Shawn Lewis seems surprised at the letter from Dyna and says he would like to help. He also asks how other City of Minneapolis residents can help the Northside. Well Shawn first you can help by being aware of the problem and making others aware. Start by realizing you have problems within a mile of your front door. Franklin Avenue from Chicago to Tenth and Bloomington Avenue from 25th to Lake Street are much the same. Earlier this summer I sent the list accounts of guarding a family for several nights in a row, all night long because of Drug Gang violence. There are sometimes twenty or thirty drug dealers in a block doing business.
Unless you have lived in such circumstances it is hard to believe the frustration. You either want to flee that community or you get outraged enough to fight. And yes, as Linda Mann points out occasionally you do have a troublesome house even in good neighborhoods. Yes these problems make people want to sell and get away from the City. Yes Shawn, you folks in "Good" neighborhoods can help. Call "Your" City Council Person and demand that they help the other City Council person representing that area solve these "City" problems. Also call the Mayor's Office and demand that HE address these "City" problems. Linda's post is representative of the problem many have in fighting such houses and such people. I was struck by all the things she "almost" did but did not do because of pessimism about the Police. And her decision to not do them now and wait until next spring to see if things get better. What a joke, it is like waiting to see if a snake forgets how to bite. Problem houses should be a problem that is attacked immediately, here are a few suggestions for Linda and other readers: 1. Call the police each and every time you see any problem. With the other information give the time and tell them you will be calling back with the exact time the police arrive(and do it). If they do not arrive in a reasonable time have the civic responsibility to call back, give the time an d ask when they will be there. Be nice and understanding, but be very, very firm. Occasionally send a written report to the Precinct Inspector of the type of call, time of response, and action taken. Even if you have a "liberal" antipathy to Police, you would be surprised how many policemen are nice people, whose greatest pleasure in life is to help you. Yes, especially you, because you CARE. 2. Get your neighbors to also call the police each and every time they view an illegal or suspicious activity. (you will be surprised how empowering it is to have someone else "fighting" on your side) 3. Start the CCP Safe officer doing proceedings for a disorderly house or a nuisance house ordinance.( it is the job you pay them to do). They can call the land lord about the problem. 4. Go on your computer, (I Know you have one, cause you posted to the list), go to the Hennepin County website and get the owners name and address. Send a registered letter with a copy of the disorderly house statute and inform that person of the fact that he may own and/or be in control of a "Disorderly House", a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota Law. Offer to help the "poor landlord" avoid being prosecuted. Offer to testify concerning the matter if he or she has problems evicting the troublesome renter. (or your willingness to testify in a criminal action if they are not evicted). You would be surprised how much action this gets from a good property owner. If you do not have a copy of the statute call the County Attorney, they will send you one. 5. Send cc's of everything you do to the City Council Person and the neighborhood organization. City Council people just seem to help more when you make your request for help more public, and Police also seem to be more responsive if the Council-member sends a query about their actions. 6. Now this is the most important one - so pay attention: NEVER, EVER, ALMOST CALL THE POLICE TO REPORT A CHILD BEING TOSSED OUT OF A CAR WINDOW, or any other child abuse. Call each and every time, no matter how frightened you are of the people, and even though you "KNOW" the judges are going to give the child back. Not calling means a person is more concerned for themselves than they are about the possible maiming or killing of a child. If you are more scared of the Police than you care about the child call me or someone else. I promise you some of us care enough to overcome "scared". There is nothing that gets the attention of a patrol officer like a call about something happening to a child. The 911 operator may not make it a high priority, but I assure you the patrol officer will. Following a few things each and every time begins a culture of civic responsibility that sometimes appears to be lacking in Minneapolitans. It also starts training problem people in the social expectations of a community. Though it may be a surprise to middle class America, some of this "problem behavior" is just ignorance of social expectations, and ignorance of the fact that behaving in such a way will NOT be tolerated in your community. It is also time for some in Minneapolis to start a "Political Culture" about our expectations in ALL of Minneapolis, not just "Good" neighborhoods Jim Graham, Ventura Village _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
