The Rybak eReader – March 27, 2006

March 27, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. UPTOWN SHOOTING UPDATE

2. GREAT CITY FORUM THIS WEDNESDAY

1. Uptown Shooting Update

As Mayor, I face few challenges as complex and challenging as violent crime. I take very seriously every act of violence and loss of life in Minneapolis. No level of crime in Minneapolis is acceptable. The recent shooting in Uptown is appalling and the Minneapolis Police Department is applying every available resource to respond to this senseless attack. I know I join all of you in keeping the family and friends of this innocent victim in your thoughts and prayers.

When a crime like this happens in any neighborhood of the city I feel it personally, and I want you to know that our robbery task force and homicide unit have more than a dozen officers working on the Uptown shooting. Our police officers are increasing patrols on residential streets to enhance police presence throughout the neighborhood. The Strategic Tactical Operations (STOP) division which last summer attacked crime in Uptown will continue to respond to emerging crime trends in Uptown and throughout the city. The citywide STOP team assists every police precinct on the north and south sides of town. In the city’s 2006 budget, we funded an additional 71 police officers and the first batch are in the police academy even as I write this. These new officers will be applied throughout the city.

We are also strengthening partnerships that leverage our resources and intensify our presence in key areas throughout the city such as Uptown. These partnerships are critical, and include the Uptown business association’s off-duty police officers in the area and the CARAG neighborhood association beginning volunteer "stroll patrols" by the end of the month.

Public safety is and will remain our top priority so that we can realize our goal of everyone feeling comfortable and secure walking down any street in Minneapolis.

2. Great City Forum this Wednesday

As public safety and what we can do to lower crime rates gets discussed its timely that, in addition to hiring more Police officers, we continue the discussion that I outlined in my Inaugural Address about closing the gaps between haves and have-nots. I want to remind you that this Wednesday, March 29th from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. I will hold the third of three Great City Forums to outline my vision for Minneapolis, engage a public dialogue, and call for action from citizens to get involved. This forum is titled "Closing the Gaps: A Community and Economy that Works for All" and will be at St. Stephen's Catholic Church, at 2211 Clinton Avenue South.

Minneapolis should be a city where every child can have a dream and the opportunity to achieve it, where every neighborhood is safe and has hope. Minneapolis should be a community where human potential leads investment: we must build safe communities by addressing crime wherever it appears; we must link families to jobs and economic development where it does not exist; we must ensure that everyone has a home. Accomplishing these and other goals requires closing the gaps that separate us, building connections between people, and embracing a unified community of One Minneapolis.

I hope that you can attend this important community forum and will spread the word about this to others who may be interested. To register for this free public event, contact jacob.brown@minneapolismn.gov in my office.

Thanks,

Mayor R.T. Rybak

Published Mar. 27, 2006