The Minneapolis City Council is set to vote on a controversial $6 Million land purchase for a police training facility.
Members forwarded that vote to Thursday after nearly two hours of discussion during their latest meeting on Tuesday.
Ward 2 Councilmember Robin Wonsley says the plan wastes taxpayer dollars on a project that could end up costing as much as $40 million down the road.
"It's important that we are not spending our precious resources inefficiently and on wish lists," Wonsley says. "There are a multitude of public safety initiatives that do not cost $6 to $40 million that can make our community safer."
A group of community members also voiced their opposition of the project ahead of the vote.
"If I ran my company this way, people would laugh at me when I failed, and they would be right to do so," says Ward 11 small business owner Jacob Haskins. "So why would we reward this with more of our hard-earned tax dollars when the real pillars of crime prevention need so much help right now?"
Advocates say the facility is key to centralizing operations, and helps fulfill mandatory training and facility needs outlined in settlement agreements with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
