Minneapolis city leaders present plan, next steps for 38th and Chicago

During a press conference Friday, Minneapolis city leaders addressed what is next for the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, where the George Floyd memorial site is located.

According to a city spokesperson, the city remains committed to working with the community to reconnect the intersection after the conclusion of the Derek Chauvin trial. City leaders said their goals will be to "support the needs of residents and businesses in the area while honoring the importance of racial healing and reflection in the sacred space."

"The killing of George Floyd forever changed the intersection of 38th and Chicago and reshaped our city’s place in history. Those who live and work in the neighborhood did not ask for the global spotlight, yet they have graciously opened their doors to us and the world over the past nine months," Mayor Jacob Frey said. "It is our responsibility as leaders and as a community to both honor George Floyd and the hallowed ground where he died, and also respectfully restore 38th & Chicago to a vibrant and functioning neighborhood."

Prior to reconnection, the city will continue to work toward advancing racial justice while providing enhanced core city services and engagement opportunities for residents and businesses in the area.

More details on the enhanced city services, access and partnerships include:

• Minneapolis’s Department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) is doubling down on youth employment and training pathway opportunities by working alongside Summit Academy OIC, Project for Pride and Living and other potential partners on culturally specific, dedicated outreach and workforce development programs to help young people at the intersection pursue new career paths. That also includes green workforce and technology sector jobs.
• Public Works is providing enhanced services, including extra solid waste and recycling collection at the Floyd memorial and installing temporary traffic-calming measures, among other things.
• The Minneapolis police and fire departments continue to respond to calls for service.
• The Office of Violence Prevention and Neighborhood and Community Relations staff will work with community stakeholders on developing engagement and outreach activities for residents to promote public safety and healing.

"These measures are intended to maintain public safety as we continue to address the necessary goals for justice and healing from trauma," City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins said.

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Regarding design options of the memorial, Public Works has been in close contact with community partners to determine two options for 38th and Chicago that preserve space for the memorial and art while ensuring delivery of critical services for the area. That also includes much-needed public transit.

Both options provide two-way traffic operations in all directions, improving business and residential access and providing the opportunity to restore transit service on Chicago Avenue and 38th Street.

City leaders on Friday also spoke about long-term commitments, pledging more than $10.5 million in funding that is eligible for supporting racial healing in the 38th and Chicago area. They also addressed their commitment to several important initiatives to advance racial justice, including adoption of a truth and reconciliation process with the main objective of implementing specific solutions to specific harms that have created and perpetuate racial disparities.

City funding also includes $150,000 for the Creative City Making program to hire a diverse team of artists and healers to create, implement and lead community engagement processes to guide the city’s community healing and rebuild with racial equity efforts for areas most impacted by civil unrest.

"Nine months of deep engagement with the multiple communities, businesses and nonprofit leaders who call this area home has allowed us to understand that we can reconnect this area to access basic emergency services and vital public transit while honoring and uplifting the legacy of justice for the long term," City Council Member Alondra Cano said.

The city plans to send out surveys to nearby residents and businesses over the next few weeks to see which option is preferred by the community.

5 EYEWITNESS News reached out to the citizens’ group overseeing George Floyd Square Friday. Marcia Howard said her only response to the city’s plan is: “No justice, no street.”