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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? >> Afternoon, everyone. A recess is over. I'm calling your special city council meeting to order. I am Council vice president al seeing and chairing our special meeting for today. I want to thank everybody for being here, just so you all know today's special meeting, it's a continuation of our public hearing about the mayor's encampment plans. And
we had our first public hearing on July 22nd. So this meeting is from noon until 01:00PM. So today's topic, you will be able to come and testify that a chance for the council here to hear from each and every one of you who are interests interested in. Speaking on topic. You do have 2 minutes to speak. as the chair of our meeting, my role will be to make sure they beat you to the time so that we can get to everybody. So I do want
to make a big ask that we prioritize folks who haven't had a chance to testify yet. Also, if you are an individual from encampments, aren't held or have a little one with you on make sure that when we line up that you come your way to the front that can get to you for public testimonies because we are ending at one. I do want to make sure that we wrap up the testimonies right at 12. 55, that Lee, I can make a couple of quick comments at the end and then we can also get everybody here out on time at 2 o'clock. So if you are
here to testify. But we're going to roll call. Councilmember Kym. Just Johnson here, Coleman >> Yang here and maker. And so that is for President. 3 absent Councilmember Bowie is expected shortly in councilmember just and maker. Our excuse. >> think you owe so much to our city clerk, before we get right into the public hearings, I do want to give a shout out to my colleagues on the council here as we know, homelessness is chilly, collect of collective work
that requires partnership from our public and private partners in terms of public partners. That's the city County state legislators coming together and I am and they really proud of the work that we did recently to invest over a million dollars in in additional emergency shelter beds. And so also want let folks today. I'm grateful that years. Schumacher in Baker, thank you for joining us in the room today, too. If folks here are interested in continued to give testimony to your city, officials just know
that you can e-mail Colin terror offices as well. And this isn't the only chance for you to share your thoughts to us. Okay. So I know that some, you know, you want to be efficient a time. So I do ask terms like that. To make sure that we get to everybody. If folks can just refrain from clapping and chanting or any side comments that be really helpful. So if you are here to testify, please make your way to the microphone. So you can line up on both sides of the microphone and then make sure to sign after you're done
testifying. You don't have to move the mikes that will pick you perfectly fine. So come on up to the front. If you're here to testify. And there's a time or in front of you, you'll see there are 2 minutes. All right, maybe Ken, thank please share your name and where you're coming from, too. >> My name is Jim Seaman from the New Freedom Store. We've been working in pig's Eye Lake for aout the last year and a
half. Maybe 2. We've been working with the homeless and those are incarcerated who have been Getting out and meeting a place to live for the past 20 years. hate to say this, but I know this population well, and I know their problems. I speak today because I want to offer you each and every one of you council members your assistance, our services to help seize control of the conversation that's going on.
There are people in that camp who are dying of cancer. I never heard of anyone mention this medical bankruptcies. I can go on if you want. There are people who with great courage in this camp. One man is giving away his own 10 to somebody else. 3 times already people are citizens of Saint Paul and they deserve not to be swept away. Now, I believe. That what we need here, it's a permanent solution. I don't want to talk I think that if
we wanted to, we can look at this and go all we spent all this money on Catholic Charities. That's $20,000. >> And I'm wondering, we're all worried about money. County city, everybody else. >> I'm wondering why are we spending $20,000 on a bet. No. I'd also like to point out that the mayor has been quick to point out the crime in the emergency calls and what the 750 year, the 800. That averages out to be $35,000 per
homeless person. Year. One thing I'd like to say, if I can. I'm running out of time. That is time. Thank you so much. Already. Make sure to sign into. We'll do that. All right. Come on up. >> Hi, my name is Mary Manning. I'm assistant been us all that I was impacted by housing insecurity from 2014 to 2018. I was fully homeless
for 2018. I'm amiddle class working class non indigenous culture. And I was deeply impacted by this issue. I stayed at a hostel and at the Moose towers when everything was open before the riot and pandemic, it was very free. I had people that state out of my life did not tell me what to do. allowed economy, freedom and liberty to do. What I need to do say why was home ice, this encampment is like who's towers. It's a last
breath of space where people can be free make their own choices and have some sort of liberty. The million dollars is going for 50 beds. It I double for 4,000 beds. If you're going to do that in those are not always safe. shelters are unsafe people that scare in the middle. 90 people ring the doorbell. People get in fights and attacked each other instead of at the camps. People are friendly. They grow communities that girl families. And that's what they have to offer. And if you do
the sweep, you're taking away their autonomy in their human freedom. Not only that. What are you going to do with them? I begged and I'm offering this to homeless people right now. tomorrow up. You get kicked out tomorrow and crry a sign and study where you can bag legally. >> They need money. They need vouchers and they need help. Now. >> In the only way to get it is to take something like that million dollars in it to voters, feed it to personal freedom, give them rental assistance. >> Appeal. I come on up. >> Hello, my name is Jordan.
I'm volunteer with Jim and his organization. If it's OK with counsel, I would like to yield my time to emcee can continue speaking. >> I'm going back there to take all 2 minutes. I don't think. But I want to ask you all a question. What would happen if you just gave these people key and efficiency in Saint $900 a Maybe 1000 show in some utilities. That's $15,000 a year. All in. >> That's half the cost.
So half the costs of what it cost to do. Nothing and answer all those calls. You're homeless population. Would up here? Overnight and we know statistically that 13% of these people on their own will find jobs once they get a permanent address. So please, people a lot double >> Some privacy, some protests And supporting services. Of
course, it will save the city money. >> And you can have something to say. We are different in Washington, D.C.. Thank you. >> All right. Come on up. remember to sign and after you're done testifying. >> I'm Catherine Card. I live on Edgecombe Road in Saint Paul. As I listened t the last hearing that we had earlier and then I see now too. I look around and I just >> and wonder, you know, is
this any good? I mean, where is the mayor? Some areas? Where is the mayor? you guys. >> Are you touched? Have you been touched by any of the testimony that was there the last time we had a testimony this have you guys gone down there to pig's eye? Since an? Have you read, Wilder Foundation studies on homelessness. You know, that's a director of the Wilder Foundation is a close relative
to the mayor. And that supports the their information does not support if any support to this clearing of this camp. Suddenly there is a foundation that has to be laid. People are complex. They've have trauma and I don't see any any opening from you guys in all that I read this week in response to the testimony last month. is the compassion? In some people of faith, some face. I'm retired Lutheran pastor.
find Holy. In the midst of Most. >> Needy, the most vulnerable, the most. Her teen people and situations. There is holy. And yet. are you? >> Do you see the Holy? Do you see? Each of these people as your neighbors? >> My gosh, to move a neighbor out suddenly and just to another spot on the street. >> For have time. Thank you. Should assign an
next testifier. >> Good afternoon. My name is on. Josh will for some of the executive director o a nonprofit that helps homeless individuals in the encampments as well as a drop-in center on Rice Street for them to get the supplies that they need to survive. I just want to first say the harsh reality of this is the decisions already been made. So there's no changing it. Tomorrow is going to happen right? I just want to
want to give a timeline of how we, you know, part of the prom and how we got here. I've been working in my field for about 5 years now. And last year they cut the funding and stopped chemical dependency treatment centers to provide beds to individuals coming out of the encampments to get substance ue and Co occurring. Mental health help. And now we're sitting here a year later wondering how we got to this point and why there's so many people in these encampments when it was the state's decision to remove. We went from almost 10,000 beds down to 1400. >> 10,000 that were being paid
for for people to get the help that they need. Down to 1400 that are nonexistent. Right? 1 million dollars is a joke to try to take care of the amount of people that are on the streets right now. Right. And in my time I have realized. You know, there's image of people who are hmeless, they're drug addicts. They deserve it. They are where they are. Most of the people I've run into. Dn't even use drugs or alcohol. Most of them are down there because they can't afford to live senior citizens that Social Security
won't pay for it, right. Trying to figure out a way they lost their jobs. They couldn't catch back up because the cost of living a property tax and everything is going up so they can't get back on their feet. And now you guys are going to go in and destroy the only thing that they have. I will say this. You know, I lot of horrendous comments about the homeless population and one of the ones that kept coming up want to let him move in your back street are into your backyard. What do you think's going to happen to everybody when they don't have a centralized location? And then you guys are going to be
complaining about the fact that they're all over the place and ties in so many other cities and counties. This is a joke. >> Sign Come on up. Thank >> everybody. Today, my name is most O'Connell my life basically was saved. I survived a building by out in Los Angeles in 2018. And took 2006 file for Social Security. I had to find out your long passageway due to my genetics
that I was born with an inherited condition. The cause is mobility issues and affects all systems in my body. With that said. Was a long road when I ended up being homeless to to this building buyout, which was just pure greed at the time, half of the building at 100 people 100 apartments in it evicted due to the buyout. So in the 6, I was there during the sweeps in Los Angeles and watch this over 10. I got 24 2018. It's like
you can't keep track of the years of this. Keeps on repeating it. And we need to really see each other. We need to help healer families. We need to do this work fr which inherited in our genetics. We need a lot of support around this. It isn't just people making bad choices. We're born into it. It needs to stop. With that. I did survive those sweeps high got shelter, but it was under very painful to stressful circumstances being in those shelters was no joke. When I got a chance to grow survive, go through a wellness
center in Sacramento that only got clothes during COVID. 500 people who are service lost their health. At that time. I watch people who are in there, late 70's and 80's lives access to Social Security and not be able to get any help. And I just walk up to him on the street and say, my God, why are you here? With that? Getting to Minnesota? Because I decided to flee my life because that Social Security case turned into a 20 year case which still has not been resolved to this day. I had to file 3 times here in Minnesota
again, which is so traumatizing thank you all. So I just want to end by saying I'm a solutions oriented person who knows how to help the system get through this and needs to be heard. And there's so many people in this room that can help with the system hand in hand. Thank you to you Should assign test fire. My name is just 11 dusk and the executive director of Open hands Midway and a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in the midway today. I'm speaking on bhalf of 94 people of
faith representing more than 25 faith communities and faith-based organizations, including bishops, pastors, rabbis, the moms, chaplains ministers, future directors, leaders and congregation members who have signed our interfaith called to pause in plant. In a recent Axios article, mayor, her asked where the have we bent? Why haven't we brought these 30 days? 60 days? Solutions years ago? Answer that simply. We have been there. Community has been there. Faith communities have been Ramsey County staff, outreach workers, health care providers, faith communities. Like I said, Mutual aid networks in Camden residents themselves have doing this
work for years. What's been missing is not effort. It's been sufficient time capacity, resources and coordination giving the county providers, residents and community only 28 days to prepare for a large-scale displacement is negligence. Alongside the county's efforts. Faith communities and resident led mutual aid networks could accomplish a great deal in 60 days. We could organize more volunteers. We have been doing that. We've got 250 sandwiches going out there tomorrow morning where organizing cell phones to keep people who are being displaced in contact with folks. If you support in campus being swept us more time, you can't do that, though. That is on to marry
her. What we need right now is every county commissioner free. Saint Paul Councilmember to publicly say just give us more time. We need time to save lives. We need time to mitigate the harm that these sweeps are going to costs. O behalf of so many people of faith across the wonderful communities that represents Saint Paul. I'm asking you to please publicly call the mayor. Every one of you make a public statement. Every county commissioner make a public statement. Wat we saw from that article in Axios was chaos behind closed doors. And that's exactly what we've
heard from our county fiends who are being forced into this work. We don't have enough time, but we could save lives and prevent harm. If we just had 30 to 60 days, please. I'm begging you. We have live safe and we can reduce harm. We just need more time. It was David Man. Okay. I'm a resident Saint Paul and the coordinator of Saint Paul Outreach Center. >> Outreach and Service Ministry dozen churches and 3 schools Saint Paul. We've been engaged with the visiting the homeless and offering services
and support last year and a half. pretty sure weekly basis. If you struck me is the humanity of the people there. The chance to go. And saying every week. With a friend. To offer a blessing to offer food. Let him know. We're here. These people are. Scared. Now. And most of them are thinking of simply moving from one. To another tent.
Because there isn't enough place for them to go. And the other thing I've noticed last year and a half there are so many people, Sony volunteers summary good people of this city. That go out that want to help and are offering their services. And it's a resource that we have here is say pull yes, we have a budget deficit. Yes, we cuts in the state, but we have just huge resource. The people, source is the that could be brought together and you have an opportunity to bring that together. I want
make this, but it cannot be done by tomorrow. So if we can simply have an extension come up with a plan tap into the resources and the ideas and the creativity that we have that can address this. And ultimately look at these people, talk to the people the campus where they need then how can we meet that? Thank you for the opportunity speak. If come on a >> a council meetings out in tears. Foreman, House public
health professional. I believe in data making decisions from here provide more of that to this week. I did the math look for information from Saint Paul unfortunately can find data about it. But it looked at Minneapolis, Minnesota, probably comparable the amount they spend per person on police are moving person from this camp is $1375.38 for one person to the police. That meant that others include skids, your company bringing that's worthless. They are also giving a bunch of money to south. It's part around $2000 per person remove them from the tent. That money that you can that you spent on that
you could about one month of permanent housing. state ID verse get other vital documents needed to obtain housing, a basic cellphone and several months of srvice long summer stay in contact with case managers who say are out there every day connecting with these folks, but are absent from these meetings, work goods, clothing and tools for someone started a job there in business. Literally a plethora of other things. You can revive folks for at least a month. But you're supporting police and I'm sure all of you are on the city council. ISIS terrorizing our communities. You're supporting ice by doing this. can't sleep. Keep that. >> deal next have to fire. This number to sign it after
testify. My name is violent. To hit the screen. But in the statement, just go ahead and Okay. I guess what? I'm looking at a view from the past couple of weeks. Councilmember Kim is like the only person he's giving like paying attention. I'm in Mali's. We're I appreciate you all being here. I'm confused why there's no emergency moratorium with all of public backlash. It's just an obvious thing to do. I think an
emergency, you know, halt on this. I literally don't understand why that hasn't happened. I think I haven't heard a single opinion in the other direction on continue. I have not heard a single opinion want to bring up fact. Somebody named Tom is in line behind me. I think he's running for governor. S and he was calling So he was like he saw me and called me like trans any like nice nail polish. I was like am. That's kind of and I've never even been in a room with a transphobic person who is
coming at me like that, surprisingly, we live in this amazing place. But for him and need to be aligned on this issue. >> He's transphobic and we're aligned. I agree with this man. We have to stop the sweeps. What are we thinking? And why are your faces like that? You're just staring at me. Dead pan. I'm not trying to make a joke. I'm trying to be serious and bring serious attention to this issue. So please. I know that you trust in the government. That's why you have your jobs. And I want
to believe in you guys. But the police aren't like ted to you guys in a nice neat bow to go improve the lives tomorrow and it's going to be on you. So I better se each and every one of you out there tomorrow. If you believe in your job and you want to keep your jobs. You better be out there tomorrow or stop this whole thing. Okay. And I see the assistant mayor over here who has done nothing and I see the mayor's office that has done nothing. is mayor her? Is she? This is ridiculous. You can. This is a perfect opportunity
to stop what she's doing. She's being ridiculous and you guys can look amazing if you just tie the ship around these, make sure to sign it. >> Good afternoon. Members of the City Council. My name is Tom of instead. part of what this person as right as I am running for governor as a Democrat primaries coming up in August, 11th. please keep that in mind. The reason I'm here, it's because of the other person that spoke before
me talked about something that's very important. The stereotype of the homeless. I am facing homelessness. I grew up 9 in Minnesota. I'm running for governor. And then facing homelessness. It's called background checks is called wrongful conviction. Things happen to people. A lot of people in the state are one paycheck away from being homeless. So I'm here to stand up. For the homeless and I'm here to call out mayor her mean, where is she at looking for the good we nearing from actual Henry in this is
outrageous is what it is. So as the moral leader of the state, I am calling up near her, calling out actual Henry and the desk with former listening in like it's. This is outrageous that it has to So I'm asking for you people to 60 days to these people. These are human beings. >> Government should be helping these people along with the private sector. There needs to be a marriage since we're so concerned about marriages in the state would only marry the government and
the private sector and find some solutions. So I'll leave you with this. We're living in a 1.7 5 billion dollar police state. It's 3.5 billion dollars in the biennium. And you know how much that helped write us annuals. She did everything, right? She wouldn't got all their paperwork. She was calling the Minneapolis I don't see him here. Do were in Saint Paul, but she was calling the Minneapolis police all the way up into the point where David Wright unloaded his gun into her. So. Out of 1.0, 7, 5
billion dollars that we have that doesn't keep everybody safe except the politicians and the rich people. Okay. What I'm proposing is governor, as we take one little sliver out of that, which is 250 million dollars. Google that. And if anybody can do better than Monday, please contact them time. You're you for 250 million dollars weekend house, every single person in this state that is homeless. So facing homelessness is make without it as a whole. know think you we need to get better and we
need to do a 60 day moratorium and then demanded that as what will hopefully be our next governor. 60 days. We need some time for these folks to people figure this out to you. Please make sure to sign. And said that thank U next testifier. My name is David. You may commit action in a comfy suit in a beautiful room. Do it with your voice or key stroke or a pen. But that doesn't reduce the harm of the effect.
All that dressed up of the first domino push for the docents Wake Glove doesn't change the wrath in the weight of the last ones fall. Allowing the sweets is pulling the trigger on a gun that is miles away. That would make it seem like you don't care. But why is that? Shouldn't you really want this? If you're going to be cruel? Why isn't the cruelty in your voice? Why don't I hear the bloodlust in your heart beat? Maybe not. There. If you're going to do it than say it with your whole chest stand 10 toes down in
your decision. If you're going to do something unkind, but you're not doing it with the passion. But I want to fight you because all of us here and all of us here we represent are bringing our passion righteousness to this conversation. Even if this wrestling matches outcome is predetermined. The heels should feel something should seem to feel something. The anodyne attitude is insulting. If you're going to take the position of the con, finished with fiction. Or deferred to a democracy that has some.
Council president council members, thank you so much for the time and space to continue offering our thoughts about tomorrow's eviction of the fish hatchery encampment. My name is Rebecca homered and I live in beautiful words. 7, the home of this encampment. I wanted to take my time today to ask rhetorically, where is Mayor? She has not been present at a single public-facing meeting with the exception of a very brief appearance council members. You Councilmember Yang's budget meeting. We've been told time and time again that we need to be voicing our concerns with the mayor's
office, not with City Council or county commissioners. How are we supposed to do that? If we can't actually meet with her? Are many, many voicemails have gone completely unanswered. And we're all receiving can e-mail responses. We've gotten a total of over 200 public comments online to this exact agenda item and every single person has opposed this action. We've heard light public comments from encampment residents, public health scientists, outreach professionals and folks from Minneapolis who have already started experiencing what it's going to be our future. If we don't stop this eviction. All of these folks have stellar ideas on an achievable and
concrete plan to support these folks via encampment resolution. Many of them are not present today because they're busy being actually at the camp supporting the residence. Take to stop the eviction and just listen. If we don't action take action today in Cayman, residents will be harmed tomorrow by overdose by police brutality by losing their community and safety nets. They'll continue to be harmed because our reach perfection, professionals and volunteers will be able to locate and serve them. They also lose their personal property, some of which keeps them alive safe and able to
enroll in housing or assistance programs. And talent calling on each one of you. And specifically my councilmember Johnson. To use compassion and empathy to understand what tomorrow will bring and to use your influence with the mayor and SP PD to stop this addiction today. Hi, my name is Kelsey Fire. I'm gonna take a different approach here. I've spent time at these encampments around Saint Paul and it never felt unsafe. That does invalidate the experiences that others
may have had, but it does not. >> mean, fully aligned with the narrative that I I was present. With my own experience. It invites us to reflect on whether we are viewing this situations with fear in judgment. >> Or through understanding and empathy. And what does that say about ourselves? Like psychology teaches us that perception shapes interpretation and that the reactions to others because sometimes reveal something about ourselves and like, what does it say about our government and the state of our government?
Addiction is not a moral a thing of moral failure. Neither is mental health. and neither is consequently like situations thahaen that are out of your control. Those are all spiritual. Situations with spiritual solutions treating people decency and humanity and kindness. I mean, that spiritual principles. >> am going to quote, Carl Jung, your dentist. But couple. >> If we want better outcomes, we must stop sherry shaping policy through fear and control alone. We need to restore humanity on artists to our decisions. Every person must be seen as an individual
because that is where healing begins. And he wrote this in 1953, I want to say a society becomes dangerous when people are encouraged to surrender their individuality, conscious and personal responsibility to any collective ideology without question. The true community does not come from everyone thinking the same. It comes from individuals who are grounded in themselves respect the humanity of others and who can come together without losing their identity. is healthy society as a this is a healthy society is built people who know themselves this that think critically and act from conscious of begins
to break down when an individual's abandon their inner authority and allow a collective identity to think for them. This isn't a matter of safety. It is a matter of the human spirit. When you lose connection to that. causes harm and it kills people. >> Highs >> the council. I'm scout. We've talked before and what we are seen as enough publishes are from residents thoughts. Mayor, her said if we do not have a real plan with resources behind it, that the city cannot delay the closure. I think that's a really confusing statement for
everyone in this room. We can for some reason displaced hundreds of people with no real plan resources. But we can't plan a delay. We're all aware of the call that took place between mayor heard some officials last Thursday about doing this and sweep and even they were pushing back on hers poorly thought out. Plan. But unfortunately, mayor hers too, caught up in her own scandals and image issues to care about her constituents. Several the calls attendees reported Axios that they believe the call was unproductive and went off the
rails because Mayor firs angry and focused on her own assault allegations. So is that it? As council members as all elected officials are telling us because Mayor firs in a bad mood about her, she public perception no one can stop or inhumane policy. She's the new Donald Trump raging across our city. No one to stop for no regards to the people and you are you will or do nothing knees. If you're just going to let her because you're scared of backlash, might look like. I can tell you who's scared of backlash already. Looks like.
Are you the elected representatives of the people? Are you going to stand with the people? That's to bill. >> Back >> you testified are ready and I didn't get us on time. Well, as that, let's say, I did you did testify earlier? I yeah, I did. testified for myself first, but I also with Micah. So can you just give me Micah is an organization. can be. Can write, can we? I'd like to first apparent as the folks
that has today would have you want to come up if you haven't testified yet. That's all of us. I just I don't know. We have we have 14, 14 on. >> About 20 minutes, 20 minutes for testimonies. And I still see a line here. So >> I would like for us to prioritize the folks who haven't spoken today and even not from a couple of weeks ago. So if you haven't please make your way to your front and then, you know, I'm happy to take anybody else and lying if we still have time. I do see a few people who haven't testified before. So come on. >> Come Come on Okay. Well, I don't see anybody coming up.
Thank Thank you >> think this is honestly ridiculous at this point. Late. The mayor isn't even A system error cash is still waiting on that phone call. You have number, >> I I just have a question for all of when I go back to the camp after this. As my friends who have nowhere to go and don't want to get brutalized by the police tomorrow where am. I supposed to take and I and the rest of
my 2 minutes. If anyone has a >> These >> people. cannot be pushed around constantly. Take them to the other cat. Let it overfill. But tensions rise there. >> Cup their community. But bunker we doing here. These are good people. >> art, beautiful human life. This stupid. You got work to do. >> Thank you all. Next, testifier.
My name's Lennon and I want to take a break from all the vibes in the stuff to take a look at the material reality of what we've got going on here. What we're all participating in here is a settler colony. On stolen land. This is a government that represents the settlers and te capitalists and the other neoliberal fascist that live amongst U.S.. Why are they brutalizing all of these innocent beautiful people?
It's crazy. I mean, I'm sure they take care of their pets at home and they take care of their kids at home and they >> kiss kids. Goodnight and all that. What this government, what the system exists to do. Is to enforce private property. If these people think that they can just go live in the park. No, no, That will bring all our property Plus the whole system. So what can we do? The sites? of the factors
for a little bit of humanity. I think what we should do. Take their ability away to brutalize us like this. I think we should take away the weapons from the armed group of thugs that they ue to brutalize. All of us. Until we do that. In a thing, get a change. Thank you. >> And make sure to sign an after testifying. And then I have just some no time preparing to say today because like many of the
people in this room, I've been busy, losing sleep, supporting neighbors in ways that the city should be doing. I've been on te ground nearly every day since the eviction was announced and again, as we've been saying, there bucking nowhere to There's been claims there's been claims that there has been inputs of support from the city and the residents have said again and again that that is not true. You're saying that? Well, that's not that's not fair to say. I know that they're they're well, I'm
there and they're not getting their the people. And the can are saying that they have not been helped, that they're only being helped by people like on the verge of homelessness themselves going and booking spending all their money and time trying to help So. good. I'm sorry. have okay. It. >> Said this morning to my friend that lives there that they will be arresting anyone who is still there tomorrow. There is no where to go. We are moving people. >> And we are not moving them
into shelters because there is no shelters. We are that we are moving their tent to different places. We are scattering them, isolating them where they're more vulnerable to overdose to further state violence to have less access to resources. Okay. I this morning throwing away people's belongings, destroying teir tents and tackling people and pressing my friends when people are still there tomorrow because they will be because there's nowhere for them to go. When they are having their
belongings destroyed when they are being brutalized. I want you to think what the am I doing? Why did I not do anything? Nobody F-king wants this. And I think that that's what we've gathered from all these hearings. Nobody F-king wants this cash is waiting. You said that it hurts your heart. That cash hasn't gotten resources I haven't heard from you pay. And I know that you got your feelings Aaron said that blood will be on during that time on your hands. That's the truth, OK, to make sure to
just so, you know, we have time for 6 more people. Alright, so come on up. thank you. >> My name's Dan Critter with a 10 71 Cleveland Avenue south in Ward 3. been down in the camps are met Sisca Mayor to make her several times. This morning. There was a county board. Commissioners, man. If you've got a readout, but the part that wasn't and the resolution as the county manager and backers stated
they need more time. Tey've got contracts that are just beginning. The money you gave them. I think just one solicitation. These are phases. They say, and the resolution. Phases. They are taking weeks for your money to go into effect. They need more time. Everybody. Everybody. >> Is saying we need more time. Why? Why not do te right thing? Why not become a leader?
And this issue. >> Why not take the opportunity? Ys, there's urgency that the mayor's created. She can take a win. She's got a pause, though. She's got a par as this. She has a choice. You have a choice. Sometimes. We're hearing you The county commissioners don't. That's nt true. You have a choice. We understand from mayor's authority, but she needs to pause. It's just mayor. Baker. Please deliver the message. She can take a win on this. She could use one
right now. Take a pause. There's plenty of partners that are ready to come to the table. And I understand you've got commissions and committees now. But tere are real people with real commitments that are ready to help. You need some time. People are going to die. >> Thank you. Make sure to sign I'll say it again. I'm back. So my name is Melissa O'Connell. I also made it to
Minnesota to be able to get with Micah my cousin Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing. They've been working towards bridging these causes. For the transition. Bringing up community solutions that actually help us survive. Things like that. This and grow beyond not having emergency placement. I don't mean just for the people in this respect and housing, but we're not doing emergency planning as these populations are continuing to grow. And it is also from the lovely person
who came forward and talked about this is a spiritual crisis. It's in all of us. It's not just the people who are on the streets. What's good leadership? Bringing out the leadership in others. So with that. I want to offer to build that bridge with you. I want to offer. By a 60 days. We need it. When people been working for 60 years to bring
this point around home. This is not a financial decision. This is about saving lives. Do you want that death toll? I don't want it. I sought in Los Angeles. I saw. armed faction shooting rubber bullets at people in wheelchairs. Please don't let that happen here today. Now. Those are things you can erase from your memory. That's just one memory. Imagine if it's. Thousands of those memories, stay in and day out and you
can't escape the system because we're not building this bridge. And we have the capability. The people are here. They're showing up there testifying and they're doing a piece peaceably. We all have that capability right? It's not about the money. It never will be. It's about building these Bridges. Thank you. Thanks. Yes, like to thank Lenin who spoke earlier as long a a means of production or in private hands. These problems will continue to sprout up. And that's really the only way
we can solve this in a lasting way. But I have a quote from Friedrich Engels from 18. 45 anyone resonates with this. commend reading more of it when one individual inflict bodily injury upon another such that death results. We call the deed manslaughter when the assailant knew in advance that the injury would be fatal. We call the state murder. But when society places 100 the proletarian such a position that they inevitably need it too early and then a natural death, one, which is quite as much a death
by a balance as that by the sword or by the bullet. deprives thousands of the necessities of life, place them under conditions in which they cannot live forces them to the strong arm of the law. To remain in such cnditions until that death ensues, which is the inevitable consequence, knows that the thousands of victims must parish and yet permits these conditions to remain. It's the does murder just as surely as a deed of the single individual. We need to sweep through are guilty of the active social murder and
has a classy right to self-defense and a right to the preservation of life. I've been a picket pig's eye couple dozen times now. You know, hear people talk about drugs in the communities where the drugs coming from. Not once have I seen a poppy plant growing over there that U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan protected and guarded poppy fields. Just as the British use opium as a tactical war against China. The U.S. government PM and crack cocaine as a tactic of war again to internal colonies and marginalized communities ad then going use it as a justification to further
attack is communities. This has to stop. thank tale. >> To sign it after to testify. >> Good afternoon, everybody. Board members, community members. Let's meet My name is Mateo resident >> one 7 people said the very first nationally recognized Danielle the nation in Seattle. A volunteer with nonprofit's for 3 years. Nichols Bill Lehigh Low Income Housing Institute and shared will and together we created the tiny House village program from
there. I was elected spokesman at the very first village give on-camera interviews with nonprofits all around the world. Are on our prototype program to sought to solve the campus the overcrowding of the shelters. worked in conjunction with law enforcement. Board members and the community and Kay build that bridge that she talked about it became a very effective tool to combat the crisis that we're facing right
now. We started with one village and we have over 40 today, Seattle. We're able to organize organizers the homeless people and the people, their challenge within with financial burdens right now. Get them in the places that they needed to be. So they could do what they need do to get where they want to be. I could go on for a long time and talk about what I've done what I can do for Minneapolis and Saint Paul and for the community and but what do is just caught short of my name.
My name is Mateo resident. I'm my phone number. And if you guys wish to contact me, you guys want to have a private meeting. me have a presentation. I can break down to you and complete detail the 10 O program benefits. Everybody in the city, everybody. How intertwined that can work with a low income housing Institute can explain with with cafeteria union Gospel and other shelters in conjunction. And it's very clear that it's time make sure to sign in. At least take a selfie
closing the public hearing. >> Thank you so much for giving the to speak for before you all. as I said earlier, tear with Jimmy sitting right over there, I've been volunteering for about a year since last September and what had initially got me into caring about the homeless is my own experience of being homeless with my mother for about 8 months or so. And I because I wasn't school that entire time. I was placing
foster care and which I spent a year. It's a very difficult time in my life. But I've since become a Christian. And one of the main. Experiences of my life that really pointed me on to Christ. I look back too. It's a fact that the first love that I had really ever experience just a normal person normal family. Gave my mother and I have $1000 and a box full of food. And they told us about price and they prayed for us. And that is one
of the most defining moments of my life. And so now I want to do the same for others because I believe Jesus crisis guide. I believe he is our Lord. He created us. I believe he died on the cross so that we may have eternal life if we place our trust in him, he is our Lord, which means we are his servants. We are. creation. And so I believe so we had Jesus Christ is our example. I look at price and I someone my God who gave his life for me on the cross is so now I have been set free from ice and and I can give my life
and service to others and love to others as Jesus Christ loved me. And you all. We have been placed under your authority. You all have authority over us. The government is a great thing. As long as the government sees Christ as this example as the government looks its Lord and seas that. >> The Lord is supposed to serve those who is placed under them. And I don't think that that's what's being done right now. I don't think that's the Mares. What's don't think the mayor is doing that
right now? I think the mayor is serving the people that is under it under her right now. We look to Christ as our example. Who gave his life so that we can give our lives. Tigers, please let a crisis. You're example. Thank sir. That's time we should assign then. >> Come on up. >> As the council out of beers again, I just little bit of your time. Saying the 1 million dollars for temporary housing solution. That's not a solution. 49 cots is not there's absolutely nothing to help these folks. You just threw 1 million dollars away from the city,
very large deficit that I just heard a budget meting when it could have been used for so much more good. Lasting reminder, quickly, puffed up this government is at the last city council meeting your city council director. I don't know. Where is that? Try to kick all of us out of this room. If you didn't know that. Your mayor is also predator, who should step down immediately. And last week I was taught by Cedric Baker and his little good here while they hid behind a tree for 20 minutes, a record of me. If your leadership. It's a legacy that you're leaving behind this embarrassment for Saint
Paul, Minnesota, the home not only are we laughing stock of the country right now. You're also committing genocide in our unhoused neighbors. >> All. Okay. Last speaker. My name is Alice Thompson and I have been out at many events in the last month with STS. I engage both personally and as an educator and resident of Saint Paul, though, I do not speak for any institution or organization. I am tired. I'm exhausted. My entire adult life. I have had to bear witness to injustice. I'm 29. One after the other. A
dumpster fire catapulted at me. Everyone in the community. One after the other. This is exhausting. I I do have a quiet voice, though. Do not must mistake might make meaner or my colorful clothing makeup for apathy or a lack of rage. I hope keeps me grounded. And in that grounding, I come to ask once more for the city, the cunty and the mayor's office still. Still, I'm asking and extending to the mayor's office to do the right
thing. You have heard from experts, social workers and community members who have taken hours >> out of their time to be here and try to reach you. But most importantly, you heard from 40 over 40 residents. >> Over 40 residents, the experts in their own life and their own truth. This is the last hour. The eviction is tomorrow. >> And I'm going invite everyone to share their voices
together with me. And to share their courage because I hope. >> That song. Could help change your mind. >> You got to put one foot in front of the. We weigh love. And the >> line. I'm sure to sign an. All right. It's sure to sign in. All right, everybody. I want to say thank you all so Just so you we have received testimony. A motion for African judge or and
here's the eye and favor say Aye, aye. And then 5 in favor of has public areas close. counselor Johnson to attend today's meeting of a nurse our favor say Aye. thanks, everyone. Thank you.