Jim makes some good points about questions past RT supporters will have to ask themselves when deciding whether or not to support the Mayor for another term. However part of that equation for those supporters is whether or not they think that any challenger will handle the same issues better. In my mind, Peter McLaughlin is part of that old DFL hackdom that was swept away 3 years ago. Who knows, may PM's campaign slogan can be "Back to the Future."
Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet ----- Original Message ----- From: "gemgram" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Dean Carlson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 8:33 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Strib: McLaughlin running > Dean Carlson writes, > >"Strib says McLaughlin will announce run for mayor this week. Frankly > >since > he's part of the old SSB crowd that RT trounced last time, I'm not sure what > kind of a shot he has. But it should be fun." > > Actually Dean, a coalition of neighborhood activist who were mad that NRP > was threatened and community involvement discounted, plus those opposed to > financing boondoggles like the Target Development, and those that had fought > for better police protection were the ones that trounced Sharon. RT Rybak > was simply an attractive vehicle for that "trouncing". A very attractive, > glib, alternative to be sure. A candidate who was very believable when he > made promises. But Dean is correct, it should be fun to see if that same > coalition supports RT this time. The press and community forums have not > exactly portrayed such a happy coalition. It will probably come down to > folks looking at the last four years and analyzing whether RT has performed > on the many promises that were made. > > I believe the election will hinge on how well RT, and his staff, have > performed on several promises: > > 1. Fully funding NRP - Has RT fully supported NRP and the neighborhoods at > the NRP Policy Board? > > 2. Supporting greater community involvement in City decision making such as > Planning, policing, etc. - Has RT made those departments more answerable to > the communities? Especially as regarding Public Safety and planning and > zoning issues? > > 3. Simplifying City Government such as MCDA, permits, etc., (I believe they > called it "One stop shopping".) - Is it easier today to go through the City > than it was four years ago? > > 4. Greater accessibility of the public to the Mayor's office. - Does the > Mayor (or his office) answer immediately when called and actually follow up > on promises about when they are meeting, and what they will do? Sharon was > accused of becoming distant from the public. is RT's office better? More > accessible? > > 5. Support for small rental property owners of affordable housing. - Has RT > given the support that he promised at their meetings and television show, > and has he made things easier for these suppliers of 80% of Minneapolis' > affordable housing? > > 6. Greater support for residents and neighborhoods versus support for large > developers. - Has RT aggressively pursued our Minneapolis investments? Has > he placed the interests of residents and the City above those of large > corporate developers? > > Those are the six most prominent promises I remember. I am sure there were > more, but those are the promises that brought that coalition together. > Perhaps others might address whether those promises were well kept, or just > political fluff to entice the voters, but lacking any real substance. > Perhaps Neighborhood activists and small business people can answer them. I > believe the next election will come down to whether that coalition decides > that RT has, or has NOT, made his best effort at fulfilling those promises. > If he has driven his staff to perform on promises? Or if he, like Sharon, > has allowed his staff to isolate him so he is both inaccessible and perhaps > unable to see where his staff has led him? > > Perhaps also important might be if the electorate will have forgotten the > sentencing of Basim Sabri and the Mayor's only veto of a City Council > decision. Support for Sabri when that City Council voted against Sabri's > real estate bait and switch scheme in the Whittier Neighborhood. Will RT > Rybak be able to justify or distance himself from the incredible blunder of > supporting a known briber and political corrupter. The caucuses are only a > couple of months away and if RT does not get enough delegates with faith in > him to guarantee a convention endorsement then he as an incumbent mayor > (like Sharon Sayles-Belton before him) is in big trouble. > > Many of us, who were the RT faithful supporters when he previously ran, are > probably right now deciding how those questions will be answered. Watching > how professional politicians will spin the truth and facts to convince us as > to the answers to those questions this time will indeed be as much fun as it > was last time. Will the end answers be any different? > > Jim Graham, > Ventura Village, Phillips, Sixth Ward of Minneapolis > > Some political advise from another old country boy: > >"If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to > >make sure it's still there." > - Will Rogers > > > > 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
