Minneapolis City Council Tables Controversial Plan To Move $1.2 Million In Violence Prevention Funding

Minneapolis City Council Tables Controversial Plan To Move $1.2 Million In Violence Prevention Funding

The funding would have temporarily moved the money to Hennepin county.

MINNEAPOLIS — After days of heated debate, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously agreed Thursday to table a controversial proposal to delay $1.2 million of funding for violence prevention groups.

The money, typically awarded to community groups, has been under scrutiny as of late.

Some councilors allege little oversight and mismanagement within the Neighborhood Safety Department (NSD) that oversees that money. The plan would have temporarily moved it to Hennepin County, but opponents argued, that services to those most at risk, would be disrupted.

The decision to postpone the plan came from Councilor Robin Wonsley, who first proposed it on Monday. Several other members agreed the council needed to reset after such a contentious week that devolved into public outbursts and online threats - some of it coming from Reverand Jerry McAfee, who founded 21 Days of Peace. The anti-violence group gathers at crime hot spots and stands by their longtime work.

"We can help you, but if you shut it off, it will not work," said McAfee.

The NSD is a relatively newly formed group under the Office of Community Safety led by Commissioner Todd Barnette who started in 2023. There are allegations the NSD isn't providing enough oversight or data to warrant contracts the community groups receive. The contracts can sometimes be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"There are valid reasons to support a move to the county and there are valid reasons to oppose a move to the county and the way the discussion has played out here hasn't been the most productive," said Councilor Jeremiah Ellison. "If there were answers, if there were valid answers to those questions, then communication needed to be much more thorough than it was."

Some councilors say the public outbursts made them feel unsafe. Others say the department and Commissioner Barnette have already implemented new measures to ensure accountability, including a more rigorous bidding process for groups like McAfee's.

"We've been doing it for 30-some years and I guarantee if they let us help them, we'll always win," said McAfee.

He said that any changes in funding would disrupt services and that he has confidence in Commissioner Barnette. He agrees with the council's move to postpone the proposal despite, after decades of partnership, was not approved for a city contract.

"We get paid sometimes, but most of the time, these men and women you see here, is doing it without a dime because it's the right thing to do," said McAfee.

Councilor Wonsley said she'll continue to to use her full oversight authority and bring scrutiny to the NSD, including the contracts that will eventually be approved. The council will vote next week on whether to move forward with negotiations and it could be April before they are finalized.

SOURCE: KARE 11