City of Minneapolis

Also in this issue:

Working Together to Prevent Youth Violence in Minneapolis

Get Involved in The Great City Take Action

New 911 Technology Means Better Emergency Response

Alternative Financing Program Achieves First Success

Heading Home Hennepin Looking for Volunteers

Help Design the Future of Minneapolis

Watershed Clean up

Serving Those Who Serve

Working Together to Prevent Youth Violence
in Minneapolis

Like many cities in America today, Minneapolis faces violent crime that is too high. The most troubling part of this problem involves violent young people being recruited into smaller, more numerous, more violent gangs. Added to this is a breakdown of family, a proliferation of illegal guns coming into our city, a culture of violence, and state and federal budget cuts that have lacerated crime enforcement and prevention programs. Left in the wings are too may kids raising themselves and too many kids having kids of their own.

We have met the challenge of crime with a multi-faceted plan of attack that has begun to crack down on repeat criminals, break up juvenile gangs and reform problem properties. We are growing our police force by over 100 officers. We are installing groundbreaking gunshot sensor, safety camera and global positioning technologies that are already showing results. Our efforts are paying off: arrests are up and crime is down.

We are sending a strong message to young offenders – especially those in barbaric gangs responsible for random deaths – that no matter how old you are you will be held accountable.

When facing violent criminals, we need to be tough. We also know the smartest crime fighting strategy is to prevent crime in the first place. The best crime prevention strategies not only prevent crime now, but lay the foundation to keep crime under control for years to come. There are young people on the fringes of gangs and criminal behavior who can still be won back and we cannot give up on them.

That’s why we are working to more fully recognize youth violence as a community health issue and established a diverse committee to develop strategies aimed at preventing youth violence. Minneapolis’ new 32-member Youth Violence Prevention Committee began meeting last week as part of a four-month effort to develop a multi-year action plan to prevent youth violence.

Too many people are shocked to learn that homicide is the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24 in Minneapolis. We’re losing too many of our young people to crime, and we know it’s going to take government, law enforcement, families and community to surround those young people on the brink and give them the support they need before they turn to crime. Working together, we can turn the tide and take back our city and our youth.

Get Involved in The Great City Take Action
Do your part to help make Minneapolis a great city: join The Great City Take Action. Working with Hands On Twin Cities and their connection to hundreds of local community-based organizations, The Great City Take Action is holding forums where you can get information about big issues facing Minneapolis and immediately get connected to current volunteer opportunities with City Boards and community organizations working directly on these issues. Learn more about getting involved with the environment and neighborhood improvement at our first forum, “Reweaving the Urban Fabric,” on Tuesday, April 17th , 6 - 8 pm at the historic Capri Theatre, 2027 West Broadway ( map) www.handsontwincities.org. We’ll see you there!

New 911 Technology Means Better Emergency Response
Minneapolis’ new computer-aided emergency dispatch system is up and running, providing 911 operators and emergency responders with powerful new ways to respond smarter and faster to emergency calls. Minneapolis 911 operators handle more than 1,200 emergency calls on a typical day, many of which require rapid response from police or firefighters. The new system is a national model and has powerful new features that give 911 dispatchers and emergency responders more and better information during an emergency. Visit the City’s website to learn more about this innovative new technology.

Alternative Financing Program Achieves First Success
The City has a new Alternative Financing Program for small business owners, in which an up-front profit payment substitutes for interest payments. This type of financing opens doors for Muslim business owners whose religious beliefs restrict them from receiving traditional interest-based financing. The program is also available to all small business owners who may not be able to get commercial loans through banks. The loan helps small businesses such as retail, service, or light manufacturing with financing to purchase equipment and/or make building improvements. Visit my website to learn more about this innovative new program and its first success story.

Heading Home Hennepin Looking for Volunteers
The 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness is currently looking to develop implementation groups to actualize the plan that was set forth late last year. Please visit the City's website to see how you can put your expertise to work in ending homelessness.