Jonathan Palmer writes:
"Yesterday, I got a real pleasant surprise when my Councilmember, Barb
Johnson, called me to say she'd seen the post ....
I thought it was not only a nice thing but a very positive thing to get a
call from her out the blue to answer one of my concerns. So thanks Barb,
good accessibility and reaching out to residents is one of the top things
that makes a good public servant and specifically a good Councilmember."
As someone who lives just a few doors south of Mr. Palmer, I too am please
to know that Councilmember Johnson is concerned the middle-of-the-night
happenings on our street and is willing to take the time to respond to those
constituents who use this internet venue. Therefore, I hope Mr. Palmer will
join me in asking Ms. Johnson to address a concern that her constituents,
and the city as a whole, may find more disturbing than city employees
picking up trash at 2:30 a.m.
On Dec. 13, the Minneapolis City Council voted 8-4 to approve a requirement
that contractors performing more than $100,000 worth of work, while they
employ more than 21 employees during 20 weeks of a calendar year, provide
same-sex domestic benefits.
In explaining her no vote,Skyway News reported that "while calling (the
proposal) 'the right thing to do', Councilmember Barb Johnson noted that the
move would anger conservative Republicans who gained power in the 2002
election. 'It will harm us in our relationship with the legislature if we
do this today,' she said."
If Ms. Johnson happens to see this post it would be nice to know if the
quotes attributed to her are accurate. If they are, can she explain whether
she supports the Affirmative Action requirements the city currently has on
the books that contractors performing only $50,000 worth of work to not only
to file AA plans, but the AA plans must "afford business enterprises owned
and controlled by women and minorities the maximum feasible opportunity to
participate in the performance of this contract and resulting subcontracts."
Ordinance 139.50 continues: "the term 'business enterprise owned and
controlled by women and minorities' means a business, at least fifty-one
(51) per cent of which is owned and controlled by minority group members or
women. For the purposes of this definition, 'minority group members' are
Black, Hispanic, Asian-Americans, and American Indians and Alaskan natives."
I trust Ms. Johnson is not saying it's o.k. to look out for the economic
needs of Blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, and American Indians, but not
members of the GLBT community. I hope that if she did say she didn't want to
anger conservative Republicans that it was only in jest. I want someone
representing me who's not afraid to speak his or her mind; someone who will
take the risk of angering right wingers if it means doing the right thing.
This is about civil rights. Aren't civil rights "the right thing to do"?
Mr. Palmer says the mark of a good councilmember is one who reaches out to
her/his constituents. I agree. But I think one mark that ranks even higher
are elected officials who listen to constituents, asks them for their
opinions, examines the heart of their convictions, and votes their
conscience for the good of everyone.
Alan Hooker
Victory
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- [Mpls] What makes a good council member Jhpalmerjp
- Alan Hooker
