Maybe a few months–or a couple of years–from now this unsightly, confrontational clash between the mayor and city council over a citizens police review board will be old, non-news.
Maybe the upshot will be that a strong-mayored, executive-ordered board was ultimately adjudged a success, even by the Police Benevolent Association.
Maybe that was because Mayor Bob Buckhorn, the personification of a strong mayor when push comes to shove it, was able to reach a statesman-like, face-saving compromise with an ego-challenged city council unhinged by pre-emptive actions and taken aback by rhetoric deemed disrespectful.
Maybe it’s because the quality–not just the demographic and ideological diversity–of the ultimate appointments was soon apparent.
Maybe it’s because the board, although sans subpoena power, turned out to be neither a “kangaroo court” nor a rubber stamp.
Maybe it’s because cooler heads realized that even though Tampa isn’t Ferguson, Mo., or Baltimore, Md., perception is reality, and racial crucibles and flash points are more American than apple pie.
Maybe it’s because there is a societal drumbeat beat for more–and credible–police scrutiny, especially when it involves minority communities.
And maybe it was just time to proactively do the prudent, cooperative thing before a preventable spark ignited one of our neighborhoods.