From the New Broom/ Insurgent solidarity campaign
Other campaigns who agree with the ideals of accountability for
all elected officials accountability are welcome to join.
-
From: Michelle Gross <<email obscured>>
Let this Perfect Storm Sweep Out City's Political "Leaders"
Each day's paper brings news of another episode in the shameful history of
the Minneapolis police department: the assorted depravities of the Metro
Gang Strike Task Force, a $500 grand settlement for an innocent victim of
a brutal cop (who has yet to be disciplined), death of a community member
from multiple Taser shocks, the Derryl Jenkins incident, and a number of
other lawsuits that will soon result in large payouts. With three
separate FBI investigations involving the MPD, it's certain even more
outrageous conduct will soon be exposed.
But no one should really be surprised. The confluence of lack of
discipline, lack of supervision and lack of leadership by city officials
has led to the perfect storm threatening to overtake the Minneapolis
Police Department, and the city with it. This storm of mismanagement by
the mayor, city council and police administration has been brewing for a
long time.
It's not like City officials didn't know. Community activists sounded the
alarm over and over. $14.5 million in payouts for police actions in the
last four years is a strong signal. Yet, afraid to lose the precious
police federation endorsement, these politicians have cowed to the cops
over and over.
It's time for real leadership to bring about real change. The same city
officials who got us into this mess cannot get us out of it. The entire
Minneapolis city council is up for election along with the mayor. Let the
people send a strong message that we are sick of having our taxes pay for
the cops' lack of discipline and accountability.
The community is just bursting with great ideas about how to reduce police
brutality and increase police accountability. Just a few that have been
proposed:
* Requiring cops to purchase their own professional liability
insurance (just like doctors, nurses and other professionals). If a cop
has too many complaints and suits, he or she will become uninsurable which
would help to remove bad cops from the force.
* An elected police commission over both the police chief and the
civilian review authority
* An elected police chief
* Requiring all police judgments and settlements to come from the
police department budget rather than the general fund or, better yet,
out of their retirement fund
* A stronger Civilian Review Authority (CRA) with subpoena power and
the power to discipline
* Stronger policies, especially around the use of Tasers and the
use of force in general
During the terms of this city council and Mayor Rybak, we have seen the
collapse of federal mediation, the dismantling of the CRA and sharp
increases in police brutality incidents, including outrageous conduct
during the Republican National Convention. Yet, the city's leadership
remains silent on policing issues. Let this perfect storm sweep away
these deadwood politicians and bring forth a new breed of leader who will
face these issues and set into place solutions. Time for a change!
Al Flowers mayor
John Kolstad mayor
John C Wilson mayor
Allen Aigbogun ward 2
Melissa Hill ward 3
Kenya McKnight ward 5
Michael Tupper ward 6
Michael Katch ward 7
Michael Cavlan ward 8
David Bicking ward 9
Todd Eberhardy ward 9
Charley Underwood ward 12
Kris Broberg ward 13
Dave Wahlstedt park board
Brought to you by
Michael Cavlan RN
Powderhorn
(one of those folks who the corporate media and the developer and corporate
friendly political establishment do everything in their power to ignore)
Other campaigns who agree with the ideals of accountability for
all elected officials accountability are welcome to join.
-
From: Michelle Gross <<email obscured>>
Let this Perfect Storm Sweep Out City's Political "Leaders"
Each day's paper brings news of another episode in the shameful history of
the Minneapolis police department: the assorted depravities of the Metro
Gang Strike Task Force, a $500 grand settlement for an innocent victim of
a brutal cop (who has yet to be disciplined), death of a community member
from multiple Taser shocks, the Derryl Jenkins incident, and a number of
other lawsuits that will soon result in large payouts. With three
separate FBI investigations involving the MPD, it's certain even more
outrageous conduct will soon be exposed.
But no one should really be surprised. The confluence of lack of
discipline, lack of supervision and lack of leadership by city officials
has led to the perfect storm threatening to overtake the Minneapolis
Police Department, and the city with it. This storm of mismanagement by
the mayor, city council and police administration has been brewing for a
long time.
It's not like City officials didn't know. Community activists sounded the
alarm over and over. $14.5 million in payouts for police actions in the
last four years is a strong signal. Yet, afraid to lose the precious
police federation endorsement, these politicians have cowed to the cops
over and over.
It's time for real leadership to bring about real change. The same city
officials who got us into this mess cannot get us out of it. The entire
Minneapolis city council is up for election along with the mayor. Let the
people send a strong message that we are sick of having our taxes pay for
the cops' lack of discipline and accountability.
The community is just bursting with great ideas about how to reduce police
brutality and increase police accountability. Just a few that have been
proposed:
* Requiring cops to purchase their own professional liability
insurance (just like doctors, nurses and other professionals). If a cop
has too many complaints and suits, he or she will become uninsurable which
would help to remove bad cops from the force.
* An elected police commission over both the police chief and the
civilian review authority
* An elected police chief
* Requiring all police judgments and settlements to come from the
police department budget rather than the general fund or, better yet,
out of their retirement fund
* A stronger Civilian Review Authority (CRA) with subpoena power and
the power to discipline
* Stronger policies, especially around the use of Tasers and the
use of force in general
During the terms of this city council and Mayor Rybak, we have seen the
collapse of federal mediation, the dismantling of the CRA and sharp
increases in police brutality incidents, including outrageous conduct
during the Republican National Convention. Yet, the city's leadership
remains silent on policing issues. Let this perfect storm sweep away
these deadwood politicians and bring forth a new breed of leader who will
face these issues and set into place solutions. Time for a change!
Al Flowers mayor
John Kolstad mayor
John C Wilson mayor
Allen Aigbogun ward 2
Melissa Hill ward 3
Kenya McKnight ward 5
Michael Tupper ward 6
Michael Katch ward 7
Michael Cavlan ward 8
David Bicking ward 9
Todd Eberhardy ward 9
Charley Underwood ward 12
Kris Broberg ward 13
Dave Wahlstedt park board
Brought to you by
Michael Cavlan RN
Powderhorn
(one of those folks who the corporate media and the developer and corporate
friendly political establishment do everything in their power to ignore)
