[Mpls] Patrick Peterson Endorses Dorian Eder for State Rep.
__ PatrickPeterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim:aliasPatrick618 tel:612.501.6837 __ - WIN FREE WORLDWIDE FLIGHTS - nominate a cafe in the Yahoo! Mail Internet Cafe Awards REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email 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 City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Patrick Peterson Endorses Dorian Eder for State Rep.
Dear Friends, I am writing to let you know that I have decided to support Dorian Eder for State Representative. I, like you, have been frustrated with the direction our State and Nation are heading. And I, like you, am ready to fight for change. Dorian is a committed progressive leader who will challenge Republican attacks and half-truths. Shes been an advocate for domestic-violence supporters for years. A lifelong DFLer, Dorian can connect with our DFL roots while reaching out to the new Northeasters who have discovered what a wonderful place our neighborhoods are to raise their families. I trust Dorian to represent Northeast because shes an example of the best of what Northeast has to offer a smart, progressive woman who can speak truth to power and is not afraid of hard work. We all know that the DFL has had a difficult couple of years. And if we want to survive as a Party, we need to change the way we work internally as well as grow our membership. Thats why Dorians such a great choice for Northeast. She knows how to stand up to Republican attacks and fight for our future. Shes not afraid to advocate for change within the Party. And shell bring that fighting spirit the spirit of Humphrey and Mondale back into the DFL. So much is at stake in this election. If George Bush manages to steal another election, who knows how far back hell try to take this country. And weve already seen what a Pawlenty Administration means for Minnesota fewer jobs, fewer services, and pandering to the radicals at the Taxpayers League. If we want to stop these threats to the Minnesota Miracle, weve got to stand up and fight. We need a leader with energy. We've spent too many elections picking leaders based on name recognition or who waited in line the longest and now its time for us to develop the DFL leaders who will lead us into victory in the years ahead. Dorian is the candidate that will bring the DFL into the future, while connecting with our proud past. Shes the candidate who will fight for progressive values and not take a single vote for granted. Shes a candidate who will represent Northeast, both old and new. Thats why Im supporting Dorian Eder for State Representative, and I hope you do the same. Yours, Patrick ___ WIN FREE WORLDWIDE FLIGHTS - nominate a cafe in the Yahoo! Mail Internet Cafe Awards www.yahoo.co.uk/internetcafes REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email 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 City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is your [school] list up to today?
I don't understand why Craig is upset that he was called on his unfounded claim. People on the right do this all the time -- they make some claim not backed up with any real fact and then claim to be smothered by the left when people question them. To wit: so you're saying that the actions of students at a school where a prospective employee went YEARS ago and can't possibly be involved with make a difference in your employment decisions? Or are you saying that because a few (or a 100, or whatever) students decided to organize a walk-out that somehow everyone who attends, has attended, or will attend that school is tainted by your brush? I'm so sorry that those people won't get a fair share and presume that they'll find jobs at companies where this kind of logic isn't used. David Brauer makes a good comment about SD 60 and Field School. He's probably right in that most of these kids' families made higher than the median income in Minneapolis and will have a lot of opportunities that other kids won't have. What concerns me is that if someone showed me the statistics illustrating the percent of children in free/reduced lunch programs, the percent of children of color, and the percent of children with a stable residence I could probably pick the ZIP code (or at least the area of the city) where that school is located. Patrick Peterson Dinkytown --- Craig Miller [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well this sure set off a hornet's nest. Anybody been reading Doonesbury lately? How all Oregon High School Graduates are being kept out of the mythical Ivy League college. This is how it starts to happen. All things being equal one kid graduates from Kerkhoven-Murdoch-Sunburg and the other kid graduates from SW High Mpls. All things being equal, then you read the headline of what MPS does DURING school time. Now picture yourself as the employer, administrator, Dean, etc. One of my critics on this thread, claimed that this is how we share and express our values. What if they aren't your neighbors or neighbors children's values? Let the school teach two plus two, Shakespeare, Langston Hughes, Stravinsky, Ravel, Newton, Einstein, Lincoln. Knowledge held in common. Not the political opinion of SD 60 of the DFL party. Craig Miller [EMAIL PROTECTED] Rogers, MN Has this list gone absolutely mad? About remembering which job applicants are graduates of Minneapolis Public Schools and which aren't, I have 2 things: --Be sure you apply that standard to the Rhodes Scholars, IB Diploma winners (including myself), Ivy grads, and Athena winners who graduated from MPS. = __ PatrickPeterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim:a11235patrick tel:612.379.4722 __ __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] What is your [school] list up to today?
Has this list gone absolutely mad? About remembering which job applicants are graduates of Minneapolis Public Schools and which aren't, I have 2 things: --Be sure you apply that standard to the Rhodes Scholars, IB Diploma winners (including myself), Ivy grads, and Athena winners who graduated from MPS. --Your suggestion sounds pretty unethical, if not outright illegal. I frankly hope that this type of behavior doesn't pervade HR departments. If so, maybe I should go to law school -- I could make a fortune on unlawful discrimination suits. About the protest itself --Recall that it was a bunch of kids who persuaded McDonalds to change their packaging from styrofoam to paper-based packaging, and that Kids for Saving the Earth (a successful environmental awarness group) was started by kids in the metro area (I believe). They were somehow able to persuade Target to carry their magazine in their stores for a long time (they were near the community information kiosks), which were extraordinarly well-produced. Perhaps your perceptions do not fit the evidence. --I don't doubt that some students wanted to talk about the war one day in class and batted around the idea of a walkout (probably based on things that they had studied about the Civil Rights Movement or things they saw on TV). Did teachers and parents help? Maybe -- I'll even venture to say Probably. Did they force them to hold an anti-war sign or walk out? Probably not. About $17,000 for activism (Victoria's comment): --Frankly, if this activity teaches students to question media and their leaders, think for themselves about issues important to them, and take action, I think it's worth more than $17,000. --Look: public education is supposed to teach young people about their community and how to make a difference. This walkout probably generated inumerable discussions about government and how it makes decisions. Also discussed probably were what other people thought of a war, why nations go to war, Iraq, how individuals can take control of their lives, and how to participate in civic participation. In a school system where the required civics class is a sad joke, this is sorely needed. I wonder if the types of people who were upset would be so upset if there was a walkout in support of the war? Doubt it. Patrick Peterson Dinkytown From: Craig Miller [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 09:57:43 -0600 Subject: [Mpls] What is your school up to? I believe that the schools that organize and allow kids to take class time off to go out and protest are using taxpayer money for political purposes and bordering on brainwashing the kids. It has been many years since I was on the frontline of management in the private sector. You know the position, hiring firing, and being the one who shows up early and stays late. Well, if I ever have to be in that thankless position again, I've got news for the Mpls School Board. All things being equal between two job applicants.I'm going to remember which school district thought it was ok to stop teaching math, reading, and writing. Tough decisions made easy by the Minneapolis School Board. To those parents who fail to prevent this nonsense. Shame on you. Your doing your children such a disservice. = __ PatrickPeterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim:a11235patrick tel:612.379.4722 __ __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Winds of change and the Old Guard
I'm so glad that somebody picked up on this line I wrote in my last post because I think it's very important: Message: 11 Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 08:52:39 -0800 (PST) From: Dave Piehl [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] City Offices Ptrick Peterson wrote: (snip) the 2001 elections were not a rejection of Old Minneapolis as much a series of relatively isolated incidences. What are other people's views on this issue? David Piehl went on to note that: I think there was definately a high level of dissatisfaction with the previous city council's track record, and large corporate subsidies were very high profile at the time, drawing a tremendous amount of criticism; then there were the scandals. My question is this: did the voters in Minneapolis vote for a Winds of Change (WOC) in City Hall (where they wanted, by and large, all the old folks out in favor of new leadership), or was the election of quite a few new council members the result of a series of situations that aren't directly related to each other? Anecdotally, I didn't hear the WOC when I doorknocked. People felt strongly about candidates, and that held up regardless of who they supported. But let's look at the data. Let's assume that for the purposes of argument that RT ran on a Winds of Change platform. That is, he stressed ending corporate subsidies, increasing transparency in city affairs, improving responsivness to the community, etc... (we've all seen the lit). Some city council races broke down in the same way -- the Old Guard vs. the candidate preaching WOC. If the Winds of Change message resounded throughout the city, then you'd see him elected. But other candidates who were credible spokespeople on this issue would ALSO be elected -- IF city voters looked at the election as a referendum on the WOC. The data below shows the difference between RT and the WOC city council candidate. In other words, it is the percentage of people who voted Winds of Change for mayor and Old Guard for city council. Numbers in parentheses mean that more people voted Winds of Change for city council and Old Guard for mayor W01 -- 36.04% W02 -- n/a -- both preached WOC W03 -- 30.09% W04 -- 38.85% W05 -- (14.09%) W06 -- 6.25% W07 -- 45.54% W08 -- (13.19%) W09 -- n/a W10 -- n/a W11 -- n/a W12 -- 25.34% W13 -- 26.97% According to this analysis, Natalie Johnson Lee and Robert Lilligren both benefited from the Winds of Change -- although one could also argue that Lilligren would probably not have fared so well had Brian Herron not dropped out of the race. Johnson Lee (in my anecdotal opinion and from the data) DID seem to benefit from this phenomenon. But this is only one ward in the entire city. Basically what's going on is that people wanted the Winds of Change for mayor, but they were happy with the Old Guard for their alderman. The evidence seems to suggest that city voters in 2001 did not seek to change the way things were done on a citywide basis, and considered their elections individually rather than as a citywide whole. This refutes the argument that city voters in minneapolis were seeking change across the board and supports the statement that voters decided individually whom to vote for based on a seperate set of criteria. That's my longish analysis and why I don't believe that RT and the WOC supporters have a mandate in Minneapolis. It could explain why people like Robert Olson also remain popular and are able to outfox RT on a consistent basis. Patrick Peterson (apparantly) with nothing better to do in Dinkytown but re-calculate old election data. = __ PatrickPeterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim:a11235patrick tel:612.379.4722 __ __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Mpls CMs addressing Iraq and a more important issue: Chief Olson
Linda Mann writes: The CMs of Minneapolis will show just how relevant they are in the current debate. It would be better if all these opponents would just be honest and say they support the war drive. For once I agree with Linda Man. The opinion of the city council of Minneapolis are irrelevant to discussions about war with Iraq (Note: I did not say that the opinions of the MEMBERS were irrelevant) and I am glad that the Minneapolis city council is proving its relevance on this issue by letting the appropriate elected officials handle it. Yes, I've heard the economic argument antiwar people make. But by that logic virtually every national issue and quite a few (international ones) would be the domain of the city council. My view is that this is a relative waste of resources. The city council has a limited amount of time, money, and staff. By concentrating on this issue it cannot concentrate on other ones. And I think that the city council should focus on issues affecting its citizens and on which it can make a difference. I would prioritize affordable housing, making the city an attractive place to live, controlling crime, and integrating our neighborhoods as higher priorities than debating the relative merits and costs of another entity going to war with Iraq. Let's also not assume that because one thinks its a bad idea for the city council to take up this issue one supports a war in Iraq. As it stands I don't favor unilateral action in Iraq, and RT Rybak (who has promised to veto this becase he doesn't think it germane) is a passionate opponent of the war. Council members who look at this issue are rightly asking themselves -- why this when we [the city council] can take up other issues which will have a direct and immediate effect on the citizens of Minneapolis? To Paul Zerby (a supporter of a resolution and my council member) I'd ask: why do you have time to take up this issue when the relationship between students and residents in your ward continues to deteriorate? Why are you not working on what seems a more local and pressing issue for your ward? About Chief Olson: Again, fantastic piece by the City Pages. My impression was that Olson can outfox RT because he's part of the Old Guard Minneapolis politician. Where RT might have less experience dealing with the media or being able to plan how coverage is going to go, Olson has been around the block, has a lot of great contacts, and knows how to handle himself in front of the media. Certianly, my interpretation would support my argument that the 2001 elections were not a rejection of Old Minneapolis as much a series of relatively isolated incidences. What are other people's views on this issue? Patrick Peterson Dinkytown = __ PatrickPeterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim:a11235patrick tel:612.379.4722 __ __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Favorite Minneapolis Restaurants
Peter's Grill in Downtown. Not ONLY have they been visited by a POTUS (Bill Clinton in 1996 -- you can order the BC Special which includes a hamburger, diet coke, and apple pie, I think), but the food is wonderfully simple and incredibly cheap. Plus, the atmosphere is wonderful. It is classic without drawing the crowd of the swish (although now that I've sung its praises I hope that doesn't change). The perfect restaraunt for a date or if you're just looking to pretend you live in Minneapolis ca. 1948. Re: online menus -- A few years ago Microsoft bought this company called Sidewalk that was going to put things like movie and theatre showings, restaraunt reviews etc... online. I don't think it ever took of. If somebody were to put that information online (probably by approaching restaraunts and asking for it) I bet it would be a pretty useful feature. My guess would be that City Pages would be the first paper to get that info, but given that they also seem to have some of the most cogent political reporting in the metro area recently I wouldn't want them to get a big head. Patrick Peterson Dinkytown = __ PatrickPeterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim:a11235patrick tel:612.379.4722 __ __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Don Samuels -- on the issues?
Jonathan Palmer writes: · Commit to supporting lead abatement programs and protect the health of children in the Third Ward from other environmental toxins. PP: That's great -- how do you propose to do this and pay for it? Will you push a resolution on the city council to work with the EPA? Go to businesses who are responsible for the pollution and get them to pay for it? What? · Strengthen youth's capacity to make the right choices regarding drug abuse, sexuality and violence. Ensure these topics are part of the City's public health system and integrated into our educational and community systems. PP: Jonathan, what does the city council have to do with setting the educational curricula for the Minneapolis Public Schools? Does Don plan to initiate a program with the Youth Coordinating Board, Yo! 2000, or the Citywide Student Government? Maybe coordinating something with the district and the park board? Again, great idea -- but you've told nobody how you're actually going to do it in that statement. · Provide support to our seniors to maintain affordable housing, access to public education and a diversity of volunteer opportunities. PP: Again, same question -- what kinds of support? What Federal and state organizations does Don plan to work with? How are you going to finance these new programs? PP: How does Don feel about the state budget and its impending cuts to local aid? Is he willing to consider supporting a tax increase and/or a reduction in city services? If the latter, where would he cut and for how long? PP: Again, I'm MUCH more interested in a campaign that discusses issues, but what you've forwarded here look like bullet points on a piece of lit. The fact is that every time I've queried somebody from the Samuels campaign to give me a significant answer on an issue affecting the 3rd ward, I've received a jumble of your campaign's messages. I'm not looking for that -- I, and the citizens of the 3rd, would rather have answers. Patrick Peterson Dinkytown = __ PatrickPeterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim:a11235patrick tel:612.379.4722 __ __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Re: 3rd Ward Primary -- Sly Di's Political Postmortem....
From: Robert Schmid [EMAIL PROTECTED] So, do not assume that the Greens are done. That is exactly the same as thinking that failed to foresee the bursting of the tech-bubble and the crash of the stock market. No, it's not the same thinking. The fallacy of the tech bubble involved ignoring all historic trends of the US economy. This kind of thinking recognizes that the US historically has been a 2-party system and that it's going to be pretty difficult for a third party to compete. While I agree that the Green vision of public policy is indeed long-sighted (a vision of public policy also being something that the DFL would be wise to think about), I haven't seen a Green plan to implement their vision. How does the Green caucus propose to implement their key values on the city council, where they have a sizeable minority of votes? One of my problems with the Green party (apart from their platform and vision, parts of which I do not agree with) is that they're great at espousing meta statements about general things but seem to have *no* way to put their plans into action. I think they Minnesota Green Party would probably do better than the 2%-4% they got statewide (despite the fact they got the endorsement of the Strib for SOS) if they seemed to have their head out of the clouds a bit more, as it were. Patrick Peterson Dinkytown = __ PatrickPeterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim:a11235patrick tel:612.379.4722 __ __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Don Samuels and the 3rd Ward
From: Barbara Lickness [EMAIL PROTECTED]If I lived in the third ward in one of theneighborhoods that is being torn up by the crimeproblems, I would want someone who at least had clueas to what is was like to live with these problems ona daily basis. I would also want someone who hadworked arm in arm as a volunteer to help deal with it. PEP: I think most if not all candidates know what the crime situation is on the 3rd ward and I think that's been demonstrated. But I agree that such a quality is important for a council member.I know Don Samuels knows his stuff in terms of crimein that area. I also find him "common sense" orientedwith a broad understanding of the issues. I believethat he would be a great city councilmember. PEP: Let me state right off that I am glad not to live in the 3rd ward because I don't have to make a tough decision, and that I have no doubt that Samuels knows his stuff in terms of crime and common-sense governance. But, at the DFL endorsing convention, he wasn't able to answer a question about the continuation of TIF. When I was a a candidate for office, I don't think everybody expected me to know the answers to every question -- but I think they also expected me to tell them what I thought about the Profile or what should be cut in the MPS budget. While I think that Samuels would be a great city council member, if I were living in the 3rd I'd be concerned that he doesn't have a deep enough knowledge of some keyissues to be effective. Patrick PetersonDinkytown-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrickMSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=With Yahoo! Mail you can get a bigger mailbox -- choose a size that fits your needs
[Mpls] Anti-war resolution
Brandon writes: In the Spring of 2000, the City Council passed a Free Burma Resolution, a resolution that I wholeheartedly supported. This resolution was a direct critique of the policies of the Burmese government, and the City of Minneapolis refused to do business with any business currently operating in Burma. The City of Minneapolis similarly passed an Anti-Apartheid Resolution in the 1980's and refused to do business with companies in South Africa, a direct repudiation of the policies of the government of South Africa. These are qualitatively different resolutions than one opposing war with Iraq. Free Burma and Anti-Apartheid resolutions said: look, we have choices to make in the market, and one of the things we're going to look at when we use city dollars is if the company has operations in Burma/S. Africa. I believe the city has similar regulations regarding doing business with local companies and those who particiAffirmativeirmitive Action. Ostensibly promoting a social or moral agenda, these resolutions tend to be germane because they direct OUR resources as a cicertain certian way. I don't know how these types of resolutions would manifest themselves in an Anti-War in Iraq one. Would we refuse to do business with companies who supply troops? Allied nations who support thtongue tounge-in-cheek US localities who aren't in opposition to the war? The reason I'm pointing out this distinction is because I support the former type of resolution but not the latter. It's fine for us to say who we're going to do business with -- it's a very shrewd way to affect change in fact. But I don't see how opposing war with Iraq in the forms suggested can have a measurable impact that wouldn't be better expressed elsewhere (for example -- a massive petition and demonstration). My worry is that by passing these resolutions, the city diminishes its capacity to remain serious and credible if it has NO means to implement them. For my part, I don't think war with Iraq is a good idea, since there hascomplicityredible evidence to support their complitity with al-Queda and the drained military resources during such a war and the inevitable occupationinterestsuld last a decade) would leave US interestes quite vulnerable to a fightingst attack. We're better focusing on fighing terrorism (our #1 threat) than going to war against Iraq (our #2 or lower threat). But the point is this: let's focus our energies at the city council on making public policy thatresolutionect effect on people's lives. An anti-war resoultion on Iraq (as it stands) will not achieve that. Refusing to do business with companies who coddle despots will. Patrick Peterson Dinkytown = -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Proposed Speed increases on highway 55
= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Proposed Speed increases on highway 55
Duane, I think you're missing the argument on the other side of this issue. Highway 55 was never designed to be a 35MPH road. Wide lanes, a great deal of distance between lights, the Lake Street Bridge, and the fact that it's called a highway all give the driver the impression that the natural speed of the road is 45-55MPH. Indeed, kids may be playing nearby (although I've never once seen a kid on a bike as I've driven down the road, even if it's true they play in the Minnehaha park or around the off-streets), but that's not the main issue. When LRT comes, I'd think that if I were a parent I wouldn't want my kid fooling around down there anyway, so the people that are down there now are likely to go someplace else anyway. I'm curious as to how many people have been injured/killed as a result of speeding on 55 in the last 10 years. I think that statistic would inform one as to how immediate the need is to make a mockery of speed limits and increase the propensity of drivers to break them. I also think we've had this conversation before. It's in the archives. Patrick Dinkytown --__--__-- Message: 7 Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 20:48:34 -0600 Subject: Re: [Mpls] What Do People think of a proposed increase in speedlimit for Hwy 55? From: DeWayne Townsend [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] It is not only the park. The strip of land on the West side of Hwy 55 is a major bike route in the summer, maybe winter too I don't know, and there are lots of kids on bikes, boards and skates. I do not know if this will continue once the LRT is up and running. The stations area could be a problem, but we should wait and see. I for one do not want cars going 55mph if there are kids playing 15ft away. Besides it is too busy for 55mph. MNDOT should set the lights to 35mph and post the required speed to make the next light. I have questioned MDdot and elected officials on this subject several times during the push to build the highway through Minnehaha Park. I felt great apprehension about cars possible driving 45-65 miles an hour through a park area that families and children heavily use. MNdot promised at numerous meetings I attended that the speed limit would stay at 35miles an hour. I believe they should be held to that promise. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] = -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Youth Vote 2002
Wow. Linda, maybe you should ask for hand recount of the Youth Vote ballots, just to ensure the accuracy of the results. Don't despair, the Truth is Out There. If you have a chance, pick up a Youth Vote guide. When you get beyond the canned essays that the candidates write you can learn some really interesting stuff. For example, according to the guide, Peter Mac's and Joe Erickson's favorite movies include The Godfather, II. I'm amazed nobody's making THAT a campaign issue...because it is for me. Come on...FAVORITE movie? Would either of you be offended if I sent you my copy of Psycho or Moulin Rouge (two of my favorites)? Seriously, I think Youth Vote is a GREAT thing for encouraging civic discussions in kids. I can't tell you the numbers of kids I talked to who really considered who they were voting for in their mock election. I think a great many of them actually read through the materials and made an informed decision. Absent actually allowing young people to vote in elections which affect them (an issue which bears some discussion I think), I can't think of a better way of teaching kids how to be good citizens than this one. That said, my prediction is that Lucky Rosenblom (sp?) will come in first in the Youth Vote school board race, and Audrey Johnson or Colleen Moriarity (my money's on Colleen) will come in second. Anybody else want to venture a guess? Patrick Dinkytown Message: 10 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 16:36:51 EST To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Youth Vote 2002 We have just learned that (unlike other election years) the results of the youth vote sponsored by the Youth Coordinating Board (a City office) will not be publicized until after the election. Could be that certain candidates (ie., Greens, Doug Mann) did better than was hoped? Linda Mann = -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Nordeast -- a derogatory term?
Well, as a lifelong resident of Northeast, I think it might be a good idea to weigh in... I have never, NEVER in 23 years of life heard somebody who lives in Northeast use the term Nordeast. I don't find it derogatory, but akin to people who use The Strip to talk about Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles. In other words, they're trying to use the in phrase, but in so doing co-opts a word used most often by outsiders. So no, I don't think it's an offensive term (although I'm not Eastern European, so I could be wrong), but I do think it's trite. In fact, I usually take note of when people use the term (I've also seen NordEast, NorthEast and the occasional NeHe which I think is atrocious, btw). Scrolling down to their signature, they tend not to be residents of Northeast (instead from south minneapolis). While I feel a great deal of Eastside pride knowing that my childhood neighborhoods are all of a sudden the rage among the gentrification set, I too roll my eyes when people say things like Nordeast, even if I don't think it is a big deal. However, a general rule of communication I've found effective is this: if somebody from the population you're describing tells you to stop using a term, it's almost always a good idea to stop. Patrick who grew up in Windom and now lives in Dinkytown = -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Local Control (was Iraq/Clare House)
Two things which really illustrate an interesting point: Victoria Heller wrote: gt;I just did a search on the Star Tribune website for 1 bedroom units between gt;$500 and $699. Also keep in mind that lots of vacancies are not advertised gt;through the Strib. This tells us absolutely *nothing* about the housing situation in the metro area or the specific needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. The only thing a search like this tells us is that X number of housing units are advertised through the Strib. The number of apartments available or accessible to persons with HIV/AIDS remains unknown. The larger issue here is this: We have excellent local public servants who are employed by various government agencies who can tell us exactly what the housing situation looks like. Their methods are a lot more founded than a search on a local newspaper's website. That's why we pay them so well (and it's why they deserve it). What this technique says to me is: #34;I came up with this really neat way to take a snapshot of the housing situation, and because it makes sense to me (and since it supports my point) it is unquestionably true.#34; Jordan Kushner writes: gt;The emporer/president was not even elected but gt;installed by a court. The city elected officials, gt;who have smaller constituencies than any of the gt;federal elected officials and are more accountable to gt;grassroots interests, are more likely to be gt;representative and responsive to constituents than gt;Congress people and certainly non legitimate gt;president. Although the city officials do not have gt;any direct influence over military and foreign gt;policy, they are the often the only elected officials gt;who might actually be responsive to grassroots gt;activists. gt;It is also interesting that Patrick Peterson cited gt;the Green value of decentralization as a reason why gt;the city council should not be involved in foreign gt;policy. A belief in decentralization requires the gt;opposite counclusion. It means that more policy gt;decisions of any sort should be made by more local gt;units of government that more closely represent their gt;constituents. This means that local units should gt;have more of a say in foreign policy. (It may be a gt;problem for a staunch DFLer to try to interpret Green gt;values. I actually prefer the term: #34;entrenched party apparatchik.#34; ;-) I would have egg on my face if you interpreted my comments correctly. I used the green party idea of decentralized control to question your statement that addressing local crime in Phillips (your example) should be attacked at the Federal level where you believe the root causes lie. My comment was that it is inconsistent for you to argue this point if your party supports #34;decentralized government.#34; Of course, this principle would support your claim that local authorities have the power to make national and (taken to its conclusion) international policy. I don't argue this point, but I'll point out that there are documents (the Constitution comes directly to mind, although since Berkeley's resolutions and our own Burma resolution were not struck down by the Supreme Court, there is obviously many dimensions to this issue) which more eloquently make my point. One non-sequitur: Ever since Bush became President, whenever (for the most part) I've heard somebody from the green party speak, they've taken a shot at Bush's election and how he's not #34;the legitimate President.#34; I find this quite humorous that individuals representing the green party make this argument over and over again, especially given the fact that the presence of the green party undoubtedly affected the outcome (and therefore the legitimacy) of the 2000 Presidential Election. Jordan's post reinforces my point and it is on this we apparently have a fundamental disagreement. I believe that it is best for local public policy to be made at a local level by qualified public servants. Meaning this: StarTrib searches do not evidence of a housing shortage make and it's not the job of the City Council to decide a course of action on Iraq. Patrick Dinkytown = -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Cop out on Iraq/Good Governance
Jordan Kushner wrote: First, if the crime in Phillips has such an impact on daily life, can = you imagine how life must be in a country where there is a lack of food = and clean water due to U.S. economic and military aggression, and then = literally have bombs dropping on one's house and neighborhood, and now = the threat of an invading army? You mean the rest of the world doesn't look EXACTLY like the Kingfield neighborhood? I'm shocked! Jordan continues: Local elected offiicals, as the rest of = us, have an ethical obligation to speak out against atrocities being = committed in our name. Anyone in an official and visible position has = more of an obligation because they are in an official and visible = position. As I am sure others will shortly point out, you are making a logical leap for which you have no factual basis here: 1. Whose ethics are you talking about here? Maybe Paul Ostrow and the other CMs agree with military intervention in Iraq (I don't know if that is true or not). Just because you and your friends believe something to be ethically wrong doesn't make it universally true. If in fact these council members DO agree with military intervention, then they were taking an ethical stand by working against the resolution. The only difference is that their perspective happens to be in the majority. 2. Maybe the council members DO NOT in fact support military intervention, but also know that perhaps the city council chamber room is not the best place to voice their view. Maybe they participate in protests, write to their elected officials and letters to the editor, etc..., but realize that their JOB as city council members is to make sure that the city runs, not administer or set a vision for US Foreign policy. Frankly, I'm proud to have voted for Paul Ostrow last year, knowing that even IF we disagree on Iraq I know he's very responsive and has done great things for North East. Now that I live in ward 2, I've gotta wonder: why is Paul Zerby talking about Iraq when there is much to do IN his ward? Again, Jordan: The only hope for urban problems is for city and community leaders to = stop responding to problems in a reactionary manner, and address the = underlying causes. This includes recognition that what happens in the = city of Minneapolis is not just based on what happens in the city of = Minneapolis. Our problems are connected to what is happening elsewhere. = In particular, the problems are rooted more in Washington then the = disenfranchised teenager in Phillips. If more communities recognized = that and directed energies accordingly, we get some real change. So, are you saying we should abolish the city council and let the US Congress solve our problems? That's worked wonders for the City of Washington, DC. Jordan, you're wrong: The way out is to empower local resources to solve local problems. NOT to complain that war machinery creates crime in Phillips or that we're somehow going to change undelying causes of behavior. What's that thing in the Green party platform about de-centralization again? Kudos to the council members who voted to remain on task. Making sure trash is picked up and our streets have community police on them isn't as sexy as a vague resolution on Iraq, but it sure makes life nicer here. Patrick Dinkytown = -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Roche Goes After Dibble On Stadium
Jordan Kushner Wrote: I actually saw a Roche commerical on television yesterday between the national and local news. The commercial showed Scott Dibble speaking on the HOuse Floor, allegedly supporting the stadium funding, although there was not enough of Dibble's speech broadcast to really figure out what he was saying. Is anyone aware of a state legislative candidate buying TV commercials, and during such an expensive time? Does anyone know if Roche is spending his own money, or where the donations are coming from? Is there any concern about him trying to buy the election? Wow -- That's a spectacular waste of money. When I ran for school board we floated the idea of bus signs, but it was sidelined because with the money it would have cost we could have done several more targeted (and useful) mailings or phonings. This is exponentially MORE wasteful. I'm sure people in Isanti, MN (or for that matter Northeast Minneapolis) appreciated the commercial and will find it quite useful when they go to vote for their candiates on the 10th. As far as Roche's claims on Dibble's position, a even basic knowledge of Minnesota politics would tell you that if you're endorsed by Progressive Minnesota, you're probably not going to be the type of candidate who would support public financing for a stadium (given that one of PM's GOALS is no public financing). I guess you need to live in the district a little longer than a few years to pick that up, though. You know, if you're going to lie, you should at least do it intelligently. Patrick Peterson Dinkytown = -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] City Pages White Washes Mpls Public Schools
Wow. Doug Mann writes about the district's justification of the basic standards test: gt;As far as the district is concerned, only the gt;progress of those 13 fifth graders continuously gt;enrolled since the third grade really matters. Um, yeah. So Doug, let me get this right: you use the standards test to measure the quality of instruction in MPS, but when (because of no fault of the district's own) a school does poorly because a majority of students DID NOT receive that same instruction and yet took the test, it is all the district's fault and they can't teach kids. That makes no sense. Doug, you can't teach kids that aren't there. Sounds to me like your message for your candidacy is blame, blame, blame with little plans for improvement or intelligent public policy. Patrick Peterson 2-4 = -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEL:612.379.4722 AIM:a11235patrick MSN:patrickepeterson -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] All DFL Endorsed School Board Campaigns at Pride
I've just been told that *all* four DFL-endorsed school board candidates will be at Pride -- Colleen Moriarty will now be among them marching in the parade too! So, if you've got a hankerin' to talk about school board policy (and, let's face it -- on this list who doesn't), come on out, enjoy the weather this weekend, and ask them some questions. Sitting in front of your computer screen too long isn't healthy. Patrick Dinkytown = -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Stonewall DFL Responds to Lavendar Magazine Editorial
I post this on behalf of Stonewall DFL... It was with great disappointment that we read the editorial in the current issue of Lavender Magazine. The inflammatory language and the ambush nature of the piece were disappointing and we would have hoped that Lavender would be more responsible. The labeling of our organization and other DFL activists as quasi-terrorists is not only irresponsible it is also offensive. Not only is the language deliberately extreme and emotional it is also an insult to those people and their families who are victims of terrorist acts such as the bombing of the World Trade Center. It is clear that the use of this language is not meant to engage debate and valid criticism but rather it is to invoke fear and hatred. Using only conjecture and innuendo Lavender tries to link us to actions that we had no knowledge of until the publication of this attack on us. We have never supported any type of harassment and we never will. In addition to the attack on Stonewall it is unfortunate that they attack Representative Scott Dibble. In addition to being an excellent State Representative Rep. Dibble is also one of the most honorable people we know. It is also sad that they have chosen to misrepresent the position of this caucus regarding Catherine Shreves. Ms. Shreves herself is an amazing woman. We endorsed her two years ago for the Minneapolis School Board and rated her as acceptable in her bid for this Senate seat. Our endorsement of Rep. Dibble was in no way a negative statement regarding Ms. Shreves. Odds are if the other candidate had been anyone other than Rep. Dibble Ms. Shreves would have easily earned our endorsement. She has been and continues to be a wonderful ally of ours and we hope to see her as a candidate again! We are left to wonder why the editors of Lavender Magazine have decided to use the position they have in our community to attack our community. Unfortunately this and other attacks on the Stonewall Caucus seem to stem from our support of recent efforts by Lavender Magazine staff to form a union. The pattern of abuse and harassment that union organizers were subjected to now appears to be targeted toward those people who supported them. The GLBT community here deserves a responsible and accurate news source. The Stonewall DFL has no interest in escalating this conflict. Therefore we will be filing a complaint with the Minnesota News Council and seeking their mediation services in resolving this matter. We hope that the editors of Lavender Magazine will join us in a good faith effort to reconcile these matters. A copy of this complaint will be available on our web page at a later date. Patrick Peterson Issues Director Stonewall DFL Dinkytown, Ward 2 = -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Patrick Peterson [EMAIL PROTECTED] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Polonius Speaks!
Message: 3 Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 09:04:03 -0500 From: Michael Atherton [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mpls List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Re: You've got Mail! Patrick Peterson wrote: You're making a good point. We can't (and shouldn't; that's the parents's job) mediate the media. But we can make our schools places where we treat girls and young women with respect. Is this somehow different than treating boys and young men with respect? -=-=-= No. It would be great if both girls and boys were treated equally in schools -- that's what I'm going for. -=-=-= And if elected, I want to make sure that Minneapolis doesn't implicitly discriminate against calling on girls in classes, especially in the sciences and math. How do you propose to do this? -=-=-=-=-=-=- Broadly, we can look at our curriculum to ensure that no gender bias exists in that, and train staff and faculty in our schools to not use gender bias in their relations with students and the community. -=-=-=-=-=-=- Ensuring that women graduate MPS with a healthy sexuality means that we need to make sure that girls value themselves and are assertive in articulating their needs. It also means that we need a better health curriculum (which I'll get to later)... Just what is healthy sexuality? -=-=-=- I'm not going to bore Mpls-Issues to death any longer with obscure intellectual fieldtrips in the social sciences. Read Drowning Ophelia by Mary Pipher for an academic perspective or Ophelia Speaks by Sara Shandler for the perspective of the girls themselves (With all this Ophelia talk I know some of you are thinking of the 'brevity is the soul of wit' comment. I never intend to be witty, but I'm working on being more brief.) -=-=-=- We need to recognize the historical shortfalls (e.g. using men to speak of people, and the fact that there is no formal second-person pronoun), while realizing that we can alter our language to fit current reality. Research has shown that the surface structure of words has little to do with the way that people interpret them. In other words, calling people firemen does not prevent little girls from becoming fire fighters. There are far more powerful social forces at work. -=-=-=-=-=-= Okay. That doesn't change the fact that we should be respectful of people anyway. My guess is that women firefighters don't appreciate being called men, or that when women first were elected to Congress that all the restrooms for MC's were called gentlemen's rooms. It's called respect. -=-=-=-=-=-= (On a side note: I always hate it when people muck up what politically correct means. To me, being politically correct is about respect -- you use the most formal term when speaking about something until they tell you otherwise. To me, being politically correct is about trying to artificially enforce respect in violation of individual rights. -=-=-=-=-= Thanks for sharing. Now everybody knows what we both thing of political correctness. And the internet proves indispensable yet again. -=-=-=-=-= I AM concerned about violence in our schools, and one of the ways I propose we diffuse some of that conflict is by increasing peer mediation programs in our schools. Peer mediation is a program where students learn conflict resolution strategies, and then when conflict erupts among students, those peer mediators use the strategies to resolve the conflict without violence or getting administrators involved. Good idea; can you cite research to show that such programs are effective? 1. Peer Mediation in the Schools: Teaching Conflict Resolution to Students. NASSP Bulletin: v78 n560 2. A Review of Selected School-Based Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Projects. Journal of School Health v65 n10 p426-31 Dec 1995 3. The Impact of Peer Mediation Training on the Management of School and Home Conflicts. American Educational Research Journal v32 n4 p829-44 Win 1995 4. The Benefits of Peer Mediation in the Context of Urban Conflict and Program Status. Urban Education v35 n3 p324-55 Sep 2000 All these journals are accessible at the University of Minnesota libraries and maybe from MPL. As someone with a tc.umn.edu address I assume you know where to look. What we need is better health education. Health used to be one of the few classes that students knew they had to take or else they wouldn't graduate, so nobody (neither the students nor in many cases the teachers) was really engaged in one of the most important classes students will take. We can start reforming health education by changing the curriculum, which means we should talk to students and find out what kind of education they need. In short, there is a lot that we can do to give young people healthy attitudes about their self-image, their sexuality, etc... If Sharon Henry-Blythe is reading, I bet she has some good ideas on teen pregnancy prevention. So how would you feel about offering Human Sexuality course to students? Do you
[Mpls] You've got Mail!
students will take. We can start reforming health education by changing the curriculum, which means we should talk to students and find out what kind of education they need. In short, there is a lot that we can do to give young people healthy attitudes about their self-image, their sexuality, etc... If Sharon Henry-Blythe is reading, I bet she has some good ideas on teen pregnancy prevention. Eva also asked what people thought about zero-tolerance politicies I don't know what kind of zero tolerance policy to which you are refeering, although generally I'm not a big fan of the policy idea. My friend was two weeks away from graduating from high school, and she got caught with a tiny pocket-knife key chain (it was one of those Swiss-Army dealies). As she was in violation of the zero-tolerance weapons policy, she was nearly expelled from school. I think there are more inelligent ways of dealing with our problems than zero-tolerance. Because the moral relativism of my youth (as some on the list might say) recognizes that people are in different circumstances and although it may be attractive politically to use zero tolerance in literature and it's easier to administer, dealing with people as people is much more effective. (I'm sorry guys, this is the last one) Michael Atherton writes... So much for balanced and informed decision making. What respect for diversity really means is taking the time to understand why people hold views different from your own, and not making rash decisions on the basis of conformity to political slogans. As it happens, I was involved in the feminist movement a number of years before your birth. Once, in 1978 a gay friend of my introduced me to her sister as the most liberated man she knew. Sounds kind of quaint now, doesn't it? :-) Truth is, you don't know much about me. I believe that even the most abhorrent opinions should be exposed to the light of day where I am confident that reason and wisdom will prevail -- in other words, I'm a big fan of Kant's dialetic. You're right, I don't know very much about you, and I didn't know what you were trying to get at with your post. That's why I asked. You may not realize and others may have forgotten, but for many years it was not socially acceptable for women to say yes explicitly. Fostering change in sexual attitudes and behavior was one of the goals of the feminist movement. That's nice. Times have changed. Many years ago it was socially unnaceptable to kiss a woman if you had no intention of marrying her. Your statement and the one I just wrote have equal relevance in this respect. As to my statement about the gay community (and I use this term for both genders), maybe things have changed, but my gay friends enjoyed telling stories of how they had seduced someone who had steadfastly held that they were straight. Many of them are dead now, but I suppose that too was before your time. One would hope that your politically correct indignation is not solely for campaign purposes and merely reflects a lack of maturity. Thank you for your perspective on the gay movement. As a gay man, I have a different perspective. I don't discuss my romantic life in public, so I will not comment on what behaviors me or my friends engage in or if youre anecdote has any relevance to the gay lifestyle today. I think that Patrick Peterson provides a good example. Mr. Peterson's campaign seems to based primarily on his youth and sexual orientation. He seems to know very little about the history or philosophy of education, and as far as I have seen, has no proposals for the big issues facing the MPS. Endorsing and electing someone to the school board simply because they are gay will not help minority students receive a quality education. Oh, Michael, you've made that comment before -- and I've written 3-page long responses to your questions so I'll save everyone the trouble of making this e-mail any longer. If you believe that I'm running on the platform of being young and gay and not on improving teacher training through access to high-quality professional development training, preserving and celebrating the diversity of Minneapolis, and ensuring that Minneapolis has the funds it needs to educate youth in the 21st century, that's your business. I would direct you to my website (http://www.patrickpeterson.com) for my platform, experience, and endorsments. If you'd like, you may send me an e-mail at [EMAIL PROTECTED], or call me at 612.204.3016 and I'll be happy to respond to your questions. I would caution you using my age and my sexuality as an excuse to dismiss me by saying I'm a single issue candidate because clearly I am not, although I do not control what you can percieve so I'm not going to try and change it. Again, I apologize for the length of the post. And I hope I haven't strayed from Minneapolis-issues too much. Since this is my last post of the day, I'll see y'all
[Mpls] words fail me...
Michael Atherton writes: It's fair to say that homosexuals have many things in common with heterosexuals; it is also fair to say that there are others things that they don't. The Feminist movement lost credibility with the public partially because they resorted to unrealistic rhetoric. For instance, No means no. Well, most everyone knew that no sometimes meant maybe (even in the gay community). sigh. Maybe it's because I'm young (so, you know, I was raised on cable TV and liberal moral values), but that has to be one of the most mind boggling statement's I've heard in a very long time. So I'm curious: Are you suggesting that women, when they say no, aren't serious? Or that gay men are so promiscuous so that no is also a fungible term? If you are suggesting that, then I hope you'll do me a favor and not vote for me (I know you probably wern't going to anyway). You certianly won't like my positions on issues on the School Board, not to mention I would do things on the board like opposing violence against students in our schools (Homosexual Agenda item 12: http://www.ngltf.org/issues/issue.cfm?issueID=20), promote respect for religious freedom (Homosexual Agenda item #5 http://www.ngltf.org/issues/issue.cfm?issueID=28), and supporting the confidentiality of medical data (item #25: http://www.ngltf.org/issues/issue.cfm?issueID=16). Most of all, I'm not seeking the endorsment of those who think that no EVER means maybe. Honestly, I would rather lose the election if winning meant that I would have to seek the support of that ideology. So yeah, don't vote for me. Perhaps you could write in Renee LaVoi. Patrick (trying to fathom what I have just read in 1-4) ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] News that fell through the cracks
On monday, there was an incident at Roosevelt High School where a student and a coach got stabbed in a fight. What happened was there was that a fight broke out between a group of students, and the student and coach intervened to stop the fight. The link to the story (Jim Adams and Allie Shah wrote it with info from the AP) is here: http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/683994.html Doug Grow's commentary on Mike Heurth's (the principal at Roosevelt) is here: http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/692360.html Both articles suggest that the incident is sort of a reality of urban education (that violence in cities happens). I don't know if I agree, but I _do_ think the incident suggests the realities of the community that MPS and other city agencies serve. If left alone, I believe that cultural conflict of the sort we're seeing here will continue and increase commensurate with the increase of cultural contact. The question then, is this: Given that cultural contact is going to increase (I also believe it *should* increase, but that is another discussion), how does MPS develop policy that ensures that such contact does not lead to conflict? I think there is a few things that we can do: 1. Deepen our connections with religious and cultural leaders in Mpls. Years ago MPS implicitly acknowledged that we cannot serve the entire social needs of our students and families (i.e. broad health services, complete childcare services, etc...). We have a responsibility to educate students and help develop the community, but we need to keep partnering with the parks, libraries, religious organizations, community organizations, businesses, and neighborhood groups to make sure that our families get the resources they need. As far as deepen our connections... goes, I think reps. from MPS should be attending as many community events as we can get to, soliciting opinions and support from leaders on issues of concern, listening to the concerns of our communities, and developing policies that are respectful to community concerns and that meet their needs. 2. Continue to stress the need for broad MCGFDA (multicultural, gender-fair, disability-aware) curricula that use the strengths of our communities to enrich all of our lives. For example: why don't more high school students in Minneapolis know more about Somali culture, heritage, language, and history? Henry has a very large Hmong community -- and I wished that I would have graduated from school knowing more about their culture, history, and language than I do. And frankly, I don't see why students and community leaders can't take the lead on presenting this information to their classes. 3. Realize that violence in schools and security will always be a concern -- metal detectors, random locker searches, and mandatory ID cards imposed on schools aren't going to be effective in every situation. In my opinion, every security policy should at some level have student involvement in its development and should treat students, staff, and teachers with respect. I do not believe that good policy is EVER made when it is not made (at some level) with the consent of those who will feel its effects or when the spectrum of opinion on issue is not sought. We also shouldn't fall into the trap of using half-statistics (a few numbers backed up by a lot of assumptions and stereotypes) to justify action. For example, some people believe that schools are the unsafe war zones of Dangerous Minds where kids are these violent, uncontrollable monsters in need of an iron fist. In fact, school violence has remained essentially constant over the past 30 years (some types of violence, like fighting, have actually seen a decrease). 4. Take constructive steps to address conflict before they become real problems. In other words -- peer mediation works. Let's keep using it and use it more. The program develops student leaders while neutralizing conflict and produces independent students. In-school suspensions and saturday school can work -- let's keep using it. I believe that most cultural conflict is caused by alienation and misunderstanding. If we (a) bring all our kids into our schools and make them friendly places and (b) combat racism and stereotypical thinking I think we're going to do a lot to prevent these types of problems from happening on a larger and more violent scale in the future. Side note: Mike Heurth, the principal at Roosevelt, was my principal at Henry and Doug Grow is correct when he says that Heurth and a group of incredibly dedicated teachers and administrators did a lot to turn Henry around. I can't think of anyone better right now at Roosevelt, and I know he'll do a good job. Patrick 1-4 Patrick Peterson for School Board believe in the promise of tomorrow. http://www.patrickpeterson.com DFL -- Labor -- Progressive MN Endorsed
[Mpls] Civility on the list (Was: DFL Sample Ballot
One of the problems with instant communication is that sometimes people say things that they otherwise wouldn't. I think we can see some evidence of that problem. Brandon's post regarding Denny Schapiro's query on the DFL Sample Ballot was over the line. I know Brandon very well, and understand the way he communicates -- so I know that he was being sardonic. I can see how it could be interpreted as inflammatory. Although I may disagree with Schapiro on policy priorities, I know him from my experience working with the district and know that he is a good guy. It's not fair to call him a liar or anything else based on the previous posts, in fact, I don't think he's a liar based on anything I know about him. It's been a long week for everyone. Let's try to be respectful on this list. Patrick Peterson 1-4 Patrick Peterson for School Board www.patrickpeterson.com DFL -- Labor -- Progressive MN Endorsed _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] National Service and Coming Home
Louis -- what branch are you in? My uncle is an MSGT in Air National Guard. Contrary to being virtually stoned on this list for your views, I hope people respect you and the other men and women who serve in uniform for America. I think, despite your opinions on gays in the military, or whether or not the US should intervene in Kosovo/Iraq/Colombia/Etc..., despite the concerns over military budgets, star wars, and the military-industrial complex, despite all of that I believe that the soldiers who are risking their lives deserve respect. Jean-Paul Sartre wrote during the Algerian War in the early 50's: I love my country too much to be a nationalist. It's been banging around my head recently -- I'm not a nationalist because I don't think that EVERYTHING the US does is wonderful, but I still have a deep love for this country and respect for those who are able to serve (I, having diabetes, am not, although after HS I considered the Air Force). I cannot think of a more perfect contrast than one that Louis raised -- that of the soldiers (who are indeed disproportionately Latino and African American) giving the most of anyone to our country and then being treated the way they are, via racial profiling, redlining, and discrimination on the job and in education. We need to address these issues today -- and every organ of the city (you know, since this is a Mpls issues list) should be organized to work together on a unified solution to these problems. I'm interested in what the mayoral candidates plan to do if (re)elected to address this issue. I can tell you as a school board candidate there are some things the district can do: 1. Work internally to ensure that no discrimination exists in the delivery of educational services to our kids, 2. Establish (read: hire -- which we have done) an office to reach out to the communities who bear the brunt of racial profiling and other racist (either explicit or implicit) aspects of our public policy and ensure that we do not fail them in education. 3. Work directly with local organizations (religious organizations, parks, libraries, local businesses, etc...) to foster a sense of communitarianism in our city. A few years ago when I was channel surfing I caught an old school board broadcast when Louis was a member. He was talking about the abysmal rates of achievement on the test scores for African American students and students in poverty. The phrase he used was show me the money (Louis should be forgiven, since it was right after _Jerry MaGuire_ came out) -- but his point was that we're spending all this money, but we're not getting results. And frankly, he's right. We need to find out why the programs on which we are spending money are not working, and get something in place that does. Anything less is a failure that will have terrible repercussions for the community at large. Patrick 1-4 Patrick Peterson for School Board www.patrickpeterson.com Vote November 6! DFL Labor Progressive MN Endorsed _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Demonstration for Peace
As I was talking about this with my Politics of the Mideast Professor this morning, he brought up the point that hate crimes against Palestinian-Americans and others who angry people believe Look like Arabs (as racist as that sounds) will increase, regardless of wheather or not those behind the bombings are Palestinian or Arab. I'd suggest that all the candidates running for office get together and hold some joint demonstration for peace and reason during this. If not that, I hope we could do something to try and retain civility in our community... What do other people think? Patrick 1-4 Patrick Peterson For School Board www.patrickpeterson.com DFL LABOR PROGRESSIVE MN Endorsed _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Summer School
That's funny, when I read the paper this morning I thought this article would be a good Minneapolis Issue: http://www.startribune.com/viewers/qview/cgi/qview.cgi?story=8008template=metro_a_cache Kudos to PHHS (my alma mater) for working on a hands-on approach to getting kids to attend summer school. One program that Ken Foxworth told me about is one in which students who are at-risk are enrolled in a camp that isdivided into two parts: In the morning the students are taught basic skills, and in the afternoon they're taught about basketball or football by MN Vikings/Timberwolves. I don't have statistics on the program's success, but on the surface it sounds like a good idea. Again, it's essential MPS to continue extending its partnerships with the community if it wants to have success in increasing student achievement. We can't do it on our own -- educating kids needs to be a community-wide effort. Patrick Peterson "Believe in the promise of tomorrow." DFL-Labor-Progressive MN Endorsed for the Minneapolis School Board www.patrickpeterson.com (just updated!)
[Mpls] My experience at Pride
I'd just like to take a minute and express my gratitude for everyone who came to Pride and especially those I had a chance to chat with this past weekend. You know, it says something about our city when an informal gathering in Loring Park30-odd years ago has grown into a weekend celebration of our diversity and common humanity. Although this was not my first Pride,this was my first time marchingand it was an absolutely incredible experience. The response from the crowd was amazing, and often times I was very touched by the outpouring of support and enthusiasm. When I was going through my coming-out process, I never imagined that I would be able to run for public office as an openly-gay man. Although Iknew about people like Alan Spear and Barney Frank,I was afraid that the Christian Right and other groups would spread their message of intolerance and make it nearly impossible for somebody like me to be considered a viable candidate. Today, the Minneapolis DFL has endorsed 4 openly GLBT candidates for the city council and at least one GLBT candidate for each city elected board. I feel very honored to be running with such qualified, strong men and women and I have to say that it makes me proud to be a gay man when I see them. On a personal note, as somebody who would (someday in the future) very much like to have a family, seeing the kids and parents together deeply moved me. I've heard statements like "love makes a family" but this weekend that statement took on a much more powerful meaning for me. For those people who were in Loring Park 30 years ago, I am honored and touched that I am able to benefit from your work and activism. And I hope I can live up to the bar that you all set and make our community a better place to live for all of us (not just the GLBT community) just as you have done for me. Once again, thank you; Patrick -- Ward 1, Pct.4 Patrick Peterson for Mpls School Board "Believe in the promise of tomorrow." DFL -- Labor -- Progressive MN ENDORSED www.patrickpeterson.com
[Mpls] She can turn the world on with her smile
Regarding Mary Tyler Moore: actually, a tenant of postmodern architecture and planning is that public buildings and statues should try and shake things up a little more... to stop being so serious and have a little fun with the design. It is, incidentally, why the Michael Graves stuff at Target looks so cute, and why a toilet plunger costs $8.99 (which I have, thank you); because Graves is a Postmodern architect and designs things with fun, out-of-the ordinary shapes. The Marty Tyler Moore thing and the Charlie Brown thing (which began with the cows in Chicago) are examples of that. They're trying to shake up the seriousness and intimidating nature of the city by including friendly shapes and icons that, you know, make people smile. But I won't give a lecture on Postmodern design... unless you want me to (in which case I could also explain the Wiesman Art Museum which everybody but me seems to hate). David's comment on Soda Pop: (on a more substantive note) Soda Pop and candy are not, as of right now, banned in Minneapolis Public Schools. I suspect that as new contracts come up between MPS and distributors, the issue will rise in prominence in terms of a policy issue. I think the issue of kids consuming unhealthy foods is a separate one then the issue that distributors are locking us into exclusive contracts for money so that schools can afford to fund extra-curriculars. Frankly, I'm interested more in that, especially because it's very unlikely that removing the soda pop machines from schools is going to result in a lower amount of students with the health problems associated with consuming high-fat junk food (Especially because many schools are situated near convenience stores which sell it too). So: to sum up: Mary Tyler Moore: Postmodern Urban Planning. Pop: Still available. MPS having to beg for money to Coke in order to fund Quiz Bowl and basketball: Unchanged. Patrick Peterson DFL-Labor Endorsed Candidate for the Minneapolis School Board Ward 1, Pct 4 Believe in the Promise of Tomorrow See my website under construction at: http://www.patrickpeterson.com _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Patrick Peterson For School Board
:) Megan is being too generous in her assessment of my organization on Saturday. Actually, I'm 21, not 23. Don't want anyone thinking I'm too old for the office ;) Seriously, many, many thanks to everyone who helped out get out our message on Saturday. The reason I was endorsed was because I had a phalanx of wonderful volunteers who worked very hard on my behalf, and made it possible for me to talk to literally hundreds of delegates. Thank you -- it's on to victory in September and November! Patrick Peterson DFL-Endorsed Candidate for Mpls. School Board: "Believe in the Promise of Tomorrow."
[Mpls] Patrick Peterson for School board
Hi everybody; My name is Patrick Peterson, and I am running for the Minneapolis School Board. Let me tell you a little about my background. I grew up in Minneapolis and was a student at Northeast Middle School and Patrick Henry High School. I am now currently a senior at the University of Minnesota and majoring in economics. During my years in high school, I learned a great deal about Minneapolis Public Schools as I worked on some of the citys most pressing issues: I served on the Districts Technology Council and wrote the Appropriate Use Policy for Internet Users as well as the Districts Technology Vision Statement, I served on the District Leadership Team and helped refine the districts strategic direction and vision statements, I wrote the Citywide Policy Against Hazing which was passed in January 1996 by the Board, I helped write and advocate for the passage of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy, which was passed by the Board in February 1996 and introduced in the Minnesota State Legislature by Senator Larry Pogemiller. I am running for the Board because I believe in the power of public education. I have been fortunate to receive such a high quality education from the Minneapolis school system. As a member of the School Board I hope to ensure that students will receive the same and even better education than I had. Specifically, as your Board member I will focus on the following three issues: Treat teachers like the professionals they are. Minneapolis has some of the best and most educated teachers in the country. However, we can do more by providing resources for teachers to seek education in their subject area. We must also support teachers by listening to their needs and providing them with the resources they need to educate students. Celebrate our diversity. Minneapolis is a unique district in Minnesota. We have students and staff speaking over 76 languages that are from almost every country in the world. Our diversity gives us a strength that other school districts some of which have more money in their budgets do not have. We should appreciate the rainbow of people who come through the doors of Minneapolis Public Schools and continue to support multicultural education. Focus on the budget. The district is planning for a $29.5 million shortfall in the next year. As your Board member, I will continue to lobby the state Legislature and the Governor for more money for public schools. It is important the school system has the funds it needs so all students get the quality education they deserve. I've talked to some of you (DFLers) already on the telephone, and will be doing so until the convention on the 5th. I've you've got issues about public education and want to talk to me personally, send me an e-mail at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or give me a call at 612-301-3675. I've got the support of Scott Dibble, Julie Mattson Ostrow, Ann Kaari, Ann Berget, (some of the Board Members with whom I worked the closest) Michael O'Keefe, Aaron Street, Richard Mammen, Dave Lee and Megan Thomas, among others. I hope I can keep talking to you, and I hope you'll give me your consideration. Patrick Peterson Ward 1, Pct.4 Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] un flag over mpls buildings
heh. The black helicopter comment was perfect.:) I agree; perhaps we should focus on the real issues in MPS rather than worrying about the UN flag. Although I don't know very much about the UN, I suspect that there is not a UN pledge of allegiance, nor do I suspect teachers corral students outside the flagpole to tell them of: "The Man, the Myth: Dag Hammarskjold." (although as heroes go I think he's better than a baseball player). Students in Minneapolis Public Schools generally do not recite the American pledge, as there are these things called classes that teachers would rather focus their limited time on. But that's a whole other issue... Patrick Peterson Ward 1-4 Dennis Wrote: We've got 800 kids without homes. We've got kids moving four times a year. We've got kids without health coverage, in need of mental health services and strong adult support...the whole litany of problems. A UN flag? Sheridan is a Global Arts and Communication magnet at Sheridan. The UN flag is not a bad symbol if you're thinking globally. The kids I know who've gone there show no signs of being brainwashed...although they did talk about moving on to Washburn's aviation/aerospace magnet, where they build those black helicopters. _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
