Thank you Mr. Carlson for your dissertation on the "housing" aspects of Hollman. While the housing may be built and completed six months late, it does not mean that the Hollman consent decree no longer has meaning. It in fact was a major legal action whose impact for social justice continues. (Though sometimes circumvented by the City and other governmental signers.)
Just yesterday, at the Minneapolis City Council's CD Committee, CPED representatives and City Council Members were still talking about how a Sherman project in NorthEast Minneapolis did not fall within an "Impacted Area" of "Poverty Concentration" or "Racial Concentration". Council Members actually talked about how there was too much rental housing, and we should listen to Neighborhood and Community opposition to a project. (I am still attempting to get my jaw up so I can close my mouth.) That neighborhood residents probably did know what they needed and what would be feasible. (Remember, they also said it was a Non-Impacted Area) If they had only been that wise and said such things before forcing Steve Crammer" and PPL's CVI project through against their own ordinances we would not have needed another Federal Lawsuit. So Hollman still has weight, at least in this US Circuit Court area. Though it does make you wonder why such things do not have weight and matter in the truly "Impacted" areas. Hennepin County is still forcing "Transitional" and "Supportive Housing" to be located within specified areas that are named "Impacted Areas". They were a party to the decree! Minneapolis (a principle in the Decree) has to be taken to Federal Court because it not only violates the decree but violates it's own ordinances to concentrate "Supportive Housing". One wonders why the law only has meaning in "Non Impacted" areas. I guess it proves the old saying that laws are written to protect well off and powerful, not the poor or truly "Impacted". Well hopefully another Federal Judge will take Judge Rosenbaums decision to the point where even the discriminated against and "Impacted" residents of Minneapolis also receive justice. Makes you wonder why it takes Federal Judges for poor people to receive justice in their own City. Though it sure makes me glad the Federal Courts are indeed there. It also makes me glad that there is at least ONE powerful litigation firm in Minneapolis who cares enough about justice for the poor and less powerful to represent them when they need a champion to succeed in Federal Court. Minneapolis indeed is fortunate to have a legal firm like Zelle, Hofmann, Voelbel, Mason & Gette (one of the best litigation firms in the United States), which puts "Justice" above profits. Hopefully Zelle & Hofmann will be an example to other firms to take pro-bono cases to Federal Court when needed. A "Champion" was originally some powerful person who entered a trial by combat to fight on the behalf of a weaker person. (Usually a noble who hired them) Zelle & Hofmann prove that even the poor (who could not otherwise afford such) can also have a powerful "Champion". This is not a novel concept. The head of the Federal "Empowerment Zone" program told a conference of representatives from poor communities that the most "Empowering" things a community could do was to form a relationship with a prominent law firm or law school. That only then could they expect justice and be "Empowered". That they needed such a champion to fight the institutional patterns of discrimination arrayed against poor communities to keep them from becoming "Empowered". I am not sure the other community leaders from around the U.S. listened, but Ventura Village did. Ventura Village not only listened but also they heard, so did Zelle & Hoffmann. Indeed, justice IS more than just theory to Zelle & Hofmann, for them it is praxis. Jim Graham, Ventura Village >"It is always an utter folly to underestimate the lure and attraction of a great evil. The whitened bones of their victims litter the highways and byways of mankind's history. Stopped only by the few willing to pay the ultimate price and make a stand." - Toe REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ 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
