Even though the specifics of this continuing dialogue are about the experience in PPERRIA, they are relevant to this list's discussion on the function and value of the NRP. David Brauer wrote: >> First, the neighborhood group was changing its by laws to prevent >> people from voting - but it turned out they had made a decision >> to exclude a student dorm new to the neighborhood. NSA: These two subjects have been linked incorrectly. The by-law changes effectively prevent ALL residents from having any voice that does not agree with that of the board. The exclusion of dorms is another issue. I have previously posted on this list my belief (supported by the NRP statute) that it is absolutely not acceptable to exclude dormitory residents, just because including them may not be in the interests of the neighborhood organization. The fact that the PPERRIA president believes that students have no "identity of interest with the rest of the neighborhood" does not give the association the right to exclude them. As I wrote in Feb: "If the students don't care about the issues in the neighborhood, then they are not likely to show up at any meetings. But no one, including students, should be PREVENTED from membership. All opinions of residents should be welcomed and discussed; to do anything else is incredibly paternalistic and exclusionary." David Brauer wrote about Michael Atherton's summary: >> Again, the rest of his indictment seems pretty picayune. NSA: Michael's arguments to this level of detail may seem picayune, but taken together, they represent an imbalance of power toward organizational bureaucracy and against the residents, for whom NRP was supposed to give more voice. I am glad to have this vehicle to debate issues, as dissent is not welcomed within PPERRIA. (BTW, we in PPERRIA have gotten used to having any dissenting arguments dissected to this degree, that this has become part of our DNA.) David wrote: >> Michael asserted his neighborhood org was disenfranchising residents, then >> quotes state NRP law that requires broad participation. I would argue this >> makes MY point - PPERRIA is bound by law, not excused from it. If they are >> violating state rules on participation, then appropriate legal redress is >> available. Even if the city council bails politically, the courts are >> available. NSA: Because of the high assessments caused by the lighting project, a large number of residents felt it was worthwhile to "sue City Hall", despite a cost of almost $30,000. However, I can't imagine anyone having either the time or the money to take either the city or the NRP to court for less concrete problems, such as the by-law changes or the exclusion of students. When you ask why the PPERRIA board was not tossed out, (besides the large number of members), many residents felt that the by-law changes totally excluded their ability to change the minds of the board...especially when the board was so egregious in their handling of grievances filed about the NRP lighting process. You need to understand that over 200 residents attended a special meeting called on a Saturday night to discuss the lights (in 1999). After HOURS of discussion, it was voted to send a survey out to each resident of the neighborhood to assess the interest in VARIOUS lighting options. However, at the regularly scheduled neighborhood meeting just 2 days later, a much smaller group reversed that decision, stating that there was no need to do a survey. This is why many residents are now so disillusioned that they stopped attending meetings. The board has finally gotten what they wanted: reduced participation by the residents. So now this board is again in charge of deciding how to spend taxpayer funds thru Phase 2 of NRP (assuming that it is funded). I will conclude this by repeating a statement that Michael made, with which I agree completely: "A system that allows projects to be pushed through against the will of a majority of residents is flawed." Nancy Alcorn Prospect Park _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
