Joan Berthiaume and Ted Wirth wrote...
The independence of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is the
reason they can protect these beautiful public spaces from the priorities
of city business. It is our apathy for our legacy of open space and our
lack
of understanding for the governance necessary to protect it, that puts
our
park system at risk.
Minneapolis is lucky to have an independent board. It keeps our parks from becoming just a small easily cut item in a mayors budget. It is why our parks are rated so highly. But an independent board is only as good as the people serving on it. I have been impressed during my hours of meeting attendance by questions asked by Commissioners Mason and Erwin. I can see a real concern for our cities disadvantaged youth in the actions of Commissioner Berry-Graves and Commissioner Young keeps her fingers on the MPRB's environmental pulse. I have also seen just the opposite. Commissioner Dziedzic tries to put things in "plain English" for the "Dumb folks" who can't understand all the high falootin things the MPRB has to manage. Most of us can see that paying off the headquarters to save money on interest is a good idea and many have done it with their own homes. However they also know that spending down all their reserves to do it is taking a risk and they aren't going to be able to get a new mortgage if their spouses income is lost, or their credit is bad and with LGA cuts and the bonds for the Neiman Sports Complex this is just the situation the MPRB is in right now. Commissioners Dziedzic and Fine might think they can get another mortgage if necessary but they shouldn't be surprised if they get "risk rates" and "higher closing costs" when they try. I have also seen Commissioner Fine make statements the make sense usually because they provide only half the story. This lack of long range planning and forward thinking is what makes them examples of the kind of commissioner we do not need. Commissioner Hauser has already set her cap on becoming a city council person and I think she will have a battle ahead. I just hope that since her ward convention is before her park district convention that if she doesn't get an endorsement for city council that she should try for her old parkboard seat. I don't think we need anyone who will "settle" for the MPRB. And though Carol Kummer is serving out the late Ed Solomon's term I think if she truly wishes to be an ELECTED member of the board she should have some of her own opinions and some of her own ideas.
I was recently at a meeting where the park district endorsement was almost pooh-poohed as being unimportant and that no one really cares who runs for those seats.
I think this is the type of apathy that leads to park leadership that can play the role of developer instead of protecting our parks and green spaces. It could also lead to the board being dissolved and the parks becoming just a low priority in a city budget straining to meet police and fire needs. If we elect people who will shepherd our
parks in the correct direction for the long term, involve the citizens in the process and do it in a financially prudent manner we will retain not only our high national standing but will keep the parks accessible to all.
Liz Wielinski Columbia Park
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
