Mayor Frey Vies for Reelection With New Public Safety Plan

With the Minneapolis Police recently reporting the 70th homicide of the year, public safety remains the number one issue for Frey and 16 other mayoral candidates. 

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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey rolled out a four-point public safety plan Monday which would integrate existing public safety work under one department and hire community-oriented officers.

“We don’t need to knock down one important facet of public safety and policing in order to build another up,” he said. “We can do both at the same time.”

Frey said he hopes to expand alternatives to police and encourage a collective approach to police reform, adding “we all agree that not every response requires an officer with a gun to respond.” 

With the Minneapolis Police recently reporting the 70th homicide of the year, public safety remains the number one issue for Frey and 16 other mayoral candidates. Bishop Richard Howell – whose church Shiloh Temple International is at the center of much of the gun violence in north Minneapolis – hosted a forum for the mayoral candidates to discuss their vision for public safety if elected. 

“We have to do something, public safety is not an issue we can put under the carpet. It’s the right time to do the right thing,” Howell said. 

Mayor Frey’s plan was met with criticism by multiple residents including Angela Williams.

“I don’t appreciate you coming here to Shiloh Temple trying to finesse the Black community once again,” said Williams. “The mayor and these council people need to get this violence under control. I don’t care about none of that stuff you just said… those are words to get re-elected the best way you know how.”

Election day is November 2nd. The public safety charter amendment will also be included on the ballot for Minneapolis residents.

Photo Credit: Brad Sigal

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