Dear List Readers, As an elected official I can not believe what happened at the Park Board meeting this evening. Although this action reflects badly on the institution of the Park Board, I am compelled to let the public know. The majority of the Board committed what I consider to be a gross abuse of power that all citizens of this city should be outraged at. In fact, those citizens who were there were outraged. Bob Gregor, former Minneapolis Alderman, was there and said it was the most outrageous behavior he has seen!
Five of the nine Commissioners elected an interim Superintendent who had not even applied for the job, even though we had several semifinalists (4) who were exceptional and had expressed an interest in continuing our interview process. These Commissioners circumvented our process and pulled a candidate 'out-of-the-hat' after discussing this among themselves without involving 4 of the 9 Commissioners on the Board. Their actions exhibit exactly what disillusion citizens about politicians, were unprofessional to say the least, were disrespectful to those citizens that the un-consulted Commissioners represent, and did the institution of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board great harm. We were given a 2-page resume with little or no information after the motion to appoint this person was made at the meeting! I don't even know if the new Superintendent meets the minimum requirements that we identified as necessary! Although the candidate has a degree, I don't know in what!! No interview! I have never even met this person and I was supposed to vote on him tonight to run our Park System! What I do know is that we have had formal complaints to the Park Board about the behavior of this individual, and that he is a friend of several Commissioners who voted for him. Outrageous! What about the great candidates who we and the search firm already identified as exceptional from all over this country that had great ideas on how to take this system to the next step? What a difference some of them could have made. It would have been appropriate to interview the candidate!!!!! Some of you know that I am a professor at the University of Minnesota and became involved with the Park Board to make a sincere difference with the parks in Minneapolis. I can tell you with certainty that the actions of these Commissioners hurt our Park system and is getting in the way of the management of that system. It pains me to write this letter at all, but someone has to say something! Please take note of the Commissioners who voted to circumvent the process with disregard for the citizens of this great city and the institution of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation System: Bob Fine (Southwest), Marie Hauser (South), Walt Dziedzic (Northest), Jon Olson (North), and Carl Kummer (Southest). Also note those Commissioners who have a regard for our Parks, the integrity of the system, who have respect for those citizens they represent, and who tried to select the best possible Superintendent: Vivian Mason (west), Annie Young (City-wide), Rochelle Berry Graves (City-wide), and myself (City-wide). Call Commissioners directly or call the Park Board main office at 230-6400 and ask for their number. Their e-mail addresses and numbers can also be found at www.minneapolisparks.org. Express your concern! Write editorials! This is our park system and we need to take it back! Above all, remember who was there for all of you next election cycle and who was not! Sincerely, John Erwin City-Wide Park Commissioner 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. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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
