[Mpls] zerby VS gordon times 2

[FMKCricketOne]

Well...I certainly cant be too mad at paul for creating a response. I do however think it necessary to point out that if paul sees no reason to "force a merger between the" students in the dorms and residents of prospect park leads me again to beleive that paul is not interested in such a union. SEPAC stands for Southeast Political Action Committee. I was hoping a longtime resident of SE would have been able to point that out, especially someone who speaks about the neighborhood in which he lives with a "We" designation. ZERBY: But I don't think it is my, or any councilmembers, business to force a merger of these groups. Paul, you should be proud of being endorsed by Andy Pomroy. After all, if you couldnt get the endorsement of your own party you would look about as good as Mayor Belton in this years election. You should also be proud of the fact that you care deeply about the students in your ward. But, I also think you could help your case by showing it a little better, and by being more careful about statements and remarks that suggest or give the impression that the people residing in other parts of the ward are second citizens. For all its worth, the greatest challenge for ANY candidate is mitigating the intense battles among groups with differing interests, but hey...That should also be something in a councilmemebers job description. Part of the problem i have noticed in Marcy is that the neighborhood group is primarily composed of single family homeowners who are elder residents of the neighborhood. The students dont show up at neighborhood meetings. I just got on the NRP committee of MHNA and i was surprised to see 3 people at or around the age of 25 in attendance. The old folks (god bless them) sit and bitch (excuse me) about how the students are always partying and leaving beer bottles in the yards. I am not surprised that none of the young folks get involved. If they dared showing up, theyd probably get ran out of the room.   In the article in the Daily, Betts Zerby is quoted saying "the heavy concentration of students in residence halls and University Village makes it easy for students to outnumber other residents.“Both Marcy-Holmes, Como and Prospect Park would be overwhelmed by student (interests) if they banded together". I think that if the student population showed up and overwhelmed the neighborhood on a consistent basis, what you would have is a true democracy with participation. Currently, this is not the case because students are just as apathetic-a-voter as any other demographic group, even though young people are considered politically active. I would be interested in hearing more about both Zerby's and Cam Gordons ideas on how to bridge the gap between the rivaling interests in the neighborhood. (I bolded it so you respond guys!!!) While separated groups would help to be helpful to advocate for the individualized goals of the different factions in the ward...it would also foster more fragmentation in the ward, rather than bringing the ward together. This is what I find deeply disturbing about Zerby's remarks. It sounds a lot like NIMBYism, and to me, that is what destroys community. Again, I urge you to respond Cam Gordon!!! (this message was sent directly to both candidates out of respect and fairness) Robb Clarksen Awake and listening on 8th street! From: Paul Zerby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] various Ward 2 items  I do care deeply about the University, the students and the other neighborhoods, including also the businesses and employees of those businesses in the neighborhoods.  One of the most intense, ongoing concerns in this ward is that of trying to find the common grounds and mediate the conflicts among these interests.  Views can differ on how best to do this. I believe it is appropriate for each of these groups to have organizations to represent their own interests as they see fit within the boundaries of acceptable standards.  For example, there are clear conflicts about parking around the U: commuter students would rather park on the street than pay a lot for parking, neighborhood residents want spots to be there when they return from work, small businesses want spots to be available for their customers; all are legitimate concerns deserving of advocacy.  I have said repeatedly that I would seek to foster, continued, regularized fora for the discussion and efforts to resolve these (and many other) issues by revitalizing an interneighborhood group such as used to exist under the acronym SEPAC (& don't ask me what the initials stand for, Southeast something) with members from the student community, the other neighbors & the business associations.  But I don't think it is my, or any councilmembers, business to force a merger of these groups. 5. As to the use of NRP funds, that program is governed by its own guidelines (evolving from time to time as per the conflict of interest policies) which require not just the neighborhood organization but neighborhood wide participation.  For example, when Prospect Park recently made minor amendments to its phase one plan we were careful to post and flier the whole neighborhood (though there was some controversy you'll undoubtedly hear about from other members about how successful or not that effort was. There are no doubt some issues and points that I'm forgetting and I do have some more proposals that I hope to explore with the University, its students, the other neighbors, and the city, but this really is all the time that I can spend on this now.  As some of my friends from the Green Party are fond of saying--in peace and cooperation Paul Zerby an unrepentant DFLer for change ===== Paul Zerby A DFLer for Change on City Council Ward 2 www.zerby.com/paul [EMAIL PROTECTED]