Our Current Development Process: Money Talks Fed up with big money controlling their local elections, citizens of Albuquerque, New Mexico voted 2 to 1 in favor of an Open and Ethical Elections Code - making it the first city in the country to pass a clean elections referendum.
Here in Minneapolis, we've read the headlines about an FBI investigation of a sitting City Council member for allegedly accepting money from developers in exchange for votes. But you don't need a federal wiretap to learn about the entanglement of developers with the Council - simply peruse the lists of campaign contributors. With a two-term incumbent council member, parcels of land ripe for redevelopment along the new light rail line, and developers salivating to cash in on it, Minneapolis' 12th Ward has hit the trifecta for campaign sleaze. Council member Sandy Colvin Roy's 2005 Campaign Finance Report reveals thousands of dollars in contributions poured into her campaign from individuals employed by Klodt development's contractors. Over 26 of those contractors had a piece of Klodt's recently completed Oaks Hiawatha apartment building along the LRT. Now Klodt is rushing for city approval of the nearby massive Hiawatha Flats apartment complex Developers' money is drowning out residents' voices and trumping our city planners' professional advice. Minneapolis may not quite have reached the point of Albuquerque, but we desperately need to reform how we finance municipal elections. This summer, the Star Tribune featured a Steve Berg commentary about how Vancouver bucked development trends to build a vibrant, healthy city with a focus on neighborhood-friendly, pedestrian-oriented development. In other words, we need reform not just because of ethical considerations, but because of the results we want to achieve. While the practice of city council candidates bankrolling their campaigns with developers' money is perfectly legal, it is plainly wrong and is also a bad way to do development. Continuing along this path will yield ill-planned development that doesn't fit the character of our neighborhoods, and increases traffic congestion and parking problems. Our city politics have become so entangled with the interests of developers that former Council President Dan Cohen believes a moratorium on new development is needed to give Minneapolis time to straighten out its campaign finance system. This is why, from the beginning of my campaign, I have pledged to reject campaign contributions from developers and their contractors doing business with the city. I am pushing to reform Minneapolis' ethical standards to encourage our elected officials to refrain from accepting contributions from developers. I want greater transparency in the reporting of campaign contributions. Foremost, I want the concerns of residents to be heard. Minneapolis was once regarded nationally as an oasis of clean politics and good government. Next month, we can rekindle this spirit by supporting candidates who are committed to cleaning up our elections and restoring community voices in guiding our city's redevelopment. -Kevin McDonald, independent candidate for Minneapolis City Council, Ward 12. He lives in the Hiawatha neighborhood. Strib article passed on by Dorie Rae Gallagher/Nokomis... Kevin McDonald supporter..new leadership is needed in our neighborhood! 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
