[image_credit]MinnPost photo by Peter Callaghan[/image_credit][image_caption]The key point of contention between Mayor Jacob Frey and the Minneapolis City Council was the mayor’s proposed $176 million allotment to the Minneapolis Police Department.[/image_caption]
[image_caption]Minneapolis City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins[/image_caption]
Now that the budget has been formally adopted — Frey signed it on Friday — here’s a look at what it will mean for city government, the police department — and efforts to reform how policing is done in Minneapolis.
The bottom line
The COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn prompted city staff to project revenue losses of $156 million this year. In response, Frey proposed a 2021 budget of $1.47 billion. Compared to the $1.56 billion budget adopted for 2020, the 2021 budget reduces expenditures by about 6 percent, or roughly $93 million.
That number includes cuts for almost every department. Community Planning and Economic Development, for example, would see over $30 million slashed, and the Convention Center would see a cut of more than $17 million. But there are also investments in certain programs, including $7.2 million for affordable housing initiatives and $5 million to help business owners buy properties they rent.
[image_credit]MinnPost photo by Peter Callaghan[/image_credit][image_caption]Mayor Jacob Frey[/image_caption]
Frey’s 2021 plan has about $17 million less than the 2020 police budget of $193 million. But Council President Lisa Bender and Council Members Steve Fletcher and Phillipe Cunningham aimed to move even more money out of the department, proposing a plan, dubbed “Safety for All,” that took $7.7 million from MPD to put toward several violence prevention measures and other programs administered outside the department.
Those measures include the expansion of the city’s 311 services in order to take theft and property damage reports, parking complaints, and provide support for homeless people. The “Safety for All” plan also beefs up violence prevention efforts such as the Next Step Program, which connects youth and young-adult victims of violence with resources and support, from job training and housing assistance to education and legal help.
The budget also sets aside $11 million the police could access after additional council approval: $5 million to cover potential overtime costs in 2021 and more than $6 million for new police recruit classes.
A focus on the MPD’s authorized size
Given that this year’s budget process was the first after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers — and the subsequent pledge by nine members of the council to begin the process of “dismantling” the city’s police department — it was no surprise that discussion revolved around funding for the MPD. But in the weeks leading up to the council’s final budget meeting, the conflict constricted further, narrowing to a debate about the appropriate number of officers in the department, now and in the future.
Christine McPherson, the financial director of operations for the Minneapolis Police Department, told the council that MPD currently has 690 officers on the street. That’s a significant drop from the start of the year, when the department counted 874 officers, with most of those who are gone resigning or going on leave following Floyd’s killing and the unrest that followed.
In their “Safety for All” plan, Bender, Fletcher and Cunningham initially called for a reduction in the authorized size of the MPD to 750 cops by 2022. But Frey wanted to keep the department’s authorized size at its current level of 888 officers, citing concern that cutting the department’s size could have adverse impacts in the future.
To that end, he threatened to veto the budget if it passed the council with the plan to reduce the authorized size. “We continue to stand ready to collaborate and support the safety beyond policing initiatives, but I am actively considering a veto due to the massive, permanent cut to officer capacity,” Frey said in a Dec. 7 statement.
[image_caption]Council member Linea Palmisano[/image_caption]
The amendment passed 7-6, with Council Members Lisa Goodman, Andrew Johnson, Palmisano, Alondra Cano, Kevin Reich, Jamal Osman, and Jenkins all voting in favor. And though Bender mentioned public pressure from Frey, council members who supported the move said they were responding to constituents who say they don’t want the department weakened. “We need to hear from the community instead of speak for the community,” said Jenkins.
After the staffing level amendment passed, the overall budget passed unanimously. On Friday, Frey signed off on the document.
What it actually means for the Minneapolis Police Department
A veto threat and a significant revision at the midnight hour might make for plenty of city hall intrigue, but the result of the budget battle will have little impact on the MPD in 2021. In both Frey’s budget and the “Safety for All” plan, there is funding for two new recruiting classes in 2021, said McPherson, MPD’s financial director of operations. That’s on top of the one cadet class already set to graduate in 2021, which means the city could see three waves of new police officers next year.
That should address some of the departures MPD has experienced in 2020. A typical year sees around 45 officers depart — less than a third of the number who are now effectively out for one reason or another. If attrition levels do return to normal, and all three recruiting classes are completed in 2021, MPD staff would jump from 690 to 768 officers by the end of the year.
Even if that happened, MPD would still not reach Frey’s goal of 888 police. In fact, even if the city adhered to the most ambitious training schedule, the department would only barely exceed the max staff total the “Safety for All” budget targeted.
The higher authorized officer threshold could affect the department’s ability to grow in 2022 and beyond, however. In fact, new recruit classes could increase the force to as many as 890 cops in 2022, according to McPherson. If nothing else, the changes mean the starting point for next year’s budget discussion will be about whether 888 officers — and not 750 — is the appropriate size of the department going forward.
What does all this mean for efforts to reform the Minneapolis Police Department?
For leaders of Black Visions Collective and Reclaim the Block — the two Minneapolis-based advocacy groups who organized the event at Powderhorn Park in June where nine council members said they planned to ‘dismantle’ MPD — the city’s 2021 budget was a victory. “This was a tremendous win,” said Reclaim the Block policy organizer Sheila Nezhad. “It’s the first time in at least 20 years — that’s how far back the online city records go — that the base budget for Minneapolis police has been cut.”
But that doesn’t mean the groups got everything they wanted. Nezhad said the nearly $8 million in funds diverted from MPD fell short of expectations, and the decision not to cut the number of authorized officers is also a disappointment, adding that she believes a public health approach will do more to reduce crime than hiring beat cops.
[image_caption]Alondra Cano[/image_caption]
Yet many of those who have supported Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo — who has consistently argued that the MPD needs more officers to deal with increased crime in the city — were also happy with the budget. “I fall in the camp of supporting the chief,” said Jonathan Weinhagen, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber. “I think the chief has made a really strong case for the needs of his department.”
But while Weinhagen believes the department should be able to refill its depleted ranks after the 2020 exodus, he also believes city leaders should continue to be engaged in conversations about other ways to provide public safety. “I believe in the both-and approach,” he said. “And those are the absolute right conversations to be having.”
It would be interesting to know how property tax payers/home owners/business etc. lined up on the “defund” issue. As noted the city’s revenues are down $156M so as the “defund” folks get their way, and if it dosen’t work, could one anticipate a further reduction in city revenue? Possibly starting a downward trend? Would also be interesting to know, how much of the $156M shortfall could be attributed to the demonstrators/riots this summer, is additional city investment, home ownership going to tail off? The picture is far bigger than just policing. The last question is, how does a reduced police force solve the significantly escalated number of murders this year? Doesn’t seem like many of the council folks had much of an interest in going after that significant number of murder cases as just sticking it to the police dept. One last point, doesn’t seem like they put any extra $ away for the riots after the Chauvin etc. trial, who doesn’t think that all hell isn’t going to break loose if the trial doesn’t come out exactly the way certain folks want it to?
Frankly, this is all just political theater. If the council is actually serious about reform they would focus on the labor contract they have with their MPD officers. That contract is full of conditions and stipulations that encourage and protect the very procedures, officers, and practices that have created this crises. Currently, and for decades now, dangerous and abusive officers simply cannot be disciplined let alone fired under the current contract. As long as such officers remain on the job, training and commanding NEW officers, you can play musical chairs with funding all you want while the police continue to kill and attack the people they’re supposed to be protecting and serving.
The labor contract does lie close to the center of the cultural inertia that swallows up change and leaves exhaustion and surrender to the institutional forces that function as a shield against “outsiders” .
Another common denominator in the widespread police misconduct found all over this country is the police union and its entrenched leadership. The union functions almost as a protection racket for the most brutal members while representing the kindest community police and their liaisons alike.
The council has hit on some important changes and initiatives.
There are those who will make it their goal to stop ANY change, even if they have to root for more crime and less officer engagement to prove their point.
Despite the discouraging outlook, we hope changes that have been needed for many years can come soon.
I agree most of it is theater. Making realistic policies is for the most part boring; many politicians especially those who lack a deep understanding of how many systems run rather make statements. Goodman, Palmisano and at times, Jenkins can see that and do try to delve deeper. Ask those on the front lines-yes the system allows some bad cops to get away with things, pulling funding is not the answer. The harsh reality is that while some increased services will help, cops work with many of those systems hand in hand. And how are they measuring results? State law mandates often times who and how responses to crime are done. And many calls are more complicated than crime vs mental health. The council and mayor could have expanded a number of things by now; yet most of them appear to be more set on ego and being the one to come up with a novice idea vs building on what can work better. I see more committees and well connected people who haven’t much of a clue sitting on those committees.
Let’s see, shootings are up, murders are up, car jackings are up, no people are going downtown Minneapolis and the way to fix that is less police? You truly cannot make this up.
You must know, the “thin blue line” refers to the fact that law enforcement cannot be accomplished with brute force. There will never be enough cops to police every bad actor. The causes of crime need to be addressed with actual FUNDING. The idea that more cops will scare people into some kind of obedience is mistaken.
Violence in our society today has been fomented and abetted by the Republican approach to governing. Your so-called “conservative” movement has resulted in worse outcomes for every single minority in the country and outright antagonism toward everyone who does not vote Republican. Yes, Joe, your side is the source of much violence and threat.
Peace starts with you and me, and cannot thrive without JUSTICE for all.
(btw, the correct term is FEWER cops, not “less”.)
“The causes of crime need to be addressed with actual funding”. I believe your assertion can be translated into “Tax the people who are working and living within societal norms and try to fix the pathologies of those who are not.” When I grew up parents provided the tools necessary to be a law abiding citizen. I do not share your believe that ‘funding’ is going to fix the crime problem. If people don’t care enough about their offspring to raise them properly, I don’t believe government can be a effective substitute for them.
Pretty sure condescending moralizing about one’s “superior” values system won’t fix anything either, but its never stopped folks of your mindset from giving it a go. Maybe time to let others have a crack at it, no?
Suggesting parents are responsible for instilling good values in their children is considered ‘condescending moralizing’ in your mind ? WOW !! Would you consider the possibility that making excuses for bad behavior and then providing ever increasing funding to enable it might just be making the problem worse ?
No, I’d suggest the idea that complex problems should be addressed by simple solutions is the product of an incurious mind, predisposed to value itself, and its imagined superiority, over others.
Somebody raised these cops who brutalize the public. Nice family?
Watching the death of George Floyd caused outrage. Of the thousands and thousands who took to the streets in anger, they didn’t all suffer bad upbringing.
Think of your words and Chauvin, “…making excuses for bad behavior and then providing ever increasing funding to enable it might just be making the problem worse ?”
$45 million in misconduct lawsuits paid out in a just a year (that we know of?), and you worry about your taxes.
Jon, the fact that it doesn’t occur to you that people espousing your own “values” raised the cops that brutalizing people reveals the moral vacuity that Matt has been trying to describe.
The problem with “family” values is that they as often as not produce the very sociopaths, liars, and assaultive or threatening behavior. It’s actually not surprising that a system of “values” organized around selfishness, intolerance, greed, and toxic individualism would produced so many damaged personalities who go out and wreak havoc upon society. The problem with blaming parents is… everyone has them. Meanwhile, regardless of how or by whom anyone was raised, we are not obligated to give them a badge and turn them lose on society.
And I have to point out whenever I see it… this instinctive and intellectually bereft practice by those who otherwise claim to be champions of personal responsibility… of blaming their parents for whatever goes wrong in their lives.
Richard, you are wrong. Democrats sitting back and letting Mpls burn started this massive crime wave you see today. Crime prevention most certainly doesn’t start with me, I don’t shoot folks, rob folks or burn down other folks businesses….. Not sure about you…. Crime prevention starts with taking criminals off the streets.
Seriously?
[Joe]
“Crime prevention most certainly doesn’t start with me, I don’t shoot folks, rob folks or burn down other folks businesses….. Not sure about you”
Really? You imply some hateful sh** to me.
Ah, so “the beatings will continue until morale improves” approach to motivation, huh? Curious, what do you plan to do when no one is afraid of your consequences any more, because they’re preferable to the miserable reality that your worldview has created? Just summarily execute millions?
Yes Joe, the murder of George Floyd by a militarized police force had NOTHING to do with the riots. Republican mayors all over the country preventing rioting before it even got started because… well that’s just how Republicans do things.
Hold on, Mr. Smith. I thought the Democrats who have been running Minneapolis are responsible for police misconduct and brutality, on account of they are in thrall to the police unions. Now, you’re telling us that the police don’t get enough support from Minneapolis politicians. Which one is it?
If you haven’t watched on YouTube “The fight for the soul of Seattle” documentary made by the CBS affiliate in Seattle, you must.