Thanks, Gilligan
By Mitch Berg
The Strib gives a hearty “attaboy” to the North Minneapolis residents that fingered Charez Jones’ alleged killers:
Let us pause to praise those who gave information about the recent North Side murder of 14-year-old Charez Jones. Their actions led to several arrests just days after the high school student was killed on June 9. And their quick responses are fine examples of how a community can come together to combat violent crime.When neighbors step up and speak up, it sends just the right message to criminals: You will not be tolerated here. That’s among the best ways to counter the “Don’t Snitch” fear campaign of the criminals.
That, as far as it goes, is true. It’s good when the law-abiding people of the neighborhood can stand up and point out problems to the authorites.
But it’s bad when the fact that they do it at all is notable.
Those who think they “shouldn’t get involved” ought to know that law enforcement is at its best when the community cooperates. Rarely are cops around to actually witness a crime; they are called in after the fact. That’s why they rely so heavily on the eyes and ears of the community to help solve crimes. Community policing and involvement works.
But only if the people really believe it’s in their best interests to cooperate.
Minneapolis and Hennepin County have spent the last forty years building a “catch and release” system for criminals, welcoming new criminals (and the poor on which they prey first and most) and effectively ceding Phillips and huge swathes of the North Side to the gangs.
It’s been coming home to roost for a long time:
Community organizations and police are worried that things could get particularly difficult this summer because there is evidence that at least eight gangs or wannabe gangs are fighting over drug turf on the North Side. That means residents must be especially observant during these warm summer months and report what they see.
Like most highly challenged inner-city neighborhoods, the North Side is largely populated by good people who keep up their homes and care about their neighbors. They want nothing more than to get rid of the bad actors who use their streets for gunplay, drug dealing and other illegal acts.
And then…what?
If you call the (overstretched) Minneapolis Police Department, and if they manage to make an arrest, it goes to the County Attorney, who…
…does what?
To make that happen, more neighbors must band together to support the kind of actions that led to the recent arrests. A “Protect our people and community” campaign must be stronger and more sustainable than criminal efforts to scare good people into silence.
And the only way you’ll get that is by revoking the DFL’s hereditary one-party rule over Minneapolis.
June 26th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I was with you up until the last sentence, Mitch. Still am. As opposed as I am to one-party rule in my city — grab your thesauruses and trot out all the synonyms for “very” — I think if this as a cultural issue, rather than a political one. A community-based campaign (a real one, not Spike Mossy and Randy Statenesque) could be successful even with a DFL monopoly on city government. Pressure on elected government officials (which would, I think, necessarily be only a part of it) can include potential primary/caucus challenges, as well as voting for another party.