In addition to the Action Agenda of the Minnesota DFL, the Minneapolis Area Chapter advances the following:
2023 Resolutions
Courts, Justice and Public Safety
Currently, the MPD has 571 police officers to provide police services. The city charter requires 723 police officers. The Community Safety Commissioner and Chief of Police reported to the City Council that currently, there are NOT sufficient police officers to provide basic public safety services and has requested the use of one-time retention and recruitment payments to achieve the number of police officers needed to provide basic safety services.
Not providing the requested retention and recruitment payments will increasingly endanger the safety of Minneapolis residents. because there are currently several on leave and 168 eligible for retirement or early retirement in the coming year.
As a result, the Minneapolis Area Chapter of the DFL Senior Caucus approved this Resolution on Saturday, November 20, 2023:
"The Minneapolis Area Chapter of the DFL Senior Caucus supports the proposal of the Minneapolis Police Chief and the Community Safety Commissioner as part of the negotiated agreement for funding of recruitment and retention of officers of the Minneapolis Police Department.”
Since 2021, the Public Safety Committee of the Minneapolis Area Chapter of the DFL Senior Caucus has studied issues & problems in public safety. Their second report, on improving Courts and Justice approaches to Public Safety, is linked below.
Courts, Justice, and Public Safety Report
Mn Department of Aging
Whereas: Seniors will very soon be over one fifth of the population of Minnesota, and
whereas the programs and needs of seniors are spread throughout at least 20 state agencies and offices that are designed mainly for other populations than seniors, and
thus senior issues get short shrift and don't get the attention of highly experienced and knowledgeable professionals, therefore
Be it Resolved that the Minneapolis Area Chapter of the DFL Senior Caucus supports legislation authorizing the creation of a Department on Aging.
2022 Resolutions
Metro Fossil Fuels and School Buses
Whereas:
We are all affected by climate change. In 2021, in the U.S., there were 20 disasters costing more than $1B, equaling $152.6B in damages. 2017, with Hurricane Harvey, had $366B in damages. In addition to financial costs, there are human costs to people displaced, injured or killed.
The elderly, the young and those with chronic impairment are most affected by rising temperatures and pollution.
Historical red lininghas resulted in African Americans, Native Americans and other People of Color to be more likely to live in neighborhoods with older housing, more vehicle traffic and more industry. This exposes generations of People of Color to lead, air and other pollution at a higher rate than residents able to live in wealthier neighborhoods and continues a historical injustice.
Children's developing brains are susceptible to toxins in the air. Children waiting for, riding on, or walking near school buses are exposed to high levels of pollution. Diesel trucks and buses produce more nitrogen oxides and particulate pollution than any other highway vehicles. About 1 in 5 new asthma cases in children in the U.S. is due to traffic pollution.
Minneapolis Public Schools are struggling financially. The high cost of fossil fuel is an added burden.
Minneapolis and Minnesota have set goals aimed at drastically reducing carbon pollution.
There are now grants available to assist schools with changing to electric buses. The Inflation Reduction Act, alone, includes $6B for electric school buses.
Therefore, be it resolved that the Minneapolis Area Chapter of the DFL Senior Caucus:
- Supports cleaner air for the residents of all our neighborhoods.
- Cares for the health of the young, the elderly and chronically vulnerable.
- Supports racial justice through decreasing air pollution in at risk neighborhoods.
- Calls for assisting school budgets and taxpayers through lower transportation costs, thus helping our schools increase money for teaching.
- Calls for the reduction of carbon emissions by the rapid transition from polluting fossil fuel burning school buses to clean electric buses.
Long Term Care Insurance
Whereas there is a large population of Minnesota residents in their 60s-90s who do not have long-term care insurance
And whereas a large percentage of this population may need to be placed in assisted care and/or nursing homes (at an approximate cost of well over $144,300 per year in 2022 (https://www.caring.com/senior-living/nursing-homes/minnesota), to be obtained by selling all of the people’s assets and then using state appropriations to supplement that amount).
And whereas most people in this age range would prefer home care, rather than assisted care and/or nursing home care
Then be it resolved that the Minneapolis Area DFL Senior Caucus supports the use of
(1) a study to determine how many people in their 60s-90s have had to stop payments to long-term care insurance companies because of exorbitant fees,
(2) a study of how many Seniors could be diverted into a state managed long-term care insurance program, and
(3) an analysis of how community-based home care organizations can be financially supported.
And be it further resolved that the net result of this study should be for the Minnesota Legislature, based upon this study, to set aside sufficient funds to operate a state-run Long Term Care insurance program but specifically for seniors (modeled after the Washington State program that is being implemented in 2025).
Public Safety Assistance
BE IT RESOLVED that the Minneapolis Area DFL Senior Caucus strongly encourages efforts by the City of Minneapolis to request aid from other Minnesota city jurisdictions as well as the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department and the State Patrol to adequately patrol downtown Minneapolis (the economic engine of the state of Minnesota) as well as the neighborhoods of the city, and to ensure that all citizens are protected from those people who currently use the Minneapolis city streets as a free fire zone.
Improving Policing in Minneapolis
Late in 2021, the Minneapolis Area DFL Seniors formed a Public Safety Committee to study issues & problems in public safety. Their first report, on Improving Policing, is linked below.
Improving Policing in Minneapolis
MN Department of Aging
Whereas, Minnesota is Aging Rapidly - the number of older adults in Minnesota will double from 680,00 in 2010 to 1,3000,000 in 2030 with 1M in 2022 making seniors the largest demographic in the state,
Whereas, Minnesota seniors and women are the fastest growing population of homeless according to a Wilder Foundation study often due to one health crisis;.
Whereas, Greater Minnesota has the largest share of seniors in 15 counties;
Whereas, current services for Minnesota’s aging population is housed, funded, and provided by many existing state agencies as well as county and local governments and non-profits with little coordination, cooperation or collaboration;
Now therefore be it resolved, that Minnesota Seniors must ask the legislature the question: HOW WILL MINNESOTA PREPARE FOR A MAJORITY AGING POPULATION?
Be it further resolved, the Minneapolis Area DFL Senior Caucus supports HF 4306 Klevorn and SF 4309 Rest, to establish a Legislative Task Force on Aging charged with reviewing state demographics and other issues affecting healthy aging in the community toward recommending whether a state Department on Aging is necessary;
Be it further resolved, that support for HF 4306 and SF 4309 be referred to the State DFL Senior Caucus for support and tracking.
Policing & Public Safety
Be it resolved that the Minneapolis Area DFL Senior Caucus will support policing reform which:
- Is multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional, appropriately involving peace officers, mental health professionals, social workers, and other disciplines that promote public safety.
- Is planned well and, subsequently, executed well.
- Is transparent and accountable.
- Is strongly oriented to communities and to neighborhoods; with jobs designed to enable this.
- Builds a culture around the propositions of sanctity of life, and respect for all citizens.
- Provides for peace officer training that is based on these values.
- Uses the hiring opportunity that now exists, with about a third of MPD positions vacant, to select peace officers who will embrace the desired culture.
- Recognizes and supports MPD and its officers when they provide equitable and compassionate service to our community.