All posts in the topic Summer Turf Wars on Franklin Avenue? (Short link)

From: Eric Oines Date: Jun 08 15:59 UTC Short link

Last Monday and Tuesday night, there was a series of shootings running roughly
along 21st Street between Portland and Chicago/Elliot.  I know that on Monday,
at least one person was shot 3 times in front of 2104 Portland, and several
people were arrested for a shooting earlier in the evening on the 2100 block of
Elliot.  On Tuesday night, shots were again heard around Chicago and 21st, and
Wednesday morning a group of young men beat up someone else and took their "bag
of money", to quote the person I talked to.

Sounds like we have a bit of a turf war going on and I'm wondering what the MPD
plan is to nip it in the bud, so to speak.

Since those events, I have been doing a lot of driving through those areas as I
have resident volunteers living near there.  I also really consider that area
to be "my neighborhood" as I have lived or worked there for 15 years now and I
don't want to see it backslide after so much on-going work by so many.  The
rough economy is having an impact there.

While I have seen an increase police presence during the day and less street
traffic of the young thug variety, I understand that dealing continues unabated
as the sun goes down.  Large SUVs pull into side streets and exchange
occupants, thugs are constantly looking over their shoulders while cruising up
and down Portland between Franklin and 22nd, glaring (or worse) at anyone
looking their way.

I'm interested to hear insight on this on-going issue from others who might be
knowledgable.
    

From: Jim Graham Date: Jun 09 13:34 UTC Short link

Sadly Eric is correct, there has been an attempt by drug dealers to retake the
past very lucrative Portland and Franklin Market.  They got a foothold
because Hope simply could not bring themselves to address the problem, because
it was on the sidewalk rather than in Hope's buildings. 
With residents reporting that they were afraid to enter or leave the
building because of criminals on the sidewalk outside.  Even Robert
Lillegrin reported that he was frightened to go by that corner at
night.  The effort has also jumped over the Park to past Chicago. With
several drug families working the area between 21st and 22nd using the cover of
the Somali Market activity and a couple of rental units around Elliot
Avenue.  But we know where they are and they will be addressed.
 
The reason the activity seems to go down 21st Street rather than
Franklin are the police monitored cameras that cover Franklin from
Bloomington Avenue to Park Avenue.  Ventura Village residents
invested some of our NRP dollars to install that system.  Even though
Mayor Rybak and the Police Chief promised us those cameras at City expense
several years ago, they never came through as promised, so the Ventura
Village Neighborhood invested its NRP dollars to create the
system.  
 
Ventura Village has been, and continues, to invest NRP dollars to hire off duty
police officers to beef up the police presence in that Portland to Chicago area
from 18th to 22nd Streets.  That activity puts the Mayor and certain
Council Member's efforts to kill NRP and take the dollars for their
"re-organization" into proper perspective.  The politicians clearly can
not be trusted to provide adequate public safety. 
 
The Neighborhood's NRP activity is of course in support of what is one of
the bright spots of police activity.  Lt. Michael Sullivan has done a
tremendous job of mobilizing police resources to attack that exact
problem. Lt. Sullivan has been resourceful with the inclusion of Federal
forces in this effort.  Lt. Sullivan has also created new levels of
communication with the community around these issues.
 
Because of a dental problem Lt. Sullivan was not able to attend last month's
Ventura Village Meeting where we had planned to honor him for his extraordinary
efforts on our behalf.  That was postponed until this month's Ventura
Village meeting where he will be presented with a plaque and a letter of
commendation.  We have had a few really good police administrators in our
community, Captain Mike Martin and Deputy Chief Sharon Lubinski come to mind,
but Michael Sullivan has surpassed even those good folks in his efforts.
 
So Eric you are correct, their is a "Turf War" going on with the drug gangs
attempting to establish new territories, and anywhere else this effort might
overwhelm the community.  Ventura Village is a whole different ball
game.  We have taken the "Turf" back from the gangs when there were 30 or
40 drug dealers on some blocks.  Where I once heard over 20 separate
gunfire incidents in one hour of sitting on my porch one night.  The last
few nights I have set out with friends for several hours without hearing even
one shot.  So sure the rats have attempted to get back in the barn, it's
where the golden grain is, but the residents are ready to stamp them out, and
have a great new "Cat" named Michael Sullivan who is ready to track the
criminals down.
 
I will attach the letter asking for a "Commendation" for Lt. Michael
Sullivan.  List members should see that we honor public servants who
really do offer exemplary service to the Minneapolis community: (Scribed and
pasted from my computer where it was written.)
 
April 9, 2008
 
 
Chief Tim Dolan
Minneapolis Police Department
City Hall
Minneapolis, MN 55401
 
      Re: Commendation for Lt. Michael Sullivan
 
Dear Sir,
 
The Ventura Village Neighborhood has in the past experienced many fine police
officers serving its residents.  None of those fine officers has surpassed
the example of exemplary diligence to duty, or creative communication with the
community, that Lt. Michael Sullivan has shown.
 
At a Ventura Village community meeting a motion was made and passed unanimously
to send a letter of commendation for Lt. Michael Sullivan.  Not only for
his service to the community, but for his self initiative to enhance
communication with the community as well as inclusion of residents as partners
in addressing the communities public safety needs.
 
A part of that motion was to formally request that Minneapolis Police
Department place this letter of commendation in the permanent record of Lt.
Sullivan.  We in the neighborhood look forward to the continued service of
Lt. Sullivan and the pleasure of working with such an eager and creative
officer. 
 
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about this action, please do
not hesitate to contact me at (612) 599-9788.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
Jim Graham
Chair, Ventura Village Crime & Safety Committee
 
 
cc:        Mayor RT Rybak
            
Inspector Lucy Gerold  3rd Precinct  Commander
             Robert
Lillegrin  Minneapolis City Council Member
             Gary
Schiff  Minneapolis City Council Member