Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As an out-of-towner columnist, author, and retired educator, I have been amazed at the passion, astuteness, intriguing life stories, and hopeful commitment the guests and co-hosts for “Conversations with Al McFarlane” candidly exude. Leadership Mondays are always informative and motivating, but on this recent show, a sad and frustrating ambience shrouded the virtual participation of those present.
Gun Violence
Diana Hawkins, Executive Director for the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council, said there had been two lives lost over the weekend, and a five-year-old child coming within inches of a far-too-soon earth departure. She said, “There aren’t enough police and those who are on patrol don’t search cars anymore. The guns are right there with the perpetrators and they’re not afraid to use them.”
Clarence Jones, founder of the Hue-Man organization added his urgent concern about youth violence in Black communities. “There has to be engagement, collaboration, and action. But we have to come up with a plan of action after we decide what that action should be. What we can’t do is throw our hands up and give up,” he said. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes. This senseless loss of life can’t go on!”
The familiar crime scene yellow tape had been pulled across areas in Ward 4, 5, and 9 and a little of downtown where 90% of reported homicides have occurred. It becomes a real danger when police officers, city councilpersons, and faith community leaders try to interrupt the cycle of violence that has surged in urban populations around the country. The questions of what happened and why seldom get a straight answer.
The Office of Violence Prevention has been working with some of these young men that are a part of this destructive cycle,” Jeremiah Ellison, incumbent city councilman for Ward 5, said. We’re trying to get them to grieve in a more appropriate way rather than put innocent people and children in harm’s way. And let me say the police department is seriously working hard to be preventive and help solve some of these murders.”
Zea-Aida charged Minnesota has long been an apartheid state. “Current state and city leadership must take responsibility for not recognizing and addressing the root causes of this outburst of violence plaguing the once attractive quality life of the Twin Cities. The murder of George Floyd and the education, health care, and housing disparities due to lack of are and illuminated by irrefutable data.”
Covid 19/Delta Variant
Mickey Moore, city council candidate for the 9th Ward, founder and former owner of the Braid Factory said businesses and institutions can do more in the fight against Covid. As a business owner, he required staff and customers wear masks and hung posters reminding the staff of the dangers that could lie ahead. And now it looks like we’re taking a step backwards. He said he would like to see mobile vaccination units in neighborhoods where residents might not have transportation or are not informed of locations administering the shots.
“I think it was March or April of 2020 when the news of 35 COVID19 cases led to the shutting down of schools nationwide and quickly switching over to on-line learning. Since this time last year, more than 45,000 children have been hospitalized accounting for 22% of new cases. Now we can’t wait to get our kids back in school. What sense does that make? There was no plan when we started out and it’s a mess now. The more lives lost, the more we drain our economy. We’re polarized and leadership continues to deliver confusing messages,” Moore said.
“What we have to do is counter the misinformation and myths about the vaccine,” Ellison said. “Ward 4 City Councilman Phillipe Cunningham and I have continued to work for more access to and opportunities for testing and vaccinations. Northpoint Health & Wellness has partnered with community and government leaders and local businesses for vaccine events.”
He said, “A few days ago, it was predicted that by Labor Day, September 6th, there could be 33,000 cases a day. Just like youth violence, if we don’t step up our efforts in caring about what happens to the people of our city, nothing will change. It just might get progressively worse and explode.”
Aida-Zea said, “We’ve also got to hold anti-vaccine right wingers accountable. Unvaccinated individuals have no right to jeopardize my health.”
Rent Control
Ellison said by state law, there are three pathways to establish rent control at the city level: The city council could pass an ordinance, the council could put the question of authorizing the city to look at rent control on the ballot, and, the voters could inititate actions placing the question on the ballot for voters to decide. The state does have permission to draft a policy. The ballot box would grant or not grant permission. He said Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the Council action to place the voter’s initiative on the ballot, favoring the Council proposing an ordinance for voter consideration.
Ward 7 city council candidate Tequen Zea-Aida said former critics are the new architects of the rent control movement. “I find that to be somewhat hypocritical. It wasn’t until a larger percentage of whites couldn’t afford housing that the concerns and intense discussion came to the table of city leadership that rents were getting out of hand, and something had to be done,” he said.
“What rent control does is to protect renters from the abuse of trickle-down economics. Our communities are under siege. Drug and substance abuse and overdose encampments on one end, and gangster development on the other,” he said.
Moore called for voting in new leadership that have actual lived experiences as the constituents they represent and some awareness of the whys and who in their Ward. “We need real funding for schools and at-risk programs that can be diversions that can potentially drive away violence, he said. I was a product of some of the best city programs available for little kids like me being raised by a hard-working, single mother. They provided discipline, adult support and guidance, skills, and inspiration. I was driven to learn and succeed. People have to start caring, being held accountable, and admitting we need fairness and an equitable share of the current city treasure. Those who desire elevated training and opportunities for higher education and entrepreneurship should have a fighting chance.”
