Though I have received requests to nail someone's tail to the wall,
fortunately I have been out of town so could not rise to inflammatory
political rhetoric. Isn't time a wonderful thing?
To the statement that "No, Jim. You haven't been giving us that
information." I will again say please go back and read the archives. In
fact, in front of a large room full of "Community Developers" RT himself
said that he regularly responded to suggestions of mine personally by
e-mail. I will assume RT knew what he was talking about, rather than
believing someone throwing chaff in the air for political cover. That
meeting was a candidate screening done 2005 - Spring by the Minneapolis
Consortium of Community Developers. Lots of witnesses, though to be honest
I do not remember Mark being there.
I believe I have given in depth advice on things like community empowerment,
redlining "Impacted Neighborhoods", crime& safety, picking a new Chief of
Police, especially housing - in particular affordable homeownership and
homelessness, NRP, urban planning, etc., etc.. Both on this "List" and in
person. If some were more involved in the City they perhaps would be aware
of that "information".
I know it takes reading long boring posts that I am want to throw up, but
you will find if anything toooo much information and suggestions. Mark
probably is representative of RT's people. He, and they, just does not care
enough to listen. Perhaps their glasses are to FULL to allow other
information in, so it runs off without awareness that it even exists.
One example is the STOP program. I believe I still have copies of e-mail
correspondence on that with McMannis before his appointment was approved by
the Council. After the establishment of the "STOP" unit one police official
laughed with me about how they had finally done one of the policing
strategies I had been beating them up about for four years. He went on to
say along with my drug and crime task force(which was exactly the STOP
program only more coherently directed from the beginning), perhaps they
should implement a lot more of those ideas. Like "stop and knock" to build
better community relations.
I remember sitting with RT when he had only expressed an interest in running
for Mayor to explain housing and economic development needs for Minneapolis.
Joining us at my request were Jim McComb and Ken Brunsvold. Jim McComb is
the leading Market and Feasibility Analyst from our area. Ken Brunsvold the
former head of Minneapolis' Grants and Special Projects Department was the
person responsible for getting the "Final Fours", Super-Bowl, and almost the
Olympics without bribe money. RT impressed us by taking notes for two hours
on a PDA with a fold up keyboard. At that meeting Jim McComb started out by
asking what RT thought the key issues facing Minneapolis were, and what were
the key issues that RT would base his campaign upon. RT answered, "the new
Downtown Library and airport noise." Everyone looked at each other with "Oh
my God!" looks, and proceeded to give some of that advice that Mark now
doubts.
Perhaps Mark should get Vicki Heller to come back "On List". She certainly
provided some of those numbers his eyes "Glaze over" about. Numbers aside
perhaps some others should read enough to realize that "Public Safety" is
the first obligation of any government. In our "Weak Mayor" system it is
the only true obligation of the Mayor. Everything else is just frosting.
Some occasionally nice tasting frosting true, but not the primary
obligation. Unfortunately RT has acted like the downtown library and
airport noise is still his first priority. RT says police are his first
priority, unfortunately though it is his best Photo-Ops, it is far down on
RT's list of priorities if his actual actions were to be analyzed.
See what I mean by long boring posts?
By the way, looks like my bait worked. Why didn't Mark list anyone but
politicians supporting RT? Oh that's right, those and the Sierra Club are
the only ones who do support RT!!! Amazing isn't it? That Sam Kaplan does
have his way of "King making", and I suppose favors are owed. Kind of makes
that "Special Interest - Establishment" article come into perspective
doesn't it?
The people who know McLaughlin BEST are the hundreds and thousands of
regular people and projects McLaughlin has been instrumental in helping.
Not politicians! Too bad RT does not share that attribute more and
"Political Establishment" less!
Jim Graham,
Ventura Village
"If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in
the other direction."
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