EDITORIAL Seek accountability in the new year By: Pauline Thomas Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Originally posted 1/3/2003
As I begin this week�s column, I would like to inform the community that on November 16, 2002, I was one of the community members selected to the Federal Mediation Community Negotiating Team (CNT). If God is willing, I promise to give you (the community) the best representation at the table, and to advocate for real changes to police and community relations in the City of Minneapolis. Also, I would like to publicly thank the small group of committed individuals that helped to bring about this mediation process. There is an old saying that we should never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that truly has. We have come a long way to get federal mediation moving forward. I would like to thank Mr. Ronald Edwards, Ms. Michelle Gross (Communities United Against Police Brutality), and attorneys Jill Clark and Jill Waite for all of their support and long hours of volunteer service to help bring federal mediation to Minneapolis. Our city is full of diversity, and I believe in my heart that as we band together and commit ourselves to issues that plague our communities we will be able to overcome some of the racism and discrimination that have helped to produce a society of helplessness. However, in that process we must not forget our goal. We have to stay committed and we must keep our eyes on the prize. Although our city is very diverse, I have witnessed over the past 10 years that while the City of Minneapolis proclaims itself inclusive of those who live here, we have continued to experience alienation and frustration when it comes to our opinions being considered or valued. I personally have experienced attacks and disrespect when I haven�t agreed with the business-as-usual method. The City establishment would like us to believe that they represent all of our interests. Yet I have found that not to be the case. It saddens me to think that the City of Minneapolis, along with other do-nothing organizations and individuals out here, is really only concerned about changes that may impact one percent of the population of people of color in this city. We must set goals and measure those goals for everyone, including the mayor and the city council. We must not allow our current leadership to deepen the usual bias that we as citizens of color, and particularly African Americans, experience in Minneapolis. How will the City monitor its own programs and contracts in the future to ensure inclusiveness? Why is the City so silent on issues that concern communities of color? As the end of the year 2002 arrives, we have begun to look long and hard at the accomplishments that have been made, particularly in the African American community. We have seen a lot of new housing developments and lots of new businesses open throughout the city, yet almost none have benefited the African American community. Why not? There have been numerous organizations and people out here, including the mayor and the city council, collecting funding and claiming to provide services to our community. One example is the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). What is the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program? The NRP began in 1991. The program was supposed to bring together neighborhood residents and government officials from a variety of jurisdictions to design and implement long-range plans for the revitalization and strengthening of the city�s neighborhoods. The plan was to make $20 million a year available to neighborhoods for 20 years in order to fund programs identified in the neighborhood plans. Neighborhood organizations were supposed to develop a process to encourage wide participation within the neighborhoods in the planning process. That citizens� input is then used to draft an action plan that is sent forward through several channels for review and recommended passage. How many of you have actually been involved in this process? How did this program affect communities of color? Where did the NRP money go for all of the communities across the city, particularly communities of color? Who benefited and in what capacity? Those are the tough questions that we must ask as we move forward into a new year. We must not allow policy makers or organizations to sit silent on these issues. It is important that we begin this New Year evaluating those who claim they serve our community. How can we measure the goals that they have set? For example, we must put together a list of organizations that have received significant funding to provide services to help improve our communities. It�s called ACCOUNTABILITY, folks. How do we monitor the achievements set forth in their strategic plans throughout the year? Equally important is how those funds have been used and how they have improved communities of color. We must remember that we, too, pay taxes and help build the city�s tax base. After all, we are the people who help make up the City of Minneapolis. Next week we will update the community on the status of NRP and how it has impacted communities of color. http://www.spokesman-recorder.com/news/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=20933&sID=16 http://www.spokesman-recorder.com/news/default.asp Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup Meet Singles http://corp.mail.com/lavalife _______________________________________ 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
