Life in the City of Lakes

"Some have wondered if either one is up to the job. This is not Euphoria they are in charge of - it is a big city with big problems..."

There is trouble in toyland. Our fair city, our Mill City, our City of Lakes (or as some now call it "Little Mogadishu"), is having some problems. What kind of problems? Crime. Rising crime. Even though the current crime wave is not as bad as the one in 1995 (the year we were called "Murderopolis"), it is still bad. In fact, one murder is one too many. But it is not only murder. All crime stats are on the rise.

I follow the crime stats in Minneapolis for a variety of reasons. One of which is my youngest daughter lives there. In fact, one of the most recent murders took place about a block where she just moved out of. The murder rate this year is up 50% over last year. And the same is true in many of our large, blue cities. In fact, many which do not practice "broken window" policing are getting hit the hardest.

The severity of crimes is also increasing. People are suffering a beat down just because a thug wanted to steal a cell phone. And not just in the "hood". Some young lady was recently attacked by a thug while waiting for the LRT at 4:30 in the morning. She was headed to work for her early shift. For her, going to work was something that needed to be done to buy groceries and pay rent. For the thug, a LRT station is low fruit on the tree. Easy pickings. Easy money. Who gives a crap if this young lady he beat the tar out of ended up needing medical care? That she could not work for a period of time. That she could not pay for groceries and rent? The thug got want he wanted, so screw her!

It would be almost amusing if not so sad. Martin O'Malley was very proud of Maryland's gun control record on the debate the other night. I guess he forgot to mention the 215 homicides in Baltimore by the end of August of this year. And Milwaukee has over 108. New York has over 208. Chicago has over 294. MOST were young black men. MOST were killed with hand guns. MOST killed in cities which do not practice "broken windows" policing. MOST happened in cities which have strict gun laws.

Our crime rate is paltry compared to some of these other big, blue cities. But we are trying to catch up. Is our Mayor, who likes to think of herself as Wonder Woman up for the task? I doubt it. She is too busy trying to social engineer everything and everyone to look and act like subjects instead of citizens. And our police chief? Time will tell.

In the dreamworld I live in, here is my fantasy. I could walk down any street in any city at any time of day (or night) and be perfectly safe. I would not need to carry any type of weapon, as there would be no need. People would earn their money by working and not stealing from others. In fact in this dreamworld, there would be no need to lock your doors at night. Nor your car. 

Reality however, is just the opposite. Some police in large cities are less and less likely to protect you. Why? Too risky. To intervene, means a cop may either get killed or prosecuted. In short, some of the Mayors, the City Attorney, the City Council, hesitate to have their cop's backs. So many of us are somewhat on our own in these large jungles we call cities. Cops may or may not be there to protect us. And many cities have become shooting ranges. Gunfire is everywhere. "Shot spotters" are visible on many telephone poles. Death and danger can lurk around just about every corner.

So what is life like right now in the City of Lakes? Getting to be just like life in any other large, blue city. Sketchy at best, unlivable at worst. Take that Wonder Woman.