With 2022 behind us, we continue to see things return somewhat to normal. However, it seems that things may never go back to how they were before 2020.
I was at the grocery store on a recent Sunday and the shelves were completely stocked with popular food items where, often over the past couple of years, their availability has been unpredictable. It was a welcome surprise, but when I returned to the store later in the week, I noticed several empty shelves and racks where some of our family favorites had been. The same supply chain issues have also affected public safety, whether it’s getting vehicles, parts or other critical items, making things more challenging. We hope that the supply chain issues we have dealt with will continue to improve in 2023.
Gary Meader / Duluth News Tribune
It appears that many businesses are having difficulty filling vacancies, which is a factor affecting supply chain issues. For the first time in my life, our area had one of the lowest unemployment numbers in the US. An online news article reported that the Duluth area has the 23rd lowest unemployment rate of all metro areas nationwide. I often see longer lines and shortened hours at businesses as a result of unfilled positions.
The number of well-paying jobs available in nearly every sector and the negativity surrounding law enforcement has been a double whammy, causing the number of applicants for many public safety jobs to drop sharply. Currently, many public security agencies are hemorrhaging staff.
In 2023, it will be more important than ever to focus on recruiting, retaining and securing competitive salaries. It’s essential that we continue to recruit the best and the brightest, because if you or your family ever needs to make a 911 call and need law enforcement responding, you want the absolute best to help. You don’t want the bottom of the barrel to help you in a time of crisis.
Adequate staffing with the best of the best is a top priority in the coming months and years. We will have to change and adapt to the new realities of trying to recruit and retain staff. You can help us in this effort by encouraging good people to serve in a public safety position and by recognizing the great people we have working every minute of every day to keep us safe.
Also, we continue to see an over-reliance on the criminal justice system for mental health issues. I have been to the county jail to release offenders for the past few decades on a somewhat regular basis and, on a recent visit, I was shocked during a tour to see the significant increase in inmates with mental health issues.
Lack of bed space also affects our hospitals. I was notified of a minor who has been in a psychiatric ward of a hospital in our area for about a year while waiting to be placed in a mental health treatment center. The wards of the local hospital are not the place for the mentally ill who require long-term specialist treatment. But like prisons, they are on the front lines of this crisis and are now doing work they were never built or intended to do.
We hope 2023 is the year the Legislature defunds mental health beds and defunds the criminal justice system for those in crisis wherever possible. Everyone I spoke to during the campaign last year agreed that this issue needs to be addressed more effectively by our legislature.
As your new sheriff in St. Louis County, I hope you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season. Know that the large staff of area public safety agencies will be there when you need them.
Gordon Ramsay was elected in November to replace the retiring Ross Litman as sheriff of St. Louis County. He wrote this at the invitation of the “News Tribune Opinion” website.
YEAR AHEAD SERIES
The News Tribune Opinion site again this year asked community leaders and area experts to look into a crystal ball and share what 2023 might bring. This column is part of that series.
Sunday, December 25 – Northern Economy
Monday, December 26 — Business
Tuesday, December 27 — Tourism
Wednesday, December 28 – City of Duluth
Thursday, December 29 – County of St
Friday, December 30 – Duluth Public Schools
Saturday, December 31 – Minnesota Legislature
Sunday, January 1 – downtown Duluth
Monday, January 2 – Public Safety
Tuesday, January 3 – DC
