When Dean Kallenbach finally posts on this list, one of the posts is defensive and the other post is dedicated completely to attacking the opponent on one issue. Fred and John addressed the response to John. I have some comments about Dean K's long letter the editor devoted to investigating Dean Z's alleged statement about saunas. (I will not concern myself with whether Kallenbach really wrote the contents but will assume they are his position). Why would a candidate who right near election time, who is supposedly too busy to respond to comments and questions on this list, devote so much time to figuring out whether his opponent made a specific narrow statement on a specific narrow issue which that candidate has now disavowed? The most likely answer is that Dean K's campaign program lacks any of its own ideas and is limited to appealing to people's fears. Dean K's letter to the editor spent all that time criticizing Dean Z for raising the question of whether eliminating saunas has solved the prostitution problem, but proposed absolutely no ideas or suggestions for addressing prostitution, crime or any other problem facing the 6th Ward. What a wasted opportunity! unless the candidate has no ideas or suggestions to offer. It is consistent that on the night before the primary, Kallenbach's get out the vote leaflets contained the slogan "Take a bite out of crime," but also offered no specifics. Kallenbach has limited himself to relying on the lowest common demoninatory of appealing to people's fears of crime without offering any constructive proposals.
Dean Zimmerperson is the opposite kind of candidate. Kallenbach has criticized Dean Z for being willing to ask unconventional questions and start challenging discussions that Dean K is so unwilling or incapable of doing. I have noticed that Dean Z's style is often to come up with a challenging and controversial suggestion, and then LISTEN to responses. This is an effective technique for developing ideas, which Dean Z describes as "thinking outside the box." While the original idea might not be that good, it may well lead to ideas that are really good and no one would have thought of but for the discussion. The willingness to be unconvential, and to listen and develop different ideas seems like precisely the kind of leadership that would benefit the 6th Ward. Jordan Kushner 6th Ward neighbor [Dean Kallenbach, through] Rick Stafford wrote: > > This is response to the following post from candidate Zimmerman regarding > statements he made regarding re-opening saunas (massage parlors) along Lake > Street. The following is a letter I wrote in response to his letter to the > Whittier Globe. (I understand it exceed the word limit, but I hope Forum > Administrator and readers will bear with me.) > > To: Whittier Globe > > Dear Editor: > > In a letter to the editor in this edition, Green Party candidate Dean > Zimmerman is trying desperately to create �political spin� for statements he > made at an East Phillips Improvement Coalition (EPIC) meeting on September > 13th and at a Stevens Square Candidate Open House Oct. 10th. Statements [big snip] > I don�t have all the answers or solutions, but I will listen and continue to > talk with constituents as we work jointly toward a better Sixth Ward and > city. > > Sincerely, > > Dean Kallenbach > Candidate � DFL > Sixth Ward City Council > > Below, a copy of the letter I sent to the Whittier Globe, in reponse to a > letter from Pauletter Will. > > To the Editor: > > I would like to set the record straight, I do not advocate reopening > the > saunas on Lake Street. I know there are some who claim that this is my > position. I believe these criticisms to be more partisan than factual. > > The simple truth is that the streets and alleys of the residential > parts > of East Phillips have gotten much worse in terms of prostitution since the > saunas on Lake Street were closed a few years ago. Shuttling prostitution > back > and forth between the business districts and the neighborhoods is clearly > not > the answer. > ........ > For someone to pull a brainstorming question or suggestion out of > context and purport that somehow it is my "position" on the matter or that I > am > "advocating" such and such a policy is not only dishonest, but it is the > kind > of reaction one might expect from those unwilling to deal with this issue > head > on. > > Prostitution is an issue that must be dealt with in our ward. > Prostitution, like drugs, is a part of the underground economy of our ward. > Creative solutions must include dealing with the roots of that economy*more > living wage jobs and more job training programs, for instance. We either > think > outside the box, or end up pushing prostitution back and forth > across the city. > > I welcome a discussion of real solutions to the problem. I look > forward > to this debate moving beyond fingerpointing and misrepresentation for > political > gain. > > Sincerely, > Dean Zimmermann > Candidate for City Council-Ward 6 > > _______________________________________ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls > > _______________________________________ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
