Remember: our rules allow pointed disagreement, but require respectful discussion.
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David Brauer wrote:
> Michael, as important as the Second Ward council member is, I don't
> think he is the lynchpin of local safety efforts. The council is a
> policymaking body that hires the people (police & fire chief) who design
> the actual policy. They have a lot more direct responsibilities, and as
> a city we have a shared level of responsibilities with FEMA, the federal
> government, state, etc. for disaster prevention.
As we have seen FEMA, the federal and state governments have failed
to protect the people of our country. I just cannot believe the ingrained
stupidity within government agencies. Rather than develop terrorist
scenarios, the FBI spends it time killing 80 members of a religious group
and defending itself against charges of obstruction of justice. I think
that it is foolish to shuffle off responsibility for our safety onto these
entities.
> You mention Giuliani - an executive does have certain responsibilities
> that a policymaking council does not. That's why you're not hearing much
> about New York City city council members right now - their role is a bit
> removed.
Last time I looked NYC had a strong manorial system and Minneapolis
had a weak one. Thus, responsibility lies with the council members.
> I doubt seriously the Second Ward council member will be responsible for
> establishing a helicopter rescue system. But I have every confidence
> that if elected, Paul or Cam will review the right people to assess
> needed security without violation of civil liberties or squandering our
> resources to defend against every conceivable contingency.
Yea, and you don't see that the Second Ward council member has any
responsibility for the MPS either. "Paul isn't a school board member, and
I don't think he's running for CIA director." Just what is it that the city council
is responsible for...the sewers? The truth is that the council has power
over the budget and can, with proper lobbying, assure that funds are
directed to particular items (such as education or disaster preparedness).
Council members can also, via the power and visibility of their office,
assure that critical policies are in place.
> Me, I'm not going to give into terrorists by opportunistically reducing
> every local council race to a contest for a neighborhood joint chief of
> staff.
"Give into terrorists" by assuring that the city has proper plans for the
event of a fire in downtown high-rise? Which is just one scenario which
would require helicopter evacuation. I suppose you'd prefer to believe
that you're still living in a Mary Tyler Moore rerun. Maybe my problem
is that I've lived too long and in too many places. I was in L.A. when
there was a fire in a downtown high-rise and in the Middle East when
there was terrorism.
I'm not sure what Mr. Brauer's motivation is in downplaying the role
of the city council, but need I remind you that the most important
suspect in the World Trade Towers attack was arrested and held
here in Minnesota? Wake up people! We're not living in Canada.
Rosalind Nelson wrote:
> At 07:00 AM 9/20/01 -0500, Michael Atherton wrote:
>
> >On another note, does anyone know if the MPD has an
> >intelligence division?
>
> It was "police intelligence" that told us before the ISAG
> convention to expect a thousand or more potentially violent
> animal rights protestors from out of town. Then they, or
> it, failed to notice that most of the anticipated outside
> troublemakers had failed to show up.
As you can see from my comments above, I don't necessarily have
a lot of faith in law enforcement. However, there are ways to do
things right and ways to do them wrong. To do nothing, is not
acceptable. That is why it is so important that we elect representatives
who have some degree of sophistication.
Michael Atherton
Prospect Park
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