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Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak injected race into the  equation of Minneapolis' murder rate today when answering a question posed by Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer. She asked him  about why so many murders are occurring this year in his city, whereas last year was remarkably quiet?

Rybak told Wurzer that white, middle-class Minnesotans are buying marijuana "with a little wink and a nod, thinking it has nothing to do with anything. It is literally paying for bullets that kill people."

It's undeniable, of course, that white people -- like people of color --  buy marijuana.  But making a connection between an 

 (and not a small one) in the number of murders in Minneapolis and the number of white people buying marijuana, implies that there's been a big jump in the number of white people buying marijuana. Rybak offered no such proof.  He also offered no data to show that the money in gangs is primarily from marijuana, although it certainly 

 be. There's also been no data supplied to indicate the white people who buy marijuana do so in a state of denial that the money ends up in the hands of gangs, or whether they do know the money ends up in gangs, but don't care.

Rybak's distinction of marijuana vs. other illicit drug use makes the racial angle easier to inject.  But the 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2007

 (based on '04-'05 data) reported that  illicit drug use  overall -- and even use of marijuana alone -- is more prevalent  among non-whites.

Rybak also stayed away from the term "gang war," preferring instead to refer to the problem as one between people who know each other and are into drugs and guns.

Last fall, MPR's Gary Eichten asked Rybak why crime was dropping in his city.  Rybak took credit for it.

What Rybak didn't say then, however, is that the drop in crime rate was a fluke. In fact, he pointed out that the drop in crime in Minneapolis was 

 mirrored in cities, such as Chicago and Philadelphia.

In today's interview, Rybak again acknowledged the work of police, but then said "we're not going to have years like that every year."

Rybak outlined efforts his administration is taking to stem the crime problem in Minneapolis, but never really answered -- because he was never really asked -- to explain how one year's drop in crime can be attributed to the actions of police and politicians,  but an increase in crime can't be.

"I don't want to be too specific," he said. "But we're doing a lot."

On that same Midday broadcast last year, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said he was taught by St. Police police chief John Harrington not to, "take credit for crime rates going down, unless you're prepared to accept blame if they go up."

In truth, of course, there are no easy answers to the question of crime and gangs.  Why do people end up in gangs in the first place? Consider this from the 

What can be done? This might be one of the issues on which the most accurate answer is the one politicians least like to give:  "I don't know."

NewsCut

Bob Collins

Author

The problem of crime in the city is likely more complex than white people buying marijuana.

Is the crime problem in Minneapolis a ‘white people’ thing?

Go Deeper.

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