The last couple issues of Insight News covered the issue of reparations. The issue two weeks ago talked about how the reparations committee was working on convincing the African American community of the need for reparations. Last week's issue covered the Lucille's Kitchen forum with special guests Gary Schiff, Robert Lilligren, Natalie Johnson Lee and Dean Zimmerman.
>From the article: [8th ward council member Robert] Lilligren also said that though he does support reparations, it would be hard to make it the first order of business in city hall come January. 'I do support reparations and would like the community's support on the issue. I'm asking the community to continue to educate me on the issue so that I can educate others in city council,' he said. ..... [9th ward council member Gary] Schiff said he does support reparations. "I think it's long over do. I see no reason why the City of Minneapolis can't do what Chicago did and urge congress to hold hearings so we can finally address this long overdo topic in our nation's history," he said. Dean Zimmerman (6th ward) went on record in favor of reparations during the campaign. ================================== I guess I'd like to hear from CM Schiff, Zimmerman and Lilligren on this list is if they support reparations, why they do -- and how they think reparations will make life in Minneapolis better. The folks I talked to on Robert's campaign committee who worked hard to elect Robert Lilligren are not convinced of the need to support reparations. (I was one of those people). We worked on Robert's campaign because we wanted a full time city council member to represent our ward (recall our ward HAD been represented by the admitted extortionist, Brian Herron). Robert himself told me on the phone that he had never been asked the question during the campaign. The 8th ward is very racially diverse -- and that means that the African Americans he talked to while doorknocking didn't seem to have reparations on their minds -- so I find it odd that Robert is coming out in support of this as if this is the thing to do to support African Americans -- assuming the quote from the Lucille's Kitchen forum is correct, and Jenny Hauser's account of Robert Lilligren's support of reparations is correct. Eric Fyksen writes in response to RT Rybak's post on Minneapolis issues: RT: > I think that's what people elected us for. They DID > NOT elect us to get into > personality squabbles that detour us from bringing > about real change. Eric: People also elected you because you talked a good line about limiting subsidies for things like STADIUMS. You're not even in office yet, and you've already waffled on that issue, one of the couple major issues in the election. Congratulations, I was fooled, I didn't expect much from this administration, but I didn't think we'd see more subsidies that we can't afford. On a happier note, thank the Lord for the 10 million referendum requirement that was put in place to protect the citizens from the last administration! It will destroy the credibility of this new administration when they are resoundingly defeated by the voters; unfortunate, but part of come-uppance when you can't keep your story straight. ========================================== Fyksen makes some good points regarding RT Rybak here. Voters did not elect the new city council people -- and the new mayor to subsidize stadia for the Twins and the Vikings. It now seems like the new leadership -- Rybak and Ostrow want to ostrowcize the public on this issue. Do the seven people who signed Ostrow's pledge support public funding for stadiums? My understanding is Gary Schiff and Paul Ostrow would be public funding supporters. Colvin Roy also? Who else? Also, if Rybak is trying to deflect criticism as a "personality squabble" -- well that's the same thing that Mayor SSB's supporters were saying about criticism on this list of SSB. RT writes regarding my earlier criticism of him on this list: "What bothers me is RT seems to be spending much more of his time and energy on the Twins stadium that he has on the issues he ran on -- namely affordable housing." As far as the coverage of my actions, this is true. But it's not the case. This afternoon I'm meeting with David Fey and our affordable housing task force, which has been working very hard over the past few weeks to lay out our proposed agenda. It's very strong work so far and I expect it to get better. We are going to refine it today, air it before council members and legislators early next week and then bring it forward probably late next week. I am also going to be talking about this when I meet with Gov. Ventura in about an hour. EY: Sounds like Mayor Elect RT is taking a cue from the Governor's book -- blame that evil media for the lack of coverage of what RT is REALLY working on. I'd like to read RT's response to the posts by Keith Reitmann and Craig Miller -- both of whom are landlords in this city. RT's tune in the press and at the stadium task force hearing is substancially different than what he said during the campaign. That's not the media's fault. Eva Young Central ----------------------------------------------------- Click here for Free Video!! http://www.gohip.com/freevideo/ _______________________________________ 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
