Hello everyone,
My name is Martin Lubell, and I am the owner of the
Renaissance Box building in downtown St Paul.
I hope that most of you were offended about Mr.
Hanson's remarks. And I probably should not react
because most of you think it's so offensive that it's
not worth a response (or they know something about
Mr Hanson that I don't know.)
My view of the St Paul Police Department is 180
degrees different. One officer I would really like
to commend is Officer Keith Draz, whose abilities
to talk with young and old people is extraordinary. He
talks to people on the human level (as a "Mensch"), and
he connects with them. He does NOT talk to them
patronizingly or condescendily.
I believe that of the many cities I've lived in, St Paul
officers are by far the most calm and gentle ones I've met.
Even Minneapolis officers are a little harsher. (Maybe it's
even more stressful on the other side of the river?)
The police department is one of the few structures
that are keeping our communities still connected. (BTW, I
don't mind if an officer would get a free home if it's in a
harsh neighborhood, where he (or she) is willing to help!
(not that I know this for sure, but other cities do that.)
They also help with the fabric of reconciliation and
forgiveness, because we know we are all in the same
boat. Any of our children (or their own) can get connected
to drugs of many kinds, and they know that, and they are
doing something about it, not trying to run away from it.
Change of subject, but still in the same vein. I would
like to make an official invitation to any group (labor,
political, youth, senior, fire, police...) in St Paul
who is helping in the community-building aspects of St Paul
to rent in APRIL for $1/event any of our four event spaces
in the RenBox. You can bring in your own caterer, and create
your own events. (but you deal and/or pay for cleanup!) We have
audio/visual equipment available as well, and you can also
simply bring a movie you want to see, and we'll project it
on our big screen, or bring in records to listen to.
The RenBox has a few more weeks to prove to the City of
St Paul that we are a viable part of St Paul. I'm asking all
of you for support to help us become a successful community
event center. Or to volunteer (even though we're not a non-
profit, but we house 4 of them!) Thanks. (I believe there
will be a short article tomorrow in the Pioneer Press talking
about this.)
Thanks again, m a r t i n
>
> Being a cop in St. Paul is the most ridiculous job
> that one can get paid a whopping $50k / year for!
> They're not worth half that amount and Kelly wants to
> hire more of them!
>
> St. Paul is not a crime-ridden town unless 3 people
> spitting on the sidewalk is going to be considered a
> major crime wave :=)
>
> The cops are definitely not "overworked". They're
> "over-paid" and "under-worked" is more like it. Did
> you know that the cops also get TOTALLY FREE HOUSING
> in St. Paul? It's true!
>
> Rowdy Russ Hanson.
> The Truth in St. Paul.
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