On Wednesday, RedState’s Mike Miller offered the world, “After Months of Demonizing the Police & Violent Crime on the Rise, Minneapolis City Council Asks: ‘Where Are the Police?’”

It’s a sizable subject, a big question, and a simple answer: They wanted no police, they got it — at least to a degree, compared to the crime, that should make them realize not wanting police is insane.

That isn’t to say law enforcement reform isn’t badly needed. But tapering the only force for order in a disorderly city? That’s not going to go well.

As Mike noted, MPR News provided a glimpse into the rotting Mini Apple:

“The number of reported violent crimes, like assaults, robberies and homicides are up compared to 2019, according to MPD crime data. More people have been killed in the city in the first nine months of 2020 than were slain in all of last year. Property crimes, like burglaries and auto thefts, are also up. Incidents of arson have increased 55 percent over the total at this point in 2019.”

How do the actual residents feel about the situation? This week, local news station WCCO looked into it.

The outlet asked north Minneapolis neighbors about the surge in terror following the City Council’s move toward a PD defunding.

For Lisa Cruz, the transition’s been exhausting:

“[H]onestly, I haven’t really been sleeping right now. I mean, I can’t. ‘Cause I hear every little thing that is going on — police sirens, like the helicopters, gun shooting, everything.”

Her security camera’s recorded audio that sounded like machine gun fire.

Meanwhile, the City Council’s kept a safe distance.

From The Daily Wire:

[Lisa] suggested that the Minneapolis City Council has all but ignored the problem and that none of the council members — including those who are pressing for Minneapolis to scrap its current law enforcement plan and reroute funds dedicated to crime control to more “community oriented” projects.

As the sleepless citizen put it, “Nobody sees what we’ve living nobody is feeling what we’re feeling because they’re not here.”

She feels ignored and abandoned:

“’Help us — come and see what’s going on.’ And we’re not really getting any responses from the Mayor or the City Council. We feel kind of alone right now.”

Speaking to CBS4, Lisa offered an impassioned plea:

“Come here. Meet with us. Face us. Stay here for a weekend. For the love of God, just come here and say something to us — the people that are freaking voting for you and depend on you to take care of us! Where are you? Show your face to us. Do something. Don’t just sit there and let your city go down to the ruins! Do something for us!”

As relayed by WCCO, “Cruz and her neighbors are thankful for the response they are getting from Minneapolis Police.”

But it’s the cops who are overwhelmed.

According to Police Chief Medaria Arradonondo, the explosion of gun violence trumps anything the town’s seen in years. Murder rates have “surpassed” or “doubled last year’s,” as more officers are leaving or retiring.

And Lisa’s left watching over her children:

“[I]’ll sleep with them all in my room because I am scared, and I’m terrified something is going to happen to them.”

The frightened mom of four summarized life in Minneapolis thusly:

“You’re sleeping, and all of a sudden you feel like you are in a war zone.”

She’s right — it is a war zone: the location of a battle against common sense.

In a city already dealing with violence and theft, you cannot lessen a police presence without increasing a criminal one.

Yet, this is where we are. And Minneapolis voters — who may or may not do differently next time around — are paying the price.

-ALEX

See more pieces from me:

Teen Who Went to School When He Wasn’t Supposed to Gets Arrested and Charged with a Crime

Man Refrains From Marrying Woman, Owes Millions in Spousal Support

Pastor John MacArthur Backs Down Not an Inch: If California Wants to Jail Him, ‘Bring It On’

Find all my RedState work here.

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