For starters:
Four:  Berry-Graves, Mason, Erwin, Young
Five: Fine, Solomon, Hauser, Olson,  Dzeidzic

I think this was probably the first substantive issue of this year since 
the officer elections (which was pretty mild this year). The Coalition of 
Five was put together within a couple of weeks after the fall election when 
Marie Hauser agreed to serve as Vice President to Bob Fine and it was told 
to folks very early on that Bob had the votes.

The problem is not about the final votes on issues as it is the process of 
getting there. Using the redistricting as an example, it seemed there could 
have been a vote taken that would have let both groups be happy since there 
was an option for two candidates. A motion to divide the question in order 
to vote on each slot separately was defeated. I believe that to vote for 
each slot separately it may have given some folks the opportunity to select 
one from each of the preferred nominees list.  But no --- we couldn't even 
do that. It was vote for two in a roll call vote.  And being a Y by the 
time it gets to me it really doesn't make any difference what I do except 
vote my conscience ( and what I believe many of my constituents want me to 
do) because the five already have their votes.

IMHO, the issue was about fairness, equity, perceptions by the public. It 
is my understanding that the population changes and line drawing will occur 
generally at the north ends of Park District 5 and 6 with a shrinking down 
of 3 and 4. Other than that there is not much rocket science to any major 
changes. Seemed  like the chosen reps are a little to close to the boundary 
changes situation for my comfort level - you can draw your own conclusions.

I'd rather not dig up all the process issues during the past two years. Has 
it slowed down progress and getting the work done on the Park Board - 
probably not a lot.  But it has the potential to be a much more positive, 
enjoyable place to be if we negotiated to more win-win situations out in 
the open with public discussion by the Board members before jumping to 
conclusions because we have the votes.

Enough of my washing out the laundry,
I am sure this will go over real big with some of my peers,
For the moment,
Annie Young
Citywide Commissioner







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