A showdown is coming Wednesday night over an attempt by Minneapolis city council members to push through cuts to the police department that would eliminate 138 officers.
Council members on Monday passed the measure to shift $8 million to such areas as mental health crisis response teams and violent prevention programs.
Also during the 4-hour meeting, council agreed to create a new fund that might be able to offset some of those cuts, that is, if council approves release of the money.
Mayor Jacob Frey, who has voiced his opposition to any attempts to defund the city’s police department, called the proposal “irresponsible.”
He is also threatening to veto the proposal, which council needs a super-majority to override.
“It tells me that (Frey) is still negotiating with a few members by saying he’s considering a veto,” Political insider Blois told Dave Lee on the WCCO Morning News.
The full council meets Wednesday night, with city leaders already pushing up the start time by two hours, likely in anticipation of heated discussion and community comments.
Council is expected to vote on the 2021 budget proposal before the meeting ends.
Earlier, Mayor Frey announced a $5 million initiative funding mostly by businesses that would have integrated some of the proposed social programs without having the reduce the number of uniformed officers on the street.
The defunding proposal would also strip the MPD of overtime pay.
Defunding the Minneapolis police department has been a smoldering issue that turned white-hot following the May 25 death of George Floyd in police custody.
Four officers are charged in the act with trial scheduled to begin in March.