Dave,
After reading further, it appears that residents are a major part of each of the decision making committees. I did not see the 'official' neighborhood organization group listed, but there were the names of plenty of Phillips residents.
You should be applauding this organization.
My only concern is why aren't there more partnerships like this?
Eric Mitchell
Maple Grove
Dave Piehl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I am always concerned when residents are left out of
the equation, and that is what I perceive in this
case.
--- Eric Mitchell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
>
> I went to the web site and read further.
> Phillips Partnership seems to be an organization
> that many here would be ecstatic over. Corporate
> heads who take a serious interest in the surrounding
> community, by working with civic leaders to improve
> neighborhood conditions. Safety, job training (and
> hiring), affordable housing and infrastructure are
> focus points. They put their own foundation money up
> and receive some grants as well.
> Would it make some feel better if only non-profits
> worked on these issues? Of course it would, but how
> long have people demanded that corporations begin to
> invest in their physical community?
> There also seems to be some insinuation that the
> goals of the Partnership are mutually exclusive with
> those of the surrounding community. Can you explain
> further or did I just jump to a conclusion? I do
> know that in the five years of its existence,
> Phillips has become the neighborhood with the
> fastest growing property values.
> If more corporations took a vested interest in their
> community, it would lighten the burden and numbers
> of the operating non-profits.
>
> Eric Mitchell
> Maple Grove
> Dave Piehl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: For
> several years (I think since approximately the
> time of the demise of "People of Phillips"), a group
> has existed in the Phillips neighborhood that calls
> itself "Phillips Partnership".
>
> "Phillips Partnership" has a great
> community-oriented
> ring to it, doesn't it? Who exactly is the Phillips
> Partnership?
>
> According to the Phillips Partnership website,
>
http://www.phillipspartnership.org/About_Us/about_us.html
>
>
> "The Phillips Partnership is comprised of top
> executives of prominent corporations and non-profit
> organizations, Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles
> Belton,
> Metropolitan Council Chair Ted Mondale, and Hennepin
> County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. The mayor and
> Gordon Sprenger, Chief Executive Officer of Allina
> Health System, serve as the Partnership�s
> Co-chairs."
>
> Are residents of the community involved at all? It
> would appear that the Phillips Partnership is very
> much a "top-down" organization, created to achieve
> the
> goals of almost everyone but the residents in
> Phillips. Is this the trend in community
> participation?
>
> >
> Further, Louis Smith of Smith Parker PLLP is listed
> in
> the newsletter as "counsel" - interestingly, Tom
> Johnson of Smith Parker is the coordinator of the
> I35W
> access project.
>
> As I recall, Phillips Partnership received something
> in the area of $5 million for the Access Project
> after
> the initial corporate seed money ran out. I'm
> interested in finding out what additional funds have
> been solicited by Phillips Partnership - I've heard
> that a letter was written to MNDOT by the
> partnership
> requesting additional funding.
>
> David Piehl
Do You Yahoo!?
New! SBC Yahoo! Dial - 1st Month Free & unlimited access
