Conflict over rushed eviction, Minneapolis City Council discussed its second eviction for Camp Nenookaasi

A divided Minneapolis City Council aimed criticism at the mayor's office -- and each other -- over the second eviction of Camp Nenookaasi, a large homeless encampment that has formed in South Minneapolis twice in the past four months.

The city's administration failed to answer several important questions from the committee for the encampment during the meeting.

“This should never happen again in the City of Minneapolis, where people have one hour and a half to pack their belongings, their life, and their home,” said Jason Chavez, the chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee and Ward 9 city council member.

According to the council meeting, the city failed to give advanced notice of a specific date to vacate to community partners, and storage services were also not provided within 72 hours of the date of that specific closure based on the city’s operational guidelines.

According to City Operations Officer Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the second camp location was signed immediately for closure, and there are many one-on-one conversations about impending camp closure in the first place.

From the day the encampment was established, there was the posting of notice of trespass notice and notice to vacate. Kelliher said a specific date was not given per the city’s guidelines because of public safety concerns at this site.

According to Kelliher, the contractor with the city who was supposed to deliver these signs went on the first day. On the second day, this person felt unsafe and asked a friend to accompany them.

Because of the regulatory services, the contractor was being told that friends were not allowed to go along. They should work with the city to find someone, such as the Minneapolis Police Department, to accompany them if they need public safety, said Kelliher.

“You can see why that is very confusing to the people at the encampment. Noncity staff dropping off signs with wrong dates and information. I hope that can never happen again,” said Chavez.

On the day of the eviction, community members stepped in to help the people at the encampment pack their belongings because resources for storage were also not provided.

“We can talk about long-term visions, but we just kicked 100 people out yesterday and forced them down a couple of blocks. And that doesn't help both our house neighbors who are struggling with public safety and our unhoused neighbors who are struggling as well.” Chavez said.

Regarding the changes in the number of beds available in the city, the city claims that they received the numbers from the Hennepin County dashboard, and there was a miscommunication between two city staff.

The accurate number was 80 to 90 beds available most mornings in January through the Hennepin County system and 20 beds available at night, according to Kelliher.

According to Todd Barnette, the Minneapolis community safety commissioner, a total of 90 Minneapolis police officers were involved in the two closing of the encampments both on and off-site.

In total, 90 officers evicted about 160 unhoused residents from two encampments in four months. "That is wild," said Ward 2 City Council Member Robin Wonsley.

From the city’s committee meeting room to the hallway, the space was filled with people holding “from Nenookaasi to Palestine solidarity” posters for Camp Nenookaasi.

“We lived near the neighborhood, so we are here to show our support,” said one of the attendees in the hallway.

Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw, who previously served on the public health & safety committee board, expressed her opinions at the end of the meeting, which later turned into a shouting match.

Since the pandemic, the city and its partners have invested over $200 million in affordable housing and homelessness.

The city now plans to establish a low-barrier permanent treatment center and further its work per ordinances to prevent the establishment of encampments within the city in terms of its long-term vision.

Minneapolis City Council members are now offering three proposed ordinances to help transform the way the city handles homeless encampments, including Safe Outdoor Spaces, a Humane Encampment Response and an Encampment Eviction Reporting Requirements for further actions.

Camp Nenookaasi posted on its social media account to encourage Minneapolis citizens to keep pressuring Minneapolis city officials for immediate assistance with portable toilets, garbage pickup, and electric service.

The city council plans to give a further update on Camp Nenookaasi from community partners and service providers on Tuesday, Feb. 6, as a meeting for the Committee of the Whole, but this discussion is currently being taken away from the agenda for reasons unknown.