Rosalind Nelson asks << All you candidates for mayor and city council, you have an opportunity to let us know how you will direct our zany city legal department. Should they continue to throw money and resources on top of the million or so that has already been spent on ISAG, or should the matter at last be dropped? >>
RL I say enough is enough. Let it be. Do we have a term for the over reaction to an over reaction? I resented having to travel around the bunker around the Hyatt just to get to work during the ISAG convention. I resented having our civil liberties curtailed so 500 geneticists could meet in our fair city. I resented seeing my friends and neighbors abused and beaten only to jusitfy the ridiculous amount of money we spent on security for one convention so that a hotel, the Convention Center, and a few restaurants could make a few bucks. And I still resent the lack of accountability on this from our city government. We have never even heard a satisfactory response from our Conventions Bureau explaining why this misguided event was ever allowed to be held here. Sadly, I believe what I heard an older passenger on MTC Route 18 say regarding the overly agressive response of our city to the peaceful ISAG protesters, "They's jus' practicin". Lucilles and 6th Ward Forum Fred Markus posts < 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 and they'll never forget this night. >> RL I think this is so right on. I get a thrill from seeing young people getting involved in the election process. At last Tuesday's Lucille's Kichen Policy Forum (Wards 3 and 5), with Price and Johnson Lee in attendance, I was very impressed with the youth involvement. There were two youth groups there; one community service group with members from 18 to 24 years old, and one group of North High students. These African American kids were participating - they stepped forward and asked their questions. It made me feel hopeful for the future of our democracy. In a city with such a disparity in income and opportunity between races it is critical to teach our disenfranchised populations the benefits and power that come from being involved. The obvious place to start is with youth. I applaud anyone, or any group, that involves our young people and trains them to participate in government. Yours, Robert Lilligren Candidate for City Council Ward 8 www.voterobert.com _______________________________________ 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
