Rybak: I'm Feeling Hard Today
I gotta hand it to the mayor, as these were his first words to me when our paths crossed at City Hall today. At the very least, it shows that he can take a joke.
Lest there be any concern that the mayor was being impolitic, he puffed up his chest, clenched his fists and hunched his shoulders, like a strongman.
Anyway, the issue is the last blog. The mayor probably wouldn't have read the headline of the 12/11 blog posted below, let alone referred to it, if it hadn't been for the Minneapolis Issues list, an e-mail forum moderated by David Brauer. Brauer, a fellow local ink-stained wretch and editor of both the Skyway News and the Southwest Journal, posted a link to what he called the "pithy thoughts" I had about Rybak's recent public posturing.
Rybak, an avid reader and poster to the list, was certain to see what I wrote and take issue with it. And I was bound to run in to him today.
I was armed with one--just one, and very small--mea culpa, when I headed for City Hall this morning, and I had planned to post it today anyway. I claimed I had not seen Rybak any cop/community meetings last spring when I was working on a story about the drug trade on one block in south Minneapolis. Then I recalled that one neighborhood activist called to tell me that Rybak showed up at one such meeting. (After my story ran.)
So, I still stand by the statement: Rybak was not at any of the meetings I attended while reporting the story, and I went to my fair share.
Today the mayor told me to go back and look at his record. He said that after the Jordan neighborhood riots in August, for instance, he displayed concern and action. Then he added: "I called for an end to the violence. I said we need more minorities and women on the police force. That's being strong."
A nice sentiment, but again I want to point out that Rybak is referring to his reaction to a high-profile incident.
Which, of course, is the mayor's job. Rybak has reacted publicly to a series of shootings this year with efficacy and empathy (most notably the shooting of Abu Jeilani, who was shot by Minneapolis cops for wielding a machete down Franklin Avenue). Hard to imagine his predecessor doing half as well.
However, the point remains the same: Rybak is the city’s best opportunist, and this was never more clear than the days following the Tyesha Edwards homicide, when he finally got mad about gangs. The gang problem is far more complex than Rybak’s tough stance would lead you to believe, and he knows this. As my colleague Britt Robson says, Rybaks’s a “situational guy.”
And that’s not a knock: Rybak seems to understand that this lil’ blog is in part a forum for dialogue and opinion, and he’s willing to … well, we’ll see what the hell he does. At any rate, he doesn’t seem too thin-skinned.
One staffer, however, is a little hacked off at that last blog, and she's sending a response to me and to the Minneapolis issues list. And I've requested an archive of Rybak's meetings regarding gang activity from the past year.
I'll certainly run parts or all of both here, and hopefully soon.
Post-Script
In case you think it’s all hugs and kisses here at City Pages, I thought I’d react to Paul Demko’s comment on the last blog. Aside from being a good friend and co-worker, I want to mention Demko as much as possible in this blog to build the myth until he gets his own and can astound you with his insight, wisdom and infinite beauty. And I assure you, he possesses all three in spades, my friend. I love the man. Seriously.
Anyway, here’s what he wrote in the comments box here:
So let me get this straight: R.T. Rybak knew about gang and crime problems in Philips, therefore he should've prevented Tyesha Edwards from being murdered? Wow. Who knew the mayor was so powerful? We should've sent him to those caves in Tora Bora to hunt down Osama.
And here was my immediate e-mail response:
i'm saying he could have picked a time to be tough on gangs about nine months ago, you illogical little squid-bastard.
So there you have it. Feel the love?
Shout-Out
Finally, good to see Vicky Heller commenting here. I’ve never met her face-to-face, but based on a couple phone calls and her numerous posts to the Minneapolis Issues list, I believe she seems to understand the city’s finances as well as anyone else.
5:35:16 PM 
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