The following is an article from the City Pages following the election of Don Samuels to the city council and the defeat of an antiwar resolution by the city council. The article is dated February of 2003.
How many feel this analysis is spot on and how many feel it is off base? What can we do to empower those attempting to enact progressive policies at city hall in the upcoming elections and after? David Strand Loring Park http://citypages.com/databank/24/1158/article11051.asp "A year ago city hall was infiltrated by a majority of first-time office holders, a regime that introduced not only Rybak and Johnson Lee, but six other new council members--and the promise of sweeping reform. Yet aside from some victories for Rybak, the rest have encountered an old guard that is still very much on its game. Council president Paul Ostrow and Barb Johnson and Sandy Colvin Roy seem to be carrying a torch for the way things used to be. Despite public distaste for what was perceived to be self-interested leadership at city hall--Cherryhomes, former mayor Sharon Sayles Belton--and the felony convictions of Biernat and former Eighth Ward council member Brian Herron, there's more than a hint that old alliances are alive and well. The other council vets, onetime outsiders Lisa Goodman and Barret Lane, have joined the traditional voting bloc. Rybak has mostly lined up with them, leaving the other less experienced ward leaders to fend for themselves. This was evident recently, when Paul Zerby tried to introduce an antiwar resolution in a committee meeting. More than just a plea for peace, Zerby's resolution (co-authored with Dean Zimmermann) laid out the detrimental financial impact a war with Iraq would have on the city's finances. The resolution was "returned to author," a rare move that essentially killed the idea. Two days later Zerby brought up the resolution again before the Committee of the Whole--a dress rehearsal for the next day's council meeting--this time adding fellow council newcomers Robert Lilligren, Gary Schiff, and Johnson Lee. (The two other first-year representatives, Dan Niziolek and Scott Benson, did not sign on.) Ostrow immediately spoke against the resolution, arguing that it was not "germane to the business" of the council, and that he intended, as council president, to rule it "out of order" at the next day's meeting, thereby killing any discussion. (Ostrow followed through on his promise.) Then he, Lane, and Goodman left the meeting, without even participating in the committee's debate. The power play was surprising, given that the city council can spend more than two hours debating far more trivial matters, such as, say, zoning issues. Several cities across the United States, including Philadelphia and Chicago, have passed similar antiwar statements. That three council members did not even discuss an item signed by five of their colleagues was shocking. But the reaction went beyond personal feelings regarding war and peace. Most council members opposed to the resolution, and Mayor Rybak, have expressed antiwar sentiment outside of city hall. The utter disregard for debate has less to do with council protocol than with political paranoia. It's no secret that Minneapolis is concerned with proving its mettle to a new state legislature dominated by budget-cutting Republicans. Most council members have bent over backward trying to curry favor at the capitol in hopes that state lawmakers won't pull funding for various programs that the city relies on. The city does not want to stir any partisan waters right now. And there's a profound fear of the federal government among city leaders as well. The investigations of Biernat and Herron haunt city hall to this day. The prospect of facing a federal mediator from the U.S. Department of Justice to quell bad feelings between the Minneapolis Police Department and minority communities has met with unease. And the status quo successfully fought against adding subpoena power to the restructured Civilian Review Authority, the citizen board that handles complaints against the city's cops, for fear that all city workers would be vulnerable to federal subpoenas. At the moment, few city officials want to malign Bush Administration policies or antagonize U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. Concern over the city's financial troubles has divided the council as well. Though a five-year plan to cut fat from the city's future budgets, heartily endorsed by Rybak, was approved by the council two weeks ago, debate again fell along old-guard/new-guard lines. Zimmermann and Schiff questioned the plan for burdening the poor--and increasing police--in their wards. Lane struck back by accusing them of engaging in class warfare to drive out the city's "richest people." It's not that dissent is not welcome on the city council. And it's not that the council isn't moving together on some very tough issues. On January 31, for instance, the council earmarked $10 million of this year's budget to establish a "trust fund" to ensure there's affordable-housing money for years to come--an issue that united Goodman, a financial hawk, and Zimmermann, a far left Green. The city is facing serious issues, and the debate has been thoughtful and passionate. But it's clear that the days of risk taking and progressive politics are gone. The more experienced council reps are holding their cards close. Don Samuels should take note before he antes up." __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. 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