Survey asked about crime to 448 A.L. residents

Sixty percent of non-white Albert Lea residents reported in a community livability report released earlier this month having been a victim of a crime in the past year.

Eighty percent of non-white residents surveyed said they hadn’t reported a crime. Ninety percent of white residents reported not having been the victim of a crime. The survey included 448 residents. Fifty-seven of those were non-white.

Other survey results included:

• While 47 percent of white residents surveyed had a positive sense of community in Albert Lea, 21 percent of non-white residents did.

• Sixty-five percent of white residents would recommend living in Albert Lea to someone who asks, compared to 38 percent of non-white residents.

• Eighty-one percent of white Albert Lea residents plan on remaining in Albert Lea for the next five years, compared to 51 percent of non-white residents

• Sixty-three percent of white residents reported having used Albert Lea public libraries or services, compared to 37 percent of non-white residents.

“That’s something we want to learn more about,” Albert

Lea City Manager Chad Adams said of the disparities in numbers. “We will be having a discussion on how best to engage the non-white community and we will be finding out what some of the best tools to do so are.”

Other numbers in the survey included:

• Seventy-one percent of white residents reported having participated in a religious or spiritual activity in Albert Lea in the past year, compared to 23 percent of non-white residents.

• Fifty-seven percent of white residents reported having attended a city-sponsored event in the past year, compared to 14 percent of non-white residents.

• Twenty-two percent of white residents reported having campaigned or advocated for an issue, cause or candidate while 0 percent of non-white residents did.

• Fifty percent of white residents reported having volunteered their time to a group or activity in Albert Lea, while 7 percent of non-white residents did.

Adams said that part of the difference in optimism between white and non-white residents could be a communication barrier between English and non-English speaking residents, and he said the city is looking to address the issue.

Adams said it’s important to have a strong, diverse, engaged community.

“Every individual is a member of the community, regardless of the age, gender or race,” he said. “We want to ensure every member of this community is involved in our decision-making process.”