Mark Snyder: I've found I usually get answers to my questions for either the Mayor or my CM by asking them directly (politely helps too) and not by trying to shame them through a public forum. Peter Schmitz: On July 15 David Brauer, in a most polite and non-shaming manner, posed four questions to the Mayor regarding the CPED and filling executive positions. The Mayor did not respond. Another list member had sent information to the Mayor a few months ago, through certified mail, regarding homelessness and anti-camping ordinances, after the Mayor himself requested the information. As far as I know he has not yet even acknowledge reviewing the information that this person worked so hard to gather for him. Perhaps Mark's questions to the Mayor and his CM haven't rocked City Hall's boat. Mark Snyder: Although I don't agree with Mayor Rybak on every issue, I'm damned impressed with how much emphasis his office has placed on community outreach and providing information compared to previous administrations.
Peter Schmitz: Where Mr. Snyder sees "community outreach" and "providing information" I smell SPIN. Also, many activists on the North side have complained on several occasions about being stood up by the Mayor after he had promised to attend some of their meetings and events. Mark Snyder: And I think anyone who truly believes Mayor Rybak only responds to the feel-good stuff needs to pull their head out of the sand. He's shown a great deal of leadership on tackling a lot of tough issues related to crime, the city budget and long-overdue efforts to revamp city government in the past year and a half. Peter Schmitz: It's easy for any politician in this country to talk tough on law and order and to tell their most disadvantaged constituents that they must tighten their belts. As far as his efforts to revamp city government, list members may want to refer to Craig Cox's article in this week's Pulse, "Heritage Park Appointment Stirs Criticism". Council Member Natalie Lee Johnson is quite miffed with R.T., and rightly so, for placing Kim Harvey in charge of the project, overlooking a black candidate recommended by Johnson Lee and Don Samuels, who already worked in the city planning department and was willing to overlook the project for no additional money. Evidently, Harvey benefited from his relationship with the Mayor and Councilmember Lisa Goodman. Says Johnson Lee: "The way that the current structure that the mayor's setting up and some of the individuals in City Hall are setting up, you will generally see that City Hall is continuing a pattern of having no directors of color, except for the Civil Rights Department, and very few supervisors or management of color. Which is not reflective of the city and how it's evolving." And now Mike Christenson has become our city's director of strategic partnerships. In this weeks Southwest Journal Ken Avidor compared Christensen's appointment to former Mayor SSB's appointment of a Northwest Airlines lobbyist to the city Planning Commission. Mark Snyder: Cut the guy a little slack, OK? Peter Schmitz: Why should we cut our current Mayor any more slack than the previous Mayor? In this country, where political discourse, if existent at all, is terribly narrow, children and adults are given the distinct impression that citizenship begins and ends with casting their vote. A reality check, Mark: Politicians perform better when thoughtful and committed ordinary citizens hold their feet to the fire. That makes for more responsible citizenship than complacency. Many of my friends, disillusioned with the SSB, Jackie Cherryhomes and Joan Campbell regime, supported candidate Rybak with their money and votes thinking that he was going to give the city back to its citizens, and now they moan that the New Guard is turning out worse than the old. Mark is right about the Mayor not having to respond to e-mails and criticisms on this list. But he does have a duty to inform the citizens of Minneapolis where he stands on important and controversial issues such as the 35W Access Project. A local journalist contacted me off list saying that the Mayor had told her in a past interview that he was for the project. Still, it would be nice if the Mayor himself made his position clear to all concerned citizens. Peter Schmitz---------CARAG 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, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
