I've got mixed feelings about way life has been going since R.T. took office. I agree with Jim Graham (that's twice in one year, Jim!) about the mayor's staff environment. Jim and I live in a real world where awareness and respect for cultural nuance comes with the territory. Mind you, I haven't had a lot of contact with the mayor's staff, but what I have had hasn't left me with a feeling of confidence that R.T.'s personal efforts to empathize and work through the rough spots is way up there near the top of the list of things to do when it comes to his staff. Now maybe there are some really delicate and complex affairs of state that I wouldn't know about and somebody has to mind the store when Hizzoner is out and about being visible and accessible to the best of his considerable ability. But ...
In this diverse city with one of the largest Native American urban populations in the United States, you would think that there'd be better focused attentions on these cultural wheels that have been squeaking since I got here three decades ago. My cultural studies as a geographer and my personal explorations over my many years have taught me that there are abrasive realities regarding the First Americans that go back to the very beginnings of European immigrant settlement in these parts and continue through the historical life of the city to the present day. I trust the mayor's good intentions and I'm relieved to read Tony LookingElk's calm and measured words. I'm not surprised that Council Members Zimmermann and Lilligren are in the thick of things - they are superlative examples of right-thinking behavior in these prickly situations. Pity there's no one that measures up to that high standard in the municipal chief executive's office. Fred Markus, Horn Terrace, Ward Ten, in the Lyndale Neighborhood --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.455 / Virus Database: 255 - Release Date: 2/13/2003 TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ 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
