A number of list members have suggested that, rather than debating candidates' party loyalties, we focus on the issues that may help define our choices in Minneapolis elections this year. I'd like to offer a few admittedly quite biased questions for Minneapolis candidates on issues that are of importance to the Green Party (and, in my opinion, to all Minneapolitans regardless of party affiliation!) To Minneapolis candidates for Mayor, City Council, Park, Library and School Boards: 1) If you were on the Minneapolis city council, how would you have voted on the recent Padilla Speer development question? I strongly agree with Cam Gordon's comments, by the way, about this vote... when the Council is so obviously divided on an issue, then it's time to go back to the drawing board, not force a "victory" which may ultimately be a loss for the community. We deserve better from our leaders. 2) The California Legislature is considering an incentive plan for residents who can reduce their electricity use by 20% this year. It seems to me that energy conservation is a topic that has been on the back burner in Minnesota for too long. If elected, what would you do to help Minneapolis avoid an electricity shortage? (Firing up the nukes is NOT an acceptable response!) What kind of energy conservation programs would you initiate or support? Now would be a good time for Minneapolis businesses and residents to take on the "20% challenge" - rather than wait till we're in a crisis situation. 3) Speaking of conservation... How about a "20% challenge" for garbage? Our landfills are overflowing and Minnesota is poised to construct more garbage incinerators around the state, threatening air and water quality. How can Minneapolis take leadership in reducing the generation of solid waste? What policies (expanded recycling, packaging restrictions, use taxes etc.) would you promote to help protect our air and water from toxic refuse? 4) Speaking of air... The state's auto emissions testing program was so successful in improving air quality that the MN Legislature, in all its wisdom, discontinued it two years ago. How will you monitor and protect air quality in Minneapolis and ensure that vehicle emissions (private, commercial and industrial) are not degrading the environment? 5) It has been estimated that over one in four kids of color in Minneapolis do not have health insurance, which means they are probably not being screened or treated for lead poisoning, diabetes, developmental disabilities, asthma and other conditions that benefit by early diagnosis and intervention. What would you do to create equitable access to health care for all Minneapolis residents, regardless of citizenship, income or employment? 6) If even only half of Attorney General Hatch's allegations are true, Allina Medical has seriously broken trust with its members who have been led to expect that their health care premiums are being used to provide affordable, quality health care services. What steps can be taken to make Allina more accountable to its members, and a better corporate citizen? What alternatives to inefficient, competitive HMOs would you explore for providing affordable health care coverage to Minneapolis citizens (a municipally-owned health insurance program, perhaps?) 7) Minneapolis has a great opportunity for innovative architecture in the design and construction of the new Central Library. What features (both functional and esthetic) would you like to see incorporated into the new library? 8) In the eight years that Annie Young and Dean Zimmermann have been Park Commissioners, I have observed a significant increase in the urban songbird population, especially the purple finches. Young and Zimmermann have been advocates of drastically reduced pesticide use in the parks, which may have contributed to the healthy bird habitat. How do you feel about continuing this policy of reducing chemical use and mowed areas? 9) What incentives would you propose to move our police force's residences back into Minneapolis, and to get them out of their cars and onto their bikes and shoe leather for better community policing? Plenty of questions for a start - and I've got more... comments? -- Holle Brian Bancroft (612) 822-6593 _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
