From: james graham <<email obscured>>
To: Minneapolis Issues Forum <mpls@forums.e-democracy.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2017 6:37 AM
Subject: Third Precinct Cooking The Statistics At The Direction Of the Mayor
and Council
When was the last time you were woke up at around 5:00 A.M. by several
gunshots? I have been several times in the last few months. The latest this
morning at about 4:55. I am not sure but it sounded like it came from the
Franklin - 10th Metro bus and Drug Shelter or Elliot and 21st Street. Hard to
tell with the windows closed and just waking up. The 911 operator said, their
are other calls and officers dispatched to the area." The drug wars for
business turf and "Market Share" continuing in the absence of police action to
curtail it.
No, I am not complaining about the patrol officers; it is a complaint that the
politicians have been undercut by the politicians. The NON-Action by the City
Council to do their duty and a Mayor and City Attorney ordering the police to
NOT do those things that would curtail the drug activity. And then having the
gall to report that crime is down in the 3rd Precinct, when any fool knows that
they are cooking the books by having the police NOT answer calls and NOT make
reports on some calls the go to.
It is the first job and the duty of the Mayor and City Council to provide for
Public Safety. And not just for some but for ALL people in the City. Clearly
we in the 3rd Precinct have a problem, and just as clearly it is being covered
up. Either for political reasons or to rose color the City since the Super
Bowl is scheduled to be played just a few blocks from where the drug dealing
and shooting is taking place. And just as clearly the Mayor and Council are
allowing the crime problem to get out of hand again for some Impacted
Neighborhoods where they have concentrated such street crime.
Now I might be wrong about the politicians doing this for political reasons.
It might simply be we have inept fools running City Government. And someone in
the Mayors office who simply does not see nor care what happens in poor
impacted neighborhoods. I can not tell if it is the fault of Warsame and Cano
having other priorities than the people who live in their Wards, or simply NOT
having the understanding of how to get personally involved in solving this
problem. Cano clearly is more concerned with political and social issues
outside of the City to be interested in crime affecting the quality of life for
the people living in her Ward. And it might just be that Warsame just does not
know how to address the issue and publicly DEMAND that the crime issue be
addressed. He simply does not KNOW how to make the rest of the City Council
pay attention to the needs of his Ward.
Here is a suggestion for Warsame and off handed to Cam Gordon. If necessary,
embarrass the Mayor and Police Chief by coming down and personally going to the
spot where the criminals have taken over and the police are NOT allowed to
bother the drug dealers and street criminals. Sit at the Metro Council's "Drug
Stop" on Franklin and 10th. Walk around the "Mall" that has been allowed to
circumvent all Minneapolis codes regulating shopping centers and malls where
Somali People are being victimized. I know that would be scary, since the
police do NOT protect anyone at that bus stop in the early morning, but if you
are frightened I will come along to protect you. :-) Heck, you would get great
press and television time by sitting on the bus stop with me from 4:30 to 7:00.
I will be happy to inform the T.V. news that you are there to protect the
Somali people and the little Ecuadorian women who are routinely victimized by
the street criminals working the area.
My wife is in the hospital so I would even let you wear the bullet proof vest I
bought for her at the suggest of a couple of ladies on this List. She of
course refuses to use it when going out to confront the drug dealers that the
police seem to be afraid of. That last was not correct or fair; it is not the
Criminals the police are afraid of. It is the Mayor and City politicians they
fear. They fear for their jobs and career NOT the criminals. Of course the
lazy ones who would rather just sit in a car or at the Holiday store getting
coffee and doughnuts like what is going on. But I talk to officers and most do
NOT like being ordered to NOT do anything about the criminals
Now on to Can Gordon, Cam you got passed an amended "Loitering With Intent"
Ordinance for the City of Minneapolis that you offered. That ordinance as
written if applied IS the MOST effective tool the police have to interdict
drugs and and criminals carrying guns . Why have you allowed the Mayor, Chief
of Police, and City Attorney to gut it and NOT allow its application by patrol
officers on the street? Come on Cam, isn't the Green Party supposed to be
interested in the livability of communities, in the environment where poor
people have to live. in social justice. WHY would you NOT be raising hell that
the one most effective tool to provide that is being thrown away for political
reasons? Just as I advised Council member Warsame, take a "gut check" and
step up and do something personal about it! Call a press conference and tell
the world WHY your "Loitering with Intent Ordinance" is being sabotaged by the
Mayor, Chief of Police, and City Attorney.
Does social conscience end where political correctness begins??? That is a
question that all three Council Members should consider and answer. We KNOW
the Mayor does not care, but shouldn't you Council members care a little about
the actual people who live in your Wards and our City. Don't ALL the people in
Minneapolis deserve "Equal Protection Under The Law'?
I was awakened to the sound of gunfire this morning, not the sound of birds
singing. Were you?
Jim Graham