"This wasn't a legal issue, it was political. We pointed out that Rep. Kahn amended her bill to just target Minneapolis when 29 other cities in Minnesota had council elections in 2004 or 2005. We dispelled the myth that H.F. 67 supported the interests of communities of color."
"Bottom line: The Republican House leadership is trying to gavel this bill through. The House DFLers are opposing it. The City Council DFLers are opposing it. Attributing this bill to "the Minnesota DFL" and "party hacks" is contrary to fact." "If these people have evidence of gerrymandering etc., why haven't they filed a lawsuit? Just curious." A law suit was filed. It was supposed to be dealt with this February. As Ron describes it in The Minneapolis Story, Through My Eyes, the DFL appointed the Charter Commission. The Charter Commission appointed the Redistricting Commission. The Redistricting Commission thus followed the DFL wishes two steps removed. That is how the DFL laundered the decision. And to provide more cover, The NAACP and the Urban League went along to give it more legitimacy (remember that even though there are 120,000 Blacks live in Minneapolis, the local branch of the NAACP has less than 400 members). And too often it appears that for the NAACP the only good Black is a Democrat, and so Blacks that are Green must be eliminated. This is again is why I urge everyone to buy and read Ron's book, The Minneapolis Story, Through My Eyes. Read chapters 12, 13, and Interlude 12. As Ron pointed out, although the Strib gave it little play, it got lots of coverage in The Spokesman. Indeed, precisely to make his point Ron quotes extensively from the Spokesman coverage that details much of the story. Indeed, as the Spokesman stated it, "to our knowledge, no major TV or radio stations covered the event" (redistricting hearings). As is often the case in politics, because of the shifting sands, both are correct. Read Chapters 12-13 of The Minneapolis Story, Through My Eyes," by Ron Edwards, as it provides helpful background on the political manipulation of which this is but the latest attempt. I submit that this is the other side of a single coin of political manipulation, with one side being redistricting and the other side being reelectioning. Ron explains both sides of this political manipulation coin, the re-electioning attempt and the attempts to flagrantly manipulate the redistricting attempt that preceded the reelectioning attempt. Ron notes in his book the fact that State Senator Lynn Biernet, brother of recently departed council member from Ward 3, Joe Biernet, also tried to get a new election, co-sponsored with Gregory Gray. The re-electioning and the redistricting which preceded it was/is a process designed to disenfranchise the Green Party. Ron discusses how the NAACP went along with the DFL to do so, even at the cost of sacrificing the only African-American member of the City Council. Ron discusses how they tried to use redistricting to draw Natalie Johnson-Lee's block out of her ward and how they tried to get new elections held in the hopes of ousting her. Ron discusses how this coin of redistricting/re-electioning is political manipulation designed to disempower, not empower, to disenfranchise, not enfranchise. Ron also discusses how all of this hurt not helped the Black community (especially the redistricting creating a new Ward of Downtown) and stripping the downtown from the other wards, (see his map of this on p. 197), and how the NAACP worked hand in hand with the DFL to attempt these manipulations creating needless divisions and conflicts within the Black community itself. Chapter 12 outlines this attempt. Interlude 12 outlines the types of gerrymandering and the laws about them, and Chapter 13 outlines the themes, 5 major conclusions, 25 points to ponder about such political manipulation, and 7 recommended remedies. Ron also includes the letter he sent to the various federal, state, and city officials as well as the national NAACP about this breach of law and wedging of the community. NOT ONE responded. In discussing this, may we keep in mind what Margaret Hastings wrote about the need for "more focus on the very real injustices happening in our city." The group and individuals from all three parties discussed in this post are to be commended for stepping outside their party booths to gather under the common umbrella under which these booths are suppose to operate, the umbrella of serving the community and fighting real injustices. These members of these three parties prove Ron's contention that there is a common ground on which all can stand and on which all can work together to achieve the common good, not just the good for selected individuals and groups. Ron provides a "common ground" for all three parties in his book. Read what Ron has to say, as The Minneapolis Story continues. 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
