Dear Neighbors,
In response to a rise in violent crime on Metro Transit vehicles and in many parts of the Twin Cities and across Minnesota, House Republicans rolled out a package of proposals on Monday aimed at improving public safety in Minnesota communities. I am proud to support his package of proposals
Taken together, the bills target many of the issues driving crime in the Metro area and across the state, including gang and drug trafficking activity, as well as the need for additional officers and tools for law enforcement to combat crime on the Light Rail and in communities.
Data shows that Minnesota is in the midst of a public safety crisis. With crime and drug trafficking on the rise across the state, it’s clear that the legislature needs to step up to the plate and work with law enforcement to make sure that they have the resources and funding needed to do their jobs to the best of their abilities. Our legislative package does just that and will help make our communities safer.
2019 saw an all-time high in serious crimes committed on Metro Transit Light Rail and the Star Tribune recently reported that two thirds of neighborhoods in Minneapolis saw an increase in overall crime in 2019—including a 70 percent spike in the Minneapolis Downtown East neighborhood. St. Paul saw a doubling in the homicide rate in 2019, much of it connected to gang violence. In addition, Minnesota’s Violence Crime Enforcement Teams saw major increases in the amounts of meth, heroin, and cocaine compared to 2018—much of it being trafficked by gangs and produced and smuggled into the United States by Mexican drug cartels.
The package of proposals includes:
- Requiring cities with regional or statewide sports and entertainment facilities to have adequate law enforcement, or risk losing Local Government Aid (LGA) from the state.
- Boosting penalties for gang members who use firearms in commission of a crime. Currently, prosecutors are not pursuing gun charges against criminals who commit crimes using guns because the penalty level is not high enough.
- Boosting funding for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for gang and drug trafficking efforts.
- A proposal that would increase enforcement of fare evasion, increase sworn officers for Metro Transit police, and install interactive cameras on light rail platforms.
- Prohibiting cities from disarming officers in good standing.
Staying in Touch
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any legislative questions, concerns, or ideas. I can be reached on my office number at 651-296-4929 or my cell phone at 701-361-1909. You can also reach via email at rep.jeff.backer@house.mn, or via U.S. Mail at 203 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155.
Have a good week,
Jeff