Mike, this would be a little easier to swallow if your Kingfield Neighborhood had not been so successful in fighting to keep out supportive housing such as Prodigal House. I am sure many on the "List" remember David Brauer's explanation of how his neighborhood was successful. Powerful Neighborhoods have nothing to fear, you are correct. This has the effect of emphasizing the disparity between neighborhoods and the "Pattern of Discrimination" which the City of Minneapolis is engaged in.
There is a law against rape also, and it is regularly circumvented in these same neighborhoods. Phillips had eight (8) rapes just last month alone. Revoking the law on rape would possibly reflect such a reality, but I think you will have people up in arms if you attempt to revoke it. There are laws against drug trafficking, and as a matter of fact, the City Government and Hennepin County Judges have concentrated it in the same neighborhoods. The City ignores the LAW in these areas, but very few would support repealing the law. Even though sometimes there are 30 people breaking the law and "dealing" on one city block at one given time. No, the City needs to start enforcing the law and stop discriminating against poor neighborhoods with large minority populations. The incredible thing is the City Government intends to attempt changing the law, without any input from the communities. The only public hearing was before the Planning Commission and attended only by residents from Prospect Park and Ventura Village, and we were there on other issues. None of the neighborhoods even knew there were going to be PUBLIC Hearings. The only residents and Neighborhood people attending opposed the rush to judgment that was going on. At the Z&P meeting public input was NOT EVEN ALLOWED. Why are City Council persons so afraid of the public reviewing these issues? What is being slipped through that they fear public scrutiny on? I can not believe Dan Niziolek, Paul Ostrow, Scott Benson, and Barb Johnson would allow this to happen given their history of supporting Neighborhood inclusion. Of course Robert Lillegren can be counted on to at least support neighborhood involvement, heck he even answered his own phone when I called. It took a moment to realize the person named Robert on the phone was the person "Robert" who I had called. Neighborhoods are discussing the issues now and calling for a City-wide meeting to discuss and have input into this decision. The City Council and Mayor can still go ahead and do what they wish, but will not be able to hide behind the excuse of not knowing what people want. If you believe, as I do, that the residents of Minneapolis deserve at least proper notification and a true PUBLIC Hearing, then contact the City Council and the Mayors Office today. We are only asking for a fair public hearing and justice. Call or e-mail Mayor Rybak at R.T. [EMAIL PROTECTED] or the Chair of the Zoning Committee, [EMAIL PROTECTED], and don't forget your own City Council Representative, or other council people, example [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call 673-22your ward number. Tell them that they should at least allow an opportunity for public input so to please wait until a Minneapolis wide meeting on the issue. Neighborhoods are organizing such a meeting at the present time. Jim Graham, Ventura Village From: Mike Hess To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 3:46 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] If you live near supportive housing I don't want to appear insensitive to the neighborhoods that have an excessively high concentration of supportive housing. But... It appears now that the law is regularly circumvented and has been for some time. If politicians lack the desire to enforce the existing law what is the point of keeping it? It would be one thing if supportive housing was distributed widely through the city and this revocation would trigger an avalance for example on Whittier, but doesn't revoking this law simply reflect reality? If another proposal came up that would violate this rule, but it was a good project and would benefit a class of people, chances are it would be approved despite the law. Mike Hess Kingfield _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
