Mayor Carter's extra spending on public safety focuses on community initiatives, not more cops

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter asked the City Council for nearly $1.7 million in public safety funding on Wednesday amid disagreement with his police chief over how to best fight a 25-year high in gun violence.

In a rare presentation to the council, Carter outlined a wide-ranging proposal that would use a "community-first" approach to confront what he calls a public health crisis. It would task city departments and outside groups with expanding youth employment, encourage landlords to rent to people with criminal histories and launch a communications center for sharing information about public safety downtown, among other steps.

http://www.startribune.com/mayor-carter-chief-axtell-divided-on-approach-to-gun-violence/565231402/