With regard to Cam Gordon question about constituent services from council members, there used to be an office of constituent services when I first was on the city council. Over the years though, because of dissatisfaction of the way and the manner in which the various complaints were handled it gave way to the current system. The complaints on how incoming complaints were handled came from the council members and from their constituents.
There may be an answer to the problem of certain council districts having more complaints than others, but many council members since I served have tried to deal with this issue and thus the system that exists today. The high number and the seriousness of complaints from some districts is the way it is and comes with the territory when elected. It's called work. Lou DeMars Former city council member 1971 -- 1980 Edina, MN -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, July 06, 2002 12:31 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Mpls digest, Vol 1 #910 - 19 msgs Send Mpls mailing list submissions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/mpls or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can reach the person managing the list at [EMAIL PROTECTED] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Mpls digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Question about roads, crosswalks and sidewalks ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 2. How about it Park Board? A wireless park. (Steven Clift) 3. Water ski show @ Thursday in Mpls (Alan Shilepsky) 4. Re: Water ski show @ Thursday in Mpls (Annie Young) 5. Re: Environmental Concerns, and more (Greg R.) 6. Xcel Energy and the 4th of July in Mpls. (Michael Hohmann) 7. Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 8. Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! (JIM GRAHAM) 9. Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 10. Re: Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! (Barbara L. Nelson) 11. Re: Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 12. Re: Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! (Barbara L. Nelson) 13. Re: Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! (JIM GRAHAM) 14. Re: How about it Park Board? A wireless park. (Phyllis Kahn) 15. Re: Lucky?/Pride Wrapup (Eva Young) 16. Re: Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! (Sheldon Mains) 17. Re: Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 18. Minneapolis Miller Ted Williams Passes away. (Craig Miller) 19. Re: Council Response to Constituents (Cameron A. Gordon) --__--__-- Message: 1 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 18:36:52 EDT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Question about roads, crosswalks and sidewalks Roads Can the city do some more lane paintings IN a couple of key intersections. Such as north bound Cedar Ave at Franklin, on the north side of Franklin you have 3 lanes, on the south side, you have 2 lanes and a left turn lane, people don't know which of the 3 lanes they are supposed to be in. Another example west bound 26th St W (one way) at Lyndale Ave. On the east side there 1 or 2 parking lanes (the north or right side of this street has rush parking restrictions) on the west side, there are two lanes, and possibly 2 parking lanes, but it is very confusing which lanes go with which. Crosswalks Does the city have plan to repaint crosswalks? As both a walker and driver, I notice a lot of intersections with extremely faded crosswalks. The only time I have ever noticed that the city has repainted the street is in relationship to road construction or shortly after (like seal coating). Some sort of marking would help keep cars out of the crosswalk at stoplights, definitely a safety issue. Sidewalks Did the city ever pass rules on charging property owners that block sidewalks or street lanes because of construction. The issue was raised because of the number of car lanes and sidewalks being blocked by all the downtown construction. The bigger concern I have is for the sidewalk that is being blocked on the north side of Lake Street between 10th Ave S and Elliot Ave S, adjacent to the Sears property. I assume this was blocked off during the cleaning up of the structure by Ray Harris' development group. However, since it is currently not being worked on, and I believe MCDA has the mortgage, why isn't the sidewalk open. It is sad that no one is making Lake Street more accessible. Lake has a lot of foot traffic, and no one likes to walk on the street, especially there which is extremely busy. I believe the Strib did an editorial on our Mayor RT Rybak in January, which commented that RT believed the best way to get to know the city is to walk it. Well as usual the Strib editorial board focused on those for who walking is a choice, not a necessity. So RT, if you did say this lets see you help my fellow citizens walk safely ON the sidewalks of Lake Street. Josh Kroll Powderhorn Park --__--__-- Message: 2 Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 18:48:04 -0500 (CDT) From: Steven Clift <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] How about it Park Board? A wireless park. We need one of these in Minneapolis (see below). Also, has the park board, schools, and libraries ever thought about how they might apply their mission online in terms of creating a local interactive destination? Meaning, why not build a well maintained online "park" for local kids that could also be used to attract and re-connect kids to the physical parks. Steven Clift Carag Resident P.S. Is Mpls still without a single 802.11b coffee shop? ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 03 Jul 2002 19:40:04 -0400 From: Dave Farber <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: ip <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: IP: NYC Bryant Park the first park in the world to offer 802.11b wireless computing to its patrons for free Wireless Park sponsored by Intel wireless computing available anytime the park is open Bryant Park now is a WiFi "Hot Spot", bringing the internet FREE to users of laptops and handheld devices with 802.11b Ethernet cards. NYC Wireless, a volunteer community group of computer wizards, provided the expertise to make Bryant Park the first park in the world to offer 802.11b wireless computing to its patrons for free. Go wireless and do work while enjoying the park. How-to guides to get started are available at the park entrances. http://www.nycwireless.net/ For archives see: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/ --__--__-- Message: 3 Date: Wed, 03 Jul 2002 20:39:25 -0500 From: Alan Shilepsky <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Water ski show @ Thursday in Mpls FYI: I just found out that the "River Rats", a group of young water skiers, put on a water skiing show every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. on West River Road (extention) about a block north of Broadway. Its between Broadway Pizza and the old River View Supper Club site. Shows continue through the end of August and yes, they are performing tomorrow, July 4. Their web site is http://www.tcriverrats.com They would love to have more people from the area come by and enjoy the show. They will also be performing during Aquatennial. My wife and I watched them practice tonight when we tried to walk off a mushroom and saugage pizza. Seeing ten skiers in one tow reminded me of my childhood visit to Cypress Gardens. We learned that the non-profit River Rats club has a Park Board permit to use the area and to put in a river bank deck. Members also take care of some of the grass mowing and litter clean-up. They would like to do more, like put in amphitheatre type seating. Alan Shilepsky Downtown --__--__-- Message: 4 Date: Wed, 03 Jul 2002 20:54:36 -0500 To: Alan Shilepsky <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Annie Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Water ski show @ Thursday in Mpls Mind you - (hopefully) in front of the new Mpls. Park Board Headquarters. Another reason to love this site. And for any of you who have not witnessed this site on July 4th it is the best place in almost the whole world to watch fireworks. You can see North - you can see South - you can see Taste of Minnesota Fireworks, a blip from Powderhorn and any others that are showing. It is a spectacular fireworks display area. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy! Annie Young citywide Park Commissioner At 08:39 PM 7/3/02 -0500, Alan Shilepsky wrote: >FYI: I just found out that the "River Rats", a group of young water >skiers, put on a water skiing show every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. on >West River Road (extention) about a block north of Broadway. Its between >Broadway Pizza and the old River View Supper Club site. Shows continue >through the end of August and yes, they are performing tomorrow, July 4. > >Their web site is http://www.tcriverrats.com They would love to have >more people from the area come by and enjoy the show. They will also be >performing during Aquatennial. > >My wife and I watched them practice tonight when we tried to walk off a >mushroom and saugage pizza. Seeing ten skiers in one tow reminded me of >my childhood visit to Cypress Gardens. > >We learned that the non-profit River Rats club has a Park Board permit to >use the area and to put in a river bank deck. Members also take care of >some of the grass mowing and litter clean-up. They would like to do more, >like put in amphitheatre type seating. > >Alan Shilepsky >Downtown > > >_______________________________________ >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 --__--__-- Message: 5 Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 23:24:20 -0500 (CDT) From: "Greg R." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Environmental Concerns, and more On Tue, 2 Jul 2002, ken avidor wrote: > Here's a few arguments some New Urbanists have against zoning: > > The most beautiful cities in the world were built without zoning and > planning. There is a lot of ugly cities and bland suburbs with > extensive zoning codes. Imagine Venice or Florence with our zoning > codes. Also keep in mind that zoning does include to some extent right-of-way. Not the major thorofares, but the back-alleys and smaller residential streets. > Zoning makes neighborhoods homogenous, boring and > inconvenient.....restricting restaurants, bars and places to buy > essential things. Zoning does just that. But zoning is the tool. Planning departments that put together the zoning codes stating that no commercial operation can be within x-hundred feet of a place of residence have more to do with those SimCity-like suburbs. > Zoning gives a lot of power to officials who can give property owners a > variance from the code. That it does. > Without zoning, citizens would be more directly involved with the > design of their neighborhood and city. Exactly. You also get a lot more vandalism that way, as fed-up residence decide to burn out the liquer stores rather than live with them another week. Issues of fair use of right-of-way, something that is a city/county/state issue, would be ignored on the local level; think of the guy who runs a successful naughty-video store from his garage and what that'd do to alley traffic. What you don't get is planning. And that is, perhaps, the point. If you just let the neighborhood grow as an organic entity where each cell is out for itself, rather than let the City's planning department do it, you get a mixed-use neighborhood. > I think it would be an interesting experiment for Minneapolis to go > without zoning for ten years or so....it would save the taxpayers money > .....and maybe I could buy some wine or beer a block or two from my > house. ...and as someone else pointed out, you also get all of the other things that such lack of zoning provides unrestricted growth of: * Liquer stores * Pawn shops * Bars * Massage parlors * Naughty book/video stores * Bath houses * Cottage industries involving toxic chemicals run out of homes * 'Duplexes' in traditionally single-family neighborhoods In other words, all of the things people don't want to live right next door to. Whoever lives next to any of the above gets to deal with the chronic traffic problems. These pressures created zoning codes in the first place! Don't get me wrong, mixed-use neighborhoods are a good thing IMHO. Even small-scale strips of commercial districts such as East Lake or Chicago Ave do good work for this. The old, 'street-car strips' I believe they were called. Just so long as it doesn't pollute the neighborhood in terms of, traffic, noise, air-quality, morals, or property-values. Greg Riedesel South St. Paul Stacatto signals of constant information A loose affiliation of millionares, and billionares, baby These are the days of miracle and wonder -- Boy in the Bubble, Paul Simon --__--__-- Message: 6 From: "Michael Hohmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "[mpls]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thu, 4 Jul 2002 11:31:15 -0500 Subject: [Mpls] Xcel Energy and the 4th of July in Mpls. Regarding the recent mention of Xcel/Excel Energy on this list: Good article on local/national nuclear waste management issues and Xcel's Prairie Island and Monticello plants in recent Business Journal-- http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2002/07/01/focus1.html The Minneapolis connection is twofold: 1) a very significant portion of Xcel's power production capacity in MN is nuclear-based, and the waste storage issue will very likely impact electric rates locally (by varying amounts depending upon which scenarios ultimately play out), right here in Minneapolis, and 2) Minneapolis is directly downstream from the Monticello nuclear facility and our potable water supply is the Mississippi River. Could these issues (in addition to NRG and a recession) also be influencing Xcel debt/equity valuations? All this as we celebrate Independence Day-02, with military air surveillance overhead. Also of interest: http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/charters_of_freedom/declaration/dec lara tion_transcription.html Maybe see you at Boom Island Park later today: http://www.wildernessinquiry.org/mnparks/parks/boom111.html Enjoy the great day!! Michael Hohmann Linden Hills --__--__-- Message: 7 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 4 Jul 2002 13:27:48 EDT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! In a message dated 7/3/02 4:33:38 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I for one am. What is up with Minneapolis residents Ole Savior and Dick Franson running for some office or other every year? Of course I support their right to run for public office but it seems that after the initial publicity of filing, they offer little or no reason to vote for them. It's not because I necessarily disagree with views, it's that they make virtually no effort to engage in the discussion of why I should vote for them. It comes across as more an ego trip than an effort to truly expound on an issue or mobilize a previously unmotivated voting block. Dean E. Carlson (over 30 years of not running for public office) Ward 10, East Harriet << Dean was responding to Brandon's query below: > I guess Lucky Rosenbloom is hopin' he'll be lucky in this election. Is > anyone else turned off my candidates who seem to run in whatever race > happens to be open on the day the filing period begins? > > -Brandon > -Powderhorn Park _____ >> Keith says: It is the 4th of July, God bless America. And may God bless America's stated goal of the separation of Church and State. I would like to advise and remind Dean, Brandon, and all other readers here. For the most part, the media will determine whether to "inform" you of the "...reason to vote for them". Them being the 'minor' candidates such as the above referenced Ole Savior And Dick Fransen. The media may be TV, Radio, or The Newspaper of the Twin Cities. It may also be the "medium" of yard signs, posters, handbills, booths, travel, phone banks and political patronage. Whatever the access is, Money Fuels Access. Soft money, hard money, cash, coin of the realm. Currency, a commodity that 'minor' candidates, almost by definition, do not have. Leslie Davis, always media described "gadfly and perennial candidate," springs to my mind as an opinionated candidate who's message was blocked from public access. He spent his own money to promote the public's issues. And risked his life and health to reach you with his message. Dean, when registered Mpls. Mayoral candidate Leslie Davis chained himself to a tall tree to protest exclusion from the Mayoral candidate's debates, did you go out on a limb with him? Did you demand your own right to hear the other 'minor' candidates explain to you, the "...reason to vote for them"? They wanted to tell you why, but they had no money; and no access to media or mediums. They were arbitrarily excluded from the debates. If you did not protest, you, and all silent others, share complicity in the censorship. Brandon, did you experience a "bad taste in your mouth" when Leslie Davis was put in a choke hold, injured, arrested and charged with a crime for trying to access the Mayoral debate stage at the Minn. State Fair? He was a registered candidate trying to participate, debate and inform you of his 'take' on the issues at hand. Did you help in his legal defense to preserve free speech and participation in the electoral process? I do not think so. You and so many others did Nothing. And on this 4th of July you and others disparage and dismiss those trying to make their free speech heard. In this way you honor types like Mark Dayton, who can buy his way in; in cash. Or Buck Humphrey, whose name alone guarantees buckets of soft, and hard, money and media 'access' while he does, and knows, nothing. (My opinion of him through observation when he was collecting his pay in a patronage job at City Hall, under SSB.) My opinion is your quick dismissal of independent voices will exclude your name sake, the other Brandon Lacey Compos. The one who switched parties for all the right reasons. The one who wants his small, queer voice to be heard. There must be two Brandons, or huge conflicts within one. Keith Reitman NearNorth --__--__-- Message: 8 From: "JIM GRAHAM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! Date: Thu, 4 Jul 2002 15:19:54 -0500 Here, Here Keith. By gosh I think you have it right. Some fools, (such as myself), have shown a willingness to shed their blood and give up some of the idle time of youth to fight for, and defend other fool's rights to run for office in this country. No matter how foolish they may be perceived to be. On the Fourth of July, I would think people would be applauding them. They are the essence of what is great about this wonderful, crazy Country, which some of us are actually very proud to call home. Isn't it wonderful to live in a country where any fool is guaranteed the right to be heard, no matter what his position, and any fool is guaranteed the right to run for office, no matter if politically powerful, rich, or who one's grandfather was? It seems to me the only real criticism of those mentioned is that they do not have a lot of money, yet still they have the inflated egos like regular politicians. This false pride seems to bother some. To me though it does nothing more than highlight the false egos of almost all politicians. Someone once said that our form of government was incredibly stupid and dysfunctional and the only good thing that could be said about it was that it was better than any other on this planet. Having traveled around this crazy blue planet I have to admit to the righteousness of this statement. The problem with our system of government is that it allows people to attempt to abridge the freedom of speech of others. Those who scream the loudest for their freedom of speech always wish to abridge the same freedom for those who disagree with them. The protection of even these fools is what makes our country great, even if it does seem foolish. It is the reason "God" looks after us. As Otto von Bismarck said: The Lord God has special providence for fools, drunkards, and the United States of America. Allowing "crazy" people with no chance at winning to throw in their two cents worth allows Americans to consider novel ideas such as social security, welfare, national transportation systems, health care for seniors, public education and just about any other idea worth a damn that now is part of the American experience. Of course along with all "Our" great ideas also came some other "crazy" ideas that did not work. But then the "People" were able to winnow the wheat from the chaff if given a little of both. Of course some of the nay sayers probably tried to stop wheat harvesting because you get all that worthless chaff with the grain. While we are separating a little wheat from chaff let us look at two politicians in Minnesota. Both made solemn oaths and promises about when they would be leaving office before being elected . One promised that if elected he would fight for term limits and he would never run for more than two terms. One promised that if the elected and after being in office for two or three terms if things were not run better in Washington he would quit and not run for re-election. I believe you can judge a politician by not only his money and power but also by the way he keeps his word and promises to me and the rest of the people. Sort of like a verbal contract, " I will trade you my guarantee and promise for your vote". I feel absolutely cheated by one of these men,(the one I HAD politically supported, and very grateful to the other, (the one I never supported) for the truth. Paul Wellstone promised that if elected he would only serve two terms. Wellstone is running for a third term Tim Penny promised to quit if things were not better in Washington. Penny quit and did not run for re-election. All Savior, Franson, and Davis promise is entertainment, different ideas in the race, and most importantly the continuation of an American and Minnesota tradition. I think they will fulfill this promise. I may not vote for them, but I admire their willingness to fight. I think Minnesota occasionally elects some crazy person with no political backing. But then we may be wise fools. It's the American way. Jim Graham, Ventura Village - the good old U.S. of A!!! ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 12:27 PM Subject: [Mpls] Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! > In a message dated 7/3/02 4:33:38 PM Central Daylight Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > I for one am. What is up with Minneapolis residents Ole Savior and Dick > Franson running for some office or other every year? Of course I support > their right to run for public office but it seems that after the initial > publicity of filing, they offer little or no reason to vote for them. It's > not because I necessarily disagree with views, it's that they make virtually > no effort to engage in the discussion of why I should vote for them. It > comes across as more an ego trip than an effort to truly expound on an issue > or mobilize a previously unmotivated voting block. > > Dean E. Carlson (over 30 years of not running for public office) > Ward 10, East Harriet > > << > Dean was responding to Brandon's query below: > > I guess Lucky Rosenbloom is hopin' he'll be lucky in this election. Is > > anyone else turned off my candidates who seem to run in whatever race > > happens to be open on the day the filing period begins? > > > > -Brandon > > -Powderhorn Park > > > _____ >> > Keith says: It is the 4th of July, God bless America. And may God bless > America's stated goal of the separation of Church and State. > > I would like to advise and remind Dean, Brandon, and all other readers here. > For the most part, the media will determine whether to "inform" you of the > "...reason to vote for them". Them being the 'minor' candidates such as the > above referenced Ole Savior And Dick Fransen. The media may be TV, Radio, or > The Newspaper of the Twin Cities. It may also be the "medium" of yard signs, > posters, handbills, booths, travel, phone banks and political patronage. > Whatever the access is, Money Fuels Access. Soft money, hard money, cash, > coin of the realm. Currency, a commodity that 'minor' candidates, almost by > definition, do not have. > > Leslie Davis, always media described "gadfly and perennial candidate," > springs to my mind as an opinionated candidate who's message was blocked from > public access. He spent his own money to promote the public's issues. And > risked his life and health to reach you with his message. > > Dean, when registered Mpls. Mayoral candidate Leslie Davis chained himself to > a tall tree to protest exclusion from the Mayoral candidate's debates, did > you go out on a limb with him? Did you demand your own right to hear the > other 'minor' candidates explain to you, the "...reason to vote for them"? > They wanted to tell you why, but they had no money; and no access to media or > mediums. They were arbitrarily excluded from the debates. If you did not > protest, you, and all silent others, share complicity in the censorship. > > Brandon, did you experience a "bad taste in your mouth" when Leslie Davis was > put in a choke hold, injured, arrested and charged with a crime for trying to > access the Mayoral debate stage at the Minn. State Fair? He was a registered > candidate trying to participate, debate and inform you of his 'take' on the > issues at hand. Did you help in his legal defense to preserve free speech and > participation in the electoral process? I do not think so. > > You and so many others did Nothing. And on this 4th of July you and others > disparage and dismiss those trying to make their free speech heard. In this > way you honor types like Mark Dayton, who can buy his way in; in cash. Or > Buck Humphrey, whose name alone guarantees buckets of soft, and hard, money > and media 'access' while he does, and knows, nothing. (My opinion of him > through observation when he was collecting his pay in a patronage job at City > Hall, under SSB.) > > > My opinion is your quick dismissal of independent voices will exclude your > name sake, the other Brandon Lacey Compos. The one who switched parties for > all the right reasons. The one who wants his small, queer voice to be heard. > There must be two Brandons, or huge conflicts within one. > > Keith Reitman NearNorth > _______________________________________ > 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 > --__--__-- Message: 9 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 4 Jul 2002 19:24:32 EDT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! In a message dated 7/4/02 12:27:48 PM Central Daylight Time, PennBroKeith writes: << My opinion is your quick dismissal of independent voices will exclude your name sake, the other Brandon Lacey Compos. The one who switched parties for all the right reasons. The one who wa >> Keith corrects: I regret my misspelling of the name Brandon Lacy Campos. Keith Reitman NearNorth --__--__-- Message: 10 Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 19:44:30 -0500 From: "Barbara L. Nelson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Minneapolis Issues <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! Okay, I agree with the right to free speech and also the right of any citizen who's got the cash to plunk it down and file and run for office. That said, the operative question is WHY don't these candidates have any money to get their message out? The way you get money is by having supporters give you donations. Having small amounts of money allows you to buy media (lawn signs, flyers, etc.) which allows you to reach more people and get more money. The simple fact is that after years of running for office these people still do not have the support of enough people to get the donations required to launch their message out to the public. That does not mean that they should be excluded from debates and etc., but the debates are run by non-partisan groups who for very good reasons have established criteria for who gets included and excluded. Sign me up as a person who acknowledges the perrenial candidates' right to run and their (presumably) altruistic urge to impact society in what they see as a positive way, but I am also a person who thinks reasonable people know when to quit beating a dead horse. Barbara Nelson Burnsville once and future Sewardian --__--__-- Message: 11 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 18:21:34 -0700 (PDT) "Barbara L. Nelson" wrote: > Okay, I agree with the right to free speech and also the right of any citizen > who's got the cash to plunk it down and file and run for office. > > That said, the operative question is WHY don't these candidates have any money > to get their message out? Speaking personally, we are a middle class family and all most all of our discretionary income is spent on child care for our two children. > The way you get money is by having supporters give you donations. Having small > amounts of money allows you to buy media (lawn signs, flyers, etc.) which > allows you to reach more people and get more money. The simple fact is that after > years of running for office these people still do not have the support of enough > people to get the donations required to launch their message out to the public. One's circle of friends may not include individuals who have the means to contribute large sums of money to political campaigns (a large sum being $100 to my family). Candidates normally join political parties to hook into financial backing, but those of us running independent campaigns because of ethical or philosophical beliefs may not consider this a viable option. > Sign me up as a person who acknowledges the perrenial candidates' right to run > and their (presumably) altruistic urge to impact society in what they see as a > positive way, but I am also a person who thinks reasonable people know when to > quit beating a dead horse. Boy, I sure hope this horse isn't dead. I really think that I can improve the quality of education in the public schools. I hope that other people will take the time to read about my goals and positions and then I hope that they will share my optimism. Have a happy and safe 4th of July! Michael Atherton Prospect Park Candidate for Minneapolis School Board http://QualityEd.US --__--__-- Message: 12 Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 20:44:54 -0500 From: "Barbara L. Nelson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], Minneapolis Issues <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! What I meant by support that gets a campaign started is donations of time and money in the amounts of $25 or so. You can cover a lot by door knocking and flyering, plus a mailing to your Christmas card list asking for small amounts, and a website that has a solicitation page and lets people know where to send the dough. Also, there are many forums to attend, plus organizations who want to meet the candidates. So, all is not lost, Michael, if you can't get $100 a pop. From what I've seen, $100 is a pretty darn sizeable contribution. I know this from personal experience, being involved in both low and high budget campaigns, independent and through various political parties, of good people whose views were compatible with mine. To repeat myself (caps added to make clear my meaning, not to "shout"): However, these PERRENIAL candidates, despite several attempts, have not been able to get any momentum behind them, even with repeated exposures to the public and building name recognition. As I said, there's a time to stop beating a dead horse and a REASONABLE person knows this. Barbara Nelson Burnsville --__--__-- Message: 13 From: "JIM GRAHAM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! Date: Thu, 4 Jul 2002 21:17:32 -0500 Politicians and statistics. My brother sent the following statistics to prove a point about statistics and doctors, but I think it is relevant to politicians in Minneapolis. Statistics can be used to prove some of the strangest things. Think about this: a. The number of physicians in the US is 700,000. b. Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year is 120,000. c. Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171. (US Dept. of Health & Human Services) Then think about this: a. The number of gun owners in the US is 80,000,000. b. The number of accidental gun deaths per year (all age groups) is 1,500. c. The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .0000188. Statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners. FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR. Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We must ban doctors before this gets out of hand. As a public health measure I have withheld the statistics on lawyers and politicians for fear that the shock could cause people to seek medical attention. I wonder if he has some statistics on the morbidity rate for urban areas where politicians have voted to allow fireworks on the fourth of July. Just having fun, Jim Graham, Ventura Village ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 6:24 PM Subject: [Mpls] Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! > In a message dated 7/4/02 12:27:48 PM Central Daylight Time, PennBroKeith > writes: > > << > My opinion is your quick dismissal of independent voices will exclude your > name sake, the other Brandon Lacey Compos. The one who switched parties for > all the right reasons. The one who wa >> > > Keith corrects: I regret my misspelling of the name Brandon Lacy Campos. > Keith Reitman NearNorth > _______________________________________ > 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 > --__--__-- Message: 14 Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 23:57:25 -0500 From: "Phyllis Kahn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] How about it Park Board? A wireless park. I have been trying to get public interest in WI-FI connections ever since I heard about it (for about the past year). I think neighborhood groups should look at putting in such systems for general use. Good luck with your efforts. Phyllis Kahn-State Rep-59B --__--__-- Message: 15 Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 15:40:54 -0500 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Eva Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Lucky?/Pride Wrapup A few days ago, I wrote: > > My observation has been that I have been much more cordially and > respectfully treated by the straight DFLers - Brian Melendez and Eric > Mitchell especially who were at the Stonewall DFL booth than the Gay > Well I'll correct myself a bit here. Not all the Gays at the Stonewall booth were rude to me. However Chair Megan Thomas's behavior was rude - and unprofessional. I would expect better from a Chair of an organization like Stonewall DFL. This is the same Ms. Thomas who called Robert Lilligren a "loser" on this list when he ran for City Council Member. The last time I checked, Lilligren won that race. My apologies to those Gay DFLers at the Stonewall booth who were respectful neighbors to those of us at the Log Cabin Republicans. I still wish Scott Benson would join the dark side -- and told him so at Pride. After all, Scott is no free-spending liberal. Supposedly former mayor Sharon Sayles Belton was going to be Grand Marshal at Pride. Was she in the Parade? And did she actually serve? Eva Eva Young Near North Minneapolis --__--__-- Message: 16 Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2002 21:52:34 -0500 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Sheldon Mains <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! ...<snip>.... > >Candidates normally join political parties to hook into financial backing, but >those >of us running independent campaigns because of ethical or philosophical >beliefs >may not consider this a viable option. >Michael Atherton This is an interesting theory but WRONG. My endorsement by the DFL last year for Library Board meant that I got to PAY the DFL for my share of their joint literature. I got no money from the DFL. In fact, I still owe the Mpls DFL for some of it (Tim--it will be paid eventually) This is the norm at least in the DFL. I've been involved with a number of campaigns and none of them got any money from the party. sheldon >.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.>.> sheldon mains, seward neighborhood, minneapolis [EMAIL PROTECTED] the shameless agitator in the electronic town square --__--__-- Message: 17 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 20:33:39 -0700 (PDT) Sheldon Mains wrote: ...<snip>.... >>Candidates normally join political parties to hook into financial backing, but >>those of us running independent campaigns because of ethical or philosophical >>beliefs may not consider this a viable option. >>Michael Atherton >This is an interesting theory but WRONG. My endorsement by the DFL last >year for Library Board meant that I got to PAY the DFL for my share of >their joint literature. I got no money from the DFL. In fact, I still owe >the Mpls DFL for some of it (Tim--it will be paid eventually) >This is the norm at least in the DFL. I've been involved with a number of >campaigns and none of them got any money from the party. I don't believe that I said that candidates got money directly from the party, I'd said, "Candidates normally join political parities to hook into financial backing." You're free to tell me that getting a party endorsement does not encourage traditional donors to contribute to your campaign, provide you with a network of connections, and doesn't provide you greater visibility and exposure. Am I mistaken in believing that these are some of the general functions of a political party and an endorsement? Michael Atherton Prospect Park Candidate for Minneapolis School Board http://QualityEd.US --__--__-- Message: 18 From: "Craig Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Minneapolis Issues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sat, 6 Jul 2002 10:47:32 -0500 Subject: [Mpls] Minneapolis Miller Ted Williams Passes away. Are there any listmembers who remember the one year that Ted Williams spent in Mpls? Or for that matter Willy Mays? Could they tell us about the old ballpark on Nicollet? This should be a proud day for Minneapolitans. The greatest baseball hitter just passed away. He played for us. The greatest living player and maybe one of the two greatest players of all time also played for us. Craig Miller Former Fultonite [EMAIL PROTECTED] --__--__-- Message: 19 From: "Cameron A. Gordon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: "Cameron A. Gordon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Council Response to Constituents Date: Sat, 6 Jul 2002 12:29:05 -0500 Some days, or weeks, ago there was an interesting thread about how City Council offices respond to calls and needs from constituents. It was pointed out that some parts of the city and some wards get many more calls than others and that there might be some inconsistencies in needs and in service. I think that one of the ideas that came out of the "Duffy Report" that is worth looking into and would help address some of these concerns (as well as others) is a call for an "Office of Constituent Services". In the course of working on the Mayor's Ethics Task this idea has come up several times in discussions as a way to help ensure that all requests and calls are handled in fair and consistent ways. I think the idea has some merit. There even seems to be ways to do it that would not take any new resources, but would take a willingness of Council Members and the Mayor to share resources and control. The most practical idea I have heard so far would be to take some of the staff and resources now divided up among 13 Council Members and Mayor and put them together to form an office of constituent service....although the name could certainly be changed. I am curious if list members have any opinions on this. thanks in advance for your input, Cam Cam Gordon Seward Neighborhood, Minneapolis, Ward 2 SD 59 (612) 332-6210, 296-0579, 339-2452 --__--__-- _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls End of Mpls Digest _______________________________________ 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
