I do not for a moment believe Ed Felien has heard "all the accounts" of our most recent Ventura Village neighborhood meeting. Despite Ed's second-hand version of what took place, Robinson Cook, Barb Lickness, and I were there, and our own recollections vary considerably from his account. We have attempted to assure folks that (contrary to what Ed says) the Ventura Village Chairperson did everything possible to accommodate and facilitate "communication" at the meeting. In fact, he went far beyond what I think was necessary. He only adjourned the proceedings when it became evident that NO meeting could take place in the chaotic conditions created by Basim Sabri and his "associate" Zippin Zack Metoyer. He had by that time spent approximately an hour listening to Zippin' Zack, and more importantly Basim Sabri, yelling from the floor and refusing to be recognized to speak.
Your covering for don Basim's attempt to stage a coup just won't cut it, Ed. What you fail to mention is that a good part of the Chair's effort to reestablish order was devoted to a fruitless attempt to allow Somali people to speak when they were being harangued and spoken over by Basim and his company. There are accepted means for electing a new Chair of our neighborhood association. Unfortunately, the method Basim attempted happens not to be in the by-laws. But Basim does not care about anything having to do with rules, unless it is to further his own agenda. One hopes the County Attorney and the United States Attorney will investigate the situation. I wonder where our elected City Officials stand on this? Are they afraid to get involved because of possible federal investigations and indictments? Are there continuing federal investigations into other bribery charges? The sad thing is the disservice Basim did to the project he was supposedly there to "help". Some people, coming to the meeting prepared to support the proposal, found themselves opposing it for no other reason than Basim Sabri's behavior and his mere association with it. When the Chair, out of sheer exasperation, finally adjourned the meeting, he was attempting to explain to Sabri and Metoyer that anyone wanting to make a motion had to be on the list of speakers waiting to be recognized. Sabri was one speaker away from that point. The motion would have passed without further conflict. But Sabri was not interested in any such outcome. He wanted to stage a takeover, NOT to support a project going through. He knew very well what he was doing and even gloated about it. Ah well, the neighborhood and the Somali community will come together and the truth will be heard. More neighborhoods and communities will be forewarned against the Sabri. So all in all, even though frustrating, it has all turned out for the best. There are even reports that Sabri is going to make another run at a neighborhood on the North Side. Fortunately, Barb Johnson, Natalie Johnson-Lee, and Don Samuels are "neighborhood" people, so I am sure they will prepare for Mr.Sabri. We will have to wait and see about our own Council people. So Robert and Gary, what's happening? Jim Graham, Ventura Village >"Reality is that which when you stop believing in it doesn't go away."- Philip K. Dick 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
