While I don't agree that lawsuits are a preferred answer to neighborhood orgs that fail to follow state law or NRP guidelines, I sympathize with a growing number of people who feel that NRP has failed to engage a broad range of residents and others. As part of a tenant working group making recommendations to the Mayor as part of his 90-day plan, the group (of which I have been part) has recommended a number of things, including the following:
Recommendation: NRP must undertake immediate and significant reform to include more tenants and people of color in its governance, planning, and implementation. Such reform must occur well before implementation of any Phase II Participation Plans, including any further planning of Phase II in the neighborhoods. Such reforms should, at a minimum, include the following: � At least fifty-percent (50%) of all future funds disbursed and/or controlled by NRP-contracting neighborhood organizations must be used to benefit people with low incomes, defined as families that earn less than 50% of the Minneapolis median income for the families' size; � NRP must develop and implement standards to assure there is at least proportionate representation of tenants and people of color within each neighborhood organization's governing body. Such proportionate representation shall, at a minimum and within reasonable percentage deviations, reflect the neighborhood's population with respect to tenants and people of color. If NRP does not undergo significant reform that will assure increased participation and benefits to low-income tenants and people of color, then we recommend NRP's elimination. There are comments and stats along with this proposal, and they will be available at the Mayor's Summit this Sunday, along with a number of other recommendations and proposals. Gregory Luce Project 504/Minneapolis (North Phillips) Michael Atherton wrote: >Even though I support Representative Kahn's and Representative Wagenius >actions on this bill, I would like to point out that although these actions >attempt to make neighborhood organizations more democratic, they >have little meaning if there is no accountability. The bill should include >the right of residents to sue if NRP contractors are in violation and they >should be able to recover legal fees. And, the NRP still needs some type of >functional grievance policy. > _______________________________________ 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
