Mayor Rybak has been taking a lot of (I believe deserved) criticism from many people ranging from his opposition to the anti-war resolution to lack of much significant action on issues of homelessness and poverty.
However, the person who seems to be his relatively silent partner in many of these issues, Council Chair Paul Ostrow, seems unfortunately overlooked...
At least I feel that I have not given Council Person Ostrow his fair share of attention:
I did ask him if he would support getting rid of the ordinances that criminalize people forced into homelessness and into our streets..he did send me a written response: "I do not support repeal of this ordinance."
I then sent him another letter asking him "Do you believe that poor people should be criminalized just because they do not have basic shelter?" and "If you do not provide shelter, don't you believe it is immoral to criminalize people?"
I have not received a response ((It has been a few weeks) to my last letter.
To me the sign of a talented politician (I distinguish this from a decent public servant) is the ability to manipulate and wield power behind the scenes while avoiding a great deal of public criticism. My guess is that Mr. Ostrow is just such a talent...
I keep forgetting if he is a Republican or a Democrat because the two (to me) are usually so indistinguishable from the other...
He did not come to the campout we had on Jan. 30th although he was invited.. he did not acknowledge the presence of the several people living in homelessness that were at the City Council meeting Jan. 31st..
In the case of Mr. Ostrow, it will probably be a case of what he does not do and what he does not say that need to be paid attention to.
Margaret Hastings-Mpls.-Kingfield
