Opponents voice concerns during public hearing on $609,651 Encompass Omaha violence‑prevention grant

The Omaha City Council opened a public hearing on an ordinance to approve a $609,651 agreement with Nebraska Medical Center funded from the city’s FY2024 community‑based violence intervention and prevention grant for the Encompass Omaha project.

During the hearing several opponents spoke against the funding. Larry Storer of 5015 Lafayette Avenue said he opposed the expenditure "in its entirety" because he did not believe it would be enforced; he urged the council not to spend the money. At one point council staff repeatedly cautioned Storer to remain specific to the item; the transcript records that he was asked to leave the podium after remarks were ruled out of order.

Donnie R. Johnson of the Johnson Equestrian Foundation and North Omaha Concerned Citizen Foundation also addressed the council; he provided his address for the record and made remarks about local conditions and political campaigns while the chair repeatedly instructed speakers to stay on the agenda item.

No proponents appeared at the hearing. The transcript does not record a subsequent council vote on the agreement during the meeting; the public hearing was closed.

Authorities and funding: The ordinance references an agreement with Nebraska Medical Center in the amount of $609,651 to be funded from the City of Omaha’s FY2024 community‑based violence intervention and prevention initiative grant for the Encompass Omaha project.

Why it matters: The grant appropriation would fund a community violence intervention program; public opposition at the hearing reflects concerns about enforcement and local conditions but the council did not record a final vote in the transcript.