Since coming to Minnesota in 2007 I've often been surprised by the
reluctance of elected officials to allow citizens to speak at
meetings. The Minneapolis City Council is perhaps an extreme
example, but one can very often see a pattern of fearful and
patronizing attitudes towards citizens throughout state, county, and
local governments. All too often, public testimony is pro-forma,
allowed only after the deals have been cut and the decisions made.
Where does this come from? How do people reconcile it with
Minnesota's self-image as "progressive" and democratic? I don't
know, but the pattern seems generally well-accepted, taken for
granted, and seldom challenged by NGOs--who often seem happy if
*their* representatives are allowed to speak and have no problem with
others being silenced.
Another example I've been trying to highlight is the "Legislative
Energy Commission," co-chaired by Sen. Marty and Rep.
Garofolo. Every one of their meetings is a parade of
energy/utility/agency speakers and the public is never allowed to
respond or bring up other concerns.
Still, the gagging and expulsion of Michelle Gross, Dave Bicking, and
Jan Nye (Why wasn't Nye's name mentioned in this MinnPost story?)
from a recent Minneapolis City Council meeting seems particularly unwise.
Stating the obvious: The relationship between the Minneapolis Police
Department and it's citizens is in deep crisis. An unarmed prisoner
has been shot to death. Peaceful demonstrators are being sprayed with
irritant chemicals. Weapons are being pointed at Council
members.... A reasonable person can form the impression that MPD is
out of control, and that Minneapolis police sometimes execute
troublesome or disliked prisoners with impunity.
In these times, who could the Council more need to hear from than
Gross, Bicking, and Nye, who are all recognized activists, and
recognized experts in the troubled relationship between the MPD and
City residents.
At the same time, some council members clearly are more concerned
than others. Kudos to them. Shame on those who seem mainly
concerned with defending the authority of "their" police, no matter
how much those police are abusing it.
It also seems to me that much blame here should attach to one Rybak,
formerly the Mayor of Minneapolis but notable mainly for the
sophistication of his haircuts. Rybak gutted outside review of MPD
incidents, giving that force an "open season on black citizens" message.
Alan Muller