Department of the Living Dead Why is the city's civil rights office such a chronic mess? http://www.citypages.com/databank/25/1224/article12122.asp *********************************************************** Although G.R. Anderson article covers some history of the troubled department, The Minnesota Spokesman has been doing a much more extensive job. (http://www.spokesman-recorder.com) see citations below. Also, I feel that forces within the City of Minneapolis really don't want the department to be too successful in enforcement of current city ordinances that the department is charge to carryout in the first place. List this one: 139.90. Reporting. The chief administrative officer, or his/her designee, of the department of civil rights, the affirmative action department of the Minneapolis Community Development Agency, and the women and minority business enterprise office shall, at least quarterly, report to the city council as to their activities pursuant to section 139.50. Such report shall also be made to the mayor, the Minneapolis Community Development Agency board of commissioners, and the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights and shall contain only matter which is classified as public data pursuant to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. (83-Or-324, � 11, 12-30-83; Pet. No. 249821, � 2, 7-14-89)
Listing is citations: EDITORIAL Civil Rights Department designed to fail By: Pauline Thomas Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Originally posted 10/8/2003 And Vanne Owen Hayes is its �pot tender� The politicians at Minneapolis City Hall have been quick to say that the remedy for police brutality and other discrimination at the hands of City employees is to make a complaint to a City department. There used to be two choices: The Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights and the Civilian Review Authority (CRA). Since the CRA was collapsed into the Civil Rights Department, however, there is only one choice. And Vanne Owen Hayes sits at the top of that department. Her job is to make sure that making a complaint is meaningless and futile. It�s time we saw Minneapolis� complaint process for what it is � a game of �bait and switch.� The �bait� is the hope that something positive will come from the complaint. The �switch� is that the system is really designed to do nothing. http://www.spokesman-recorder.com/News/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=33138&sID=16&Search=YES ***************************************************************************************** EDITORIAL We must monitor City projects By: Pauline Thomas Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Originally posted 12/17/2003 As an example of the �building relationships� efforts falling short of the mark, on June 25, 1999, the City adopted an ordinance requiring it and its contractors to do business with small businesses owned by persons of color and women. That ordinance�s purpose reads, �This ordinance is enacted pursuant to evidence of past and ongoing discrimination against qualified and available women-owned and minority-owned business enterprises in the awarding of City of Minneapolis construction and development contracts and for the provision of contracts for the provision of goods and services.� The ordinance goes on to require City departments, City contractors, and developers to set goals for the inclusion of women-owned businesses and businesses of color. Had mere relationship-building been sufficient to get these contractors the proverbial piece of the pie, such an ordinance would not have been necessary. http://www.spokesman-recorder.com/News/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=36377&sID=16&Search=YES ***************************************************************************************** Civil Rights director search raises troubling questions By: Pauline Thomas Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Originally posted 4/28/2004 City council must investigate fairness, legality In adopting the Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance, the city council declared as their policy and purpose the �...prevent[ion] and prohibit[ion] of discriminatory practices.� Yet serious questions are being raised about whether or not the mayor�s selection process was in fact one that complies with the mandates of the Civil Rights Ordinance, let alone basic standards of fairness. There are a number of questions and occurrences that were brought to our attention by the mayor�s process that cause us to question whether the process was fair. The fact that the mayor selected an African American woman does not mean that the process was fair. The end does not necessarily justify the means. What the community is looking for is a fair process. Through a fair and open process, we will get the candidate who is best suited to deliver civil rights in the City of Minneapolis. http://www.spokesman-recorder.com/News/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=42476&sID=13&Search=YES Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- ___________________________________________________________ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm 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
