I do not believe I was arguing a fact. Simply observing the obvious. The crimes and criminals I was referring to are the street corner criminals and dealers. The very openness of that crime is as damaging to a community as the crime itself, and maybe more so. Sure there is crime and drug dealing in upscale neighborhoods also, but when was the last time a high class hooker turned her trick in front of school kids on the street in Kenwood? What is the forcible rape rate in Linden Hills? How often do the children around Lake Harriet have to duck gunshots? Which school in those neighborhoods ever had a "duck and crawl" drill like Four-Winds School once had for our children to get out of the way of frequent gun fights across the school yard?
Each of my children have first hand experienced watching several (not one) gunfights around their home in Minneapolis while growing up. At thirteen one of my sons could tell you what it looks like when a real person gets half his head blown off by a rival gang member. He knew because he got to watch it on 22nd and Elliot. I believe the last one was last year when the drug dealers that are ever present at 911 East 21st Street had a three-way shootout with a car and were joined by a passing pedestrian. My older son and a friend were almost in the middle of that one . Or the time last year on Park Avenue between a car and a van around the car my middle son was in while stopped at the light. I wonder if children from those "good" neighborhoods have ever experienced even one real gun fight. I doubt it very much. In better neighborhoods there is trauma counseling for school children when something like that happens, our children got "bullet drop drills". Barb Lickness once described on this list how her son could point out the prostitutes on the way home from school on Franklin Avenue. I wonder if kids from "good" neighborhoods have such first hand knowledge gained from personal observation? Because of an incredible amount of effort on the part of the residents of our area, the valiant efforts of a few police officers, and of one U.S. Attorney in particular things are better now. Make no mistake, however, our children still do not have the quality of life afforded by adequate public safety. The public safety that the fortress communities enjoy and demand for their children. Much of Minneapolis can rightfully be proud of the public safety that is enjoyed by their neighborhoods. Unfortunately, it is gained by containing that crime and blight in a few "Impacted Neighborhoods". The beauty of the "Peace Foundation" scheme to partner the have and have not neighborhoods is that it will hopefully make the disgrace of institutional racism that afflicts Minneapolis into a "social problem" for all of Minneapolis. Not just a personal problem for the victim neighborhoods. Then, hopefully, it can be addressed. When all of Minneapolis' people get "Equal Protection Under The Law"! Until that happens we need more cops not fewer, or we need to have ALL our understaffed force dedicated to the "Impacted Areas". Of course, when the "Good Neighborhoods" feel they are no longer safe Minneapolis would get more police officers. The law says Minneapolis "Shall" enforce the State and Federal laws. It does not say Minneapolis will enforce only those laws it chooses to, or will enforce only in the areas where it chooses to. Minneapolis is required to provide what ever resources that may be necessary to accomplish that end. Perhaps the Attorney General of the State of Minnesota should investigate the issue. Or perhaps now U.S. Attorney Heffelfinger should seek an injunction to force Minneapolis to adequately enforce those laws in poor communities of color. I believe his office is responsible to enforce Civil Rights matters. Pleading hardship and Bush removed the "Clinton Cops" will just not cut it. Minneapolis IS required to provide what ever resources are necessary to provide that equal protection and public safety. No, Wizard there is a great deal of difference between hidden crime and the open, in your face, screw the cops variety that is presently allowed in some of our neighborhoods. You of course, having experienced it, know that as well as I do. Jim Graham, Ventura Village, Phillips Community, Third Precinct, and Sixth Ward of Minneapolis. >"Reality is that which when you stop believing in it doesn't go away." REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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
