I would like to correct some of the information that
was contained in the post from Dean Kallenbach's
campaign chair.
I did vote in favor of the obelisk at the official
public meeting which was held at the Minneapolis
Institute of Arts by the Park Board. I examined all of
the information and had initial reservations myself,
but, there were two compelling issues that carried me
to my decision to support the project.
First, The Whittier Alliance supported a project to
send children from every school in Whittier to
Washington to view the obelisk and make a presentation
to the larger Whittier Community about the obelisk.
The children presented both the pros and cons of the
obelisk idea, but, in the end expressed their support
for this project. Since the obelisk would be in their
futures in this neighborhood I believed I had a
responsibility to take their recommendation into
consideration. Dean Kallenbach was not present at this
meeting.
Second, as I stated earlier, I attended the official
public meeting regarding the obelisk. I listened to
all sides of issue voiced by surrounding residents and
businesses. In the end, an overwhelming number of
people in attendance at that meeting voted for the
project. It was not a close vote. I felt I needed to
support the will of residents that surrounded the park
area who attended that public meeting. Again, Dean
Kallenbach was not in attendance at that meeting.
I did attend the park rally organized by the people
who were against the obelisk. I didn't draw a
conclusion that there was a clear mandate against the
project based on the small number of Whittier
residents who were in attendance including a silent
Dean Kallenbach.
In terms of my support of the school, I can only say,
there is public record showing my overwhelming support
of the school. KARE 11 should have video of me with
reference to my support as I appeared on both their
morning show with Pat Evans and Kim Insley and in the
evening news about this project. You can also contact
Clyde Kane, MPS, Edith Johnson, MCDA, Maureen Durand,
Mpls Park Board, and Bob Miller, NRP (yes, my boss)
and they will verify my support and involvement in
this project. In addition, I attended countless
meetings on a whole variety of issues relating to the
school. Concept meetings, design meetings, cirriculum
meetings, Arts and Education meetings. I do not recall
ever seeing Dean Kallenbach at any of these meetings.
I have sung praises of the Whittier school across this
city as well as crediting Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton
and Councilmember Jim Niland for their work on the
school as recent as my speech at the DFL endorsing
convention.
I think the real proof of my support for this school
lies in the fact that I have a child of my own who
attends the school and is a member of the first class
to graduate from the school.
In terms of my support from the Whittier Alliance
Board membership, I can say that I also have several
board members past and present who are supporting my
candidacy. In fact, six former board chairs from the
past ten years are on my campaign committee and a
seventh has contributed financially to my campaign. I
am very proud of that fact.
When you have been a strong advocate on hundreds of
issues affecting the neighborhood as I have, it stands
to reason that not everyone is going to be happy with
the decisions you make or the votes you cast on a
variety of issues. So..I will fully admit that I have
made myself vulnerable. Yes folks, I took a stand. I
made it clear what side of the fence I was standing
on.
In my book, I call that leadership.
Barb Lickness
Whittier
Ward 6
City Council Candidate
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
_______________________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more:
http://e-democracy.org/mpls
