"Leadership is action, not position" Donald H. McGannon

Submitted by Sir Humphrey Appleby

To the Mayor, City Council, and citizens of Kansas City,

As a long-term City employee, I cannot understand the lack of leadershipthat is being exhibited by the current Mayor and Council. You have beenpresented with multiple examples of racial impropriety and downright insubordination, yet you do nothing.
There have been some very disturbing allegations involving pornography on City computers and the use of racially offensive "nicknames" for members of the Mayor's staff. How can this behavior be condoned? Why is it acceptable fors ome people to get away with this sort of behavior and not others? All Ican say is "thank goodness" that most City employees have the good sense andawareness to know that neither of these types of behavior belong in the workplace. But again I ask, who's in charge here? I have always supported a City Manager form of government, and I think the ridiculous behavior of the current mayor and his wife bears out why this provides us a protection of sorts. But, where is the protection when the City Manager also decides to flout the policies and conventions that provide civility to this organization? How do you set a standard for the community and have any credibility, when you cannot set the standards of behavior for this organization? Regarding the pornography issue, it either exists or it doesn't. If you, the Council, feel that adequate documentation has been provided, then you owe it to yourselves, the other City employees, and the citizens to direct the City Manager to follow the dictates of the established City policy with this employee. If she's smart enough to be an Assistant City Manager, then she sure as hell better know how to read a City policy and know the difference between right and wrong; otherwise what qualifies her to do her assigned job? If the City Manager refuses to appropriately and adequately follow through on this established policy, then he, too, should be dealt with. We, the employees don't see the problem -it seems pretty cut and dry to us. If it were any one of us, how likely do you think it would be that we would get to argue our case in a closed sessionbefore the City Council or intimidate you with racial tyranny?
Mr. Mayor, I understand that your position is that you think you can'manage' the City Manager into doing what you want done and what you think needs to be done. On what do you predicate this position? You can't even handle your wife's dangerously stupid antics and Wayne Cauthen is intelligent enough to dance circles around Gloria. I voted for you twice because I thought that your experience in this organization would provide you the perspective to see the destruction in this City and in this organization that has been waged from the 29th Floor. But, unfortunately, because of your unfortunate decision to not cut the apron strings, you and your spouse are in the unenviable, unfathomable, and unconscionable position of putting this City into yet another the center of yet another racially-based circus. And you think that you can' handle the City Manager? You can't even control or counter the three Councilmembers who insist on framing every issue within the context of race. I think that it's time you wake up and smell the coffee! About the only way that you can redeem yourself at this point would be to stand up to the City Manager. You're the only one who can and I think that you'd be surprised that others would stand behind your leadership in doing so.
Allowing this arrogance to continue is unacceptable. What kind of example does this set for the rest of us City employees? Why should we strive to do our best when incompetence, waste, and a**-kissing has been rewarded time and time again, and diligence and hard work apparently account for nothing in this organization.
Someone needs to step up. There is all kinds of talk about recall elections for the Mayor and members of the City Council. It's not yet too late, but the time to act is now.

Will Rogers: "Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there."