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Budget hearing reviews three different plans for Minneapolis police
More than 400 speakers signed up to speak at a Minneapolis City Council public hearing about the proposed city budget with a special emphasis on police department funding proposals.
(FOX 9) - More than 400 speakers signed up to speak at a Minneapolis City Council public hearing about the proposed city budget with a special emphasis on police department funding proposals.
Ultimately, just over half of those speakers, or 234 people, had their voices heard in the hours-long hearing that ended after midnight Thursday morning.
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Social justice groups propose larger changes to Minneapolis police budget
While discussion continues in public hearings over the proposed nearly $8 million cut to the Minneapolis Police Department budget, some social justice groups and businesses are voicing support for a different proposal that calls for a much larger redirection of funds.
According to a log of callers released Thursday by the Minneapolis City Clerk, 100 speakers talked in support of the "People’s Budget," a proposal crafted by several social justice organizations to move funds from the police budget to more community-based programs. It would decrease the police budget by more than $84 million.
In addition, 80 speakers expressed support for the Minneapolis Police Department and the Mayor Jacob Frey’s budget proposal that would keep police staffing levels the same.
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Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo discuss MPD staffing levels
In a Monday news conference, the Mayor and Police Chief announced opposition to a City Council budget proposal that would reduce the number of officers on the force.
55 speakers voiced support for the “Safety for All” proposal from a group of councilmembers that would make a nearly $8 million cut to the Minneapolis Police Department budget. The Mayor said the councilmembers’ proposal would be “untenable” considering a noticeable increase in violent crime city-wide.
The council is scheduled to vote on the mayor’s budget next Wednesday.