MH: The Plan (or at least my plan) 1) point out that it continues to be a consistent pattern for Mpls Mayors, and other politicos, to largely ignore the needs of our residents experiencing homelessness. 2) Consistently refute the claims of there not being enough money, r esources, to address the above. Plan of action: Point out the continued drain of money into stadiums (welfare for the rich), ill-conceived development projects (more welfare for the rich). 3) Point out (over and over it seems) that the lack of action on homelessness is not due to lack of a plan. It is due to lack of interest in working with the countless experts who do have plans to address these issues, but are rarely listened to, met with or provided the resources to put their plans into action. 4) Point out our screwed up priorities---- if the priority is to serve all of our people (thus the term public servants)--- the lack of doing so is not due to lack of resources. Unfortunately, stadiums, et al are the priority. 5) Point out, it ain't about the budget--- back in the boom times a few years ago--- we were still hearing from SSB that there just was not the money to address homlessness. She kept telling us the city needed to invest in ventures that gave back good value for our investments. We all know where that got us. She was saying this to a room full of persons experiencing homelessness and advocates--- I heard it from her first hand. So, even in the boom times, homelessness was ignored. 6) Point out that, as public servants, it is the job of our Mayor and other elected officials to take leadership on issues, even on unpopular issues, in order to try to make change for the better for all of our residents. 7) Point out that the civil rights of our residents are being violated daily due to economic and housing status. and that all across the nation Civil Rights Advocates are working to have this stopped. 8) Refuse to get side tracked into false issues i.e. -- "these people yell and scream but they have no plan." That is a false issue---- used often by politicians and there supporters. Pretty much along the lines of the false issue that "We have no money." RT Rybak asked me for concrete examples and information on what other cities have done to address the criminalization of homelessness. I have sent him via registered mail the Law Center on Poverty and Homelessness publication addressing this issue. I know he got it, but never a response. Never acknowledgement that he and/or a staff person read it. Just as those who want a stadium would expect the Mayor to go to the experts on "stadium building"--- I would say to the Mayor--- go to experts on addressing the end of homelessness. So, I have a very simple plan--- to point out the above over and over and over. And to point out that I find it sad and a repetition of our previoius mayors that RT Rybak will not answer a simple question: How does he feel about the Bridge Rods?
JP: Thanks for finally putting that out here. I especially like #8 which would I'm sure you'd like to justify your not having answered the question, which you still have not really done. I see what part of the problem is, and that's that the majority of your "plan" is pointing things out to other people and then telling them to fix it. And then when they don't do things your way, screaming that they don't care about the issue and refuse to look at it. More to the point, your "plan" lacks support and substance, which I'll illustrate below, but I've also got some ideas and specifics that we can advance if you are really interested in solving the problem, and as I stated before, I"m am willing to help you develop the plan and work to implement it. As for your "plan" though: 1) What's the pattern? You've talked about RT and SSB, 2 doesn't a pattern make. In addition, I know that RT & his office has made efforts to address the needs, perhaps not enough but eliminating the counting of shelter beds and coming to your rallies such as the camping one last year certainly refute the assertion of "ignore". 2)There isn't enough money for anything actually, and so there is a juggling for resources and it really depends on the priorities that are set. I don't think we should be spending money on a new stadium, but I do have to acknowledge that it will generate revenue. It is not that there are no priorities, just that there are different ones. But expecting that any city is going to take all the money in sports areas and put it into social issues is unrealistic. However, you can make people uncomfortable by showing them how little it would cost to help people vs. sports. For example, we could see how much it would cost to build supportive or supported living facilities in, I don't know, Eagan and help stabilize the homeless population and provide support. But we need specifics (the costs involved) instead of just "pointing it out". I'm willing to help you develop this if you are. 3)Have you got anything to support this? You're plan is essentially pointing things out, ergo, through this forum, you have the resources that you need. Give some examples of here in Minneapolis of where plans have not been listened to or resources have not been given and I'll work with you to get them. But it's got to be more than "we're putting money into a stadium", because it's not specific and it's not realistic. 4)Here you're wrong, public servant unfortunately does not serve all the people and really hasn't meant that since the founding of the country, if for no other reason than people have different priorities. I wish it were different, but until everyone has the same priorities, it won't happen. That is not the public official's fault, it is the fault of the public. We need to work together for a common good, even with people whom we don't like what they say or how much they question us. 5)See 1 and 2, you're starting to repeat yourself. 6)I think that they get this and they do this in a number of ways, the problem again is that not everyone agrees on what is the best for the public. The new police chief is a good example. It's clear that there are a lot of good things McManus can do, but there are also large numbers of people who don't think that it's the best thing for the City, so which side is right and which represents the needs of "all the people"? 7) As with much of your statements, I've heard you say this, but haven't heard you offer any example. Stating it isn't enough, provide some evidence or support. 8) I think we already addressed this, although I don't know if you got sidetracked by answering my request or don't consider it falling under this area... But back to the point, who cares whether RT tells you his feelings on bridge rods, it doesn't change the fact 41% of homeless adults are employed, but homeless because they don't have living wage jobs. Or that about half of the homeless population in MN are children. Why don't we work to put a face on these people instead of getting the Mayor's feelings on bridge rods? The Minneapolis Foundation did a great campaign a couple of years ago regarding the immigrant population, why not get them to do something regarding homelessness? Why don't we develop a plan to provide a form of subsidy or inkind services for homeless adults or families so that they can have someplace to live while they work a job? And as I suggested before what about getting neighborhoods to build some solutions into their NRP Phase II plans? You can still go stand outside of people's houses, but at least you'll have a solution to offer when you point out what the problem is. So are you willing to work together? I've got time to sit down next week and start putting some facts and figures to this, what about you? Jonathan Palmer Victory 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
