Rep. Robbins, House Republicans Unveil Safety in Our Cities Legislation
ST. PAUL, MN—In response to a rise in violent crime on Metro Transit vehicles and in many parts of the Twin Cities, Representative Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, and House Republicans rolled out a package of proposals at the Capitol on Monday aimed at improving public safety in Minnesota communities.
Taken together, the bills target many of the issues driving crime in the Metro area, 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.
"Over the past few weeks the legislature has heard testimony from light-rail operators who are having to work in unacceptably dangerous conditions,” Robbins said. “This testimony put a bright light on the serious safety issues for workers and riders of light rail transit. All Minnesotans should feel safe going to work, the airport, or a ballgame or a play downtown. We have come forward with solutions to get the conversation started on how to address the rise in violent crime our cities are facing.”
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.
Proposals announced Monday by House Republicans include:
- A bill by Rep. Jon Koznick, R-Lakeville, that would increase enforcement of fare evasion, increase sworn officers for Metro Transit police, and install interactive cameras on light rail platforms.
- A bill authored by Rep. Marion O’Neill, R-Buffalo, to boost 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.
- A bill by Rep. Paul Novotny, R-Elk River, to boost funding for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for gang and drug trafficking efforts.
- A bill authored by Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, that would require cities with regional or statewide sports and entertainment facilities to have adequate law enforcement, or risk losing Local Government Aid (LGA) from the state.
- A bill by Rep. Matt Grossell, R-Clearbrook, that would prohibit cities from disarming officers in good standing.
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