Budget Problems and questions for RT Rybak:
Rumors: There is a rumor being circulated that RT plans to cut CDBG funds and other citizen participation dollars to neighborhoods. To allocate such funds to housing, rather than into community decision making. This rumors source was a political opponent of RT Rybak, so I question its validity. Even with questionable validity RT should nip this rumor in the bud quickly. His staff maybe naive and lacking effectiveness on policy issues, but they certainly should be bright enough to know this would be political suicide. Though this assumption on my part may also be questionable, RT and his staff have been talking of consolidating or as they put it "Comprehensively" planning NRP decision making downtown, and that stupid idea on the part of Sharon's staff got her boosted and RT put into office. So RT, nip this latest rumor in the bud and start fulfilling the promise to give neighborhoods "more", not "less", power in deciding what is best for their communities. If you want to cut something, cut the "Planning" budget. Neighborhoods already do a much better job. When "Planning" is doing a really good job it is merely duplicating neighborhood efforts. All the other times it would be better to not have this misnomer attached to development efforts. Keep Blake Graham, (besides having a real cool last name), you need a lawyer to put neighborhood plans into legal language. Consolidate "Planning" with MCDA and call it "Planning and Implementation", but leave NRP alone. Fix something that doesn't work. NRP is about the only thing in Minneapolis City Administration and Government that does! Problem: RT Rybak's budget calls for cutting the Police budget by a reported $2,000,000 this year. This can spell disaster for the troubled communities where Minneapolis already has a pattern of discrimination by not providing for adequate police protection. RT unless you are going to seriously cut the police to the white affluent neighborhoods how are you possibly going to fulfill your PROMISE to help these communities with MORE policing effort. The crime rate in the "containment zones" on Franklin and off Broadway are accelerating, not going down. This requires the application of MORE resources, not less. Questions: 1. RT, how long does it take to get police to answer a call in your neighborhood or the neighborhoods of the majority of those who attended the "Supporters Party" the other night? I would bet it doesn't take 1� hour. (Sometimes it does take that long in my neighborhood) 2. RT, if five or six drug dealers are standing on YOUR corner, in front of your house, how long does it take to get a squad? I would bet it doesn't take 1 hour or that you get told by the 911 operator that there are drug dealers all over your community and it is just to low a priority to answer quickly. (Sometimes this is the response for my neighborhood, I probably get it 1 to 3 times per week) 3. So RT, which exact neighborhoods do you plan on cutting services for in order to cut the budget for police? Remember you promised US more police resources. (Given the pattern of discrimination against poor neighborhoods of color that Minneapolis and the Hennepin County Judges already engage in, I am afraid I may also already know the answer.) Sharon lost because of trying to take power and resources from local control, and her inability to perceive the problems of crime and safety, as well as her inability to understand that "housing" was more than just giving resources to large multi-unit non-profit developers. PLEASE, do not let your staff lead you into the same political blunders that Sharon's staff allowed Sharon to fall into. Jim Graham, Ventura Village _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
