I just read G.R.Anderson's story in City Pages. I think David Brauer is right on when he takes issue with the words "divisive trick" to characterize Olson's refusing to meet with any group that does not include the NAACP and the URrban League.
It is a conclusion not borne out by the facts. On the other hand I don't think it is beyond the realm of possibility for Olson to be playing politics. And we all know the theory of 'divide and conquer'. I can understand his desire to meet with the Urban League and NAACP, Jerry McAfee and Spike Moss. These are people and groups that have worked through the system; traditional politics whereby they go running to the Mayor's conference room where they are met by concerned nods from the powers that be and little else. The only thing these people and groups did to bring about mediation was to whine at the Mayors, past and present, about mediation or Civilian Review, etc. Our present Mayor was quite vocal against the idea of mediation until he had no choice but to accept it. I'm not so much in agreement with David Brauer on a couple points. I don't find the article melodramatic. Believe me this is pretty serious, dare I say, dramatic to those who face the continual humiliation of racial profiling or loss of life due to excessive use of force. He also condemns the Community Negotiating Team for holding only one meeting. First of all they were under considerable pressure and time restaints to get a list of mediators together. Patricia Campbell Glenn had a window of opportunity that was quickly closing. At least that was the word at that time. Secondly, I don't know how many meetings I have gone to that were announced well in advance and a group would pipe up at the last minute crying foul because 'they had just heard about it'. My answer to that is always the same. You have nobody to blame but yourself. This meeting was well advertised. Flyers were posted in numerous locations. Some groups or individuals think only those thoughts or actions springing from their own head and hands are the only valid statements. I was at the meeting when the community mediation team was chosen by those in attendance. It was not a well organized affair in my estimation. I think they did some things wrong. For instance I would not have gone into such detail about their demands. I think some people were more interested in their own process without due regard for their audience. When people start filtering out it's time to start checking your own process. This was a democratic process; raw perhaps but fair and democratic nevertheless. Everyone had a chance to speak out, everyone staying around to the end voted or could vote. As to the makeup of the team I think a prevailing sentiment among a large part of the African American community in this town is that the NAACP, the Urban League, and the usual suspects have sold out the common man and woman. I cannot disagree entirely with that sentiment. I spoke up in favor of keeping someone from the church in the process. I would have liked a mental health advocate, a homeless advocate and even someone from the NAACP or Urban League involved. As for Olson wanting to meet with representatives of the NAACP and Urban League, I say NUTS to that. He does not get to pick who sits across the table. His organization may be top-down. Federal Mediation Now was meant to be grassroots. And even before this flap over representation there was an article in the Strib saying that Olson had picked a date to start mediation. I wrote something about that at the time. All communications and decisions about time schedules etc should have been jointly agreed upon and jointly announced. Olson still wants to act the Chief. He may be Chief of Police but that is where his authority stops. He does not get to control the process. Melodramatic? NO. Deadly serious? Absolutely. Tim Connolly Downtown __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
