La Crosse city council hears safety concerns after shooting; also moves riverfront development ahead

A north La Crosse shooting this week has now led to arrests of three suspects, and has increased concerns about safety in that part of the city.

One person was injured by gunfire on Sunday, in the 1200 block of Logan Street, and city council member Erin Goggin, who represents that neighborhood, spoke to the council on Thursday night about her confidence in local law enforcement.

“This is my block, and this is where I live,” said Goggin. “It was frightening, and I’ve never been witness to that level of violence, but what I want to let everybody know is what reassures me and what makes me think that I would never move out of that neighborhood is the outstanding response of the La Crosse city police acting quickly, to secure the scene, and lend aid to the victim.”

Goggin called the crime “surprising” and “appalling.” One 19-year-old suspect in the shooting is expected to appear in a La Crosse courtroom on Friday.

In other council business, the anticipated final phase in the River Point development north of downtown La Crosse has received support council members. On Thursday, the council voted to transfer some land connected to the River Point project from the Redevelopment Authority to the City of La Crosse. That land would be used to help install the final street proposed for that area, near a park and a marina.

Mayor Mitch Reynolds likes how the River Point plan has moved forward. “You can’t walk through there, and not smile,” said the mayor. “That’s like icing on the cake of multiple careers here in the city of La Crosse. It’s an extremely well-planned and executed development project.”

The city council also approved the plan to rescind the ‘surplus’ status of the old Monitor Street fire station, which is still being used by the La Crosse fire department.