Updates from Andrew

The trial of former officer Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd is expected to begin next Monday (March 8th), starting with jury selection. The opening arguments are currently scheduled to start March 29th, and the trial is expected to go to jury deliberations by mid to late April.

Planning and preparations have been ongoing for months, recognizing that the trial is likely to be a traumatic event for many, draw large crowds, and is a focus of international attention.

Communications are ramping up as the trial begins, and the City's Communications Department is planning on three weekly briefings for the public. You can find briefings and updates on the City’s website starting tomorrow. You can watch the most recent press briefing from yesterday here and an extensive briefing provided to the Council on Monday here. There will be culturally specific communication efforts as well to reach different communities across our city. Local news media will also be providing daily updates.

Community support is a critical component of planning efforts. The Office of Violence Prevention is funding a network of community-based groups that will be activated during and after the trial for outreach and support services to keep community members safe, informed, and connected to resources. Neighborhood associations will also receive updates and are encouraged to attend weekly meetings. Interpreting services will be provided in at least four languages. The Public Health Department will be distributing masks and providing public sanitation stations near 38th St & Chicago Ave.

Law enforcement is likely to be the most visible aspect of planning. Their stated mission is: 1) preserving and protecting 1st Amendment rights, and 2) preventing violence, arson, looting, and other destructive behavior. Presence of law enforcement will be significantly increased during the trial, with full deployment of National Guard and other jurisdictions starting around the time of closing arguments. You can expect to see them throughout the city. De-escalation training began this week for jurisdictions that will be deployed.

Who to call based on the situation:

• Call 311 for non-emergency City information
• Call 911 for life safety emergencies requiring police, fire or EMS
• Call the Tips Line – 612-692-TIPS (8477) to report suspicious activity not requiring an immediate response
• Businesses and property owners can call 612-673-2499 with questions about advanced preparation before the trial, business operations during the trial, and general information about regulations and resources

Where to watch the trial? It will be streamed live via CourtTV, StarTribune, and likely other local media.

If you plan to participate in public gatherings, please remember to practice COVID safety precautions as much as possible.

Here are some mental health best practices and info on trauma support services.
 
COVID vaccines
The Biden administration recently announced that they are moving the timeline up for vaccine distribution. They stated that by the end of May, all adults who want a COVID vaccine should be able to get one. It’s too soon to know if there may be additional logistical considerations at a state level that add to this timeline, but the news is nonetheless exciting. With warmer weather arriving as well, there is a lot of reason to be optimistic. That said, please be mindful that it is still important to socially distance, wear a mask, wash your hands, and follow the other guidelines. Especially as variants continue to spread.
 
COVID relief package
In more good news, a Congressional relief bill that includes direct aid for our city passed the House and is poised to pass the Senate. Such direct relief was excluded from previous stimulus bills, despite a record revenue shortfall for our city as a result of the pandemic, which forced deep cuts to the City budget. Cities and states across the nation have been lobbying for direct aid since the crisis began. If this bill passes, it would allow us to reverse cuts to important services and expand efforts to support residents and businesses through this difficult time. I will keep you posted on the progress and want to thank Representative Omar and Senators Klobuchar and Smith for their consistent advocacy.
 
Rebuilding support
Today at 1pm, the Minnesota House will take up bills that would provide significant financial aid to assist in rebuilding from last summer’s civil unrest. You can watch the committee hearing here. We continue to seek support from legislators and are thankful for Minneapolis delegation members who are working hard to secure this funding, including Representatives Davnie and Greenman, and Senator Torres Ray.
 
Charter updates
Several charter amendments continue to move through the process and may ultimately be on the ballot this fall for voters to decide:

1. Rent stabilization: Last week the City Council unanimously forwarded two proposed charter amendments that would each authorize development of a rent stabilization policy (via two different paths) to the Charter Commission for review. The week prior there was also a presentation to share the results of an independent study on rent stabilization, which you can watch here.
    
2. Public safety: If approved by voters, this amendment would move police into a larger department of public safety and give City Council policy-making authority for that new department (like other City departments). Yesterday, the public safety committee recommended on a 5-1 vote to forward the proposal to the Charter Commission for review. This will be before the full Council next Friday and I support sending it to the Charter Commission.
    
3. Government structure: The Charter Commission will be holding two public hearings sometime in March (TBD) on the latest language of their proposed amendment to, among other things, better define the roles between the Mayor and City Council. You can find upcoming meetings for the Charter Commission here (click on the "Independent Bodies" tab).

 
Finally, as the trial begins, I want to take a moment to offer some reflections.

We have all been through so much since George Floyd’s life was tragically taken. With all the planning and preparations for the trial, there are inevitable fears and anxieties. What if the justice system fails to hold the officers accountable? Will we see law enforcement overreact to protests? Will there be more civil unrest and destruction?

While these and other fears are understandable, I hope they do not overshadow the larger moment. The whole world stood with the people of Minneapolis in calling for justice. Now the moment has arrived for a jury of our fellow community members to take a full accounting of the evidence against the man who placed his knee on George Floyd's neck, and to render a verdict. We will all be able to watch and process with them in real-time. Our community will come together as it always does, and throughout the city we will see neighbors and strangers supporting one another.

The next couple of months won’t be easy, but they are necessary in pursuit of justice. And whatever happens in the courtroom, it does not change our conviction that our systems and institutions must be transformed until they truly work for all of us. That will be the longer arc of justice for George beyond this trial, and the way we help deliver justice for so many others like him who should still be with us today.