I am concerned that one person, or a group of people picked by Mr. Barisonzi, becomes the standard by which all others are judged. This Report Card is advertised as being a Report Card of "Neighbors", and it doesn't identify which neighbors it represents.
I believe Mr. Barisonzi absolutely needs to be accountable to the community that he says he serves by identifying those neighbors. What stands out to me is that Mr. Barisonzi is obviously has an issue with people of color issues. (See Brian Herron's rating)
When Neva Walker did not ask for Mr. Barisonzi's support as she was running for the Minnesota state legislature, he was publicly hostile toward her running for the state legislator, attacking her competence and her person. I think that should say something about his commitment to young women and people of color. I personally believe that his cultural competence leaves something to be desired and well as his commitment to poor people's issues.
In his report card he refers to "Affordable Housing" issues. Affordable Housing is not the issue for poor people, low income housing (which has become politically incorrect to say) is the issue for poor people.
I am concerned that this report card had no input from my neighbors or people that have deep neighborhood commitment to people of color and poor people. Mr. Barisonzi has a record that he has developed purporting commitment to these issues, but he has a very difficult time working with poor people and people of color, as exemplified by his issues when working with the Lyndale Neighborhood or when developing the Neighborhood Technical Assistance Program for Center for Neighborhoods. He worked well with highly educated, upper middle class folks but consistently has "bumped heads" with those outside of that group of folks. It would appear to me that this report card was developed by a select group of people that Mr. Barisonzi work well with, and I would be interested in knowing who.
A City for Neighbors seems to be an outgrowth of the "for profit" organization that Mr. Barisonzi founded after he left Lyndale Neighborhood. My understanding is in "for profit" organizations, the bottom-line is profit -- how does this Report Card benefit Mr. Barisonzi's organization? I would also like to know the Mr. Barasonzi's political agenda.
I think that this Report Card deserves discussion at the Insight Forum at Lucille's Kitchen. I will contact Mr. McFarland to see if we can get this on the Forum's agenda. I believe that this type of Report Card needs some serious accountability factors built in or at least identify the bias and shortcomings.
The report card he refers to is at: http://www.acityforneighbors.org/reportcard.html
Matthea Little Smith, 9th Ward, Powderhorn Park
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joseph Barisonzi
612-518-5536
www.aCityForNeighbors.org
Minneapolis Voters receive Report Card on their council members
A City for Neighbors distributes 3000 report cards to DFL delegates before ward conventions start.
Information available at www.aCityForNeighbors.org
On Tuesday, February 26 over 3,000 DFL Minneapolis voters will receive a report card on how their council members have voted on key city issues. The report cards, produced and distributed by A City For Neighbors, calculates the percentage of "good neighbor" votes taken by the current 13 council members. The report card is a tool providing citizens the information they need to hold council members accountable for their most recent votes on issues such as affordable housing, subsidized development projects, the airport, environmental concerns and government ethics.
The report card was simultaneously published at
www.aCityforNeighbors.org with detailed research supporting each of the votes.
According to Joseph Barisonzi, co-chair of A City for Neighbors, "In order to make voting decisions, citizens need to have information about how their Council Members are voting. We are providing a summary of important roll call votes. Citizens will make up their minds for themselves."
Barisonzi further reports that "there is a very disturbing pattern of putting big money special interests ahead of people and neighborhoods � our goal is to make the information available and support citizens to make up their own minds. We are confident the citizens will hold their elected officials accountable based on the public record."
While the report card was initially sent to DFL delegates, Barisonzi said, "We are committed to sending this report card to every citizen in Minneapolis." A City for Neighbors has targeted DFL delegates because 12 of 13 council members are DFLers. The incumbents� ward conventions are the first time citizens can hold their elected officials accountable in any election year.
Who is A City for Neighbors?
Formed less than two months ago, A City for Neighbors is a group of concerned Minneapolis residents who strive to advance a new vision for Minneapolis. A City for Neighbors, which does not endorse candidates, seeks to promote discussion and accountability by providing information to citizens about votes in City Hall that affect Minneapolis neighborhoods. A City for Neighbors is counting on positive feedback to provide the support to distribute this and other information tools to all Minneapolis voters.
Why these votes?
The selected votes were representative of the issues that have dominated public and media attention over the past 8 years. They are also the most indicative of the City�s skewed priorities: Block E, Target Store, Stadiums, our "affordable housing" money going for housing that is not really affordable at all. A City for Neighbors was committed to providing information on clean, single-subject votes where the issue being voted on was the only thing being voted on.
Matthea Little Smith
MN DFL Affirmative Action Officer
612-724-2997
"A friend never demands your silence." -- Alice Walker
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