When Olson came on duty some six (?) years ago, he promised to clean up the
corner of Lake and Chicago--the biggest transit stop in the TC, with 10,000
people transferring buses there either weekly or monthly--I forget which. It
seems to me that it could have been accomplished in six years, regardless of
the conditions at that corner. That promise has been honored in the breach.
Several months ago a man died of an overdose in the washroom of KFC. Drug
deals take place in KFC on a regular basis. Until it got cold, there were
shots fired on at least a weekly basis. There are several drug dealers
operating openly on the corner and covertly from houses in the immediate
area. A man was murdered at Lake and Park in broad daylight after running
through a puppet show in the parking lot of the unemployment office at Lake
and Columbus with bullets flying. Addicts who are geeking are much in
evidence as are drunks and a few people who are totally unhinged. The guy (wa
his name Profit?) who was serially murdering prostitutes hung out there
looking for victims, one of which was found two blocks away on the edge of
Powderhorn Park.
Too, police officers are doled out unevenly across the city. The Third
Precinct, with easily the largest territory to cover, is understaffed for the
amount and kind of work they have to do. At the end of a summer push that
lasted a month ( I think), a couple summers ago, the cops looked dead on their
feet, making them hazardous to themselves as well as the citizens.
But my personal favorite is sending in some 300 plus peace officers to get 38
tree huggers off Hiawatha Avenue. It was an eerie reminder of how to set off
'days of rage.'
Wizard Marks
Central
David Shove wrote:
> From: Michelle Gross <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Chief Olson's Got to Go!
>
> As everyone knows, police brutality has been a serious and ongoing problem
> in the Twin Cities area. However, incidents of brutality, use of
> excessive force and racial profiling have skyrocketed under Police Chief
> Robert Olson. Either through bad leadership or open encouragement, cops
> are out of control here and it is time for Olson to go!
>
> Olson is due for reappointment for another three-year term on December
> 29th. We think we need to come together as a community to see that he is
> NOT reappointed. No, this won't end police brutality in our fair city,
> but it will send a powerful message to the cops that we will hold them and
> their leadership accountable for the things they do.
>
> There are lots of reasons for Olson not to be reappointed but here's some
> that our organization has noted:
>
> � Five people killed.
> In the past twelve months, five citizens have been shot dead by the
> Minneapolis police. The victims included Barbara Schneider, a forty-nine
> year old Jewish historian, and Alfred "Abuka" Sanders, a young father of
> four, known for his musical talent, good nature, and contributions to the
> community.
>
> � Racial profiling and harassment.
> There has been rampant racial profiling and harassment in Minneapolis
> under the CODEFOR program. Police have been quoted by media as referring
> to unjustified arrests and holding innocent people in jail over a weekend
> as "an inconvenience." Even Ken White, executive director of the
> Minneapolis civil rights department, was stopped and harassed by six white
> police officers for the "crime" of taking a grandchild to a park in the
> Phillips neighborhood.
>
> �Overreaction to political protests.
> At this summer's ISAG conference, police under Olson's direction made an
> armed camp of downtown. Pepper spray, rubber bullets and clubs were used
> on nonviolent protesters and legal observers. There was widespread
> infiltration of legal organizations by undercover police, a civil rights
> violation. More than seventy people were arrested. Most of the charges
> were later dropped or dismissed.
>
> � Fiscal Irresponsibility.
> Under Olson's management, the police department's budget rose from 23% to
> 40% of the total Minneapolis budget. Much of this increase is due to
> reliance on gadgets, expensive special units and militarization of the
> police, rather than good police training. The police response to
> approximately two hundred nonviolent protesters at the ISAG conference
> cost the city $1.15 million.
>
> HAT YOU CAN DO
>
> Contact the mayor and the city council:
>
> Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton (612) 673-2100
> Ward 1 Paul Ostrow (612) 673-2201
> Ward 2 Joan Campbell (612) 673-2202
> Ward 3 Joe Biernat (612) 673-2203
> Ward 4 Barbara Johnson (612) 673-2204
> Ward 5 Jackie Cherryhomes (612) 673-2205
> Ward 6 Jim Niland (612) 673-2206
> Ward 7 Lisa Goodman (612) 673-2207
> Ward 8 Brian Herron (612) 673-2208
> Ward 9 Kathy Thurber (612) 673-2209
> Ward 10 Lisa McDonald (612) 673-2210
> Ward 11 S. Dor� Mead (612) 673-2211
> Ward 12 Sandy Colvin Roy (612) 673-2212
> Ward 13 Barret Lane (612) 673-2213
>
> � Attend these important meetings where Olson's reappointment will be
> considered:
>
> December 20, 1:00 p.m.
> Public Safety and Regulatory Services Committee, Room 319, City Hall.
> Meet in the hall outside the meeting space at 12:30 p.m. to sign up to
> speak and get a sign.
>
> December 29, 9:30 a.m.
> Full City Council meeting, Room 319, City Hall. Meet in the hall outside
> the meeting space at 9:00 a.m. to get a sign.
>
> Contact Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB):
> We meet at Arise Books 2441 Lyndale Ave S, every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.
> For more information, call (651) 649-4579
>
> PLEASE POST THIS TO OTHER LISTS--SPREAD THE WORD FAR AND WIDE!
>
> MINNEAPOLIS COPS OUT OF CONTROL! CHIEF OLSON'S GOT TO GO!
>
> ----
> fwd by David Shove
> Roseville
