[0:14] >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS [0:20] AISHA CHUGHTAI, THE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER OUR ADJOURNED MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY, [0:26] NOVEMBER 19, 2025. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, I WANT TO OFFER A REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERSES, STAFF, AND PUBLIC [0:33] THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THESE INCLUDE [0:38] REAL TIME CAPTIONING AS A F FURTHER METHOD TO OUR INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY. [0:45] ALL SPEAKERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE RATE OF THEIR SPEECH SO OUR CAPTIONERS CAN TRANSCRIBE [0:51] ALL COMMENTS FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK SPEAKERS TO MODERATE THE SPEED AND CLARITY OF THEIR COMMENTS. I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO [0:58] CALL TO ROLL TO VERIFY THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. >> PAYNE. >> PRESENT. [1:03] >> WONSLEY IS ABSENT. RAINVILLE. >> PRESENT. >> VETAW. >> PRESENT. >> ELLESON IS ABSENT. OSMAN [1:13] ABSENT. CASHMAN. >> PRESENT. >> YE JENKINS, ABSENT. CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT. [1:18] >> CHOWDHURY. >> PRESENT. >> PALMISANO. >> PRESENT. >> VICE CHAIR KOSKI. >> PRESENT. [1:24] >> CHAIR CHUGHTAI. >> PRESENT. >> THAT IS NINE MEMBERS PRESENT. >> WE HAVE A QUORUM. I'LL [1:30] REMIND MY COLLEAGUES WE'LL BE USING SPEAKER MANAGEMENT TODAY. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SIGN IN. WE [1:37] HAVE ONE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING. WHICH IS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE MAYOR'S [1:44] RECOMMENDED 2026 BUDGET. MAYOR FREY PRESENTED HIS BUDGET ON AUGUST 13th THIS FALL. [1:49] PROVIDING A PROPOSED FISCAL PLAN FOR THE CITY'S OPERATIONS IN 2026. TOTALING JUST OVER [1:56] $2 BILLION, WITH AN INCREASE TO THE CITY PROPERTY TAX LEVY OF ABOUT 1 P 7.8%. THE BOARD [2:07] AUTHORIZED A TAX LEVY UP TO 8%. WITH THAT INCREASE, UMM, FROM [2:12] 7.8 BEING TO PAY FOR, UMM, SOME SERVICES FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD. A [2:18] COPY OF THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS POSTED TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT [2:27] MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV/BUDGET. A PDF VERSION IS ALSO VARI AVAILABLE ON LIMS. SINCE THE [2:33] MAYOR PRESENTED HIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE RECEIVEDDED A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS TO EXAMINE THE [2:38] DETAILS OF EACH DEPARTMENT'S BUDGETS REQUESTS. THESE MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON DEMAND ON THE CITY'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL. [2:49] THIS IS THE THIRD OF FOUR THE COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT ON THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET. OUR [2:54] FOURTH AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WILL BE THE STATUTORILY REQUIRED TRUTH AND TAXATION [3:00] HEARING IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE, UMM, IN A MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY, [3:07] DECEMBER 9th AT 6:05:00 P.M. AND NOW BEFORE WE OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, I'LL ASK [3:13] STAFF FROM THE BUDGET TEAM TO PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS I WILL [3:20] INVITE BUDGET DIRECTOR TO JOIN US AND BEGIN THE PRESENTATION. WELCOME, DIRECTOR. [3:26] >> GOOD EVENING. JANE [3:33] DISCENZA. I'M HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL OF YOU AND TO MEMBERS OF THE [3:41] PUBLIC. AS NOTED, WE'VE HAD [4:00] PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE 2026 RECOMMENDED BUDGET. FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN [4:06] HEARING MORE ABOUT THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDED BUDGETS, THERE WAS A MORE ROBUST PRESENTATION OF THAT [4:11] INFORMATION ON SEPTEMBER 8th. THAT IS AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE. [4:18] SO TODAY I'LL GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION. WE'LL START WI [4:25] WITH -- AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2026 BUDGET DOCUMENT HIGHLIGHTING KEY SECTIONS HELPING YOU IDENTIFY CHANGES WITHIN THE BUDGET. [4:31] FOLLOWING THAT, I'LL PRESENT THE MAXIMUM PROPERTY TAX LEVY AS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE [4:37] AND TAXATION, AND PROVIDE A DEMONSTRATION OF THE LEVY IMPACT ESTIMATOR. AND THEN, FINALLY, [4:42] WE'LL CONCLUDE WITH THE TIMELINE AS NOTED BY THE BUDGET CHAIR. [4:51] THE BUDGET TEAM WORKS HARD TO PUBLISH THE BUDGET BOOK ANNUALLY. AND WE STRIVE TO MAKE [4:57] REFINEMENTS EACH YEAR BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND YOU. THE GOAL IS TO PRESENT A READABLE DOCUMENT THAT [5:04] EXPLAINS THE FREQUENT I WILL ASKED QUESTIONS, AS IT RELATES TO FINANCE AND POLICY DECISIONS. EACH PAGE IS DESIGNED TO ANSWER [5:10] THOSE KEY QUESTIONS. THIS YEAR THERE IS MORE DETAIL ON EACH DEPARTMENT PAGE ABOUT STAFFING, [5:16] IN PARTICULAR. IT WAS INFORMATION THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE IN THE SYSTEM LAST YEAR BUT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND. SO NOW IT'S [5:21] DIRECTLY ON THE PAGE. THERE'S ALSO A SECTION IN EACH DEPARTMENT PAGE ABOUT THE BUDGET [5:27] CHANGES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR 2026. THAT WILL NARRATE THE FUNDING REDUCTIONS AND THE [5:34] LIMITED INCREASES, AS WELL AS TRANSFERS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE A PDF VERSION OF THIS [5:40] DOCUMENT AVAILABLE ON THE LIMS FILE FOR THE 2026 BUDGET. [5:46] PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL BE TRANSITIONING SYSTEMS IN 2026, SO THAT PDF VERSION IS DIRECTING [5:52] FOLKS TO NEXT YEAR AS WE'RE SETTING UP THE NEW SYSTEM. THE [6:00] LINK ON THIS SLIDE, AS WELL AS THE QR CODE, WILL TAKE YOU TO THE BUDGET PAGE OF THE CITY WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE [6:07] 2026 MAYOR'S RECOMMENDED BUDGET, ALONGSIDE THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, AND A BUDGET ARCHIVE. [6:14] SO THAT'S A GREAT RESOURCE! WHEN YOU GET INTO THE BUDGET BOOK, YOU WILL SEE A NAVIGATION [6:22] PA PANE, AND CLEAR TABLE OF CONTENTS GIVING YOU SUMMARIES AS [6:29] WELL AS DEEP DIVES ON DEPARTMENTS. THIS IS A PREVIEW OF THE BUDGET BOOK SECTIONS. [6:38] FOR MOST READERS, THE BUDGET IN BRIEF IN THE 2026 BUDGETS SUMMARY SECTION IS GOING TO BE A [6:44] GREAT PLACE TO START. YOU GET A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE EXPENSES AND REVENUES OF THE CITY AND THE [6:49] KEY TRENDS. THE OPERATING DEPARTMENT SECTIONS, WOULD BE THE MOST FREQUENTLY VISITED. IF [6:55] YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT'S BUDGETS AND CHANGES, YOU CAN SEE THOROUGH DISCUSSIONS IN EACH OF [7:00] THOSE. THERE'S ALSO A CAPITAL PROGRAM SECTION, WHERE EACH OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THEIR [7:05] FUNDING ARE DESCRIBED. MOVING [7:15] ON TO THE MAXIMUM PROPERTY TAX LEVY. AS I MENTIONED, THERE IS A PROPERTY TAX LEVY ESTIMATOR [7:23] IMPACT TOOL THAT THE ASSESSING DEPARTMENT PRESENTS. WE'LL SHOW THAT. BUT, FIRST, THIS IS THE [7:30] MAXIMUM PROPERTY TAX LEVY SUMMARY. SO YOU'LL SEE THE 8% LEVY INCREASE. AND THE GREEN [7:38] BOX FOR 2026. THAT IS THE PERCENT CHANGE AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT WE'RE COLLECTING THAT WE'RE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT [7:44] AS A CITY FOR ALL OF THE LEVIES THAT ARE LISTED ABOVE. SO THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS THE PARK [7:49] BOARD, THE PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND OTHER [7:55] PENSION/RETIREMENT FUNDS. WHILE THE APPROVED GROWTH IN 2026 IS HIGHER THAN THAT OF 2025, YOU'LL [8:01] NOTE THE FINANCIAL DIRECTION SHOWS THOSE PERCENT CHANGES DECREASING IN THE OUT YEARS [8:07] MODERATING A BIT, AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE LONG RANGE FINANCIAL [8:12] PLAN. THE LEVY IMPACT ESTIMATOR IS A TOOL THAT IS AVAILABLE TO [8:19] ANYONE ON THE CITY WEBSITE, AND IS A VISUALIZATION OF WHAT THESE PROPERTY TAXES MIGHT MEAN FOR [8:25] INDIVIDUALS OR PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE CITY. YOU CAN SELECT A PROPERTY GROUP, RESIDENTIAL, [8:32] COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AS WELL AS A WARD TO SEE WHAT THAT IMPACT MIGHT BE FOR THE [8:38] PARTICULAR HOME VALUES. THE IMAGE ON THIS SLIDE SHOWS A [8:43] GRADIENT OF BLUE WITH THE DEEPEST BLUE MEANING THE LARGEST PERCENT CHANGE. AND THE DOLLAR [8:50] AMOUNT OF TAXES PAID. AS NOTED [8:58] BY THE BUDGET CHAIR, WE DO HAVE JUST ONE MORE PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THIS. WHICH IS THE SAME [9:03] NIGHT AS BUDGET ADOPTION ON DECEMBER 9th. AND WITH THAT, I'LL CONCLUDE. [9:11] >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, DIRECTOR DISCENZA. DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY [9:17] COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE DIRECTOR'S PRESENTATION? [9:23] I'M NOT SEEING ANY. I'LL NOTE WE HAVE BEEN JOINED IN THIS MEETING BY COUNCILMEMBER [9:30] JENKINS. SO BEFORE I PROCEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, I WANT TO REVIEW A FEW PROCEDURAL [9:37] MATTERS. IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN COMMENTS OR MATERIALS TO SUBMIT, PLEASE GIVE THOSE TO THE CLERKS [9:42] EITHER OUTSIDE AT THE RE REGISTRATION TABLE OR AT THE END OF THE DAIS. WE HAVE PRINTED [9:48] COMMENT FORMS AVAILABLE AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUBMIT A COMMENT ON THE [9:53] PROPOSAL. AND HAVE THAT INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC RECORD OF [9:59] THIS 2026 BUDGET. I ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUBMITTING YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT [10:04] THE BUDGET IN OTHER WAYS. THE EASIEST WAY TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS AND ENSURE THEY ARE [10:10] ADDED TO THE PUBLIC RECORD IS TO SEND THOSE TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE [10:16] AT MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV/PUBLICCOMMENT. ALL SUBMITTED COMMENTS WILL BE [10:22] INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC RECORD RELATED TO THE 2026 BUDGET. IF [10:28] YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO RUNS OUT OF TIME WHILE YOU'RE OFFERING YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY, I WOULD HIGHLY [10:34] ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS TO THE CLERKS. IF YOU [10:39] ARE -- IF YOU ARE SOMEONE THAT ENDS UP NEEDING TO LEAVE BEFORE YOUR SPEAKER NUMBER IS UP, IN [10:44] ADDITION TO BEING WELCOMED TO JOIN US AT OUR FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, [10:51] DECEMBER 9th, ALSO AT 6:05:00 P.M. IN THESE CHAMBERS, YOU ARE ALSO WELCOME TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS IN WRITING. WE [10:56] WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM YOU. WE'LL BE TAKING SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER THEY ARE REGISTERED. IF YOU'D [11:03] LIKE TO TESTIFY, I INVITE YOU TO REGISTER YOUR NAME WITH THE CLERKS AT THE TABLE IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER. [11:09] UMM, OR YOU CAN DO SO, UMM, WITH THE CLERKS, UMM, TO MY RIGHT AND [11:16] YOUR LEFT. AT THE END OF THIS [11:22] DAIS. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE, UMM, AN ASSIGNED NUMBER. WE WILL BE CALLING SPEAKERS BY [11:28] NUMBER. IN THE ORDER YOU ARE REGISTERED. BECAUSE WE ARE LIMITED ON AVAILABLE SEATING IN THIS ROOM, THERE IS AN OVERFLOW [11:35] ROOM WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN MONITOR THIS MEETING. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTICIPANTS HERE TODAY. THAT [11:40] IS REALLY EXCITING! I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE GATHERED ON THE SECOND FLOOR RIGHT BELOW THE ESCALATORS, AS [11:47] WELL. IF YOU'RE REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT AREN'T ABLE TO SIT IN THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE HEAD TOWARD [11:54] THE CHAMBER AS WE GET CLOSE TO YOUR SPEAKER NUMBER. PLEASE LET THE SECURITY PERSONNEL KNOW THAT [12:00] YOUR NUMBER IS BEING CALLED UP. SO YOU HAVE AN EASY TIME GETTING IN. EACH REGISTERED SPEAKER [12:06] WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE. WE HAVE A TIMER AVAILABLE, UMM, TO MY [12:12] RIGHT AND YOUR LEFT. THAT HELPS [12:18] MONITORS -- THAT HELPS SPEAKERS MONITOR THE USE OF THEIR TIME. WE ASK YOU TO WRAP UP YOUR [12:23] COMMENTS WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE ALL SPEAKERS TODAY AND BE FAIR [12:29] TO EVERY PERSON. WE ALSO ASK THAT EVERYONE BE RESPECTFUL OF ALL SPEAKERS AND OF ALL OPINIONS [12:35] OFFERED. WE HAVE A R A ARRANGED FOR INTERPRETATION FOR [12:40] THOSE THAT MAY NEED THAT ASSISTANCE. IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE FROM AN INTERPRETER, PLEASE LET THE CLERKS AT THE [12:47] REGISTRATION KNOW. WE HAVE INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE NEEDING SPANISH AND SOMALI [12:53] TRANSLATION SERVICES. FOR THOSE UTILIZING AN INTERPRETER, THE SPEAKER TIME WILL BE ADJUSTED TO [12:58] FOUR MINUTES, TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ALSO OTHER INTERPRETERS THAT ARE [13:05] HERE WITH -- UMM, WITH ORGANIZATIONAL, UMM, PARTNERS THAT ARE -- THAT ARE HERE TO [13:12] OFFER TESTIMONY. UMM FOR FOLKS THAT, AH, WOULD PREFER TO, UMM, [13:17] HAVE A CITY INTERPRETER, UMM, ASSIST YOU. YOU CAN DO THAT. [13:23] OR YOU CAN WORK WITH WHOEVER YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE WITH, HONESTLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE [13:28] HAVE ABOUT 37 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ALREADY. AGAIN, BEFORE I OPEN THE FLOOR, [13:35] I WANT TO INVITE ANYONE WHO HASN'T ALREADY REGISTERED BUT WISHES TO SPEAK TO REGISTER WITH [13:41] THE CLERKS AT THE TABLE IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE OF THESE CHAMBERS. AND WE'LL ASK EACH [13:48] SPEAKER TO SELF-IDENTIFY FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS. THAT LOOKS LIKE JUST SHARING YOUR NAME, YOUR [13:54] WARD, OR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR, GENERALLY, THE PART OF THE CITY YOU LIVE IN. AND ORGANIZATIONAL [14:01] AFFILIATION, IF THAT APPLIES TO YOU OR YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE. [14:06] I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT WE -- ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK CAN DO SO AT ANY POINT [14:13] BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. UMM, SO THAT WILL CONTINUE TO ASK YOU AND REMIND [14:20] YOU OF THAT. THE LAST THING I WILL NOTE BEFORE WE OPEN THIS [14:26] HEARING, IS, AH, RELATED TO THE MIC. SO, UMM, IF YOU'RE COMING UP AND WANT TO THE ADJUST THE [14:32] MIC TO BE UP HIGHER OR LOWER. DEPENDING ON YOUR HEIGHT. PLEASE BE SURE TO MOVE THE MIC [14:39] FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE YOU SEE THE GREEN LIGHT. AND NOT BY THE BLUE TAPE AT THE TOP. AND IF [14:46] YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS COMING UP HERE TO TESTIFY AND YOU HAVE AN INTERPRETER WITH YOU. BOTH TO [14:54] YOU AND TO THE INTERPRETER, I'VE ASKED YOU SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MIC SO WE CAN CAPTURE AND [15:00] TRANSCRIBE YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE LIVE BROADCAST. WITH THAT, WE ARE READY TO OPEN THE PUBLIC [15:05] HEARING. THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS WHO WE HAVE REGISTERED HERE TODAY ARE [15:12] SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, ANTHONY TAYLOR. SPEAKER NUMBER TWO, [15:18] JOHN EDWARDS. SPEAKER NUMBER THREE, PETER. SPEAKER NUMBER [15:24] FOUR, MAYA OELRICH, AND SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, ANDREW WHITE. WITH [15:30] THAT, I WANT TO WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, ANTHONY. [15:39] >> HI, I'M ANTHONY TAYLOR. LIVE IN WARD 8. ANDREA JENKINS, [15:46] THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR US. I'M HERE SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO THE ELEMENT [15:51] BUDGET. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND I AM, UMM, AS THE [15:57] CITY COUNSEL PREPARES FOR THE 2026 BUDGET. THE EMERGING RIVER [16:03] DISTRICT ANCHORED 7th AND BROADWAY IS WORKING ON A PROJECT FOCUSING SIGNIFICANTLY ON [16:09] CLIMATE CHANGE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND CITY AND RECENT HISTORY. RIVER NORTH IS DEFINED AS THE AREA [16:15] BETWEEN PLYMOUTH AVENUE AND LOWERY AVENUE AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND I-94. THE [16:21] OPPORTUNITY IS NOT HYPOTHETICAL. IT IS ACTUALLY REAL. AS YOU KNOW, GEORGE OPENED THIS YEAR. [16:28] IN 2024 AND BEGINNING TO HIRE, BRINGING JOBS, APPRENTICESHIPS, [16:33] PATHWAYS, CONSTRUCTION TECH TRAINING AND ON-SITE PRODUCTION IN NORTH MEMB [16:39] MINNEAPOLIS. THE LAUNCH OF PHASE ONE IS SECOND AND BROADWAY IS PLANNED FOR 2026. BUT I'M [16:44] HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE IDEA OF AN INNOVATION DISTRICT. WE'RE LEANING ON AND LEARNING [16:50] FROM THE TOWER SIDE INNOVATION DISTRICT. THE TOWER SIDE INNO VISION DISTRICT ANCHORED AT [16:56] PROSPECT PARK EXPANDED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND PART PARTS OF SAINT PAUL IS THE FIRST. IT [17:03] WAS, UMM, CREATED IN 2015. THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE HAVE [17:09] LEARNED. AND WHAT IT SAYS INSIDE CPE DEFINITELY BUCKET, IF WE CAN GIVE THE STAFF ROOM TO [17:15] INNOVATE. THE OUTCOMES ARE SUBSTANTIAL. IT WASES A FIRST DISTRICT STORMWATER SYSTEM IN [17:20] MINNESOTA. THEY CREATED THE WALKABLE GREEN MAIN STREET. [17:26] INTEGRATING FEATURES. THEY CAME UP WE A DISTRICT ENERGY PLAN THAT WAS SEEDED BY A $2 MILLION [17:32] CITY LOAN. AND SIGNIFICANT CO2 SAVINGS. AND ■FROM IT CAME [17:39] NEARLY $1BILLION IN PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. AND MORE THAN $6 MILLION IN COORDINATED [17:45] PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT. DISTRICT KEY INTERNAL LESSONS. IT REDUCES COMPLEXITY AND [17:50] COSTS -- >> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. >> THANK YOU. >> I WOULD INVITE YOU TO PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS IN WRITING. [17:57] YOU CAN DO THAT WITH THE CLERKS OR YOU CAN VISIT [18:05] MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV/PUBLICCOMMENT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER NUMBER TWO. JOHN EDWARDS. [18:14] >> THANK YOU, GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I'M JOHN EDWARDS. THE SAFETY NAVIGATOR WITH THE LAKE STREET COUNCIL, BORN AND [18:20] RAISED HERE IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS. HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF SOME OF OUR ESSENTIAL [18:26] ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING SOME WONDERFUL WORK IN THE CITY AS IT PERTAINS TO SAFETY AND [18:32] THE WELL BEING OF OUR CIT CITIZENS. HERE. LET EVERYONE [18:39] ADVANCE FOR DIGNITY. REMAINING AN INSTRUMENTAL AND DECREASE IN THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT THE [18:44] COMMUNITY AND LAKE STREET CORRIDOR FACE FROM THE EFFECTS OF OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION. LEAD IS ACTIVELY OUT IN THE [18:50] COMMUNITY CONDUCTING OUTREACH AND RECRUITING MEMBERS OF OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATION AND [18:55] CONNECTING THEM WITH HOUSING AND TREATMENT OPTIONS. NEXT TO THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, THE FAMILY [19:01] PARTNERSHIP REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT PILLAR IN THE SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS AND LAKE STREET CORRIDOR THAT PROVIDES A VA [19:06] VARIETY OF RESOURCES AND SERVICES STEMMING FROM MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY, EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE, AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR [19:12] FAMILIES WITH LIVABILITY ISSUES. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS A WHOLE, MPD, OUR VIOLENCE [19:19] INTERRUPTER GROUPS, TOUCH OUTREACH, AND MAD DADS, BOTH ORGANIZATIONS REMAIN VALUABLE [19:24] ASSETS IN OUR CITY AS THEY PROVIDE SAFETY AND SECURITY TO OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS BY ACTIVELY RESPONDING TO [19:31] EMERGENCIES AND PEOPLE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS. ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME WHEN POLICE RESOURCES ARE [19:37] AT A SHORTAGE. THEY'RE EFFECTIVELY ABLE TO ASSIST AND MITIGATE URGENT SAFETY ISSUES [19:42] AND OFTENTIMES WITHOUT THE NEED FOR POLICE INTERVENTION. WITH CONTINUOUS EFFORTS AND COLLABORATING AND BUILDING [19:48] EFFECTIVELY RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LIMI LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY'LL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE [19:53] POSITIVE SAFETY RESULTS. LASTLY, OUR SAFETY AMBASSADORS. AMBASSADORS ARE BECOMING [19:59] IMPORTANT PIECE TO THE LAKE STREET AND FRANKLIN AVENUE CORRIDOR. AND BEEN USEFUL IN PROVIDING OUTREACH TO ADDRESS [20:05] QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERNS AND REPORTING HAS ARTS AND EMERGENCIES. ALL AND ALL, PROGRAMS LIKE THESE SHOULD BE [20:11] THE CORNERSTONE OF THE CITY'S SUPPORT OF OUR UNSHELTERED POPULATIONS AND THE OVERALL SAFETY FOR FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE, [20:17] AS WELL AS THOSE JUST VISITING. I WOULD LIKE TO URGE THE CITY TO MAKE A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THESE [20:22] SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS. SO PLEASE CONSIDER THESE ORGANIZATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING WHEN YOU CONSTRUCT YOUR UPCOMING BUDGET. [20:28] THANK YOU. SO MUCH. . >> >>: THANK YOU, MR. EDWARDS. NEXT SPEAKER NUMBER THREE, [20:33] PETER. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER FOUR, MAYA. [20:50] >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SAY THAT MOST [20:56] HOMEOWNERS WHO RECEIVE THEIR TAX BILLS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY'RE PAYING. [21:03] I'M HERE TO OFFER A WAY TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAXES AND [21:08] MAKE IT SAFER FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE AMBULANCE AND FIRE [21:14] DEPARTMENT TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B, AS QUICKLY AS [21:19] POSSIBLE AND THE SAFEST POSSIBLE MANNER. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MY PROPOSAL PRIORITIZATION [21:28] PUTS NO EMERGENCY -- THE [21:34] OVERVIEW WOULD BE PRIORITIZATION FOR ALL CITY PLOW TRUCKS DURING SNOW EMERGENCIES. THIS STRATEGY [21:43] OPTIMIZES [?] REDUCES OVERLAP, AND MINIMIZES IDLING. DELIVERING FASTER, CLEANER, AND [21:50] MORE COST-EFFECTIVE SNOW REMOVAL. KEY BENEFITS: FUEL [21:56] SAV SAVINGS, LESS WEAR AND TEAR, LOWER AIR POLLUTION, NOISE REDUCTION, BUDGET EFFICIENCY, [22:03] AND FASTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE.. ESTIMATED SAVINGS IS MORE THAN [22:10] $80,000 PER YEAR. FOR THE FUEL SAVINGS, MAINTENANCE [22:16] SAVINGS, MORE THAN $75,000 A YEAR. THE LABOR OVERTIME SAVINGS IS MORE THAN $25,000 A [22:23] YEAR. THE TOTAL POTENTIAL SAVINGS IS MORE THAN $200,000 A [22:31] YEAR. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE OUR SERVICES FULLY FUNDED [22:40] BUT WISELY SPENT. NOW WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO THANK [22:47] EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL HERE FOR SHARING THIS MESSAGE. THANK YOU. [22:52] >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER FOUR, [22:59] MAYA OELRICH. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, ANDREW WHITES. [23:04] >> HELLO. MY NAME IS MAYA OELRICH. I LIVE IN WARD 5. AND I WORK IN WARD 7. I'M HERE [23:11] TODAY TO SPEAK ON THE COENFORCEMENT BUDGET. I BELIEVE [23:17] ROCK ARE VITAL TO ENSURING THAT OUR WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY IS INFORMED, SAFE, AND SUPPORTED. [23:24] AN EXAMPLE OF THE CARE RECENTLY WAS WHEN ONE OF MY COWORKERS TRIED TO USE HIS EARNED SICK AND [23:29] SAFE TIME. HE WAS IMMEDIATELY LOCKED OUT OF OUR EMPLOYEE PORTAL, AND INFORMED HIS REQUEST [23:35] FOR TIMEOFF WAS DENIED. SHORTLY AFTER, HE WAS INFORMED HE WAS NO LONGER AN EMPLOYEE AT OUR [23:41] COMPANY. AND THEN THEY CONTINUED TO ILLEGALLY WITHHOLD HIS PAY. WITHOUT THE KNOW YOUR [23:48] RIGHTS TRAINING AND SUPPORT GROUPS THAT CTUL AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE HOSTED. I [23:53] WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THIS RETALIATION AGAINST MY COWORKER IS A LABOR LAW VIOLATION. MUCH [24:00] LESS WHERE TO GO FOR IMMEDIATE AND TANGIBLE SUPPORT. THE ESST HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2017. [24:07] ALMOST A DECADE. IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THROUGH IGNORANCE -- WE CANNOT COUNT ON BOSSES TO DO THE [24:14] RIGHT THING CONCERNING OUR LEGAL RIGHTS. WITHOUT THE TEAM AT CTU WILL, MANY OF WHOM YO HAVE [24:20] DECADES OF KNOWLEDGE IN MY FIELD, AS WELL AS DEEP RELATIO RELATIONAL TIES [24:26] TO COMMUNITY. I WOULD NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE LABOR LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN E EBB ENACTED. THEY [24:31] MAKE ME FEEL DEEPLY RESPECTED AS A LABORER AND PERSON. AND [24:38] PROTECTED ME AND MY COWORKERS. SOMETHING GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACIES FAIL AT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I IMPLORE YOU TO [24:45] PROTECT WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE. AND NOT ONLY BUSINESS INTERESTS BY RESTORING FUNDING TO THE BUDGET AND CONSIDERING ADOPTING [24:52] THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE WORKPLACE ADVISORY COUNCIL MADE TO FULLY FUND THE AMAZING PROJECT. AT $800,000. THANK [25:02] YOU. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> BEFORE WE CONTINUE TO SPEAKER [25:07] NUMBER FIVE, THE FOLLOWING FIVE SPEAKERS AFTER THAT:SPEAKER [25:12] NUMBER SIX, CLARENCE HIGHTOWER, SPEAKER NUMBER 7, AL FLOWERS, FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 8, [25:19] LESLIE JACKSON. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 9. NEXT UP [25:36] SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, ANDREW WHITES. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ANDREW WHITES. I'M A LINE COOK AND I [25:43] WORK IN WARD THREE. LAST FEBRUARY, A NEW CHEF WAS HIRED TO MANAGE MY KITCHEN. HE BEGAN [25:48] HIS TENURE BY IMMEDIATELY FIRING AN EMPLOYEE AFTER AN OUT OF WORK INJURY FORCED HIM TO TAKE TIME OFF. THIS WAS A SHOW OF POWER [25:55] THAT REMINDED ALL WORKERS OF OUR EXPENDABILITY AND CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT OF FEAR IN OUR KITCHEN. IN MARCH, A WORKPLACE [26:02] ACCIDENT RESULTED IN SERIOUS BURNS ON MY RIGHT HAND. INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE ER, I FINISHED MY SHIFT, DESPITE EXTREME PAIN, [26:08] AND RETURNED TO WORK FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS. THIS CHOICE WAS MOTIVATED BY THE PROVEN UNDERSTANDING THAT MY SHIFT [26:14] COULD AND WOULD FIRE ME. AFTER THREE DAYS OF WORKING WITH AN UNTREATED WOUND, IT BECAME [26:20] UNTENABLE TO CONTINUE. I LEFT WORK AND WENT TO URGENT CARE. THE DOCTOR TOLD ME I WAS AT-RISK [26:26] FOR INFECTION AND PERMANENT T TENDON DAMAGE WAS A POSSIBILITY. [26:34] THE MEDICAL AND HEALING PROCESS PUT ME OUT OF WORK FOR TWO WEEKS. WORKERS COMP INSURANCE [26:39] COVERED MY MEDICAL EXPENSES BUT NOT COMPENSATED FOR THE TWO-THIRDS OF MY TWO-WEEKS OF LOST WAGES THAT WORKERS COMP [26:46] INSURANCE GUARANTEES. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE WORKERS COMP INSURANCE PERSONNEL ON THE PHONE, I FOUND MY MANAGER FALLS [26:52] FIED THE REPORT. IT MEANT RECOVERING MY LOST WAGES REQUIRING ME TO GO THROUGH AN [26:58] APPEALS PROCESS. I CHOSE NOT TO DO THIS, BECAUSE IN COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, THE LOST WAGES ARE NOT [27:04] VALUABLE ENOUGH TO RISK MY FUTURE WAGES FORWARD. THIS SCENARIO ILLUSTRATES FAILURE OF [27:09] LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS AND THE NEED FOR COENFORCEMENT. THE NATURE AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT. [27:18] WHILE PURSUING MY LEGAL RIGHTS IS HIGH RISK. THE LEGAL PROTECTIONS AS AN AT-WILL [27:24] EMPLOYEE ARE MOSTLY ABSTRACT. ADVOCATING FOR MYSELF JEOPARDIZES MY LIVELIHOOD. THE [27:29] PROGRAM SUPPORTS WORKERS LIKE ME IN HOLDING MY EMPLOYER ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LAW WITHOUT THE FEAR OF REPRISAL. PLEASE [27:35] VOTE TO INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR COENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU. [27:41] [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER SIX, [27:47] CLARENCE HIGHTOWER FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER SEVEN, AL FLOWERS. [27:52] >> GOOD EVENING, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. CLARENCE HIGHTOWER. I [27:57] SERVE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP AT HENNEPIN COUNTY. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER INCLUSION OF [28:06] COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP IN YOUR 2026 BUDGET. LAST YEAR [28:12] COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF HENNEPIN COUNTY SERVED OVER 23,000 HOUSEHOLDS. OF THOSE [28:20] 23,000 HOUSEHOLDS, ABOUT HALF, 11,300 WERE MINNEAPOLIS [28:27] HOUSEHOLDS. THE SERVICE AT COMMUNITY ACTION PROVIDED TO [28:32] THOSE 11,300 MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS, INCLUDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT EVICTION, [28:38] VEHICLE REPAIR TO ENSURE RESIDENTS HAD DEPENDABLE AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION TO WORK, AND [28:45] SERVICES TO HELP RESIDENTS FIND AND RETAIN LIVING-WAGE JOBS. [28:51] SUPPORT HELPING FOLKS PAY THEIR ENERGY BILLS, ENABLED THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR HEAT DURING THE [28:57] COLD WINTER MONTHS. FIN FINANCE AND SUPPORT TO PAY THEIR [29:02] WATER BILL. WE DID THIS ALL IN 2025 WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AS WE GO [29:11] INTO 2026, FOR COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY, TO SERVE 11,000 [29:17] MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS, WE NEED THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE [29:22] MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER SEVEN, AL [29:29] FLOWERS. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER EIGHT, LESLIE JACKSON. >> THANKS, MADAM PRESIDENT. I [29:37] WANT TO SAY -- I HAD, LIKE, SEVEN PEOPLE THAT CAN'T GET IN THE BUILDING BECAUSE YOU GOT SO [29:43] MANY PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT -- I GUESS THEY'RE IMPORTANT ISSUES. BUT THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES WITH THE HIGHTOWER JUST TALKED [29:49] ABOUT. AND THEY -- AND I HOPE THEY CAN SUBMIT IT TO THE RECORD. THAT'S WHAT I DID. AND [29:56] THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT ENERGY -- MC EMERGENCY [30:02] ASSISTANCE, VEHICLE REPAIRS, SENIOR SUPPORT, FIRST-TIME HOME [30:08] BUYER SUPPORT. AND COMMUNITY [30:15] IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION. THEY WANTED TO COME UP AND SPEAK. THEY COULDN'T GET IN. THEY DON'T KNOW -- THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE [30:20] PROCESS THAT YOU -- TO GET HERE EARLY IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK AT ONE OF THESE KIND OF FORUMS. [30:26] AND I TOLD THEM THERE AIN'T NOTHING I CAN DO. I HATED TO TELL THEM THAT. AIN'T NOTHING I [30:33] CAN DO. WE CAN'T KNOCK NOBODY OUT. IF THEY CAN SUBMIT WHAT TY [30:38] ARE TALKING ABOUT, WE'LL DO THAT LATER. AND SO JUST SUPPORT OF [30:44] THAT PROGRAM. AND THEN JUST TO SAY I HEARD THE LAKE STREET COUNCIL COME UP HERE AND TALKING [30:53] ABOUT T.O.U.C.H. I NEED YOU TO FIND OUT WHY T.O.U.C.H. GOT ALL THE MONEY AND DIDN'T PUT IN [30:59] RECEIPTS AND Y'ALL DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND LAKESTREET COUNCIL GOT MONEY. IS THEY SHOULD GET SOME. THEY [31:05] GOT A LOT OF MONEY FROM THE LEGISLATURE. AND QUIT PLAYING ON THE COMMUNITY. BUT YOU NEED [31:11] TO FIND THOSE KIND OF THINGS OUT. I'M GOING TO KEEP IT NICE. AND SWEET. I DON'T WANT TO [31:18] CREATE NO DISTURBANCE. BUT I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME ABOUT THESE PEOPLE CAN'T GET IN DOWNSTAIRS. [31:23] WHEN I CAME IN, I'M LUCKY I GOT HERE AT 5:15. I WOULDN'T BE [31:28] ABLE TO GET IN. WE NEED TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. PEOPLE NEVER BEEN HERE WANT TO COME AND [31:34] TALK TO THE COUNCIL. AND THEY CAN'T GET IN. AND I FINISHED ON TIME. THANK YOU. [31:39] >> THANK YOU, MR. FLOWERS. I WILL NOTE, A COUPLE OF THINGS. [31:45] FIRST, THE FRONT DOORS ARE STILL UNLOCKED. ANY PERSON WHO COMES IN FOR NOW UNTIL WHEN WE CLOSE [31:51] THE PUBLIC HEARING, IS WELCOME TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK. IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE PUBLIC [31:57] TESTIMONY. YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 30 SOME PEOPLE LEFT TO GET THROUGH [32:02] . THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME. I WILL ALSO NOTE, THAT ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO IS WELCOME TO [32:10] SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS. YOU DO THAT BY VISITING MINNEA [32:18] MINNEAPOLISMN.GOV/PUBLICCOMMENT. OR WE HAVE COMMENT FORMS THAT YOU CAN ACCESS AT THE SIGN-IN [32:25] TABLE RIGHT BY THE ENTRANCE TO THE CHAMBERS. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO WRITE YOUR PUBLIC [32:32] COMMENTS WHILE YOU ARE HERE AND WAITING. AS YOU'RE LISTENING TO OTHERS OFFER TESTIMONY. ANY [32:42] COMMENTS SUBMITTED IN WRITING WILL BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD ON THE 2026 CITY [32:47] BUDGET. I'LL NOTE THAT THERE ARE QR CODES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. [32:57] BY THE CLERKS TO MY RIGHT. YOUR LEFT. YOU CAN USE TO [33:03] ACCESS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PAGE. [33:08] AND AT ANY POINT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO ACCESS THAT, IF THAT IS HELPFUL. WITH THAT, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE REMAINDER OF [33:17] OUR -- [ OFF MIC ] NEXT I'M GOING TO WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER EIGHT, LESLIE JACKSON. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER [33:25] NUMBER NINE, QUARICE. >> I'M LESLIE JACKSON. I STAND BEFORE YOU TO SUPPORT THE [33:31] RECOMMENDATION TO ELIMINATE THE EAST AFRICAN HOME OWNERSHIP EDUCATION PILOT. FREEING UP [33:37] $95,000 IN ONGOING GENERAL FUNDS. THE INTENTION OF THIS PILOT IS ADMIRABLE. BUT ITS [33:44] SERVICES ARE REDUN ASSISTANT. AS MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY, WE HAVE SEEN [33:49] INCREDIBLE, AMAZING RESULTS DELIVERED BY OUR EXISTING HUD-CERTIFIED PARTNERS, [33:55] MINNESOTA HOME OWNERSHIP CENTER, AND BUILD WEALTH MINNESOTA. THESE AGENCIES ARE FULLY CAPABLE [34:01] OF PROVIDING CULTURE-SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO ALL RESIDENTS. INCLUDING EAST [34:06] AFRICAN COMMUNITY. ENSURING THESE -- THEY RECEIVE THESE [34:13] VITAL BENEFITS THROUGH -- I'M SORRY. THROUGH AN ESTABLISHED [34:18] SYSTEM. THEREFORE, MAINTAINING A SEPARATE DUPLICATE OF $95,000 PILOT IS INSUFFICIENT. WE CAN [34:26] ELIMINATE THIS DUPLICATE PILOT AND REINVESTMENT EVERY ONE OF THOSE $95,000 IN A NEW UNIFIED [34:34] INITIATIVE DESIGNED FOR BROAD BLACK EQUITY. THIS PROGRAM MUST [34:40] BE EXPLICIT MANDATED, PROVIDED DEDICATED, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC [34:46] OUTREACH AND ADVOCATING FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHILE STRONGLY SUPPORTING OUR HUD [34:52] PARTNERS TO ENSURE THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO RECEIVE EXCELLENT ESTABLISHED [34:58] SERVICES. WE MUST STOP PIVOTING BLACK COMMUNITIES AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR LIMITED RESOURCES. [35:05] LET US, INSTEAD, BUILD UNIFIED, RES RESILIENT FOUNDATIONS [35:11] FOR ALL BLACK RESIDENTS. ENDORSE A COMPREHENSIVE VISION FOR HOME OWNERSHIP EQUITY. [35:17] ALSO, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO FIND WORK THROUGH YOUR BUDGET. IT'S [35:22] FOR REGULAR PERSON THAT DOESN'T KNOW ACCOUNTING, THEY'LL HAVE A HECK OF A TIME TRYING TO NAVIGATE AND FIND THIS [35:28] INFORMATION. THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING TO EACH ONE OF YOU. >> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE [35:34] CONTINUE, I'M GOING TO NOTE WE HAVE BEEN JOINED IN THIS COMMITTEE MEETING BY [35:40] COUNCILMEMBER WONSLEY. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER NINE, CLARICE. FOLLOWED [35:47] BY SPEAKER NUMBER 10, RUSS. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M THE [35:54] MANAGER OF PLACE MAKING AND ACTIVATION AT THE LAKESTREET COUNCIL AND RESIDENT OF WARD 10. [36:00] I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE AND TO STRENGTHEN INVESTMENT IN PLACE [36:07] MAKING, ARTS, AND CULTURE CORRIDOR WORK ACROSS MINNEAPOLIS. ESPECIALLY WITH [36:13] CULTURAL DISTRICT FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE GROWING ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. ON QUARTERS [36:20] LIKE STREET WHERE COMMUNITIES ARE HEALING FROM THE TRAUMA FOLLOWING 2020, CULTURALLY GROUNDED PLACE MAKING HAS BEEN [36:26] ONE OF THE STRONGEST TOOLS FOR RECOVERY. MURALS, MUSIC, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND [36:32] WELL-MAINTAINED PUBLIC SPACES SIGNAL THAT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS MATTER. THEY ARE CARED FOR, AND [36:38] THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS BELONG. WE HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE LAKE STREET [36:43] LIFT INITIATIVE THIS YEAR THAT ALLOWED US TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU MEANINGFULLY INVEST IN [36:49] ARTS AND CULTURE. WE SAW THE CULTURAL DISTRICT FULLY ACTIVATED AND BURSTING WITH VIBRANCY. WE SAW DOZENS OF [36:56] CREATIVES AND CULTURAL ORGANIZERS BREATHE ENERGY INTO THE CORRIDOR. AND WITH THEIR EFFORTS, CAME A HUNGER TO [37:02] CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK IN THE FUTURE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HANDOUT WE CIRCULATED, YOU CAN [37:08] SEE THAT WE ARE HOSTING A CELEBRATION AT ONE OF OUR NEWLY-TRANSFORMED VIBRANT PUBLIC [37:13] SPACES. THE MIDTOWN MINIPARK TOMORROW AT 4:00 P.M. IT'S A [37:19] SITE THAT WE HOPE TO SEE ACTIVATED REGULARLY WITH ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING IN THE FUTURE. SO, AS YOU FINALIZE [37:25] THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, I'M ASKING YOU TO MAINTAIN AN EVEN EXPAND FUNDING FOR PLACE MAKING AND [37:31] CULTURAL DISTRICT PROGRAMS. AND TO SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS WITH [37:36] COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATIVES THAT KNOW THESE CORRIDORS BEST. WE KNOW THAT [37:42] CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN ARTS AND PLACE MAKING ISN'T JUST BEAUTIFICATION. IT'S COMMUNITY [37:47] HEALING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SAFETY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO A VIBRANT MINNEAPOLIS. [37:54] >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 10, RUSS ADAMS. MR. ADAMS -- OPE. [38:02] I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME UP -- [38:08] >> SORRY. I'M GOING TO TAKE THE PLACE OF RUSS ADAMS. ALL RIGHT. [38:15] GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M A BUSINESS ADVISOR WITH LAKE [38:20] STREET COUNCIL. AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF LAKE STREET AS YOU HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUE. [38:28] AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DEFINE OUR CITY'S CULTURE AND ECONOMY. RIGHT NOW OUR SMALL BUSINESSES [38:33] FROM STORE FRONTS TO CULTURAL MALLS ALONG THE LAKE STREET CORRIDOR ARE STRUGGLING. IN [38:39] THIS CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE, PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO SHOP AND MANY BUSINESS OWNERS ARE AFRAID TO OPEN THEIR DOORS. THOSE [38:45] FEARS ARE NOT ABSTRACT. THEY'RE SHOWING UP IN DECLINING SALES, EMPTY STORE FRONTS, AND ENTREPRENEURS ARE BARELY HOLDING [38:51] ON. WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES SUFFER, ENTIRE COMMUNITIES SUFFER. LAKE STREET HAS ALWAYS [38:57] BEEN A HUB OF CULTURE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND OPPORTUNITY BUT WITHOUT STRONG CONSISTENT SUPPORT, WE RISK [39:02] LOSING THE VERY BUSINESSES THAT MAKE IT VIBRANT. THAT'S WHY CONTINUING FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS [39:08] LIKE DTAP IS NOT OPTIONAL. IT'S VERY ESSENTIAL. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT LIKE [39:14] MARKETING, PLACE MAKING, SAFETY STRATEGIES, BUSINESS ADVISING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES DEPEND ON TO [39:20] STAY OPEN AND STAY COMPETITIVE. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE DIFFERENCE THAT THE INVESTMENTS [39:26] CAN MAKE IN PREVIOUS YEARS, FUNDING HELPED STABILIZE THE CORRIDOR, SUPPORT VIOLENCE [39:32] PREVENTION, IMPROVE BUILDINGS, AND BRING CUSTOMERS BACK. BUT THE WORK IS FAR FROM OVER. I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO PROTECT [39:38] AND EXPAND FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN THE 2026 BUDGET. LAKE STREET [39:44] BUSINESSES ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO SURVIVE. AND RIGHT NOW THEY NEED THIS CITY TO [39:49] CONTINUE TO STAND WITH THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT. >> THANK YOU. THE NEXT FIVE [39:59] SPEAKERS WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKER NUMBER [40:04] 11. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 12, LESLIE ARIANA. SPEAKER [40:13] NUMBER 13, BENJAMIN. SPEAKER [40:19] NUMBER 14, ROBERT. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 15, CAROLINE. [40:31] WELCOME, SPEAKER NUMBER 11. [40:40] LOOKS LIKE WITH CTUL. [40:51] [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [41:13] >> INTERPRETER: HELLO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10. EARLIER THIS YEAR, I WAS A VICTIM OF WAGE THEFT. I FOUND A CLEANING [41:19] COMPANY ONLINE. IT SEEMED LIKE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS OWNED BY LATINOS AND CLAIMED ONE OF THE MISSIONS [41:24] TO EMPOWER WOMEN. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER [41:29] THAN ENGLISH ] [41:49] >> INTERPRETER: UNFORTUNATELY, MY EMPLOYER ENDED UPTAKING ADVANTAGE OF ME AND DIDN'T PAY ME WAGES I WAS OWED. I WAS [41:55] UPSET . NOTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED BEFORE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN. AS AN IMMIGRANT WHO DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, I FELT [42:02] INTIMIDATED BY THE SYSTEM AND DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEFEND MY RIGHTS. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER [42:07] THAN ENGLISH ] [42:37] >> INTERPRETER: LUCKILY A FRIEND T TOLD ME ABOUT CTUL. THE ORGANIZER IMMEDIATELY GUIDED ME [42:43] THROUGH THE NEXT STEP. WRITING A WAGE THEFT COMPLAINT LETTER TOGETHER. I FELT EMPOWERED TO [42:50] ACT QUICKLY AND FELT CONFIDENTLY TO DELIVER THE LETTER TO MY EMPLOYER'S HOME THAT SAME DAY. [42:58] [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [43:17] SPHWHRT WHEN THEY DIDN'T SUPPORT, MY ORGANIZER SUPPORTED ME IN ESCALATING THE CASE TO THE [43:22] DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. I RECEIVED PART OF THE WAGES I WAS OWED. I NEVER RECEIVED THE FULL AMOUNT I [43:28] WAS OWED, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE KNOWLEDGE I GAINED ABOUT THE SYSTEM. [43:33] [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [44:02] >> INTERPRETER: EVEN WHEN A COMPANY APPEARS TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE RIGHT VALUES, WORKERS RIGHTS CAN STILL BE VIOLATED. THAT IS WHY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE [44:09] CTUL AND THE OTHER ALLIANCES IN THE COENFORCEMENT PROGRAM ARE ESSENTIAL. CUTTING FUNDING FOR [44:16] JOINT ENFORCEMENT WOULD LEAVE WORKERS LIKE ME UNPROTECTED AND ALL VULNERABLE. I HOPE YOU [44:21] CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THIS LIFE-CHANGING SUPPORT. [ APPLAUSE ] [44:28] >> >>: THANK YOU. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER 12, LESLIE ARIANA. FOLLOWED BY [44:35] SPEAKER NUMBER 13, BENJAMIN GARCIA. [44:44] >> HI. MY NAME IS LESLIE. I LIVE IN WARD FIVE. EARLIER THIS YEAR, I EXPERIENCED WAGE THEFT [44:49] OUT AT A MEXICAN RESTAURANT. OUR BOSS STARTED DRINKING A LOT AT WORK. AND THINGS BECAME UNORGANIZED. DAYS WENT FROM BAD [44:56] TO WORSE WHEN WE LOST OUR LIQUOR LICENSE. THIS CAUSED OUR TIPS AND REVENUE GO DOWN DRASTICALLY. [45:03] RUMORS WENT AROUND THAT HE MIGHT NOT PAY US. AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT. BECAUSE HE HAD MENTIONED HE WAS OPENING UP [45:09] SECOND RESTAURANT. SO I HAD JUST ASSUMED HE WAS BUSY WITH THAT. UNTIL HE GAVE US A LATE [45:14] PAYCHECK. GIVEN HE'S NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE, I ASSUMED HE WAS BUSY. UNTIL THE CHECK [45:20] BOUNCED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT FUNDS. WE WOULD CALL AND TEXT HE WOULD NOT RESPOND. HE [45:27] STOPPED SHOWING UP TO WORK. I FELT I HAD A DIFFERENT TREATMENT THAN MY NON-U.S. CITIZEN [45:33] COWORKERS. SOME HAD ANXIETY TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE WAGE THEFT. BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID HE WOULD RETALIATE. I TOOK LEAD [45:42] IN ORGANIZING MY COWORKERS AND ADVOCATING FOR THEM BECAUSE OF MY CITIZENSHIP STATUS. THE DISORGANIZATION WORSENED AND WE [45:48] WERE MISSING ESSENTIAL ITEMS LIKE STRAWS, MEAT, AND NAPKINS. WE ALSO LOST OUR LIQUOR LICENSE. [45:53] I TEXTED MY BOSS AND LET HIM KNOW I WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO WORK FOR FREE AND EVERYONE TRIED [45:58] ASKING WHERE THE CHECKS WERE HE BLOCKED US. WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF -- WE HAD SENT LETTERS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF [46:04] LABOR. THEY RETURNED. WE WASTED SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY DOING THIS. I FELT LIKE ALL MY [46:11] COWORKERS FELT IT 10 TIMES WORSE THAN ME, GIVE THEIR SITUATION. [46:16] THERE ARE 10 AFFECTED BY THE INJUSTICE STILL. CTUL HELPED BY NOT GIVING UP ON MY CASE. WE'RE [46:22] FIGHTING THE FIGHT RIGHT NOW. WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING SINCE MARCH. I KNOW WE WOULD HAVE LOST HOPE [46:27] IN RECUPERATING OUR WAGES IF IT WASN'T FOR CTUL. THIS IS WHY WE [46:32] CANNOT CUT THE FUNDING AND SHOULD EXPAND IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO [46:38] WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 13, BENJAMIN GARCIA. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 14, ROBERT. [46:58] [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [48:35] >> INTERPRETER: HELLO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BEN. I'VE BEEN A MEMBER FOR MORE THAN TWO [48:41] YEARS AND WORKED AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS, INCLUDING DOWNTOWN. I'M HERE TODAY TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE [48:48] COENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. AND THE BUDGET THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT FOR LOW-WAGE WORKERS, LIKE MYSELF. BECAUSE OF THIS BUDGET, [48:56] CTUL HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME AND MANY OTHERS NAVIGATE MY RIGHTS AS A WORKER. WHERE I [49:02] WORK NOW, IT'S ACTUALLY DIFFICULT TO TAKE SICK TIME. EVEN THOUGH IT IS MY RIGHT, [49:08] LEGALLY I'M SUPPOSED TO CUMULATE SICK HOURS, BUT I CAN SEE THAT I DON'T HAVE THOSE HOURS ON MY [49:15] PAYCHECK. CTUL HAS BEEN SUPPORTING ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CA DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE [49:20] WITH MY EMPLOYER. CTUL HAS BEEN EXPLAINING TO ME DIFFERENT WAYS TO ADDRESS IT, LIKE, SENDING A [49:27] LETTER TO MY BOSS. TOGETHER WITH MY COWORKERS. HOWEVER, IN MY EXPERIENCE, MANY OF MY [49:34] WORKERS DON'T KNOW THE LAW OR BELIEVE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY DON'T THINK THAT [49:40] WE CAN CLAIM AND RECLAIM OUR RIGHTS. AND, UNFORTUNATELY, IT [49:45] FEELS COMPLICATED TO BE ABLE TO ORGANIZE OURSELVES. AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO FEEL MOTIVATED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AT ALL. [49:52] WHICH IS WHY THE COENFORCEMENT BUDGET IS SO IMPORTANT. WITH THE COENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, LIKE [50:00] CTUL, WE'RE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR RIGHTS AND HOW WE CAN DEFEND THEM, REGARDLESS OF OUR RACE OR [50:05] GENDER. AND THAT'S WHY IT'S CRUCIAL THAT THE COENFORCEMENT BUDGET IS NOT CUT. AND THAT [50:10] WE'RE ABLE TO RESTORE THAT FUNDING. I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO MY STORY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [50:16] [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL [50:23] WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 14, ROBERT FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 15, CAROLINE. [50:32] >> HELLO. I'M A RESIDENT OF NORTH MINNEAPOLIS IN WARD 4 NAME IS BOB. I CALL ON THE CITY [50:37] COUNCIL TO REMOVE THE 2026 FUNDING OF THE CITY'S $500,000 [50:44] COMMUNITY PERCEPTION SURVEY CONTRACT WITH SIN CITY AN ISRAELI TECH COMPANY. I [50:50] OBTAINED THE CITY'S REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, AND THE VENDOR RESPONSES TO IT THROUGH THE OPEN [50:56] CITY SYSTEM. THERE WERE TWO OTHER STRONG CANDIDATES. THEIR BIDS WERE ROUGHLY ONE-THIRD THE [51:03] COST OF D ZIN CITIES. AT A [51:08] TIME WHEN FUNDS ARE SCARCE FOR URGENT NEEDS, LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE CITY AND THE MPD [51:15] PICKED, BY FAR, THE MOST EXPENSIVE OPTION. WE ARE TWO YEARS INTO THIS CONTRACT, AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THERE'S [51:21] LITTLE OR NO BENEFIT TO THE TAX-PAYING RESIDENTS OF MINNEAPOLIS. WE KNOW VERY [51:28] LITTLE BECAUSE THE MPD AND THE MAYOR HAVE CHOSEN TO SHARE VERY LITTLE. WHAT THEY DID SHARE IS [51:35] NOT SURPRISING. BLACK AND INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS FEEL SIGNIFICANTLY LESS SAFE THAN [51:40] THEIR WHITE COUNTER PARTS. THAT WAS TRUE AT THE START OF THE CONTRACT, AND REMAINS TRUE [51:47] TODAY. THE MPD PUBLISHED NOTHING ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY VIEWS THEIR PERFORMANCE, WHICH [51:53] WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CENTRAL PILLAR OF THE SURVEY BENEFITS. SO ONE HAS TO WONDER WHY NOW. [52:01] WHAT CHANGES HAS THE MPD MADE BASE ON THE SURVEY? NOT ENOUGH, JUDGING FROM THE ANGER MANY [52:08] RESIDENTS EXPRESSED AT THE MPD'S LACK OF PROGRESS IMPLEMENTING REFORMS DURING THE PACKED AUGUST [52:15] COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING. IT'S TIME TO CALL IT. TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A LARGE SUM OF [52:22] MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT UNWISELY. LET'S LIMIT THE DAMAGE OF THE MISTAKE, INSTEAD OF WASTING YET [52:28] MORE MONEY ON A FANCY SURVEY, LET'S SPEND IT IN WAYS THAT IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK [52:37] YOU. [52:44] >> BEFORE SPEAKER 15, I WANT TOW GO OVER THE NEXT FIVE SPEAKERS. [52:50] SPEAKER 16, CHRIS JOHNSON, 17 SYDNEY OXBURROW, 18, 19, LIZY [53:01] PALMER. AND SPEAKER NUMBER 20, AARON STEINY. WELCOME. [53:08] >> MY NAME IS CAROLINE. I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD 4 IN MINNEAPOLIS. I'M HERE TODAY TO [53:14] DEMAND THAT THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS END ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH ZEN CITY. ZEN CITY [53:24] PRETENDS IT BUILDS COMMUNITY POLICE RELATIONSHIPS. IN ACTUALITY, THE TECHNOLOGY IT USES INVADES OUR PRIVACY IN THE [53:29] NAME OF MORE SURVEILLANCE. ZEN CITY HAS ITS ROOTS IN -- [53:39] ISRAEL'S SURVEILLANCE OF PALESTINIANS HAS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FACIAL [53:45] RECOGNITION, CELL PHONE HACKING, AND A -POWERED TECHNOLOGY SPILLING [53:51] INTO NONMILITARY USE. I DON'T WANT MY TAX DOLLARS GOING TOWARD USING MY SOCIAL MEDIA ALGORITHM [53:56] TO POLL ME ABOUT THE MPD. IF YOU WANT MY OPINION, I'LL TELL YOU NOW. AS A RESIDENT OF NORTH [54:02] MINNEAPOLIS, I HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND THAT INCREASED POLICING IN SURVEILLANCE DOESN'T [54:07] MAKE ANY COMMUNITY ANY SAFER. IN FACT, IT JUST MEANS THERE'S AN INCREASE IN INAPPROPRIATE AND [54:12] VIOLENT RESPONSES TO COMMUNITY WITH BASIC NEEDS. I ALSO DO NOT WANT MY NEIGHBORS TO BE SPIED ON [54:19] BY THESE INTELLIGENCE COMPANIESES I INSISTED THERE'S A BETTER AND DIFFERENT WAY TO BUILD UP COMM COMMUNITY SAFETY. WE [54:26] NEED PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS. AND WE NEED COMMUNITY RESPONSE. WE NEED [54:32] MEASURES THAT PREVENT CRIMES, SERVICES THAT PROVIDE FOR AND BUILD UP OUR COMMUNITY, NOT MORE [54:38] WAYS TO SURVEIL PEOPLE. WE SEE OVER AND OVER THE POLICE FAIL [54:44] OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CALL FOR SUPPORT DURING INSTANCES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND MANY OTHER TIMESES WHEN THEY'RE [54:50] LOOKING FOR HELP. AND ENDS IN VIOLENCE. WE NEED APPROPRIATE AND IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. AND CUT [54:56] THE CONTRACT. THANK YOU. [55:12] >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, Y'ALL. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CHRIST JOHNSON. [55:19] I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THREE DIFFERENT UNIONS IN THIS CITY. [55:25] PROUD RESIDENT OF THE COOPER NEIGHBORHOOD, WARD 12. I LIVE, WORK, BIKE, EAT, SHOWER WHEN I'M [55:32] BETWEEN JOBS. AND OCCASIONALLY BEAUTIFY MYSELF IN THE WATERS OF [55:39] LAKE MINNETONKA. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF COENFORCEMENT. THE [55:51] RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITIES MINNEAPOLIS. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME A BUDGET COMES OUT, [55:57] WE'VE GOT TO STAY ON AND ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING THAT OUR [56:02] MAYOR SLASHES OUT OF THE BUDGET. I JUST ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN PUTTING THAT BACK. IT'S NEEDED. IT'S [56:08] NECESSARY. I AM A CHEF IN A DOWNTOWN HOTEL. I ALSO WORK AT [56:14] VARIOUS MUSIC VENUES. AND I USE R.O.C.K HAS A RESOURCE FOR MY [56:20] COWORKERS. I'VE GOT -- I'VE HAD A CAREER FOR 45 YEARS IN THIS [56:26] BUSINESS. I'VE SEEN A LOT. I HAVE SEEN HARASSMENT, I'VE SEEN SEXUAL HARASSMENT, I'VE SEEN [56:33] WAGE THEFT. I'VE SEEN SICK AND SAFE TIME THEFT RECENTLY. TO [56:41] HAVE THAT COENFORCEMENT THAT ROCK GIVES THE RESTAURANT WORKERS OF THIS CITY IS [56:49] ABSOLUTELY NEEDED. TO ADVOCATE AND NAVIGATE THESE DIFFERENT [56:56] OFFICES, YOU NEED HELP. I'M NOT [57:09] ASKS FOR TWO BOWLS OF OR RI [57:16] OR RIDGE. I'M ASKING SO WE CAN DO OUR JOB AS WORKERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'RE GOING [57:22] TO WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 17 [57:29] SYDNEY OX BORROW. >> I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD SEVEN IN L ALREAD. [57:38] WE'RE HERE TO ASK YOU TO CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. THEY'RE [57:45] AN ISRAELI COMPANY. THE CONTRACT FOR $500,000. CUTTING [57:52] THE CONTRACT WOULD SAVE THE COUNTRY $112,500 FOR 2026. AND [57:57] THE CONTRACT IS FOR SURVEYS TO [58:02] GET THE OPINION OF RESIDENTS [58:08] MINNEAPOLIS PD. WE THINK THAT COMPANY STARTED BY AN [58:14] IMPERIALIST APARTHEID INTELLIGENCE AGENTS SHOULD NOT BE THE COMPANY THAT RUNS THIS SURVEY. PARTICULARLY WITH THE [58:21] OVER HUNDRED-YEAR -- OF RACIAL PROFILING AND RACIST TACTICS OF [58:27] THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND TWIN CITIES [58:33] PUBLIC TELEVISION DID A DOCUMENTARY. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW LONG THE HISTORY AND HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO REFORM THIS POLICE [58:38] DEPARTMENT IS. AND WE, AS JEWS FOR PALE PALESTINE KNOW [58:48] ISRAELI SURVEYS CAN LIE ABOUT PUBLIC OPINION. PARTICULARLY THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE TOLD THAT [58:55] MOST JEWS SUPPORT THE ISRAELI APARTHEID. IN FACT, MOST JEWS THAT I'VE TALKED TO, AND MOST [59:00] PEOPLE THAT I'VE HEARD SPEAK ABOUT IT, UMM, ARE AGAINST IT. AND SUPPORT PALESTINIAN STATE. [59:07] HOWEVER, THE SURVEYS ARE TAKEN FOR PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT IT, WHICH MAKES US LOOK LIKE WE ALL [59:13] SUPPORT IT. MAYOR FREY USES HIS JEWISH IDENTITY. IF HE IS PART [59:19] OF THIS COMMUNITY, HE SHOULD LISTEN TO US. [ APPLAUSE ] [59:28] >> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 18. [59:40] >> GOOD EVENING. I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF WARD NINE. AND I'M [59:47] A MEMBER OF JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE TWIN CITIES, AS WELL AS THE CUT THE CONTRACT CAMPAIGN. [59:52] TODAY I SUBMITTED FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD THE OVER 2,000 SIGNATURES WE COLLECTED THIS SUMMER URGING [59:57] CITY COUNCIL AND MATE YOUR TO CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. THAT'S OVER 2,000 RESIDENTS AND [1:00:03] OTHERS WHO ENJOY OUR CITY, WHO ARE SUBJECT TO TARGETING FROM ZEN CITY SURVEY ADS, WHO BELIEVE [1:00:08] THAT DISEN CITY CONTRACT IS BAD FOR MINNEAPOLIS. WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS THE POWER TO CUT THE CONTRACT TODAY, YET HE HAS [1:00:15] DECLINED TO DO SO. THAT'S WHY WE URGE YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO DEFUND THE ZEN CITY [1:00:21] LINE ITEM DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. YOU'VE HEARD TESTIMONY AS TO WHY THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT [1:00:26] IS BAD FOR OUR CITY. YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT TESTIMONY TONIGHT. SURVEYING US [1:00:31] ON OUR OPINION OF MPD IS NOT A GOOD USE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY DOLLARS. NOR DOES IT FULFILL [1:00:37] THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE MINNESOTA HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT CONSENT DECREE TO, QUOTE, "MEANINGFULLY [1:00:42] ENGAGE WITH AND COLLECT FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED BY MPD'S POLICIES." I [1:00:49] ATTENDED A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT IN AUGUST AFTER THE JULY ONE WAS SUDDENLY CANCELED [1:00:54] WITHOUT 24 HOURS NOTICE. THIS AUGUST MEETING WAS A 45-MINUTE PRESENTATION ON HOW GOOD THE COPS ARE DOING, WITH ONLY 15 [1:01:00] MINUTES FOR COMMUNITY QUESTIONS AND INPUT. IT WAS EGREGIOUS. [1:01:05] THE $500,000 THAT THE CITY SPENT ON THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT COULD HAVE GONE MUCH FARTHER BY WAY OF REAL, DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH [1:01:12] THOSE IMPACTED. THAT MONEY COULD BE SPENT IN OTHER WAYS TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SUCH AS INCREASING [1:01:17] THE BUDGET FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY INITIATIVE, OR SUPPORTING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS IN ACCESSING SERVICES. OR MANY [1:01:24] OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT. IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS, AND CUT THE ZEN CITY [1:01:29] LINE ITEM, AND THE CONTRACT IS CANCELED BY DECEMBER 1st, YOU'LL SAVE THE CITY OVER [1:01:34] $100,000, THAT COULD GO TOWARDS THE MANY THINGS YOU'VE HEARD SUGGESTED THIS EVENING. OUR [1:01:40] CITY DESERVES BETTER. AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THIS CITY COUNCIL TO DO THE RIGHT THING. [1:01:45] [ APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT WE'LL WELCOME UP SPEAKER [1:01:51] NUMBER 19, LIZY PALMER. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 20 AARON STEINY. [1:02:01] >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LIZY. A WHITE ORGANIZE WITH THE BLACK LED ORGANIZATION TWIN [1:02:08] CITIES COALITION FOR JUSTICE. WE FIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. [1:02:14] I'M A WARD SIX COMMISSIONER FOR THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT. WE'RE HERE TO [1:02:20] OPPOSE THIS WASTEFUL AND UNNECESSARY CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY . WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN [1:02:30] HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT IS EMPOWERED BY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE TO MONITOR POLICING STATES [1:02:36] LIKE MICHIGAN. FOLLOWING THE POLICE MURDER OF A YOUNG REFUGEE IN 2022. POLICE RESPONDED BY [1:02:43] MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRACK PROTESTS AND COMMUNITY OPINIONS ABOUT THE MURDER. IN A CITY [1:02:49] WHERE MAJOR FRYE AT THE HELM, ZEN CITY WILL NOT MAKE MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS SAFER. [1:02:54] BUT GIVE POLICE YET ANOTHER TOOL AGAINST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. IT WILL ENABLE HARASSMENT AND [1:03:00] SILENCING OF SURVIVORS OF POLICE BRUTALITY AND AID IN THE ONGOING COVER UP OF THE MPD CRIMES. A [1:03:14] NATIVE WOMAN WAS KILLED BY HER ABUSER AFTER CALLING MPD FOR SIX TIMES BY HER HELP. THEY FEEL [1:03:20] EMPOWERED TO BREAK INTO BLACK [1:03:26] RESIDENTS. AND THEY ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COMPLY WITH I.C.E. OPERATIONS IN OUR CITY AND [1:03:32] GASLIGHT RESIDENTS INTO BELIEVING I.C.E. WASN'T THERE. IMAGINE HOW IT MIGHT USE THE SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY TO [1:03:37] ANTICIPATE WHERE WE MIGHT SHOW UP TO DEFEND OUR IMMIGRANT [1:03:43] NEIGHBORS. [1:03:49] [ SPEAKING VERY FAST ] WE DON'T NEED MORE MONITORING OR POINTLESS ENGAGEMENT SURVEYS. WE NEEDY VESTMENT FROM COMPANIES [1:03:55] THAT PERPETUATE AGAIN SIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. WE NEED A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT IS [1:04:00] CAPABLE OF LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE WHO PAY THEIR BLOATED SA SALARIES. [1:04:07] >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [1:04:12] [ APPLAUSE ] >> AS WE WELCOME UP SPEAKER NUMBER 20, AARON, THE NEXT FIVE [1:04:18] SPEAKERS AFTER THAT WILL BE SPEAKER NUMBER 21, JAMIE. [1:04:26] SPEAKER NUMBER 22, LAST NAME IS ZI LSKI. SPEAKER NUMBER 23, [1:04:37] JACOB ENDALL. AND SPEAKER NUMBER 24, DOUG CARMODI. AND [1:04:44] THEN SPEAKER NUMBER 25, BECKA ANDERSON. WELCOME, AARON. [1:04:49] >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. MY NAME IS AARON [1:04:56] SEENY. I'M A MEMBER OF THE FREE PALESTINIAN COALITION. I'M ONE OF THE PRIMARY CUT THE CONTRACT [1:05:03] ORGANIZERS. I'M A RESIDENT OF WARD 12. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE CITY FUNDING DESIGNATED FOR [1:05:09] THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT. THE CONTRACT IS A MISUSE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES. ALL THOUGH IT IS [1:05:14] FRAMED AS A TOOL FOR UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC SAFETY OPINIONS, IT PRODUCES A NARROW AND PERFORMATIVE SNAPSHOT THAT [1:05:20] HAS LED TO NO REAL IMPROVEMENTS. THESE FUNDS SHOULD BE INVESTED IN GENUINE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN [1:05:27] INITIATIVES, OR THINGS LIKE COENFORCEMENT, WHICH ACTUALLY KEEP OUR CITY SAFE. ZEN CITY IS [1:05:32] AN ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY COMPANY. PALESTINIAN IS NOT DISTANT. [1:05:39] WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONTRACT WITH INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES. WHERE DATA CROSSES BORDERS AND FEDERAL [1:05:46] POLICY SHIFTS CAN IMMEDIATELY AFFECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. ON NOVEMBER 7th, THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO ADDRESSED THE UNITED [1:05:53] NATIONS BECAUSE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S OCCUPATION OF HIS CITY AND THE RESULTING VIOLENCE. IF LOCAL LEADERS ARE [1:06:00] SEEKING PROTECTION FROM AN INTERNATIONAL BODY, IT SHOWS HOW INTERTWINED GLOBAL AND LOCAL [1:06:05] COMMUNITIES ARE. IT BRINGS ME BACK TO ZEN CITY. THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS HAS NOT PROVIDED CLEAR ANSWERS ON WHAT [1:06:11] INFORMATION ZEN CITY COLLECTS. HOW IT IS STORED, OR HOW LONG IT'S KEPT. IN A BH MOMENT [1:06:20] WHEN TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TARGETING UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS. IT'S PLAUSIBLE THIS DATA COULD BE ACCESSED AND USED [1:06:26] TO HARM PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE CONTRACT IS UNETHICAL, AND NOW ACTIVELY PUTS OUR [1:06:34] UNDOCUMENTED NEIGHBORS AT WASTE. AT-RISK. IT'S A WASTE OF CITY DOLLARS. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO [1:06:40] CUT THE CONTRACT. [ APPLAUSE ] [1:06:45] >> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 21, JAMIE. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER [1:06:53] NUMBER 22ZILSKI. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR [1:06:59] THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES TWIN CITIES. [1:07:08] I ROSE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UTILIZING LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING AID. OR LAHA. TO FUND [1:07:15] SHELTER OPERATIONS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK MAYOR FREY FOR ALLOCATING $1 MILLION FOR [1:07:20] THAT PURPOSE IN HIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET. IN DAYTIME AND OVERNIGHT SHELTERS PROVIDE [1:07:27] LIFE-SAVING SERVICES, A DIGNIFIED PLACE TO SLEEP, AN PATHWAYS TO STABILITY. THE [1:07:32] ELEMENT OF THE HOMELESSNESS TO HOUSING CONTINUE HAS BEEN CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED. IN [1:07:38] RECENT YEARS, WE'VE SEEN INCREASE NEED AND STEADILY RISING OPERATES COSTS WITHOUT A [1:07:43] CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN PUBLIC INVESTMENT. SINCE 2021, WE'VE [1:07:48] WITNESSED A 50% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SERVED THROUGH OUR DAY-TIME AND OVERNIGHT SHELTER PROGRAMS IN [1:07:55] MINNEAPOLIS. TODAY A MAJORITY OF CLIENTS REPORT HAVING AT LEAST ONE DISABLING CONDITION. [1:08:00] INCLUDING A PHYSICAL DISABILITY AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE OR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER. AT THE SAME [1:08:07] TIME, COSTS FOR CORE FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS INSURANCE, SECURITY, [1:08:12] STAFFING, MAINTENANCE, HAVE RISEN SHARPLY. MAKING IT MORE EXPENSIVE TO KEEP DOORS OPEN, AND MORE DIFFICULT TO ADEQUATELY [1:08:19] FUND THE SERVICES THAT MEET PEOPLE'S NEEDS. LAST WEEK'S DECISION BY HUD TO CAP FUNDING [1:08:25] FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WILL ONLY FURTHER EXACERBATE THE ALREADY UNTENABLE LANDSCAPE. [1:08:31] THE SEVERE REDUCTION IN ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXITING HOMELESSNESS IS ANTICIPATED TO [1:08:38] FORCE 170,000 PEOPLE NATIONWIDE BACK ON TO THE STREETS. THIS WILL NOT ONLY BE DEVASTATING FOR [1:08:43] NEWLY STABLE RESIDENTS, BUT WILL ADD ADDITIONAL STRAIN 0 OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. [1:08:50] CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE GENEROUS DONORS, WITHOUT INCREASED PUBLIC INVESTMENT, OUR [1:08:55] SHELTER OPERATION DEFICITS ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE. IT'S IN ALL HANDS ON DECK MOMENT, [1:09:01] COUNCILMEMBERS. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER NUMBER 22. WELCOME. [1:09:10] >> HI. I'M TIM AND I LIVE IN WARD 12 BY VA HOSPITAL. AND [1:09:17] CALLED YOUR OFFICE TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT. I CALLED YOU BEFORE. YOUR PUBLIC WORKS IS FAMILIAR WITH ME. FROM TAXES I [1:09:25] PAY, THE PUBLIC WORKS, A MY CITY SERVICES ARE PRETTY GOOD EXCEPT FOR THE SNOW EMPLOYING. [1:09:33] THEY COULD DO CURB-TO-CURB. AND SOMETIMES WHEN I WAS WORKING, I GO EARLY IN THE MORNING. IF A [1:09:39] KNOW EMERGENCY ROUTE IS EMPLOYEEEMPLOYEE PLOWED AND GO ON A SIDE STREET, [1:09:46] THERE'S SNOW BANKS BLOCKING THE INTERSECTION. OTHERWISE I'M SATISFIED. AND I LIVED HERE [1:09:54] SINCE 1987. AND IF YOU CAN HELP TRY TO MINIMIZE MY TAX INCREASES, IT WOULD BE [1:10:00] APPRECIATED. AND ALL OF THAT. AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. THIS IS MAINLY MY FIRST MEETING I'VE [1:10:05] COME TO. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. >> THANK YOU, TIM. AND I'M [1:10:12] SORRY I STRUGGLED WITH YOUR FIRST NAME THERE. NEXT WE HAVE [1:10:19] -- [ OFF MIC ] >> SPEAKER NUMBER 23 JACOB FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 24, [1:10:28] DOUG. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. I'M JACOB ENGAL [1:10:34] FROM WARD 8. HERE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO END SUPPORT FOR THE SURVEILLANCE COMPANY ZEN [1:10:40] CITY. WE'VE WATCHED THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY GRADUALLY ERODE UNDER [1:10:45] PREVIOUS INTEREST. WE DON'T NEED TO ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE. WE DON'T NEED TO WASTE OUR RESOURCES ON A SYSTEM ENABLING [1:10:52] THE HORRIFIC AG GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE. WE DO NOT NEED TO [1:11:00] CONTINUE INTERTWINING THE ECONOMY OF THIS CITY WITH AN APARTHEID REGIME THAT CONTINUES TO PERPETUATE CRIMES AGAINST [1:11:06] HUMANITY. WHAT WE NEED IT TO RESTORE FAITH AND TRUST IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT'S CRITICAL [1:11:12] WE EXCISE THIS TOOL OF STATE VIOLENCE AND REPRESSION FROM OUR CITY. PLEASE STRIKE THE ZEN [1:11:18] CITY LINE ITEM FROM THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 24, [1:11:23] DOUG, FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 25 25, BECCA. [1:11:30] >> HI, MY NAME IS DOUG CARPAL I [1:11:36] DOUG. WARD 12 RESIDENT. SPEAKING TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. [1:11:41] AND TAKE AN ETHICAL APPROACH TO THE CONTRACT THAT THE CITY SIGNS MORE GENERALLY. WHEN YOU SIGN A [1:11:47] CONTRACT WITH AN ISRAELI COMPANY, YOU'RE SIGNING -- SENDING MONEY TO A COUNTRY THAT [1:11:55] HAS APARTHEID ENSHRINED INSTI [1:12:02] CONSTITUTIONALLY. FIRST-AND SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS. YOU'RE [1:12:07] SENDING MONEY TO A COUNTRY THAT IS JUST COMMITTED A GENOCIDE THAT HAS A DECADES LONG HISTORY [1:12:14] OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST ARAB PEOPLE AND ARAB STATES FROM YEARS OF ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK TO [1:12:21] JUST YESTERDAY WHEN THE COUNTRY OF ISRAEL MURDERED 13 PEOPLE AT A CAMP IN LEBANON. THESE [1:12:30] MURDERS ARE -- IN MANY CASES, SANCTIONED BY THE SAME INTELLIGENCE UNITS THAT THE ZEN [1:12:35] CITY CO-FOUNDER CAME OUT OF. IT [1:12:40] ALSO -- I ALSO TEND TO THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BOYCOTT DIVEST SANCTIONS. I NOTICE A [1:12:46] LOT OF COUNTRIES THAT SUPPORT IT ARE NOT LIKE THE RICHER EUROPEAN [1:12:52] LEFT-WING NATIONS BUT THE COUNTRIES WHO HAVE SEEN THE DANGERS OF MILITARISM, BRUTALITY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES FIRSTHAND. THAT'S [1:13:00] SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND IN MINNEAPOLIS. THESE DANGERS ARE NOT UNFAMILIAR. THEY [1:13:07] WEREN'T UNFAMILIAR BEFORE 2020 AND NOT AFTER. IT HAS TO DO THE WITH THE SAME POLICE DEPARTMENT [1:13:12] THAT IS SIGNING THE CONTRACT OR INVOLVED IN THE CONTRACT. WE JUST SAW THESE DANGERS, AGAIN, [1:13:17] YESTERDAY IN SAINT PAUL. WITH MILITARY FORCES PEPPER SPRAYING PEOPLE. RIGHT IN THE FACE. WE [1:13:23] NEED TO SHARE THE TRUTH OF THESE DANGERS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AS A CITY WITH THE REST OF THE UNITED [1:13:30] STATES. AND WE NEED TO STAND FIRMLY ON THIS ITEM AND SHOW PALESTINIANS THAT OUR JUSTICE IS [1:13:37] THEIRS, AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 25, [1:13:45] BECCA ANDRESEN. AND THE FIVE SPEAKERS ARE SPEAKER NUMBER 16, [1:13:50] LIZ BROOKS. SPEAKER NUMBER 17, TARA DURNEY. SPEAKER NUMBER 18, [1:14:01] HANOI, AND SPEAKER NUMBER 19, RUSS ADAMS. FOLLOWED BY -- OR [1:14:06] 29 RUSSE ADAMS FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 30, GRACE ALBERS. [1:14:15] WELCOME. >> HI. MY NAME IS BECCA. I LIVE IN WARD FIVE IN THE JORDAN [1:14:20] NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M HERE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO ELIMINATE THE BUDGET FOR SURVEY OR [1:14:25] SURVEILLANCE SCRARKTING WITH ZEN CITY FOR TWO MAIN REASONS. [1:14:30] FIRST, MPD DOES NOT NEED THIS CONTRACT. THEY DON'T NEED THIS SURVEY INFORMATION. WE KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF [1:14:36] RESEARCH. THERE WAS AN ENTIRE COMMISSION ON WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND THE WAYS THEY [1:14:41] HAVE FAILED. AND WE KNOW THAT IS WHY PEOPLE THINK NEGATIVELY OF THEM. WE DON'T NEED MORE OPINION SURVEYS. WE DO NOT NEED [1:14:50] TO RISK THAT GIVING THEM -- GIVING THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT SURVEILLANCE [1:14:56] TECHNOLOGY, WHICH BASED ON THEIR LONG HISTORY, WE CAN COUNT ON THEM USING TO HARASS AND ARREST [1:15:05] BIPOC RESIDENTS. IT WILL NOT REDUCE RATES OF VIOLENT CRIME OR INCREASE THE RATES OF SOLVING CRIMES. LET ALONE ADDRESS ROOT [1:15:11] CAUSES OF VIOLENCE AND SUFFERING IN OUR CITY. TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, ADDRESS THE SLUMLORD PROBLEM. AND FUND [1:15:17] PROGRAMS LIKE THE COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP AND THE COENFORCEMENT BUDGET. OUR [1:15:23] SHELTERS. OUR, UMM, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ON BROADWAY AND PEN AVENUE IN MY [1:15:29] NEIGHBORHOOD. SECOND, AS THE GREAT GRAND CHILD OF RUSSIAN AND POLISH JEWISH. I OPPOSE TWO [1:15:45] QUICKLY INCREASING TAX DOLLARS FUNDING SUFFERING AND OPPRESSION AND SLAUGHTER AND STARVATION OF [1:15:53] PALESTINIANS. I DECRY THE JUSTIFICATION OF SUPPORT FOR AN ISRAELI COMPANY OR ISRAEL, [1:15:59] GENERALLY, AS PRO JEWISH. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS [1:16:05] SPEAKER NUMBER 26. LIZ BROOKS. [1:16:15] HI THERE. MY NAME IS LIZ BROOKS. I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF [1:16:20] THE WARD 10 AREA. I'VE LIVED IN MINNEAPOLIS FOR SIX YEARS. AND WORKED HERE ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST DECADE. IN THAT TIME, I'VE [1:16:26] SPEND A LOT OF HOURS ON AND OFF THE CLOCK IN THE BARS, RESTAURANTS WITH, AND MUSIC VENUES [1:16:31] AND THE PEOPLE WORKING THERE ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF MINNEAPOLIS' CULTURE SCENE. AFTER YEARS OF THESE [1:16:38] CONVERSATIONS, I'VE NOTICED SOMETHING ALL THESE EMPLOYEES HAVE IN COMMON. TALES OF [1:16:44] MISTREAT BID THEIR EMPLOYERS. MY COWORKERS AT FIRST AVENUE AND I WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE [1:16:51] RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITY CENTER IN OUR CORNER WHILE FIGHTING FOR OUR FIRST UNION CONTRACT. [1:16:57] RROCK AND OTHERS ARE AT-RISK OF LOSING VALUABLE [1:17:03] FUNDING. AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR A HUGE SEGMENT OF OUR WORK FORCE THAT OFTEN SLIPS THROUGH THE CRACKS. THERE IS NO [1:17:09] MINNEAPOLIS WITHOUT THE WORKERS WHO MAKE OUR FOOD, DRINKS AND NIGHT LIFE. PARTICULARLY THE CLIMATE FULL OF POLITICAL [1:17:16] UNCERTAINTY AND THREATS OF STATE VIOLENCE, WORKERS DESERVE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS OF THE TOOLS [1:17:21] THEY NEED TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS. ESPECIALLY AS THEY MAKE UP OUR CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE [1:17:27] POPULATIONS. PLEASE DON'T LET OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS BE LEFT BEHIND. AND [1:17:33] FREE PALESTINE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 27, [1:17:42] TARA. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 28HANOI. [1:17:51] >> HI. I LIVE IN WARD EIGHT. [1:17:57] AS A RESIDENT OF MINNEAPOLIS, I ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. I DO [1:18:03] NOT WANT MY FAMILY OR MY NEIGHBORS SUBJECTED TO SURVEILLANCE OR DATA GATHERING [1:18:08] BY A COMPANY LINKED TO ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE. AND I DO NOT WANT MY TAX DOLLARS GOING TO A [1:18:15] COMPANY THAT PROFITS FROM THE KILLING AND MAIMING OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AND [1:18:20] THEIR FAMILIES. PLEASE CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. THANK YOU. [1:18:30] [ APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT UP SPEAKER NUMBER 28, [1:18:36] HANOI. [1:18:42] >> HELLO. >> YOU'RE WELCOME TO MOVE UP THE ... YEAH. JUST FROM THE BOTTOM. THERE YOU GO. [1:18:50] >> HELLO. I LIVE IN WARD FOUR. [1:18:55] I'M HERE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT THAT THE MPD, [1:19:00] WHICH IS TO CONTINUE. THIS IS [1:19:06] FORMER SURVEILLANCE WITHIN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SYSTEM THAT I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH. I'M [1:19:11] OPPOSED ANY SORT OF MASS SURVEILLANCE. THE SYSTEMS WORK [1:19:29] TO SUPPRESS PEOPLE'S ABILITIES TO FREELY ASSEMBLE, FREELY USE THEIR SPEECH, OR OTHERWISE [1:19:34] ENGAGE IN DEMOCRACY WITHOUT THEM BEING OBSERVED. I THINK THROUGH [1:19:40] IS UNJUST. AND IMMENSELY SO. CONSIDERING THE TIES TO THE [1:19:47] ISRAELI MILITARY AND THE ONGOING ONSLAUGHT THEY ARE COMMITTING FIRST AGAINST THE [1:19:53] PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. I AM A FAN OF A TECH ADVOCATE LEWIS ROSSMAN [1:20:00] ON YOUTUBE. WHO FOCUSES ON THIS EXACT SORT OF MASS SURVEILLANCE [1:20:06] DONE IN CITIES SUCH AS AUSTIN, TEXAS AND DENVER, COLORADO. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I DON'T WANT TO [1:20:12] SEE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA IN HIS YOUTUBE CHANNEL. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THE SAME [1:20:19] SORT OF STATE THAT THOSE CITIES DO IN WHICH WE ARE CONSTANTLY SURVEILLED. THAT'S MY TIME. [1:20:26] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 29, RUSS ADAMS. [1:20:34] I WONDER IF MR. ADAMS LEFT. AND THEN SPEAKER NUMBER 30, GRACE [1:20:42] ALVAREZ. [1:20:52] [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [1:21:24] DISBLAT G >> GOOD EVENING. I'VE BEEN [1:21:30] WORKING IN THE RESTAURANT FOR MORE THAN 21 YEARS. I WORK HARD TO SUPPORT AND A PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY. I LEARNED ABOUT ROCK [1:21:36] MINNESOTA THROUGH A WORKSHOP. AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT LABOR LAWS OR THE RIGHTS WE HAVE AS WORKERS. [1:21:43] [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [1:22:20] >> SO CERTAINLY AFTER ATTENDING THAT WORKSHOP, I WAS INJURED AT WORK. OR SHORTLY BEFORE [1:22:26] ATTENDING THAT WORKSHOP I WAS INJURED AT WORK. I FILED A REPORT AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO [1:22:32] THE EMERGENCY ROOM. I WAITED FOR A LONG TIME. AFTER THAT I KEPT WORKING FOR MONTHS. WITH [1:22:38] THE PAIN STILL ONGOING. I THEN WAS INFORMED -- I INFORMED MYSELF ABOUT MY RIGHTS AND [1:22:44] DEMANDED HELP AT WORK. AND THANKS TO THAT, I RECEIVED WORKERS' COMPENSATION. THAT EXPERIENCE CHANGED MY LIFE. I [1:22:50] REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND TO KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE RIGHTS EVEN WHEN NO ONE [1:22:56] TELLS US.. [1:23:38] >> SO THANKS TO ROCK MINNESOTA, I LEARNED WHAT WORKERS' [1:23:43] COMPENSATION IS. AND THAT I HAVE RIGHT -- AND THE RIGHT TO SICK AND SAFE TIME. AND I DON'T HAVE TO STAY QUIET WHEN [1:23:50] SOMETHING IS WRONG. ROCK MINNESOTA HELPED ME OVERCOME MY FEAR AND STAND UP FOR MYSELF WITH DIGNITY. THAT'S WHY I [1:23:55] BELIEVE IN COENFORCEMENT IS ESSENTIAL. MANY WORKERS, ESPECIALLY LATINO WORKERS, DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE RIGHTS OR ARE [1:24:02] AFRAID TO DEMAND THEM. BUT WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ROCK MINNESOTA, WE LEARNED THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE. THE LAW PROTECTS [1:24:08] US, AS WELL, AND WE DESERVE TO WORK WITH RESPECT, JUSTICE, AND SAFETY. [1:24:34] >> THAT'S WHY TODAY I'M ASKING YOU TO RESTORE FUNDING THAT SUPPORTS THE WORK OF ROCK MINNESOTA AND OTHER [1:24:40] ORGANIZATIONS ON THE FRONTLINES HELPING OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE BEHIND EVERY WORKER, THERE'S A [1:24:45] STORY, A FAMILY, AND A DREAM. AND WE ALL DESERVE A FAIR CHANCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [1:24:57] >> THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 31, CARLOS, SPEAKER NUMBER 32, [1:25:04] MADDIE SCHWARTZ. SPEAKER NUMBER 33, MAL MAL COME WELLS. [1:25:11] SPEAKER NUMBER 34. WELCOME UP [1:25:27] CARLOS. >> HELLO AGAIN. >> WELCOME BACK. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. AND EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT. MY [1:25:33] NAME IS CARLOS RAMOS. AN ORGANIZER WITH RO ROCK MINNESOTA. I STARTED WORKING IN [1:25:39] THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AT THE AGE OF 16. BUT MY INTRODUCTION CAME AT BIRTH. MY PARENTS MIGRATED [1:25:46] HERE IN THE 1980s AND SPENT THEIR LIVES WORKING IN RESTAURANTS I GROUP UP HEARING STORIES OF [1:25:53] UNFAIR TREATMENT. AT ROBBING MINNESOTA I WAS HIRED TO RUN THE [1:25:59] PROGRAM. TEACHING WORKERS THEIR RIGHTS AND THE STEPS THEY CAN TAKE WHEN THOSE RIGHTS ARE VIOLATED. THROUGH THIS WORK, [1:26:04] I'VE HEARD COUNTLESS STORIES. ONE WORKER HAD SPENT YEARS [1:26:09] WORKING AND ONLY RECEIVING PARTIAL PAYMENTS. NEVER A FULL CHECK. ANOTHER WORKER AND HER [1:26:15] SON WERE SIMPLY FIRED FOR ASKING ABOUT AN UNPAID WAGES THAT WERE [1:26:21] BEHIND ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A MONTH. AND ANOTHER WORKER WAS INJURED ON THE JOB. AND WAS [1:26:29] DISMISSED AND FORCED TO WORK THROUGH HER PAIN. THESE STORIES, ON ONE HAND, ARE [1:26:35] HEARTBREAKING. AND ON THE OTHER HAND, WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT -- FAR FROM BEING ISOLATED. ALL THREE [1:26:41] WORKERS ARE SPANISH SPEAKING. ALL CAME HERE FOR A BETTER LIFE. AND FOUND THE COURAGE TO STAND [1:26:47] UP FOR THEIR DIGNITY. ROCK MINNESOTA HAS BECOME A CRUCIAL RESOURCE FOR RESTAURANT WORKERS. [1:26:52] ESPECIALLY LATINO WORKERS. WE OFTEN RECEIVE CALLS FROM FOLKS ACROSS DIFFERENT AND OTHER INDUSTRIES, AS WELL. AND WE [1:26:59] KNOW THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN SYSTEMS FAIL US, SOMETIMES [1:27:05] WORD OF MOUTH AND SHARING INFORMATION AMONGST WORKERS IS THE BEST WAY TO GET INFORMATION. [1:27:11] AND THROUGH DOING THIS WORK, AND HELPING WORKERS FIGHT AND LEARN WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE, IT [1:27:18] HAS BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME THE VALIDATION THAT I SEEKED AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN A FAMILY IN A HOUSEHOLD, THE RESTAURANT [1:27:24] WORKERS THAT OFTEN SPOKE ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY FACED AT THE DINNER TABLE. SO THIS STORIES I CARRY ARE NOT JUST STORIES. [1:27:30] THEY ARE CALLS TO ACTION. CODE ENFORCEMENT IS A TOOL THAT MAKES FAIRNESS AND DIGNITY POSSIBLE [1:27:35] FOR WORKERS IN THIS CITY. >> THANK YOU. >> AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO SHARE YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY WITH US, [1:27:42] AS WELL. NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 32, MADDI SCHWARTZ. [1:27:50] FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 33, MALL COME WELLS. >> HI, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M A [1:27:56] RESIDENT OF WARD SEVEN. SPEAKING ON THE ZEN CITY CONTRACT. I'M EXTREMELY [1:28:01] FRUSTRATED WITH THE IDEA THAT THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IS OKAY CONTRACTING WITH STEN CITY AS A SURVEILLANCE AND TECH COMPANY [1:28:07] THAT HAS A HISTORY OF ANALYZING PEOPLE'S SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND INTERNET ACTIVITY. TO [1:28:13] IRONICALLY HELP THE CITY WORK TOWARD IMPROVING POLICING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. I BELIEVE IT FURTHER HARMS RELATIONS BY [1:28:19] JEP DIAGNOSES TRUST WHEN THE CITY IS USING AN EXPENSIVE CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANY THAT USES AI TO MONITOR SOCIAL MEDIA [1:28:25] POSTS, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN WE HEAR THE GROWING RISKS OF THIS KIND OF SURVEILLANCE ALMOST [1:28:32] DAILY. DIGITAL TOOLS USED FOR OUTREACH DO NOT NEED TO USE THESE METHODS AND WE DON'T NEED TO CONTRACT WITH COMPANIES WITH [1:28:38] THIS HISTORY. IF THE CITY WANTS TO IMPROVE THE TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WE COULD, INSTEAD, [1:28:43] DIRECT THE FUNDING TOWARD SUPPORTING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS WHO FREQUENTLY SEE HARASSED AND HARMED BY LAW [1:28:49] ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER DIRECT COMMUNITY NEEDS. FOR THE REASONS THAT OTHERS AND THE [1:28:54] REASONS THAT OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN TO TONIGHT. UMM, I BELIEVE THIS CONTRACT AND THE COMPANY'S HS I [1:29:00] ARE RISKS MAKING PEOPLE FEEL LESS SAFELY. LIKE THE CITY CONDONES THE SURVEILLANCE ON THE [1:29:07] RESIDENTS. I THINK IT EXACERBATES A LOSS OF TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. IF THE CITY WANTS TO MEASURE THE [1:29:13] RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, IN BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY, A PROCESS CAN BE LED [1:29:18] BY IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE DEEP TIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND, FRANKLY W, THE FOLKS WHO [1:29:27] HAVE AN HISTORY WHO HAVE BEEN SURVEILLED AND HARMED BY MPD. [1:29:56] >> GOOD EVENING. I APPRECIATE LISTENING EARS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT UNDERSTANDING HOW THE WORK IS. I WANT TO SHARE [1:30:04] OUR APPRECIATION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE REST OF Y'ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP FOR COMMUNITY BY [1:30:11] SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENTS. THE NEED FOR INCREASED FUNDING IS URGENT. I'VE BEEN HERE A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF TIMES OVER [1:30:16] THE YEARS. AS A FORMER EDUCATOR, EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT TO ME. YOUNG FOLKS FROM THE [1:30:22] CITY THAT WORK A LOT OF HOURLY JOBS WHERE WE SEE THE MOST VIOLATIONS. MINIMUM WAGE VIOLATIONS IN MINNEAPOLIS AREAS [1:30:29] CAUSE MINNESOTA WORKERS $900 MILLION OVER THE PAST DECADE WITH AN -- SEVEN OF THE [1:30:36] EIGHT VIOLATION INDUSTRIES ARE EXPECTED TO GROW OVER THE COMING DECADES. IT'S PROVEN THAT LEVEL [1:30:42] OF GROWTH ONLY HAPPENS WHEN WAGES ARE BEING STOLEN FROM WORKERS. AND OUR CITY BUDGET IS [1:30:48] M MORAL DOCUMENT. MAKES ME WONDER WHERE OUR VALUES LIE. [1:30:57] AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOME FOLKS RECENTLY. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT CUTTING CODE [1:31:03] ENFORCEMENT FEELS LIKE RETALIATION AGAINST ORG ORG ORGANIZATIONS. I THINK [1:31:09] IT'S A CALL OUT OF THE PLAYBOOK AUTHORED BY WHITE SUPREMACY TO KEEP LOW WAGE WORKERS POOR. THE [1:31:17] SAME IMMIGRANT WORKERS TO EXPERIENCE WAGE THEFT. THERE ARE GROUPS OF PEOPLE WORKING [1:31:23] AGAINST THE BEST INTERESTS OF WORKERS. THEY DO NOT WANT -- [1:31:29] THEIR VOICES ARE A LOUDER THAN WORKERS. BECAUSE THEY GOT MONEY. CITY COUNCILS IN THE BREECH OF THAT. THEY CAN [1:31:34] ADDRESS THIS DIRECTLY. THE VOICES THAT MATTER HERE. WORKERS AREN'T PLAYING POLITICS. [1:31:40] THEY'RE PLAYING GAME OF SURVIVAL EVERY DAY. DON'T FURTHER RIG THE GAME AGAINST THEM. APPRECIATE. [1:31:49] [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS SPEAKER NUMBER 34. FOLLOWED BY [1:31:56] SPEAKER NUMBER 35. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE [1:32:05] TODAY ON BEHALF OF TOUCH OUTREACH, AN ORGANIZATION ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT EVERY YOUNG [1:32:10] PERSON, EVERY FAMILY, AND EVERY CORRIDOR IN THIS CITY DESERVES SAFETY, OPPORTUNITY, AND DIGNITY. OUR REQUEST TODAY IS [1:32:17] SIMPLE. WE'RE ASKING THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS TO INVEST IN TOUCH OUTREACH, A CORNERSTONE OF [1:32:22] PUBLIC SAFETY, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY STABILIZATION IN THE EAST LAKE CORRIDOR. OUR WORK IS CENTERED [1:32:28] IN AN AREA THAT IS CARRIED BOTH THE WEIGHT OF HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT, AND THE STRENGTH [1:32:33] OF INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. IN THIS CORRIDOR, WE MEET YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE THEY [1:32:38] ARE. ON THE STREETS, IN THE SHELTERS, AND WITHEN THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE [1:32:43] PROVIDE HANDS ON MENTORSHIP, CONFLICT INTERRUPTION, CRISIS RESPONSE, AND CULTURALLY [1:32:49] GROUNDED SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES. WHEN WE ARE RESOURCED, THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS. [1:32:57] SCHOOLS SEE FEWER DISRUPTIONS, HOSPITALS SEE FEWER TRAUMA CASES, AND BUSINESSES EXPERIENCE FEWER INCIDENTS, AS WELL AS [1:33:04] FAMILIES EXPERIENCING MORE HOPE. YOU SHOULD FUND TOUCH OUTREACH BECAUSE STAFF REFLECTS THE [1:33:09] COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE SERVE, AND WE ACT AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN RESIDENTS, SCHOOLS, HEALTH SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS CITY [1:33:16] GOVERNMENT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE PROVIDE COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION THAT COSTS LESS AND [1:33:22] PROVIDES BETTER OUTCOMES THAN ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS EMERGENCY RESPONSE ALONE. WE PROVIDE [1:33:28] CONSISTENT MENTORSHIP, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND STREET-BASED OUTREACH. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING [1:33:35] STABILIZING -- STABILIZATION FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES THROUGH PROGRAMMING SUCH AS FINANCIAL LITERACY, AS WELL AS HEALING CIRCLES. WE CONNECT INDIVIDUALS [1:33:42] TO TREATMENT, HARM REDUCTION, AS WELL AS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. AND HELP REDUCE INCIDENTS FOR BUSINESSES WHILE SUPPORTING [1:33:48] CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAFE ENVIRONMENT. WITH SUSTAINABLE CITY INVESTMENT, TOUCH CAN [1:33:53] EXPAND OUR CONFLICT INTERRUPTION TEAM, BUILD MORE YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING, DEEPEN OUR FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, AND [1:34:00] WIDEN THE SAFETY NET THAT IS SAVING LIVES BLOCK-BY-BLOCK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [1:34:07] [ APPLAUSE ] I WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED IN THIS COMMITTEE BY [1:34:12] COUNCILMEMBER OSMAN. WE ARE NEARING THE END OF OUR LIST OF [1:34:17] REGISTERED SPEAKERS. IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO IS HERE, PERHAPS [1:34:23] ARRIVED LATE, OR LINE WAS LONG WHEN YOU ARRIVED. I WOULD INVITE YOU TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK [1:34:30] AT THE TABLE OUTSIDE. OR YOU CAN DO SO RIGHT HERE IN THE [1:34:38] CHAMBERS. BY OUR CLERKS TO YOUR LEFT, MY RIGHT. NEXT WE'RE [1:34:45] GOING TO WELCOME SPEAKER NUMBER 35, RAY HAMMELLMAN. AND SPEAKER [1:34:52] NUMBER 36 SHANNON JAFFE, FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 37 [1:34:59] LEWIS FROM CTUL. I'M HAVING A TOUGH TIME READING YOUR LAST NAME. HI. >> AS MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS ARE [1:35:06] LOSING HEALTH INSURANCE, STRUGGLING WITH FOOD COSTS, AND SLEEPING IN THE COLD. IT'S ABSURD TO BE PAYING HALF A [1:35:12] MILLION DOLLARS TO A ISRAELI TECH COMPANY FOR A SOCIAL-MID YA DRIVEN SURVEY. ZEN CITY IS A [1:35:19] CHOICE Y'ALL CAN MAKE THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE WELL BEING OF OUR MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITIES. ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE [1:35:25] DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THE VIOLENCE OF COLONIALISM. WE [1:35:36] WITH MPD'S HISTORY OF ANTIBLACK RACISM AND VIOLENCE, THIS CONTRACT IS THE LAST THING [1:35:42] THAT MAKES A PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN MINNEAPOLIS. I WANT TO THE SHARE A BIT OF JEWISH PRACTICE. [1:35:47] IT TRANSLATES TO CHARITY BUT MEANS JUSTICE. EXCUSE ME. IT'S OFTEN TRANSLATED AS CHARITY BUT [1:35:53] IT MEANS JUSTICE. THIS INTENTION IS EVERY ACTION SUPPORTS JUSTICE. JUSTICE IS [1:35:59] CONSIDERATION OF ALL OF OUR DECISIONS WE ELEVATE EACH MOMENT AND ACTION BEYOND THE MUNDANE TO [1:36:05] AN EXPRESSION OF COMMUNITY CARE. IN THIS CLIMATE OF GEOPOLITICAL DOOM, I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE [1:36:10] IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR Y'ALL TO MAKE. MAYOR FREY -- ABOUT ZEN CITY CONTRACT AND [1:36:16] IGNORED HIS JEWISH VALUES AND SILENCE AND INACTION. I'M CALLING ON YOU TO WRIGHT HIS [1:36:21] WRONG. DO THE RIGHT THING AND CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY NOW. INVESTING IN COMMUNITY [1:36:27] MEANS CENTERING THE -- THE EXPERIENCE OF WISDOM OF OUR [1:36:32] BLACK COMMUNITIES, OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, TRANS COMMUNITIES WITH, AND UNHOUSED [1:36:39] PEOPLE TO BE CENTERED IN THE CONVERSATION AROUND COMMUNITY SAFETY. RIGHT. SO MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WILL YOU [1:36:45] DO THE RIGHT THING. WILL YOU SERVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS WELL AND CUT THE CONTRACT WITH ZEN CITY. [1:36:50] THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. JUSTIN, IF YOU [1:36:57] ARE SOMEONE WHO IS LOOKING TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK, YOU CAN DO THAT HERE IN THE CHAMBERS NOW. [1:37:04] THE SIGN IN TABLE FROM THE HALLWAY HAS NOW BEEN MOVED TO INSIDE OF THE CHAMBERS. NEXT UP [1:37:11] IS SPEAKER NUMBER 36, SHANNON JAFFE. FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 37, LUIS FROM CTUL. [1:37:22] >> I THINK SHARON LEFT. >> GOT YOU. THANK YOU. IT [1:37:27] SOUNDS LIKE SPEAKER NUMBER 36, SHANNON, HAS LEFT. SO NEXT IS [1:37:33] SPEAKER NUMBER 37, LUIS FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 38. 38. [1:37:50] [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [1:38:14] >> INTERPRETER: GOOD EVENING, DISTINGUISHED AUTHORITIES AND [1:38:21] FELLOW WORKERS. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY CASE AND HOW IMPORTANT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BUDGET IS. FOR MANY WORKERS WHO [1:38:27] ARE UNAWARE OF OUR RIGHTS IN THIS BEAUTIFUL STATE OF [1:38:32] MINNESOTA AND IN THIS CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [1:39:02] >> INTERPRETER: SO, I WORKED FOR TWO YEARS AT A RESTAURANT IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. AND I WAS [1:39:08] NEVER TOLD NOR KNEW I WAS ENTITLED TO PAID SICK LEAVE. AND SO I NEVER RECEIVED THAT [1:39:14] DURING MY TWO YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT. AND EVEN WORSE, WHEN I GOT SICK, AND I SENT A [1:39:20] MESSAGE TO THE RESTAURANT MANAGER, I WAS JUST SENT A NOTICE OF MY DISMISSAL FROM MY [1:39:28] JOB. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [1:40:08] >> INTERPRETER: AND SO THAT'S WHEN A FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT CTUL AND HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK IS THAT THEY DO IN TRAINING MANY [1:40:15] PEOPLE WHO, LIKE ME, ARE UNAWARE OF OUR RIGHTS AT WORK. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PAID SICK TIME. THANKS TO CTUL, MY [1:40:23] COWORKERS AND I ARE TRYING TO RECOVER PAYMENT FOR THE SICK TIME HOURS FOR WHICH WE'RE ENTITLED TO, WHICH IS OUR RIGHT. [1:40:30] THAT'S WHY, FOR ME, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO THAT CTUL AND [1:40:36] OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MORE WORKERS LIKE ME IN THE WORK THAT WE DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [1:40:45] [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP SPEAKER [1:40:52] NUMBER 38. [1:41:07] [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [1:41:42] >> INTERPRETER: GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I LEARNED ABOUT ROCK MINNESOTA [1:41:49] ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. FOR A DECADE, I WORKED IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY. IN CITY OF [1:41:54] SAINT PAUL. AND MINNEAPOLIS. DURING THAT TIME, I FACED VERY [1:42:01] DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. I SUFFERED DISCRIMINATION FOR BEING A WOMAN. AND FOR BEING [1:42:09] LATINA. WHICH LEFT ME FEELING FRUSTRATED AND STRESSED. AND UNMOTIVATED. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE [1:42:15] I DID NOT RECEIVE RESPECT OR SUPPORT FROM MY SUPERVISOR. [1:42:21] [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [1:42:43] >> INTERPRETER: AT ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE I WORKED, I [1:42:48] WORKED -- A COWORKER MADE COMMENTS IN FRONT OF THE MANAGERS. THEY LAUGHED BUT [1:42:54] NEVER DID ANYTHING OR CORRECT HIM. OR TOOK ANY ACTION. I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH [1:43:01] THE OWNER. BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, NOTHING WAS DONE. THE LACK OF ACTION MADE ME FEEL HOPELESS AND [1:43:11] VOICELESS. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [1:43:26] >> INTERPRETER: THAT'S WHEN I REACHED OUT TO ROCK MINNESOTA. AND THANKS TO THEIR SUPPORT, I [1:43:32] WAS ABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RIGHTS. FROM THE FIRST MOMENT, [1:43:41] I FELT HEARD, ACCOMPANIED, A [1:43:47] AND SUPPORTED. [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [1:44:05] >> THE WORK THAT ROCK DOES IS ESSENTIAL. NOT ONLY FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO FOR [1:44:14] ALL THE WORKERS WHO DESERVE RESPECT EQUALLY. AND JUST ISRAELI ICE IN THE [1:44:21] WORKPLACE. I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO ROCK FOR HELPING ME REGAIN MY [1:44:27] CONFIDENCE AND REMIND ME THAT WE HAVE RIGHTS AND WE'RE NOT ALONE. [1:44:34] [ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] [1:44:47] >> INTERPRETER: AND THAT'S WHY I ASK THE COUNCIL TO RESTORE THE FUNDS OF CODE ENFORCEMENT SO [1:44:53] THAT ROCK MINNESOTA CAN CONTINUE SUPPORTING AND TRAINING MORE [1:44:59] WORKERS WHO FEEL THE WAY I FELT ONCE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [1:45:05] [ APPLAUSE ] WE'RE NOW DOWN TO OUR FINAL FOUR REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR THE [1:45:12] EVENING. SPEAKER NUMBER 39, ALBA ESCOBAR. SPEAKER NUMBER [1:45:21] 40, JORDAN NELSON. SPEAKER NUMBER 41, ALLISON THORSON. AND [1:45:26] SPEAKER NUMBER 42. AND I'LL JUST OFFER A REMINDER, IF YOU [1:45:33] ARE MOVING THE MIC TO DO SO FROM THE BOTTOM. NOT BY THE BLUE [1:45:40] TAPE. SPEAKER NUMBER 39, ALBA ESCOBAR. WITH ROCK MINNESOTA. [1:45:52] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. EL HELLO AGAIN. MY NAME IS ALBA ESCOBAR. I WORK WITH ROCK [1:45:58] MINNESOTA FOR FOUR YEARS. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH RESTAURANT WORKERS IN THE ST TWIN [1:46:04] CITIES. DURING THESE TIMES, I HAVE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE IGNORING THINGS [1:46:12] LIKE LACK OF SICK AND SAFE TIME PAY, HARASSMENT DISCRIMINATION, AND MANY OTHER ISSUES LIKE [1:46:19] WORKERS' COMPENSATION. AND A LOT MORE. AND MANY STORIES THAT [1:46:27] WE HAVE HERE THAT I WILL NOT FINISH TELLING EACH OF THEM, IF [1:46:32] I TOLD TODAY. MANY OF THESE WORKERS ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF [1:46:39] LOSING THEIR JOB. WHICH MEANS LOSING THEIR SOURCE OF INCOME TO [1:46:46] BRING FOOD TO THEIR TABLES FOR FAMILIES. OR TO FACE ANY [1:46:54] RETALIATION. I GOT FIRED FOR SPEAKING UP AGAINST HARASSMENT [1:46:59] AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE [1:47:10] . . . . >> ROCK MINNESOTA EMPOWERS WORKERS, ESPECIALLY LATINO AND [1:47:16] IMMIGRANT WORKERS TO RECOGNIZE THEIR POWER AND ADVOCATE FOR [1:47:22] FAIR AND SAFE WORK PLACE. MANY OF US GREW UP THINKING THAT WE DON'T HAVE POWER. THAT WE HAVE [1:47:31] -- THAT JUST THAT WE -- I'M SORRY, THAT WE JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT WHATEVER COMES ON THE [1:47:40] WAY. BEDROCK TEACHES US THAT WE DO HAVE POWER. THAT WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, WE CAN TRANSFORM [1:47:46] OUR WORK PLACE, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITY. [1:47:52] I AM NOW COMMITTED TO WORKERS TO FIGHT FOR WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR [1:47:58] RESPECT AND FOR DIGNITY AND FOR A SAFE WORK PLACE. THANK YOU. [1:48:04] >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> NEXT UP, SPEAKER 40, JORDAN [1:48:12] BORE NELSON WITH, I BELIEVE, MAD DADS. AND THEN SPEAKER NUMBER [1:48:17] 41, ALLISON THORSON. [1:48:22] FOLLOWED BY SPEAKER NUMBER 42, [1:48:28] ABIR ISMAEL. HI, ARE YOU [1:48:37] ALLISON? IF JORDAN COMES BACK, WE'LL BE SURE TO GET TO THEM. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. HI, COUNCIL [1:48:43] MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALLISON. I USE SHE/HER PRONOUNCE AND I AM A [1:48:51] RESIDENT OF WARD NINE. I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO CUT THE CONTRACT WITH SIN CITY. I USED TO BE A CITY OF [1:48:56] MINNEAPOLIS FOR TWO YEARS WHERE I TALKED WITH MANY OF MY COWORKERS ABOUT HOW OUR PENSIONS AS PUBLIC WORKERS WERE INVESTED [1:49:04] IN GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. AND THEN WE LEARNED THAT OUR OWN EMPLOYER T CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, [1:49:10] HAS A CONTRACT WITH AN ISRAELI TECH COMPANY. YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM OTHERS TONIGHT WHY [1:49:16] THE CONTRACT IS A BAD DECISION FOR FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS REASONS. I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF [1:49:22] MANY FORMER COWORKERS, YOUR EMPLOYEES, WHO DID NOT WANT TO SPEAK TONIGHT FOR FEAR OF [1:49:27] RISKING THEIR JOBS, BUT WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE WORK THEY DO AS PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR THEIR [1:49:33] COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CITY SHOULD NEVER CONTRACT WITH ANY COMPANY THAT IS TIED TO SURVEILLANCE, GENOCIDE, OR ANY [1:49:40] OTHER UNETHICAL PRACTICES OR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. PUBLIC SERVANTS GET INTO THEIR JOBS TO [1:49:46] HELP PEOPLE AND BUILD BEAUTIFUL AND JUST COMMUNITIES THAT WORK FOR ALL OF OUR CITY RESIDENTS. THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO [1:49:52] OVERSEE CONTRACTS THAT VIOLATE THOSE VALUES IN OUR OWN CITY OR HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD IN [1:49:59] PALESTINE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT. AND FINALLY, [1:50:06] SPEAKER NUMBER 42, ABIR ISMAEL. [1:50:12] WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, HERE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL ONE DAY FOR [1:50:17] GIVING THIS RESOLUTION. AND YOU WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO THAT. I AM A MATH TEACHER IN [1:50:23] MINNEAPOLIS. I AM A MEMBER OF MFE AND MN-EDUCATORS. I AM HERE [1:50:29] STANDING UP WITH MY BROTHER AND SISTER JUSTICE FOR PEACE AND MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITY AND MY [1:50:34] STUDENT TO ASK FOR THE STOP THE [1:50:39] CONTRACT. ONE TIME I ASK MY STUDENT, IF YOU HAVE $1 MILLION, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT? THEY SAID I'M GOING TO [1:50:45] BUILD A FACTORY. I'M GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE WORK AND MAKE HOMELESS FIND A PLACE AND [1:50:50] INCREASE THE SOCIOECONOMICS OF THE CITY. I WANT TO QATAR ONE TIME TO VISIT MY DAUGHTER AND THEY OPENED THE DOOR AND CAN [1:50:57] KEEP OPENING THE DOOR. MY GRAND DAUGHTER CALLED THE POLICE. AND IS THE POLICE THERE? IT IS TO [1:51:03] SERVE THE PEOPLE, NOT TO PUT THE CAMERAS AND STAND UP FOR THIS. I WANT TO PUT THE HUMANITY TO [1:51:08] THIS STORY RIGHT NOW. I DECIDE TO SIGN UP TO CLOSE YOUR ICE AND IMAGINE WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY [1:51:14] IS YOU ARE A CHILD. I AM DEVASTATED ASKING FOR DIVESTMENT. I AM DEVASTATED TWO [1:51:20] YEARS EVERY DAY CRYING FOR DIVESTMENT. THINK IF THIS IS [1:51:25] YOUR KIDS. AND EVERY EDUCATION HAS BEEN REDUCED TO TROUBLE. IMAGINE YOUR KIDS CANNOT GO TO SCHOOL. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF [1:51:31] CHILDREN HAVE BEEN BURNED ALIVE AND DISMEMBERED. THEIR BODIES SCATTERED AMONG THE RUINS THAT [1:51:38] USED TO BE PLAYGROUNDS AND HOMES. WHY WE DO THIS FOR CHILDREN? FOR UNDER WHAT NAME? THINK OF [1:51:45] OUR HUMANITY HERE. AHMED WAS JUST A LITTLE BOY AND HIS [1:51:50] REMAINS WERE FOUND BY HIS 11-YEAR-OLD BROTHER IN A LITTLE BLUE BACKPACK. [1:51:56] EVERY KID HAS A STORY. EVERY KID HAS A NAME. AND WE ARE STILL CRYING FOR DIVESTMENT. [1:52:02] IT'S NOT BICAMERA. IT IS NOT BY POLICING. IT IS NOT -- IT IS INVESTING IN OUR CITY. WORKING [1:52:08] TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. [1:52:14] I HAD TO -- THERE IS A LOT OF STORY YOU CAN SEE ONLINE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [1:52:31] THANK YOU. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF REGISTERED SPEAKERS. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO [1:52:38] WISHES TO OFFER TESTIMONY? I KNOW WE HAD THREE PEOPLE WHO [1:52:45] MAY HAVE LEFT ALREADY. RUSS ADAMS, SHANNON JAFFEY AND JORDAN [1:52:51] BORE NELSON. ANYONE ELSE WHO HASN'T SIGNED UP WISHING TO [1:52:56] SPEAK? GOING ONCE, TWICE. [1:53:02] ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. I WANT TO [1:53:09] SINCERELY THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED HERE TODAY AND EVERYONE WHO SPOKE OR SUBMITTED [1:53:14] COMMENTS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THIS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK. THAT HELPS MOVE [1:53:21] OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO INCREDIBLY RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER'S [1:53:26] PERSPECTIVES HERE TODAY. AND WITH THAT, WE HAVE CONCLUDED ALL BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE [1:53:31] COMMITTEE THIS EVENING. AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE STAND ADJOURNED UNTIL FRIDAY, DECEMBER [1:53:36] 5, AT 10:00 A.M. WHEN WE WILL BEGIN CONSIDERING REVISIONS TO [1:53:42] MAYOR FREY'S RECOMMENDED 2026 BUDGET. THANK YOU, ALL. [1:53:55] . . . . .