Four months after a Little Earth resident called for help when her 5‑year‑old son was injured by a needle while riding his bike, Native leaders and city officials have moved to address the drug problem that has plagued the neighborhood around Franklin and Cedar avenues.
Mayor’s all‑hands‑on‑deck approach
Mayor Jacob Frey described the new initiative as an “all‑hands‑on‑deck” effort that pairs enforcement with compassionate care. The plan calls for increased Minneapolis police patrols, additional security cameras, and the presence of social‑service providers who can offer housing, treatment and culturally sensitive medical care.
The collaboration involves the Sheriff’s Office, the city’s Homeless Response Team, the Mobile Medical Unit, Metro Transit and the parks department. Together they will work to cite and arrest individuals engaged in illegal activity while simultaneously delivering treatment options to those who seek help.
Background and previous attempts
In July 2025, the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID) adopted a resolution creating exclusionary zones around schools, clinics and other member organizations. Those zones prohibited homeless encampments within 50 yards and barred volunteers from distributing food, water or Narcan inside the zones. The resolution also asked for increased police patrols and weekly enforcement reports.
While Third Precinct Inspector Jose Gomez has regularly shared arrest and 911‑call data with MUID leaders, the new initiative seeks a higher level of police presence. Native leaders, however, say the plan still lacks clear goals, measurable success metrics and a long‑term vision.
Community response
Vincent Dionne, outreach manager for the American Indian Community Development Corp., said inviting arrests of friends and relatives was “painfully hard,” but he believes a new approach is needed. Robert Lilligren, president of the Native American Community Development Institute, expressed frustration that the community has been discussing the same issues for decades without lasting solutions.
Many residents also criticize recent fencing intended to keep homeless encampments off public right‑of‑way, calling it a temporary fix that does not address the underlying cycle of addiction and crime.
Impact on families
Data from Hennepin County show that from 2020 to 2024 American Indians accounted for more than 11 % of opioid‑related deaths, while the overall county saw a 31 % decline in overdose deaths in 2024. The Native American population’s decline was only 7 %. Hospital visits for opioid‑related issues also remain high, representing 8 % of all such visits in the seven‑county metro area in 2024.
Joseph Olson, the city’s lead homeless response coordinator, noted that only a small percentage of people in the corridor agree to services, and that many prefer to work with trusted Native organizations.
Personal stories illustrate the stakes
Dionne, who grew up in Little Earth and spent 13 years in recovery after a federal prison sentence, now serves on the MUID public‑safety committee. He says the community has become the most unsafe he has ever known, with youth being solicited for sex, elders harassed and frequent overdoses and shootings.
His own family has felt the toll: a close friend died of addiction and his daughter is struggling with similar challenges. Dionne believes that responsible police intervention, combined with culturally appropriate services, can give people a second chance.
Questions remain
The mayor’s office declined to comment on the community’s concerns about the initiative’s timeline, success metrics or resource allocation. Native leaders continue to call for clearer goals, genuine collaboration with MUID and a sustainable, long‑term plan to protect families and restore safety in the Native American corridor.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
