Grand Snafu: Hotel in Rapid City drops a Racist business practice

Grand Snafu: Hotel in Rapid City drops a Racist business practice

By Joseph Budd

Native Sun News Today Staff Writer

RAPID CITY – Due to an early morning shooting in Rapid City, the Owner of the Grand Gateway Hotel had elected to make the statement, banning Native Americans from the hotel or its bar. The post on Facebook, now since deleted, stated: “Due to the killing that took place at the Grand Gateway Hotel on March 19, 2022 at 4am, plus all the vandalism we have had since the Mayor and Police Department are working with the non-profit organization (Dark Money). We will no long allow any Native American on the property or in Cheers Bar.”

The response, from all levels has been creative to watch, with both the mayor, and the owner’s son chiming in on the events unfold. Folks of Native American race, pointed out rightly, this racist act would be illegal, given desegregation has occurred already, and it would be also hard to police, given how can you tell one “Native American from another”. A greater question would be, is if you were singled out by this hotel, why would you even go there?

The Mayor, in his response, had posted to Twitter a screenshot of the comment and say Monday that neither the shooting nor the hotel’s response reflects the city’s values. He also was quoted as saying “I just felt that I couldn’t be silent and pretend like this is just a harmless venting out of frustration.” And added, “This is an attack on not only the 12% of Rapid Citians what are Native American but also the larger Native American population nationwide. So I sent the tweet, on the road traveling today as a bare minimum symbol of support to the Native American community.” He would also mention the option of an official statement and letter of condemnation into consideration, to see if the owner rescinds the statement and addresses the issue publicly.

The son of the Owner, Nick Uhre had stated in a letter sent around to local hotels that he blamed the MacArthur Grants for what he described as an increase in crime. Stating that the mayor, Sheriff Kevin Thom, Deputy Sheriff Brian Mueller, State’s Attorney Mark Vargo and the City Attorney Joel Landeen are to blame for the decline in the city. According to both he and the owner, a woman rented a room there where the shooting occurred, then stayed at another hotel. The Victim, a male in his late teens was found with gunshot wounds at the Hotel, while the police believe alcohol was a factor in the shooting. Arrested shortly after was Quincy Bear Robe, 19 for aggravated assault and commission of a felony with a firearm after witnesses were interviewed.

Now, to clear the air on a few things. Pennington County, did accept two grants, for a total of 3.5 million dollars, with the primary purpose of reducing jail population and racial disparity in the criminal justice system. This under simple terms is regarding efforts to reduce incarceration numbers seen around the country, and find alternative solutions to jail time.

To its’ end, if the program does help save the county money on the long term, it would be a good thing. Like any new system, efforts could and have been tried for now, 6 plus years. And like any system, you’ll probably see cases that will either fail in the system, or simply will be repeat offenders. On doing some research, via the safety and justice challenge webpage the program has 6 primary functions and tasks, such as a team for Jail Population Review, a Diversion So Support Services, Text Reminders for Court Dates, Community Engagement, Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities and Pretrial Services. As the programs have come into being, each one serves a part of the community as a whole, to help curb issues such as folks who might miss a court date, may suddenly find themselves being named for a warrant. Or if a person would be better served by a mental health counselor, can find help, rather than a jail cell. Folks who recently became free by serving a term, may need help getting going in society, and community outreach can lend a hand. And of course the Population Review Team can look at who is in there, and may be eligible to be released, and help the process along. And Pretrial Services, can sometimes show alternatives to jail time, say for Probation or Child Support cases. By utilizing these programs, instead of the old method of locking up a first or second time offender, it frees up jail cells, lessens the need to taxpayer funding, and in turn can help people willing to learn from mistakes to try again.

Since the program has started, over the course of 23 quarters, the system has seen a starting baseline at 359 and a finished number for 377 Average Daily Population. However, at its height the jail saw 419 people in jail, and a low point of 274 during the middle of 2020, May to June.

Probably the biggest item noted in the statistics, is the reduction in Native Americans being put into jail. Between January 2018 and January 2021, bookings for non-violent, low level offenses dropped by 76%. The segment on the Native Americans saw a decrease in their numbers as well, by 22%. A good example of one single portion of this program, the Jail Population Review Team in January 2021 looked into 1225 individuals and as a result, 25% of the people were recommended and approved for release, allowing those folks to spend their time at home with families…5196 days of time with families instead of in jail.

Between January 2019 and January 2021, the Court Notifications program, was able to deliver 66,770 notices, to people for their court hearings. This action helped these people answer questions, but as needed, find services. Since August 2018, when the Community Work Program was started, 425 people have been referred to this branch, instead of jail. This action allowed the people to stay out of jail, with family and complete more than 7000 hours of service.

With the Care Campus and Safe Solutions program working in tandem, efforts have been made to help folks with a substance abuse program, to the tune of 54,563 people being admitted for substance abuse disorders. From there, a good 70% were moved into Safe Solutions for further help.

These programs, made possible and forwarded with aid from the Grant, show there are other options than jail. Nick Uhre needs to see the full value of the program, rather than just the colors of skin of people. Maybe he can help explain it to his former President…As of this writing, no apology has been sent forth.

 

(Contact Joe Budd at sales2@nativesunnews.today)

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