.[ APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 21, JAMIE. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER
NUMBER 22ZILSKI. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CATHOLIC CHATIES TWIN CITIES. I ROSE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
UTILIZING LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING AID. OR LAHA. TO FUND SHELTER OPERATIONS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK MAYOR FREY FOR ALLOCATING $1 MILLION FOR THAT PURPOSE IN HIS RECOMMEED BUDGET. IN DAYTIME AND OVERNIGHT SHELTERS PROVIDE
LIFE-SAVING SERVICES, A DIGNIFIED PLACE TO SLEEP, AN PATHWAYS TO STABILITY. THE ELEMENT OF THE HOMELESSNESS TO HOUSING CONTINUE HAS BEEN CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED. IN RECENT YEARS, WE'VE SEEN INCREASE NEED AND STEADILY RISING OPERATES COSTS WITHOUT A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN PUBLIC
INVESTMENT. SINCE 2021, WE'VE WITNESSED A 50% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SERVED THROUGH OUR DAY-TIME AND OVERNIGHT SHELTER PROGRAMS IN MINNEAPOLIS. TODAY A MAJORITY OF CLIENTS REPORT HAVING AT LEAST ONE DISABLING CONDITION. INCLUDING A PHYSICAL DISABILITY
AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE OR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER. AT THE SAME TIME, COSTS FOR CORE FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS INSURANCE, SECURITY, STAFFING, MAINTENANCE, HAVE RISEN SHARPLY. MAKING IT MORE EXPENSIVE TO KEEP DOORS OPEN, AND ME DIFFICULT TO ADEQUATELY
FUND THE SERVICES THAT MEET PEOPLE'S NDS. LAST WEEK'S DECISION BY HUD TO CAP FUNDING FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WILL ONLY FURTHER EXACERBATE THE ALREADY UNTENABLE LANDSCAPE. THE SEVERE REDUCTION IN ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXITING
HOMELESSNESS IS ANTICIPATED TO FORCE 170,0 PEOPLE NATIONWIDE BACK ON TO THE STREETS. THIS WILL NOT ONLY BE DEVASTATING FOR NEWLY STABLE RESIDENTS, BUT WILL ADD ADDITIONAL STRAIN 0 OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE GENEROUS DONORS, WITHOUT
INCREASED PUBLIC INVESTMENT, OUR SHELTER OPERATION DEFICITS ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE. IT'S IN ALL HANDS ON DECK MOMENT, COUNCILMEMBERS. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER NUMBER 22. WELCOME.
>> HI. I'M TIM AND I LIVE IN WARD 12 BY VA HOSPITAL. AND CALLED YOUR OFFICE TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT. I CALLED YOU BEFORE. YOUR PUBLICORKS IS FAMILIAR WITH ME. FROM TAXES I PAY, THE PUBLIC WORKS, A MY
CITY SERVICES ARE PRETTY GOOD EXCEPT FOR THE SNOW EMPLOYING. THEY COULD DO CURB-TO-CURB. AND SOMETIMES WHEN I WAS WORKING, I GO EARLY IN THE MORNING. IF A KNOW EMERGENCY ROUTE IS EMPLOYEEEMPLOYEE PLOWED AND GO ON A SIDE STREET,
THERE'S SNOW BANKS BLOCKING THE INTERSECTION. OTHERWISE I'M SATISFIED. AND I LIVED HERE SINCE 1987. AND IF YOU CAN HELP TRY TO MINIMIZE MY TAX INCREASES, IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. AND ALL OF THAT.
AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. THIS IS MAINLY MY FIRST MEETING I'VE COME TO. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. >> THANK YOU, TIM. AND I'M SORRY I STRUGGLED WITH YOUR FIRST NAME THERE. NEXT WE HAVE
-- [ OFF MIC ] >> SPEAKER NUMBER 23 JACOB FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 24, DOUG. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. I'M JACOB ENGAL FROM WARD 8. HERE TO ASK THE
CITY COUNCIL TO END SUPPORT FOR THE SURVEILLANCE COMPANY ZEN CITY. WE'VE WATCHED THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY GRADUALLY ERODE UNDER PREVIOUS INTEREST. WE DON'T NEED TO ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE. WE DON'T NEED TO WASTE OUR RESOURCES ON A SYSTEM ENABLING
THE HORRIFIC AG GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE. WE DO NOT NEED TO CONTINUE INTERTWINING THE ECONOMY OF THIS CITY WITH AN APARTHEID REGIME THAT CONTINUES TO PERPETUATE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. WHAT WE NEED IT TO RESTORE FAITH AND TRUST IN OUR
LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT'S CRITICAL WE EXCISE THIS TOOL OF STATE VIOLENCE AND REPRESSION FROM OUR CITY. PLEASE STRIKE THE ZEN CITY LINE ITEM FROM THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 24, DOUG, FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 25
25, BECCA. >> HI, MY NAME IS DOUG CARPAL I DOUG. WARD 12 RESIDENT. SPEAKING TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. AND TAKE AN ETHICAL APPROACH TO THE CONTRACT THAT THE CITY SIGNS
MORE GENERALLY. WHEN YOU SN A CONTRACT WITH AN ISRAELI COMPANY, YOU'RE SIGNING -- SENDING MONEY TO A COUNTRY THAT S APARTHEID ENSHRINED INSTITU
CONSTITUTIONALLY. FIRST-AND SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS. YOU'RE SENDING MONEY TO A COUNTRY THAT IS JUST COMMITTED A GENOCIDE THAT HAS A DECADES LONG HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST ARAB PEOPLE AND ARAB
STATES FROM YEARS OF ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK TO JUST YESTERDAY WHEN THE COUNTRY OF ISRAEL MURDERED 13 PEOPLE AT A CAMP IN LEBANON. THESE MURDERS ARE -- IN MANY CASES, SANCTIONED BY THE SAME
INTELLIGENCE UTS THAT THE ZEN CITY CO-FOUNDER CAME OUT OF. IT ALSO -- I ALSO TEND TO THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BOYCOTT DIVEST SANCTIONS. I NOTICE A LOT O COUNTRIES THAT SUPPORT IT
ARE NOT LIKE THE RICHER EUROPEAN LEFT-WING NATIONS BUT THE COUNTRIES WHO HAVE SEEN THE DANGERS OF MILITARISM, BRUTALITY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES FIRSTHAND. THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND IN MINNEAPOLIS. THESE DANGERS ARE NOT UNFAMILIAR. THEY
WEREN'T UNFAMILIAR BEFORE 2020 AND NOT AFTER. IT HAS TO DO THE WITH THE SAME POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS SIGNING THE CONTRACT OR INVOLVED IN THE CONTRACT. WE JUST SAW THESE DANGERS, AGAIN, YESTERDAY IN SAINT PAUL. WITH MILITARY FCES PEPPER SPRAYING PEOPLE. RIGHT IN THE FACE. WE
NEEDO SHARE THE TRUTH OF THESE DANGERS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AS A CITY WITH THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES. AND WE NEED TO STAND FIRMLY ON THIS ITEM AND SHOW PALESTINIANS THAT OUR JUSTICE IS THEIRS, AS WELL. >> TNK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER5, BECCA ANDSEN. AND THE FIVE SPEAKERS ARE SPEAKER NUMBER 16, LIZ BROOKS. SPEAKER NUMBER 17,
TARA DURNEY. SPEAKER NUMBER 18, HANOI, AND SPEAKER NUMBER 19, RUSS ADAMS. FOLLOWED BY -- OR 29 RUSSE ADAMS FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 30, GRACE ALBERS.
WELCOME. >> HI. MY NAME IS BECCA. I LIVE IN WARD FIVE IN THE JORDAN NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M HERE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO ELIMINATE THE BUDGET FOR SURVEY OR SURVEILLANCE SCRARKTING WITH ZEN CITY FOR TWO MAIN REASONS. FIRST, MPD DOES NOT NEED THIS
CONTRACT. THEY DON'T NEE THIS SURVEY INFORMATION. WE KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF RESEARCH. THERE WAS ANNTIRE COMMISSION ON WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND THE WAYS THEY HAVE FAILED. AND WE KNOW THAT IS WHY PEOPLE THINK NEGATIVELY OF THEM. WE DON'T NEED MOREOPID
TO RISK THAT GIVING THEM -- GIVING THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, WHICH BASED ON THEIR LONG HISTORY, WE CAN COUNT ON THEM USING TO HARASS AND AEST BIPOC RESIDENTS. IT WILL NOT REDUCE RATES OF VIOLENT CRIME OR
INCREASE THE RATES OF SOLVING CRIMES. LET ALONE ADDRESS ROOT CAUSESF VIOLENCE AND SUFFERING IN OUR CITY. TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, ADDRESS THE SLLORD PROBLEM. AND FUND PROGRAMS LIKE THE COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP AND THE COENFORCEMENT BUDGET. OUR
SHELTERS. OUR, UMM, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ON BROADWAY AND PEN AVENUE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. SECOND, AS THE GREAT GRAND CHILD OF RUSSIAN AND POLISH JEWISH. I OPPOSE TWO
QUICKLY INCREASING TAX DOLLARS FUNDING SUFFERING AND OPPRESSION AND SLAUGHTER AND STARVATION OF PALESTINIANS. I DECRY THE JUSTIFICATION OF SUPPORT FOR AN ISRAELI COMPANY OR ISRAEL, GENERALLY, AS PRO JEWISH. THANK
YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 26. LIZ BROOKS. HI THERE. MY NE IS LIZ
BROOKS. I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF THE WARD 10 AREA. I'VE LIVED IN MINNEAPOLIS FOR SIX YEARS. AND WORKED HERE ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST DECADE. IN THAT TIME, I'VE SPEND A LOT OF HOURSN AND OFF THE CLOCK IN THE BARS, RESTAURANTS WITH, AND MUSIC VENUES AND THE PEOPLE WORKING THERE ARE
THE UNSUNG HEROES OF MINNEAPOLIS' CULTURE SCENE. AFTER YEARS OF THESE CONVERSATIONS, I'VE NOTICED SOMETHING ALL THESE EMPLOYEES HAVE IN COMMON. TALES OF MISTREAT BID THEIR EMPLOYERS. MY COWORKERS AT FIRST AVENUE AND I WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE
RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITY CENTER IN OUR CORNER WHILE FIGHTING FOR OUR FIRST UNION CONTRACT. ROROCK AND OTHERS ARE AT-RISK OF LOSING VALUABLE FUNDING. AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR A HUGE SEGMENT OF OUR WORK FORCE THAT OFTEN SLIPS THROUGH
THE CRACKS. THERE IS NO MINNEAPOLIS WITHOUT THE WORKERS WHO MAKE OUR FOOD, DRINKS AND NIGHT LIFE. PARTICULARLY THE CLIMATE FULL OF POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY AND THREATS OF STATE VIOLENCE, WORKERS DESERVE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS OF THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO FIGHT FOR THEIR
RIGHTS. ESPECIALLY AS THEY MAKE UP OUR CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. PLEASE DON'T LET OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS BE LEFT BEHIND. AND FREE PALESTINE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 27,
TARA. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMB 28HANOI. >> HI. I LIVE IN WD EIGHT. AS A RESIDENT OF MINNEAPOLIS, I ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO CUT THE
CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. I DO NOT WANT MY FAMILY OR MY NEIGHBORS SUBJECTED TO SURVEILLANCE OR DATA GATHERING BY A COMPANY LINKED TO ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE. AND I DO NOT WANT MY TAX DOLLARS GOING TO A COMPANY THAT PROFITS FROM THE
KILLING AND MAIMING OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. PLEASE CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT UP SPEAKER NUMBER 28, HANOI. >> HELLO. >> YOU'RE WELCOME TO MOVE UP T ... YEAH. JUST FROM THE BOTTOM. THERE YOU GO.
>> HELLO. I LIVE IN WARD FOUR. I'M HERE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT THAT THE MPD, WHICH IS TO CONTINUE. THIS IS FORMER SURVEILLANCE WITHIN OUR
SOCIAL MEDIA SYSTEM THAT I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH. I'M OPPOSED ANY SORT OF MASS SURVEILLANCE. THE SYSTEMS WORK
TO SUPPRESS PEOPLE'S ABILITIES TO FREELY ASSEMBLE, FREELY USE THEIR SPEECH, OR OTHERWISE ENGAGE IN DEMOCRACY WITHOUT THEM BEING OBSERVED. I THINK THROUGH IS UNJUST. AND IMMENSELY SO. CONSIDERING THE TIES TO THE
ISRAELI MILITARY AND THE ONGOING ONSLAUGHT THEY ARE COMMITTING FIRST A AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. I AM A FAN OF A TECH ADVOCATE LEWIS ROSSMAN ON YOUTUBE. W FOCUSES ON THIS
EXACT SORT OF MASS SURVEILLANCE DONE INITIES SUCH AS AUSTIN, TEXAS AND DENVER, COLORADO. AND LET ME TELL YOU I DON'T WANT TO SEE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA IN HIS YOUTUBE CHANNEL. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THE SAME SORT OF STATE THAT THOSE CITIES
DO IN WHICH WE ARE CONSTANTLY SURVEILLED. THAT' MY TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 29, RUSS ADAMS. I WONDER IF MR. ADAMS LEFT. AND
THEN SPEAKER NUMBER 30, GRACE ALVAREZ. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ]
DISBLAT GOO >> GOOD EVENING. I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE RESTAURANT FOR MO THAN 21 YEARS. I WORK HARD TO SUPPORT AND A PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY. I LEARNED ABOUT ROCK MIESOTA THROUGH A WORKSHOP. AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT LABOR LAWS OR THE RIGHTS WE HAVE AS WORKERS.
[ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ]
>> SO CERTAINLY AFTER ATTENDING THAT WORKSHOP, I WAS INJURED AT WORK. OR SHORTLY BEFORE ATTENDING THA WORKSHOP I WAS INJURED AT WORK. I FILED A REPORT AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. I WAITED FOR A LONG TIME. AFTER THAT I KEPT WORKING F MONTHS. WITH
THE PAIN STILLNGOING. I THEN WAS INFORMED -- I INFORMED MYSELF ABOUT MY RIGHTS AND MANDED HELP AT WORK. AND THANKS TO THAT, I RECEIVED WORKERS' COMPENSATION. THAT EXPERIENCE CHANGED MY LIFE. I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE RIGHTINFORMAE DO HAVE RIGHTS EVEN WHEN NO ONE
TELLS US..
>> SO THANKS TO RK MINNESOTA, I LEARNED WHAT WORKERS' COMPENSATION IS. A THAT I HAVE RIGHT -- AND THE RIGHT TO SICK AND SAFE TIME. AND I DON'T HAVE TO STAY QUIET WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG. ROCK MINNESOTA HELPED ME OVERCOME MYF WITH DIGNITY. THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE IN COENFORCEMENT IS
ESSENTIAL. MANY WORKERS, ESPECIALLY LATINO WORKERS, DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE RIGHTS O ARE AFRAID TO DEMAND THEM. BUT WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ROCK MINNESOTA, WE LEARNED THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE. THE LAW PROTECTS US, AS WELL, AND WE DESVE TO WORK WITH RESPECT, JUSTICE, AND
SAFETY. >> THAT'S WHY TODAY I'M ASKING YOU TO RESTORE FUNDING THAT SUPPORTS THE WORK OF ROCK
MINNESOTA ANDTHER ORGANIZATIONS ON THE FRONTLINES HELPING OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSEA STORY, A FAMILY, AND A DREAM. AND WE ALL DESERVE A FAIR CHANCE.THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 31, CARLOS, SPEAKER NUMBER 32, MADDIE SCHWARTZ. SPEAKER NUMBE 33, MALL MAL COME WELLS.
SPEAKER NUMBER 34. WELCOME UP CARLOS. >> HELLO AGAIN. >> WELCOME BACK. >> GOODVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. AND EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT. MY NAME IS CARLOS RAMOS. AN
ORGANIZER WITH RO ROCK MINNESOTA. I STARTED WORKING IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AT THE AGE OF 16. BUT MY INTRODUCTION CAME AT BIRTH. MY PARENTS MIGRATED HERE IN THE 1980s AND SPENT EIR LIVES WORKING IN RESTAURANTS I GROUP UP HEARING STORIES OF
UNFAIR TREATMENT. AT ROBBING MINNESOTA I WAS HIRED T RUN THE PROGRAM. TEACHING WORKERS THEIR RIGHTS AND THE SPS THEY CAN TAKE WHEN THOSE RIGHTS ARE VIOLATED. THROUGH THIS WORK, I'VE HEARD COUNTLESS STORIES. ONE WORKER HAD SPENT YEARS
WORKING AND ONLY RECEIVING PARTIAL PAYMENTS. NEVER A FULL CHECK. ANOTHER WORKER AND HER SON WERE SIMPLY FIRED FOR ASKING ABOUT AN UNPAID WAGES THAT WERE BEHIND ABOUT A LITTL OVER A MONTH. AND ANOTHER WORKER WAS
INJURED ON THE JOB. AND WAS DISMISSED AND FORCED TO WORK THROUGH HER PAIN. THESE STORIES, ON ONE HAND, ARE HEARTBREAKING. AND ON THE OTHER HAND, WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT -- FAR FROM BEING ISOLATED. ALL THREE WORKERS ARE SPANISH SPEAKING.
ALL CAME HERE FOR A BETTER LIFE. AND FOUND THE COURAGE TO STAND UP F THEIR DIGNITY. ROCK MINNESOTA HAS BECOME A CRUCIAL RESOURCE FOR RESTAURANT WORKERS. ESPECIALLY LATINO WORKERS. WE OFTEN RECEIVE CALLS FROM FOLKS ROSS DIFFERENT AND OTHER INDUSTRIES, AS WELL. AND WE
KNOW THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN SYSTEMS FAIL US,OMETIMES WORD OF MOUTH AND SHARING INFORMATION AMONGST WORKERS IS THE BEST WAY TO GET INFMATION. AND THROUGH DOING THIS WORK, AND HELPING WORKERS FIGHT AND
LEARN WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE, IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME THE VALIDATION THAT I SEEKED AS A CHILD GROWING UIN A FAMILY IN A HOUSEHOLD, THE RESTAURANT WORKERS THAT OFTEN SPOKE ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY FACED AT THE DINNER TABLE. SO THIS STORIES I CARRY ARE NOT JUST STORIES. THEY ARE CALLS TO ACTION. CODE
ENFORCEMENT IS A TOOL THAT MAKES FAIRNESS AND DIGNITY POSSIBLE FOR WORKERS IN THIS CITY. >> THANK YOU. >> AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO SHARE YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY WITH US, AS WELL. NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 32, MADDI SCHWARTZ.
FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 33, MALL COME WELLS. >> HI, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD SEVEN. SPEAKING ON THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT. I'M EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH THE IDEA THAT THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IS OKAY CONTRACTING WITH STEN CITY AS A
SURVEILLANCE AND TECH COMPANY THAT HAS A HISTORY OF ANALYZING PEOPLE'S SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND INTERNET ACTIVITY. TO IRONICLY HELP THE CITY WORK TOWARD IMPROVING POLICING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. I BELIEVE IT FURTHER HARMS RELATIONS BY JEP DIAGNOSES TRUST WHEN THE CITY IS USING AN EXPENSIVE CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANY THAT
USES AI TO MONITOR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN WE HEAR THE GROWING RISKS OF THIS KIND OF SURVEILLANCE ALMOST DAILY. DIGITAL TOOLS USED FOR OUTREACH DO NOT NEED TO USE THESE METHODS AND WE DON'T NEED TO CONTRACT WITH COMPANIES WITH THIS HISTORY. IF THE CITY WANTS
TO IMPROVE THE TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WE COULD, INSTEAD, DIRECT THE FUNDING TOWARD SUPPORTING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS WHO FREQUENTLY SEEHARW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER DIRECT COMMUNITY NEEDS. FOR THE REASONS THAT OTHERS AND THE REASONS THAT OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN
TO TONIGHT. UMM, I BELIEVE THIS CONTRACT AND THE COMPANY'S HS I ARE RISKS MAKING PEOPLE FEEL LESS SAFELY. LIKE THE CIT CONDONES THE SURVEILLANCE ON THE RESIDENTS. I THINK IT EXACERBATES A LOSS OF TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. IF THE CITY WANTS TO MEASURE THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, IN BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY, A PROCESS CAN BE LED BY IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE DEEP TIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND, FRANKLY WI, THE FOLKS WHO HAVE AN HISTORY WHO HAVE BEEN
SURVEILLED AND HARMED BY MPD. >> GOOD EVENING. I APPRECIATE
LISTENING EARS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTNDERSTANDING HOW THE WORK IS. I WANT TO SHARE OUR APPRECIATION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE REST OF Y'L HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP FOR COMMUNITY BY SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENTS. THE NEED FOR INCREASED FUNDING IS
URGENT. I'VE BEEN HERE A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS. AS A FORMER EDUCATOR, EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT TO ME. YOUNG FKS FROM THE CITY THAT WORK A LOT OF HOURLY JOBS WHERE WE SEE THE MOST VIOLATIONS. MINIMUM WAGE VIOLATIONS IN MINNEAPOLIS AREAS CAUSE MINNESOTA WORKERS
$900 MILLION OVER THE PAST DECADE WITH AN -- SEVEN OF THE EIGHT VIOLATION INDUSTRIES ARE EXPECTED TO GROW OVER THE COMING DECADES. IT'S PROVEN THAT LEVEL OF GROWTH ONLY HAPPENS WHEN WAGES ARE BEING STOLEN FROM
WORKERS. AND OUR CITY BUDGET IS MO MORAL DOCUMENT. MAKES ME WONDER WHERE OUR VALUES LIE. AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOME FOLKS RECENTLY. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT CUTTING CODE
ENFORCEMENT FEELS LIKE TALIATION AGAINST ORGA ORGA ORGANIZATIONS. I THINK IT'S A CALL OUT OF THE PLAYBOOK AUTHORED BY WHITE SUPREMACY TO KEEP LOW WAGE WORKERS POOR. THE SAME IMMIGRANT WORKERS TO
EXPERIENCE WAGE THEFT. THEREARG AGAINST THE BEST INTERESTS OF WORKERS. THEY DO NOT WANT -- EIR VOICES ARE A LOUDER THAN WORKERS. BECAUSE THEY GOT MONEY. CITY COUNCILS IN THE BREECH OF THAT. THEY CAN ADDRESS THIS DIRECTLY. THE
VOICES THAT MATTER HERE. WORKERS AREN'T PLAYING POLITICS. THEY'RE PLAYING GAME OF SURVIVAL EVERY DAY. DON'T FURTHER RIG THE GAME AGAINST THEM. APPRECIATE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS
SPEAKER NUMBER 34. FOLLOD BY SPEAKER NUMBER 35. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF TOUCH OUTREACH, AN ORGANIZATION ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT EVERY YOUNG
PERSON, EVERY FAMILY, AND EVERY CORRIDOR IN THIS CY DESERVES SAFETY, OPPORTUNITY, AND DIGNITY. OUR REQUEST TODAY IS SIMPLE. WE'RE ASKING THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO INVEST IN TOUCH OUTREACH, A CORNERSTONE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY ABILIZATION IN THE EAST LAKE
CORRIDOR. OUR WORK IS CENTERED IN AN AREA THAT IS CARRIEDOTH THE WEIGHT OF HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT, AND THE STRENGTH OF INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. IN THIS CORRIDOR, WE MEET YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. ON THE STREETS, IN THE SHELTERS, AND WITHEN THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE
PROVIDE HANDS ON MENTORSHIP, CONFLICT INTERRUPTION, CRISIS RESPONSE, AND CULTURALLY GROUNDED SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES. WHEN WE ARE RESOURCED, THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS. SCHOOLS SEE FEWER DISRUPTIONS, HOSPITALS SEE FEWER TRAUMA
CASES, AND BUSINESSES EXPERIENCE FEWER INCIDENTS, AS WELL ASFAMI. YOU SHOULD FUND TOUCH OUTREACH BECAUSE STAFF REFLECTS THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE SERVE, AND WE ACT AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN RESIDENTS, SCHOOLS, HEALTH SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS CITY GOVERNMENT. IN ADTION TO
THAT, WE PROVIDE COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION THAT COSTS LESS AND PROVIDES BETTER OUTCOMES THAN ENFORCEMENT AS WEL AS EMERGENCY RESPONSE ALONE. WE PROVIDE CONSISTENT MENTORSHIP, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND STREET-BASED OUTREACH. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDI
STABILIZING -- STABILIZATION FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES THROUGH PROGRAMMING SUCH AS FANCIAL LITERACY, AS WELL AS HEALING CIRCLES. WE CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO TREATMENT, HARM REDUCTION, AS WELL AS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. AND HELP REDUCE INCIDENTS FOR BUSINESSES WHILE SUPPORTING CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAFE ENVIRONMENT. WIT SUSTAINABLE
CITY INVESTMENT, TOUCH CAN EXPAND OUR CONFLICT INTERRUPTION TEAM, BUILD MORE YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING, DEEPEN OUR FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, AND WIDEN THE SAFETY NET THAT IS SAVING LIVES BLOCK-BY-BLOCK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [ APPLSE ]
I WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED IN THIS COMMITTEE BY COUNCILMEMBER OSMAN. WE ARE NEARING THE END OF OUR LIST OF REGISTERED SPEAKERS. IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO IS HE, PERHAPS ARRIVED LATE, OR LINE WAS LONG
WHEN YOU ARRIVED. I WOULD INVITE YOU TO SIGUP TO SPEAK AT THE TABLE OUTSI. OR YOU CAN DO SO RIGHT HERE IN THE CHAMBERS. BY OUR CLERKS TO YOUR
LEFT, MY RIGHT. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER 35, RAY HAMMELLMAN. AND SPEAKER NUMBER 36 SHANNON JAFFE,
FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBE37 LEWIS FROM CTUL. I'M HAVING A TOUGH TIME READING YOUR LAST NAME. HI. >> AS MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS ARE LOSING HEALTH INSURANCE, STRUGGLING WITH FOOD COSTS, AND SLEEPING IN THE COLD. IT'S ABSURD TO BE PAYING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO A ISRAELI
TECH COMPANY FOR A SOCIAL-MID YA DRIVEN SURVEY. ZEN CITY IS A CHOICE Y'ALL CAN MAKE TT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE WELL BEING OF OUR MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITIES. ESPECIALLY THO THAT HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THE VIOLENCE OF COLONIALISM. WE
WITH MPD'S HISTO OF ANTIBLACK RACISM AND VIOLENCE, THIS CONTRACT IS THE LAST THING THAT MAKES A PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN MINNEAPOLIS. I WANT TO THE SHARE A BIT OF JEWISH PRACTICE. IT TRANSLATES TO CHARITY BUT MEANS JUSTICE. EXCUSE ME. IT'S
OFTEN TRANSLATED AS CHARITY BUT IT MEANS JUSTICE. THIS INTENTION IS EVERY ACTION SUPPORTS JUSTICE. JUSTICE IS CONSIDERATION OF ALL OF OUR DECISIONS WE ELEVATE EACH MOMENT AND ACTION BEYOND THE MUNDANE TO AN EXPRESSION OF COMMUNITY CARE. IN THIS CLIMATE OF GEOPOLITICAL
DOOM, I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR Y'ALTO MAKE. MAYOR FREY -- ABOUT ZEN CITYONTRACT AND IGNORED HIS JEWISH VALUES AND SILENCE AND INACTION. I'M CALLING ON YOU TO WRIGHT HIS WRONG. DO THE RIGHT THING AND CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY
NOW. INVESTING IN COMMUNITY MEANS CENTERING THE -- THE EXPERIENCE OF WISDOM OF OUR BLACK COMMUNITS, OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, TRANS COMMUNITIES WITH, AND UNHOUSED PEOPLE TO BE CENTERED IN THE CONVERSATION AROUND COMMUNITY
SAFETY. RIGHT. SO MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WILL YOU DO THE RIGHT THING. ILL YOU SERVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS WELL AND CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. JUSTIN, IF YOU
ARE SOMEONE WHO IS LOONG TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK, YOU CAN DO THAT HERE IN THE CMBERS NOW. THE SIGN IN TABLE FROM THE HALLWAY HAS NOW BEEN MOVED TO INSIDE OF THE CHAMBERS. NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 36, SHANNON
JAFFE. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 37, LUIS FROM CTUL. >> I THINK SHARON LEFT. >> GOT YOU. THANK YOU. IT SOUNDS LIKE SPEAKER NUMBER 36,
SHANNON, HAS LEFT. SO NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 37, LUIS FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 38. 38.
[ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ]
>> INTERPRETER: GOOD EVENING, DISTINGUISHED AUTHORITIES AND FELLOW WORKERS. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY CASE AND HOW IMPORTANT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BUDGET IS. FOR MANY WORKERS WHO ARE UNAWARE OF OUR RIGHTS IN THIS BEAUTIFUL STATE OF
MINNOTA AND IN THIS CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ] INTERPRETER: SO, I WORKED FOR TWO YEARS AT A RESTAURANT IN THE
CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AND I WAS NEVER TOLD NOR KNEW I WAS ENTITLED TO PAID SICK LEAVE. AND SO I NEVER RECEIVED THAT DURING MY TWO YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT. AND EVEN WORSE, WHEN I GOT SICK, AND I SENT A MESSAGE TO THE RESTAURANT
MANAGER, I WAS JUST SENT NOTICE OF MY DISMISSAL FROM MY JOB. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ]
>> INTERPRETER: AND SO THAT'S WHEN A FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT CTUL AND HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK IS THAT THEY DO IN TRAINING MANY PEOPLE WHO, LIKE ME, ARE UNAWARE OF OUR RIGHTS AT WORK. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PAID SICK TIME. THANKS TO CTUL, MY
COWORKERS AND I ARE TRYING TO RECOVER PAYMENT FOR THE SICK TIME HOURS FOR WHICH WE'RE ENTITLED TO, WHICH IS OUR RIGHT. THAT'S WHY, FOR ME, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO THAT CTUL AND OTHER COUNITY ORGANIZATIONS CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MORE WORKERS LIKE ME IN THE WORK THAT
WE DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP SPEAKER
NUMBER 38. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ]
>> INTERPRETER: GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I LEARNED ABOUT ROCK MINNESOTA OUT FOUR YEARS AGO. FOR A DECADE, I WORKED IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY. IN CITY OF SAINT PAUL. AND MINNEAPOLIS.
DURING THAT TIME, I FACED VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. I SUFFERED DISCRIMINATION FOR BEING A WOMAN. AND FOR BEING LATINA. WHICH LEFT ME FEELING FRUSTRATED AND STRESSED. AND UNMOTIVATED. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
I DID NOT RECEIVE RESPECT OR SUPPORT FROM MY SUPERVISOR. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ] >> INTERPRETER: AT ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE I WORKED, I
WORKED -- A COWORKER MADE COMMENTS IN FRONT OF THE MANAGERS. THEYAUGHED BUT NEVER DID ANYTHING OR CORRECT HIM. OR TOOK ANY ACTION. I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE OWNER. BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
NOTHING WAS DONE. THE LACK O ACTION MADE ME FEEL HOPELESS AND VOICELESS. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTR
THAN ENGLISH ] >> INTERPRETER: THAT'S WHEI REACHED OUT TO ROCK MINNESOTA. AND THANKS TO THEIR SUPPORT, I WAS ABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LOR RIGHTS. FROM THE FIRST MOMENT, I FELT HEARD, ACCOMPANIED, A AND SUPPORTED. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH ] >> THE WORK THAT ROCK DOES IS ESSENTIAL. NOT ONLY FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO FOR
ALL THE WORKERS WHO DESERVE RESPECT EQUALLY. AND JUST ISRAELIICE IN THE WORKPLACE. I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO ROCK FOR HELPING ME REGAIN MY CONFIDENCE AND REMIND ME THAT WE
HAVE RIGHTS AND WE'RE NOT ALONE. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHE THAN ENGLISH ]
>> INTERPRETER: AND THAT'S WHY I ASK THE COUNCIL TO RESTORE THE FUNDS OF CODE ENFORCEMENT SO THAT ROCK MINNESOTA CAN CONTINUE SUPPORTING AND TRAINING MORE WORKERS WHO FEEL THE WAY I FELT ONCE. THK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] WE'RE NOW DOWN TO OUR FINAL FOUR REGIERED SPEAKERS FOR THE EVENING. SPEAKER NUMBER 39, ALBA ESCOBAR. SPEAKER NUMBER
40, JORDAN NELSON. SPEAKER NUMBER 41, ALLISON THORSON. AND SPEAKER NUMBER 42. AND I'LL JUST OFFER A REMINDER, IF YOU ARE MOVING THE MIC TO DO SO FROM
THE BOTTOM. NOT BY THE BLUE TAPE. SPEAKER NUMBER 39, ALBA ESCOBAR. WITH ROCK MINNESOTA. >> GOOD AFTERON. EL
HELLO AGAIN. MY NAME IS ALBA ESCOBAR. I WORK WITH ROCK MINNESOTA FOR FOUR YEARS. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH RESTAURANT WORKERS IN THE ST TWIN CITIES. DURING THESE TIMES, I HAVE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE IGNORIS
LIKE LACK OF SICK AND SAFE TIME PAY, HARASSMENT DISCRIMINATION, AND MANY OTHER ISSUES LIKE WORKERS' COMPENSATION. AND A LOT MORE. AND MANY STORIES THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT I WILL NOT
FINISH TELLING EACH OF TM, IF I TOLD TODAY. MANY OF THESE WORKERS ARE AAID TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF LOSING THEIR JOB. WHICH MEANS LOSING THEIR SOURCE OF INCOME TO
BRING FOOD TO THEIR TABLES FOR FAMILIES. OR TO FACE ANY RETALIATION. I GOT FIRED FOR SPEAKI UP AGAINST HARASSMENT
AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE . . . . >> ROCK MINNESOTA EMPOWERS WORKERS, ESPECIALLY LATINO AND IMMIGRANT WORKERS TO RECOGNIZE
THEIR POWER AND ADVOCATE FOR FAIR AND SAFE WORK PLACE. MANY OF US GREW UP THINKING THAT WE -- THAT JUST THAT WE -- I'M SORRY, THAT WE JUST HAVE TO
ACCEPT WHATEVER COMES ON THE WAY. BEDROCK TEACHES US THAT WE DO HAVE POWER. THAT WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, WE CAN TRANSFORM OUR WORK PLACE, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITY.
I AM NOW COMMITTED TO WORKERS TO FIGHT FOR WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR RESPECT AND FOR DIGNITY AND FOR A SAFE WORK PLACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT UP, SPEAKER 40, JORDAN BORE NELSON WITH, I BELIEVE, MAD DADS. AND THEN SPEAKER NUMBER 41, ALLISON THORSON.
FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 42, ABIR ISMAEL. HIG, ARE YOU ALLISON? IF JORDAN COMES BACK, WE'LL BE SURE TO GET TO THEM.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALLISON. I USE SHE/HER PRONOUNCE AND I AM A RESIDENT OF WARD NINE. I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO CUT THE CONTRACT WITH SIN CITY. I USED TO BE A CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS FOR TWO YEARS WHERE
I TALKED WITH MANY OF MY COWORKERS ABOUT HOW OUR PENSIONS AS PUBLIC WORKERS WERE INVESTED IN GOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. AND THEN WE LEARNED THAT OUR O EMPLOYER T CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, HAS A CONTRACT WITH AN ISRAELI TECH COMPANY. YOU'VE ALREADY
HEARD FROM OTHERS TONIGHT WHY THE CONTRACT IS AAD DECISION FOR FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS REASONS. I'M HERE SPEAKING O BEHALF OF MANY FORMER COWORKERS, YOUR EMPLOYEES, WHO DID NOT WANT TO SPEAK TONIGHT FOR FEAR OF RISKING THEIR JOBS, BUT WHO CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT T WORK THEY DO AS PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CITY SHOULD NEVER CONTRACT WITH ANY COMPANY THAT IS TIED TO SURVEILLANCE, GENOCIDE, OR ANY OTHER UNETHICAL PRACTICES OR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. PUBLIC SERVANTS GET INTO THEIR JOBS TO
HELP PEOPLE A BUILD BEAUTIFUL AND JUST COMMUNITIES THAT WORK FOR ALL OF OUR CITY RESIDENTS. THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO OVERSEE CONTRACTS THAT VIOLATE THOSE VALUES IN OUR OWN CITY OR HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD IN PALESTINE. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT. AND FINALLY, SPEAKER NUMBER 42, ABIR ISMAEL. WELCOME. >>OOD EVENING, EVERYONE, HERE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL ONE DAY FOR GIVING THIS RESOLUTION. AND YOU
WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO THAT. I AM A MATH TEACHER IN MINNEAPOLIS. I AM A MEMBER OF MFE AND MN-EDUCATORS. I AM HERE STANDING UP WITH MY BROTHER AND SISTER JUSTICE FOR PEACE AND MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITY AND MY
STUDENT TO ASK FOR THE STOP THE CONTRACT. ONE TIME I ASK MY STUDENT, IF YOU HAVE $1 MILLION, WH ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT? THEY SAID I'M GOING TO BUILD A FACTORY. I'M GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE WORK AND MAKE HOMELESS FIND A PLACE AND INCREASE THE SOCIOECONOMICS OF
THE CITY. I WANT TO QATAR ONE TIME TO VISIT MY DAUGHTER AND THEY OPENED THE DOOR AND CAN KEEP OPENING THE DOOR. MY GRAND DAUGHT CALLED THE POLICE. AND IS THE POLICE THERE? IT IS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, NOT TO PUT THE CAMERAS AND STAND UP FOR THIS. I WANT TO PUT THE HUMANITY TO
THIS STORY RIGHT NOW. I DECIDE TO SIGN UP TO CLOSE YOUR ICE AND IMAGINE WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY IS YOU ARE A CHILD. I AM DEVASTATED ASKING FOR DIVESTMENT. I AM DEVASTATED TWO YEARS EVERY DAY CRYING FOR DIVESTMENT. THINK IF THIS IS
YOUR KIDS. AND EVERY EDUCATION HAS BEEN REDUCED TO TROUBLE. IMAGINE YOUR KIDS CANNOT GO TO SCHOOL. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN HAVE BEEN BURNED ALIVE AND DISMEMBERED. TIR BODIES SCATTERED AMONG THE RUINS THAT USED TO BE PLAYGROUNDS AND HOMES. WHY WE DO THIS FOR CHILDREN?
FOR UNDER WHAT NAME? THINK OF OUR HUMANITY HERE. AHMED WAS JUST A LITTLE BOY AND HIS REMAINS WERE FOUND BY HIS 11-YEAR-OLD BROTHER IN A LITTLE BLUE BACKPACK. EVERY KID HAS A STORY. EVERY
KID HAS A NAME. AND WE E STILL CRYING FOR DIVESTMENT. IT'S NOT BICAMERA. IT IS NOT BY POLICING. IT IS NOT -- IT IS INVESTING IN OUR CITY. WORKING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
I HAD TO -- THERE IS A LOT OF STORY YOUAN SEE ONLINE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF REGISTERED SPEAKERS. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO WISHES TO OFFER TESTIMONY? I KNOW WE HAD THREE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE LEFT ALREADY. RUSS
ADAMS, SHANNON JAFFEY AND JORDAN BORE NELSON. ANYONE ELSE WHO HASN'T SIGNED UP WISHING TO SPEAK? GOING ONCE, TWICE. ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED HERE TODAY AND EVERYONE WHO SPOKE OR SUBMITTED COMMENTS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THIS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK. THAT HELPS MOVE
OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO INCREDIBLY RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER'S PERSPECTIVES HERE TODAY. AND WITH THAT, WE HAVE CONCLUDED ALL BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE THIS EVENING. AND WITHOUT JECTION, WE STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL FRIDAY, DECEMBER
5, AT 10:00 A.M. WHEN WE WILL BEGIN CONSIDERING REVISIONS T MAYOR FREY'S RECOMMENDED 2026 BUDGET. THANK YOU, ALL. .
. . . .