For all the discussion of what is or is not wrong with NRP inclusivity, I thought I'd throw out for comment what we (the Tenant Issues Working Group) has actually requested and recommended, presuming NRP even survives the budget ax. It's the only known recommendations for change that we know of at this time.
Gregory Luce (Project 504/Minneapolis) St. Paul -------------------- NRP must undertake immediate and significant reform to include more tenants and people of color in its governance, planning, and implementation. Such reform must occur well before implementation of any Phase II Participation Plans, including any further planning of Phase II in the neighborhoods. Such reforms should, at a minimum, include the following: � At least fifty-percent (50%) of all future funds disbursed to and/or controlled by NRP-contracting neighborhood organizations must be used to benefit people with low incomes, defined as families that earn less than 50% of the Minneapolis median income for the families� size; � NRP should fund and implement a community outreach and participation team comprised of low-income residents in the City, as well as representatives of organizations that serve low-income residents. The team shall be responsible for reviewing and commenting on neighborhood action plans, developing strategies for neighborhoods to use to become more inclusive, and making recommendations to the NRP Policy Board as to the approval or denial of a neighborhood�s action plan. � NRP, with the participation of the Community Outreach and Participation Team, must develop and implement standards to assure there is proportionate representation of renters and people of color within each neighborhood organization�s membership and governing body. � In the absence of a showing of proportionate representation in its governing body and membership, an NRP contracting group must provide detailed explanations in its neighborhood action plans as to how each proposed program or activity does or does not directly benefit renters, persons with low-incomes, and people of color who reside or do business in the neighborhood. � If a neighborhood group cannot demonstrate in its plan how the plan positively furthers the inclusivity standards developed by NRP and the Community Outreach and Participation Team, then the plan cannot be approved for implementation until changes are made that will further the inclusivity standards. � NRP must shift its inclusivity focus to both the �front end� and to outcomes. A front end focus relies upon significant internal reform of NRP prior to implementation of Phase II plans, and includes many of the issues outlined in these recommendations. An outcome focus must also be implemented so that neighborhood action plans are tied to actual outcomes with respect to inclusivity. At a basic level, it means that, if a neighborhood fails to increase inclusivity in its actions and activities, then continued NRP funding will be withheld until the neighborhood is in compliance with inclusivity standards. _______________________________________ 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
