Jim Mork I think you are on the right track again. If you keep this up I am going to have to write about bicycles again just to start an argument with you. It takes a lot of gall to say it is a "Democratic Party problem". Does the terms "Enron" or "Oil" mean anything to those making the allegations. The problem is, as Jim Mork seems to say, we need political reforms. How about going back to two year terms so council people do not have the time to build the power and money base to insulate themselves from neighborhood residents. This will do more to cut influence peddling than anything I can think of. Lets us get rid of bad ones sooner to.
Since the retail value of the plumbing work supposedly done on Biernat's mother's house was approximately $2500, (and we all know the inflated cost of plumbing in Minneapolis.) What was the cost of the work, from a wholesale perspective, if labor was discounted? Probably came awful close to the minimum to even be considered to be felony, if it even made it. I actually believe Joe might not have thought of the house as his. I partnered with a brother and sister and bought my mother a house, which had my name on the title. I never thought of that house as being my house. When I arranged work on that house, I had someone go by and do work on Mama's house, until the day she died. So I have no trouble believing that part of the story. I also would like to mention that Biernat was found not guilty on those charges. He was found guilty of (according to the Strib) mailing tax forms that did not include the income from the plumbing work, and "lying to the FBI. It seems to me a wide net was cast and all the big fish had left themselves holes big enough to swim out. So only some relative minnows were caught. If the minnows had been smart they could have parleyed their positions. They could have called large bribes campaign contributions. Didn't one City official tear down a thousand housing units, then set up a large developer with first 30 million, then 60 million , and I have heard possibly that before it ends 90 million dollars of subsidy for a building with large circles on it? Then didn't she leave the City to work for that same company? Now that's what I call influence marketing. It was far too much money and influence to be labeled as just peddling. Aren't there ex-council people doing business as developers in the City at the present time? Does anyone believe they are not "peddling" their own influence? The problem with Joe, Brian, and company is that they do not think big enough. They are guilty of not being very accomplished at selling, so they were easily trapped. Trapped while real criminals swam leisurely away. After spending years watching "Real" pros at work, Brian and Joe had to be flabbergasted at what they were charged with. I still do not believe the investigation is finished. I have to believe the Federal Authorities are going to begin to catch the real tuna since the baitfish have been taken care of. ------------- On a more positive note. Jeffrey Strand you make a compelling case for your Council Member. You called Barbara Johnson "Fiscal conservative and socially progressive". That was what I meant by depending on her for keeping some "common sense" on the Council. That Linda Mann prefers Green Party people is clear from the three people she names. I do not blame Linda for her political prejudices, (we all have them), but insulting a person like Barbara Johnson is not necessary. Though it does give some of us a chance to give Barbara some of the credit which is justly her due. Barbara reminds me a little of Paul Ostrow and Scott Benson, quite competence while they go along doing their jobs. Rather than the naked political ambition sometimes glimpsed in others. Barbara Johnson also seems to be on the side of neighborhood empowerment. This is probably because she knows her constituency well enough, and interacts often enough with them, to trust neighborhood people. That is probably one of the reasons Jeffrey likes Barbara, given his NRP background. Barbara always gives people the feeling that their ideas are just as valuable as hers, or anyone else's ideas. That ability to not only listen, but to "Hear" what someone is saying makes Barbara a "Good" council representative. What better compliment can be made than that a Council Representative actually "Represents" the residents of her Ward. Jeffery gives good testimony about how well one resident believes Barbara Johnson represents the 4th Ward. Jim Graham, Ventura Village _______________________________________ 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
