Minneapolis Rallies For Earth Day As Council Member Wonsley Champions Climate Equity And Community Safety Initiatives

As Earth Day approaches, Minneapolis residents are stepping up their game with a variety of community-centered events and a call to action to support the Climate Equity Plan. Council Member Robin Wonsley is leading the charge on environmental progress, urging people to participate in resource fairs, cleanups, and fun family events. "I encourage residents to take some time this weekend to participate in one of these activities," said Wonsley in a statement obtained by Minneapolis official bulletin. Wonsley emphasizes that collective organizing is needed to not just fund but fully execute the Climate Equity Plan.

South Minneapolis is gearing up for the establishment of the first Community Safety Center, with the city planning to purchase a building in June. This new model seeks to innovate beyond traditional policing in response to the desire of residents for a more comprehensive system. "My office continues to work with residents who have asked us to implement pollution control fees on carbon dioxide, close the HERC, and replace I-94 with a multimodal boulevard," Wonsley shared in the same bulletin. The mayor's lack of specifics on how this will differ from the current precinct model has raised concerns among local council members, prompting them to meet with Mayor Frey for further discussion.

In a surprising turn, community proposals for the re-development of the former Third Precinct, amid vigorous community engagement translating into plans for a Black Cultural Center among others, have been sidelined by the Frey administration. The mayor has instead offered a plan to transform the precinct into an Election and Voter Services building, which is set for a vote on April 23. As a sign of protest and in solidarity with the community, Wonsley has vowed to vote against this plan, as it "completely disregards the community proposals that are on the table, and that it is disrespectful to the history of the building."

Financial concerns have cast a cloud over the 2024 Open Streets project, with limited contractor applications due to low compensation from the city. Wonsley's attempt to increase funding during budget amendments was thwarted by city staff, which decided not to exceed the $50,000 limit for each event, likely resulting in only three of the planned five events taking place this year. Describing the predicament, Wonsley said, "It is deeply inequitable and problematic to expect contractors to independently fundraise six figures in a small window if they want this event in their community."

Lastly, another key issue facing the city is the alleged discriminatory impact of the 2020 furloughs on BIPOC and female employees. After a presentation on an After Action Review, Wonsley pressed for answers and commitments to prevent future discriminatory practices. Although the city has settled the charge with the Civil Rights Department, concerns remain. "I am concerned that little action was taken to ensure the city does not repeat discriminatory actions in the future," Wonsley said, indicating a firm resolve to build systems that truly protect the workforce in times of crisis.

SOURCE: hoodline