[Mpls] Opting out of military recruiting

[Ray Marshall]

Is David Strand going to be on the front lines when the Mississippi and
Minnesota overflow their banks again some day or when tornadoes strike that
make those that hit the Metro Area, both in 1965, look like puffs of wind?
How about when a billion Chinese or Moslems decide that they have had enough
of us?
Or is he going to leave that to others while he leads the exodus in his
Hummer, with his partner riding shotgun fending off others with an AK-47?

--


Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 22:51:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Strand <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Mpls] MPS and Parental Opt Out for Disclosure of Student
Info to Military Recruiters

I was curious what folks thought about this policy
adopted by the Portland, Maine school board alongside
several others that places an option to opt out of
disclosure of a student's information to military
recruiters on the same form that parents fill out with
emergency contact information that all students'
parents/guardians fill out.

It seems like a great and cost effective way to get
the option to protect your childs privacy and prevent
them from being contacted aggressively by military
recruiters at home into every parent/guardian/s hands.

David Strand
Loring Park
***

REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

[Mpls] MPS and Parental Opt Out for Disclosure of Student Info to Military Recruiters

[David Strand]

I was curious what folks thought about this policy
adopted by the Portland, Maine school board alongside
several others that places an option to opt out of
disclosure of a student's information to military
recruiters on the same form that parents fill out with
emergency contact information that all students'
parents/guardians fill out.

It seems like a great and cost effective way to get
the option to protect your childs privacy and prevent
them from being contacted aggressively by military
recruiters at home into every parent/guardian/s hands.

David Strand
Loring Park

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/local/050831recruiters.shtml

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Schools let teens block recruiters

By TREVOR MAXWELL, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Most parents of teenagers don't realize that schools
provide phone
numbers and addresses to military recruiters until the
calls and
brochures arrive, two Portland School Committee
members say.

"For the past two years, all a military recruiter has
to do is call
up a high school and say give us your list," Stephen
Spring said.

He and Ben Meiklejohn plan to greet students at the
steps of Portland
High School on the first day of classes, next week, to
let them know
how to block such recruitment strategies.

The school district last year gave families a chance
to opt out of
the contact program, but parents had to complete a
special form.
Spring believes that the notice generally was ignored
in each
student's mountain of paperwork, as fewer than 2
percent of students
opted out.

This year the option is printed on the district's
emergency
notification card - an essential form for students.

"I would guess that probably close to 90 percent of
the students and
families will opt out, just by the nature of being
aware of it," said
Spring, who chaired the subcommittee that suggested
the change.

School districts nationwide are debating a
little-known statute
within the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Section 9528 requires schools to provide information
about students
to military recruiters, unless parents specifically
opt out of the
program. Districts that don't comply risk a loss of
federal funding.

Supporters say the rule simply guarantees recruiters
the same access
that colleges and private businesses enjoy. Opponents
like Spring say
it's an invasion of privacy, and a stealthy way for
the Pentagon to
reach out to younger Americans.

Males have long been required to register with U.S.
Selective Service
by their 18th birthdays, and that information is
shared with
recruiters. Section 9528 opened greater access to all
minors.

"As they are stepping up their recruitment efforts,"
Spring said, "we
are trying to find ways to protect our students."

The debate over recruitment plays out against the
backdrop of the war
in Iraq and the sharp public divide over U.S.
involvement there.
While he opposes the war, Spring said his leadership
on the
recruitment issue is about protection of civil
liberties.

Pentagon officials said this summer that a central
database of high
school students helps identify individuals who meet
requirements for
military service. Data is also collected from drivers'
license
records and other sources.

"Using multiple sources allows the compilation of a
more complete
list of eligible candidates to join the military,"
Pentagon
spokeswoman Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke told The Washington
Post.

Portland is among four or five districts nationwide
that have
included the opt-out choice on emergency forms, Spring
said. One
district, in Montclair, N.J., notifies incoming
freshmen twice. That
policy was featured in NEA Today, the magazine of the
nation's
largest education association.

"After the most recent round of notices, Montclair
reports that 92
percent of parents asked the schools not to give their
children's
contact information to the military," the magazine
reported in its
May edition.

The Leave My Child Alone coalition, a national
advocacy group that
has built a campaign over the past six months, reports
that 15,000
students have "opted out" through its Web site.

Last week, district trustees in Mendocino, Calif.,
voted to support
the opt-out movement, the coalition reported.

Portland Superintendent Mary Jo O'Connor does not take
a stance on
the issue. She does not believe, though, that
recruiters have become
more aggressive or represent a problem or nuisance for
students.

"For years we have had recruiters in our schools,"
O'Connor said. "We
are a public institution, so we can't say you can
(talk to students)
and you can't. For those students who may be
interested in a military
career, it serves a need." At the same time, the
superintendent said
she fully supports giving parents a choice.

Staff Writer Trevor Maxwell can be contacted at
791-6451 or at:

[EMAIL PROTECTED]






__ 
Yahoo! Mail 
Stay connected, organized, and protected. T

[Mpls] RE My Candidacy for Mayor - Graham Thread

[Jason Sittko]

I think Jim has it right.

While I personally would not want Rybak endowed with access to such daily
social preaching to millions, I believe this is indeed where his skill set
lies ...essentially having no plan or opinion while somehow convincing his
masses that he is "on top of it."

More importantly, I further agree with the Graham diagnosis.  However, I
also feel the patient would not be willing to listen to any doctor
prescribing an antidote... i.e. if we can't handle Peebles telling it like
it is...will we accept it from our Mayor?  I doubt it.  Running for
high-level local positions has become a task that requires promising known
undeliverables with extreme political correctness.  However, this new "PC"
has morphed into a new media sense that has nothing to do with race or sex
but a deeper inability to simply answer a question and rather merely
"respond" to it.

So...he'll likely get re-elected.


In RT's defense, it would be nice to see what any mayor could do in this
city if they actually had the power to enact their vision; i.e. not hampered
by council control.



REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Re: [Mpls] Cost of Stadium and Tuition at D

[Shawne FitzGerald]

Greg Abbott wrote:

So, let's stipulate for the record that DeLaSalle is an excellent,  
amazing, divinely-inspired school that saves thousands of kids from  
the clutches of  poverty and crime.


My knowledge of De La Salle is about 10 years out-of-date so perhaps 
others, like Ms. Carlson, will correct me.  But De La Salle's mission 
has nothing to do with saving kids from the clutches of poverty and crime. 

First and foremost, De La Salle is a Catholic high school.  The major 
reason that the overwhelmingly majority of  De La Salle students attend 
De is because they and their families choose a religious education over 
a public education.  All students, Catholic or not, are required to 
attend religion classes daily.  Other classes, including sex ed, social 
studies, and English, include a strong Catholic bias.  If you have never 
been to De, it is a Catholic place - there is a crucifix in every 
classroom as I recall.


Secondly, De La Salle is a college prep school - it offers traditional 
courses for college-bound students. 

I am unaware that De La Salle gives any student a "free ride" - that is, 
a 100% scholarship.  Financial aide was typically equal to 10%-20% of 
tuition.  This was not restricted to lower income families like a single 
parent with one child at De - upper income families with 4-5 children in 
Catholic schools/colleges also received financial aid.  Today, De La 
Salle states that 55% of its students receive financial aid.  If this is 
$1000-$3000 off a tuition bill of $8000-plus, clearly, these are not 
impoverished families.Until De La Salle is more forthcoming with the 
amount of financial aid given to students,  I suggest that De students 
be considered  affluent - even the lesser income families have enough 
disposable income to afford thousands of dollars of private tuition per 
year. 

The De La Salle website states "Students with low academic ability or a 
history of behavioral difficulties should seek a more specialized 
learning environment."  De La Salle only accepts applications from 
students with average or better test scores and grades.  Then, it picks 
those who are admitted.


Per De La Salle, "minority" enrollment at De is about 40%.  At what 
point do these kids get to be "private school kids"  - an elite in our 
Minneapolis society?


At 40%, there are  about 240 "minority" students in the total De student 
body of 600.  We assume that "minority" means African, African-American, 
Asian, Native American, and Hispanic/Latin.  And not solely 
European-American.  I suspect that when De La Salle says this, De is 
trying to point out that the student body is integrated and diverse.  
But in a racist society like ours, the buzzwords "minority students" 
indicate some sort of problem, some sort of special need, some sort of 
Otherness.  How about this:  the "minority" students at De are as middle 
and upper class as De's other students and they attend De because their 
choice is a Catholic education or a small private college-prep school.  
As with all other devoted families who consider a religious education 
important and like all other families affluent enough to devote 
thousands of dollars a year for a private school education, the De La 
Salle students, all of them including the "minority" students, are part 
of an elite group. 

Students who desire to take college course while in high school are 
ill-served by De La Salle (though I've heard there is a way to do an 
end-run on this and get in through the local high school.)  Advanced 
placement courses at De used to cost extra fees, paid to a Catholic 
college - these were over and above tuition.


The De La Salle college prep program actually offers less challenge and 
less opportunity than some  public school programs such as IB programs 
and a few other magnets within the MPS; South, Southwest, and Perpich 
Arts in general.   Larger schools simply have more resources; the public 
schools have working relationships with local colleges for the PSOE 
program, and Advanced Placement testing does not require a hefty fee.   
We've also learned this summer that De La Salle is probably not the 
school-of-choice for kids who are primarily soccer and boys football 
players - other high schools have equal or better facilities.


De La Salle succeeds where it always has - providing a Catholic 
college-prep education for the students admitted who are able to pay all 
or most of the cost of their Catholic high school education. 


Shawne FitzGerald
Powderhorn
Former De La Salle and South High mom






REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
_

[Mpls] 10th Ward Candidates' Forum: Observations from a Neophyte

[Michael Mackey]

10th Ward Candidates' Forum: Observations from a Neophyte

 

Some observations and questions from a newbie to local politics, following
the 10th ward's City Council debate on August 30.  I'm still open to voting
for any one of three candidates, and would love to hear others' viewpoints
on this forum.  Perhaps others who are better versed on this race will chime
in?

 

ALLAN BERNARD emphasized his experience and intimate knowledge of the inner
workings of Minneapolis government, apparently having worked at City Hall
under other councilpersons.  He has a clear grasp of the issues, and
emphasizes his ability to "get things done," whether helping a constituent
with garbage collection problems or helping a new business navigate city
bureaucracy.  He comes across as knowledgeable and efficacious, and he's
certainly the guy I'd want on the phone if I had a garbage collection
problem.  Yet he still sounds like the assistant to the councilperson.
QUESTION:  Has Allan graduated from assistant to leader?  Does Allan have a
vision that is broader than constituent service, and can he tackle the
larger problems, such as development and long-term quality of life issues?

 

If Allan Bernard's message centers on constituent service and the humdrum of
garbage collection, GAY NOBLE has more of the "vision thing" going.  Gay
repeatedly turned to issues of development and quality of life, calling
"walkable communities the physical form of democracy."  She emphasized a
need for long-term development planning, density in construction, and both a
minimum and maximum height on buildings.  Gay noted the absurdity and lack
of urban planning along Hennepin Avenue:  allowing a strip-mall-like box and
parking lot (Chipotle) just blocks away from a thirteen-story glass high
rise (neither of which fit the character of the neighborhood).  Gay's ideas
resonate with me (and with my partner, whose vote she earned at the debate);
beautiful cities are built not by reacting to the short-term interests of
developers, but by long-term proactive planning and judicious zoning.  Yet,
I wonder about Gay's leadership experience and political abilities.
QUESTION:  Is there more to Gay than just a dreamy rhetorical vision?  Does
she have the experience and political instincts to work with others and turn
her vision into reality?

 

SCOTT PERSONS eloquently defended the need to fund neighborhood
revitalization programs, noting that it was through such an organization
that he became civically engaged and emerged as a leader in his community.
Scott seemed to appreciate the need to build communities from the grass
roots and to cultivate local leadership and local ownership.  He impressed
me as the candidate who has most arisen from an active life in civil
society, with a wealth of experience in local community building.  For me,
Scott won the "ethos" contest:  This is a candidate who appears to love his
city, a candidate who wants this position not to fulfill some ego need, but
because he believes he can serve the city.  He appears to have the
experience, gravitas, calm temperament, and doggedness to make
accomplishments.  And, like Allan Bernard, Scott appeared very well versed
in the nuances of Minneapolis governance, giving detailed policy responses
to questions, rather than pithy sound bites.  Yet, I understand that Scott
was a supporter of the glass high rise on Hennepin and Lake and, although he
noted the need for a master development plan, the debate did not clarify his
vision for the city.  QUESTION:  With Scott Persons in City Hall, will
Uptown feel like a Houston of hideous glass buildings, or a quaint
neighborhood of San Francisco?  Does Scott have a defined vision of
development for the city?

 

I am not considering voting for the other three candidates, each of which
was difficult to take seriously at the forum.  HARRY SAVAGE initially
provided great comic relief, but by the thirty-fifth "Guliani-style
crackdown" on crime comment (his standard response, regardless of the
question asked), I was exasperated with the candidate's appeals to fear.  I
wish TOM MOORE were my neighbor and I'd have coffee with him any day, but he
clearly lacks experience and substantive knowledge on the core issues that
the ward faces.  In my view, RALPH REMINGTON's responses consisted primarily
of populist sound bites (finally there's someone who care's about you; I'll
take your voice to City Hall...).  This apparently appeals to some, but I'm
looking for more experience and substance, less packaging.

 

Again, I'd love to see responses on this forum.

 

P. Michael Mackey

Uptown 

REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/

Re: [Mpls] Park Board considering selling park land (BluffStreet-Gasworks)

[Laura and lloyd]

On Wednesday, August 31, 2005, at 09:46  PM, Michael Hohmann wrote:


Perhaps our parklands should be put into a
permanent, protective trust that protects and preserves, regardless of
management entity or personalities involved at any point in time?  A 
land
trust for future generations.  What lands should/should not be 
included in

such a trust?  Is this a concept worth considering?  Pros/cons?  Any
thoughts on the matter from list members, MPRB candidates??


This reminds me of the great foresight Beatrix Potter had to add land 
to the National Trust in the UK. The land trust idea is a very good one 
and I think it will work here.  Thanks Michael for this excellent idea. 
Let's try to make it work.


When she died on 22 December 1943, Beatrix Potter left fourteen farms 
and 4000 acres of land to the National Trust, together with her flocks 
of Herdwick sheep. The Trust now owns 91 hill farms, many of which have 
a mainly Herdwick landlord's flock with a total holding of about 25000 
sheep. This was her gift to the nation, her own beloved countryside for 
all to enjoy.


http://www.visitcumbria.com/bpotter.htm

Best wishes,

Laura


Laura Waterman Wittstock
Candidate for Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees
DFL and Labor endorsed
AFSCME Mn Council 5
AFL-CIO COPE
Minneapolis Building and Trades
Stonewall DFL
Minnesota Women's Political Caucus
www.laurawatermanwittstock.com
http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/
Wittstock for Library Committee
913 19th Avenue SE, Mpls, 55414
Minneapolis, MN
612-387-4915
REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

[Mpls] Four Resign from Vets Home

[Socialist2001]

The top four administrators of the state-run Minneapolis Veterans Home 
resigned this week after a recent state Health Department inspection found 
numerous 
care problems there, officials said Wednesday.

The 418 nursing home residents "are not in immediate jeopardy, but we have 
concerns about some of the care issues there," said Mike Tripple, who heads 
inspections for the Health Department...

...Problems included such basic care issues as bed sores and cleanliness of 
incontinent residents...
 
[There were inspections by the Department of Health Facility Complaints in 
June and July] ...Soon after the July inspection, the home's administrators 
added a fifth nursing aide to both the morning and afternoon shifts, said 
Mattox. 
She said the addition has improved care. 

Full text at
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5590147.html

[Doug Mann] The staff to resident ratio was 1 to 104, then 1 to 84.  Even 
with 5 nursing aids on every shift, each resident would get an average of less 
than 18 minutes of nursing care per 24 hours.  Nurses (RNs and LPNs) in long 
term care settings usually don't provide direct nursing care, but instead push 
pills and pencils.

Under Rule 49 (nursing home regulations repealed by the MN legislature in 
1985), the required minimum hours of productive nursing care per resident per 
24 
hours was 1.0 hour for residents classified as "intermediate care" ("board and 
care," substancially independent in basic activities of daily living, e.g., 
continent of bowel and bladder), 2.5 hours for Skilled 1, and 3.2 hours for 
Skilled 2.

Assuming that Nurse Aids do most or all of the direct nursing care, current 
staffing levels at the Vets Home are grossly inadequate, and the residents are 
in jeopardy. Serious neglect, as evidenced by pressure sores, is unavoidable 
with so few caregivers. 

I have about 10 years experience as a charge nurse, and prior to that worked 
about 7 years in hospitals and nursing homes in the Twin Cities and Atlanta, 
Georgia.

>From 1975 to 1978 I was the chair of a workers council that enforced minimum 
staffing requirements under Rule 49 at a nursing home in St. Paul, MN.  The 
unionized employees threatened to conduct an "illegal" strike, if necessary to 
enforce the law in November 1975 and thereafter.
- See "The Diary of a Nursing Home Agitator" 
http://educationright.tripod.com/id268.htm 

-Doug Mann, King Field, 8th ward
Candidate for Minneapolis City Council
http://educationright.com/blog
REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Re: [Mpls] Cost of Stadium and Tuition at D

[Greg Abbott]

I have followed the DeLaSalle stadium debate, but I have drawn no  
conclusion one way or the other.


In my judgment the opponents of the stadium have completely lost  
perspective if they think pointless quibbling with DeLaSalle  
supporters over tuition and scholarships advances their cause.


DeLaSalle is a fine institution, and contributes greatly to the  
quality of life in Minneapolis.  It is counter-productive to deny or  
minimize that fact.  If the debate becomes a referendum on DeLaSalle  
generally, the stadium opponents will almost surely lose.


So, let's stipulate for the record that DeLaSalle is an excellent,  
amazing, divinely-inspired school that saves thousands of kids from  
the clutches of  poverty and crime.


That fact is not a sufficient condition to permit a private religious  
entity to use public park land.


The only way this deal makes sense is if the public as a whole  
benefits.  From the perspective of the Park Board, the larger  
question is -- does the stadium proposal improve the use and access  
of the affected park land by the public as a whole?


From what I can see on the list, no one has discussed this  
particular point.  Someone needs to provide some hard data on current  
public use and enjoyment of the tennis courts, compared to potential  
public use and enjoyment of the new facilities.


Use and enjoyment of the facilities by DeLaSalle is not a public  
benefit, even if helps keep kids off the street.  Justifying use of  
public land by private religious groups on the basis of the good  
works done by those religious groups sets a very dangerous precedent,  
and is wholly inconsistent with the principle of church/state  
separation.


If the public benefits, as well as DeLaSalle, then it's a win-win.   
But without a direct public benefit, it's a no-go.


So let's reframe the debate, and leave the discussion of tuition and  
financial aid on the table, OK?


Greg Abbott
Linden Hills


On Sep 1, 2005, at 2:26 PM, Chris Johnson wrote:


I would like to make my own comparisons, and draw my own conclusions.

To repeat the question:  how much is DeLaSalle's tuition?  The  
correct answer is a numerical value, expressed in dollars and  
cents, not an opinion on its relation to the amount at "most"  
private schools.


Carlson thinks the tuition went up about $500 and another parent  
said around $1,500.  Which is it?


How many students get more than a token amount of financial aid?   
How many students get 50% or more of tuition?  Giving over half the  
students a few dollars might qualify as financial aid, but would  
not be representative of the real financial needs of the student body.


One other note about financial aid.  All students at Catholic high  
schools in the archdiocese are eligible for need-based grants from  
the Archdiocesan Annual Catholic Appeal.  DeLaSalle is hardly  
unique in that aspect.




Greg Abbott
[EMAIL PROTECTED]




REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

[Mpls] Reminder: 8th Ward forum, Tuesday, Sept. 6

[David Brauer]

A reminder for 8th Ward residents and others who might care --

You may still be trying to figure out whom to vote for among the 10 (!)
candidates in the 8th Ward City Council primary Sept. 13.

To help you decide, the ward's two community papers, Southside Pride and the
Southwest Journal, are co-sponsoring an 8th Ward Candidate Fair &
Discussion:

Tuesday, Sept. 6
6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Martin Luther King Park Center, 41st & Nicollet.

We've tried to make this a flexible event because we know everyone has crazy
busy schedules. That's why we've split the "candidate fair" (where you can
buttonhole candidates one-on-one) into early and late sessions: 6:30-7 p.m.
and 8:30-9 p.m.

At 7 p.m., we'll do candidate intros - 2 minutes each. At around 7:30, we'll
begin a freewheeling discussion - using your questions, we'll let candidates
respond without rigid time limits; we hope there will be cross-talk among
candidates, critiquing others' points, for example. David Brauer, the
Journal's editor who got his experience herding cats as a neighborhood board
president, will attempt to moderate the discussion with a firm hand.

We hope everyone who's interested can make it. If you want to know more, or
volunteer to gather questions and do other small tasks, please email David
at [EMAIL PROTECTED]

David Brauer
Kingfield
Editor, Southwest Journal

REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

[Mpls] Mayors Race

[david]

Updated Sorry about the Typos>>


Mayoral Marathon - September 7, 11 AM - 1 PM
The MCTC Student Senate is sponsoring a Q & A brown bag lunch 
 
with some of the candidates for the Minneapolis Mayoral Race. Confirmed 
candidates attending include Farheen Hakeem (GREEN), Peter McLaughlin 
(DFL), and Mayor RT Rybak (DFL). This event will be held on the second 
floor of the Helland Center.

date posted: 8-24-2005

We Have Also Confirmed
Marcus Harcus
Mark Koscielsk
Tim Nolan

REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Re: [Mpls] Cost of Stadium and Tuition at D

[Chris Johnson]

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


- DeLaSalle's tuition is the 3rd least among the 12 Catholic schools in the
   area, and much less expensive than most private schools
- Over half the kids get need based financial aid - and I believe it is the
  most per capita of any private school



- Tuition did go up this year, I think about $500, to cover increased
  salaries, and the financial aid endowment increased the same percentage



I would like to make my own comparisons, and draw my own conclusions.

To repeat the question:  how much is DeLaSalle's tuition?  The correct answer 
is a numerical value, expressed in dollars and cents, not an opinion on its 
relation to the amount at "most" private schools.


Carlson thinks the tuition went up about $500 and another parent said around 
$1,500.  Which is it?


How many students get more than a token amount of financial aid?  How many 
students get 50% or more of tuition?  Giving over half the students a few 
dollars might qualify as financial aid, but would not be representative of the 
real financial needs of the student body.


One other note about financial aid.  All students at Catholic high schools in 
the archdiocese are eligible for need-based grants from the Archdiocesan 
Annual Catholic Appeal.  DeLaSalle is hardly unique in that aspect.



--
Chris Johnson
Fulton

REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

[Mpls] Mayors Race

[david]

Mayoral Marathon - September 7, 11 AM - 1 PM
The MCTC Student Senate is sponsoring a Q & A brown bag lunch 
 
with some of the candidates for the Minneapolis Mayoral Race. Confirmed 
candidates attending include Farheen Hakeem (GREEN), Peter McLaughlin 
(DFL), and Mayor RT Rybak (DFL). This event will be held on the second 
floor of the Helland Center.

date posted: 8-24-2005

Recentlyb confirmed
Tom Knolan
Marcus HArcus
Mark Rocielski
REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

RE: [Mpls] Park Board considering selling park land

[Meg Forney]

> Excellent points here, Mike.  Vehicles like trusts for long term preservation
> and the creation of an endowment fund for future procurements, are concepts to
> be developed with citizen input via Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC¹s ­ an
> extremely useful tool of the park Board¹s that I have served on numerous) and
> by updating the MPRB Comprehensive Plan.
> 
> Above the Fall Citizen Advisory Committee, that I sit on as the southwest
> representative, with a broad base of representation, is currently looking at
> such a vehicle, a development corporation to potentially secure Upper River
> lands and follow the Above the Falls Master Plan, adopted by the Park
> Board...yet, not completely adopted by the City of Minneapolis.  This plan is
> a healthy combination of open space, commercial, residential and industry.
> 
> Since I am a strong advocate of a revised comprehensive plan for the Park
> Board, an endeavor that is slated to seek citizen input soon, this is a very
> appropriate means to set criteria for Park Board lands.  Citizen input will
> lay the foundation for MPRB Commissioners, who will require tremendous
> leadership, leading off the same page crafted by our citizen¹s vision.
> 
> MEG FORNEY
> Candidate for Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioner-at-Large
> DFL Feminist Caucus Endorsed
> West Calhoun 
> 
> 
> 
> Seems to me that historic arguments for keeping the MPRB as a separate Board
> were always based on the fact that a separate MPRB would protect and
> preserve the parklands, and not sell them off to raise cash when times get
> tight, which presumably, the city would/could do (just as the MPRB
> would/could/might do).  Perhaps our parklands should be put into a
> permanent, protective trust that protects and preserves, regardless of
> management entity or personalities involved at any point in time?  A land
> trust for future generations.  What lands should/should not be included in
> such a trust?  Is this a concept worth considering?  Pros/cons?  Any
> thoughts on the matter from list members, MPRB candidates??
> 
> Mike Hohmann
> independent candidate 13th Ward City Council
> NO party affiliation, NO special interest endorsements.
> Endorsements and contributions accepted only from individuals, no PAC money.
> "I will work for voters and taxpayers, NOT special interests."
> www.mikeforcitycouncil.org
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 

REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

[Mpls] "Fantasy-based politics vs. Real-world policy: natural gas prices double last year's rate

[Gary Hoover]

Bloomberg has a reasonably good article about the impacts of Katrina. Our 
candidates for local office and our local citizenry need to be aware of 
this.  Natural gas prices are double last year's prices, and are likely to 
rise from there.  Gas prices will likely exceed $3/gallon and may approach 
$4/gallon at times.


It is not likely that GOM oil, natural gas, or refinery production will be 
restored for months -- possibly stretching into over a year.


Matt Simmons (Houston-based energy banker, author of "Twilight In the 
Desert") was quoted on Bloomberg radio the other day as noting that Katrina 
is "The trigger event that will drive energy prices way, way higher."  We 
will not "catch up" in terms of energy production or economics without 
initiating sustainable energy policies at every level of organization.


The other day, NPR's midmorning interviewed a key scientist on energy issues 
who stated (again) that "end-use efficiency" (or conservation) was the most 
beneficial and vital strategy to pursue.  He also noted that transportation 
is the most wasteful sector of energy consumption in the USA.  It is the 
"800-pound gorilla sitting in the middle of the living room."


Bloomberg's article mentions that given another disruption in another part 
of the world oil could easily exceed $100.00/barrel and with limited 
refinery capacity gas could go upto $5+ dollars, as I recall.  The 
article is here:


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=1103&sid=aVwIS5Giw0JM&refer=us

Implications for Minneapolis:

1.  The stadiums we've been talking about building are likely to double or 
triple in cost to build and operate.  Just keep that in mind as you go into 
the voting booth, folks.


2.  We are so behind in terms of building sustainable urban infrastructure 
in Minneapolis and the surrounding metro that we will be hit especially hard 
by abrupt changes.  (These abrupt changes will be a part of our lives for 
years to come -- anyone with a high school reading comprehension level and 
access to public information related to energy issues can look over the 
relevant info and see that.)  We need to focus on building sustainable urban 
infrastructure.  Every available dollar needs to be diverted to that process 
now.  The longer we wait, the more painful and expensive the task will 
become.


3.  We desperately need a new political vision for Minneapolis, and we need 
new and courageous political leadership.  The DFL refuses to engage the real 
world we are in, and continues to coddle the Minneapolis DFL "base" by 
championing a fantasy vision which urges people to feel as though we can 
disappear into Minneapolis cocoon our far from the  harsh realities of the 
larger world.


We need to vote leaders into office who will speak frankly and clearly about 
the changes which will best prepare us for the future.  The DFL is clearly 
not interested in that.  I doubt that the DFL is flexible or responsive 
enough to acknowledge a "reality" outside of petty parochial concerns.  Will 
the Greens and other independent political leaders be given a chance, or 
will the DFL monopoly continue?


-- pedaling off to my next job, from Lynnhurst for now -- Gary Hoover 


REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Re: [Mpls] Shoefiti

[Scott Moore]

Causation is not the same as correlation. Shoefiti and crime occur in 
the same neighborhood. A study can show the correlation between one and 
the other. There may be some unknown events or actions that are causing 
either the shoes or the crime or both.


To know for certain what is causing what, a scientific study would need 
to be held with precisely controlled variables. Since I don't think that 
is possible in this instance, case histories could be taken and 
observations made. That means talking to the ones committing the crimes 
and the ones tossing the shoes on the power lines.


It might make for an interesting doctoral thesis for a statistical 
student at the U of M. Short of these options, I don't think we may ever 
know what is causing the shoefiti and if it is causing any criminal 
activity.


Mark Wilde wrote:

It is just as likely that they are not gang related.
How is it possible to prove correlation between gang
graffitti and shoes on the line and anything else? It
isn't because they are not related. Other people have
tried to link graffitti to crime on this list, but I
am just not buying it. Now you are saying that the bad
scary criminal is coming here from Los Angeles and he
is bringing his shoes? This is starting to sound like
a fairy tale you are making up as you go along. You
continue to make this assumption without any proof and
after you have seen evidence of hundreds of other
theories as to why those shoes are up there.

Mark Wilde
Windom Park

"I still don't have any solid evidence explaining why
the shoes appear on lines, but still consider it
highly likely they signify some kind of nefarious
activity in problematic neighborhoods of the city. The

officer in the FOX 9 News report - after stating that
Shoefiti is somewhat comical mentioned that shoes are
used to mark gang territory in Los Angeles.
Wouldn't it make sense for gang members moving here
from L.A. to bring their tactics with them? The
shoefiti along E Lake St. between I-35W and 
Cedar certainly seems to correlate with gang graffiti

in the area."

Removing shoefiti one pair at a time.

- Ed Kohler

Shoeless in Cooper



__
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 
REMINDERS:

1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls




--
Scott Moore - 612.791.2333
Happy Accident Productions, LLC
REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

[Mpls] Voter Information Expo @ M P L

[Rod Krueger]

Voter Information Expo   (LWV: September Project)

Minneapolis Public Library (MPL) is teaming up with the League of Women 
Voters (LWV) and Kids Voting to prepare Minneapolis Voters for the September 
13th Primary. Volunteers will be staffing information booths at various 
Minneapolis Public Libraries to answers questions about the Primary 
election, field of candidates and logistics of how, when, and where to vote.


Volunteers are needed to help with voter registration - contact Melinda 
Ludwiczak 612-630-6246.


The Voter Information Expo is from Noon-3 pm Saturday, September 10th at the 
following Minneapolis libraries:


Central Hosmer  Nokomis Northeast
Walker  WashburnWebber Park Pierre Bottineau


MPL locations: http://www.mplib.org/locations.asp

LWV Minneapolis:   http://www.lwvmpls.org/



Thank you,


Rod Krueger
Library Board Member / Keeywadin


REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Re: [Mpls] Cost of Stadium and Tuition at D

[nikkicarlson001]

Thank you very much for your concern for the students of DeLaSalle. I am just 
really grateful. Thank you. Here is the info:
 
- DeLaSalle's tuition is the 3rd least among the 12 Catholic schools in the 
area, and much less expensive than most private schools
- Over half the kids get need based financial aid - and I believe it is the 
most per capita of any private school
- NO tuition dollars go toward capital campaigns, nor have any capital 
improvements EVER been paid for out of tuition, just private donations
- Tuition did go up this year, I think about $500, to cover increased salaries, 
and the financial aid endowment increased the same percentage
- If you want to make a donation, you can call 612-676-7600 and ask for the 
development office. You can specify where you want the money to go
 
School started at DeLaSalle on Monday, and I see all the terrific kids heading 
to the island walking from downtown, Northeast, getting off the bus, toting 
heavy backpacks of books. They are beautiful, and full of potential, and a 
wonderful sight to see.
 
Nikki Carlson
@ work in the warehouse district
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Re: [Mpls] My Candidacy for Mayor

[wmmarks]

Mark Snyder wrote:


It's pretty easy for Commissioner McLaughlin to talk about how he's been an
NRP supporter, for example, when he's never been in the position of having
to weigh that against the city's various other needs like public safety, for
example, by actually preparing a city budget and getting City Council to go
along with it.
 

It's easy for McLaughlin to talk about being an NRP supporter because he 
was a state representative when the "20 year plan" effort (morphed into 
NRP) went to the legislature to get the state's cooperation and he 
helped put it through the gates, to use a sports metaphor. NRP is a 
joint powers agreement (I think that's the term). It's funding comes 
from state, county, and city and the agreement was $20 million/yr for 20 
years. Nor was it an easy thing to get through the legislature. So Peter 
can justifiably take credit for helping to produce the NRP and for 
knowing down to his socks what the NRP is all about.


There is, in my estimation, no way to get around the poor judgment 
displayed in cutting 150 police officers  and X firefighters at once 
from the city's budget. The departments could not absorb such a loss, 
reassign tasks, do the work with such a massive cut.


The city's first three responsibilities, which dwarf all others 
theoretically, are police, fire and public works. City councils, mayors, 
alder-men and women are required to give those priority. But joint power 
agreements, like NRP have a mandate to be carried out as well. The loss 
of so many cops and fire fighters AND the loss of NRP money are costing 
us dearly every day. For some people, it's cost them their lives. The 
cost to people living in the Third and Fourth Precincts has been 
astronomical in destruction of human lives. I cannot speak for the 
northside because I really do not understand how it works, but for the 
southside, I could not feel more devalued by the state and the city than 
I do from the way we have been treated since Pawlenty and RT were 
elected. While much of the weight falls on the Pawlenty administration, 
RT does have to take his licks for a certain failure of judgment in the 
way he's gone about contending with the bills and his supporters 
insistence that he pay off all the credit cards immediately, if not sooner.


Along with so many of my neighbors, I worked my butt off to turn around 
my neighborhood and help the folks across the street (Phillips) turn 
Phillips around. Are you aware that you now have to pay serious money to 
buy a house in Phillips and that folks are lining up to buy them? This 
may be real proof that there is a god. Do you have any concept of the 
number of volunteers hours we all invested in this city's neighborhoods? 
I'm really proud of all of us for that work. We didn't just pull 
ourselves up by our bootstraps, not everyone even had bootstraps. Do you 
have any idea how much work was put into persuading the NRP into being 
through several different and competing bureaucracies? It was the heavy 
lifting, for this era, of a paradigm shift. Almighty cool, far into 
kewl. I wasn't in on that part, except for having elected folks who 
could help that along, but it was a remarkable achievement. For what it 
created, $20 mil for 20 years (aren't we at year 11 now?) was a real 
bargain. Money is now flowing into city and state coffers from Phillips 
and Central. NRP's investment has nettled a positive bottom line in 
private dollars invested. The investment is paying off, so lets cut 
funds so we can stop up that revenue stream. NRP is about city 
infrastructure, animal, vegetable and mineral.


RT does not get that. Peter, on the other hand, was here from the git-go 
with NRP and with what a city is about.  He built his credentials and 
lots of us watched him do it. He's good at being a politician. 
Personally, I'm happy to vote for someone who is willing to accomplish 
some things for the good of the whole body politic.


What this contest for mayor is about, in my mind, is picking up the 
pieces. Both the state and RT's supporters came in to say 'we're taking 
this city back from spending on urban revitalization--including human 
revitalization. We've had enough!'


Well, excuse the demons outta me! We have to do something about the 40 
years of vicious neglect imposed on the core of the city by red lining. 
Why should the core of the city become uninhabitable through neglect and 
abuse? Show me how that improves the lives of all of us in the metro 
area. Show me how that saves us money. $20 mil for 20 years is not quite 
going to cover the bases if there is chronically inadequate police, 
fire, and public works.


Show me, on paper, the savings accrued by throwing the police, fire, and 
public works into free fall. How does turning large sections of the city 
into nursery and haven for every kind of predatory behavior save money. 
Under the laws we have and in a capitalist economic system we get two 
choices: we pay for an infrastructure th

[Mpls] Camp Casey Comes to Minneapolis and St. Paul

[David Strand]

CAMP CASEY Comes to Minneapolis
and St Paul

TOMORROW/Friday Sept. 2, 7:30pm;St. Joan of Arc Church
4457 Third Ave. South
Hospitality Room

SATURDAY Sept. 3, NOON-2pm
MN State Capitol
St Paul

FYI- David Strand
Loring Park




Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs 
 
REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

[Mpls] Shoefiti

[Mark Wilde]

It is just as likely that they are not gang related.
How is it possible to prove correlation between gang
graffitti and shoes on the line and anything else? It
isn't because they are not related. Other people have
tried to link graffitti to crime on this list, but I
am just not buying it. Now you are saying that the bad
scary criminal is coming here from Los Angeles and he
is bringing his shoes? This is starting to sound like
a fairy tale you are making up as you go along. You
continue to make this assumption without any proof and
after you have seen evidence of hundreds of other
theories as to why those shoes are up there.

Mark Wilde
Windom Park

"I still don't have any solid evidence explaining why
the shoes appear on lines, but still consider it
highly likely they signify some kind of nefarious
activity in problematic neighborhoods of the city. The

officer in the FOX 9 News report - after stating that
Shoefiti is somewhat comical mentioned that shoes are
used to mark gang territory in Los Angeles.
Wouldn't it make sense for gang members moving here
from L.A. to bring their tactics with them? The
shoefiti along E Lake St. between I-35W and 
Cedar certainly seems to correlate with gang graffiti
in the area."

Removing shoefiti one pair at a time.

- Ed Kohler

Shoeless in Cooper



__
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 
REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Re: [Mpls] My Candidacy for Mayor

[gemgram]

Thank you Dean!

Speaking of special interests and such has jogged my old memory.

Wasn't the only veto of the entire four years of the RT Rybak administration 
the attempt by Rybak to veto the City Council NOT giving special 
consideration to Basim Sabri.  RT attempted to force the City Council to 
support a Criminal that the entire City saw on television bribing a 
Minneapolis City Council Member.  A person who admitted in Federal Court 
that he "had bribed Minneapolis City officials to overcome neighborhood 
opposition and gain access to land and NRP funds"  Now that is "Special 
Interest"!


Speaking of special interest and the "Law" brings up the memory of someone 
calling McLaughlin "Old Guard".  If my memory serves the kings of the "Old 
Guard" Walter Mondale and DFL "Kingmaker " Sam Kaplan are the only real 
"endorsements" that Rybak has for re-election.


My memory is getting bad so perhaps someone can remind me, besides RT's 
special interests, Sabri and powerful lawyers, who else supports RT?


Perhaps being supported by all the Stonewall Coalition, Homeless advocates, 
Public employees at the City, the Police and Firefighters, the Teachers, 
AFSME, and so much of the other labor groups is considered "special 
interests". But then those groups and poor people have always been "special" 
to Democrats. Oh that is right, all those delegates at the City Convention 
who gave McLaughlin a clear majority of support were also "Special" and they 
are "interested"!


Of course many of us in the poor neighborhoods of Minneapolis think we are 
also damn special, and that criminals like Sabri and powerful lawyers who 
support Rybak are not so special.  So I guess Peter McLaughlin does have 
more "special interest" support than Rybak.


Jim Graham,
Of "special interest" in Ventura Village



://e-democracy.org/mpls 


REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Re: [Mpls] My Candidacy for Mayor

[freealonzo]

Sorry, Mr. Clegg, it appears that Peter McClaughlin has already staked 
his flag on your platform.  That is of course unless some other special 
interest group makes him a better offer.

Dean E. Carlson
East Harriet, Ward 10

 
> On 8/31/05 10:53 AM, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
 
It's apparent from what's currently happening in this mayoral campaign 
how easy it is for challengers to bash the incumbent,promise 
everything, and spend  nothing.  So, of course, I've decided to get in 
on the action too!
> 
In my administration, we will add 150, no wait, make that 250, police 
officers
immediately.  It is SHOCKING that we haven't eradicated crime in the 
urban
center of this large metropolitan area and its obviously the 
incumbent's fault
for not thinking of the brilliant solution of hiring 250, no wait, make 
that
350, more cops.  Plus, they'll all be Ambassadors of the City and will 
treat
all our residents nonviolently and with respect.  Cool, huh?
> 
Are schools your bag?  Even though education is a state function 
delegated by
the legislature to local independent boards and the mayor has 
absolutely> NOTHING to do with educating our children, my 
administration will improve test scores, eliminate drop outs, reduce 
class size and modernize our educational> facilities.   The only reason 
the School Board and  staff haven't done so to  date is because they 
haven't had such a smart Mayor to give them these great ideas!  I'll 
make sure all this happens right away.
> 
NRP?  Fully funded, right away, of course.  Another $20 million, no 
wait, $40
million on deck - and I promise you can spend it however you want!  
Affordable housing?  Lots of it, right away too.  Jeez, why hasn't 
anyone else  thought of these things? 
> 
Oh and that sacred cow of yours, whatever it currently is, in City 
government?
You know, a specific department, program or union that you really 
like.  Don't
worry, I won't touch them - in fact, I'm convinced whatever you're for 
is so
important, I will increase funding.
> > 
Taxes?  Don't worry about it.  I'll pay for this all by  eliminating 
fraud,waste
and abuse (unless it's your sacred cow, in which case don't worry).  
I'll also
"partner" with the State and County and, because of my "proven track 
record,"
they'll fork over millions from someone else's pocket.  Yeah, that's 
right,
the suburbs and the Republican governor will be happy to kick in lots 
of dough so
you don't have to.  And, if these don't work, well [mumble, mumble, 
cough, cough...].  Good, I'm glad that's clear!
> 
So, with a platform like this, how can I lose?  Start sending money 
now - but don't worry, no matter how many promises I make now, I will 
never be beholden to any special interest groups (keep those checks 
coming though).   Thank you for your support.

> > Barry Clegg
> > Nicollet Island

REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Re: [Mpls] My Candidacy for Mayor

[gemgram]

Mayor Rybak's problem is that many of his most ardent supporters in 2001 
have very good memories.  We remember the intimate conversations and 
promises made by the Mayor.  We remember them in great detail. 
Unfortunately the same can not be said for the mayor and his administration. 
Which if it has not exhibited short memories has certainly demonstrated 
total indifference to promises made.  Perhaps Mark can explain what exactly 
was the overpowering reason to have forgotten his promise on the stadium 
only one week into his term?


As I have said on this List and publicly,  "I do not think RT Rybak EVER 
consciously lied to us. I am just as certain that he never remembered ONE 
promise he made to us!"


Mark says, "I'd really love to hear from Commissioner McLaughlin or his 
supporters on what they would have done differently."


I believe we have been giving that information to you for the last two 
years.  Perhaps Mark, like RT, does not remember that.  Readers, please go 
back and review the archives, and you will find that that for a couple of 
years we defended RT, and then we started urging RT to remember some of his 
promises.  Then you will find some of us blaming his appointees and not RT. 
Only after it became obvious that the Rybak administration was organizing 
against neighborhoods and absolutely did not care about the "Impacted 
Neighborhoods" did RT himself come under criticism.


I happen to be a RT supporter.  I think the media is his natural calling.  I 
think he should become the Channel 5 Co-Anchor.  From there he could 
possibly create a position nationally.  Many of our anchor people have gone 
on the MSNBC, CNN and others. RT should do what he is great at, and leave 
others to do the mundane hard work that we in Minneapolis need from a mayor. 
RT is just too "kewl" to be limited to being Mayor of Minneapolis.


RT needs an audience that will forget by the next day what he has said 
today.  He does not need the hard memories that some of us in Minneapolis 
have.  Memories that just refuse to "negotiate reality"! The flash of bright 
lights apparently erases RT's memory each night. Minneapolis needs a Mayor 
who remembers that being Mayor is about the needs of Minneapolis not just 
about being "Mayor Kewl".


Jim Graham,
Ventura Village 


REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

[Mpls] White supremacist runs for Minneapolis council

[Shawn Lewis]

So far, his campaign has amounted to distributing some pamphlets 
that argue that black people have IQs so far below white people 
that affirmative action should be precluded. While Asians have 
slightly higher average IQs than whites, fewer of them are geniuses, 
Leininger's pamphlet says.

Leininger said that affirmative action works against white people 
and that "since the 1960s, the government has gone against white people."

He would pursue passage of an ordinance allowing the Minneapolis 
Police Department to ask immigrants for their documentation at traffic stops.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5590003.html

Posted by Shawn Lewis, Minnetonka,MN




-- 
___
Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com
http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm

REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If 
you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls