[Mpls] Congratulations Don Samuels...

[dyna]

Congratulations Don, you got lucky in last nights electoral lottery. In the lowest turnout for a 3rd ward final round in memory you managed a 140 vote "victory". In fact, if I remember correctly the loser of the last election got more votes than you did, and last nights turnout barely bettered the primary's.

Don, throughout the campaign you reminded us of your accomplishments in the Jordan neighborhood, and how you would do the same for the rest of the ward if elected. Well, during the last few days campaigning I visited your Jordan neighborhood several times. I noted that the drug dealers were still there, and you yourself told of a shootout between dealers and police in Jordan a few days ago. Don, I know you're a man of your word, and I fully expect you'll attempt to remake the whole 3rd ward in the image of your beloved Jordan- poverty, crime, and all.

About now one of your cult will hit the reply button to demand how such further economic catastrophe can afflict the 3rd ward. Well Don, remember those union folks you disrespected? We're the folks who built the Northside, who bring home the paychecks that buy the houses and keep those small businesses you love so much in business. And I bet you can't wait for the chance to get even with us by cutting public employees pay and jobs, and then we'll have less money to spend and more of those small businesses will close and even more houses will become empty and boarded. As union folks get chased out of the 3rd ward the gangs will move in, chasing out any decent citizens left that can afford to leave. I've been in or close to the Northside all my life, and I've seen this cycle in the '80s, and sadly your election brings a sense of deja vu...

Of course Don, you've only lived in the 3rd ward on the Northside for a couple years, seeing only our recovery thanks to the Clinton economic boom. In fact, you don't even live in the new 3rd ward. So if the legislature resolves the inequities in representation forced by Minneapolis 1990 based ward boundaries you have but a few months to remake the third ward to your liking. Failing that you have two years and change. Then you'll have to carpetbag your way over to at least Hawthorne and face an angry citizenry in an early november election with snowstorms unlikely.

About now another of you're cult will say I need to get over it. I've spent a day trying to stomach your "victory", and the thought of an anti union Council Member misrepresenting the 3rd ward still makes me ill. My Farmer-Laborite grandfather didn't forget the Teamster strike of 1934, thank goddess, for he taught me a bit of that history that was censored from our schoolbooks. The lessons my Farmer-Laborite grandparents taught me are the real authentic community values. More recently our beloved Paul Wellstone told us "Stand Up, Keep Fighting". Don, I'm standing up to run against you if you choose to relocate and run again in the 3rd, and that campaign fight begins now.

from Hawthorne in the 3rd ward held hostage,

Dyna Sluyter


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