With deafening silence, City Council fails to reappoint Bicking to Civilian Police Review

[annm4peace]

http://twincities.indymedia.org/2010/apr/deafening-silence-city-council-fails-reappoint-dave-bicking-civilian-police-review-board-cr


Despite widespread community support and a history of fighting for better police accountability, Dave Bicking failed to be reappointed to the CRA at the April 2nd City Council meeting. Dave Bicking was seeking a 4-year term to the board that deals with issues of police accountability and investigates complaints against the Minneapolis Police Department. For his dedicated work, Bicking has the support from over 314 community members who signed a petition online or offline.

At the Committee of the Whole meeting on April 1st, the council listed four names for recommendation for the open spots: Arlene Santiago, Dean Kallenbach, Pramma Elayaperumal, and Mary Pargo. These candidates included two of Mayor Rybak’s pre-emptive choices. Dave Bicking was absent from this list along with other qualified candidates who also applied for the open positions.

Previous Coverage: City documents show Mayor Rybak made CRA decisions before public hearing
When it came time for the vote at the City Council meeting, Don Samuels, Chair of the Public Safety and Health Committee, read the list of the four recommended candidates and gave a short speech on the “fair and balanced” qualities of the city council’s choice, Mary Pargo. He then asked the council to vote for this slate.

Before that the final vote, Cam Gordon, Ward 2 City councilperson, raised a substitute motion asking that the city council to consider Dave Bicking for their choice. However, in order for the motion to be even considered, another city council member would need to second it. Despite the fact that all 13 members were present, the other 12 remaining DFL council members remained absolutely silent. Not one other council member – Kevin Reich, Diane Hofstede, Barb Johnson, Don Samuels, Robert Lillgren, Lisa Goodman, Elizabeth Glidden, Gary Schiff, Meg Tuthill, John Quincy, Sandra Colvin-Roy, or Betsy Hodges allowed for any discussion on the motion.

The slate of recommended CRA candidates for the CRA passed with a 12-1 with only Gordon voting against it. It is not very common to see the city council fail to “second” a simple motion for consideration and open discussion. It’s completely outrageous that city hall failed once again to brush aside the concerns about our notorious out-of control police department.

What’s next?

The next public CRA meeting is scheduled for April 7th at 6:30 p.m. in Room 333 at City Hall. It’s time to let the new board know that the community is not going away quietly – regardless of whom they are “appointing” to lead us. Unlike the regular dull city committee meetings, this is one that you will not want to miss!

[annm4peace]

1. this went out over the progressive calendar email list from Bicking:

his went out over the progressive calendar email list from dave:

Well, it all ended quickly, with a whimper not a bang. I am officially no
longer a member of the board of the CRA (Mpls Civilian Police Review
Authority).

As I said in my last update, the slate of recommended appointees was
revealed at yesterday's Committee of the Whole, and it did not include me.
That slate was brought forward at today's City Council meeting by Don
Samuels, chair of the Public Safety Committee. Don waxed eloquent about
the virtues of the applicant that was chosen instead of me as the City
Council pick for the CRA (the mayor got to make the other three picks this
time). He spoke of her being "fair and balanced" - over and over.
Clearly the point made was to contrast that to his claims about me. My
name was never even mentioned, of course.

Then Cam Gordon (Green Party Ward 2 Council member) made his substitute
motion: to reappoint me in place of the "recommended" applicant. He
mentioned that I had "served admirably" on the CRA, and that my
reappointment at least deserved debate and discussion. The other Council
members clearly didn't agree - not a single one of them would even second
the motion, so it died with no chance for discussion or vote - or even for
Cam Gordon to speak in favor of the motion. It is very rare for a motion
to not receive a second.

I have been pretty diplomatic through all of this, but I have to say:
What a bunch of cowards!! Other than Cam Gordon, every Council member and
the mayor should be ashamed of themselves. Whatever they think about the
merits of my service on the CRA - and I accept that there are legitimate
differences of opinion - they should have the guts to say in public why a
conscientious, active, and reliable member of the CRA (or any board)
should be thrown off the board before even serving a full term.

The one constant throughout all of this is that no Council member will
express any reason for not reappointing me. I have asked repeatedly, in
emails and at the public hearing, for anyone who had any concern about my
reappointment, to let me know their concern so I could address it. I have
had NO responses.

This is very shabby treatment for someone who has put in many hundreds of
hours of service to the city. You know what they say about bullies really
being cowards inside? Today's action was an example of bullies showing
their cowardice. I would accept the results of a fair and open process.
This was neither. And while this was particularly blatant, it is a
pattern of behavior in our city government. That is the biggest reason
why I ran for City Council. Since the election, I have seen an
accelerating trend toward arrogant, undemocratic, and unresponsive
government.

As I've said before, this is not really about me. This is about the
protection of those involved in encounters with Mpls police. The real
issue is whether there is any control over our police department; will
there be any real accountability? Will people abused by the police have
anywhere to go where they can be not just "listened to", but where their
experience will lead to real consequences? The CRA is an important reform
won through years of demands and hard work. Will it be valuable, or will
it be window dressing? The answer is still uncertain, but today's Council
action says much about their desired direction for the CRA.

Quite a burden rests on the new appointees to the CRA. Rather than give
my opinion and judge them now, I would prefer to let them show their merit
through action. The new members are: Arlene Santiago, a public defender;
Dean Kallenbach, former DFL endorsed City Council candidate against Dean
Zimmermann in 2001; Pramma Elayaperumal, a young and enthusiastic
applicant who has been attending CRA meetings; and Mary Pargo, a social
service worker with Pillsbury United Communities and Executive Director of
Juneteeth. Mary Pargo was the City Council pick, the other three were
appointed by the mayor.

The fight for the future of the CRA is not over. Personally, I will
continue to attend CRA meetings, even if only as a member of the public.
I will continue the research I have been working on. At this point, there
is far more attention being paid to the CRA than before. That is a
positive development. Often there is more value in the fight than in the
outcome of a particular battle. We have much to build on, and we must do
that.

The next step is the upcoming CRA monthly board meeting on Wednesday,
April 7, 6:30pm, in Room 333 of City Hall (enter through after-hours door
facing 4th St.). The meeting is open to the public, and public comment is
allowed. A big turnout will help demonstrate the community's expectations
for the new board.

Also please consider coming to tomorrow's meeting of CUAPB (Communities
United Against Police Brutality), Saturday, April 3, 1:30pm in the
basement of Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave. S., Mpls. ed] They will surely be strategizing next steps in their relationship with
the CRA, and planning for their input at the upcoming CRA board meeting.

Thanks to all who have been involved. I am uncomfortable with political
action which puts me personally in such a public position, just as my City
Council campaign did. The real important issue is the strength we have
working together. Even in temporary defeat, we have shown that strength,
and the fight is not over.