I can appreciate the fact that you can't support Jayne Khalifa without knowing her qualifications better, but I think that's a good reason to remain impartial and request or even insist on knowing the candidate better, it is not a reason to organize against her, make unfounded accusations against her or the Mayor for appointing her, or resort to name calling. I'm glad that you apologized and postponed the meeting to organize against her, I think it was the honorable thing to do.
I have to disagree with your assertions however, regarding Ms. Khalifa's affiliations and experience. To begin with, you said that she was a member of "several elitist organizations" yet reference only the Links, Inc. If there are more organizations that your referencing, I think you should state that, otherwise I think it's a bit misrepresentative to call it several when it's just one. As for the Links itself, while your opinion may be that it's elitist, I would challenge you to provide some evidence that it actually is if you're going to proclaim it as such. For those unaware of it, The Links is a volunteer service and social organization that is directed towards women of color, but primarily has as its membership and focus African American professional women. It is very similar to African American fraternities and sororities, one of which, if I'm not mistaken, not only were you president, but also a charter member of your alma mater's chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi. While I respect and have plenty of friends who are Kappas, if the Links are elitist because of their membership then I think Kappa and other fraternities and sororities fall under that same umbrella and in fact have more exclusionary practices and admittance criteria. I would also question which of those two is more geared towards community service and empowerment and which is more social, but that's a subjective opinion. It would be great if you would share what is elitist about the Links, Inc. On to her experience, to which you said she has a "poor track record of fighting civil rights", which I'm assuming you meant to add a "for" in there, otherwise I'd agree with you, because she hasn't been fighting civil rights, but rather fighting for civil rights. You referenced the boards that she sits on and questioned them as examples of fighting for civil rights when they were not presented as such, but were reference by me in response to your statement that she was a member of "several elitist organizations". You also questioned what she had done in her positions to work on civil rights, simultaneously stating that you didn't know what she did in those positions, and that your research said that she didn't do any number of things you mentioned as examples for working on civil rights. While I think that these statements contradict each other, I would be real interested in what your research indicated, because what your argument is positing is that she has essentially done nothing in these positions, and without you offering anything concrete, it's merely rumor an innuendo. But on to specifics that I can see, as Director of Operations, she was responsible for statewide elections among other things, and given that one of the main issues of the Civil Rights movement was voter education, registration and support, and given that I'm not aware of any disenfranchisement of voters under her watch, I think that speaks volumes to what she was doing, ensuring people's right to vote and be counted. As Commissioner of the Department of Human rights I know that she successfully settled 15 union filed greivances and 3 lawsuits that she inherited and maintained the Cabinet Level status of the Agency. There's much more that she did, but I have yet to see you or anyone else offer any evidence of things that she didn't do and should have or that she did improperly. I think you raise important questions, but they're questions that should be asked not supposed upon. If you've got evidence you should put that out, otherwise it's disingenous to merely state that your "research says she didn't do things" and provide no evidence, and to limit the criteria for accomplishment to only those questions that you asked. As for your point about Ms. Khalifa's personality, again, I'd ask you what your reference where this is coming from. What is your experience with her that has caused you to form this opinion, and those of others in "other communities of color" and what evidence do you have that she's far removed. So far, all I've heard is that you don't like one of the organizations she's a part of and that you don't know her experience. Hardly justification to call her removed from the people or to insinuate that she's "cool with the administration". Whether she's cool or not is immaterial, the issue with the last director wasn't her coolness with the Mayor or friendship with specific elected officials, but that she couldn't get the job done. We need someone who can get the job done, will make the changes and will work hard for the City, not be cool or uncool with particular election officials or administration. I don't think that the Mayor or anyone conscientious wants someone they're "cool" with over the best person for the job, and if RT were trying to just appoint a friend of his not someone qualified, I would be right along side you saying that it was wrong to be that unethical. I think you're right that this is too important a position not to be taken seriously, but I do think that the Mayor and hopefully everyone involved took this seriously and understands the magnitude and importance. I know I did. So I would again encourage you to provide any evidence of concerns so that everyone can see what you see and understand more than just impressions from rumors. I would also suggest you talk with Ms. Khalifa if you haven't, be serious and tough, but be fair and honest and share what you learn with everyone so they can get the additional perspectives and impressions. Jonathan Palmer Victory In a message dated 4/29/2004 8:59:37 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I would like to publicly apologize for calling Mrs. Khalifa's a âpot tenderâ, but at this time I still cannot support her for the position of Civil Rights Director. The reasons that I cannot support her are the following: 1. She is a member of the Links which is an organization (Bourgeoisie) that most of the people who unfortunately use the civil rights department could not afford to become a member of and even if they could they wouldnât be welcomed because of their social status. 2. In my opinion she has a poor track record on fighting civil rights. I know that she is has served in the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department 2 years before I was born. I know she has served in Minnesota Historical Society, North Star Education Finance Corporation, Theatre Communication Group, and African Grove Institute for the Arts, but what do those organizations have to do with fighting civil rights? I checked their mission statements and NONE of them have any mission statement that indicates that they fight for civil rights. I know that she worked with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, but what did she do when she was there? Did she help close the home ownership gap? Did she help minority contractors get fair representation in seeking state and county contracts? Did she help create significant (between 100-500 jobs in communities of color) economic opportunities in communities of color while she served as Chief of Staff for the Department of Trade and Economic Development? Well, my research indicates that the answers to all of those questions in NO. 3. Mrs. Khalifa may be a nice person but in my opinion and those in other communities of color she is too far removed from the people who are in disparate need of the civil rights departments services. We already had one director who was too far out of touch and now is not the time to appoint another. I would like to see a person who has a record of fighting for civil rights lead the department. I have been fighting for civil rights for over 8 years now, I have three college degrees and for all practical purposes I have earned at least one stripe in this struggle, but does that make me qualified to be the director of the civil rights department, No. I talk to minority contractors on a daily basis who have been the victim of what is commonly called the âSqueezeâ when bidding on contracts. I have the records of 17 minority contracts who filed complaints with the civil rights department over the past two years and to date they inform me that nothing has been done with there complaints. We already tried a person who was cool with the establishment and it didnât work for the people who the department was set up to serve. Now is the time to try something else. I hope that RT and her supporters will come and meet the minority community (members of the African American, Native American, Latino, Somali, and Asian) and try to persuade us that she is the right person for the job. I want to stress that this appointment is way to important to not take a serious look at. I fault myself for not being on top of this issue because of my involvement with the Empowerment Zone stuff and other personal issues. When people want something to get done or someone to make some noise I am the person that often gets called. I turn people down 99 percent of the time but this time wasnât one of them. I stand by everything that I have said. I just want whatâs best for people who couldnât even tell you who the director of civil rights is much less what they do. Booker T Hodges North side 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
