Many other communities around the country have
reduced the requirements to vote in local elections
to time of residence and age. This enables
immigrants
and resident aliens to vote in local elections such
as school board, park board, city council and, in
some
cases, county boards. These populations as
taxpayers, consumers of public services, contributors
enriching the local cultural landscape, entrepreneurs,
and a growing part of the local workforce should be
able to vote for those in charge of the most basic
services offered at the local level.
As the city has an increasing population of
disenfranchised individuals among it's residents, I
think it is important that we begin to discuss doing
the same here. Will the places in our community
that have the next Kondirator or other
environmentally or undesireable projects be where
there is a disenfranchised community of immigrants?
A number of the communities that have done so
around the country are high tech centers that have
employers who draw on an international talent pool.
The uniquely talented individuals who work for such
firms expect to be able to participate in the civic
life of the community in which they live. In Europe,
most members of the European Union allow resident
aliens to vote in local elections. Similar situations
exist in Japan, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, and a
number of other countries.
These are just a couple of reasons to support these
efforts. I encourage discussion on this list.
Thanks David Strand
Ward 7
Loring Park
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