St. Paul keeps staff-led review for reparations study
The St. Paul City Council voted 6–1 on Nov. 5 to stick with a staff‑led procurement process for a reparations 'harm study' budgeted up to $250,000, rejecting a proposal from Council Member Anika Bowie to restart the evaluation with a community‑driven review panel. The RFP, extended in September and closed Oct. 3, drew three research firms; a preferred vendor has been identified but not yet finalized, and the contract will come back to the council for approval amid objections from some Black elders and split views among the council’s two Black members.
📌 Key Facts
- Council vote: 6–1 on Nov. 5 to retain the original staff‑run evaluation process recommended by the reparations commission.
- Budget: Up to $250,000 for a 'harm study' on historic and ongoing harms to Black descendants of chattel slavery in St. Paul.
- RFP timeline: Extended in September due to only one response; closed Oct. 3; now three firms have responded.
- Selection status: A selection has been made by staff per procurement rules (with one commission appointee on the evaluation panel) but is not yet under contract and requires council approval.
- Objections: Marvin Roger Anderson (Rondo Center of Diverse Expressions) and others warned of conflict-of-interest if city staff solely administer and score proposals; Bowie sought a community review panel, while Council Member Cheniqua Johnson urged keeping the existing process.