Families,

The purpose of this communication is to challenge Mpls Mayor Frey’s recommendation to provide some emergency funds ONLY for low income families whose children attend Mpls Public Schools.

The current recommendation includes only a portion of the city’s low-income families. This leaves behind thousands of children who live in Minneapolis but aren’t in elementary school, are homeschooled, or enrolled in a public charter schools, independent schools or neighboring districts. 

Respectfully, Mayor Frey has been elected to represent all people of Minneapolis.   As a Minneapolis community member, I am asking that Mayor Frey prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable community members, each and every one, and to not exclude them based on where they send their children to school. 

Please take a moment and contact the Mayor’s office in one of these ways and feel free to use the information written above in your communications:

Mayor Frey:  https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d189a2276e234cacb9f02db60dac0569

Mayor Frey’s office phone: 612-673-2100

Thank you.

Here is some background about this issue:

Background:

Mayor Jacob Frey announced Friday that he will use emergency powers to institute a $5 million package to alleviate the effects of COVID-19.  We support this effort, however, $1 million in direct financial support to Minneapolis families will ONLY be available if at least one elementary age student attends the Minneapolis Public School district. This program includes only a portion of the city’s low-income families. This leaves behind thousands of children who live in Minneapolis but aren’t in elementary school, are homeschooled, or enrolled in a public charter schools, independent schools or neighboring districts.

This plan needs to prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable community members and not penalize them based on where they send their children to school.

Last week, Mayor Carter in St Paul made a similar proposal. Charters successfully challenged this.  The Mayor quickly readjusted their plans in order to allow all low-income families with minor children to be eligible for the program.

Please see below for relevant portion of Star Tribune story:

”The city is also dedicating $1 million within the existing Stable Homes, Stable Schools housing stability fund to help families struggling with homelessness or housing instability during the pandemic. In most cases, payments would be limited to $1,500 per household. To qualify, families would need to have at least one child enrolled in an elementary school in Minneapolis Public Schools and make 50% or less of the area median income — about $45,000 for a family of three.“

https://www.startribune.com/5-million-relief-plan-in-minneapolis-would-aid-renters-homeless-small-businesses/569353162/