[Submitted directly to IFP via email]
\n
\nCommentary by Lydia Howell follows EVENT info
\n
\nEVENT:TONIGHT\/WED.Sept. 24, 5:30pm
\nST.Paul CITY HALL Community Conversation about RNC & the Police
\n
\nST. PAUL CITY HALL, 15 Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul
\n
\nYou can also call your St. Paul City Council member or Mayor Chris
\nColeman: (651)266-8989
\nNOTE: St. Paul City Hall has said that if not enough people get to speak
\nat this meeting, another one will be scheduled soon. For more info:
\nhttp:\/\/www.stpaul.gov
\n
\nDemocracy or Public Relations at City Hall
\nby Lydia Howell
\n
\n“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the
\ngovernment fears the people, there is liberty.”
\nThomas Jefferson
\n
\nTonight St. Paul City Hall is holding what they’re calling a “community
\nconversation” about the actions and role that police played at the
\nRepublican National Convention. However, St. Paul city officials have
\nalready pre-selected who the “community representatives” are who will be
\nallowed to speak. This leads one to wonder just how those who are
\nelected to represent citizens define “community” and “conversation”.<\/p>\n
Like the repressive police tactics at the RNC and the pre-RNC secret
\nmeetings that Mayors and City Councils of both St. Paul and Minneapolis
\nheld, this “conversation” calls into question about the state of our
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
Ordinary citizens and groups working to organize peaceful protest at the
\nRNC were excluded from the decision-making process in St. Paul and
\nMinneapolis City Halls, that gave authority over local police to the
\nDepartment of Homeland Security, the FBI and the Secret Service. After
\nyears of reporting on police accountability issues, that members of the
\npublic were not part of this decision is no surprise to this writer.<\/p>\n
In spite of voters creating the Civilian Review Authority (CRA) to
\nMinneapolis in 1990 referendum, Mayors, city council members, un-elected
\nofficials, members of State legislators and the Police Federation (union
\nof police officers) have steadily worked to destroy the CRA’s ability to
\nbe effective in addressing un-armed citizen complains of abuses,
\nbrutality and murder at the hands of police. Police violence towards
\nunarmed, peaceful citizens exercising Constitutional rights of free
\nspeech and freedom of assembly at the RNC was simply a variation on
\npolice abuses that occur every day on Twin Cities streets–usually
\nagainst unarmed people of color and the poor.<\/p>\n
St.Paul Mayor has appointed former United States Attorney Thomas
\nHeffelfinger and former Assistant United States Attorney Andy Luger to
\nconduct an “independent review of police actions at the RNC. (See the
\npress release from the City of St. Paul below) Heffelfinger has a
\nposition with the re-election campaign of Republican U.S. Senator Norm
\nColeman, which puts into question how “independent” he can be. So far,no
\ncivil liberties attorneys or community members who have long worked on
\npolice accountability to the community are part of this “independent”
\nreview.<\/p>\n
For citizens to be told that only pre-selected “community
\nrepresentatives” can speak at St. Paul City Hall adds offensive insult
\nto the gross injuries by police at the RNC. To be told we have no right
\nto speak at a City Hall public meeting is to further have our First
\nAmendment rights violated. For “ordinary citizens” voices to once again
\nbe censored, after what happened at the RNC protests, is another direct
\nassault on democracy.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, democracy has been taking hits like for many years.<\/p>\n
For over 10 years, some have warned about the state of American
\ndemocracy at a national level. Ralph Nader, in his first presidential
\ncampaign in 1996 and over the years since, has observed how corporate
\nlobbyists have access to members of Congress while grassroots
\norganizations and “ordinary citizens” are excluded. Anti-war activists
\nwere ignored when they opposed the 2003 U.S. attack on Iraq–although,
\nopponents’ predictions about the failures of the invasion have proven
\ntrue—and the lies peace activists said that were being used to justify
\nthe invasion, have been exposed.<\/p>\n
But, the unraveling of American democracy didn’t start with George
\nW.Bush in the White House or ant it’s not just going on in Washington.<\/p>\n
But, what I’ve discovered as a longtime community activist and as an
\nindependent journalist, is that democracy is in deep trouble even closer
\nto home: at your local City Hall. Too often, city council members and
\nMayors represent corporations and wealthy constituents to the detriment
\nto the rest of us. In fact, non-wealthy citizens and the grassroots
\norganizations they’ve formed are excluded from having any real input
\ninto decisions impacting our neighborhoods, our schools, our public
\nservices, our local economy, how our taxes are spent and, as we saw at
\nthe RNC, whether our civil liberties will be respected.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of millions of dollars are shoveled to already-fabulously
\nwealthy owners of professional sports team to build
\nHundreds of millions of dollars to stadiums that most people can’t even
\nafford to go to. Meanwhile, public services all of us need have have
\ntheir budgets cut or eliminated. Public libraries, public park
\nrecreational centers and community health clinics shorten hours. Schools
\nclose.<\/p>\n
Big developers get millions of tax dollars every year, with the promise
\nthey will build “affordable housing”, but, the question is never asked,
\n“Affordable for WHO?” So, even as homelessness rises, condominiums—
\nbuilt in-part with tax dollars–spring like mushrooms with price tags of
\n$200,000 to $1M. With the housing foreclosure crisis, more families face
\nthe challenges of keeping a roof over their head with fewer and fewer
\npeople able to find any kind of housing they can afford. The Department
\nof Housing and Urban Development says is “affordable” means paying 30%
\nof one’s income but, many people pay 50% to 70% of their income and live
\non the edge financially, as a result.<\/p>\n
“Economic development” is another corporate scam that our elected
\nofficials, from City Hall to the State Legislature, use to give hundreds
\nof millions to corporations—with more (often unmet) promises to
\n“create jobs”– and often through threats to re-locate if their demands
\nfor public money are not met. Think of it as a kind of corporate racket
\nto extort funds from the public. Take Target, who not only got somewhere
\nbetween $60M and $100M (the exact amount has never been disclosed) from
\nthe Minneapolis City Council to build their new downtown store and
\nCorporate Headquarters. They also got an exemption form the local
\nordinance that says corporations who get public money must pay the
\nliving wage of at least $750 an hour. Taxpayers only helped create
\nmostly part-time $6-an-hour sales clerk jobs.<\/p>\n
I don’t have an MBA but, it seems to me our tax dollars can be far
\nbetter spent to positively impact far more of our citizens. Low-interest
\nloans and grants for neighborhood-based local small businesses would
\ncrate far more jobs. Investing in youth sports and other after-school
\nprograms for ALL our kids should be a higher local government priority
\nthan enriching the owners of the Twins and the Vikings.<\/p>\n
How long can it be justified to subsidize big corporations while
\nstarving public services that serve all of us–and too-often serve the
\nmost vulnerable and needy? How long will people accept being excluded
\nfrom the decisions made by people we elect and who’s salaries we pay?<\/p>\n
This is a reversal of democracy –which means no democracy at all.<\/p>\n
Special interests–that is corporations and the wealthy–along with the
\nelected and appointed officials that serve them locally and nationally
\nwould prefer that the rest of us leave the decision-making to them (as
\nwe foot the bill.)<\/p>\n
But, democracy is not a spectator sport. Democracy requires citizens’
\nparticipation beyond simply casting ballot for pre-selected candidates
\nevery two to four years. Democracy demands accountability of those who
\nare elected to represent us.<\/p>\n
Referring to the Thomas Jefferson quote at the beginning of this essay,
\nI wonder what it is St. Paul politicians are afraid to hear from
\ncitizens? One way or another, at City hall meetings, by phone or letter,
\nmake your voice heard—while you still can. Real democracy depends on it.<\/p>\n
Lydia Howell is a Minneapolis independent journalist, winner of the 2007
\nPremack Award for Public Interest Journalism. She is also producer-host
\nof Catalyst on KFAI Radio. http:\/\/www.kfai.org<\/p>\n
[The following generic letter received in response to my complaint to the mayor of St. Paul, Chris Coleman ~ Mikael]<\/p>\n
Dear Mikael,
\nThank you for contacting my office with concerns about public safety and first amendment rights with respect to the recent Republican National Convention in Saint Paul. I appreciate the opportunity to share our approach to accomplishing our main goal surrounding the convention “\u201c to maintain public safety while ensuring two critical functions: the convention be allowed to successfully conduct its business and protesters be able to exercise their first amendment rights.
\nMeeting the public safety needs of the convention with a multi-agency police force of 3,800 officers from around the state and country was no small feat. Law enforcement officials worked for nearly two years leading up to the RNC to determine the realm of potential threats to public safety and were firmly committed to preventing them from becoming reality. Thanks to their efforts, FBI, county and local agents executed search warrants at specific locations prior to the convention, and seized items intended to harm and harass police, visitors and businesses, from buckets of urine to explosive materials.
\nSaint Paul took a decidedly different approach to its police presence than other cities had in previous conventions, including the Democratic National Convention in Denver the previous week. We made a strategic decision to deploy the minimum amount of force necessary to ensure public safety. Instead of greeting visitors with police dressed in full riot gear, we employed officers dressed in ordinary police uniforms, riding bicycles and on horseback, and directed them to remain in small groups so their presence would be less prominent.
\nOur hope was that this strategy would suffice for the duration of the convention and the police presence on the streets of Saint Paul would be friendly and minimally visible. However, on Monday, our officers were confronted by rioters, intent on doing harm to persons and property in our city and thwarting the convention. At that time we had no choice but for our officers to wear protective riot gear as the escalated threat required a greater show of force and protection.
\nDespite being spit on, taunted, hit, kicked, and otherwise provoked, law enforcement professionals were patient and exercised restraint by not responding unless and until necessary to ensure public safety. Many of the suspects of crimes committed early in the week were apprehended in subsequent days, thus the arrests were not random but due to their alleged misconduct in previous incidents.
\nThose who chose to riot not only damaged property in the city, but they interfered with peaceful protesters legitimately attempting to express their opinions and right to free speech. Our efforts ensured that, despite rioters’ attempts, tens of thousands of people were able to exercise their first amendment rights in the form of legal protest marches and demonstrations and a free speech stage, all within sight and sound of the convention, an unprecedented achievement “\u201c and something we are very proud of.
\nThroughout the convention, our officers performed with professionalism, maintaining high integrity in the face of agitators, rioters intent on causing damage, and constant press scrutiny. At the time of an incident, police are trained to control the situation. They err on the side of caution and make their best individual judgments in doing so; however, officers are human. That is why we have a process in place to ensure that we prosecute only those for whom we can provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt of criminal wrongdoing. Without question, there were those who came to the RNC to express themselves peacefully and were pulled into the middle of chaotic scenes and arrested, which is regrettable. We are working diligently with the police and the City Attorney’s office to expedite the legal process as best we can to ensure that justice is served for everyone involved.
\nThis experience is a learning opportunity for our city. We will thoroughly evaluate all of the public safety practices and policies we implemented. An independent review, led by former U.S. Attorney Thomas Heffelfinger and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Luger, is already underway to help us discover the opportunities seized and lessons learned. If the review reveals evidence to substantiate any instances of police misconduct, the individuals involved will be held accountable. Any individuals with firsthand knowledge of specific incidents should contact the Police-Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission as soon as possible at (651) 266-5583.
\nOverall, the 2008 Republican National Convention was a success. We were able to showcase our city to 45,000 visitors, including 15,000 members of national and international media. Thousands raised their voices of dissent while the convention successfully conducted its business and delegates were left with a positive experience and impression of our region. In hosting an event of global significance, we planted a seed. We have told our story to the world and positioned Saint Paul well to host future events. On a national and international stage, our city shone in the spotlight, and Saint Paul stands to reap the rewards for years to come.
\nThanks again for taking the time to contact my office. Your feedback is invaluable as we work to make Saint Paul the Most Livable City in America.
\nSincerely,
\n\u00c2\u00a7\u00c2\u00a8\u00c2\u00a9\u00c2\u00aa
\nChristopher B. Coleman
\nMayor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[Submitted directly to IFP via email] Commentary by Lydia Howell follows EVENT info EVENT:TONIGHT\/WED.Sept. 24, 5:30pm ST.Paul CITY HALL Community Conversation about RNC & the Police ST. PAUL CITY HALL, 15 Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul You can also call your St. Paul City Council member or Mayor Chris Coleman: (651)266-8989 NOTE: St. Paul City Hall…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[122,21,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bush_era","category-minnesota","category-related-news2"],"yoast_head":"\n