Dorie Rae Gallagher wrote:
IMO, it will take much more police power, not only the uniforms who patrol but also the investigators who make the cases for court. To get that, it will take all of us to lean on the city and the legislature to supply the resources. The council should lean on the state really hard. Mayor too.Less than two years ago, several gang members got out of jail and started to slice up turf and gain control of the Lake Street area which was a major concern to workers in the area. No one should live in violence and as citizens...what do you want us to do? Wizard, I pose this question to you...how can we help you with the crime problem when the police and everyone else seems to be lacking/overwhelmed at solving the problem. Let the list know what involvement you feel should be taking place here in Minneapolis by the citizens to rectify the problem.
One day about two weeks ago, some political big wig came to town. (Might have been Cheney, but maybe not.) For some reason the plan brought the motorcade up Bloomington Ave. Now usually Bloomington, from just South of Lake to Franklin is drug dealers, hookers, and junkies. The police moved in just before the motorcade and removed all of the less reputable humanity from Bloomington Av. Looked a treat for the passing wigs.
The police department hasn't the staff power to keep that up, chase every miscreant to ground everywhere they spring up, and have the miscreants arrested, charged, tried, and sentenced.
However, the biggest mistake along the road to this situation was the city, insurance companies, and banks red-lining these areas for 30 years. We cannot allow any section of town to become so scruffy that drugs and prostitution find a natural home among us.
There are only two solutions I can think of--either cut off the supply of drugs and go after all those higher ups in the trade who supply the street dealers OR make the drugs legal so that there is less money to be made and muchos taxes to be paid, just like alcohol and cigs.
Another piece is the African American Men Project, MADDADS, Bobby Brown Beyond the Courts, Aftercare Inc., and other efforts which "capture" people coming out of jail or before going to jail and work to turn them around.
A higher minimum wage, more jobs, people educated enough (not just school) to hold jobs. Getting up on time, being ready for work, arriving on time, not walking out the minute a customer "disses" an employee.
It's still more complex than that and it will take generations to make the change truly effective.
Bigger deal--racism and classism that is an every day discouragement to strivers. Leaning on the legislature is a big step and requires persistence and then some. Getting people in the legie who do "get it" and have ideas on how to address it. (People like Phil Krinkie need not apply.)
WizardMarks, Central ________________________________
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