Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says it was the right move to tear down a homeless encampment near the Quarry shopping center in Northeast Minneapolis Friday.
Frey says delaying the original plan to vacate the camp two days ago was the right move, because they had evidence some were prepared to take violent action against police and public works employees.
Frey tells WCCO's Chad Hartman the city has better resources and shelter options for those without a home.
“Encampments are just not the right route,” says the mayor. “If you want to transition people into long term and stable housing, and clearly that needs to be the end goal, we have a much higher success rate doing that through individuals who have already been in our shelter system.”
Frey says homeless encampments also present unique dangers like fire hazards, as well as drug and human trafficking. He says right now the city has room in its shelters to house those who have been displaced, but most have refused.
“First, we’ve got to stop the dealing of so much of this fentanyl, but second we can’t be giving them these ripe opportunities to take advantage of people. Both through drug trafficking and more importantly, human trafficking,” Frey tells WCCO.
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