Just to correct the facts (list members can draw their own conclusion of about the interpretations...)
Brian Rice writes: > The current Park Board rent is $14.00 per square foot--that rent is on > the low side of rents currently because it was negiotiated 10 years (not 20 > as the list manager claims) ago when the last downtown real estate slump > hit. Nope, I didn't say anything about when the Park Board's lease was struck. I said the current vacancy rates are the highest they've been in 20 years. > I appreciate humor as > much as the next person. But I don't find snide attacks on public servants > to be funny. One of the members of the Forum pointed out the demeaning > response issued to Emily Ero Phillips post. Emily is a decent, compassionate > and hardworking public servant. She is not Bill Clinton's handmaiden. We know that. Your outrage is right-on, and I think almost all members concur. As Mr. Kuettel will attest, he received a stern warning and expulsion threat immediately. I think this is just a factor of Brian not having been on the list very long. Members who make posts like this are swiftly scolded and in some cases kicked off, as per our rules. > As to why there hasn't been > more > information posted by the "pros" on the issue I can't answer for the Board. > For myself I was stirred into action after I saw the derogatory piece on > Emily. Obviously some members of the Forum have made up their minds and the > truth be damned and let's insult the messengers who try to bring it forward. One member. The insult has been punished. > I also think the > list manager's view of the comments to date on the subject of being > representative of the masses is absurd at best. I respectfully submit that > those views been less than well informed. It's tough for Brian to claim that he is posting as an individual and then keep throwing in "list manager" for a personal post which I've made a plain, good-faith distinction about. > Even the list > manager's latest posting takes the approach that every word should be > suspect and the masses should rise up. Here's what I wrote: "I do not want to attack Brian personally. But as a representative of the Park Board, I do think his attitude is troubling, as if he is saying "how dare the hoi polloi venture an opinion in these matters without, say, being an elected official or bond counsel." "This is an attitude, frankly, that led to the defeat of many of the last city council's powers. I think there is new and welcome scrutiny of the Park Board. Brian chooses to believe this is a harbinger of talk-radio government; I think a more likely outcome is that an active, engaged citizenry will produce better and better-supported public policy." Every word suspect? Where did I say that? Masses rise up? I call that paying attention, speaking up, and engaging in a democracy. > And the list > manager himself seems more than willing to set the thoughtful and respectful > tone which I have seen today and on other days this week, like the comments > about Steve Brandt. Huh? Steve and I are friends, and I respect his work. Please cite the offending comment in question. At least it wasn't your last post, Brian! Way to engage the public! David Brauer Kingfield Neighbor and admirer of Steve Brandt _______________________________________ 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
