Andrea Jenkins says Minneapolis should ‘recommit’ to investment in George Floyd Square

Five years ago, the murder of George Floyd by then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin turned the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue into an epicenter of worldwide calls to change policing. It was at that intersection where witnesses filmed Floyd’s final moments as he cried out repeatedly that he couldn't breathe.

Now, as city leaders work to implement court-ordered police reforms, they are also trying to figure out what’s next for the site where the murder happened, now known as George Floyd Square.

Council member Andrea Jenkins represents that area on the Minneapolis City Council. She joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the future of George Floyd Square.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

The city council is considering turning George Floyd Square into a pedestrian mall. What do you think should happen there?

I really have a strong desire to see public transportation continue in that corridor. I believe that we should reconstruct the intersection to make it safer for pedestrians. The intersection has not been reconstructed for well over 50 years and so the underground piping needs to be replaced to get the lead out of the water. We need to plant trees in this community.

We need new lighting in this community. I think the investment in the infrastructure will bring more support and investments for the businesses, for the residents in the community. And I know there's a way to do that while still maintaining a memorial — a community-driven memorial.

If I had my dream, I think it would be public transportation and pedestrian only. But what we're hearing from the professional staff and from majority of the community is that we want to have cars and public transportation in the corridor.

Why do you feel that there has been so little movement on how to proceed for five years?

I think that the murder was so traumatizing. I personally have never witnessed anything like that in real time. A lot of the planning that may have happened early on was diverted because we were dealing with a global crisis, which was COVID-19. That contributed, as well as the mistrust of the community in the city government, which, justifiable, right? So trying to work to rebuild trust, trying to work to understand all of these different perspectives that people have.

I would get letters from people in Australia and San Diego and Edina and southwest Minneapolis. Everybody has an opinion on what should happen there. But how do you prioritize the people who live in close proximity to the intersection, and then how do you balance all of those various perspectives? This magnitude of a world-changing event, I think, has contributed to the slow process of getting to some kind of resolution.

Are you hopeful for a culture change and an improvement in Minneapolis police relationships with the residents that they serve?

I am hopeful. We talked about defund the police on June 7, 2020, in Powderhorn Park. In retrospect, I tried to reframe that as refund our communities, meaning we need to fund our communities as well as our public safety mechanisms.

So we created the Office of Community Safety, which oversees the Minneapolis Police Department, fire department, emergency management, 911, as well as created a behavioral crisis response team to go out and work with people experiencing mental health crises. We created a community commission on police oversight to be able to deal with police misconduct claims. We invested in violence prevention measures with violence interrupters throughout the city, which has been a little controversial. But I think we are on a positive trajectory.

You announced in March that you’re not seeking reelection. Can you talk about why you've decided now is the time?

When I first got elected, my goal was to serve two terms. I ended up serving three terms because of redistricting. I felt like I had achieved this goal that I had for myself. I really have a strong belief that these privileged offices are not lifetime offices.

This impasse that seemingly is the reality at George Floyd Square, I'm thinking, maybe some other person might be able to break through the morass and get things moving. And I want to spend time with my three grandchildren. I'm a writer and artist.

I want to take some time to reflect on this incredible journey that I've been on. I live with multiple sclerosis, and I want to try to enjoy some of my life while my mobility is still somewhat capable of being able to do some of those things.

Do you have any advice for the City of Minneapolis or the next person who holds your seat?

I really strongly would suggest that George Floyd Square remains a priority that is emphasized by making sure that employment opportunities are available, homeownership opportunities are available, affordable housing is available.

That community has been underserved for a very, very long time. It has been historically a Black community. I think it's time to recommit and make sure that George Floyd Square is as resourced as every other part of the city of Minneapolis.