Minneapolis Crime Solutions

"Anonymous", a partially reformed liberal, posted a comment stating that he found Rambix and the Red Star in a search for answers to ever-increasing Minneapolis crime. He finished his comment by saying that he didn't find answers here, and with the last vestige of his liberalism intact, he adds this: "...I know first hand that the issues are much more complex than you and the media make them out to be."

In other words, the issue is "nuanced", an oft-used descriptor used by the left.

Well, I don't think the answers are that hard to find. In fact, I had a previous call-out for public input on solutions to the Minneapolis Quagmire, and received some very thoughtful responses. For the benefit of "Anonymous" I'll repost this response from Nordeaster, taken from this post, which I believe represents the most effective non-nuanced proactive Quagmire solution I've heard so far:

In simple economic terms, we have a surplus of criminals. The question then is how do we reduce that surplus?

Most of the conversation has been on the enforcement side. More cops and tougher sentancing will get a few more criminals off the street, keep them off longer, and may even deter some from committing a crime. That however treats a symptom, not a cause. I agree with those who argue this is a band-aid approach. [Ed. - right on]

My recommendations go broader.

1). Stricter welfare requirements. How many times in recent years have we seen crime reports in Minnesota listing violent criminals being from Milwaukee, East St. Louis or Gary, IN? It's no coincidence that the rise in move-in criminals occured when tougher welfare laws were enacted in states like Wisconsin (Gov. Thompson) and Indiana. The criminal element flocked to Minnesota where handouts were easy.

The solution -- commit a serious crime, forfeit your welfare [Ed. - love it!]. Don't have at least a part-time job (in a state with 3.7% unemployment), forfeit your welfare.

2). Give the police the tools they need -- including leeway to do their job. The 2nd largest department should not be internal affairs. Take some cops out of that department and get them on the streets. I'm not saying tolerate violations of fundamental rights. Just don't make police officers feel like every arrest of a minority is an exercise in racial profiling.

Even though he has received some ribbing for it, this is where I credit chief McManus for breaking down some of the us against them barriers.

3). Treat gangs as organized crime (which is what they are) or possibly even terrorist organizations. Use RICO. Target their leadership. If a gang commits violence hold the leadership responsible.

Nordeaster Homepage 04.17.06 - 11:03 am

There's an answer for you, Anonymous. The chances of it being implemented in the city are close to nil, but if semi-reformed liberals like yourself make some noise downtown, who knows?

Meanwhile, Mayor Rybak has his own solutions for unruly downtown visitors:

Rybak said it is important that citizens help when they can to prevent unruly behavior.

”We need everybody to police each other -- stop giving to panhandlers, stop your friends acting wild on the street, and if they are going to try and take a leak out on the street, tell them that's out of line,” the mayor said.

Rybak says the police presence in downtown and uptown on weekends will continue to grow, and that police will have even less patience with bad behavior [Ed. - This implies they have some patience with bad behavior - I hope not!].

“We are not going to tolerate people going out on the street and having lewd behavior,” he continues. “They will have a tough response from police.”

We'll see how that works for you, Mr. Mayor.