Chaos, shooting in the air in Uptown

[question everything]

https://www.kstp.com/news/minneapolis-police-to-increase-patrols-in-uptown-after-recent-violence-unrest-growing-concerns/6165519/?cat=1

he Minneapolis Police Department will increase patrols in Uptown after several nights of unrest.

A 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS crew saw firefighters putting out fires after protesters gathered near Lake Street and Girard Avenue Wednesday night.

A video that has been widely shared on social media shows a car doing "burnouts" in the middle of the street while a passenger fires a gun into the air more than 30 times.

Other videos shared with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS show drag-racing, blocked streets and dumpster fires.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS spoke with multiple people who live and work in Uptown on Thursday. Many said violent crimes have become a disturbing daily reality.

"Carjackings, gunshots being fired, robberies, it does seem like it is increasing and people are more fearful," said Berit Griffin.

Griffin has lived in Uptown for 14 years and said she no longer walks alone at night.

"I've been fortunate not to have been impacted yet but I worry that my luck might run out," Griffin said.

Minneapolis Police Department data shows violent crime in the 5th Precinct has increased 23% from the same time period last year.

Business owners are pleading for city leaders to take action.

[progree]

1. Minneapolis' Uptown Art Fair canceled again, Axios, July 8

https://news.yahoo.com/minneapolis-uptown-art-fair-canceled-112052490.html

The Uptown Art Fair has been canceled for the second consecutive year after organizers cited "unanticipated challenges," including safety concerns and continued unrest in the neighborhood.

Catch up quick: The fair, which was planned for August 6-8 and typically draws up to 300,000 people, is centered at Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue.

That's just a few blocks away from where Winston Smith and Deona Marie were killed in June, and where demonstrations have continued since.

This would've been the fair's 57th year, with over 300 artists participating.

What they're saying: Organizers considered changing the location, but "because of multiple evolving issues and the logistics of a large-scale event, it was not executable," the Uptown Association said in a statement.

What's next: The association is looking into holding an arts-related event in the fall, executive director Jill Osiecki told the Star Tribune.

[Ocelot II]

2. Uptown used to be a cool neighborhood and now it sounds like it's all gone to hell.