cont'd: I can't pass you a hot dog in a paper boat without a permit according to this rule. I can't do many of the things most of us take for granted as rights in other parts of this country in Mpls Parks because it purportedly would disturb the tranquility park visitors might enjoy otherwise; it was devised to further insulate the administration of Mpls Parks. Commissioner Young cites the turbulent times that this rule was forged in, but most of our revered documents were written in such times; we can have a constitutional abomination of a rule if we want it, but most folks don't want it.
We have another "do over" at MPRB to accomplish in the coming years. I think it should begin with the resignation of John Gurban, but that is up to him and/or the board. I noticed a colleague from a city committee talking to Chief Johnson of the Park Police in the back of the auditorium following her testimony in open time. I said hello quietly when they were through and Chief Johnson turned around and admonished us both for what he had just moments before been engaging in; I'm not sure whether it was Johnson or I who embarrassed her more. Perhaps it is symptomatic of what MPRB has become. Who is it that they serve? I have different ideas about this depending on whom I'm talking to at any given time. I think Stone's recent point that the regulations are not codified in the Parks Ordinance is a valid question, but across the country administrative policy to implement local laws is not typically available to the public and frequently found to be mysterious to the odd citizen who learns of it. This is indeed the gray area in which MPRB and administrative staff have been hiding for many years now and antithetical to the wave of transparency in government cut short by 9/11 and our government's response. The next cover we will see MPRB and staff hiding out in over this particular policy will be antiterrorism, I suppose. The only way I see of determining this question of constitutionality is for the ACLU to proceed in the courts against MPRB on Stone's behalf, but it would be far preferable for the board to dump Gurban and get us some MPRB laws and implementation policy that pass a cursory smell test. Adequately enforcing and informing the public of this former stealth regulation is going to cost us much more than it is worth, constitutional or not and that's what may have to happen this election season. Thank Gurban and his predecessors, our MPRB and theirs, and folks who knew but stood by and did nothing. Bill Kahn Prospect Park "there is nothing divine about morality; it is a purely human affair" --Albert Einstein 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
