I thought, since I am an African-American, I should step in and comment on this matter. Tyrone Terrell had meeting with city officials regarding the African-American community. Absent were the numerous people who would be affected by any "back door" deals. Suddenly a letter appears in our community condemning not only gang members, but families of those suspected of being gang members.
I often ask this question, why does every chief of police and mayor call upon a certain group of leaders, but never the families who will be affected by the actions they agree to? I, as a parent, have never been invited to any meetings. Thank God for the Spokesman-Recorder, Insight, and One Nation News, or martians could invade our neighborhood and we wouldn't know until it was over. I speak for myself and my children, no one else does. My pastor doesn't even speak for me unless I give him permission to. The city has been notorious for giving funding to certain members of our community, which I will call hush money. Where has that money benefited people in the African-American community? Yes, get rid of the gangs. I have no sympathy for them. But make darn sure that the person you target is really in a gang and not just a childhood friend. Stop using people of color and our impoverished community for funding, only to use it for something else. The NAACP was correct in asking Tyrone Terrell to step down. He lost his objectivity and his ability to help those who are a casualty of the race war he is supporting. As the Director of Human Right, he had no business sending out a letter on Human Rights stationary, and addressing it to the African-American community. If you believe that we are angry at him for speaking out, then you are wrong. We are angry at him for the way he chose to address our people, the abuse of his position as the Human Rights Director, and his willingness to attack the entire family unit. Some of us do not enable our children, but we will not turn on backs on them either. We now need a Human Rights Director who does not have a defeatist attitude, and who can help people who will most definitely be a casualty of the war he endorsed. Since Terrorist always have a political cause, I wonder who the real terrorist is Minneapolis are? When June 1st comes, which is the date Tyrone Terrell listed in his letter, he needs to remember that we are parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, friends and neighbors, and we will stand united with one another. We will not protect wrong-doing, but we will continue trying to help everyone. If each person can save even one person, you will have done a great job. Tyrone Terrell could make himself useful, and use his position to find out why a room full of people of color were denied assistance when applying for Empowerment zone funding to open small businesses in the areas he and the police are targeting their STOP program. While I am a strong supporter of the police. They do scare more than a "leader for hire" does. Some of you take issue with Booker Hodges, Mr. Ron Edwards and Al Flowers, but at least they were willing to stand up to the City Council, addressing the issue of the Empowerment Zone Funding. Do a little research, because many of the same people that received money from the council for the phony things they claimed to be doing in our community, are still receiving funding. Ask yourself how, out of all of the residents attending the Empowerment Zone meeting, nearly everyone received a rejection letter, because the rules changed, this according to the letters I read. Now ask the city council to give you a list of those who did receive money. Then compare that list to NERC'S list and General Mills (the group funding the STOP program). See if those names sound familiar. Now, many on that list, after receiving funding for working with gang members for so many years, are suddenly supporting the police? Why are these agencies willing to fund the same people, but not the other law-abiding citizens in our community who strive for a better life and a stronger since of community? I sat and listened to Mr. Ron Edwards tell many in the room of the Urban League that the city would never part with the Empowerment Zone money. He encouraged people to go ahead and apply, but expect the rules to change. This after all of the people on the council, that was in the Empowerment Zone, offered words of encouragement. I stopped going to the meetings and I am glad that I did not waste my time submitting a grant request. Mr. Edwards was correct. Now, since there was some funding given, check to see if the business listed in the grant proposal is in effect. If not, does that constitute theft of funds? Shouldn't the city be doing follow-up on this? I received a great informational email from Mr. Palmer, regarding the Empowerment Zone, and I truly thank him for taking the time to discuss the matter. To Mr. Plante and Mr. Mann I ask this of you: Please check to find out the reason certain people are taking the actions they are taking. Check with the agencies I have listed above. See if any names sound familiar and if they are one each list to get funding. Did these people suddenly have a revelation about the gang problem? I think not. The so-called African-American gang problem hit Minneapolis/St.Paul approximately 25 years ago. It took 25 years to be fed up? Like Chris Tucker said in Rush Hour 2.................."Follow the money." Michelle Hill Cleveland REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
