Jim Mork to Barb Lickness; >>I meant in devising >>lawsuit-PREVENTING measures. You say they "chose >>to ignore the law". OK, explain to me why they >>did that? Were you there at the time with city >>legal advisers, explaining that this was in >>violation of laws which would necessitate a >>lawsuit the expense of which the citizenry would >>not like to incur? Was there a process for >>diffusing this to more than the small number >>involved with the ramifications?
Yes Mr. Mork, Barb Lickness was there. A whole lot of other people were there also, BEGGING the rest of the Minneapolis to help us. We were WARNING that these actions by the City violated Minneapolis' own ordinances, violated the rights of these "impacted communities" to "Due Process" and "Equal Protection Under the Law", and most importantly violated the rights of the proposed residents of Supportive Housing facilities, if they were concentrated into small geographical areas. We were all there warning the City that this would precipitate legal action. Former US Attorney David Lillehaug, who also was "warning that this action violated the law", represented us. The rest of Minneapolis, (by and large), ignored the issue, because they had the political power to prevent such developments in their own communities. Just as the rest of Minneapolis is by and large ignoring the discrimination by Minneapolis and Hennepin County against poor communities of color when they do not get "Equal Protection" from criminal activity. (A next round of legal actions, and requests to the Minnesota Legislature - if the City does not address this problem) WARNING! Possible waste of Taxpayer dollars on legal fight rather than addressing the problem. Ventura Village attempted to settle out of court with PPL and their legal firm, Dorsey and Whitney. PPL, and Dorsey and Whitney, all but laughed at us. Remember PPL and their partners had bragged, prior to the issue coming to the neighborhood, that they were going to "stuff it down the neighborhoods throat and there is nothing the residents can do about it". That sounds like an organization that is very sure of its political power and its bought law firm. Ventura Village begged the City Council to act responsibly, but remember the City Council Members were in a fight over who would be elected, and then who would run which committee, and who would be president of the City Council. Quite simply, deals were cut, and City Council members voted to violate Minneapolis Ordinance. Those making such deals probably included Jim Mork's own City Council Person, it certainly included the rest of the Z&P Committee. Jim Mork asks if there is a process of "diffusing" this to more than the small number involved with the ramifications?" Yes Jim there is, it is for the neighborhood groups to stay abreast of actions being considered in City Hall. It is for a red flag to go up ANY and ALL TIMES where the City is trying to force something through against neighborhood wishes. Jim Mork had an excellent suggestion about a CCP/Safe like newsletter! How about the City of Minneapolis doing what Jim Mork suggests and sending a notification letter to each and all neighborhood groups when the City is considering overturning a citizen participation vote. Most could be ignored, but at least the communities would know some action was about to take place that "MIGHT" precipitate the spending of taxpayer dollars on a legal action. Neighborhood groups would also be warned that the City was taking an action that might in the future be taken against their wishes. How else can we prevent more needless lawsuits? One way is for City Council members to adhere to the votes of "Legitimate Citizen Participation Organizations", unless there is a lengthy process to overturn such. Citizen Participation is presently only looked at and referred to when it supports Council and Planning Department actions. Otherwise it is uniformly ignored from poorer, less politically powerful, neighborhoods. We elected THIS Mayor and THIS City Council because they promised to listen because they said, "Neighborhoods were in the best position to know what they needed." Any List members remember any City Council member or Mayor, whom we elected, who did not make that commitment? Another way to avoid litigation is to have proper legal advice prior to any City Action. The Z&P committee making a decision then asking the City Attorney "to write finding documents to support the action", is about as stupid an action as I can imagine. This is exactly what happened in the CVI case. Competent legal staff should be relied on to have input PRIOR to making a decision, not make legal excuses AFTER a bad decision. Can you imagine a taxpayer saying, "I am going to refuse to pay property taxes this year, because the City of Minneapolis is spending my money foolishly." and, "Now I will pay and order my lawyer to write some reasons why I can break the law."? I think a person would be better off getting competent advice prior to taking such an action, rather than hiring legal assistance to try to get the property out of tax forfeiture. IT IS FAR CHEAPER TO GET LEGAL ADVICE PRIOR TO AN ACT, RATHER THAN TO PAY FOR LEGAL DEFENSE WHEN GOING TO COURT! The Neighborhood has attempted to have mediation and arbitration with the City on the PPL - CVI project. The City's idea of compromise, however, is if we chose to be shot with a 9MM or 38-caliber bullet. The neighborhood would still prefer the City to act responsibly, rather than having to go to Court. Unfortunately the City of Minneapolis appears to be more willing to use taxpayer's dollars to fight Court cases than to use those same dollars to solve the actual problems. Mr. Mork, your City Council representative, my City Council representative, and some other City Council members seem to be very happy to waste tax payer dollars in this manner. Hopefully, Barbara Johnson, Scott Benson, Barrett Lane, and other responsible City Councilpersons with legal acumen (Mr. Zerby and Mr. Ostrow), will be able to bring some common sense to this issue. At the request from Mr. Mork, for the neighborhoods of Minneapolis to have prior warning when the City may take some action leading to unnecessary legal actions, I now give such a warning. WARNING: The City of Minneapolis is now and has for some time been considering changing the Minneapolis Comprehensive Plan in a manner that would help concentrate large Multi-unit housing projects in "Impacted Areas" against neighborhood wishes and plans. This action, on the part of the City of Minneapolis, would violate the spirit of the Holman Decree and probably start a whole battery of further lawsuits. We simply need some forum for neighborhoods to come together to discuss mutual problems and to share resources and support. The City council in the past served this function, but with the advent of "Professional Politicians" they serve another constituency now. I suggest that David Brauer and other Internet mavens invent one, or at a minimum invite such an activity here and on other "Lists". Jim Graham, Ventura Village - and other places in Minneapolis _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
