Lisa is correct. I have been holding a series of dates for the Lake Street
Council forum for a month because they said they could not schedule the
Mayor. So it's disappointing to see she could not schedule it.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
McDonald, Lisa M
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 10:53 AM
To: 'David Brauer'; Mpls list
Subject: RE: [Mpls] The ChatterBox Forum with Sayles Belton
All I can say about this attending forums issue, is that the Lake Street
Council tried to set up a forum with all three candidates. I said I'd love
to do it. I imaginge Rybak said the same. But according to the organizers it
took them well over a month to get through to the mayor's office and now the
forum has been cancelled because she doesn't want to participate. Go figure.
Lisa McDonald
Tenth War5d Council Member
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Brauer [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 7:07 AM
> To: Mpls list
> Subject: RE: [Mpls] The ChatterBox Forum with Sayles Belton
>
> Eva writes:
>
> >I went to the forum with the Mayor advertised on this list. ... I
> mentioned
> >that there was a message on this list that said she was planning on
> >avoiding joint forums until after the endorsement and she told me not to
> >believe everything I read on Minneapolis Issues, and that people should
> >write her directly about such things and she will respond.
>
> Of course, the Mayor is right: you shouldn't believe everything you read
> here. As an open discussion forum, anyone can post, and there's no "truth
> filter" we can possibly build. Skepticism is a virtue (I've found this
> holds
> true with politicians, too).
>
> The only antidote is further discussion. That's why it would be nice if,
> like her opponents, the Mayor or a campaign representative participated.
> It's less credible to decry lies when you have an open opportunity to
> correct the record.
>
> Mark E. notes:
>
> >I've been a member of this list for more than two years because I find it
> >oftentimes is informative and entertaining. But I doubt that the members
> >are at all representative of Minneapolis voters or Minneapolis citizens.
> I
> >also think it's fairly obvious that many participants here are strongly
> >opposed to the mayor's re-election effort. ... Perhaps the mayor feels
> her
> >efforts should be placed elsewhere.
>
> Sadly, Mark is right, too. And as a co-founder, this is one of my great
> disappointments.
>
> But I want to remind everyone that the forum is NOT inherently
> anti-anything. When we set it up two-plus years ago, we sent invitations
> out
> to everyone, including the mayor and all council members, including the
> majority bloc. Those who have shown up have made it what it is. And those
> still to show up can make it something else again.
>
> I'm not surprised that the mayor's/ruling bloc's opponents have
> predominated...it's easier to play offense (criticizing policies) than
> defense (defending decisions). However, this is a democratic forum, and I
> am
> grateful to the non-opponents (using the term broadly), who have chosen to
> participate and engage in a debate. It's a big reason I insist on decorum,
> so people of all opinions will feel welcome.
>
> As I have said before, a one-sided debate is boring. But I can't muzzle
> the
> side that shows up to get the other side to participate. They have to want
> to, to believe in open public discussion in all forums.
>
> We may not be representative, but we are 480 strong, from all corners of
> the
> city, and believe it or not, reflecting many opinions. Whatever our
> personal
> tics and dysfunctions, we care about the city. Most of us give massive
> amounts of our time to making this city better. Our questions and concerns
> are (for the most part) valid and sincere. Simply put, I think the members
> here are terrific citizens. And I think they have earned some slice of the
> mayor of Minneapolis's time.
>
> On a personal level, I find it ironic that a mayor willing to "don Kevlar
> underwear" once every four years to answer "tough questions" won't explain
> her policies (or have a supporter/campaign representative do so) when not
> running for re-election. It is politically logical for the mayor not to
> venture into uncertain waters, but it doesn't reflect leadership.
>
> A funny aside:
>
> At the 9th ward convention last Saturday, I ran into a Sayles Belton
> supporter who was quite mad at me for posting Brian Shackleton's original
> Chatterbox invitation to the list. "You took advantage of a kid!," she
> practically spit at me. (Although she knew me, I didn't recognize her and
> she didn't offer her name.)
>
> I told her that I emailed Brian for permission to forward the notice.
> Since
> I'd never met Brian, I had no idea how old he was. I told her that I
> generally assume people involved in campaigns are old enough to know what
> they are doing. Unfortunately, I was so flustered I never got the chance
> to
> ask her how, in good conscience, she could rely on child labor to organize
> a
> campaign!
>
> After all that, it sounds as though I didn't ruin the Chatterbox event
> last
> night. The Minneapolis-Issues barbarians didn't storm the gate, and the
> mayor survived intact. In the end, putting this info in the public domain
> increased participation (a little) and generated what has been entirely
> respectful discussion. Not a bad thing in a democracy, huh?
>
> >Lastly, I'm not convinced that this is the
> >most forward-thinking community forum in the country.
>
> The final, and perhaps bitterest truth -- especially from someone I
> respect
> as much as Mark. I still aspire to this goal, and hope other list members
> do, too. Minneapolis-Issues is nothing if it doesn't help positively
> affect
> life in the city. That's why I started it. If we remember we are all in
> this
> together, and we all want this to be a better place, the forward-thinking
> should take care of itself.
>
> Best,
> David Brauer
> King Field - Ward 10
>
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_______________________________________________
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