Session 2005 MPR Budget Balancer Mike Mulcahy's Capitol Letter Minnesota Legislature Web site Bonding Budget Education Health Care Social issues Transportation Photos Rep. Keith Ellison Most recent shooting "We're under attack" More from MPR Minneapolis police try new strategy to fight violent crime (03/09/2005) Tools E-mail this page Print this page Sponsor

Minneapolis lawmakers blame state budget cuts for renewed violence
by Art Hughes, Minnesota Public Radio
March 16, 2005

Rep. Keith Ellison, DFL-Minneapolis, says his north Minneapolis district is suffering an increase in violent crime, partly because the state cut aid to cities in the last budget. He wants that aid restored. (MPR Photo/Art Hughes)

Minneapolis legislators point to a recent increase in violent crime as a reason to restore state aid to cities to 2003 levels. Proposed legislation would mean a significant tax increase. Supporters of the bill have not yet identified which revenues they intend to target. They also don't say how they intend to get support from the governor's office which is steadfastly opposed to tax increases to cover new spending.

St. Paul, Minn. — The proposal by Rep. Keith Ellison and Sen. Linda Higgins ties recent crime troubles to a broad statewide spending measure. Both Ellison and Higgins represent north Minneapolis, the scene of eight of the city's 10 homicides this year.

Police continue to search for a suspect in a particularly brutal double homicide in a north Minneapolis restaurant almost two weeks ago. Ellison says his bill commits the restoration of Local Government Aid specifically to fighting crime.

"We'll deal with public safety issues. And we want to paint that broadly. It does involve police, it does involve law enforcement, but it also involves prosecution," says Ellison.

Ellison says the city needs sustainable solutions rather than some short-term ideas tried previously, such as deploying state troopers to trouble spots. Restoring past levels of Local Government Aid would mean an additional $34 million for Minneapolis. Statewide, the number would reach nearly $300 million. Sen. Higgins appealed to other parts of the state to help shore up "the violent consequences" of the aid cuts in the last budget session.

"We in north Minneapolis are very resourceful and very resilient, but we're under attack right now," Higgins says. "And we need everyone's help in the state."

Higgins' comments at the Capitol were echoed by Minneapolis Police Chief William McManus, who says the lack of resources is hindering proactive police work.

"We're running back and forth answering calls for service. And instead of being able to keep up with issues, we wind up cleaning up," McManus says. "That's not where I want to be as a police chief of this police department."

Last week, McManus announced a new violent crime rapid response unit made up of existing personnel. The strategy would increase police presence in areas with the worst crime problems.

Another bill proposed by Ellison would put some $4 million toward grants to create jobs. The Rev. Jerry McAfee of New Salem Baptist Church also believes the troubling trend can't be solved by merely cracking down on crime.

"We will serve ourselves better, (rather) than trying to run them out of the community, when they run to other communities, (if) we try to get them and clean them up and turn them into productive citizens," says Ellison.

Any proposal for a tax increase faces a tough time at the Legislature and the governor's office. Gov. Pawlenty's spokesman Brian McClung says Pawlenty's position against raising state taxes is clear. He says if local governments need additional revenue, they're free to increase local property taxes to pay for it.

"All governments in these tough budgetary times have to make smart decisions and set priorities," says McClung. "Many local units of government prioritized, and made public safety their No. 1 pick."

Pawlenty's budget proposal would keep state aid to cities flat for the coming two years. Last month, the Minneapolis City Council voted to push for legislative approval to raise the citywide sales tax a half-cent to pay for police and fire functions. So far, no legislators have introduced a bill to do so.