On February 14th of this year, an unknown male suspect stole a shopper’s vehicle after allegedly pulling a gun on the victim. Two days later at around 12:30 p.m., two men demanded keys from another shopper at gun point. Both crimes occurred at the Rosedale Mall on Snelling Avenue. I live less than three minutes away from where these crimes took place, and like many local residents, I became more concerned for my safety. 73% of Minneapolis residents believe that crime has increased steadily over the last couple of years—and this perception is not limited to the Twin Cities. As Minnesotans start to realize this, political candidates are scrambling to find solutions ahead of the 2022 election.
This week marks the anniversary of the George Floyd’s death and the riots and violence that followed. In 2020, Minnesota experienced a violent crime surge of nearly 17% compared to 2019. Motor vehicle thefts rose by 20%, the most since 2005 according to MPR. While the Twin Cities see the most crime by far, reports from the Center for the American Experiment and Fox News have found that violent crimes are up dramatically in suburbs like Woodbury, Oakdale, and Edina. Regardless of what steps you think should be taken, we can all agree that many Minnesotans have been personally affected by the rise in crime and that this will be an election-defining issue.
With this feeling of insecurity most Minnesotans believing crime is on the rise, politicians in both parties are looking towards reform. At the State Capitol, legislators were working to yield results before the November election, although the divided legislature did not agree on any major public safety bill before the end of the regular session. Both Democrats and Republicans have voiced their desire to construct a bi-partisan public safety bill. The bill, which would need to be passed in a special session to become law this year, containedattempts by the Democrats to “modernize how we do public safety” by finding alternatives to incarceration and police accountability reforms. Republican amendments focused on providing new technology to outdated police forces and levying harsher sentences for possession of illegal drugs like fentanyl.
Legislators, however, are not the only politicians up for re-election. Governor Tim Walz has been outspoken about his plan to increase public safety. His $300 million plan focuses on attracting new law enforcement, investing in community-driven resources, and “prioritizing crime prevention.” The pressure is on for Governor Walz to show results before his battle with the newly GOP-endorsed candidate Scott Jensen.
Jensen’s plan to bolster public safety looks at the root cause—crime. In a video explaining his ideas, Jensen says that “we need to put cops on the street. We can’t solve lawlessness any other way.” He also looks to prioritize keeping judges accountable for letting dangerous criminals loose.
Former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek hopes to right the wrongs he believes were created by Governor Walz in the spring of 2020, when riots and violence reigned in the street. Stanek, who was involved in a car accident in Buffalo, has not publicly addressed if he will continue his campaign after Jensen won the GOP endorsement last week. If he does, Stanek and Jensen will face off in a Republican primary on August 9th.
With crime being an election-defining issue for Minnesotans in the 2022, it’s more important than ever to research candidates for state and local office and determine where they stand on public safety issues. What can you do to stay informed? Find the candidates that best represent your views, especially on the key issues of life, family, and religious freedom, and support them with your time and money. And watch for Minnesota Family Council’s 2022 Voter Guide with all legislative, congressional, and statewide races, to be released in September. Be vigilant for opportunities to inform and educate your fellow Minnesotans, and pray in hope that whoever wins in November will put a plan in place to help our state turn the corner on violent crime.
