Since the murder of George Floyd, Minneapolis has been grappling anew with a decades-old issue: whether it’s possible to reform public safety in a way that eliminates the harm being done to communities under our current system. The conversation has shifted into action, with organizers, activists and elected officials all working on potential paths forward. These questions of public safety will likely be at the center of many voting decisions in Minneapolis over the next 18 months.
Minneapolis’ Ward 6 election is a big deal. In April, Minneapolis City Council member Abdi Warsame left his seat representing Ward 6, leading to a special election to decide who will complete his term.
Issues of public safety resonate in Ward 6, which includes parts of the Stevens Square, Ventura Village, Phillips West, Elliot Park, Seward, and Cedar-Riverside neighborhoods. Over half of Ward 6 residents identify as people of color, and nearly a third are immigrants — both communities that have disproportionately high levels of police encounters. In light of the efforts underway to transform policing in Minneapolis, we decided to ask all of the Ward 6 city council candidates one targeted question from the questionnaire Pollen and Voices for Racial Justice sent to candidates in the 2017 Minneapolis municipal elections. Below are answers from the six candidates who responded. With the ballot deadline just a week away, we think it’s important to have a record of candidates’ views on this vital issue.
Residents of Ward 6 — make your voice heard!
The special election in Ward 6 ends on August 11.
Click here for more information on how and where to vote.
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