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What's not to love? A lot

Friday, April 13 at 12:01 AM

This Speakout has not been edited

By Thad Tecza, Denver

In its Editorial, “Let DA use private funds”, the Rocky Mountain News asks, “what’s the big deal” about accepting $150,000 from an anonymous Foundation “to help prosecute a couple of prominent, dangerous gangs”? “(W)hat’s not to love?”, the Rocky queries. Well, in fact, there is a great deal not to love about this proposal.

First, accepting a private donation to attack gangs smacks of the Bad Old Days in the West when City Fathers, including newspaper editors, took up subscriptions to drive out “undesirables”. Moreover, as too often was the case then, the current effort has racial undertones where, given anonymity, we can only suspect that the funds are being raised from predominantly White sources to target predominantly Minority individuals. That just may explain what the Rocky seems to find so mysterious; namely the fact that other cities never use, “(c)ontributions from private sources, even nonprofit foundations, …(to help)… underwrite any city program to expand prosecutions.”

Second, the Rocky is absolutely correct in stating that this isn’t the first time that private money has been used to sweeten the pot for public programs. What the Rocky doesn’t acknowledge is that there is a fundamental problem with all of these occurrences. Thus, too often in regard to City spending, “Lola wants what Lola can get!” That is, rather than rational, neutral criteria, what determines what policies are pursued is what the City can afford.

Given this fact, however, when the rich offer to blend their money with City funds they are using their wealth to influence how public dollars are spent. And that, of course, violates the democratic principle that every citizen’s voice should count equally.

Third, perhaps the most troubling aspect of this issue is the secrecy component. Frankly, every citizen of Denver should be outraged at the Mayor’s arrogant “trust me” attitude toward this donation. Democracy is built on transparency. With very limited national security exceptions, citizens have a right to know in detail how their government operates. We have that right both as a mechanism to protect ourselves and as a prerequisite for informed decision making. That’s why we forced elected officials to pass open records and open meetings laws.

According to the Rocky, the Mayor has sought to justify secrecy in this instance by arguing that, with anonymity, “the DA’s Office would be less likely to imagine that the funders (sic) were trying to micromanage the prosecutions.” Here, at least, the Mayor seems to recognize that money can buy influence. This position betrays arrogance, though, because “Hizzoner” seems totally oblivious to the possibility that they could be buying influence with the Mayor himself! After all, with anonymity we have no idea whether this Foundation is involved in a land swap with the City or seeks to curry the Mayor’s favor in some other matter.

Finally, there is an implication in the Rocky Editorial that this donation is less offensive because it comes from a “non-profit Foundation”. Unfortunately, in the current political environment it has become all too common for wealthy individuals to shelter themselves from public scrutiny by hiding under the cloak of impersonal organizations. As with 527s and other such devices, operating as a Foundation should not be allowed to provide a shield from responsibility.

So, what’s not to love? Allowing the wealthy to use the criminal justice system to target minorities that they don’t like is something not to love. Allowing the rich buy their chosen public policies is something not to love. Allowing them to gain influence with the Mayor by donating their money to his pet projects is something not to love. Allowing them to do so anonymously is something not to love. And, at least from my perspective, taken together all of those things really are a big deal!

READER COMMENTS

Have we as a Nation become so politically correct that we can't even fight the crimes gangs cause because most of them are minorities?What the hell is going on in this country?
Everyday I read in the news or see in the media where minorities,mostly Hispanic are given a new get out of jail free card or please pass go and collect $200 card.
This nonsense is going to come to a head all because our local,state and Federal law makers have let the American people be run over by illegals and let them run this country into the ground all for a vote.
I no longer support the war in Iraq. I would like to see a troop pull out and bring them home to help support ICE in evicting these unwanted tenents.If they are illegal they must go .Pure and simple.
If the government doesn't do something about the illegals we could possibly see our own civil war. People are fed up and getting angrier by the day. Something has to give soon.

Posted by Can I get a Amen! on April 16, 2007 07:36 AM

So, I guess we should require the gangs to start an affirmative action recruitment drive to bring more white kids into the gangs. Then, the donors money wouldn't be targeting minorities. Problem solved. LOL.

As for your thesis that is is targeting minorities, did anybody force the bangers to join the gangs? If it was such a great gig, why aren't there more non-minorities involved? This smacks of racism. Instead of saying the program is targeting minorities, why not say it is targeting criminal gangs? Doesn't have that "victimhood" ring to it, now, does it?

I do agree that something about private money for combatting crime is unsettling. If the DA's office needs more $$ it should come from tax dollars. If we truly need more, the Mayor should have the cajones to ask for a tax increase.

It is not a stretch to believe that citizens want stepped up efforts to combat our growing gang problem both by the police and the DA's office. Make the case to the public that more resources are needed.

Posted by on April 13, 2007 11:37 AM

So Thad, You're saying it's ok to be in a gang if you're a minority?
Maybe we should stop all contributions from businesses for educational funding as well, they might be influencing the subjects that are taught (like actual spelling instead of Spelling based on Phonics, or fundamental math skills, instead of feel good math so all can pass).
Any funds available should be used to combat the growing gang/crime problem we have.

Posted by on April 13, 2007 10:11 AM