Mayor’s Minutes: Brooklyn Park’s Hollies Winston
Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston talks with CCX Media’s Dave Kiser about the many things the city celebrated in 2024, along with what to look forward to in the new year.
Mayor Winston cited a drop in crime–10 percent in general crime overall and 19 percent in violent crime–in the last year as a major success with more work to be done.
“We’re very proud of that,” Winston said. “We’re still going to double-down in terms of public safety.”
One of the ways the city wants to continue to address crime is through its new Community Intervention team, which should be fully staffed by early 2025.
Winston said the aim of the group will be “going to areas where we’re seeing a bit more activity that we don’t like and just building relationships, getting people the resources they need, and just de-escalating things before they get to police.”
He also mentioned the new plans for a $10 million expansion at Zanewood Recreation Center for a new teen center as a way to try to prevent crime from taking hold. The new facility will have recreation options, as well as instructional space and job training, among other features.
“Its really getting kids funneled into something positive,” said Winston. “We’re excited, because I think getting ahead of some of the issues we’ve seen as a city, we have to get kids in the positive pipeline.”
