Message: 2 Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 09:22:32 -0800 (PST) From: jon kelland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] code 4 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Rich makes two main points below, both of which have >the same root. >First, all of the crime Rich mentions would not have >been stopped with the existence of code4, in fact, >much of it has occurred during the reign of code4 (I >am across the alley from Rich so I have a pretty good >idea of the timeline of events mentioned). >The fact is that the surround of force which exists in >communities of poverty only perpetuates crime, and >this is exemplified by the existence of a mechanism >such as code4, and amplified by continued high profile >instances of police use of excessive force, joined >with the daily anecdotal evidence of racial profiling >and general (mis)behavior by the police. >Second, as far as getting involved with the police, >there are two serious problems. The main problem is >that for many of us, we see the police as >unaccountable for their actions. When there seems to >be overwhelming evidence of police acting >inappropriately and having no consequences to face for >their actions, it is a major deterrent for getting >involved. There is little reason for a person that >feels disenfranchised to team up with their oppressor. > Until it is evident to the general, underclass of the >population that the police are accountable for their >actions there is absolutely no motivation to work with >them. People that are happy with the police tend to >be priviledged and/or disinterested with the plight of >the poor and minority communities. It is hideously >obvious who's interest the police by and large protect >and every minority and poor person has a very clear >understanding of this fact. Ain't this the truth. Here is a good example of a nice neighborhood getting attention and of racial profiling. My parents lived in Prospect Park on East River Terrace. One night a woman heard glass breaking (like a window). She called the cops. Four or five squad cars rolled into the area. My sister who is a Korean adoptee was driving home with her boyfriend (also Korean) when they were passed by a squad car rolling dark. They ended up being followed by the police into our driveway, the police pulled a gun on her, then immediately holstered it after seeing my sister. What if my sibling wasn't a Korean adoptee, but a young African American male and he had been holding something (like a wallet)? My father went ballistic, rightfully so and used that same argument. No police officers checked the property that the woman heard the broken glass coming from. Some guy had locked himself out and broke into his own house. Code4 is based on the NY system. That scares me more than anything else. >The second problem with getting involved with the >police, is that they either do nothing, or do not >listen to your concerns and do what they think the >best course of action is, not taking into account the >perspective of the community. In addition to >anecdotal evidence, I have my own experience with this >great ability for inaction. When I moved into the >neighborhood there was not an active block club, so I >decided to team up with a neighbor and start it back >up. For about a year and a half we had meetings and >communicated with our SAFE officer, we were >continually given "progress" reports for problem >properties, being convinced that our "main problem" >(which is a whole nuther story) was on the verge of >being solved. The fact is, it was not solved and to >this day remains (with a murder attached, as well). >The police were either unable to solve the problem, or >unwilling to invest resources to solve the problem. >The fact is that it always seemed like there was major >double-talk coming from the police, and it always >seemed like our concerns were falling on deaf ears. >Sure, they would nod politely, and give us confidence >they were our allies, but I, as well as others on the >block, left utterly unconvinced. I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. I moved into Powderhorn last summer. I live down the street from a minor problem property. Actually it is just a bad neighbor property, it is a commercial building with a number of businesses. The property is also owned by a board member of PPNA. Last summer I had to deal with a late party in one of the spaces that carried on with loud booming music until 5 AM. I called 911, so did my neighbors. I called at 3 AM, but nothing changed. Fortunately these parties were the exception and not the rule. Recently a different business in the property has been having a lot of music going on every Friday night. This leads to cars parked illegally on the even side of the street, which doesn't bother me too much. However, my biggest complaint is that some of the people who frequent the establishment have parked on a sidewalk blocking pedestrian traffic. The first time I saw this there was a squad car parked across the street by the business. I told of my complaint. They said they would look into and drove away, I stood and watched from my house. The second time was last Friday and someone was parked on the sidewalk (how rude is that). I called 911, squad car rolled by, ticketed no one parked illegally and didn't check the car parked on the sidewalk. After calling 911 a second time (the first time I asked for the officers to talk with me, which they didn't), 911 referred me to the precinct station. The person answering the phone was barely civil. She told parking violations were low on their priorities and that they had to worry about the stabbings and shootings. ANYONE know where I can find out how many reports of stabbings and shootings took place at this time. It is inattention from the police that is pissing me off now. >When Rich makes statements like the police should be >worked with, instead of protested against, I think he >fails to realize that certain communities have no >alternative but to protest. Don't get me wrong, I >understand what it is like to live in an area that has >it's problems. My point is that until the police make >themselves accountable and allow for meaningful >community interaction, the problems that Rich mentions >will continue, and get much, much worse. A Florida >police chief said (a couple of years back) that if >poverty is not solved in the next 20-30 years, he >would have to start shooting people in the streets. >His point was that he did not want to be responsible >for killing people, he did not care about the poor - >this is where we are at in Minneapolis and something >has to change otherwise things will only get worse. >Jon Kelland >Bryant Josh Kroll Powderhorn Park, 9-4 _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
