This discussion reminds me of a scene from 'Annie Hall', when a young Alvy
Singer is taken to the doctor. His mother is upset because he's not doing
his homework. Alvy is letting his homework go because he found out the
universe is expanding, so what's the point? His mother whacks him on the
head and asks, 'What is that your business? You're living here in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn is not expanding'.
There is a vast difference between taking up symbolic, empty resolutions on
how a local city council feels about a war vs. working locally on creative
solutions to health and human services issues (and you provided great
examples), that in turn might influence long-term state or national
responses.
Do you think an anti-war resolution from the Minneapolis City Council would
have influenced any of Martin Olav Sabo's votes in Congress? Probably not.
If the city happened to be represented by somebody with a different
political orientation, then it might have meant something. Our two US
Senators represent fairly extreme opposite ends of the spectrum, and it's
hard for me to imagine that an anti-war resolution from the city council
would have influenced either of them.
For as well-intentioned as the anti-war actions by other cities might have
been, I don't know that they influenced anybody's decision in Washington.
The intergovernmental relations committee (and the city's paid lobbying
folk) are very important when it comes to setting bonding priorities,
influencing LGA funding, etc. Those issues have a direct impact on the
city's responsibilities.
I was talking with the mayor of Plymouth last week, who is running in a
special election for a MN Senate seat. Plymouth has passed resolutions
against stadium funding, because in the case of the Hennepin County/Twins
proposal, it would have had an immediate and negative impact on the
residents. I told her that the Minneapolis City council has taken up
anti-war resolutions, and let's just say, the response was quite different.
The first part of my original post suggested that the way around this is to
get very progressive people elected to office. And in response to David
Shove, I'm not rich, and my vote isn't for sale.
Mark Hanson
Prospect Park
----- Original Message -----
From: David Strand<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Mark Hanson<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ;
mpls<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 11:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] The scope of responsibility for a City Council or
Mayor
--- Mark Hanson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>
wrote:
> In the meantime, I'll argue that resolutions about
> national/international affairs have no place in the
> City Council chambers. It's a waste of time. If
> individuals on the council have strong feelings
> either way, they should exercise their First
> Amendment rights like anybody else, and speak as
> private citizens. We're not paying people to sit in
> City Hall offices and debate Washington DC policy
> making.
>
> Mark Hanson
> Prospect Park
This is complete abrogation of responsibility. The
city has an intergovernmental relations committee for
a reason and there is reason for the city to speak out
on many issues that will impact the city and yes Mark,
the wasteful war of choice in Iraq will have an impact
for years to come on the ability of the federal
government to prioritize needs of importance to the
city due to the financial sinkhole it has created. To
the extent the shift in priorities necessitated by
engaging a supposed "pre-emptive" war which is by
definition a war of choice impacts the cities
priorities and access to resources, it is the
responbility of our city officials to speak up.
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