Chris Steller asks: Confederation of neighborhoods, ok: this list batted around balkanization a while back. But less a city?
After quoting part of this paragraph in today's Strib stadium editorial: This is smart politics. Preying on the political disharmony of Minneapolis has become a popular sport on many fronts, and St. Paul delights in poking a sharp stick at an inviting target. Minneapolis is less a city than a confederation of neighborhoods; it cannot match St. Paul's civic unity or public relations savvy. [TB] Just after the break up of the old Soviet Union, there was an Olympic team representing the Confederation of Independent States, the new republics that had broken off from Moscow. Many of our neighborhoods are attempting to make the same break from City Hall. The Minneapolis City Council has passed many of the decisions it should be making to the neighborhoods. In doing so, the focus of what is best for the city as a whole is often lost. The noise nazis in parts of South Minneapolis don't really care how their desires affect the transportation structure and economy of the entire metro area, much less the rest of the city. Whittier and Stevens Square want affordable housing as long as those living in the housing don't require any other services. Part of the problem is clearly from the lack of leadership Minneapolis had for 8 years. There was no attempt to bring the city together. That we have 80-plus quasi-governments around the city making decisions that have effects well beyond their boundaries isn't helping. The average population of these little fiefdoms is about 4,000 people. In many cases they want their piece and aren't concerned about anyone else. We can certainly revitalize our neighborhoods in bigger pieces. Cut the number of neighborhood groups to 2 or 3 (maybe even 1) per ward. This would still give areas with populations of only 10-15,000 people. Operationally we are less of a city than many others. We may even be a lesser city because for nearly a decade now there has been no common vision for our city. Terrell Brown Loring Park _______________________________________ 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
