Wow, I LIKE the way this immigrant thinks. Maybe we need an immigrant for Chief of Police and Superintendent of Schools. After all, they've coped in far worse situations than WE'VE faced. By the way, I know with determination, you can make changes in government. I changed two or three things in my department when I was there. I showed them problems could be researched, that you didn't have to simply come up with some instant theory and then never look further. They didn't particularly like me speaking up at staff meetings, but I did it anyway. So, I know Fabry will change things.
Superintendent
My POINT about Seattle, which nearly everone missed, was that they found a lot of QUALIFIED people available. As for spending huge bucks on a "search", I don't see that as a necessity. They can go that route, or they could simply use whatever national connections they have. I'll bet they could call NEA and get a list. That would leave them with a winnowing process, but maybe these people who once were so EAGER to be on the school board should be less LAZY about it. If they find they can't do "this much work", there are at least two people on this list who I'll bet would be up to it.
"Inspired Choices"
You know, I was thinking about these present recruitment efforts for top appointee positions in the City. And recalling the voices that said that David Jennings was an inspired choice for Superintendent. So that got me to wondering about Police Chief. Here are a couple of nominations for Police Chief that seem to fit this pattern of "inspired choices": How about Spike Moss and Don Samuels? More than anyone I can think of, they understand the FACTS of our crime problems. I'd say they may understand them more than Olson, and I'm pretty much an Olson partisan. But he wants to move on, so he's not a factor in this. Some want to elevate a woman working in the force. But when you get right down to it, what do any of these women understand that will help solve the problems we have? Do they even live in town? And how will our zealots in the Police Federation support them? Or will they just let the Federation run wild? I guess if our major problem consisted of white women breaking laws, I'd be in their corner. But I'm not going to flak for them JUST because they are women.
But, as I say, if Jennings in any way qualifies as an improvement on what we had in the past, then it seems equally likely that Moss and Samuels would be an improvement, too. Of course, I'm ready to hear the Jennings diehards tell me that in THIS case, not being a cop is important, whereas in Jennings case, having no educational credentials was unimportant. People just like to have it both ways. But maybe out of the fury of that will come some sort of enlightenment of the kind I looked for in the Jennings discussion (but never saw).
A postscript: WHY do politicians vie for Police Federation endorsements? Why not vie for endorsements from some suburban chamber of commerce? Both are types of organizations that are there to push the vested interests of suburbanites.
________________________________________
Jim Mork
Cooper Neighborhood
Crimes against Peace: namely, planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances, or participation in a Common Plan or Conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing; -- Nuremberg War Tribunal
_________________________________________________________________
Enjoy MSN 8 patented spam control and more with MSN 8 Dial-up Internet Service. Try it FREE for one month! http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup
REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
