[Mpls] Cutting size of the City Council

[Delcalzojan]

I'll just on this band wagon in a minute.  As I look at how the City is proposing to meet the challenges of the cuts in LGA all I can see is "same old, same old."  Threaten to cut police, fire, and maybe even remove stop signs (how that will save money, I have never figured out, but Public Works offers it up every time.)

Yes, cut the City Council.  I believe a previous writer seriously understated the potential savings.  He just used the salaries - there are the benefits, the future pensions, etc., etc. 

When I worked for the City Council I did a survey of similarly sized cities as Minneapolis and all of them had fewer Council Members.  How come we have seven County Commissioners for a much, much larger geographic area? 

I am really tired about the "got to have that many to provide constituent service."  That part of the job grew because the Council Members wanted it to grow to ease reelection efforts.  I have argued before for an ombudsman's office, complaint office, call it what you will.  Staff it with people pulled from various disciplines within City Hall and you would get a much better response.

I know, I know - there's the charter and things, but what better impetus than the one we have in front of use.  I'll deal a Council Member for two fire fighters any day of the week.

Jan Del Calzo
Lynnhurst