I'd like to clarify some assumptions Ms. Brueggemann of Sherman makes when clarifying assumptions she attributes to Mr. Shoemaker.
> Sherman Associates, Inc. has been working with the > Northeast Community Development Corporation to reach > out to the neighborhoods and hear their opinions about > the proposed project because it is our understanding > that this organization was established to represent > the many neighborhoods of Northeast Minneapolis and > its planning goals. It is our understanding that > going through the Northeast CDC, who has the > authorization to put together public forums to discuss > the proposed project, is the appropriate process. It appears Ms. Brueggemann has been mislead regarding the current status and abilities of the Northeast CDC. It's painful to hear that she is putting so much stock in this fledgling CDC at this time. With a permanent board just elected at the end of September, the CDC has plenty of groundwork to do to gain the confidence of some of its own neighborhoods after a number of missteps regarding non-resident representation, meeting notifications, its role and its relationships with other organizations. The CDC is not in a position at this time (staff-wise, money-wise nor reputation-wise) to speak for the official citizen-participation neighborhood organizations of Northeast. Yet certain people -- not just related to this Cub project -- seem to be pushing the NE CDC to usurp its originally intended role to facilitate for, not act in place of, the neighborhood organizations and other community groups. I am seeing and hearing that people are feeling that despite what CDC folks say, the role of the CDC will take neighborhood and community organizations out of the loop. As a person who helped plan this CDC, I certainly hope the NE CDC can redeem itself. Right now, however, the proof is in the pudding. There are a number of good neighborhood organizations and community committees in place now, actively seeking information on various projects. Yet it appears the "sea-change" is to go directly (and prematurely) to the CDC, bypassing the previously established citizen organizations and raising questions about the input process. Several weeks ago one neighborhood organization asked Sherman to meet with its members about the Cub project, but there has been no response from Sherman. If all was peachy with the CDC, Sherman's approach might be fine, and they could defer to the CDC. That time is not here right now. And just to clarify: the NE CDC represents nine Northeast neighborhoods touching Central Avenue, not the other four neighborhoods of Northeast along the river -- which have their own (quite successful) CDC called MEND, or Mississippi Eastside Neighborhood Development Corp. Perhaps the NE CDC could benefit from borrowing a page from the MEND book. Please note: My comments are my own, made as a Northeast resident, Northeast observer and committee/board volunteer. I am NOT speaking on behalf of either of my employers, who, in the interest of disclosure, are two Northeast neighborhoods (one in each CDC) -- neither of which I live in. Gayle Bonneville Northeast Minneapolis/Waite Park neighborhood who already shops at a Cub near Northeast Mpls. _______________________________________ 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
