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October 22, 2012 <br />Mr. Bill Malinen <br />Ci#y Manager <br />City af Rosevifle <br />2660 Civic Center Road <br />Roseville, MN 55113 <br />Dear Mr. Malinen: <br />NOV - 8 2012 <br />I am a resident of Roser►ille and am writing this letter regarding a comment I heard while watching the <br />televised October 8, 2012 joint mee#ing of the City Council and Housing and Redevelopment Authority <br />(HRAj. <br />Whiie 1 do not have the quote verbatim, my memory is that Mr. pean Maschka, tk�e Chair of the HRA <br />expressed that he had spoken with someone in the Roseville Schools (f believe he referenced someone <br />with fihe iast name Kennedy) who was happy to report that there had been an increase of young white <br />families moving into Roseville. While I was shocked to hear Chair Maschka repeat such a statement, I <br />was relieved to hear Mayor Roe quRckly counter this impolit+c, insensitive piece of information with <br />words to the effect that fioseville not only welcomed young white families, but all families, as well as <br />diversity in our community. <br />I f�ave never befare written a ietter to any government agency or official expressing a concern/opinion, <br />but after thinking about this for the iast few weeks, i felt compelled to do so. ! feel strongiy that there <br />should be some sort of education and follow-up about the comment that was made_ The MRA and <br />school system are 'rnvolved with making decisions that impact residents in the critical areas of housing <br />and education and it is imperative that the city cauncil, commissions, and school system look out for <br />the weifare of all Roseville citizens, not just the "young and white." My suggestion would be that if Mr. <br />Maschka or any city ieader communicates data about the racial maiceup af Rosevilie residents, that he <br />or she includes all of the data that has been cornpiled, not just those statistics that #hey consider to be a <br />positive "trend." The reality is that in the 21S` century, our country, state, and city have become <br />increasingly diverse, and Mr_ Maschka's remark leaves an impression that RosevilEe is a city that has not <br />embraced this new world order. <br />Thank you for your time and consideration. <br />cc: Mayor Dan Roe <br />Gary Grefenberg, Human Rights Commission Chair <br />