Britt Robinson Writes:
Because Mr. Graham has long been both a resident of and an advocate for Minneapolis neighborhoods with disproportionately low income and high crime, and because we just had what seems to be a particularly senseless double murder (as opposed to the "sensible" murders that happen at other times?), I understand and empathize with his broad brush response. But it doesn't really answer Mr. Brauer's question, unless Mr. Graham really would countenance and endorse Mayor Rybak stripping NRP of all its funding and entering into a partnership with Basim Sabri, provided that those things guaranteed additional revenue that could be used to support public safety.
Dennis Plante Responds:
I can just imagine Mayor Rybak's political advisors, in the middle of an election year, advising him to get on-board with pushing for a tax increase, or a service-cut for non-essential services that impacted the more affluent, less-impoverished, and less crime-ridden neighborhoods in our city. You know, the same neighborhoods that DO turn-out enmass to cast their vote at election time. RT is very impassioned on this issue, but there is only so much he can do and still remain in office. The blame for the current situation lies with the "silent majority" living in these more affluent neighborhoods for not having accepted the inequity that currently exists.
You cannot in good conscience, make proportinate cuts to basic, essential services in safe and unsafe neighborhoods under the belief that you are asking everyone to "tighten their belts equally". Nor is it fair to assume that the best way to facilitate the opposite is to offer these same citizens a choice of NRP, or a basic public service like policing. BOTH of these impact areas like the northside MUCH more dramatically and noticably than they do more affluent neighborhoods.
Dennis Plante Jordan
REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
