[Mpls] More cops? How many? How will you fund them?

[Michael Atherton]

David Brauer wrote:

>  I am NOT questioning the need for more cops with my 
>  questions, and I don't question the legitimacy of the 
>  desire. What I AM suggesting is that if a candidate 
>  just says "more cops" without some details on how 
>  they are going to do it, you're less likely to get 
>  the thing you so desperately desire.
>  
>  Again, 150 more cops mean $11 million bucks in a 
>  property-tax base of $180 million. That's a lot. 
>  It shouldn't be an insult to ask where the money will
>  come from. After all, if there's a realistic plan, it's a 
>  lot more likely to happen.

There is no increase in the number of police officers
that will prevent the type of murders that recently
occurred.  The Nazis couldn't prevent the same type
of executions by the French Resistance and neither
can the U.S. Military in Iraq and I don't think we're
interested in establishing a police state in Minneapolis
anyway.

The more you limit access to illegal drugs, the higher
the return and the greater the attraction drug dealing will
be to people who have limited access for social advancement.
Don't forget our 47% high school dropout rate and lack
of quality vocational programs.

This is not to say that you cannot reduce the amount
of drug violence through intelligent policing, but don't
expect the probably to go away.  Only by eliminating
the Drug Prohibition laws will you see a serious reduction
in the crimes associated with drug dealing.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park