Niel Ritchie wrote,
"Kumbaya! Brother Scott Nieman calls for healing. Since he was instrumental in creating the bad blood going back to 2001, it's no wonder he wants to move on, and quickly!" Niel, first and foremost, I want to thank you for being such a strong supporter of mine for all those years I served on the park board. But let's be honest that the real reason our relationship suddenly soured was in 1999, not 2001, when I would not support you and your wife's demand to put a dog park in a small neighborhood park next to your house. Of course, no one would expect someone as ethical as yourself to threaten a small, environmentally sensitive park area, solely because it had to be walking distance from your house. However, it is well known, since that point in time, your need for extracting political revenge has been all consuming. Niel, I would hope you, as I do, would want the Park Board members work together as they move into the future. We have a great park system, whose value to the city is immeasurable. Your need to attack those members you have a personal dislike for, should be put aside, for the sake of everyone. Let's give everyone an opportunity to build relationships, rather than trying to drive wedges between them. Our park system and city can only benefit from a more collegial board. "Steve Nelson rightly pointed out Nieman's questionable ethics, serving as the Park Board rep in the redrawing of district boundaries in 2002. For list members who may not have been closely following the Park Board at that time here's a bit more of the history and context. It helps partially explain the energy behind the budding Park Board Reform movement..." Niel, like many of the members of the Green party who were upset with the council redistricting lines and went to court, you're of course, entitled to your opinions about the park board redistricting. Obviously, long time east Calhoun resident, Harvey Zuckman, saw this quite differently than you and felt it was geographically advantageous for east Calhoun to be in the 4th district and made total sense to put west Calhoun back into the 6th park district. I was one of seven members of the Redistricting Commission who voted unanimously to approve the boundaries. The public had plenty of opportunities to give input into the proposal considered and some did. Funny thing, as upset as you seem about what was approved, you never gave any written or oral testimony as this moved through the process. I'm sure, had you spoken out in your usual, forceful manner, the Commission might have reconsidered the proposal we approved.Since Mr. Nelson implied it was inappropriate for me to be appointed, because I was not out of office for two years, I need to refer you to the 1992 state legislative action which established criteria for the Park Board's representation on the Redistricting Commission. It holds no such requirement. More to come in part 2... Scott Neiman Windom 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
