The Minneapolis City Council, the city where a combative drug addict died in police custody, passed a budget on Thursday that cut $8 million from police funding. This is during a steep increase in crime.
The money will go into mental health and violence prevention programs, which are notorious under-performers — during a crime wave.
The plan is called “Safety for All.” They plan to completely dismantle the police department eventually but that plan was stalled.
Council President Lisa Bender announced the budget and the program on Twitter:
The City Council adopted a 2021 budget!!
All the #SafetyForAllBudget proposals passed for 2021. Mental health, violence prevention, oversight and more.
The budget makes important investments in affordable housing, health, and economic recovery.
Thanks to all who got involved!
— Lisa Bender (@lisabendermpls) December 10, 2020
Steve Fletcher of Ward 3 added, “In 2021, our city will implement mental health emergency response, support community safety programs, add violence prevention capacity, and improve police accountability.”
“Thanks and congratulations to everyone who advocated for these important investments to make our city safer and more just,” Fletcher said. “it’s a big win and an important first step toward a transformed system of public safety.”
The future victims might not think so.
Thanks and congratulations to everyone who advocated for these important investments to make our city safer and more just. It’s a big win and an important first step toward a transformed system of public safety. Congrats, especially, to co-authors @MplsWard4 and @MplsWard10.
— Steve Fletcher – Minneapolis Ward 3 (@MplsWard3) December 10, 2020
For now, the cut isn’t monumental. They have a $179 million budget, but they are looking to moving forward with more drastic cuts to abolishment.
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