Report on MPD reform efforts
Effective Law Enforcement for All, the company hired as the independent evaluator of the city’s settlement agreement with the state Department of Human Rights, released its latest report in January. In the 48-page document it states that the “city and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) have made measurable and meaningful progress,” but that further progress “has been hindered by lack of coordination within the MPD and with other city entities, lack of communication by MPD leadership concerning implementation, overburdened staff, and lack of resources.” Visit https://ele4a.org/minneapolis/
Security added at LRT stops
In 2025, new security officers were added to some public transit stations through a contract with Inter-Con Security. They are intended to help ensure people follow transit rules on transit property, have been trained to de-escalate situations and will contact Metro Transit police if someone is breaking the law or posing a safety risk. They will provide 20 to 24 hour coverage daily at the I-35W and Lake Street, Franklin Avenue, 46th Street and Lake Street/Midtown light rail stations. They may also accompany agents and assist on light rail and bus rapid transit lines. They carry pepper spray and handcuffs and can be identified by their black uniforms with unique patches.
Police training annex project
The Minneapolis city council has approved accepting the $436,000 bid of Rochon Corporation to renovate the city-owned facility at 19 North 4th Street and convert it into a training facility with wellness services for the Minneapolis Police Department.
Immigration legal services
The city council has also approved amending the city budget to increase funding for immigration legal services by $500,000 which will result in over $1 million this year for those services.
Rental assistance
The council has also approved a budget amendment to allocate $1 million to provide emergency rental assistance for renters affected by the federal immigration enforcement surge. This money will be administered by Hennepin County.
Eviction moratorium proposal
City Council Members Wonsley, Osman, Chavez, and Stevenson have introduced an ordinance amendment that, if approved, would authorize eviction moratoria during states of emergency.
Pre-eviction notice extension
Council Members Wonsley, Osman, Stevenson, Chavez, and Chowdhury have introduced an ordinance amendment that, if approved, would temporarily extend the length of the required pre-eviction notice from 30 to 60 days.
ICE and county
County officials have responded to concerns about the county’s relationship with federal immigration enforcement. County Attorney Mary Moriarty clarified that “local county jails hold people before their cases are resolved, not after they are convicted. Handing people to ICE before conviction strips our community of the accountability it deserves and harms victims by robbing them of a court process. If a person is convicted, the prison system shares information with ICE.” According to County Administrator Jodi Wentland, “The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) does not conduct civil immigration enforcement. … The HCSO’s law enforcement decisions (including those at the Whipple Building) are determined by the sheriff, and such decisions cannot be directed by county administration or the county board. Because the sheriff is an independent elected office, the county board’s authority is limited to setting the HCSO’s operating budget and approval of capital projects for the HCSO.”
State funding requests for city projects
The city council has approved its 2026 state legislative agenda that includes priority requests for state funding to help pay for city projects. Their top priority is a request of $19 million for a Community Safety Training and Wellness Facility, followed by, $12.36 million for renewal of water main pipes, $5 million for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan implementation, 13.5 million for 13th Ave NE stormwater improvements, $14.5 million for 35th Avenue N flood mitigation, and $3.5 million for Aldrich Ave So sanitary rehabilitation.
Grants for SW area projects
The Metropolitan Council has awarded development grants of $1,600,000 to support the building of a new 89-unit apartment building for the Zaria project at 3033 Blaisdell Ave; and a grant of $1,500,000 for the 2116 Nicollet project at 2116 Nicollet Ave. for a building that will have 54 rental apartments and office space for the Whittier Alliance and Alliance Housing.
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