Re: [Mpls] City Council Cops Out on Iraq

[JIM GRAHAM]

Jordan Kushner writes: "In particular, the problems are rooted more in Washington then the disenfranchised teenager in Phillips"   Such a statement indicates just how out of touch with reality Jordan actually is. The problem is not Washington or some mystical "disenfranchised teenager".  The problem is in organized crime and a "local" City government that is unwilling to address the drug-crime problem as long as it is concentrated in a few poor neighborhoods. The problem is also a few social service mavens who use slight of hand to place the blame in some other place than it truly exists so as to distract public attention from the real problem and thereby continue the generation of business for themselves and their industry.   Jordan needs some real world observation.  If there are "disenfranchised teenagers" being victimized on the corner of Bloomington and 28th or on the corner of Franklin and Chicago, it is by adults who use them for organized crime. Before pontificating on that which he has no knowledge, Jordan needs to go down to the Franklin Community Safety Center, (it's easy to find - across from Maria's), and look at the mug shots and rap sheets of those doing the crime. Then he might not be talking about "disenfranchised teens', but about the ADULTS who victimize poor communities in an organized way without fear of the "Drug Judges" or City officials.   Speaking of "Pontificating" I would like to do a little of my own. (As usual) The religious and other leadership of their community need to take these adults and "smite them hip and thigh" for Satan's work that they do.  We need leaders who do more than just preach on Sunday.  We need them to step off of the curb into the gutter and reach down and drag such young people from the very depths of degradation into which these Satan's have placed them. The City's political leaders, like the political leader Pilate before them, have "washed their hands of it" and allowed these "disenfranchised teenagers" to be crucified on the cross of addiction and crime.   Now on to Barb's statements about Phillips. Thanks Barb, for your concern and support for someone else's community.   While Zimmerman has made some (in my opinion) bonehead statements about "Cops" and backed the further concentration of the supportive housing that discriminates against poor people and poor neighborhoods, (with the PPL project).  So have other Council People who are supposedly representing "Phillips".  We believe Dean is re-thinking his stance on over-concentrating supportive housing, and we are carrying on a dialogue about it. In all fairness, Dean has been far more attentive and concerned with "Phillips" than any other Councilperson, either at present or at anytime in the last twelve years.  I use to joke that Brian Herron and Paul Ostrow were the best Sixth Ward Councilmen we had until Dean Zimmerman was elected. I still feel that way.  Dean Zimmerman comes to Ventura Village meetings and participates fully, so I must assume Barb's information is hear-say or takes place in Whittier. Barb maybe should take issue with what Dean does in Whittier and leave Phillips to the folks living in Phillips. Most of us like Dean just fine, we just have to keep prodding him from time to time. Don't worry Barb some of us shy violets across the freeway can put our modesty aside and poke Dean ourselves.   So Dean, "war torn Phillips (residents) are wondering when he will put their safety and well-being ahead of his other passions in countries far away." Give me a call and lets talk about it.   Jim Graham, Ventura Village - and the "War torn Phillips" Community Planning District ----- Original Message ----- From: Jordan Kushner To: Barbara Lickness ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2002 11:06 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] City Council Cops Out on Iraq Barbara, i can sympathize (and empathize) with the perils of living in the central city.  This is exactly why it Dean Zimmermann is doing the right thing by speaking out against war.  Why?:   First, if the crime in Phillips has such an impact on daily life, can you imagine how life must be in a country where there is a lack of food and clean water due to U.S. economic and military aggression, and then literally have bombs dropping on one's house and neighborhood, and now the threat of an invading army?  Local elected offiicals, as the rest of us, have an ethical obligation to speak out against atrocities being committed in our name.  Anyone in an official and visible position has more of an obligation because they are in an official and visible position.   Second, there ARE connections between what the U.S. is doing (?)12,000 miles away and what is happening in Phillips.  The hundreds of billions of dollars wasted on the war machinery to invade countries 12,000 miles away needs to be directed at the problems in our inner-cities.  Imagine how much a small portion of that money could do to improve housing, stimulate economic development, provide job training, drug treatment, etc.    The only hope for urban problems is for city and community leaders to stop responding to problems in a reactionary manner, and address the underlying causes.  This includes recognition that what happens in the city of Minneapolis  is not just based on what happens in the city of Minneapolis.  Our problems are connected to what is happening elsewhere.  In particular, the problems are rooted more in Washington then the disenfranchised teenager in Phillips.  If more communities recognized that and directed energies accordingly, we get some real change.   Jordan Kushner (now moving from Powderhorn to suburb) ----- Original Message ----- From: Barbara Lickness To: Jordan S. Kushner ; Minneapolis Issues Forum Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2002 10:34 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] City Council Cops Out on Iraq Personally Jordan, I wish Dean Zimmerman would spend more time passing resolutions that would help his war torn ward than concentrating on issues that are 12,000 miles away from here. While I am not diminishing the significance of the ward in Iraq, we elected our city council people to concentrate on the city.  I expect that to take precedence over everything else. If I have a passion about the war in Iraq, I am calling Paul Wellstone or Marty Sabo, not Dean Zimmerman or Robert Lilligren. Since Dean has taken office he has offered resolutions for us not to watch T.V. for a week, against some human rights offenses in some country in the way beyond and now the war in Iraq. HELLLLLLOOOOO, he has people that fear for their lives every single day in Phillips and sleep with one eye open. I haven't seen one resolution from him that might help them. In fact, I hear very little from him on the horrendous crime issues in Phillips other than the police are brutal.  Mostly, he shows up at meetings late, stands in the back of the room, says nothing and then leaves. So far R.T. is the only city leader that is taking a leadership role about the crime problems in Phillips.  Many of the people I speak with in war torn Phillips are wondering when he will put their safety and well-being ahead of his other passions in countries far away.  This is why he was elected. If Dean wants to debate the war in Iraq, then run for U.S. congress or U.S. Senate. In the meantime, Phillips needs his attention here in Phillips. Barb Lickness/Whittier     "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead Yahoo! - We Remember 9-11: A tribute to the more than 3,000 lives lost