In a message dated 9/22/00 8:36:08 AM Canada Central Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
> It was one of the ugliest meetings I've been to in a while. My guess is
> unless CNIA gets itself together, that neighborhood organization is gone.
> They've already lost lots of funding since they fired the executive
> director. Something else that really needs to happen is a change in
> bylaws, so only residents of Central and property owners can vote. The
> business of folks who work in Central is hard to verify, and the folks who
> live in the area really ought to be the decision makers.
>
Zachary Metoyer, CNIA Board chair, did ask the League of Women Voters to
attend the meeting and observe the process. There were four of us there, and
we saw plenty of chaos.
I also saw a deeply divided neighborhood, no matter what the process for
registration, running the meeting, or taking the vote. More than 250 people
cared enough about what was happening in Central to spend several hours to
reach a vote on recalling the board. It was an impressive sight for those of
us who whine about civic engagement from our comfortable neighborhoods --
where the past issues of concern have been speed bumps and the possibility of
Starbucks locating in our retail centers.
A group that cheers at alienating half the people who are were at the meeting
last Wednesday will have a tough time finding volunteers and leading them in
those projects that need a grassroots component. Other neighborhoods should
look to this as an example to avoid.
Steve Brandt said it best in Thursday's Strib. "The board has considerable
work ahead."
Janet Gendler
Linden Hills
