My good friend Dan McGrath and I see eye-to-eye on the Mayor's race. We are experience a double-digit increase in violent crime in the city, and within that statistic, a rapid increase in gang-related violence. Unlike Mayor Rybak, I am not in denial about these facts. His public claims that he has made the city safer is far more of a cynical card out of Karl Rove's playbook than anything being used by McLaughlin's camp.
I spent three hours at the scene of the Mother's Day ambush on 35th and Minnehaha, talking to police and neighbors. Despite the enforcement action that I have helped coordinate against the businesses on the corner (one was selling drug paraphernalia-which was removed by the owner, another business was completely illegal-which was shut down, another was in a substandard building -it was torn down). My office is organizing a block club meeting to review the safety at the apartment building as well as remaining loitering and drug dealing at the corner. While I was at the crime scene, I saw drug dealing proceeding without care. More clearly needs to be done. After reviewing the results of the first three weeks of the STOP initiative, it is clear to me that 1) it has been successful up North (no new homicides so far, and a three-week drop in Part 1 crimes) and 2) patrols are not just focusing on the city's North Side-the 3rd Precinct has gotten additional resources in high priority areas. An additional $400K allocation to additional patrols (from last year budget savings on fuel) will further help Northside, downtown and Southside patrols this summer. I am working with Inspector Gerlicher to get these additional dollars in high priority areas like 34th and Minnehaha. Look for an announcement soon on a new anti-gang initiative that I have been planning with the help of Hennepin County. Much more work needs to be done, summer is just beginning. Gary Schiff Minneapolis City Council Ward 9 (612) 673-2209 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
