2012 Columns

“Through My Eyes”

Weekly column of Ron Edwards
From the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Continuing The Minneapolis Story,
Ron’s “Black Focus,” airs Sundays, 5-6 p.m.,
On Channel 17, MTN-TV

Quarter 4: October thru December, 2012

December 26, 2012 Column #52: A Nation In Pain, A Nation Whose Heart Is Broken Again.

December 19, 2012 Column #51: City election 2013 candidates face some tough funding issues. Paying for the Vikings stadium is chief among them.

December 12, 2012 Column #50: Minnesota: Land Of Underused Though Highly Skilled Black Quarterbacks. There’s Too Much Emphasis On White And Not Enough On Win.

December 05, 2012 Column #49: Still waiting for the Equity Plan for the new Vikings’ and Minnesota’s People’s Stadium

November 28, 2012 Column #48: In the matter of Susan Rice: Let the president govern. Please!

November 21, 2012 Column #47: A political ponzi Scheme: The fix was in with 2012 election.

November 14, 2012 Column #46: Column #46: Obama wins! Historic Second Term.

November 07, 2012 Column #45: The "smartest" White team in the NBA. Timber Wolves team return to the 1950s?

October 31, 2012 Column #44: An Historical Presidential Election

October 24, 2012 Column #43: Sgt. Pat King Moves Across the Street. Law Enforcement Officer Moves to Hennnepin County Sheriff’s Separtment

October 17, 2012 Column #42: Vikings stadium officials promise 32 percent diversity hiring! But no one seems to have a copy of the equity plan.
[Where is the diversity plan for the Vikings Stadium reflecting 32% diversity hiring? Ted Mondale states there was no Equity Plan for Target Field but will be for Vikings Stadium.]

October 10, 2012 Column #41: Taxation without representation. Force of contract law needed to ensure Black contractors/workers for stadium

October 03, 2012 Column #40: School district provides ‘Kindergarten Report’ on HQ construction.
Will Vikings stadium reporting be the next fairy tale?

Quarter 3: July thru September, 2012

September 25, 2012 Column #39: Where is the equity plan for the Viking Stadium?

September 19, 2012 Column #38: Chuck Wexler in town, security plan in place

September 12, 2012 Column #37: Tone down the rhetoric on Black Museum’s money problems. Franklin National Bank is not the villain here.

September 05, 2012 Column #36: Status quo fixes won’t stop the frightening violence

August 29, 2012 Column #35: Where is Thinh Q.N. Tran? The supposed business associate of Eric Mahmoud disappears with fraud case

August 22, 2012 Column #34: The commissioner of education did the right thing

August 15, 2012 Column #33: Require auditions for stadium construction contracts. Proven past success with diversity hiring should be mandatory

August 08, 2012 Column #32: Black youth need good educations and jobs, not handholding.

August 01, 2012 Column #31: Minneapolis Police Department tears itself apart from the inside

July 25, 2012 Column #30: The policy of retaliation: continuing the story of Courtney Clark

July 18, 2012 Column #29: “Justice for all” means justice for everyone — no exceptions.

July 11, 2012 Column #28: In Twin Cities, Blacks still need not apply

July 04, 2012 Column #27: Another child’s death spreads fear and dismay. Five Year-Old Shot to Death in North Minneapolis
The City loses another part of its soul.

Quarter 2: April thru June, 2012

June 27, 2012 Column #26: A Sports Authority chair who understands the Black struggle
Kelm-Helgen’s family civil rights history is a rich one.

June 20, 2012 Column #25: Segregation again: Black educators are being purged

June 13, 2012 Column #24: Requirement that stadium builders ""make every effort" to hire minorities is a cruel joke.

June 06, 2012 Column #23: Stenglein takes on task of making downtown safe for all

May 30, 2012 Column #22: Tensions within the MPD revealed in the case of Lt. Michael Keefe.

May 23, 2012 Column #21: We see a stadium bill — but where’s the inclusion plan?
     We Await the Diversity Plan from the Civil Rights Department For the Vikings Stadium, Planning, Development, and Construction.

May 16, 2012 Column #20: Our Vikings appear to be saved. But did legislators still leave the exit door to L.A. open?

May 09, 2012 Column #19: Change at the top in the MPD. Dolan era ends; mayor nominates new chief

May 02, 2012 Column #18: Assault by the MPD on the Ames Elks, A 150 year old Black Fraternal Organization brutalized by police raid.

April 25, 2012 Column #17: Sid Hartman and Star Tribune confirm our stadium analysis.

April 18, 2012 Column #16: America is on a racial ‘Razor’s Edge.’ Will entrenched injustices cut us to pieces?

April 11, 2012 Column #15: Will the Vikings stadium be in Minnesota or L.A.?

April 04, 2012 Column #14: Hiring mandates must be in place for Viking stadium project.

Quarter 1: January thru March, 2012

March 28, 2012 Column #13: Trayvon Martin murder exposes madness of Stand Your Ground laws

March 21, 2012 Column #12: Early Spring Offensive of Violence. Minneapolis Police Department Takes Possession of the CRA (Civilian Review Authority).

March 14, 2012 Column #11: Vikings stadium plan in place???

March 07, 2012 Column #10: Police unions turn to Republicans for help. Rybak administration and Civil Rights Department blindsided.

February 29, 2012 Column #09: Can Minneapolis taxpayers afford the CRA? Too expensive for the average citizen?

February 22, 2012 Column #08: MPD Chief Dolan hits back. Attempts by subordinates and the Civil Rights Department to oust him fail.

February 15, 2012 Column #07: Black jobs promised on Vikings stadium construction. Who will ensure the promises are kept?

February 08, 2012 Column #06: Now the real battle for 2012 begins. Let’s hope it doesn’t get much uglier.

February 01, 2012 Column #05: The Road To Re-Election: The President’s State Of The Union Message.

January 25, 2012 Column #04: NCAA contenders looked like Black colleges. They were not. Nor do Black athletes or Black colleges share in the wealth.

January 18, 2012 Column #03: A good man departs public service. Fire Chief Alex Jackson to step down February 29, 2012. 

January 11, 2012 Column #02: We still need help here! African American children continue to die, and with them our spirits.

January 04, 2012 Column #01: A year of decision, a year of danger

Ron hosts “Black Focus” on Channel 17, MTN-TV, Sundays, 5-6 pm. Formerly head of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission and the Urban League, he continues his “watchdog” role for Minneapolis.

Order his book at www.BeaconOnTheHill.com. Hear his voice, read his solution papers, and read his between columns “web log” at www.TheMinneapolisStory.com.

Permission is granted to reproduce The Minneapolis Story columns, blog entires and solution papers. Please cite the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder and www.TheMinneapolisStory.com for the columns. Please cite www.TheMinneapolisStory.com for blog entries and solution papers.

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