>qualified?? and why hasn't he said anything about it???
(dp) Vanessa, up to this point, Don has had to limit his activities to Jordan, because he lives in Jordan.
> >Okay, and real life experiences, what does he have? Besides what he >states over, over, over, and over again... What he worked for a >fortune five hundred company..He is the voice of the people, which >people jordan??? He has never been the voice of hawthorne or any>other wards..
(dp) Let's see, real-life experiences. Hmmm.... An immigrant student that earned a scholarship to one of the most presitgious design schools in the United States. Probably spent a fair amount of time on "the bottom rung" of the ladder in society. Not only did he have to fight the fight of a minority in this society, he had to fight the fight of an IMMIGRANT MINORITY member of this society. It might be safe to assume that he understands the disenfranchised segment of the 3rd Ward, AND how to motivate them to take active participation in change. Sounds like a qualification to me.
Let's see... A department head (responsible for design and development) for a well-known international toy manufacturer during a time when toy manufacturers were failing left and right. No real life experiences to be learned in that scenario are there? And I might add, as a MINORITY head in his department, he had to learn how to effectively motivate and manage a predominately white workforce. Bear in mind, Dept Heads are responsible for budgetary oversight. Sounds like qualifications to me.
Further, having "made-it" in society as both an African American AND an immigrant, he has CONSCIOUSLY chosen NOT to "fly-away" to the 'burbs. But instead to stay and give back to a society that has afforded him his successes. Sounds like qualifications to me.
If you look at the percentage of the voters that voted for Don from within Jordan, I think you'll find it's safe to say that Don speaks for Jordan.
> >I just afraid, that you are to late with your responses, he had time >to put as much information in the Insight news, and why didn't he, >HE is the voice of the people, Is this the same thing we will be >forced to deal with "IF" he becomes council member????? Someone else >to come behind him and say, "well no, here's what Don, really>meant....Give me a break....
(dp) What Don was quoted as saying (in Insight) and what you chose to selectively communicate that he had said are entirely different. Being a supporter of Olin's, I don't fault you for slanting your correspondence. I would prefer however, that you don't represent it as the "truth".
> >Don talked about his needs for the ward, not ours. Why hasn't he >address the fact of community and police?? the most IMPORTANT thing >in the northside, what is he afraid of. Why hasn't he mentioned >anything he wants to do for the ward, besides the fact of his on >personal background and his thinking on life, thinking won't feed >the people, it will not aid with mediation with community and >police, it will not put job's here and most importantly it will not>stabilize the ward.
(dp) Vanessa, ask Robert Olson if he has ever heard of Don Samuels, OR his position on community and police. Don's position is both well-known AND highly publicized. In fact, I've had the opportunity to sit-in on a couple of the meetings Don has had w/ Chief Olson. Sounds like a qualification to me.
> >(jp)Don is already bringing people together from diverse backgrounds >to work on shared interests and common goals. > >(vf) oops is this in the ward too?? or tell the truth on his >campaign, right??, gotta be , cuz is is not here.. In this part of>the ward...
In closing, it's very easy to not be able to get behind a candidate simply because he did not "win" the endorsement of an organized party. I can live with that. I cannot however, sit idly by and watch while half-truths and flat-out misinformation is spread about a very decent, concerned AND qualified candidate.
I ask you to ask yourself the same questions about Olin that you've just asked (and I've answered) about Don.
- Does he relate well to the disenfranchised segment of our ward? And what's his plan on engaging them?
- Has he ever had ultimate responsibility for budget development and oversight? Seems to me experience in this area might be important with what's going on right now.
- When was the last time he sat down with Chief Olson and discussed the community police issues facing the 3rd ward?
I think that I'm being both fair and objective in rasing these questions and would very much appreciate both a fair and honest answer.
Dennis Plante
Jordan
> >Vanessa Freeman >Hawthorne > > > > > > >_________________________________________________________________ >MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* >http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus > >_______________________________________ > >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/mplsMSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. _______________________________________ 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
