Mary, I have watched clip-board-carrying, fresh-faced young people wearing DNC t-shirts accost pedestrians at the Grand and Victoria intersection. I wonder........are they volunteers or do they receive compensation for contributions collected? Do you know?
Greenpeace and other environmental organizations commonly employ commissioned sales representatives to canvass neighborhoods in St. Paul selling memberships. For many of us, it's turned into a joke and, frankly, I feel sorry for the young idealists who take these jobs. Has the DNC adopted this model? As far as the Farmer's Market is concerned.........I see candidates and/or their volunteers there all the time during the two or three weekends before a primary or general election. I suspect there will be no change this year. Benanev was there a lot and nobody kicked him out. Isn't Randy Kelly a Democrat? How many years in the legislature? What's this Republican stuff? Enjoy the 4th. Paul Gleeson St. Paul -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Mary C. Zanmiller Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 4:13 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [StPaul] Public space and the St. Paul Farmers Market I witnessed the worst of contemporary USA at the Saint Paul Farmers' Market this morning (July 3, 2004). A Democratic National Committee (DNC) worker was conversing with two people on the sidewalk along the southwest corner of the Saint Paul Farmers' Market. As I walked by the market manager was telling the DNC worker that he could not talk to people at the Market. I indignantly interfered and said, "He has a right to speak with people." The Market manager replied, "No, he doesn't, and customers are complaining." One of the people he was speaking to said, "I am a customer and I want to talk with him." I added, "On a public sidewalk he has a right to free speech." The Market manager replied, "The Market leases the sidewalk as well and he has to leave." I replied, "The next time I see our Republican mayor speaking to people at the Market I will find you and you will have to ask him to leave." This is plain wrong. The people of Saint Paul paid for this market. Hundred of thousands of public dollars was recently invested to upgrade this space. The people of Saint Paul generously support the market by buying from the farmers selling their products. So in Saint Paul we no longer honor the free speech that is guaranteed in the constitution. Many times I have seen Mayor Randy Kelly and Senator Norman Coleman shaking hands as they campaign for their next great office. So some people can campaign and others can't? Who gets to choose? Who sets the litmus test? The Saint Paul Farmers' market is the commons if their ever was one. How ironic that this happened the day before our observance of the Declaration of Independence - the birth of democracy, with its' guarantee of free speech. You know it makes me want to sign up to be a DNC volunteer, I think I will take the Northwest corner and the sun won't be in my eyes. If any readers know how I can join up; please contact me. It is a time-honored tradition for the Saint Paul Farmers' Market to be a public space. What happened this morning is a "tragedy of the commons." The Saint Paul Farmers' Market should honor free speech and never, ever again kick people out that are engaged in our democratic process. Happy 4th of July. Peace follows freedom and justice, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mary C. Zanmiller West Seventh Neighborhood Saint Paul, MN USA _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
