A reminder: Contact the Governor's Office: 651-296-3391 to ask him to veto this project (the Colin Powell Youth Center). This is prime veto bait. It certainly does not fit into the state wide impact the Governor has stated publically.
I got the following in the mail from Sen. Berglin: Dear Eva: Thank you for your phone call to my office regarding your concern about The Colin Powell Youth Center and Urban Ventures. The County is the fiscal agent for the Colin Powell Youth Center. Peter McLaughlin is in support of the center. This was the only project that was designed to help children of color. EY: I just called County Commissioner McLaughlin's office. Lisa Vecoli of his office stated that McLaughlin has a long history of supporting Urban Ventures, and she will give him the message to have him call me to explain why. Berglin continues: Neva Walker is a strong supporter of this project and came to the Senate Finance Committee to support it. EY: Neva disputes this. She claims that she only inquired about what was going on with this. Lou of Linda Berglin's office said that Neva came to the Senate Finance Meeting along with the Urban Ventures Lobbyists. She did not speak for the program, but her presence with the lobbyists implied her support. Berglin continues: The funds it received in the Senate were small. The program will not be connected to any religion. EY: Interesting -- this is what a funding proposal Urban Ventures has for a "youth ministry" says: "The goal of Leadership Development is to develop students who by their senior year in high school are so committed to Jesus Christ that they can survive and thrive in any environment." Now, how is this an organization that is not pushing one particular religion? If the Governor does not veto this, there's going to be alot of hassle making sure the organization does what they said they were going to do -- rather than using the money to evangelize a community that has a wide variety of religious backgrounds. Sen. Berglin continues: Urban Ventures has no position on gays and lesbians and currently there are openly gay young people in the programs at the center. ------------------------ EY: So they say, but then these people should be testifying on the matter. Art Erickson is not known for telling the truth. He claims support from the Minneapolis School District and the Minneapolis Park Board -- which he doesn't have. I confirmed this with Catherine Shreves, School Board Chair, Judy Farmer, School Board member, and Craig Vanna who oversees partnerships with the district, Annie Young, Park Board member, by going to a recent Park Board meeting and talking with Park Board Staff. Then Berglin's PS is interesting. P.S. The Phillips West Planning organization for NRP where the facility will be located has voted in favor of funding for it. ======================================================== Rep. Neva Walker writes: I am playing catch with my email today. I actually am a supporter of this project. I wouldn't say that I strongly supports the project. That level of support would depend on what other projects need to be funded. The issue about this being the only project that directly targets young people of color is valid and important to me. I am not aware of any issue with Urban Venture and the LGBT community. If there is somehting specific that I should be aware of - please let me know. David just to let you know I am not aware of any other organization that focuses on youth of color or even people of color that put in a bonding request. Thanks - Neva =========================================== The Anti-Gay history of the Urban Ventures Leadership -- Art Erickson, and Ralph Bruins has been mentioned on this list. I talked to Annie Young during the redistricting circus about why the Park Board was partnering with Urban Ventures. She said she is asking staff to investigate. Annie also suggested that people concerned about this issue, come to the next Park Board's meeting and speak on this issue. From going to the meeting, and speaking about UV, I understand the Park Board is not partnering with UV. UV has provided referrees for Park sponsored sports -- but that's it. It all depends on the meaning of the word partnership. This whole thing reminds me of Clinton and his definitions of sex. I was curious about the school board also. Why would the school board partner with an organization like Urban Ventures? The answer is they don't -- and Urban Ventures is lying about that when they make that claim. This whole thing still puzzles me -- I thought part of the reasons the democrats oppose Bush's Faith Based Initiative is that they were concerned about overriding local anti-discrimination ordinances. However, in this case, they seem to want to fund an organization that has their clients "targeted by the Leadership Development staff for Bible study and discipleship, Scripture memory". This is also rather ironic considering Rep. Walker worked on a bill to put a moratorium on facilities such as the one Mary Jo Copeland wants to build in Eagan. As Alice in Wonderland would say "Curiouser and Curiouser." ========================================================= Eva Eva Young Central Neighborhood Minneapolis "You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone - not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be." --Article II of the Bill of Non-Rights. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
