As I read Doug Grow's Oct. 30 column regarding Hassan Al-Mosawy's struggle to obtain the American dream, I found a lump develop in my throat as a sense of sorrow filled me. This sorrow soon turned to anger as I learned that my own council member, Barb Johnson, appeared to display a flippant, pass-the-buck attitude about Mr. Al-Mosawy's plight.
To try and blame Mr. Al-Mosawy for wanting to invest his money in a community business is absurd when then fault lies with a Kafkaesque bureauracy. Further, for this council member, who is oft described as one of the most knowledgeable in City Hall, to state that she doesn't know how the administrative process works is incredulous at best. If this is true and she doesn't know how the system works after six years in office, as well as having a mother who held the seat for 22 years before her, perhaps it's time to find someone who will learn at a quicker pace. At the very least, maybe it's time for someone who will represent ALL the areas of the fourth ward equally.
Yes, I've been in the convenience stores and mom-and-pop grocery establishments Ms. Johnson wishes to place a moratorium upon. Yes, many aren't very pretty, or safe for that matter. However, our elected representatives should understand that many of these stores are the only source most lower-income neighborhoods have to purchase their milk, bread and infant supplies. Rather than focusing on banning new convenience stores maybe we need to work on bringing a Kowalski's, Cub, or Rainbow to the areas south of Dowling. And, if crime is the factor, perhaps Ms. Johnson can request the police to step up their patrols of problem spots instead of laying the blame at the feet of small business ow
ners.
Mr. Al-Mosawy is a man who worked hard and played by the rules that were told to him, only to find the rules were changed without his knowledge. What a wonderful civics lesson for this new citizen.
Alan Hooker
Victory Neighborhood
Concerned that messages may bounce because your Hotmail account has exceeded its 2MB storage limit? Get Hotmail Extra Storage! 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. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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
