Thank you Jason, or rphaedrus, for your offer to help. The residents of the "Impacted" Neighborhoods, and the residents forced to live in these concentrated "Supportive Housing" appreciate such an offer. By caring enough to post your kind offer you already are helping. You are an example for others who care about this pattern of discrimination by the City of Minneapolis. It will possibly bring similar offers from others and also send a message to politicians at the City Hall that people from many areas care enough to be active. Especially from non-impacted neighborhoods!
Politicians and the newspaper reporters actually closely follow the "List". Impacted neighborhoods have been portrayed and discounted as being as NIMBY. Even though they have been the ONLY places that allows supportive housing. Because they are relatively weak, politically, politicians can afford to ignore "impacted neighborhoods". People like you have the power to make a difference. For they authenticate the struggle that must be made, and give us faith that even poor neighborhoods may succeed if they are in the right. As Lincoln said, "Let us have faith that right makes might." Friends like you make us mighty. Perhaps the "Impacted Neighborhood Coalition" should add "and their friends" to its name. For all of us who have worked so long on affordable housing and social justice issues for impacted neighborhoods, and most times all alone, it is indeed gratifying to hear that there are "friends", and others with the social consciousness to help. Your 3rd. Ward race is very important for that reason. That CM will represent both impacted and non-impacted neighborhoods. We need a Council Member who actually understands the problems of poor neighborhoods with large minority populations. We need another CM who is willing to advocate for neighborhoods, and not just be there for powerful, politically connected, developers. Minneapolis needs someone who knows the difference and will advocate for poor people and not just wealthy non-profit organizations. "Friends" from other areas also are able to ask their Hennepin County Commissioner to please stop paying for "supportive housing" in concentrated areas; it continues a pattern of discrimination. With a simple action by the Hennepin County Board, supportive housing providers would look to other areas to open supportive housing facilities. They locate in concentrated areas and discriminate against poor people and neighborhoods because it is more profitable. By such an action Hennepin County could take the lead that would force Minneapolis to "Open" other parts of Minneapolis to such housing. "Friends" could also ask their State Legislators to pass a state bill that would end such discrimination. With a small amendment to the State's 1/4-mile spacing legislation, Minneapolis would be forced to abide by its own ordinance. Such an amendment would also protect people in other cities from such discrimination. Hopefully others with social conscience and activist will also show they are "friends" and follow your lead. Thank you sincerely, Jim Graham, Ventura Village >>>The people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty. - Thomas Jefferson _______________________________________ 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
