David Brauer has added his shrewd thoughts to reflections on why the Minneapolis wards have the boundaries we are now using and G.R. Anderson's in depth analysis of the redistricting episode is certainly worth a visit.
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2005/10/redistricting_m.asp I've been a busy bee in my own right and the product of my endeavor can be viewed at http://minneapolisgoldenoldies.blogspot.com/ This analysis displays the core voting population of the city down to the ward level. My apologies for the limitations in the graphics - I'll be using better software in the time ahead but if you make it through the park districts to the individual wards, you'll have a remarkably accurate overview of the "Golden Oldies" - my term of convenience for the chronic voters who vote in every even-year election and very likely in the municipal election cycles as well. These maps are based on the current voter rosters as of April 11, 2005. There is no sure way to know what voters of more recent provenance have on their minds but we'll soon discover how matters stand when the electorate goes to the polls on November 8, 2005. I've also included a precinct-level map that shows the outcome of the mayoral primary for the "win, show, and place" candidates. There's lots of food for thought in these maps because they bear out perceptions about the electorate commonly held "in the trade" but not so easily brought to broader civic consciousness. I assume that the technology involved here will be in much wider circulation by this time next year. We all had at this during the redistricting process at the state and local levels earlier in this decade and the information management lessons learned have been showing up around the country in partisan marketing strategies too numerous and convoluted to mention here. Fred Markus, Phillips West 2000 Redistricting Commissioner 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
