Longfellow crime/safety group seeks more involvement

BY DENNIS GEISINGER

Police Lieutenant Arthur Knight and 9th Ward City Council Member Gary Schiff review possible remedies for problem properties in Nokomis neighborhoods at the Longfellow crime and safety forum held recently. (Photo by Dennis Geisinger)

“It’s important to share success stories and how people are dealing with problems in their neighborhoods,” said Minneapolis Police Sector 4 Safe Officer Shun Tillman during a crime and safety forum held at Longfellow Park on March 4. “A crime committee has the power to get things done,” Tillman said.

Third Precinct Police Lieutenant Arthur Knight said that police have used several methods of following up on complaints of problem properties once neighbors have begun logging 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 calls. About half of the ten locals who attended had stories about problem areas on their block—primarily houses with unruly tenants. The abandoned playground at Howe School was also identified, along with houses on other blocks frequented by unsupervised teens and young adults.

Ninth Ward City Council Member Gary Schiff said that an agreement is in the works with the Minneapolis School Board for the City to take over the Howe School property for possible development. Schiff also said that the recent drop in reported crime across the city should not mean residents should lessen their efforts to address crime issues.

“This is a real opportunity for a grassroots effort to push the crime statistics even lower,” Schiff said.