The Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee of the City and County meeting
that Barb Lickness refers to was sort of like bringing coal to Newcastle.
It seemed to be a meeting that was kept secret from the people actually
working on crime in the Ventura Village area. That meeting occured a week
after a similar meeting that included RT Rybak, Chief Olson, Amy Klobachar,
Dean Zimmerman, Sharon Lubinski, Metro Transit police, their staffs, and any
officer with command responsibility in the area working with neighborhood
people on real solutions. Commitments were made at those earlier meeting
and all present had already dedicated resources to fulfill specific plans to
attack the problem.
That meeting also came long after Gail Baez, Shirley Stone, Kris Arneson,
and Jan Graham had created a model court watch program; created a
coordinated effort between police, neighborhood residents and prosecutors to
identify and target problem offenders; and had worked diligently for more
than a year to create the Franklin Safety Center. As a result of those
women's effort the county has indeed come to the table. Sure the
neighborhood contributed NRP dollars and AIBDC contributed space, but those
gains came because of those four women's work. While the Criminal Justice
Coordinating Committee makes nice looking frosting on the cake, those women
baked the cake without much recognition and damn little thanks.
On the Northside the same is true of Don Samuels and other neighborhood
activists. The idea that Don Samuels doesn't know the "nuts and bolts" of
how the Criminal Justice system works is preposterous. The average
successful "Impacted Neighborhood" activist knows how the Criminal Justice
System works far better than any Criminologist teaching at the U of M. He
or she knows how the nuts and bolts work, not how to shine someone on with a
glitzy paint job theory. Just from having the "Officials" tell him what
will not work, and why, I am sure Don Samuels fully "Knows" the nuts and
bolts. He also probably has a very good sense of "BULL" when he hears it.
Something those who have not had to deal with it cannot know.
That "Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee of the City and County" did
not help Don Samuels. Don Samuels helped them "understand"! I am quite
sure Don told them some things that would and would not work. So Dyna,
please stick to the positive things about OLIN Moore, not meaningless
negative things about Don, which are simply ridiculous on their surface.
There are very strong reasons to vote for Olin Moore. He brings knowledge
of government and financial resources that is unmatched on the Council. In
this time of financial difficulties for the City, he brings an ability to
access State and especially Federal funds that is unmatched. His knowledge
of such things makes the rest of the Council and the Mayor look like
amateurs. Those are the reasons I might vote for Olin, but not some "Bull"
that Don Samuels doesn't know about Criminal Justice. That is like saying
Mohammed Ali didn't know anything about boxing. He lives it for Pete's sake.
For Dennis Plante the same thing goes. Dennis, you cannot convince me that
you are so naive you do not know the sample ballot is normal business for
all political parties. It is the reason people want endorsements. It is
the reason Don Samuels wanted and attempted to get the DFL endorsement. So
stop playing games. Talk about Don's positive attributes and stop using his
candidacy as an excuse to attack the Democratic Party. Don is running
against Olin Moore not the Democratic Party. If Don had started earlier and
gotten the party endorsement he would be damn glad to be getting that same
sample ballot. Don knows more about local issues and has better connections
with neighborhood people and organizations, talk about that! Not the
Democratic Party! For every vote you pick up with that negative argument you
lose two. It is also ridiculous because you have all the City Democrats,
who think they can buy Don's later support, endorsing Don. Why do you think
Barrett Lane has ANY interest in the Northside?
These are two marvelous candidates, with great assets. Talk about them and
sell them. Bad mouthing either one's strength just looks ridiculous. The
3rd Ward should be concentrating on which one is better. Not, which is
worse. I will find an apartment for either one if they wish to run in my
ward. Folks need to remember that because of redistricting, (without
moving); these two men can both be a City-Council Member in two years, if
they wish.
Jim Graham,
Ventura Village in Metropolis
>>> There is no finer investment for any community than
putting milk into babies and revolution into minds - Toe<<<
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