The N&R’s Jeri Rowe seems like a nice enough guy. That said, I read his columns pretty much with one eye, kind of half-paying attention. But here’s what jumped out at me in yesterday’s column on former Mayor Yvonne Johnson:
Johnson became mired in the countless controversies that always have paralyzed our city. Ask around. Here’s a smattering of what you’ll hear:
Johnson was too accommodating and ineffective. She couldn’t take charge, run meetings well or use her position to push forward new ideas.
Whatever happened, the City Council under Johnson’s tenure became a Channel 13 soap opera in which strong-willed people with personal agendas turned governing into a boxing match.
It was an ugly thing to watch.
So, voters wanted change. They wanted new leadership. And according to some, they wanted someone white, not black . So, in came Knight. Out went Johnson. The racial tensions simmer still.
OK, just who is the ‘some’ Jeri Rowe says wanted ‘someone white, not black’? And if racial tension continues to simmer, the source will be ‘those who feel they were on the losing side of the election.’
