This post has already been read 394 times!

“Embrace north Minneapolis like you embrace everything President Obama. Make some new friends that will do right by the City of Minneapolis. Then, cut some of the usual suspects off.” (photo: http://prettyawfulgiraffes.wordpress.com)

Two dead Black kids are two, too much. Anyone cut down in their youth due to gun violence is too much. Okay, law enforcement has arrested a 17-year old youth in connection with the murder of a 5-year old child in north Minneapolis. Now we must look at and see if this kid was in school, and if not why? Did he use a weapon because a relationship issue or a drug issue? We also need to look at his family structure; were they on county assistance -  are his parents gainfully employed? There are too many variables that must be deciphered to get a clear picture on why the Black-on-Black killing seems a normal part of death in north Minneapolis.

Video: NAACP’s Al Flower publically confronts Mayor Rybak at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new CCD/KMOJ-FM building, which the station somehow became “renters.”

Fast Tube by Casper

by Donald W.R. Allen, II – Editor in Chief/The Independent Business News Network

Minneapolis, MN (IBNN NEWS/Open Letter Editorial/July 2, 2012)…Mayor Rybak, the legendary businessman Henry Ford said, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

I’ve been extremely tough on your administration, especially the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights for obvious reasons. My missives about the DFL political plantation have been true to life based on the normal outcomes of the Black community under your watch in the city of Minneapolis.

I write to you today out of concern for the recent uptick in violent crime and murders, not only in north Minneapolis – but also in the Warehouse District of downtown Minneapolis. Some of these alleged crimes are not only acted out by citizens, but include less then desirable treatment by the Minneapolis Police Department – which I understand Internal Affairs is taking a serious look in to many allegations.

I understand you have said on more than one occasion that north Minneapolis is a priority for the city. I’ve heard you say that you’re aware of the challenges of the people in north Minneapolis. I understand you’re “pissed off” about the latest killing of a 5-year old child that will never have the experience of a 6th birthday; a bike ride around Lake Calhoun or an opportunity to visit City Hall during civic engagement week to learn how local government works – the most important item: He will never graduate from high school, college or get married and start his own family. The reality of the sadness is benign neglect from those who should govern a community and race of people to success.

I would like to start out with the obvious in regards to “who has the guns” in north Minneapolis.

It’s important to note, Blacks don’t own any gun manufacturing or distribution operations. Guns (weapons) brought into the community can and have been traced back to robberies or White owners who actively participate in Minneapolis’ very heavy drug (Cocaine) distribution network.  This also includes those who have connections to crime operations in Chicago, Omaha, Detroit and other cities whose residents have migrated here to take advantage of “Minnesota Nice,” welfare, non-profits and slick non-engagement as it pertains to the American Dream.

The City of Minneapolis had ample opportunity to “take-care” of the youth violence in north Minneapolis – along with a little help from Mother Nature (Tornado 2011). It seems again, the mayor and city council MUST go back to the drawing board and really look at people that can assist in solving the deadly silliness of youth violence.

Minneapolis politicians who keep aligning themselves with “DFL political friendly” organizations has proven unfulfilled and continues to show no change or solutions to current disparities.

Now it’s time to re-evaluate each non-profit agency doing business in north Minneapolis. It’s time to look at the cash flow which exceeds $500 million dollars from 2002 until now that flowed freely to north Minneapolis agencies of all types to address disparities ranging from youth violence to education that have somehow seemed to miss the target totally.

In the Star Tribune story, “Rybak: City’s future depends on revitalizing North Side,” (April 11, 2012) you said, “Our city can grow fast, right away … just by getting more people to move to north Minneapolis.” But I ask you Mayor, “have you looked a the price residents who live in Minneapolis pay for the city’s blatant oversight of serious disparities within a race and culture of a people that you want to solve by having people “moving into north Minneapolis?”

It doesn’t make sense.

If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. If you teach him to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.

Mayor Rybak, you have not given the community (only a select few), the opportunity to “fish.” We both know that something drastic has to be done with the public school system, teachers and the administration. The poet Toni Morrison said, “Where there’s violence against Black people, the city and schools are complicit.”

As you prepare to “celebrate” the new Minneapolis Public Schools headquarters building on Broadway Avenue, you must remember, “This building distracted from education and fair playing field with no community benefits agreement which could of included a commitment to the success of children within a 2-mile radius of the building who have been suspended, expelled, abandoned and throw away and killed.”

In July 2012, there is no better time for AchieveMpls to get a federal and state mandate to take over the Minneapolis Public Schools; it’s board and administration. Along with the work of the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), when this happens, you will find out solving the challenges in north Minneapolis among its youth will turn intentional, then I know the first priority from AchieveMpls would be “every child K-12 MUST be in school,” a solution that currently eludes the current public school system. Have you heard of the program, “Drop Outs to Drop Ins©? These to programs are waiting for the City of Minneapolis to “pull the trigger” – no pun intended.

Mayor R.T. Rybak, it’s time for a new plan for north Minneapolis, without the usual suspects.

Best in success – Don Allen