Ward 5 News with Council Member Pearll Warren: Week of June 8
Ward 5 Neighbors and Family,
As we move into the summer months, I want to take a moment to thank each of you who continue to show up, speak up, and invest in our community. This newsletter is filled with important information, resources, opportunities, and updates that are designed to help strengthen Ward 5 and connect residents to the services available throughout our city.
One issue that continues to weigh heavily on our community is gun violence. Too many families have experienced loss, trauma, and heartbreak. While there is no single solution, we know that community safety requires a collective approach. Safe neighborhoods are built through strong relationships, active engagement, and access to opportunity.
That is why this newsletter highlights resources that support housing stability, community safety initiatives, economic opportunities, youth engagement, and neighborhood events. Access to safe, suitable, and sustainable housing, along with pathways to education, employment, and wealth-building opportunities, are all critical pieces of creating safer communities and reducing the conditions that contribute to violence.
Throughout this edition and the ones to come , you will find information on community programs, housing resources, public safety efforts, upcoming events, and opportunities that can help individuals and families thrive. I encourage you to not only read this information but to share it with your neighbors, friends, family members, faith communities, and anyone who may benefit from these resources.
Community safety is not something that can be achieved by any one person, organization, or government office alone. It requires all of us. Whether that means attending a neighborhood meeting, supporting a local youth program, reporting concerns, mentoring a young person, or simply checking in on a neighbor, every action matters.
Together, we can continue building a Ward 5 that is safe, vibrant, connected, and full of opportunity for everyone.
As always, if our office can assist you, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to serve you.
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Inspector Peterson named as interim police chief
I want to share an important public safety update with our community. On June 2, Mayor Frey announced the appointment of Bill Peterson as Interim Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department.
Why am I sharing this? Because it is important for residents to know who is leading the department responsible for policing our neighborhoods and helping keep our communities safe.
Inspector Peterson is a 30-year veteran of MPD and has served in a variety of leadership roles throughout his career. His appointment comes as Minneapolis continues efforts to strengthen public safety, rebuild trust, and implement important reforms.
As your Ward 5 Council Office, we believe informed residents are empowered residents. Knowing who is making decisions, leading public safety efforts, and shaping the future of policing in Minneapolis is an important part of staying engaged in our city.
We will continue to keep you informed on matters that impact our community.
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City sends license fee refund checks to Minneapolis businesses
Photo of person standing and holding up products during a sale.
The City of Minneapolis has begun mailing license fee refund checks to eligible food, hospitality, brewery, wine and liquor businesses as part of the Small Business Resiliency Fund.
The $7 million fund was created to help businesses recover from the impacts of federal immigration enforcement earlier this year. It includes $4 million in license fee relief, allowing some businesses to receive refunds for fees already paid and others to renew licenses without paying fees. More than 1,100 eligible license holders who already paid their 2026 renewal fees are receiving checks this month, totaling over $1.75 million in refunds.
Watch Mayor Jacob Frey’s message about the refunds.
For any questions about this fee relief, email Business Licensing at BusinessLicenses@minneapolismn.gov or call 612-673-2080.
In addition to direct financial relief, the Small Business Resiliency Fund supports events, activations, cultural markets and other efforts designed to bring customers back to commercial corridors and strengthen local businesses throughout Minneapolis.
This work is part of Minneapolis Forward, a citywide effort to support businesses, strengthen commercial corridors and help our community move forward together.
Learn how we’re helping Minneapolis move forward at minneapolismn.gov/mpls-forward.
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Minneapolis Forward: Supporting the amazing resilience of our community
The City is committed to helping Minneapolis move forward together — no matter the challenges that come our way.
During Operation Metro Surge, our communities — especially immigrant, refugee and cultural communities — experienced real harm. Many people lost jobs, had reduced work hours or shut down businesses. Others felt fear and stress that kept them away from daily life, school, work and public spaces.
In response, the City is working to better understand impacts and invest in resources where help is needed most.
Minneapolis Forward is the City’s effort to boost economic resurgence and community cohesion across Minneapolis in the aftermath of Operation Metro Surge. Through direct funding, partnerships and community-led work, we are helping businesses get back on their feet, connecting families with resources and bringing energy back to neighborhoods and cultural areas.
These efforts are already showing up in many ways across the city:
- The Small Business Resiliency Fund provides direct financial relief and activation funding to help support economic stability as businesses and commercial districts regain their footing.
- We are helping residents who are at risk of eviction with emergency rental assistance, which can be accessed through our community partners.
- We’ve increased funding in programs that provide direct support to our residents and businesses, including:
- An additional $500,000 in the City’s Business and Technical Assistance Program (BTAP), which offers no-cost consulting services to small businesses. Connect with BTAP for free help.
- An additional $500,000 into our immigration legal services program, which is accessible at no cost to residents. This addressed the rapidly growing demand and continued need for legal representation and assistance for residents who faced detention, sudden loss of income and documentation. Find links to our community partners for free legal help.
This work builds on the strength, resilience and connection Minneapolis community members showed during the crisis this winter. Together, we are focused on creating real, lasting progress across our city.
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