This is one of those interesting discussion threads (or should I say argument threads) that is funny because they are both mostly correct. Just insistent on arguing different elements of the same side. Peter's heat is remarkable, and he seems to think only crime against white people make the "News". I believe the most covered incidences were against Black Children. Poor whites and American Indians who are murdered also do not get much coverage in the poor neighborhoods of the inner-city.
The racism that is manifested is more institutional in nature. "Impacted Neighborhoods" with high numbers of people of color do not receive "Equal Protection Under the Law" as the more affluent mainly white communities do. They also do not receive the same news coverage as wealthier "white" communities if there is a crime. The reason is that the media believes everyone knows such crimes are going on in those communities, "so it just ain't news"! The women of each the Jordan and Ventura Village Neighborhoods are forcibly raped 25 or 30 times per year. Actual police reports, not actual number of rapes because most poor women in those neighborhoods do not even report it. Is there media coverage of this? NO! When there are two rapes in a suburb it gets hours of coverage and feet of news coverage. Why is that? Because it is expected to happen and thus "acceptable" in those poor communities but NOT out "where White people live". The City of Minneapolis and their "Non-Profiteer" buddies collude to violate City laws and ordinances by concentrating poverty and "Supportive Housing" in a few poor neighborhoods of color. Does this get news coverage? NO! Because the Media probably expects it. The preponderance of evidence shows that such concentrations not only discriminates against poor neighborhoods but also do real "Damage" to the individual people forced to live in such quasi-public housing when it is concentrated. Does the City care? NO! Not as long as it supports their institutional friends and only harms predominat ely poor people of color and poor neighborhoods where poverty is concentrated. Does the City know this activity harms and discriminates against poor people of color and communities of color? Yes, in fact their own planners have warned them of this over and over. The City's own Planning Commission Members have strongly argued with the City on it. (One is replaced because he makes an issue of it). Lisa McDonald argued that the City could not discriminate in such a manner and that it was "Bad" policy for the City to discriminately ignore its own ordinances and concentrate "supportive housing". I believe Lisa McDonald argued that law is law and the City can't ignore its own ordinances. The Chair of the Zoning & Planning Committee and member of the Planning Commission argues that such practices are discriminatory and illegal, what did the City do? Just wait until she left office and continue on with their illegal activities. But thanks Lisa you tried. The rest of Minneapolis is voted to be the City with the highest "Quality of Life" in the Nation, this is heavily reported in the media and even on this list. At the same time the Police Force is cut. Why because crime rates are going down in "good" white communities. Does the media or the City care that they are going wild in poor impacted neighborhoods? NO! This widening gulf is so discriminatory that someone needs to start a Federal "Class Action Suit" against Minneapolis. Sorry folks, I am involved in one to force the City to open the fortress Neighborhoods for Supportive Housing so those poor people have "Reasonable Choices" in housing. I would be happy to work on it after we win that case. You have to fight those fights one at a time. Several Northside Communities and some of us here on the Southside are starting initial explorations on such a Federal Lawsuit. Isn't it remarkable that the only way for poor communities to get services and equal protection under the law is to go to Federal Court for aid and assistance. To go to war against "Our" own City and "Our" selves to stop this crime. Pretty sad if ask me. Where are our Political Leaders? Are they so busy with the fluff of office that they do not have time for the real problems of the City's people? Oh that's right, their people are the people in the better neighborhoods who have the "Highest Quality of Life" in the Country. It is more important to look at an airplane killing a patio party and walk in the park for a moment than a drug dealer murdering a poor person in the inner-city? Than a sweet man beaten to death with baseball bats? Do the poor people in inner-city communities want the "Powers" to not address those "Good" neighborhood problems? No we want the political leaders to help those other people in "Our" City. But couldn't they at least spare a little time and resources for our poor people being victimized and murdered. While they are making their neighborhoods the "Highest Quality of Life in the Nation" couldn't they at least give us "Impacted Neighborhoods" a little help so our communities and neighborhoods are just barely livable? So David and Vicki are both correct. Just different sides of the same political outrage. They are both part of the institutional discrimination against poor individuals and poor neighborhoods that are mostly people of color. That discrimination is a crime! Perhaps we will only solve the other crime problems when we start to solve the City's crimes against poor people! Jim Graham, Urban Warrior from Ventura Village >"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."- Martin Luther King, Jr. TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
