I spoke at Open Time about the recent antics of Park
Superintendent Jon Gurban. I didn't have a written
speech, but these were the points I covered.
Gurban's recent antics - having three Park Police stop
Jason Stone from distributing literature has made the
Minneapolis Park Board a laughingstock on the
Minneapolis Issues list.
Gurban's behavior is also making the Park Board liable
for a lawsuit based on the first amendment of the
constitution.
Having Park Police state that Park Land was "private"
should be something that concerns the Park Board.
After I spoke, Commissioner John Erwin talked about
how the Park Board had a high degree of respect for
the first amendment, and said allowing "open time" was
an example of that.
Erwin misses the point. Members of the Park Board
supervise Park Superintendent Jon Gurban. It is the
responsibility of the Park Board to make sure that
Gurban understands the First Amendment of the
constitution, and to make sure that he does not leave
the taxpayer's open to unnecessary legal liability.
If Gurban making a public appology to Jason Stone will
avert a lawsuit against the Park Board, the Park Board
should insist that Gurban make this public appology -
and tape the apology and put it on the Park Board
website.
If Park Police are telling Minneapolis Citizens that
Park property is "private property", they clearly need
some training.
Gurban's behavior is almost as comical as Michele
Bachmann lurking in the Bushes, or running screaming
from the Scandia bathroom claiming to be held against
her will.
I'm not calling for Gurban to resign. However, he
does need to see the error of his ways, and the Park
Board does need to reign him in. Gurban acknowledging
error, and issuing a public appology to Jason Stone
would solve the problem.
The Park Board was going to discuss the policy later
on in the evening. I had to leave early, so didn't
see that part of the meeting. I'd appreciate a
report.
Eva Young
Near North
Minneapolis
Blogs:
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com
http://www.outletradio.com
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