Ex-Equity Director Blames Minneapolis Leaders for ‘Clothing’ Black Business Show, Blames ‘Toxic’ Work Culture

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In a new letter written days before her departure, the former city department head who planned the Minneapolis Black Business Expo blamed other city leaders for the low turnout at the February event and threatened to sue City Councilwoman LaTrisha Vetau for “defamation of character.”

In a 14-page memo to the city’s director of operations and mayor, Tayashia Green said city leaders doubted her success. Green has accused City Hall of being a “toxic work environment” that fosters anti-black racism, a claim the city denied on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, some small business owners in Minneapolis — where the “I Am My Father’s Wildest Dreams” expo was meant to be lifted — want an apology and their money back.

In the first paragraph of the March 6 memo, Green said she planned to sue Vetau “and any of her associates outside the Council and Sudan,” pages later saying Vetau “made it her mission to discredit her.” [Green’s] Character” by spreading rumors of “impending unemployment”. [the] Race and equality [Department]” Until March 13, Greene was the director.

“I was shocked,” Vetau said in an interview Tuesday about the threats against her. “I did everything I could last week to make the event a success, I even went myself.”

Asked if there was any truth to the claims, the councilor said, “None of it, absolutely.”

As of Tuesday, two weeks after Green’s memo was sealed, the veto had not been brought to trial, she said.

The veto was part of the council’s unanimous vote to double nearly $1 million in funding for the inaugural expo, following a request from Greene a week before it was scheduled to go ahead.

“I thought the expo should be postponed? Absolutely, knowing some of the things that are going on behind the scenes,” Vetau added.

Eventually, he put the spot on the calendar, and local black businesses sprung up, with more than 20,000 people pouring into the Minneapolis Convention Center. In reality, attendance at the town hall is estimated by vendors and sources to be closer to a couple of hundred.

“I saw more vendors than I saw, you know, attendees coming in,” Vetau recalled.

“I was at this event to be completely blown away,” added Markella Smith, a vendor and North Minneapolis small business owner.

In her letter, Greene blamed a lack of marketing on the city’s communications issues and “deliberate misrepresentation” of city operations during the vendor contract process.

In a statement, a city communications representative said the department has done its part promoting the expo in a news release, including two live TV interviews — with 5 typical news stories — in city newspapers and social media.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Jacob Frey’s office said the city “did not agree.” [Green’s] “The nature of events throughout the memoir.”

“Councilwoman Veto, she’s literally apologized over and over again,” Smith said Tuesday.

City officials, including Vetta, met with vendors Monday evening at Smith’s business, The Dream Shop.

But what I want is a public apology,” Smith said.

She is seeking financial compensation for herself and on behalf of local suppliers who lost money.

When asked if she was claiming the $2,000 I lost participating in the exhibition, Smith said, “At least bare.

“I say that because yes, that was money that you put in, and that’s time, and that’s covering staff and everything,” she said. But then again, what about the money we can do that we haven’t? So it’s over $2,000.

“We, at the end of the day, deserve that. Like, this was a complete disaster,” Smith said.

Green did not respond to multiple inquiries Tuesday and last week.

Mayor Frey’s office responded to questions from 5 Eyewitness News reporters about racism in the city.

Reporter: What is the response of Greene’s mayor’s office to the fact that Minneapolis “doesn’t even make the list that is supposed to do anti-racism work”?

The city disagrees with the characterization of events described in the memo. Many city employees have worked tirelessly to make this exhibition a success, and it is sad to see their hard work on behalf of the city and its residents publicly criticized.

The city is acutely aware of the structural racism that affects our residents, businesses and employees. The Mayor and City Council have taken a step toward advancing racial equity in the 2022 budget cycle by moving a former division into the Racial Equity, Inclusion and Property (REIB) department. In this way, the city administration has increased its influence and status in the city enterprise. The city supported the creation of the department by investing nearly $800,000 more in the 2023 budget and increasing staffing capacity.

Over the past several years, city leadership has worked to build a more inclusive workplace and address equity in policy and practice. Just this year, the mayor allocated significant funding to develop an anti-racism training curriculum, and the city has already partnered with third-party experts to provide anti-racism training to city leaders. Last year, the city revamped its procurement processes to prioritize local suppliers in its target market program. We have taken and will continue to take concrete steps to support the black community, especially when planning large-scale community events.

We are committed to the success of the REIB department. We will soon be officially posting for a new director and will support REIB staff during this transition.

Reporter: Where did the extra $435K that was approved by the House a week before the event go?

After realizing that more money was needed to ensure the Expo went ahead, the City Council took action on February 17 to allocate $435,000 to fund the event. Apart from the action taken on February 17, the entire budget allocated for the exhibition is still being received by the city. The city is still calculating and paying invoices.

Reporter: The mayor’s chief of staff is seen in the photo at a meeting with the expo vendors yesterday. Did the office apologize? And specifically for which?

City leaders met with local black business owners on the Northside yesterday to express frustration with the city’s approach to contracts and vendors for the recent Expo. City staff apologized for not having better relationships with members of the black community and business leaders before this incident.

The City’s Target Market Program prioritizes small businesses that have historically been underserved in procurement and contracting policies with the City. We are collectively committed to strengthening our partnerships with local, minority-owned small businesses for future events.

Reporter: Does the mayor’s office/city intend to compensate the businessmen who lost money by participating in the event in any way?

The city is exploring legal options.

Reporter: Does the city plan to try the event again next year?

Every February, the city sponsors Black History Month and several events celebrating Minneapolis’ black community. City leadership began discussing the 2024 plan and met with representatives from the Minneapolis Black Labor Network (MBEN) to gather input at this February event.

The city is looking forward to evaluating the results of the audit, and has not yet made a decision to organize such an event next year.

Read Green’s full memo below.

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