I'm not sure this is a Minneapolis-Issue, but since it was referenced in a Minneapolis-Issue party report...
Annie wrote: > I heard David > Brauer is sad these days Hey, I'm a neurotic Jew; it comes with the territory. Really, though, Inaugural Day was a particularly tough day for me - not because of anything that happened politically. I was sick as a dog and had a very exhausting first day back at work helping the staff get the Southwest Journal organized. So basically, I was just spent emotionally and physically and craving some sleep. I feel much better in both ways today. That said, I found the gathering quite sustaining. Thanks to Jay Cooper, we went around the table about 7 or so and everyone (maybe 20 people at that time?) introduced themselves and said why they were on the list. >From a founder's perspective, that was especially cool. (I also asked how many people I had ever warned as List manager - and about six or seven raised their hands.) I picked Lalibela at Sheila Delaney's recommendation, so I'm biased, but it was a great choice. It is, as list members Sara Strzok and Mike McAneney predicted, "the most beautiful ex-Embers ever." The Ethiopian food is fine, but what's nice is being able to get a beer or a glass of wine, too. The proprietor was thrilled to have us there on a slow Wednesday - threw out some free food and wine - so take that, Monte Carlo! It was also neat to see how proud the Longfellow people were to have such a place in their midst. That's one of the best things about these parties - going to, and meeting people from, different parts of town...a little like being a tourist in your own burgh. While I don't envy the campaigning politicians do, I do envy people like Sheldon Mains who visited all Minneapolis neighborhoods while running for office. Also, a special little shout-out (since I forgot to do the toast in my depressed state) to the defeated candidates who showed up: Barb Lickness, Mike Hohmann, Sheldon, Meg Forney, and Ann Berget (anyone who was there after 7:30, sorry I missed you). I single them out not because they didn't win but because they have stayed as involved, contributing - dare I say positive? - members of our town. I know some defeated candidates who have remained bitter, or even left town after a loss, so I was impressed with these people especially. We heap a lot of abuse on politicians, some deserved, but to put up with the junk and not even get the brass ring and STILL show up to be part of a pretty merry debating society is classy in my view. To everyone else who was there - thanks. I'm sorry I missed Dean on the hot seat (also cool of Dean to show), though I think the crowd was, like the council itself, split about the leadership outcome. A comment about yesterday's council therapy session. While it'll be good talk-radio to bash the council or the mayor for spending $175 an hour on a facilitator, I think it's a decent expenditure if we're not doing it regularly. I've covered councils for 20 years and they ALL become personally dysfunctional - some sooner than others. The last bunch seemed more passive-aggressive than most, but that was just my impression. Shortly after the election, one incoming council member asked me what I'd like to see done (since I do still wear the Kingfield neighborhood board president's hat). I didn't want to give policy advice because of my day job, but the first thing I thought of was "you folks should get board training." It's easy to mock and say "We elected these people, why can't they just get along and serve the public interest?" But if you've ever had (or wanted) marriage counseling, or had (or wanted) workplace counseling to deal with your boss, co-workers, or subordinates, I think there needs to be a little humility. (And if you've ever worked with a great facilitator, you know they are worth every bit as much as a good shrink.) City Hall features 14 egos, suddenly working as peers, with few rules about how to knit together that little evolutionary trickster known as their brains. So for now, I'm with R.T.: get the guff out in the open, talk to each other, DON'T be passive-aggressive, and do it in public but try to be constructive. $6,000 for a facilitator ($175 times 34 hours) is a pittance for group therapy considering the tough, expensive decisions this group must make down the road. (Maybe the council needs to set up an Inter-PERSONAL Relations Committee.) If it becomes $50,000, then, as Craig Larson put it, I will take back this post. Thanks, David Brauer King Field - Ward 10 _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.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
