Michelle Gross wrote: "As I pointed out in a previous post, the city is self indemnified for liability suits and the payouts come from the general fund. Stupid and/or bad behavior on the part of police cost the taxpayers to the tune of $13 million over the last four years."
Vicky adds: It's not just City police officers who break the law. Other city employees routinely break or ignore the law too. A costly example is the Kondirator judgment against the City. The Lydia House litigation is an example of a smaller Court battle spawned by the City ignoring its own zoning ordinance. Based on personal experience, low level staffers who are largely unknown to the public, are often responsible for ethical and legal lapses of judgment which result in lawsuits against Minneapolis. Council Member Joan Campbell said in passing "a thousand people a day sue the City." Though exaggerated, she made a good point. The former Council lead by Jackie Cherryhomes used the Courts to punish political opposition: She was smart enough to figure out that most people cannot afford to fight the City in Court. Elected persons can avoid taking heat by instructing lower level employees to implement specific agendas and favors to political allies - under the radar screen. The recently passed Ethics Resolution contained language (I think) that designated an Ethics Officer - a person to whom we can refer complaints of ethical and/or legal violations of City employees. Does anyone know who that person is? Vicky Heller Cedar-Riverside and North Oaks 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
