Obama brings up Minneapolis in speech

Posted at 9:53 PM on February 24, 2009 by Tom Scheck

President Obama just finished his address to Congress. He mentioned the stimulus bill and its impact on Minneapolis in the speech:

Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs. More than 90% of these jobs will be in the private sector - jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges; constructing wind turbines and solar panels; laying broadband and expanding mass transit.

Because of this plan, there are teachers who can now keep their jobs and educate our kids. Health care professionals can continue caring for our sick. There are 57 police officers who are still on the streets of Minneapolis tonight because this plan prevented the layoffs their department was about to make.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak released his budget yesterday. He said cuts to LGA (through Gov. Pawlenty's unallotment of $13 million) would have forced him to make the cuts:

Rybak says if the $13 million budget gap had been applied equally among all city departments, 57 police positions would have been cut.

But the federal stimulus money is a one-shot deal which likely won't be around to pay for public safety costs next year. And that has Rybak concerned about the future.

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