What is comical is that "communications" costs are being increased that much. Could it be possible that this is because they need better experts to spin doctor, I mean better "communicate" why the Mayor and Council are not providing equal protection under the law for some poor communities of color in this city. A failure that I believe comes under the heading of "Institutionalized Discrimination".
It is also laughable given what seems to be an attempt to view community engagement as "communication" FROM the City. They just have not figured out that engagement means listening to what people want, and have to say; not telling people how good you are doing for them. A little secret; communication can be an exchange, not just getting out propaganda during election years.
Amateur politicians with real lives might not need as much "professional" propaganda to make people believe they are doing a great job. They would be better at demonstrating to people by actually doing a good job. Cheaper to I would bet. The problem may be that professionals simply do not listen as well as amateurs who might feel that they were not professionally smarter than those they serve. I can not imagine that a Council and Mayor who were listening to people would even consider cutting police officers at a time when some communities are begging for more police officers.
Perhaps we need to dramatically increase NRP, because it seems that the only way for communities to get adequate police protection is to "buy" it themselves. Oh, that's right, law forbids NRP dollars from being used to replace essential City services. Ask the person living on corner where drug dealers and gang bangers are flashing guns and threatening people all night if adequate police protection is an "Essential City Service".
First NRP and now Police. Has the Mayor and the present City Council forgotten what happened to Sharon and the last council when they performed just half so bad on these very issues. Wasn't that "River Development" fiasco and Target used by her opponents to engineer Sharon's downfall. I guess some politicians do not listen to their own campaign rhetoric. The present Mayor and Council need to go back and read their speeches and material from the last election. The stuff that worked best in attacking their opponent is the stuff they are now guilty of. Does a coalition of indignation sound familiar? Attempting to limit community input and NOT listening usually makes citizens have to resort to communication of last resort, they VOTE. If things do not improve dramatically, and quickly, look for an even bigger "Shakeup" at City Hall than last time.
Jim Graham, Ventura Village, Phillips Community, Sixth Ward of Minneapolis
"If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there."
- Will Rogers
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
