That's it - reduce representation. How can someone who's posted such a suggestion also claim that he's not endorsing the notion. It took some research to come up with these figures.
Can there be any doubt that the complexity of governance has tripled in a half-century, that the burden of governing a city that stands as a core commercial and industrial center for a Metro Area that has quadrupled in geography and population during the same 50+ years and that city government itself costs fives times as much, perhaps more, to govern as it did in 1950? Where is the logic in a proposal that only population numbers should control representation? Does anyone doubt that the reduction in population says nothing about the demographics of that population and its overwhelmingly disproportionate needs compared with the populations residing in almost all white and middle income Minneapolis five years following WW II? Let's get real around here. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -------- What does it matter to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy? � Mahatma Ghandi > From: Tim Erickson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 08:26:00 -0600 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [Mpls] Cutting Size of City Council? > > I just ran across the following information / cost cutting proposal. > > I'm not endorsing this idea, but am curious about what others think about it? > > ---------------------------------- > > In 1950, Minneapolis had 521,718 citizens represented by 13 Aldermen. > Each ward had about 40,132 citizens. > > In 2000, Minneapolis had 382,618 citizens represented by 13 > Councilmembers. Each ward has about 29,432 citizens. > > With the improved communications brought about by active Block Clubs, > the NRP, voicemail, email, cell phones and fax, it should be possible > for just 10 Councilmembers to each represent their 38,282 citizens at > least as well as the Aldermen did in 1950. > > Since each Councilmember deservedly earns $65,000, and has a > Secretary and an Aide, the total salary costs per Ward are in the > $150,000/year range. The savings to eliminate 3 Councilmembers would > reach $500,000/year when you consider office expenses. > > Future savings would be greater, unless the Council acts to revoke > their automatic salary increases. > > http://www.finance-commerce.com/pubnot/MPLS/Erly1228.htm > > ---------------------------------- > > Tim Erickson > St. Paul, Minnesota > (watching this one from across the river, with interest) > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > -- > ================================================= > Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com > St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ: 105978430 > ================================================= > > > > > TEMPORARY REMINDER: > 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. > 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. > > ________________________________ > > 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 > TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ 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
