Downtown promoters insist downtown Fargo is safe following weekend shootings and assaults

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — While concerns over downtown safety continue to be a topic of discussion for many, Folkways Executive Director Joe Burgum and the Downtown Community Partnership’s Rocky Schneider say they believe downtown is still a safe place to be.

“We don’t have safety concerns, and we continue to see great crowds from the public coming out. And I think it’s important for people to know that last weekend’s incident was not an act of terrorism. It was two known individuals that had violence against each other. But I think as it relates to public events, daytime hours in downtown Fargo, this is a safe space for people to come out with their kids and family,” said Joe Burgum, Executive Director of Folkways and Red River Market.

Nearly two weeks prior, over a thousand people crowded the street and Broadway Square for the s’mores event. While police were active during the event, Burgum believes there needs to be more police presence at other times as well.

“This is the busiest foot traffic place with the most employees and the most people living in a central area of our city. I think it’s important that our police response is proportional to the value of downtown,” said Burgum.

Fargo Police and the Downtown Community Partnership had invited business owners to go over safety protocols. But according to Schneider, business leaders want to see more police during the day, along with other security measures.

“Every hour of the day is a different audience in downtown. And so what happened this weekend was a post-2 am audience, which isn’t the normal day-to-day in downtown Fargo. People coming downtown everyday to shop or events, to eat, to drink. That all happened after hours. And it’s for sure a different issue to handle,” said Rocky Schneider, Executive Director of Downtown Community Partnership.