There will be a fundraiser in support of the law suite that has been filed challenging the MPLS ward boundaries that were redrawn in 2002. The fundraiser will be on Sunday, Dec 14th at 4:00 PM at the California Street Gallery, 2205 NE California Street.
Below is a letter from Council Members Dean Zimmermann and Natalie Johnson Lee about our law suit. We hope to see you at the California Street Gallery in lovely lower NE MPLS Sunday, Dec 14th at 4:00 PM. There will be fine food, good drink and enlightened conversation. tom taylor Sheridan Neighborhood Dear Minneapolis Stakeholder, Under the radar of most political conversations is a critical issue which will frame Minneapolis politics for the next ten years. Issues like environmental justice, police accountability, and neighborhood-responsive development are all at risk because of one flawed decision made by a select group of political insiders in April of 2002. This decision must be overturned and we need your help. Every ten years, after the census, the political map is redrawn. The goal is fairer and more representative wards. Unfortunately, after the 2000 census the Redistricting Commission, made up of an unrepresentative sampling of appointees, chose political patronage and vindictiveness over the long term interests of the city. Less then six months after the historic 2001 elections--which brought a wave of reform-minded new blood to City Hall- a map was drawn which pits reform-minded incumbents against each other, centralizes the downtown financial base around one council member, and carves out districts designed for specific heirs to the old establishment. This will severely damage our shared goal of making Minneapolis city government more responsive and accountable. But there is one chance to reverse this decision. A bipartisan group of community and neighborhood activists named F.R.E.E., Friends for Redistricting Equally and Equitably, have filed suit in Federal District Court. We have presented a case which outlines how the Redistricting Commission�s plan violates both the City Charter and Federal voting right laws. Our lawyers believe that we have a strong case, and an excellent chance to prevail. However, fighting a lawsuit against the city is a very expensive proposition. We need your help. The lawyers are donating much of their time and volunteers are building community support. The costs of expert witnesses, depositions, court reporters, and geographical surveys will total almost $30,000. Your donation today will allow our lawyers to present the best possible case. We have raised contributions and pledges of $15,000 and spent almost $10,000 � but critical bills totaling $15,000 will come due in the next 90 days. Without your donation in the next month we can not continue our important effort. All of the issues that we work on together require an account able and responsive City Council. From affordable housing to investments in our youth � We can not afford to lose this fight. We know we can count on you to send a tax-deductible donation to F.R.E.E. today. Contributions can be sent to F.R.E.E. PO 14745, MPLS, MN 55414 Please make your check out to our fiscal sponsor, The Urban Coalition, and note that it is for F.R.E.E. Thank you very much for your support and we look forward to seeing you at the fundraiser on Sunday, Dec 14th at 400 PM at the California Street Gallery, 2205 NE California Street. For more info on redistricting, the lawsuit, and our settlement offer see the F.R.E.E. website; www.freempls.org Sincerely, Natalie Johnson Lee Council Member - Ward 5 Dean Zimmermann Council Member - Ward 6 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.510 / Virus Database: 307 - Release Date: 8/14/03 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
