Connect with us

Minneapolis, MN

‘No one is helping:’ residents living near a Minneapolis encampment at their wits end

Published

on

‘No one is helping:’ residents living near a Minneapolis encampment at their wits end


MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Residents living in a condominium building in Minneapolis say they’re living in fear. Over the past month, a homeless encampment has been steadily growing on the 2900 block of Blaisdell avenue. 

“This is causing us a lot of problems. At night when you sleep, these people are doing drugs, and you don’t know what’s going to happen, if they’re going to break your window,” said a resident named Hani. 

She lives in an apartment unit close to the encampment and says she hears people banging on her window and walls at night. To protect the integrity of the window, her family stacked up household items to act as a barrier from the inside. She says someone in her family feels they need to be there at all times to make sure nothing happens to their home. 

“We’ve called 311, 911, no one is helping at all,” she said. 

Advertisement

On Tuesday, there was a shooting at the encampment that left one man injured. Over the past month, Minneapolis Police say five people have been shot in the area including a deadly shooting on May 16.

“We’re lucky not yet a shot has come through that wall, because there are families literally on the other side of that wall,” Park Square Condominium President Raymond Hoffman said. 

The management team at the condominiums are at their wits end. 

10p-pkg-encampment-shoo-wcco5fu1-00-01-1715.jpg

WCCO

Advertisement


“How much more do we have to put up with?” Hoffman said.

He says they’ve been asking the city, council members and mayor for help to clear the encampment for weeks. They thought they had a date set last week, but it fell through. 

“I did get a security company with ten officers, all that good stuff, but after that coordination the city fell through on their end. We were here that Thursday,” Westport Properties Portfolio Manager Abas Mohamed said.

They say the sleepless nights are taking a mental and financial toll on the residents and condo owners. 

“A lot of the families are more or less middle or low income families, and they just want a safe space, and now they have to deal with all these issues and now a lot of the owners who rent their units are feeling like they’re losing money because a lot of the renters want to move out,” Mohamed said.

Advertisement

Last week, the City of Minneapolis told WCCO the closure of the encampment was ‘imminent.’ On Tuesday, a city spokesperson said it’s working with the property owners for an ‘imminent closure’, adding, “Encampment closure operations are fluid and dependent on resources, capacity, and external factors. Closure dates can shift as a result.”

“I don’t want words from them. I want action,” Hoffman said. 

Advertisement



Source link

Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signs gun ban ordinance

Published

on

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signs gun ban ordinance


Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed a new ordinance that carries a ban on assault weapons but won’t take effect unless there are major changes to state law.

Minneapolis gun ban ordinance signed

What we know:

Advertisement

The Minneapolis City Council approved the ordinance during its meeting last week.

The firearm regulations ordinance includes a ban on assault weapons, ghost guns, binary triggers, and high-capacity magazines. The ordinance also includes safe storage provisions for firearms.

Advertisement

Big picture view:

Many of the provisions in the law won’t go into effect unless there is a change in state law. Currently, Minnesota law prevents municipalities from enacting gun regulations.

Minnesota law only allows cities to bar the discharge of firearms within city limits and adopt regulations that are identical to state laws. Any regulations that go beyond state law are voided, according to state statute.

Advertisement

Local perspective:

Action on the gun ordinance was spurred by last year’s shooting at Annunciation Church and School. Two students were killed while attending morning mass at the church and more than two dozen students and parishioners were hurt in the barrage of gunfire.

Advertisement

Last week, parents of Annunciation students spoke out in support of the ordinance at a public hearing.

Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus threatens lawsuit

The other side:

Advertisement

Last year, St. Paul passed a similar law. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus filed a lawsuit shortly after the ordinance was signed. Arguments were heard last month on the case and a judge has set a trial for next year.

In a statement last week, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus said it was evaluating its legal options in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus Chair Bryan Strawser said:

Advertisement

“The City of Minneapolis is attempting to make a political statement with an ordinance it has no legal authority to enact. Minnesota law clearly preempts the entire field of firearms regulation, and local governments cannot simply ignore state statute because they dislike the policy outcome.

“If the City Council moves forward with this unlawful ordinance, we will evaluate every available legal option to challenge it, just as we did in Saint Paul.

Advertisement

“The law is not optional, even for Minneapolis.”

Jacob FreyMinneapolis City CouncilPoliticsGun Laws



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Minneapolis, MN

Police investigating south Minneapolis shooting that left man wounded

Published

on

Police investigating south Minneapolis shooting that left man wounded



A man was hurt in a shooting in south Minneapolis late Tuesday night, according to police.

A report of shots fired brought officers to the 2600 block of Third Avenue South around 9:50 p.m., the Minneapolis Police Department said. They found evidence of gunfire and began investigating.

Later, a man with survivable gunshot wounds showed up at Hennepin Healthcare.

Advertisement

No one has been arrested.



Source link

Continue Reading

Minneapolis, MN

Gun safety bill fate in Minnesota

Published

on

Gun safety bill fate in Minnesota


Annunciation parents are urging House Republicans to allow a vote on a comprehensive gun safety bill that includes school safety funding, mental health support and bans on assault weapons after a mass shooting in August. FOX 9’s Corin Hoggard has the latest details on the proposal.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending