36 Businesses Endorse Minneapolis Police Amendment: LIST

MINNEAPOLIS — At least 36 businesses in Minneapolis have endorsed voting "yes" to a proposed ballot amendment that would dismantle the city's police department and replace it with a "Department of Public Safety."

The businesses make up the "Common Sense Safety" coalition.

"We support Yes 4 Minneapolis because we know our current police-only approach to public safety isn’t working, and we can and deserve a higher standard of public safety, where qualified mental health responders and social workers, along with police, can work to make all our communities safer," the owners of Arbeiter Brewing Company said in a statement.

"Minneapolis small businesses like us need alternative response options that work towards safer and more equitable outcomes for our community. It's time for the city to move forward with a better safety infrastructure that reflects the values of the community."

Find the entire list of businesses endorsing the amendment below:

• 826 MSP
• Angel Bomb
• Arbeiter Brewing Company
• Asa’s Bakery
• b. resale
• Butter Bakery Cafe
• Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center
• Chudgar Consulting
• Cooperative Energy Futures
• Dangerous Man Brewing
• Davis Law Office
• Dual Citizen Brewing Company
• Eastlake Craft Brewery
• FrameWork Consulting
• Happy Earth Cleaning Co-op
• iWare Northeast
• Knit & Bolt
• Kyatchi
• Linebreak Media
• MBMB // Made by Michelle Brusegaard
• Minnesota Women’s Press LLC
• Modist Brewing Company
• Next Day Animations
• Northeast Tree, Inc.
• Queen of Swords Press
• Railbox Consulting
• Reverie Cafe + Bar
• Smart Set, Inc.
• Sociable Cider Werks
• Software for Good, GBC
• Solcana Fitness, LLC
• Some Sort of Escapade LLC
• Star Haus Psychotherapy
• Twin Town Guitars
• Witch Hunt Minneapolis
• Main Street Action

All Minneapolis voters will be faced asked to decide on the ballot question on Election Day, which is Nov. 2:

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to remove the Police Department and replace it with a Department of Public Safety that employs a comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions by the Department of Public Safety, with those specific functions to be determined by the Mayor and City Council by ordinance; which will not be subject to exclusive mayoral power over its establishment, maintenance, and command; and which could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety, with the general nature of the amendments being briefly indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made a part of this ballot?

Yes

No

Explanatory Note: This amendment would create a Department of Public Safety combining public safety functions through a comprehensive public health approach to be determined by the Mayor and Council. The department would be led by a Commissioner nominated by the Mayor and appointed by the Council. The Police Department, and its chief, would be removed from the City Charter. The Public Safety Department could include police officers, but the minimum funding requirement would be eliminated."

The measure will pass with a simple majority.

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith last week announced that she will be voting "no" on Minneapolis ballot question No. 2, which asks residents if they want to dismantle the city's police department and replace it with a new "Department of Public Safety."

Smith joins Gov. Tim Walz and Rep. Angie Craig as Minnesota Democrats who oppose changing the city charter to remove the police department. The Star Tribune editorial board also said that removing the Minneapolis Police Department is a "recipe for chaos and infighting."

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison have both endorsed the amendment