Mark Anderson asked what admin funds, in addition to the $100,00 per cop, it
would cost to add a police officer to Minneapolis.
Actually Mark, the price for an additional cop is $100,00 only if you factor
in those administration costs you speak of. Otherwise the salary and
benefits for a new cop is way below that number.
By the way, on the 10:00 P.M.evening news just now was a report that a ten
or twelve year old boy on 27th and Gerard was engaging in the risky behavior
of playing outside with his friends. Apparently because of that risky
behavior an adult pulled up and shot him. The child is in North Memorial
hospital recovering from the gunshot. I would bet that the child and his
parents are not very impressed that statistics say we do not need more
police officers out where RT's children and friends live.
I am amazed that some people think the only way to raise the funding for new
police officers is taxes. There are federal Homeland Security dollars our
City does not have the leadership to pursue aggressively. There are many
other federal and state dollars we do not aggressively pursue that could go
into the Minneapolis budget. In addition there are creative ways to find
dollars, if someone actually has an interest in finding them. The key is
leadership, and aggressively going and getting them. Unfortunately, when it
is not a priority you simply write it off as not possible, and go on serving
those you feel you represent.
I wholeheartedly supported RT Rybak for Mayor because I thought he had the
"face" and style to go get the money. NOT because I thought he had any
knowledge of either issues or politics in Minneapolis. After all when Jim
McComb, Ken Brunsvald, and I met with RT Rybak when he was thinking of
running (to brief RTon housing, development, and other issues facing
Minneapolis) he had a totally different opinion of what mattered. At the
beginning of that meeting when quizzed by Jim McComb or Ken (I do not
remember which) on what he saw as the main issues for his campaign and
administration being RT answered that "Airport Noise" and the "New Library"
would be his hot issues. We all kind of looked at each other like "God this
guy is going to need help". He typed notes for two hours of that briefing,
so even though I knew his only qualification for being Mayor was a pretty
face and a dream, I assumed he would be someone who could learn.
Unfortunately, the Library and Airport Noise, WAS what RT Rybak was
interested in. His interest in the other issues such as housing, public
safety, and development simply were as Wizard said "a mile wide and an inch
deep". Why? Because they were things RT needed to become Mayor, but which
he really did not have an interest in. Unfortunately as Mayor RT immediately
began to make appointments more adept at what RT knew, and was interested
in, rather than anything else. He appointed people who were better at
Public Relations than in running a City. The revamping of MCDA and the
promised inclusion of more resident input into City "policy making" is an
example. RT knowing NOTHING about it, unfortunately appointed people to
simplify MCDA who were guaranteed to make things more complicated, and with
more bureaucracy, not less so. RT appointed people who's answer to citizen
participation and empowerment was to get rid of it altogether. RT's web site
bragging about "partnering with Center for Neighborhoods" shows just how far
out of touch RT really is. Perhaps RT just does not realize that this is a
joke and affront to real Neighborhoods.
RT's web site also says RT "Partnered with the NRP Policy Board to find "off
the shelf" housing options. This goes along with RT's City Convention claim
that "Rybak saved NRP" Sounds good, but unfortunately it is a lie. RT's
folks participated an effort to kill NRP that has been unsuccessful so far.
RT Rybak was however successful in killing an "off the shelf housing option"
to have NRP partner with area banks to create a guaranteed loan program that
would have created hundreds of affordable home ownership opportunities for
poor families.
It pains me to admit it (after many heated disagreements with her), but
Wizard Marks is correct about the PT Barnum comment. I am one of those
"Suckers" who realized that RT did not have the needed background for the
job, but who wanted to believe RT could become the Mayor we needed. Both
Wizard and Fred are correct, RT is a wonderful man to party with.
Unfortunately, RT Rybak is someone who would make a better news personality
than the anchors of at least two of our TV network affiliates, but at Mayor
he has simply party'ed too many nights and Mayor'ed too few days!
Another wise man said that, "Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot
of that comes from bad judgment." One of the things about being a "Sucker"
is that you have the experience you gained from that poor "Sucker" judgment.
For that reason most of the hardcore Rybak support and leadership from four
years ago are now just as ardently looking for a new Mayor. That experience
of being suckers has made us look for a person who has the work experience
to BE a Mayor, not just the desire for the title. RT was good at running
for Mayor, unfortunately his handlers have convinced him to keep doing just
that and to leave the running of the City to them. RT has realized his
dream of becoming Mayor of Minneapolis, now it is time for him to take all
that personality and become the news anchor he was born to be.
Even a "Weak Mayor/Strong Council" model needs a little substance from a
Mayor sometimes. So far we have had a fluff job, and media spin doctoring,
with damn little going to get the funds this City needs. RT's budget fix
has mirrored Pawlenty's. Hide tax increases behind "Fees" that
disproportionately impact the poor and renters, while NOT providing the
essential public safety that those same poor and "renter" communities need.
Now a couple of days ago a lady, on "List", challenged people to talk about
what RT had not done as Mayor. That list is way, way, too long, so how
about if some of the RT supporters tell us WHAT promise he has made good on?
Early in this campaign I made a list of pre election promises RT had made to
all of us, and asked if those had been made good on. That list decided me on
who to vote for. Could someone tell us which, if any of those promises have
been kept? Stadium, campaign fund raising, public safety, NRP, community
empowerment, one stop shopping, less bureaucracy at MCDA and CPED, open door
to City Hall, better relations with the State Legislature, and a pile more?
Come on now, tell us just ONE?
That is also a challenge by the way, and I dare you!
Jim Graham,
Ventura Village
"To stumble twice against the same stone is a proverbial disgrace."
- Cicero
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