WCCO's website also has #28
http://wcco.com/topstories/
local..._172224618.html
Why can't the Rybakian SafeZone simply be extended to the borders of the city? Then crime will go down and they can get back to their pursuit of New Urbanism without the distraction of citizens complaining about crime.
Huh:
http://www.minneapolissafezone.org
I wish there was something more on that "Hassle Factor Index."
That's a great observation; I wish I had thought of that, AntiElf. And wouldn't the current zone surrounding the Safe Zone by definition be the "not-safe zone"?
"Why can't the Rybakian SafeZone simply be extended to the borders of the city?"
The link you provide to the Minneapolis city website answers your own question. Did you read it?
Laughable.
Of course I did, Spectator.
"In December of 2004, the Downtown Business Community approached City leadership to ask for increased coordination and effort in regards to Downtown Safety"
"With this partnership engaged, in 2005 while robbery went up elsewhere in Minneapolis, it went down 9% in the SafeZone."
So why restrict the RSZ to just downtown? Why not protect _all_ people in the city? Just extend the whole zone to the borders of the city. Seems as useful as a small area of it. At least they could put corridors of SafeLanes so we can get in and out the RSZ better. Would foster a better sense of safety.
Yes, outside the RSZ is definitely the unsafe zone (or, I like your name for it Rambix, the Red Zone). However, calling it the UnsafeZone has negative connotations that could cause hurt feelings in the area. I'll call it the OpportunityZone (until a better name comes along). It's an opportunity to either to get the SafeZone (as a kid, we used to call that "gool"[1] when playing tag, ball, etc) or escape to the border.
I work in the RSZ. I park about 4 blocks away in the parking lot where the future home of the stadium will be. Daytime is fine. Nighttime is another story. I used to stay downtown and enjoy the nightlife, but haven't in months. Certainly not since the killing at block e. It's just not worth the risk. At a minimum, I get hassled by the ne'er-do-wells in the streets (I'd still like to know more about the Hassle Factor Index). No thanks. I take enough risk just working down there. Guess I'm in a high-risk lifestyle... working in an office in downtown Mpls.
[1] http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/...l?
date=19990217
.
The Safe Zone initiative works downtown because there are 13 private security personnel for every police officer. Why carp about increased coordination between these two groups? There's no conspiracy here. The city outside downtown doesn't have a surplus of security personnel every block, and it seems pretty obvious that that is why the Safe Zone initiative isn't transferable to the rest of the city.
Now...whoever named it the Safe Zone is an idiot, but no one should interpret this ridiculous name to mean (imo) that city leaders have decided to focus their efforts on downtown safety to the exclusion of the rest of the city. They were offered an opportunity, and took it. They'd do the same with the rest of the city too, I'm sure.
Commenting by HaloScan
