>> But they did vote against decreasing staff. >> Despite record crime rates in their city, the Minneapolis City Council passed a budget that takes $8 million from the police department and puts it towards “alternative public safety strategies.” >> Such alternative public safety strategies include mental health, social, and non-police response services. >> Although the city council unanimously cut the police budget, they voted 7-6 to remove language about decreasing staff and to increase recruitment opportunities. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey threatened to veto the budget if the council remained committed to reducing staff from 888 to 750.