Mayor Frey Vies for Reelection With New Public Safety Plan

<p>With the Minneapolis Police recently reporting the 70th homicide of the year, public safety remains the number one issue for Frey and 16 other mayoral candidates. </p><p>--</p><p>Georgia Fort reports: </p><p><br></p><p>Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey rolled out a four-point public safety plan Monday which would integrate existing public safety work under one department and hire community-oriented officers.</p><p><br></p><p>“We don’t need to knock down one important facet of public safety and policing in order to build another up,” he said. “We can do both at the same time.”</p><p><br></p><p>Frey said he hopes to expand alternatives to police and encourage a collective approach to police reform, adding “we all agree that not every response requires an officer with a gun to respond.” </p><p><br></p><p>With the Minneapolis Police recently reporting the 70th homicide of the year, public safety remains the number one issue for Frey and 16 other mayoral candidates. Bishop Richard Howell - whose church Shiloh Temple International is at the center of much of the gun violence in north Minneapolis - hosted a forum for the mayoral candidates to discuss their vision for public safety if elected. </p><p><br></p><p>“We have to do something, public safety is not an issue we can put under the carpet. It’s the right time to do the right thing,” Howell said. </p><p><br></p><p>Mayor Frey’s plan was met with criticism by multiple residents including Angela Williams.</p><p><br></p><p>“I don’t appreciate you coming here to Shiloh Temple trying to finesse the Black community once again,” said Williams. “The mayor and these council people need to get this violence under control. I don’t care about none of that stuff you just said… those are words to get re-elected the best way you know how.”</p><p><br></p><p>Election day is November 2nd. The public safety charter amendment will also be included on the ballot for Minneapolis residents.</p><p><br></p>