A Champion for Building Safer Neighborhoods and a Just City
No matter where I am at or who I am talking to, concerns about violence in our community are echoed across Northsiders.
Folks want to feel safe at home and with their children out playing in the community. Currently, we are being governed from the view that “more cops = safer neighborhoods,” but history, research, and our current reality just don’t back that up.
What has been shown to work? A public health approach, which focuses on addressing the underlying causes of violence, as well as immediate safety needs.
Unfortunately, right now it lacks a champion who champions, nurtures, and increases its impact on the Northside. As an experienced youth development professional, this will no longer be the case with me as City Councilmember.
In my previous work at City Hall, I have already lead collaborations between the Health and CPED departments and nonprofit organizations to build this much needed work.
Together, we developed a career pathway program for Northside young folks 18-24 years old without a diploma or GED, under- or unemployed, criminal records, etc. It is the first program of its kind at the City of Minneapolis.
But there is still so much work to be done...
North Minneapolis has a concentration of folks with criminal records. When folks return to our community after being incarcerated, they are left by the criminal justice system to figure out how to survive in a world that allows for felons to be discriminated against in housing and employment.
Unfortunately, both of these are necessities to getting someone back on their feet and out of a life of crime for good.
Right now, there is little to no work happening at the City around re-entry work. We need the City to step up and collaborate with local organizations doing this work well in the community. We need the City to close the gaps that are causing people to fall between the cracks and back into the criminal justice system.
I will lead the City to do better in this work.
Additionally, community members have made it clear there has been a breakdown of trust and accountability of MPD officers. These have to be addressed if we are going to be all-in to build and sustain a safer community.
As the City Councilmember for the 4th Ward, I will approach building safer neighborhoods by:
Championing and nurturing City investments in collaborative public safety strategies that are community-oriented, research based, and get to the roots of violence and crime.
Promoting youth violence prevention efforts throughout the 4th Ward.
Fighting for transparency in the Minneapolis Police Federation/City of Minneapolis contract negotiations.
Decreasing survival crimes by improving the economic conditions of the area.
