First, Mayor Francis Slay replaces his troubled public safety director, Sam Simon (at whose feet many of his critics place much of the fire department’s current problems), with his favorite black guy, Charles Bryson (it’s been barely a month since Slay promoted Bryson from Neighborhood Development Executive to deputy chief of staff).
Next, only moments on the job, Bryson goes after Slay’s least favorite black guy, Fire Chief Sherman George.
“Chief George must still make the promotions by Friday,” said Bryson in a written statement. “That order stands – and I endorse it. If he doesn’t, he – like you, me, or anybody else who refused to obey an order and do their job — will face disciplinary action.”
Let’s see how this could play out…
- George refuses to be forced to promote
- Bryson fires George (“It’s not a race thing. They’re both black.”)
- Black folks go nuts (Front page of the American: “SLAY FIRES FIRST BLACK FIRE CHIEF WHILE WHITE POLICE CHIEF IS LOSING CONTROL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE STREETS!” Wow, that’s a long headline.)
- Slay appoints a new black chief (“See, I’m not racist.”)
- George announces he’s running for mayor in 2009?
Hmmmm… the possibilities.
