Chief’s Pay Raise Amid City Tensions | Duluth News

Duluth’s City Council just approved a hefty $207,489 annual salary for Police Chief Mike Ceynowa — a $46,000 jump — despite ongoing lawsuits alleging misconduct and retaliation. Council members defended the raise, citing the chief’s performance on operations, crime, staffing, and budget. But critics pushed back, pointing to rising costs for residents, a poverty rate of 17%, and a city budget already heavily skewed toward policing — nearly a quarter of the total. Opponents argued that funds should go to essential services like libraries and transit, which directly support vulnerable communities. The raise, framed as a retention and recruitment tool, has ignited fierce debate over priorities in a city grappling with economic strain and public trust. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f11ba2c71f0cc28e