VRI Critic Offers Alternatives in the Wake of the Latest Murders

City councilman Yusuf Hakeem says he still thinks the 2-year old Violence Reduction Initiative has serious problems, but now he’s offering some ideas on how to make it more effective.
Hakeem put some of those plans on the table at today’s city council work session.
The city’s Public Safety coordinator defends the VRI’s effectiveness.

A barrage of gunfire on Brainerd Road on February 3rd, and the murder of a young man and a woman two days earlier—persuaded councilman Hakeem the city’s violence reduction initiative is not working. He says someone knows who’s responsible but to date, no one has stepped forward with information.
But Hakeem took a different tact in the Monday work session.
He distributed a folder with a half dozen ideas on what can be changed.

YUSUF HAKEEM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER “Mayor Berke has said in the media that if you don’t like it, what are the alternatives, I proposed some alternatives.”

Year to year numbers don’t show much improvement in the number of murders and shootings in the city.

DR. PAUL SMITH, PUBLIC SAFETY COORDINATOR “… when you look nationwide, and you look at cities that have experienced double digit gains in their violence ..where ours is kind of flat right now..we’re not having the double digit, triple digit gains that you would see around the country.”

Hakeem wants more police interaction with residents of high crime areas.

YUSUF HAKEEM “I am open to re-visiting the VRI, I’m saying we have to not do it the way it is. We have to get more community involvement.”

PAUL SMITH ” And, you can never have too much community involvement. I would have to agree that we do need much more community involvement and we do need more people to come to the plate and say, hey, I can help with the issues that are going on –I can give information –I can help solve crimes.”

While agreeing that the community’s role has to increase, Hakeem wants the discussion to stay between the mayor’s office and council.

YUSUF HAKEEM “Dr. Smith is not a policy-maker, nor an elected official. And I think that’s the level that these discussions need to take place on.”

Councilman Hakeem’s new suggestions include building trust in the neighborhoods, preparing young people for jobs, and dealing with poverty.
They are now part of the council’s strategic plan for 2016.