The controversy about bar closing times and charges of possible "confects of interest" are good for comical relief from serious matters, but only as a comical side bar. Hopefully we will not let the ridiculous get in the way of, and distract from, the important issues facing the City. Lets look at it with the seriousness that it richly deserves, (NONE), laugh, and then get on with business
I had thought that the distributorship Scott Benson was involved with dealt mainly with the microbreweries. As such I cannot imagine this being a conflict. That crowd of sippers leaves long before 1:00 AM. The later crowds tend to drink something with a little more substance and a little less concern for "taste". Of course this is a generalization, I am sure there are also some high-class drunks. Even so, I think there is a stretch to claim "conflict of interest". I am sure Mr. Schiff and others who have ambitions of Development and "Planning" do not excuse them selves from votes on development and planning issues in general. I would understand it if it directly affected Benson's, and only Benson's, business. Under the conflict logic Scott could also be in conflict if he owns property in Minneapolis and votes for measures that "may" improve property values in his neighborhood. Also since Scott clearly eats, (no offence Scott, I am a little round myself), perhaps he should refrain from voting on Cub Foods issues as their prices are cheaper than Rainbow's and might make Scott's grocery bill less. Conflict should be very specific. A "shared" interest is not a conflict; it is why Scott was elected. Also, this 2:00 PM closing time is a tempest in a teapot. The Council already has the power to make a bar business close at 10:00 or 11:00 PM if it causes disturbances in a neighborhood. If Mr. Schiff has problems with a neighborhood bar in his ward he should just pull it up before licensing and put restrictions on its closing time. The same should be applied to rowdy bars that are disturbing the neighborhood at anytime after 10:00 PM. I am just as disturbed at 12:00 PM, if I am trying to sleep, as I am at 2:00 AM by a rowdy bar. The City failing to enforce its own ordinances and existing powers is the problem, not the closing time. I wish as much concern was placed on enforcing State and Federal laws against drug dealing at Franklin and Park, at Bloomington and 26th, or on 26th over on the Northside. Those curbside pharmaceutical salespeople tend to also be a little rowdy between 1:00AM and 2:00AM. Since Don Samuels and Dean Zimmerman live in those neighborhoods, and those drug dealers affect their property values, would it be a conflict if they voted to increase police enforcement against drug dealers? Hummm! Something to think about. Jim Graham, Ventura Village >"If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction." 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
