In responding to Jim Graham's post I ask, how can Dean Zimmermann be accused of accepting a bribe when he didn't do what he was allegedly bribed to do? Mr. Graham's "lamprey eel" allegedly bribed Mr. Zimmermann to vote for putting more retail business in the first floor of the "eel's" development at 24th and Chicago. But Dean Zimmermann didn't vote for allowing the extra retail business on the first floor at 24th and Chicago. Where is the bribe and where is the crime? Robert Halfhill Loring Park
http://halfhillblog.blogspot.com http://halfhillviews.greatnow.com http://www.thepen.us -- "gemgram" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Yes, $7500 IS "Thousands". And those thousands were for Mr. Zimmermann, and indeed were both illegal and unethical. And anytime you have seen a sitting Council Member in the past accept such "long green" it also has been both unethical and illegal. What is being argued is the amount of unethical and degree of illegal. It is a little like arguing about the virginity or the virtue of the person who slept with the organized crime boss. Now we might argue about some of the degrees of "Virtue" remaining, but to argue the virginity is a bit late in the game. Does anyone truly believe that this particular Sabri partner went to the FBI and said, "Let me be your tool to help you catch the pure Mr. Zimmermann who is the only chance we have of getting political cover for our project"? I do not think so. Does anyone truly believe that this was the only time such a action took place after looking at the level of Sabri support over the last three years? I do not think so. It is possible that a FBI "fishing expedition" will not hook the "lamprey eel" it intended", and instead hook just a simple sucker. But to argue that something did not take the bait is ridiculous. The real question is if when the FBI finishes reeling in their catch what will they have caught? The bottom feeding school of racketeering sharks, or the simple sucker who was a pawn in exploiting poor Somali immigrants attempting to have businesses of their own. Will they catch those willing to entice a poor sucker with a taste of their pound of flesh to exploit and betray the City of Minneapolis itself? Or will they have only caught that one simple sucker? Some say that Dean has been someone who "worked for and had concern for the little man". In the past I am sure that is true. But, and it is a damn big BUT, those people should have talked to the poor shopkeepers who Dean not only allowed to be exploited for the last three years, but provided political cover from the City's laws meant to protect those same small businesspeople. Some of the doubters perhaps should have sat through a meeting with the Somali women telling their stories of intimidation that was being covered by Mr. Zimmermann. Perhaps Dean Zimmermann was just fooled into turning a blind eye to such things by his rationalizing that he was really helping to create "opportunities" for those poor people. But it is undeniable that (for what ever reason) Dean Zimmermann did help with that exploitation. And it is undeniable that he did get, if not a pound of flesh, at least a taste of the blood. And yes, it is partially the fault of even the simple sucker who for just a taste will help the lamprey suck the life's blood from a community. If Dean Zimmermann is as innocent as some would have us believe then it is possibly even worse. How could anyone have been so naive as to not know that he was being so used by the Sabris? Some might be able to excuse the Mayor and a couple of other Council Members for their slip in judgment when supporting the Sabri crime organization on the Elroy Block, but Dean willingly offered that same political cover for at least three years. It was Dean Zimmermann's "Ward Privilege" that was used on an ongoing basis by the Sabri organization for three years against neighborhoods interests. Was it with the knowledge of Dean, and does Dean Zimmermann still have "virtue"? That might be a question. Was he an active member, was he seduced, or was he raped? That also might be questioned, but please do not argue the fact that he is still virgin. I am afraid my dear friends that the dove has already been soiled and the lily gilded. Jim Graham, Ventura Village, Sixth Ward >"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 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 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
