Steve Brandt, who is a "city reporter" not a crime reporter, authored the story in today's Star Tribune which is really just a recap of some community activism happening in North recently. I'm on some of the e-mail lists and, aside from a rejuvenation of the neighborhood organization in my neighborhood, a group of people has come together to create "a marketing plan" for North. The idea is to highlight the possibilities and some of the new development taking place.
The reality is that something's got to replace or supplement the NRRC, which has spearheaded many of these types of initiatives in the past, because the NRRC is broke and although NRP got a stay of execution, funding will not be at the same level. It's a fine time to start looking elsewhere, for development funding.
The problem I have with the story is the headline. "Serious crime in north Minneapolis falls 15%." But the story isn't about crime, it's about these activists' desire for a better future for North. The headline conflates the desire with the reality. The reality may be that "serious crime is down" it doesn't mean that North is safe, the schools are good and that if we build it "they" will come. Following on the heels of a story this weekend about how people are buying condos downtown instead of places by the lake, the Strib looks like it's on a silly urban boosterism kick.
I know that the stats have been improving and I don't deny that they are. I don't agree with assertions that some people have made that the stats are being juked, that things are actually worse than they are telling us. The problem is that crime is not just about numbers. It's about perception. So homicides are down. If you knew that a few blocks away on a "safe" block, a driveby just took out some people at a barbecue last weekend, would you feel safe? If you had 3 houses on your block that were vacant and deteriorating, would you feel good about the direction that things were going?
Here's something to think about it. If people in South Minneapolis are concerned about crime and worried about their future in the city, and it's got all the attractions and amenities that South has, what does North have to offer in comparison?
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4 comments:
85% of a lot is still a lot.
Murders may be down, which is good, but routine burglaries, car thefts, robberies and muggings are now common in neighborhoods where before they were rare. The perception is definitely not that crime is down.
But clearly there is a PR push going on to try and change perception. When police floated the unsupported rumor that the murdered bicyclist was trying to by drugs that was a clear sign that they are actively trying to manage the perception since the reality seems to be out of control.
Everyone hates doom and gloom but Mpls. will continue to get worse and worse at least with non-murder crimes. The fact is we have a new and growing underclass thanks to welfare that has transformed the region and making the old safe areas not so safe. The economy isn't going to improve soon especially with the housing foreclosures. The re-release of offenders after short jail stints magnifies the problem immensely.
I think those in positions of management (or whoever deals with these issues) don't understand how fickle minnesotans are with crime. I know friends who have moved just from one burglary happening on their street. There is already a tax shift going on to the growing suburbs farther out like Maple Grove.
Also any city that can't control robberies is going to decline like Mpls. has as the general public or those not into "dangerous lifestyles" view this as the measure of how safe a place is. Mpls. is probably one of the most dangerous cities in the US in this department.
I think this city had a good chance to change things when they were getting a hold on crime in the late 1990s but things are too bad now for bringing back 'old Minneapolis'. Ok sorry for this long rant...
Even though NRRC is practically insolvent, other organizations are still working on the northside. West Broadway Alive! is providing some much needed commercial redevelopment and beautification. Although the northside is being hammered by foreclosures, but several organizations are working hard to continue to redevelop residential properties too.
Thanks for your comment. It's a good point. I will post it over at the new site in a new post I'm working on at buzz.mn
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