I just have to jump into this thread - the points being made and argued
certainly need to be aired.
Let me start by saying that I have a lot of respect for the lobbying staff
from Minneapolis and I thought Andrea Hart Kajer's post set forth how the
staff goes about its work. I didn't think it was condescending to anyone.
I do have some bones to pick with elected officials and how they communicate
to other policy makers. Just a bit of my background here - I served as a
Metropolitan Airports Commissioner for 13 year and also a staff member to the
Minneapolis City Council for 10. In those two roles I came to see how staff
and policy makers can make an impact on other governmental bodies.
Too often the City Council passes a resolution and pats themselves on the
back for "doing something about the issue." Quite frankly, other
governmental bodies look at resolutions as little more than paper. There is
also a fair amount of skepticism on the part of policy makers when a
politician shows up to make a formal statement. There is always the doubt -
is this person here for the TV sound bite or to advance the issue? I believe
the formal appearance needs to be made, but that is just the beginning, not
the end.
The real work needs to be done behind the scene and I don't mean just talking
with your friends. In the case of the Legislature, working with Larry
Pogemiller is fine, but he can't do everything. The Council Members need to
communicate directly with people who aren't necessarily friends and need to
be convinced. I don't say you have to ride into the valley of death and try
to convince the most erstwhile opponent, but there are plenty of fence
sitters and right minded legislators who listen to reason. They just need
the facts to be convinced and while staff can do that to a certain extent,
the leaders need to be there in the offices too.
The loss of NRP funding at the Legislature is troubling. But there will be a
decision made this month by the Metropolitan Airports Commission on extending
the area of sound insulation that actually has a bigger dollar amount
attached to it than the NRP. And it looks like the MAC will vote for scaled
back plan thus denying Minneapolis homeowners hundreds of millions of dollars
in home improvements for noise purposes. Now how many Council Members from
Minneapolis and mayoral candidates have contacted the 13 out of 15 MAC
Commissioners who aren't from Minneapolis to plead their case? I have a
funny feeling the answer would be mighty few, if any.
I can't agree with the people who bash the suburbs as being populated with
cold, unfeeling people, and I can't agree with those who say that Minneapolis
lost because we don't have Republican Legislators. I do think we need a
little less smugness among elected officials and a willingness to get into
the trenches and do really hard work in this area. Passing resolutions just
doesn't cut it.
Jan Del Calzo
Lynnhurst
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