Like Cara, I hate to have to go here, but, I will go on my soapbox one more time so bear with me:
The CVI project once again speaks to the continuing 30 year racist, classist policy of the city and county to concentrate poverty and social services in selected inner city neighborhoods of Minneapolis. To be exact, Whittier, Phillips, and Stevens Square. (There are some sprinkled in a few other neighborhoods as well but very small in comparison to the big 3) I watched this project progress through the approval process at the same time Lydia House was going through the process. The "affordable housing" advocates certainly did their homework. They worked with churches all the way to Burnsville and beyond to herd all these well meaning God fearing volunteers down to city hall to give impassioned speeches on behalf of poor people everywhere in their testimony regarding how badly this type of housing was needed (True!) and how it was everyone's duty to God and their country to support this project. They even had big giant stickers for everyone to wear. Even though none of these people have any of this kind of housing in their own neighborhoods or communities, the people in my neighborhood who speak out against this continued concentration policy are treated like blasphemous heathens by this group and pitted against ministers, nuns, priests in our quest to oppose it. Not once did I ever hear one of these advocates discuss any plans they had for bringing this much needed type of housing into their own communities. Not once did I hear any of these advocates discuss how they were working with their local government jurisdictions to break down the zoning barriers that exist in their communities that prevent this type of housing from ever being built there. Not one of them even mentioned building affordable housing at 50% of metro median income let alone building transitional, supportive, sheltercare, or other types of housing. The argument used against us in Whittier when we try to fight the continued 30 year concentration policy is that Federal law prohibits any zoning laws that restrict low income housing or something to that affect. Why is it that law only applies to Whittier and never to say Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Chaska, or Kenwood for that matter? Why is it that Councilmember Lisa Goodman can pompously announce to a crowded room with a big smile on her face that "the good people of Kenwood would gladly accept this type of housing but they aren't zoned for it"? Somehow the zoning code and it's law can be applied and even upheld in Kenwood, but when it's Whittier, zoning can be changed with a drop of the hat and laws overlooked like magic. I read the e-mail describing how many facilities Ms. Goodman lives by. What I didn't hear her list were the facilities that exist in the rest of her ward. Why? because there were none to list. Lisa arrogantly annouced in the beginning of this process that she was strongly behind the Lydia house project and didn't care what the neighborhoods voted or the people surrounding the project thought. Stevens Square/Loring Heights voted against it as did Whittier. I personally found it fascinating that Lisa could thumb her nose at these people so easily. I am guessing her ability to do that has something to do with Loki Andersons post showing the vote count of the different council members. Suggesting that because a council member got more votes that another one, somehow they are entitled to greater power or respect. You notice all the low vote counts come from councilmembers representing poor transient neighborhoods? The highest vote getters on the list also represent the wealthiest neighborhoods. I would wager a guess that Lisa Goodman's big vote count came from all the rich neighborhoods in her ward that have none of this type of housing. Is the message here that if people in your neighborhood don't vote, they don't matter and can easily be dismissed and ignored? Furthermore, does it also suggest that the low vote neighborhoods then become the target for concentrating all the poverty and social service programs? While maybe not intended, it certainly has been the outcome. This issue isn't going to go away. The people fighting Lydia house have already filed a law suit with Mike Freeman representing them and I expect that the people opposing CVI will also be filing suit shortly with David Lillehaug representing them. Obviously these two reputable attorneys must feel there is merit to the argument or they wouldn't have taken the case. Neither of them are ambulance chasers looking for their next case. It is my understanding that there are two new applications for more "supportive housing" ready to go downtown with Whittier as their destination and another two in the wings behind that for Whittier as well. I have also heard that there is talk at the council level about repealing the quarter mile spacing requirement. That would pretty much open the flood gates and eliminate any road blocks to this issue other than the shout of the people who live with it everyday. And hell, we are nothing but an irritation. No one has ever taken us seriously on this issue. What repeal of the spacing requirement legislation doesn't eliminate is the fact that the 30 year concentration policy continues to play out. A policy that smacks of racism and classism. In discussing this issue with one of the new council members, I was told that "Maybe a law suit needs to happen to bring some clarity to this issue once and for all". While I believe clarity needs to be brought to this issue in terms of how the spacing requirement legislation was crafted, I don't believe it should take a law suit against the city to do that. What I would like someone out there to clarify for me is what is the magic number we have to hit before the continued concentration stops? When will it be enough? Does anyone have an answer for that? We have been asking the question for years. Barb Lickness Whittier Home of the social service megamall __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ _______________________________________ 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
