I'm very interested in this whole discussion and have no particular interest in defending the mayor. However, I do have an interest that our discussion be as accurate as possible.
Dan Dobson wrote - "Mayor Kelly was given a warning about the deal over a year ago."
My reading is that, the Mayor got this memo "last year" (which could have been two months ago or 13 months ago). Most of the memo's mentioned in the article were fairly recent (3 to 8 months and AFTER the FBI probe was launched). I'm unclear about when this one was written, but can't find anything to suggest that it was "over a year ago." Maybe Dan has more info that I do?
In addition, according to the article. Mayor Kelly was advised to "not mention the $500,000" in an interview with the press, because he might be "criticized for creating unfair competition in the Hmong funeral home business." Not necessarily, because there was anything that was not proper about the $500,000. I read this as a political concern, not a legal concern.
Not mentioning something in a press interview is far different from being told "not to disclose it." Anyone who has dealt with the press on a frequent basis, knows that there are some pieces of information that you do not volunteer until you are ready. Maybe something more sinister was going on, but its really not clear to me from the article.
Again, I've seen info that the Mayor was warned of political problems with the deal prior to the FBI investigation. But, nowhere in the coverage have I found any indication that the Mayor had advanced warning of legal issues or misconduct. If I missed it, please correct me!
At 10:02 AM -0800 2/17/05, Dan Dobson wrote:
I agree with Corky Finney. I think it's time for a Grand Jury investigation.
Did Bill Finney really call for a Grand Jury investigation? I can't find that anywhere.
Anyway, I'm interested in this story and have no idea about what we will learn in the weeks to come. I only hope that our discussion does not take us too far ahead of what is actually known.
Again - here are links to articles:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5243356-2.html
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/special_packages/city_hall_probe/10918930.htm
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/10909515.htm
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5243356-2.html
Best wishes,
Tim Erickson Hamline Midway [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The Strib story raises serious additional questions that were not in the PP.
For instance, Mayor Kelly was given a warning about the deal over a year ago, and as he prepared for an inteview with the Star Tribune he was instructed not to disclose a $500,000 contribution by the City in the project.
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Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722
[EMAIL PROTECTED] iChat/AIM: stpaultim
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