Cheryl Luger is right about Kit Hadley's presentation being a giant positive
step forward on the path toward a better dialog between City Council and
Minneapolis Public Library about the allocation of funds to our library
system. It will be up to the next Library Board and Council to make sure
that this discussion continues. I consider myself fortunate to personally
know, and to have my candidacy endorsed by, many of the current council
members or those seeking election.
Should I be fortunate enough to be elected to the Library Board, I will look
forward to working with Kit and the Friends of the Minneapolis Public
Library to continue building this relationship with our Council, as well as
with other city, county and state elected officials.
Cheryl wrote:
Unfortunately, only 5 of the 13 council members were there to here
it--Natalie Johnson Lee, Paul Ostrow, Barbara Johnson, Dan Niziolek, and
Lisa Goodman. I realize other council people can listen to it on tape (if
they can find the time) but nothing beats being right there to ask
questions. The Mayor was not present.
Although I agree with Cheryl's sentiment that this is an important
conversation that needs to engage all council members, it should be noted
that this was not a city council meeting. This was a hearing of the
council's Ways and Means/Budget Committee which is chaired by Council Member
Barb Johnson and has Council Members Colvin Roy, Zerby, Lane, Johnson Lee
and Niziolek as its additional members. Naturally, any council member can
be present and pose questions, as did Council Members Ostrow and Goodman.
Still, it is the job of the committee to take back information to the
council as a whole.
Also, from where Cheryl was sitting she may not have been able to see Mayor
Rybak seated along the wall back by the rear door. It appears he was able
to observe part of the presentation and discussion before he had to leave.
I encourage everyone to attend as many candidate forums as possible --
whether for Library Board, Council, Mayor, Board of Estimate and Taxation
(although I don't think there are any forums slated for the last office) --
and ask the candidates where they stand on issues vital to library funding.
It's all interconnected and we are in this together.
Alan Hooker
Victory / Camden Neighborhood
Candidate for Minneapolis Library Board
www.alanhooker.com
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