Crime Crisis in Minneapolis: Political Priorities vs Public Safety

Minneapolis, once hailed as a vibrant city, continues to grapple with a growing crime crisis, shedding light on the consequences of prioritizing political talking points over the safety of its residents. Recent incidents, including a double murder in Dinkytown, reveal the harsh reality. As members of the Board of Campus Safety Coalition, a nonprofit that isn’t a law enforcement agency, tout improvement and progress, the disconnect between their messaging and the ground-level reality becomes apparent. Soft-on-crime policies and political maneuvering by the DFL are exacerbating the crisis rather than alleviating the city's crime woes.

Minnesota's state government, under Democratic control, is consistently boasting budget surpluses in the billions. Yet, the Minneapolis Safety Commission faces criticism for having unrealistic expectations. The Minneapolis Community Safety Department was allocated $19 million by the Minnesota Legislature for public safety. It’s doubtful that any of that money will go into raises for the officers who are already putting their lives on the line to protect their communities. A ‘Safe and Thriving’ program in Minnesota is being funded by the New York University School of Law. If New York can find the funds to help out Minnesota, what’s stopping the DFL?

The key question is: with ample surplus funds, why isn't the budget being raised to address the pressing need for increased public safety resources?

The answer: The DFL-led Office of Community Safety is more focused on political talking points rather than actual progress.

For example,  Minneapolis’ 3rd precinct was finally slated for rebuilding last month, a whole three years after it was initially burned down in 2020 during riots in the wake of George Floyd’s death in police custody. 

And we haven’t even started talking about the crime crisis with Minnesota’s youth. A disturbing trend has emerged as juveniles in Minnesota's Twin Cities commit increasingly severe and brazen crimes. From auto thefts and gun possession to assault and robbery, the most common offenses committed by juveniles in Hennepin County paint a troubling picture. The doubling of juveniles charged with homicide since 2021 only shows that soft-on-crime policies are emboldening younger offenders.

The safety of Minneapolis residents should be paramount, going beyond political agendas and ensuring that funds are allocated where they are truly needed to create a safer and thriving community for all. Stop prioritizing politics, and start prioritizing people.