I also checked the states web-site for zip codes 55408 and 55404. These zip codes cover Whittier, Lyndale, Stevens Square, Ventura Village and Elliot Park. All considered inner-city neighborhoods for the most part. There are 9 registered sex offenders living in those two zip codes. Not surprising 55405 just to the West had 0.
Sex offenders end up living in these neighborhoods because they are steered there. This isn't coincidental. People set-up to help guide these people as they assimilate back into society provide them with information on places to seek housing. Again, not surprising, they aren't suggesting Edina, Eagan, Savage, Shakopee, Chaska, or even the dang farm town they probably came from in the first place. They are suggesting Whittier, Phillips, Jordan and Hawthorne. Why? Because we have all or most of the affordable housing. There is also an underground network of landlords who make it known they will rent to these types. I know for sure of two places. One is on 16th and Portland in Elliot Park and one is 2609-13th Av. So. in Midtown Phillips. City Pages did an article on this place awhile back and list member Paul Wier was quoted in that article. The funny thing about the house in Phillips is that it isn't even a licensed rental property. Doesn't have to be. There can be 5 unrelated adults living in a house together. The owner makes it known he will rent to sex-offenders. This address is one block from a park, one block from a very large elementary school and two blocks from Children's Hospital. This is just one more example of how any sort of social problem you can think of gets neatly tucked away in a select few neighborhoods and we are expected to deal with it with very little help from any branch of government. Just remove the word sex offender and slip in any other term like "drug addict" "mentally ill" "inebriate" whatever. It's all mixed together. It's all in a small number of neighborhoods. Most of us who become activists in these neighborhoods are forced to get educated on more issues than we ever cared to in an effort to keep our families and ourselves safe and secure. But, this has all been said before so whatever. Barb Lickness Whittier ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead 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
