[Mpls] This Week in The Minneapolis Observer

[Craig Cox]

T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R
A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan
Vol. 1, No. 22
January 14, 2002

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THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER:
* Three More Things for R.T. to Think About
* Does the City Owe a Debt to John Biggers?
* Carol Johnson Talks Back
* Pressure Builds to Extend Downtown Bar Hours
* Met Council Winners and Losers
* The Green Party Paradox
Plus: More of our nosy checkbook survey, Pogemillers' redistricting revenge, Afghans on Central Avenue, our first annual pothole diagram, and remembering Earl Craig

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THREE MORE THINGS FOR R.T. TO THINK ABOUT
After a whirlwind introduction to local government that included a City Council meltdown, a much-ridiculed encounter group, and a controversy over doing business with a campaign contributor, Mayor Rybak is already scrambling to get his 90-day plan on track. Still, he graciously indulged The Observer by responding to three impertinent queries from editor Craig Cox.

CITY DISSES NORTH SIDE ACTIVISTS, ARTISTS IN MURAL DEMOLITION
When city crews demolished the Celebration of Life mural last month, the move sent shock waves through the North side community and sent a chilling message to local African American artists.

THE SUPER SPEAKS
Minneapolis schools superintendent Carol Johnson, responding to an article by Ed Felien in Southside Pride criticizing the district's budget allocations, defended her choice to hire Dave Jennings as district chief operating officer and argued that the district is operating efficiently and will operate even more efficiently in the future.

PRESSURE BUILDING FOR EXTENDED DOWNTOWN BAR HOURS
Economic hard times and a fresh batch of politicians in City Hall is encouraging supporters of later downtown bar hours, reports Ellen Nigon in the Skyway News (www.skywaynews.net). But the move still faces stiff obstacles at the State Capitol and among public safety advocates.

NOSY CHECKBOOK SURVEY CONTINUES
Last week, we reported Second Ward City Council Member Robert Lilligren's intention to sock away a few bucks every payday from a $63,000 salary that is more than twice the amount he's ever earned in his life. Our nosy checkbook survey, which asks City Council newcomers if their new job represents a hike or a drop in pay from their last gig, continues this week with reports from Ninth Ward CM Gary Schiff and from 11th Ward CM Scott Benson.

WINNERS AND LOSERS
The Met Council recently released its Livable Community Demonstration Act grant awards. The winners and losers, as reported in the January issue of Property:

SLOW DOWN, POTHOLE DIAGRAM AHEAD
We at The Observer feel that we can explain a pothole as well as anybody, even with slightly less sophisticated graphics capabilities than the big daily newspaper.

BACK IN THE DAY
10 Years Ago This Week
"One thing we continued to share over the years was the belief that progressive politics and social activism were not incompatible with the good life--good food, good wine, and good furniture."
--State Senator Allan Spear, at the funeral of fellow DFLer and Neighborhood Revitalization Program director Earl Craig, who was found murdered in his condominium three days earlier
Star Tribune
January 19, 1992

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RAVES, RANTS, AND OTHER CONSIDERED OPINIONS
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IT'S JUST MY OPINION, BUT . . .
By Mark Engebretson
Perhaps Mayor R.T. Rybak's most important--and difficult--task is to get all of Minneapolis' elected officials on the same page. It's essential if Minneapolis is to have success at the Legislature. That means City Council members, parks, school and library officials, and the city's legislators need to be united on critical city issues, such as affordable housing, transportation, K-12 education, and local government aid.
That often wasn't the case with the previous administration. The adverse impact on city finances caused by state property tax reform is a good example of what can happen when city leaders aren't working together--which is downright shameful considering that they collectively represent the same constituents and are overwhelmingly DFLers. Yes, they're all elected leaders, but it's the mayor's job to pull them together.
Rybak--given a mandate by city voters for his reform agenda--is in a good position to do so. However, he has his work cut out. For starters, he doesn't bring with him the 30 years of legislative experience or the connections that his counterpart in St. Paul, Randy Kelly, possesses. To his credit, Rybak has reached out to Kelly and the two have vowed to work together on common issues. Such a relationship didn't exist between Sharon Sayles Belton and Norm Coleman.
That said, there are relationships at home that need rebuilding. The City Council's bitter fight--and series of 7-6 votes--over leadership positions wasn't an encouraging start. More disturbing, if true, is the rumbling that DFL veteran legislator Sen. Larry Pogemiller--a Sayles Belton supporter--wants to use redistricting to punish fellow Minneapolis DFL legislators, Sen. Jane Ranum and Rep. Jean Wagenius for their support of Rybak.
Sure, politics can be nasty. Of course, we cannot expect politicians to always agree. But we're all on the same team, aren't we? There's a greater good at stake for the city, isn't there? If it's not clear to Minneapolis' elected leaders, somehow Mayor Rybak needs to make it crystal clear.

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Editor: Craig Cox
Associate Editor: Sharon Parker
Contributing writers: Nora Cox, Mark Engebretson, Tim Herwig, Leo Mezzrow, Sarah Wash
Occasional research assistance: Martin and Nora Cox
Online technical assistance: Christopher Pollard
Thanks to: Laine Bergeson, Jan Del Calzo, Burl Gilyard, Niel Ritchie, and Lori Sturdevant