EY: Peter, I asked you to demonstrate how Sharon Lubinski was a racist -
since you implied it in your post on this subject. Instead you ask me
to prove she isn't a racist. So my challenge still stands - please give
some examples of how Lubinski has treated minority residents poorly? If
Rybak were going to appoint an insider like Rick Stanek to the police
chief position - I'd have a major problem with it - because Stanek (who
is now Public Safety Commissioner - but that's another story) has a
history of having been sued for police brutality - and having the suits
settled by the city. For more on this read this article in the
Spokesman. This is the type of evidence I'm asking for.Lubinski is no
Stanek. She's risen through the ranks - and as many others on the lists
have ably testified - has gotten lots of respect from a variety of
stakeholders in the city.
PS: First of all, I never implied that Sharon Lubinski and Lucy Gerold
were racists. That's your interpretation, Eva. I believe I made that
clear in a previous post. However, I'd be happy to review any comments I
made on this post that imply racism on Lubinski's or Gerold's part. If,
indeed, I'm convinced that I had implied one or both were racist, then
I'll apologize.
What I've been saying all along is that I have not seen or heard any
evidence that would lead me to believe that Lubinski or Gerold have the
will or ability to reform a department that they've been a part of for
several years. Again, while both former candidates for Police Chief may
be beyond reproach in their treatment of civilians of color, I doubt they
can reign in the rogues among their colleagues.
And this is where I will try to make a point that I've yet to make
regarding insiders and outsiders. While I've never worked in a police
department myself, my thirty odd years of work experience, both as a
supervisor and a line staff, have convinced me that when there's serious
dysfunction at a workplace, an outsider, someone who has no personal or
emotional attachment to the line staff, can implement necessary reforms
more effectively than someone who has been friends with their co-workers
over a considerable period of time. If the Minneapolis Police Department
were having no serious and chronic problems with violence and racism
among its rank and file then I'd be happy to see an insider promoted to
Police Chief. But since this is clearly not the case, then it's
imperative that an outsider take charge. If the Minneapolis Police
Federation doesn't like it (and don't forget their call for Council
member's Natalie Lee Johnson resignation) , then that's too bad.
Eva, I acknowledged and validated one of your concerns about McManus,
regarding his relatively short duration at his current job (though it's
been two years and not one as you had indicated). I've also expressed
concern that McManus's current employer was surprised that he was looking
for another job. In fact, I went so far as to say that this matter needs
to be investigated further by Mayor Rybak and the City Council. At least
I'm displaying an open mind and not getting too attached to any position
or candidate.
>From what many people have told me, I'm confident that Sharon Lubinski
has respect for racial minorities, though her mishandling of the ISAG
incident a few years back makes me wonder if she can respect and tolerate
political dissidents. Still, if you can tell me what Officer Lubinski has
done to challenge her racist and violence colleagues, I'll be more than
happy to reconsider my position.
EY: So because we've had SSB and Jackie Cherryhomes have been good ol'
gals, that means that other women who have risen through the ranks in
the Police Department shouldn't be promoted to chief?
PS: Eva, a review my exchange with Carol Becker will prove my comments
were taken out of context.
Carol Becker: And as for the debate about identity politics, I will say
that women think differently, manage differently, and relate
differently. These are scientific facts. In the movie 28 Days, there is
a quote, "The definition of insanity is repeating the same behavior over
and over again expecting different results." As a woman, part of a
group that is over half of the population, I would like the City to
really think outside of the box and give a woman a spin, something that
would really be different. Something that hasn't happened here before.
Peter Schmitz: If what you say is really true, then Sharon Sayles
Belton, Jackie Cherryhomes and Joan Campbell, the quintessential
network-with-the-good-'ol-boys, inside-the-box-thinkers, whose approach
to public service was turning a blind eye to police brutality and giving
away over a hundred million dollars of city revenue to big-box
businesses and developers, are men in drag . . .
I also remarked that women office holders were no worse than their male
colleagues (while, at the same time, they're no better), and that I
supported Becky Lourey for Governor as well as Lisa McDonald for Mayor.
Obviously I was responding to Ms. Beckers's absurd assertion that an
office holder can serve the public interest better if they're born with a
vagina rather than a penis. Never in that particular post did I address
the police chief issue.
Eva, you deliberately took my response to Carol Becker out of context in
order to distort my position regarding who should be our next Police
Chief. It's disappointing to see you misrepresenting your intelligence
and insight.
Peter Schmitz CARAG
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