[Mpls] Federal Mediation

[ZippinZack]

I feel that it is important that I respond to a post from [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have been called a lot of things, but it is rare that I'm called a liar.

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
First of all, let me point out that Zack resigned from the team on his own
volition back on December 17, 2002.  He hasn't been involved since that
time so he wouldn't know if we have or have not had meetings.

ZLM
Perhaps you would like to post a copy of my resignation letter. Everyone that knows me understands that I follow due process. As far as the meetings, maybe you would like to inform us of just one that has taken place with the entire CNT.

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
Second, Zack is incorrect in stating that Jill Clark and Jill Waite are
legal advisors to the team.  They were elected as full members of the team
and this was reaffirmed at a meeting of the full community negotiating
team.

ZLM
If they were elected as members of the team, why was there a need to reaffirm their election? Did other elected members have to be reaffirmed? Of course not. The jills were never elected by the community to be members of the team, they were selected to be legal advisor and organizer.

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
All of this work has been on our own time and all
expenses for it (such as printing many thousands of flyers, paying for
postage and even paying for a meeting room when the Department of Justice
couldn't cover it) has come out of our own pockets. 

ZLM
It was always my understanding that "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" participation was on behalf of the organization that she works for not herself personally.

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
The notion that anyone is or could get rich from doing federal mediation is just plain a joke.

ZLM
No it is not a joke. There are a number of different federal funding sources that can be utilized to monitor the city after mediation. The federal government takes mediation very seriously and are willing to assure its success by investing funds.

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
Zack never had any problems with the way the community team (including him)
was elected--at an open, public meeting that was advertised widely,
including in the Star Tribune

ZLM
Thank you for stating that the community elected me. This only supports my claim that the core group has no right to remove me.

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
He arrogantly came to the first community negotiating team meeting and
insisted that he be made chair of the meetings.  Knowing we needed someone
to run the meetings, folks agreed.

ZLM
What I did was suggest that a process be put into place so that meetings could be conducted in an orderly manner. I vote was taken and I was elected. This is called a democratic process. I might add that it was at the same time that Ron Edward's was elected as spokesman.


"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
However, soon he was claiming to be the chair of the team itself and using this to call meetings and decide who
would be invited.  He used his version of Robert's Rules to tyrannically
manipulate and stifle discussions at the meetings. 

ZLM
This statement is confusing. You said yourself that I was selected to be chair. Some of the chairs duties is to call meetings and in-force meeting rules, it was not my version of Roberts rule, it was the copy that I had one the table that was the newly revised Roberts rule of order. Once some members stated that they did not understand proper meeting procedure, I developed a meeting guide that was more simplistic for our use.

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
Zack states in his email that the Chief was finally ready to come to the
table when Jill filed the writ of mandamus petition, thus delaying
mediation again.  Again--not true.  The Chief had called the federal
mediator at noon on the day before mediation was to start to say he would
be there.  He called back an hour later to say that he would only be there
if his hand-picks were there, too.  For that reason, the session was called
off.

ZLM
Thank you for stating that the chief was ready to move forward after the petition drive. The chief was ready to move forward because he respected the petition as did many of the city council and the mediator. It was the core group of the CNT that informed the mediator that they would not respect the communities wishes expressed in the petition, this is why mediation was put on hold again. Then the suit was filed.

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
We don't have a lawyer representing us in this action.

ZLM
OOOOk, then who will be speaking on your behalf if it goes to court, you?

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
Zack helped himself to our coalition's name and attempted to collect petition signatures until we
stopped him.

ZLM
I'm a citizen of the state of Minnesota. I have every right to start a nonprofit organization and use any name that is currently not associated with a nonprofit. I'm the proud President/CEO of Federal Mediation Now Inc. We are a nonprofit not a coalition. As a matter of fact, perhaps you can tell us how many times the entire Federal Mediation Now coalition has actually met, and where you met. You see I have contacted a number of the non-profits that you have listed board members. They have told me that their organizations participation has never been authorized by their board. Whats up with that?

"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
I recently read that he contacted the Department of Justice
and posed as a member of the community negotiating team long after his
resignation from the team. 

ZLM
You have my permission to post said document.

Zachary Metoyer
central