David Brauer writes: The risk with thin-slicing is that you really don't have two council members looking out for your interests. Having only a teeny slice of a neighborhood naturally drops it down a council member's priority list, if for no other reason than you'll probably spend less time in a neighborhood where you represent less people. Like it or not, neighborhoods are city-endorsed participation groups, and there are only so many meetings a council member can attend regularly.
Jana Metge writes: This is soooo true. The last time redistricting occurred, I worked in the Elliot Park neighborhood. The push at the time was to divide this 25 square block neighborhood into 5 wards. Needless to say, such small portions to 5 wards would have garnered little attention. We mobilized and organized testimony. Vans of Augustana Seniors and Elliot Park residents went to the hearing. They were successful in changing the proposed boundaries and being divided into only 2 wards vs. 5 wards. Monitor this, go to the hearing, express your concern, thoughts, ideas, alternatives...it does make a difference!! Jana L. Metge CLPC Coordinator Phillips resident _______________________________________ 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
