Bless Lisa McDonald for being ahead of her time and telling it like it is! The article doesn't seem to indicate that any of these council members considered Mr. Sabri a 'friend' --but how often do you see that many city council members express such a level of united praise for one single (and controversial) figure?
-Derek Burrows Reise, Longfellow Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 00:04:57 -0600 From: "gemgram" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Basim Sabri and City Hall (was: Friends) To: "Jay Clark" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "David Brauer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [email protected] Thank you Jay. That City Pages article was one I was referring to, but I thought it might be a little more "enlightening" if coming from another, more distant, source. I did not follow up on it because I did not think it would be helpful to argue with David about it. I well remember the article because I had an interview from the reporter while driving and had to stop because I was so agitated by statements attributed to some Council Members. While I gave the reporter permission, I know my more"colorful: quotes were not published. As I remember I was even more descriptive of Sabri's "methods" than Lisa McDonald was quoted. Knowing Lisa McDonald, and how direct and truthful she can be, I have to believe that Lisa was also a little more descriptive about Sabri than what was quoted. Only a few months ago Basim was in City Hall for a Council meeting on the Elroy Block issue. While gesturing and boasting to Somali people he stated that his friends in City Hall would support whatever he wanted and that those same politician friends hate this guy Jim Graham. I laughed at him. Fortunately there were some on the Council who knew it was not raining when Basim stood behind them. And again thanks to Gary Schiff and the other Council Members who saw through the bait and switch and supported Whittier Neighborhood. The amazing thing is that the Sabris were allowed to go so long with the full support of some Council Members and other politicians. Doubly surprising after his indictment. I still cannot believe that someone under indictment for bribing a Minneapolis Council Member in order to get access to City Land and funds is later sold other City owned property with a huge loss to the City while awaiting trial for the bribery charges. Well I guess we have to remember that another very similar criminal named Alfonso Capone once was lauded as a friend of politicians and good for the economy of Chicago. I believe Al was also famous for using a baseball bat on "family" members. In the article Basim says, "Money does not rule me; it's not everything. You take all my money away today and throw me in China, you know what? I'll find something to do." Well Basim is being thrown into prison not China, but I am sure Basim will "find something to do". Making License plates IS something to do. Like a Palestinian friend said about Sabri, "Basim will learn that like God the Federal law is patient, but it does not forget, and just punishment is inevitable!" Thanks again Jay. Jim Graham, Ventura Village, Phillips Community, Sixth Ward of Minneapolis >"It is always an utter folly to underestimate the lure and attraction of a >great evil. The whitened bones of their victims litter the highways and >byways of mankind�s history. Stopped only by the few willing to pay the >ultimate price and make a stand." - Toe __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The all-new My Yahoo! - Get yours free! http://my.yahoo.com 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
