It's killing me--as a St. Paul resident but devoted Minneapolis worker, I cannot help but gloat about the differences in the selection of police chiefs in both cities. There's a story in Strib today about the recommendation of John Harrington, a 26-year veteran of the St. Paul force who happens to be African American. Doug Grow's column yesterday noted the differences in the cities' respective approaches in selecting a new chief, really berating Minneapolis in its payment of $34,000 to a national search firm, Mayor Rybak apparently ignoring the firm's recommendation, and calling St. Paul's approach 'uncreative and effective.'
As I gloat, I also wonder, what exactly is the difference? Nine district councils in St. Paul vs. 81 neighborhoods in Minneapolis? Heightened racial tensions in Minneapolis as opposed to St. Paul (though not sure this is genuinely true)? 13 full time Minneapolis council members vs. 9 part-time St. Paul council members (as Mpls Police Union chief Delmonico points out)? Popularity of outgoing chiefs? Drinking water? Free pizza here in St. Paul? In Grow's column, he quotes St. Paul CM Bostrom about the internal vs. external dilemma in hiring a new chief: "When you come from the outside, you come alone," Bostrom said. "They have to use staff that's already there. They know nothing about anybody. They can't separate the good talkers from those who do good work. So the new chief comes in and he says he's going to shake things up, but he doesn't really understand the department. So he does something at the top but when it shakes out, the troops at the bottom will be doing things the same way they always have." I tell ya, we get things done over here in St. Paul, or, as you folks like to call it, East Minneapolis. Nyaah nyaah. Gregory Luce Project 504 (Jordan) Residing in East Minneapolis REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
