My apologies I messed that up and once again hit the wrong button...I'm very
sorry!!
Let me continue if I can...Accountability seems to be the issue in the
discussions. As well I've caught hold of the concern for representation
especially for those groups that don't currently have such in the face of
numerous City problems...
Representation is an issue I need to continue to think about...however,
accountability is a good question...how do we do that...?
I liked J.Burns question about why do we continue to elect people who don't
respond? That certainly isn't a total structure problem but one of interest
and obligation on the part of the City residents. No one on this list could
be accused of non-interest but what can we do to get others involved? Why
do we accept and support people who are not living up to our goals of
accountability and representation. I fear the answers to these issues are
far greater than changing the system of elections.
There has been much discussion of the "big money" in campaigns...but I look
at my neighborhood, friends and associates and can say that I doubt any of
them participate financially with local candidates. Yet we discuss nothing
but the problems of the City and how to solve them...
The so called "big money" would be less influential if more people gave what
they can from the local arena...but it is back to how we influence and
educate others to participate?
Of more concern to me than the money involved in politics (don't mistake
that I share numerous concerns about this issue which I'll address as I get
more guts to write in) is the issue of balance. Balance about which elected
officials we let get by with doing minimal work, yet the political power to
stay in office. Does money impact some of that yes...but it isn't the whole
"ball of wax"...Don't we have to admit that part of the problem is simple
complacency...? How do we change that...?
Another issue that impacts the process of balance (I think I believe this I
have to admit I struggle with this issue...) that we need to elect and
promote people of a higher caliber to run for office. That is hard to do
for many reasons. The negative, nasty, and personal nature of a campaign is
not very attractive. Then hold on to your seats (here's the tough
part...)...it doesn't pay very much if you have the credentials to run a
budget the size of Minneapolis!
I know many good people who would be very interested in running for office
and can commit that they would do so for only a short period of time. They
would do so as public service, and use this opportunity to service their
community and have this be a part of their career development or concluding
career "pay-back". But how do they afford to do so..?
I know the public has great disgust for that attitude but it is at least a
discussion for review...
It has certainly been my experience to a large extent (but only one person)
that non-responsiveness is due to burn-out. Elected officials don't leave
office too frequently because they don't know where they go next and have
the same job benefits and pay. This is the best they'll have in their
minds...we could all name examples from the past whereby we know that this
is true...
But we continue to elect them! And we do because no one will run...
This is an exciting election year. But the only one in many many
years...Understand that I do not yet support anyone in any race...however I
truly look forward to the debate...! Let's all try to get our neighbors and
friends and even associates involved...not only to vote but to work for the
candidates they choose and to contribute even a small amount of money...the
system needs it and until that changes let's not pretend it doesn't
matter...convince your neighbors...
Because I'm a little nervous doing for the first time I hope to be more
articulate in the future...I appreciate your patience and I truly look
forward to continued discussions on this issue. The list has many
insightful and interesting opinions...Thanks for letting me be a part!!
I'm Learning a lot from YOU!!
Kim Carlson
Bottineau
-----Original Message-----
From: Kim Carlson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: j burns <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Annie Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
[EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
[EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001 9:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Number of councilmembers
>Good Morning...Let me introduce myself to list participants because I've
>never written before. My name is Kim Carlson, I live in Bottineau in
>glorious Northeast! I work as a consultant and sometimes lobbyist, I've
>been very active in every neighborhood I've lived in Minneapolis and I at
>one time worked as an aide to a Minneapolis City Council Member. In
>addition I've worked for a Senator in Washington, and volunteered to do
>non-paid, non-formal work at the State Legislature. I used to be (long
ago)
>very active in party politics but have not done so for years...
>
>I find the discussion regarding the Council and appropriate responsiveness
>very compelling. However, I 'll admit readily I'm no expert but can bring
a
>little different
>-----Original Message-----
>From: j burns <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001 9:41 AM
>Subject: Re: [Mpls] Number of councilmembers
>
>
>>I've been viewing this list for quite some time and am puzzled by the
"weak
>>mayor system" reference. Has anyone considered the possibility that,
>>currently, Minneapolis may indeed just have a WEAK MAYOR? One who's
>>invisible until there's an election in her midst? I remember at the start
>of
>>her first term how she swore she'd never move out of her ward. A few
months
>>later, it was "hello Edmund Blvd". Her supporters lamented how her "little
>>tiny house just wasn't adequate". Poor thing. A lot of the citizens in
this
>>city don't have a choice! And that little property tax fiasco at her lake
>>home? It was shrugged off, by her darling husband in the Sayles Belton
>>Tribune as a simple little accounting error. Aww...
>>
>>I must say, after viewing the comments on this forum, that most
>>Minneapolitans don't feel she's measured up. I was puzzled why she was
>>elected to a second term, and equally floored when I heard she's got the
>>huttspa to seek a third. If the citizens of Minneapolis are frustrated
with
>>her performance, then WHO pray tell is the voting majority that keeps
>>electing her?
>>JBurns
>>Cleveland
>>
>>
>>>From: Annie Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
>>>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>Subject: Re: [Mpls] Number of councilmembers
>>>Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 13:37:15 -0600
>>>
>>>I am not sure there is a right or wrong answer to the question about
>>>restructuring the council until it is actually tried. HIstorically,
there
>>>were days when there were 26 councilmembers and other configurations
which
>>>I am not sure about.
>>>My issue with citywide members (for any of the Boards) is about Equity
and
>>>balance. I believe the weak mayor system in Minneapolis leaves the Mayor
>>>out there all alone trying to balance the needs of the entire city. When
>>>working within the Council member fiefdom as it operates today it is
>>>extremely difficult for the Mayor to portray and bully pulpit for the
>large
>>>city wide vision including the wants and needs of the entire city.
>>>On both the city council and the Park Board, members generally follow the
>>>wishes and position of the ward/district member and everyone else stays
>out
>>>of the fray. The advantage of the city wide member is that they can also
>>>be part of that district/ward dialogue and weigh in with support, choice
>of
>>>thinking and assessment of the needs in that particular district/ward.
>>>When attending National League of Cities and visting with councilpeople
>>>from all over the country... many, many, many of them are elected at
>large.
>>>IMHO it really does even the playing field in thinking about the overal
>>>needs of the city.
>>>Yes, it is more expensive and harder to run city-wide but it does give
the
>>>citizen some options in garnering support for their projects and
>>>activities. And I stated earlier the at large city wide perspective helps
>>>to insure equity and balance on issues for the entire city.
>>>However, it doesn't sound like anyone has a grand scheme to take some
>>>wording and the concept before the charter commission in the next couple
>of
>>>months.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>At 09:56 AM 2/14/01 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>>> >Having at-large Council Members will not necessarily make "your"
>>>designated
>>> > Those who are going to work at the job are going to work
>>> > What it really
>>> >comes down to is people making the commitment to public service and not
>>>just
>>> > Those who are truly committed are most likely to be the
>>> > Having at-large, in my opinion, will not solve any
>>> > In fact, I think it's a mistake for the Park Board to have
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > With the population of
>>> >Mpls being what it is, it would seem to me the number could be
reduced -
>>> > In the "old" days, CMs
>>> > That position didn't evolve until the late 70s,
>>> > Most of the Assistants do the majority of the constituent service and
>>> > The balance of the CM
>>> > The whole
>>> >structure needs to be re-examined.
>>> >
>>> >Karen Collier
>>> >Linden Hills
>>>Annie Young
>>>Ward 6 - East Phillips in Minneapolis
>>>Citywide at-large Park Board Commissioner
>>>Working to build a sustainable community
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
>>>Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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>>>http://e-democracy.org/mpls
>>
>>_________________________________________________________________
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>>_______________________________________________
>>Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
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>>
>
>
_______________________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
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