Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Moratorium Request topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Faith groups and outreach providers urge council to publicly call for 30–60 day moratorium
Summary
Faith leaders and outreach groups told the City of Saint Paul council that 28 days is insufficient to prevent harm and urged members and county commissioners to publicly call on the mayor for a 30–60 day delay to better organize services.
Representatives of faith communities and volunteer organizations urged the council to press the mayor for additional time to prepare for any large-scale displacement. Justin Levenduski of Open Hands Midway said he represented 94 people of faith and more than 25 congregations and argued the current timeline is inadequate: "Giving the county, providers, residents, and community only 28 days to prepare for a large scale displacement is negligence."
Melissa O'Connell, affiliated with MICA (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing), offered the council a partnership to buy 60 days for organizing volunteers and services. Multiple speakers said outreach workers are currently overwhelmed, that many residents rely on volunteer networks, and that a short deadline would scatter people and make them harder to serve.
