I was at the Redistricting Public Hearing and spoke (I did my recent kids spiel, which the Chair rather Minnesotally called "interesting"), and first want to give a public thanks to Commissioner Fred Markus, who made some real effort to keep us informed, explain the process, and attempt to bridge the technology gap that many of us regular folks have. In ten ten years I believe we'll see some of Fred's ideas implemented.
My problem is with the downtown ward, and with process. It's my understanding that, while we were all debating and arguing about the very problematic treatment of the Fifth Ward, a majority of Commissioners had already agreed on a new map and it is likely to prevail today at the noon meeting. My further understanding is that the Fifth Ward remains largely cut out of downtown, but gets a bit more of the Warehouse district. So, the way the Commission proceeds on setting up a Tentative Plan and then receiving comment on that plan has to change-- it is a meaningless and frustrating exercise to comment on a plan that, at the time of the public hearing, may no longer be the plan under serious consideration. There should be a number of "Tentative Plans" that the Commission has accepted and is considering--St. Paul, for instance, has about four plans developed and under consideration at the moment. Jonathan Palmer is right: if there are this many people at the hearing justifiably unhappy with the tenative plan, it must change. But to have effectively already changed that plan, likely by negotiations behind the scenes, is a wrong- headed approach to process and a rather demeaning attempt at true public involvement. Gregory Luce Project 504/Minneapolis (North Phillips) >>Redistricting Commission proposal criticized as "elitist," and >"atrocity" >http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/2225546.html > _______________________________________ 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
