Phoenix's failures
The controversy swirling around Operation Phoenix isn't going away, to the point where even supporters are beginning to privately acknowledge that it may be wounded beyond repair. Hindsight being what it is, there's no denying that mistakes were made from the very start, and that any similar efforts moving forward need to heed the lessons learned here:
1) Phoenix's eyes were bigger than its stomach. The vision is an extraordinary one - engage the community in a far-reaching, broad-based anti-crime approach that combines prevention, intervention and suppression. The ability to execute proved a far bigger challenge - one that required far more ground-level expertise and resources than the city was able to muster.
2) Staffing. A center director arrested for molesting children, minimal adult supervision, BB-gun fights. The list goes on. Layer in a scary lack of accountability, and a picture is painted of an organization in chaos.
3) Lack of rank-and-file police support. Chief Mike Billdt was on board from the start, but before long, Phoenix had become a divisive issue within the department. T-shirts mocking the program had the fingerprints of the police union all over them. Efforts to kick start a Police Athletic League tied to Operation Phoenix failed to get the necessary volunteer support, while a separate grassroots program endorsed by union leaders managed to get up and running.
4) Politics. It's a tough city to work in. But if you can't work the system, you'll never get done what you're hoping to. At day's end, this may have been the most fatal error of the Phoenix braintrust (namely the Morris administration) - failing to engage their detractors in a way that allowed the program to get through its growing pains. In fact, a "yeah" or "nay" on Phoenix became something of a test of loyalty - one that even the more moderate members of the council (Esther Estrada, among them) grew weary of.
5) Secrecy. From early questions about what Phoenix was really costing to its insistence on an internal administrative review of the program's problems, the administration has cast itself as being less than fully open. Hence, Estrada's push for a council hearing and our own editorial board's call for a full independent investigation by a reputable outside agency.
6) Engaging the community. Phoenix supporters cry foul at this one, arguing that collaboration is at the heart of the program. In truth, the program has never been extricated from the mayor's office, to the point where a number of key potential stakeholders have soured on it.
Comments
How interesting this article that Mr. Lambert has posted in his Blog. It captures some or part of the issues. He is by far much more political correct than I. My thoughts are;
1) Phoenix’s eyes were bigger than its stomach. How true but…in the case of Phoenix, it is funding or lack of it that was ½ the problem. If there were only one facility, perhaps, but three facilities? Too much too soon by unrealistic or mislead leadership.
2) Staffing. Here is the other ½ of the problem. City leadership trying to do something they were unable and unqualified to do. Selecting skilled staffing for leadership was a key failure. Another problem, was being micro-managed by the Mayor. Not only did he not know what he was doing (although he did try) but it was NOT his job to be so deeply involved with a social program. His job is to lead this City and his success at that is now questionable…at best.
3) Lack of rank-and-file police support. Another indicator that the City’s house of cards is falling under this Mayor’s leadership. The last time I looked, the P/D Chief was accountable to the Mayor. Is the Mayor so tied up with Operation Phoenix that he neglected the P/D and its internal problems? Has he worked with “his” Chief to nip in the bud these issues before they get blown out of proportion thus allowing or setting the stage for a no confidence vote by the rank and file?
4) Politics. San Bernardino is well known for its questionable politics at all levels. Who is in charge is always a key question of the City. Also in question is the total team effort or lack of it. Are there common goals established where the entire team of elected officials work TOGETHER. Something this City has never enjoyed.
5) Secrecy. Operation Phoenix is being investigated, no less than three times by three separate agencies. All have current or past ties to the Mayor / Judge. Yet we the public are expected not to see this opportunity of collusion and challenge why after two months the investigations continue? There should be an outside agency performing the investigation, one that has no strings or ties (past or current) to any City Official currently in office.
6) Engaging the Community. With many programs like Operation Phoenix part of the biggest problem the OP Program is trying to fix is the community the Program is in. Involving the community without safeguards being in place to assure the assets of the Program are safe, the children are safe and not exposed to the influences that are found outside the Program will result in added costs for the Program and disappointment for the Community.
The key denominator for the San Bernardino House of Cards (OP Programs, Police Department and assurances the City is receiving the services it needs from their service departments) is the Mayor. Today, this house of cards is crumbling around us and all fingers are pointed in every direction except the one direction where responsibility and accountability reside. Where does the buck stop in San Bernardino? To fail is human, to underestimate your shortcomings is also human. To blame others is foolish and the voters will see through this smoke screen and remember it in a few short 18 months at re-election time. There is so much work to do to resurrect San Bernardino from the abyss it finds itself in and get it on the correct track to recovery that based on past leadership performance, it will not happen soon nor under this current leadership.
Take a ride down E Street. From the soon to be vacant Jewish Church at the North end to down past Orange Street to the end. Count the empty buildings there are on this, the heart of our City. That alone tells you something is drastically wrong in our City and all these places DID NOT go vacant in the last 6 -8 months. Yes, some did but most did not. Where is the effort to attract businesses to fill these vacant places? Yes, OP is a failure but there are so many other major failures that it is just one of many.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 10, 2008 10:23 AM