List contributor Linda Higgins questions political contributions from Deja
Vu, as far as I know a legal and tax paying business in the city of
Minneapolis.
Of more concern to me are contributions from public pension plans one of
which was looted six years ago of nearly $10 million with no criminal
investigation of facts or circumstance.
Many of the same politicians then in office, continue to be in office and
receive political contributions from this same fund. The contributions are
obviously Quid Pro Quo for ignoring the demand for criminal and/or civil
investigations at the time. Even more insidious, these same politicians
recently voted to extend the life of the corrupt fund by an additional 10
years. Which means an additional 10 years of political contributions and other
largess from this fund. These politicians, in effect, granted themselves a
guaranteed, ongoing source of contributions and endorsements to their future
reelection campaigns.
All city, county and local state politicians are guilty of failing to act
when the city coordinator at the time, publicly stated the loss would cost
Minneapolis taxpayers $50 million. The additional loss due to financial
conditions, incompetent investment strategies and legal fees, are now many
times that amount.
While all are guilty of malfeasance in office by abdicating their
responsibility to the Minneapolis taxpayer to protect public money, I will
address my comments to only one, 12th ward Council Person Colvin Roy,
unfortunately, my council person.
CP Colvin Roy demonstrates a trait all too common with elected officials
who have remained in office too long. Ignoring and disregard for constituents
questions or comments. After a certain time, usually after the 2nd election,
arrogance and contempt set in when politicians refuse to even acknowledge a
constituency question or comments.
True the questions are tough: "Why did you not ask the county attorney to
convene a grand jury to look into the looting of the fund"? Was the decision
by you to ignore the loss of public funds, which will ultimately be replaced by
the Minneapolis taxpayer, your individual idea, and individually by all other
politicians in office at the time, or more likely, an agreement by all to
protect the former administration who failed miserably in monitoring the fund,
the cops who personally sought to profit from the fund, the attorneys,
supposedly representing the members, who knew or should have known of the
ongoing losses or the law firm who represented the members and the investment
interest at the same time"? "Why would you vote to extend the life of a
corrupt and ill performing public pension fund when the extended cost would
amount to at least an additional $30 million to Minneapolis taxpayers and your
constituency"?
You need not answer at this late date, as if you could, the damage is done
but those responsible for covering up the loss of public money and protecting
those responsible for the loss, should certainly not be reelected to public
office. You broke a public trust. You stood with the party, circling the
wagons, but sold out your constituency and all Minneapolis taxpayers.
The shame of Minneapolis politics is the public be damned! One can be
reelected, as you will probably prove once again Tuesday, by an ignorant,
uninformed and apathetic electorate in spite of your failing them. Tis far
more important not to cross the party as Mayor R.T Rybak in Minneapolis and
Mayor Randy Kelley in Saint Paul are finding out, than to cross your
constituency. Had you done the right thing years ago you would most likely not
be the incumbent now. It would have been another DFL'r vs. DFL'r contest four
years ago, with you most likely on the short vote. You saved yourself at the
expense of ethics.
By the way, as most List Members already know, the public fund was
Minneapolis Police Relief Association (MPRA) and the investment was Technimar.
George Janssen
Longfellow
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