Dear Mayor: You have stated over and over that you support the Independent Police Auditor. We have observed you attempting to obtain funding for the IPA only to get shot down. We have even met with you to discuss your "proposal," which time and time again has the mayor or the city manager appointing or terminating the IPA instead of allowing the City Council to have the final say on this. Can you please tell us why you think the IPA would be independent if you or the city mananger appointed the IPA instead of the City Council? How independent can the IPA be if you and the city manager also hire and fire the chief of police? Is this really an empty gesture, knowing full well you won't get the votes?

M. Gloria Hernandez

To accept your premise would accept as true that there is no honesty and integrity at City Hall. I not only think that this is wrong, I believe that we have some of the most honest and trustworthy individuals working at the city. I don't see how putting the authority in the hands of the council can make the IPA more effective. After all, wouldn't we want the overseer of the Police Department to answer to someone who has the authority to make changes in that department? The city manager does have that authority, not the council.

Mayor Autry