Minneapolis, MN
Dinkytown crime rate has improved over the last few months
MINNEAPOLIS — After concerns over crime in the area near the University of Minnesota campus in recent years, new data is showing improvement the last few months.
From the start of the school year through December, data from Minneapolis Police shows a 49 percent decrease in reported crimes in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood, which includes Dinkytown.
The drop has come in conjunction with the opening of UMN’s off-campus safety center, as well as the colder temperatures of winter.
Feelings of safety in Dinkytown hit a low point last summer when 20 people were arrested for shooting fireworks at cars, bystanders and police.
Now, students and recent alums tell WCCO they’re feeling more comfortable in the area.
“I’m a freshman, so I felt pretty safe honestly,” said Femi Abodunrin. “At the beginning of the year there were definitely a bit more crime alerts but since then, it’s gone down.”
Mathew Krelitz graduated last year.
“I think it probably has gotten safer,” he said. “When I did attend, I did witness some crimes on this block [near campus]. I spend the weekends here and I haven’t noticed that.”
MPD data shows the number of reported crimes in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood was 144 in September, then decreased to 133 in October, 81 in November and 73 in December.
September is when UMN opened its Dinkytown safety center for both police and students.
“This will reduce opportunities for some of the crimes we’ve seen that happen, but it will also give us a foothold in Dinkytown to start building stronger partnerships that we already have,” Nick Juarez with UMN’s Department of Public Safety said in August.
“When it’s later at night there’s definitely a few police cars that I see around, and I think it does make a difference,” Abodunrin said.
She knows it’s still important to be mindful and protect herself.
“If I have something that could be used as a weapon like a water bottle, I make sure I have it handy, or if it’s later at night, I just walk around with friends and not by myself,” Abodunrin said.
A spokesperson with UMN shared this statement:
“Though there are many ways to define safety in our community, any positive statistical trends are a positive indicator of strong community safety efforts. Working in close partnership with the Minneapolis Police Department, the University and our Department of Public Safety have invested more in public safety in the Dinkytown area than ever before. These investments have included UMPD’s mutual aid expansion, creating the Dinkytown Alert notification system, and funding additional overtime shifts for UMPD officers to conduct visible patrols throughout the area. The Off-Campus Safety Center expanded on these previous investments. It’s become an accessible resource for University students, faculty and staff, as well as those working or socializing in Dinkytown. We look forward to continuing these programs in Dinkytown, and working closely with MPD, to keep our community safe.”
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis City Council passes financial relief near George Floyd Square, rejects mayor’s pick for developing The Peoples’ Way
On Thursday, the Minneapolis City Council voted on major action items regarding the future of George Floyd Square.
One provides financial relief to those who live and own property near 38th & Chicago Avenue, in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The other rejects a proposal from the mayor, setting up yet more delays.
The city was seeking a more than $630,000 assessment to help pay for the $15 million construction project that’s underway — but in unanimous support, the council voted to not charge home, business and property owners.
Help may be on the way for people face special assessments near George Floyd Square
“This project has been billed for so long as something the city was doing for the community, and you can’t do something for the community and then charge them for it as a way of recommence for the murder of George Floyd,” said Councilor Soren Stevenson, who represents part of the area around George Floyd Square.
At the meeting, the council also rejected the mayor and city staff’s recommendation on who should have exclusive development rights for the former gas station site at the intersection, now known as The Peoples’ Way.
Defying community input from a survey about what people like to see at the site, the mayor chose the Minnesota Agape Movement to handle the work.
Minneapolis mayor, city staff defy community survey, pushback growing on council
The city and Mayor Frey received sharp criticism from some council members at their meeting.
“The city absolutely fumbled this process from start to finish,” Robin Wonsley said.
Council member Jason Chavez, who also represents parts of George Floyd Square, said, “Much of the feedback that my office has received since a decision was made has been frustration and distrust in the process.”
In a statement from the Mayor’s office, they pushed back on the criticism of how he’s handled project planning, sharing specifically about the action taken Thursday:
“Voting down Agape and returning to the drawing board is the Council’s prerogative. Mayor Frey’s goal is to move forward at George Floyd Square and stop delaying. The mayor is already coordinating with Council Members Chavez and Stevenson and City staff to determine a path forward.”
Since the city shared their pick for development rights at the Peoples’ Way, the mayor’s office has declined multiple interview requests, as we try to learn his reasoning.
We also had other questions about what seems like a contradiction in how he’s felt about community being involved in this process so far.
For example, following a city council override of his veto as they pushed for a 38th & Chicago plan that community surveying found was not wanted in February 2025, the mayor lashed out at council members.
“Today’s short-sighted decision by the council has ignored community wishes and is a colossal waste of both time and money,” Mayor Frey said that February day last year.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis man indicted in $4 million pandemic fraud case turns himself in, officials say
A Minneapolis man accused of stealing $4 million from the Federal Child Nutrition Program during the Covid-19 pandemic surrendered to the FBI on Thursday, federal officials announced.
Said Abdullahi Ereg was indicted on June 24, 2024, on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
Ereg is accused of obtaining, misappropriating and laundering millions of dollars meant to feed children in need, officials said in a statement.
“Today’s arrest is historic,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a different statement.
It was not immediately clear whether Ereg has a lawyer.
Ereg was added to the Justice Department’s “Most Wanted Fraudster” list last week and is the first person to be arrested, Patel said.
Federal officials established the list to “bring to justice the alleged worst of the worst who took advantage of American taxpayers and stole public funds, and let them know that the days of Washington, D.C. turning a blind eye to fraud are over,” Patel said in the statement.
Officials said Ereg ran a grocery store and deli in Minneapolis that was sponsored by the nonprofit organization Feeding Our Future. The organization, founded in Minnesota in 2016, has recently been at the center of a federal investigation into what federal officials have called “the single largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the country.”
Aimee Block, former leader of Feeding Our Future, was convicted last month in a $250 million fraud case that helped ignite an immigration crackdown by the Trump administration.
The group was part of a large fraud network that included partner organizations, fake distribution sites, kickbacks and false lists of children supposedly being fed, prosecutors said in Block’s indictment.
Ereg is alleged to have participated in the scheme during a one-year period starting in 2020. He is accused of submitting false reimbursement claims and receiving more than $4.2 million in federal funds.
A federal arrest warrant was issued after Ereg was charged, but he was living overseas, and his whereabouts were not known.
He surrendered to FBI agents at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
“This case sends a clear message: being outside the United States does not place you beyond the reach of HSI and our law enforcement partners,” said Michael McCarthy, the Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge in Minneapolis. “Our commitment is unwavering: those who exploit programs intended to support children and families will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice here in Minnesota.”
Ereg’s wife, who worked with him, pleaded guilty last year to one count of money laundering. She is scheduled to be sentenced next week.
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