Tom Welling writes: >"In a letter to the MCDA dated June 9, 2003 Basim Sabri made the following claim regarding Ed Felien. My question is, how much of an interest in Pulse does Basim have - does this explain the recent coverage of Sabri and Sabri supporters such as Peter McLaughlin, who was pictured at the ribbon cutting of another building? How will McLaughlin's association with Sabri affect his run for mayor?
"From the letter: Ed Felien will assist Basim Sabri in dealing with government and community organizations. Ed Felien represented the 8th Ward, which includes the Sears property, as a member of the City Council from 1973 to 1975. He has lived on Powderhorn Park since 1970 and has published Southside Pride, a monthly community newspaper, since 1991." (snip) "We have added Ed Felien to our staff to maintain contact with the Powderhorn, Central and Phillips communities and to work closely with government agencies." My first question is, where did this come from? The second is how reliable is the source? Sabri may claim to have "added" Ed Felien, but that doesn't mean it is true. If true my third question is, like Chris and Tom, "how much of an interest in Pulse does Basim have?" Though I may have occasionally disagreed politically with Eddie Felien, I have always thought much better of him and his ethics than this; if it were true. So Eddie, if this is not true I certainly hope you will be answering this accusation. True or not, even the rumor of such an association, according to Chris Johnson, could be very damaging to any politician or public figure. Considering the sad circumstances around Brian Herron and the Federal Indictment, I am also amazed that any politician would be seen anywhere with Sabri, let alone where he could get his picture taken. Isn't Sabri still being prosecuted by the Federal Government for attempting to bribe at least one politician? If Peter is so imprudent as to be some how associated with Sabri it would also give many of his most ardent supporters pause to re-consider such support. Peter McLaughlin would be a very strong candidate for Mayor, and probably other higher office. Such an association might well end a very promising political career. Until I learn different I refuse to believe such political stupidity of Peter McLaughlin. If Peter wanted to commit political suicide I can think of less painful ways. Sabri is also rumored to be wooing a couple of south Minneapolis Council Members, but many consider this to be an attempt to smear the CM's reputations for the up coming elections. Almost the best way for Sabri to help and promote any candidate is for him to pretend to support the opponent of that candidate. Lisa McDonald could almost win office because of Sabri's open hostility to her alone. Lisa must have been doing something right to create that enmity, which might NOT be said of the former 8th and 6th Ward CM's. Both Ed Felien and Peter McLaughlin were not shy about writing to the "List" when they ran for office. They answered personally when they felt slighted while running against each other, so I expect them to each answer personally what many might consider slanderous charges. Jim Graham, Ventura Village "Hypocrisy is the homage that vice pays to virtue." - La Rochefoucauld 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
