[Mpls] Sixth Ward Debate

[Chris L Beckwith]

Fred wrote: I  was there tonight to see the two Deans in action and I leave it to others to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates this late in the process. It was good to meet some old friends, good to see my preferred gent hold his own, but best of all to see the eager faces of the young people who were clearly having a swell time cheering their favorite and giving short shrift to those in the audience whose preferences lay elsewhere. That's democracy emerging before our very eyes. Never mind about the niceties of content - these kids were pumped ..... Chris responds:   I also attended the debate - yes, while it was good to see kids there, I'm not sure I'd call this a memorable evening. In terms of rhetoric, little was said that substantially distinguished one from the other regarding affordable housing, street crime, police behavior, and city/corporate subsidies. Zimmerman did recognize that drug dealing and prostitution are issues that extend beyond mere criminality, and are part of the economic underground that sustains segments of the local population. As he correctly noted,  this problem will not go away until underlying causes are addressed. Frankly, it was good to see an economic reality acknowledged that departed from the usual dualistic platitudes about crime.   Neither candidate has a terribly compelling delivery style, during the debate, a rather subtle difference emerged: while addressing the audience, Kallenbach stayed behind the table throughout the evening. Zimmerman, in contrast,  came out from behind the table, suggesting he was  both more open and approachable to the audience. Kallenbach inadvertently gave the impression that he would maintain barriers between himself and his constituents. In all fairness, Zimmerman's supporters appeared concentrated in the front of the room while Kallenbachs were in the back, nonetheless, Kallenbach needs to do more to convey his ease with crowds.   Though nobody seems to want to say it in a direct and explicit manner, the principal issue in this election is not affordable housing, crime, job training, working wages, corporate subsidies etc etc. No, the real issue is class, and the kind of social contract this city is willing to make with its low and middle income people, the ones most being sqeezed - if not neglected - in the current environment. The city is failing on this score and has been for some time.   Between the two, it comes down to a brand choice of leftisms:   Zimmerman, while lacking endorsements, seems more connected with the local working class. (After the debate was over, I overheard one man mention he'd never seen Kallenback come out to the local parks or basketball courts, though that's how he met Zimmerman.) Zimmerman, Green/ Grass Roots /No Nukes, and happy to cite his old school hippy activist credentials  (he seems to stop just short of declaring himself a deadhead)  will be more inclined to rock the boat, though it is unclear whether he can build coalitions for change.   Kallenbach,  gay and representative of the new left pluralism, gives the impression of being more of an insider - certainly his campaign literature, in which he is pictured posing with Wellstone, Dayton, Clark and Berglin - suggests he's connected. The impression is professionalism and legitimacy by association.  Because he is better networked, he may be able to get more done, but its business as usual.