Looking through different Sites for neighborhoods I came upon a great article at the Nokomis site. www.nokomiseast.org The article that follows is copied from that site. Not believing I could say it better I simply copied it and present it here.
Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger, June 2003 "Your Seat at the Table" by Rita Ulrich and Doug Walter "Last Chance" A meeting scheduled for June 17 may be the last opportunity for Nokomis and Longfellow area residents to have a real say in what happens in and to your neighborhoods. At stake is our city's unique and effective system of citizen involvement in local planning and development. Some members of the City Council and the Mayor's office would like our city to return to the old district planning system, where even the most minute planning and funding decisions reside exclusively within City Hall. Gone would be neighborhood-based planning and priorities. Gone would be the neighborhood organizations and volunteer-based projects and improvements. Gone would be housing improvement loans and grants along with any economic development projects. Gone too would be seniors' and children's programs, additional police coverage, and many more of the enhancements that result from direct neighborhood empowerment. This meeting, the last of several being held around the city, is about what happens to NRP-the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program. Through a series of carefully orchestrated statements, the City would have you believe we can no longer afford NRP; that funding the neighborhoods would necessitate a severe reduction in core city services. The truth is that while there is less money available to fund NRP, there is still adequate funding to continue the program with voluntary reductions. FACT: NRP represents less than 1% of the city budget and is independent of the City's general fund, the revenue source for services like police, fire, and Public Works. And, unlike those services, NRP funding is not affected by the State's cuts to Local Government Aid (LGA). FACT: NRP recently set aside one million dollars for additional community policing to relieve pressure on the City's budget. The City has offered a token trade for the neighborhoods' voice and funding in the development process: Designated residents would be allowed to sit on various city committees to communicate the neighborhoods' wishes. Sounds good until you remember that's how things used to be. The political reality is that without funding, there is no voice at the City's table. Can these few Council members and the Mayor afford to kill NRP? Consider this: Over 200,000 NRP volunteer hours are donated by citizens each year towards bettering Minneapolis. In addition, neighborhood groups have leveraged $4 for every $1 of NRP funds spent, generating more than a HALF BILLION DOLLARS in outside investment for development and revitalization entirely within our neighborhoods. Plan to be heard at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 4000 28th Avenue S, at 7pm on June 17th. The NRP Policy Board will present their report on Focus Minneapolis, the City's plan for changing the way you are represented. This will be your last chance to speak to your Council member about the neighborhoods and express your opinion on efforts to silence your voice. More details, background and updates are available online at www.nokomiseast.org -------------------------------------------------------- Please attend these meetings, our City depends upon it. Do not give up your seat at the table. If they take it you will not easily get it back! Jim Graham, Ventura Village >"Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present" >"The people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." - Thomas Jefferson TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ 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
