[Mpls] Redistricting and Eat Street

[Bob GUSTAFSON]

A few days back Fred Markus broadcast an invitation to a meeting of the Redistricting Commission. He expressed a specific desire to "invite members of the ethnic and minority communities to attend this special meeting on diversity issues to ensure fair representation for all." He has also shared data showing items such as voter profiles which cannot be a factor in redistricting, renters versus homeowners which I assume can be a factor, and racial statistics, which apparently is a factor. I appreciate his efforts and especially his openness in sharing his thoughts with this group.   Nevertheless, something about this emphasis on ethnicity doesn't sit right with me   Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of ethnic diversity. As a full blooded Swede I am proud of the fact that not only did I involve myself in an early attempt at cultural exchange by attending a Norwegian College, I actually married someone of Norwegian ancestry. I have even embraced eating foods that trace their lineage to lands other than Sweden. When my kids and nephews can't figure out what to get me for Christmas gifts the usual fall back gift has become any distinctive brand of HOT sauce they can track down. Yes, I am a Minnesotan (of Swedish descent) who likes hot red stuff on his food.   I am saying this to share (another thing hard for us Swedish types is sharing) my feelings about not only my ability to accept other ethnic groups, but the fact that I believe we all have the ability, literally, to bring some spice to each others lives.    Which brings me back to my problem with the Redistricting Commissions apparent concern with the impact of ethnic groups in our new redistricting attempt. I would like to state the official Middler position on redistricting, which is a nice way to say that I am speaking from a position that is merely a place that is a figment of my imagination, but it is a place I take seriously nonetheless.   America in my middling mind is about beliefs, not ethnicity. 9/11 was not an attack on America as an ethnic group , but America as an idea. I was struck by the recent show on 9/11 by the pictures, and accompanying languages and faces of the people watching the towers go down. They were Americans. They were not an America of the old melting pot concept. Clearly the streets were a gathering point for all Americans, who happened to be from a wide range of ethnic and racial backgrounds.   That is not to say I accept that our American ideals have all come to fruition as well as they should. That is not to say that every ethnic group or minority has yet embraced the ideals of America. It is trying to say that when it comes to something as political as redistricting, I believe there needs to be a vision of what might be a better approach.   Now to the Minneapolis part, since this is obviously a Minneapolis issue and I am sure Dave is wondering when I am going to get to the connection.   Think of Eat Street.   It is a wonderful collection of distinct restaurants and stores representing an eclectic collection of wonderful ethnic foods. People go to Eat Street. They go there for good food, that is often an ethnic specialty.   When I lived in Chicago that didn't happen. If you wanted Greek food (OOOMPA!) you went to Greek town. Wanted Mexican, you know where they lived, head there and find a good spot. Want some good Swedish pastries, you got it, Swede town.   Think again of Eat Street. It is not owned by the German's, the Chinese, the Mexicans, the Vietnamese. It is America. It is occupied and used by people of a wonderful range of backgrounds.   It is a neighborhood.   It is not an ethnic neighborhood.   It is a neighborhood with people from many ethnic backgrounds.   What to you do if you try to take ethnicity into account while redistricting? Do you gerrymander bits and pieces of Eat Street into different wards based on race? I find that foolish. Do you gerrymander all the minorities you can find together in one ward so there will be a minority council member? That is just as foolish and discriminatory. Why should minorities be deprived of the right to have an affect on more than one or two wards?   I ran across a quote recently from Thurgood Marshall, who was at the time an attorney representing the NAACP in Brown v. Board of Education. He said, “Distinctions by race are so evil, so arbitrary and invidious that a state bound to defend the equal protection of the laws must not involve them in any public sphere."   Lets drop the emphasis on race. Lets promote the ideals of our democracy. Lets emphasize neighborhoods being kept together, not split apart or artificially joined together just because of race.   Bob Gustafson MMM