ST. PAUL – In response to a rise in violent crime at Metro Transit and in many parts of the Twin Cities, Assistant Minority Leader, Rep. Jon Koznick, R-Lakeville, and House Republicans rolled out a package of proposals at the Capitol on Monday aimed at improving public safety in Minnesota communities.
Rep. Koznick is chief author of a proposal included in the legislative package that would increase enforcement of fare evasion at Metro Transit, establish a new Transit Enforcement Agent position at Metro Transit, and install interactive cameras on light rail platforms.
“The issue of security and rider safety at Metro Transit has been neglected for too long and has caused Metro Transit to become one of the least safe transit systems in the country,” said Koznick. “It’s time to end the culture of crime tolerance at Metro Transit and equip law enforcement with the tools they need to make sure Minnesotans and their families are safe when using public transportation.”
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.
Proposals announced Monday by House Republicans include:
- 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 authored by Rep. Marion O’Neill, R-Buffalo, to boost penalties for gang members who use firearms in the 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 by Rep. Jon Koznick, R-Lakeville, that would increase enforcement of fare evasion at Metro Transit, establish a new Transit Enforcement Agent position at Metro Transit, and install interactive cameras on light rail platforms.
- A bill by Rep. Matt Grossell, R-Clearbrook, that would prohibit cities from disarming officers in good standing.
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