Re: [Mpls] Ms. Kambui's role in federal mediation

[Dennis Plante]

MG: The Spokesman-Recorder has clearly outlined the split within the Black community over the issue of "poverty pimps" (term used by community members) who take money from the city and who play the role of keeping community members "in their place."  All the time that we were having community meetings to prepare for mediation, literally hundreds of people urged us not to make a place for these poverty pimps on the community team.  The overwhelming sentiment expressed: "They don't represent us."  Despite this, going into the nominating meeting for the community team, we had a slot on the team for a black minister and a slot for traditional black leadership, at the recommendation of the federal mediator.  However, the Black community members voted these slots off the slate, stating they were sick of sell-outs and wanted to decide for themselves how to represent their community.  It didn't help one bit that those groups could not be bothered to show up at the community meeting or that they told the paper they thought they should just automatically be on the team (i.e. not answerable to the community).  Ultimately, the community members present chose emerging leaders from their community to fill those slots.

DP-In your attempts to make mediation truly representative of the needs of the community, as you so fervently desire, can you tell me specifically who originated these community meetings and who was notified of them?  You also mention that the overwhelming sentitment was "they (the "poverty pimps") don't represent us".  Was this overwhelming sentiment expressed by the overwhelming majority of the community, or just the overwhelming majority of those notified that attended the "meetings".  I have yet to see any statistics supporting this that substantiate the claim that the "City" torpedoed the process.  You see Michelle, where it may be fair for you to say that the "poverty pimps" don't represent the views you subscribe to, it is equally fair to say that your views aren't necessarily the ones subscribed to by all members of the community that feel oppressed.  Do I believe there were games played in the process?  Absolutely, and by BOTH sides.  Do I believe mediation is a bad thing?  Nope...  I just would like to see a wider range of voices included in the process.  It's the fair thing and the right thing to do.  If I'm not mistaken, that's probably what Kinshasa was working towards.

 

Dennis Plante

Jordan

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