"It looks like nobody on this List will defend the miserable situation called 'citizen participation' or 'citizen engagement' in this City."<
Just before that statement he talks about Ed Felien, Barb Lickness and others whose statements on NRP he disagrees with. Mr. Johnson's theory on anyone willing to take on his spurious reasoning seems a pretty hollow statement of "No One". What exactly were Barb and Ed? Were'nt they two "ones"? He probably means that no one with any statement or reasoning that he would even consider, because he has just named people who certainly did.
As Mr. Churchill once said to someone else, I certainly wish I was as certain of ANYTHING as Mr. Johnson seems to be about EVERYTHING! Perhaps Mr. Johnson could refresh our minds and bring enlightenment to us. Which are the cities HE has traveled to and talked to about NRP and citizen participation? Which Federal Empowerment Zone cities has he personally visited or talked to about "Citizen Engagement"?
That "inability to even consider other opinions" defines a French word that usually is attached to less than sensitive males in our American usage. Mr. Johnson issues his challenges, but proves his point by saying he can't see those who do stand up. This reminds me of the bully in the bar that issues a challenge that he can whip anyone in the bar, knowing that most folks will ignore him and that if someone decides to take him on the big bouncer will protect him.
I believe that at the time Mr. Johnson issued his challenge some of us did offer posts, and I also believe I challenged Johnson to show us ONE program that the City Council had been involved in that had returned as much to the communities and tax payers of this City. I guess I missed his post when he gave us that information. Was it the Target fiasco? Was it with Ryan or Brighton? Perhaps Saks downtown? Maybe Basim Sabri's developments?
Other questions for Mr. Johnson. Exactly which City Council person he is referring to is so wise? What was that CM or Mayor's qualification for making that decision? What percent of the City budget has NRP represented? Has the all knowing Council with its wisdom and wonderful qualifications done better with the rest? Please tell us where. Tell us which CM or Mayor could, or would, be hired to be in a management position with even a medium sized business, let alone a corporation with a budget the size of the one Minneapolis has? I seem to remember Saks, Target, Brighton, Ryan, and a bunch of programs and development boondoggles that have wasted many, many times what all of NRP has received. The one area that NRP seems to have been totally outshined by the Council and Mayor is in the area of wasting tax-payer dollars on favorite development boondoggles.
The real problem with NRP was that the City Council and Mayor could raid it like it was their own private slush fund. Politicians loved the NRP until the residents started to attempt to take control of it. When politicians realized that NRP had empowered neighborhoods and residents to the point where they wanted to spend the money more wisely themselves the politicians began attempts to kill it. The politicians also deeply resent that some folks do remember that they made promises to get elected. Some promised "Full Funding" for NRP in order to be elected. Of course those same people promised more police, and better public safety.
It reminds me a little of MCDA. Neighborhood people complained that the MCDA (as also used by politicians as a private slush fund for developer buddies) needed "fixing" and simplifying. So it would be more responsive to community involvement and also that the Planning Department did a poorer job than neighborhoods wanted at planning. It was a bit like complaining that your car had a flat tire and asking the politicians to fix it so you can go somewhere they did not want to go. They of course smiled and promised to get right on it and make all the tires match! They went around and punctured the other three tires and said, "see they all match now." And they do, they all match. But of course you are not going anywhere! So with glee the politicians hired "professionals" to study the Minneapolis people's problem and give them something that would solve their problems. Those professionals of course gave them what they wanted, an excuse to make good on their "promise". Just not the promise the people thought the Wise thirteen and the Royal one had made when running for election!
No, the politicians, whose wisdom Mr. Johnson extols, have no more qualifications than the members of any of the neighborhood boards. The CM's and Mayor have just played a political game with the few people who show up at the caucuses and City conventions, and have enough money to play. I have never attended any neighborhood meeting where there were not more qualified people in attendance than those elected to run our City. . Even in poor neighborhoods there are those whose qualifications are greater than those who get elected. They just are too busy with life and families, or too humble to run for office.
Do neighborhoods make mistakes electing some board members? Sure they do, but not anymore than the Council and Mayor! Do some neighborhood representatives make mistakes in their decisions? Sure they do, but not anymore than the Council and Mayor! Do they equally represent ALL constituencies and residents? Sadly they are nearly as bad as the Council and Mayor. I am trying to remember when the last Hispanic or Somali person was elected. The noble thirteen and the royal mayor are not a dream for me. The longer they stay in office, the less they represent the people who elected them. With some this representation may last only a month or so, then it is put away. Put away because some politicians know that once elected they will not have to even pretend until three years later. That is why I favor two year terms and not four years. We would get at least twice the work and representation out of them. Of course I think politicians should be like the rest of us, do your service and go home.
One of the reasons I admire CM Zerby is his wisdom to have other priorities in life. Of course I also admire Paul's willingness to pay for his mailed out "communication" piece before waiting for an opinion on law to determine if something is ethical or not. "We need more beef from Minneapolis politicians and a lot less bull". Thanks Paul for putting a little meat into that oversized downtown bun.
Jim Graham, Ventura Village Neighborhood, Phillips Community, Sixth Ward of Minneapolis
"The people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."- Thomas Jefferson
"We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt." - Thomas Jefferson
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