Support the incumbents in Wards 6, 8, and 9

I have to disagree (and that's OK) with my friend Gary Dombouy, my neighbor
Wizard Marks, and Ronald Leurquin when it comes to their assessment of 6th Ward
Council Member Robert Lilligren. While I have not had the pleasure of living
in a ward that Robert represented (he represented the 8th while I lived in the
6th, and the 6th while I lived in the 8th and 9th) I have had the opportunity
to work with him on many issues given his seat on the Transportation and Public
Works committee and his role on various other bodies dealing with land use and
transportation issues such as the Midtown Community Works Partnership and the
Bike/Walk Twin Cities steering committee. In my assessment, Robert has done a
fabulous job building understanding, consensus, and positive movement on these
very complex issues with many different stakeholders and interests pushing hard
form all angles to get what they want.
 
The criticisms I've read about Robert are off base. In the MN Independent
article linked in David Brauer's election article some of Robert's opponents
fault him for not getting a stop sign installed at an intersection in Whittier.
I understand peoples' frustration, but a City Council member does not have the
authority (and shouldn't have it, IMO) to decide on their own where traffic
control devices should or shouldn't be in their ward or anywhere in the city.
Wizard Marks complained about the on-street parking situation on the rebuilt
Chicago Avenue and laid the blame at Robert's feet, when again, the issue is
much more complex than Robert having the ability to waltz in and unilaterally
fix things to meet every individual resident's liking on any given project. I
asked a friend off list why he always gives Robert such a hard time and the
response was his inability to make a very specific request that this individual
wanted to see happen become reality.
 
Folks, I submit that our City Council Members ought to be doing what's best for
their wards and the city as a whole rather than running around trying to meet
all of their constituents specific wants and desires. These wants and desires,
of course, should inform the actions of Council Members as they decide along
with constituents what is best and they set forth to work within the larger
system in order to realize that common goal. I have seen Robert Lilligren do
this effectively and I find him to be head and shoulders above his challengers
especially in the area of his expertise (transportation and land use) which
might just be the most important issue facing Minneapolis as our metropolitan
area population continues to grow and demographics continue to shift in a way
that will see more and more people looking for more sustainable and affordable
ways to live in and to get around Minneapolis.
 
Yes, Robert has worked tirelessly to reopen Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street with
a reconfigured K-mart. From what I've seen he's successfully lined up support
across the board for this and the only piece that is missing is the will of
K-mart which (understandably) is resisting changing anything at what is one of
their most profitable stores. How is Robert supposed to force their hand? I
think the better strategy is what he's been doing: building relationships with
K-mart to help them see how the change can benefit them and to continue to try
to bring them along and to find ways to reopen Nicollet for the benefit of ward
6, ward 8, and the entire city.
 
I have lived the majority of my Minneapolis years in the 6th, the 8th, and the
9th wards and I think the three wards have a lot of common challenges, needs,
and goals. That's why I also support the reelection of Elizabeth Glidden and
Gary Schiff. Like Robert, I have had the opportunity to work closely with
Elizabeth and Gary in their roles as members of the Midtown Community Works
Partnership as well as their roles on TPW and ZP committees. Also like with
Robert, I have seen Elizabeth and Gary do a wonderful job of researching all of
the angles on issues, talking with all of the stakeholders and interests and
doing their best to guide what's best for their ward and the city as a whole
through the complex process that makes up our governmental structures.
 
Of course, Robert, Elizabeth, and Gary have cast votes or taken positions on
some issues that I didn't agree with. Does this mean I think they should be
voted out of office? Absolutely not. I don't think it's their job to keep me
happy.
 
Every election cycle I take a look at my representatives and I compare them to
their challengers. This year, when it comes to wards 6, 8, and 9 there is no
comparison and there is no contest. The incumbents have done a great job and
they deserve to be rehired.
 
Thanks,
 
Matty Lang,
Midtown Phillips

‘If you keep saying it the way it really is, eventually your word is law in the
universe.’—Werner Erhard, “Up to your Ass in Aphorisms”
 
Again, who can disagree with a mensch like Matty Lang?’
 
To Councilmember Lilligren’s credit is that he is a founding member, with Matty
Lang, of ‘Twin Cities Streets for People’ because they want our streets to be
like those you’d find in Paris, London, New York or Chicago.
 
That Matty Lang sees Councilmember Lilligren as ‘head and shoulders’ above his
challengers in his area of expertise (transportation and land use) cannot be
disputed.
 
Councilmember Lilligren’s expertise, however, was garnered over 12 years on the
Minneapolis City Council.
 
Is his personal expertise a glass ceiling to anyone trying to replace him in
public office? Did the opportunity that landed Councilmember Lilligren on the
Council in the first place disappear?
 
While Councilmember Lilligren vowed to re-open Nicollet Avenue, he undermined
his credibility with the rest of the City Council by simultaneously promoting
city ordinance defining alleyways as the exclusive domain of property owners
and tenants of the block.
 
While an Eight Ward councilmember, Councilmember Lilligren joined Councilmember
Zimmermann in supporting a zoning ordinance amendment allowing metal roll down
gates and window bars on commercial property, which would have given
Minneapolis a Newark-mystique.
 
And while Councilmember Lilligren initially lent his face to a proposed City
circus animal ban, he jumped off its wagon when the ordinance came before the
City Council. (He seemed consternated his photograph was seen on Circus Animal
Ban proponents’ posters at the Bad Waitress.)
 
Councilmember Lilligren opposed (it’s unfair to say removed from consideration)
LRT running down First or Blaisdell avenues (LRT #C Remington Sub-Alternative).
 
Imagine commuters using LRT for more than the daily drag to and from work!
 
Councilmember Lilligren de-emphasized LRT as a means to entertainment
destinations of urban residents: Uptown, Eat Street, Minneapolis Institute of
Art, Minneapolis Children’s Theater, Minneapolis College of Art & Design,
Jungle Theatre, Howard Conn Theater, Music Box Theater, 19 Bar, work-fun.
 
Co-opted by Nicollet Avenue restaurateurs wary of LRT’s construction phase,
Councilmember Lilligren denied Lyn-Lake, Whittier, Steven Court and Loring Park
residents an attractive mass transit option. (I am convinced the redoubtable
Matty Lang agrees.)
 
If Community Development Chair Lisa Goodman could shovel $2 million of federal
stimulus funds into Artspace’s Shubert Theater project (that began as historic
restoration only to dismantle its most endearing feature, its balcony), then
Councilmember Lilligren should be able to resolve development-induced, traffic
fiascos near Karmel Plaza in the Southwest Quadrant of Whittier.
 
Councilmember Lilligren has no cogent response when told that downtown workers
commute by car to Whittier’s residential streets, park free and catch buses
downtown, robbing its residents of on-street parking space.
 
At Tuesday’s Community Development Committee meeting Councilmember Lilligren
simpered a humble request of Councilmember Goodman to divert a morsel of the
Hennepin County Environmental Response Fund for parking remediation efforts at
26th and Nicollet. Councilmember Goodman’s nonchalant response attested to
which critters belong in the political jungle and which are suited to be
domestics, perched on pillows in living room windows.
 
Finally, there is the Lilligren’s politicese, long delineations of ‘very
complicated and controversial issues,’ unpunctuated by verbal pauses.
 
Every long journey begins with its first step, but what if you get winded
explaining the action?
 
What I see is that Councilmember Lilligren is a fence sitter and now five
candidates want to push him out to pasture.
 
Gary Dombouy
Whittier

I thought I'd try to expand this to a post about other wards as well, but I'll
start with 6,8, and 9.
 
Ward 6, (as well as East Phillips which was in ward 6, now redistricted in to
ward 9) was represented by a Green Party endorsed council member for 12 years
before the 2005 elections (8 under Jim Niland, who is still very popular and
could easily reclaim this seat if he chose to, and 4 under Dean Zimmermann.)
Both were much better at consituent service than the current occupant of this
office, Vice President Lilligren, who seems more concerned with citywide policy
than the immediate interests of his ward.
 
I remember that if I needed help on any city issue or just had a question, CM
Niland got back to me within the next day. On any weekend, you could see him
at the coffee shops or the bars on Lyndale. He really knew his constiuents. I
remember his elloquent defense of the Hard Times cafe after the city's attempt
to revoke it's license. He was comfortable in almost any setting.
 
Whatever Dean Zimmermann's problems may have been, he was also very accessible
to his constituents.
 
I still maintain that Mr. Lilligren would be a better Council Member were he
not the Council Vice President. He could use some time focusing more on the
people he is supposed to be representing.
 
I've seen boarded up properties in Whittier, further economic devastation and
neglect in ALL of Phillips, pot holes, empty resturants and police who are more
intimidating that the gangs..and lot's of Robert Lilligren signs, but no sign
of Council Member (or Vice President) Robert Lilligren.
 
You really have to ask yourself, are people in the 6th and East Phillips better
of now than they were 4 years ago?
 
I don't have a problem with CM Glidden as she has been fairly heplful to me on
some issues, including the taxi issue (although I like Jenine Estame and
Michael Cavlin would also be happy with either of them as a CM.)
 
My problems with Gary Schiff are well documented on this list and on the TURGS
web site. It is sufficient to say that Schiff is dishonest, as well as
downright mean and vindictive to people that don't fall in line with his
agenda. That's something that used to be attributed to former CM Joe Biernat,
but I think Joe would would be shocked with Schiff's level of bias and
vindictiveness these days.
 
Both challengers in the ninth make fair treatment of everyone in the ward a top
centerpiece of their campaigns and either Todd Eberhardy or Dave Bicking would
serve the ward very well.
 
As long as we're talking about incumbents, I should mention the ward 5 race.
 
I'll never understand why 5th ward voters voted in Reverend Samuels over
Natalie Johnson-Lee in '05, or why he got the DFL endorsement in the first
place. I initially supported Samuels in the third ward special election race
over the DFL-endorsed Olin Moore. I remember having heated arguments with Dyna
Sluyter and Olin himself over the issue, both made points that I didn't believe
at the time, but have now come to see.
 
Dyna, Olin--if you're reading I'm sorry, you were right! I deeply regret not
listening to both of you during that race! The 3rd would have been much better
served by Moore than Dianne Hofstede or Reverend Samules. Looking back, I
think Joe was actually a better CM than either (and that's really not saying
much.)
 
I remember the 2005 5th ward race being one of the most divisive races in
Minneapolis history, mostly along economic lines. There are other issues that
should have been brought up by now, and haven't been in this race.
 
Someone should challenge Reverend Samuels (or at least ask him) his views on
these issues:
 
Religous tolerance/seperation of church and state (his frequent use of bible
verses in public and his "exorsism" comments, comments about morality and his
description of CIty Pages and Travis Lee's magazine as "porno rags" make those
of us who are not Christian and hold different views very uncomfortable..some
of us really don't like being "Jesused" at,)
 
Abortion rights..not sure if there's anything to see here, but it wouldn't
suprise me if he's pro-life.
 
Freedom of speech, (Reverend Samuels was recently convicted of using his power
as a city council member to stifle free speech, specifically regarding Al
Flowers' MTN show,)
 
Education policy (his burn down North High comment, his support of private
school vouchers)
 
..and economic policy.
 
This type of candidate in any other city would be the Republican candidate for
office as he seems to be a conservative Republican from his comments and some
of his votes.
 
I don't object to having one far right Republican on the Minneapolis City
Council (I wouldn't want them to have a majority, but differing opinions are
needed with all these 12-1 votes lately) but it you'd expect one to come from
the 13th or maybe the 4th.
 
It just seems as if Natalie fits the 5th ward better and does a better job
meeting the needs of those who are otherwise unable to navigate the beurocratic
mess at city hall, still I know there are a few people up there who don't want
some of the "other" people who live there to have any access to city hall.
 
As for the 4th; I think Barb Johnson has changed a little since the DeLasalle
episode. She talks more about ethics these days and she was very helpful to the
taxi drivers during Schiff and Ostrow's tirade. I have no personal animosity
toward her, but I think that the dynasty needs to end.
 
I've known Marcus Harcus for a few years now, and he seems to get better and
better with each run. I say give him a chance at the job.
 
In the 1st, I can only say that I'm just happy to be rid of Paul Ostrow...Good
riddens!
 
I the 11th, I'm sorry to hear that Scott Benson is not running for reelction as
he seems like a geuinely decent and compassionate person. We need more of
those at City Hall.
 
As for the rest, I've been using the Southwest Journal in order to find
information on other council races. Unfortunately, there aren't links to all
of the council races, which is unfortunate as CM Schiff's fund raising scandal
should at least be on page 1B in the Star Tribune.
 
I would like to know more about the 3, 10 and 12 races as well as see more
coverage of the 9th Ward race, though it wouldn't suprise me if Schiff's people
were supressing some of the more interesting stories.
 
Tamir Nolley
 
Longellow
9-9
 
T.U.R.G.S
 
http://sites.google.com​/sites​/turgs09