I originally posted this thread because I am interested in public dialog
and feel the opportunity to ask elected officials questions is a mainstay
of a participatory democracy. I have tried to attend all of the four 9th
ward forums and have personally encouraged more public forums.
During these forums I hope to ask direct questions to encourage dialog and
engagement to commit candidates to positions.
I have the privilege to attend and knowledge to ask informed questions at
candidate forums. When candidate do not engage in open dialog and debate it
reduces the quality of focus for the next 4 years. There is one brief time
during these campaigns the electorate has the privilege to expect answers
if only we have the opportunity to ask them. We all should expect robust
debate of issues by public officials and candidates, without this we all
fail our democratic process.
I ask Cano supporters to look at her record. She did not participate in 2
forums that she committed to participate in. As an incumbent she has the
momentum of candidacy and unfortunately she needs to be persuaded to
participate in debate that non-incumbent candidates do not have. All
incumbents innately should seek to limit exposure to debate- it may place
the candidate in a poor light. I believe Cano understands this concept. I
hope others see this as well.
Cano came to the City council not as a neophyte but with experience of the
inner working of the council as an aide to then Council Vice-President
Lillegren. She participates in many city council committees over the past 4
years, currently; The Community Development and Regulatory Services
Committee, the Election and Rules Committee , The Health, Environment and
Community Engagement Committee, and the Taxes Committee. She is a member
but does not serve in any lead officer position, other first term members
do. I do not believe she has sought leadership positions. Even with her
experience she has been poorly effective on the council and often stands
alone, this does not serve our ward.
In the Community Development and Regulatory Services Committee she oversees
rental licensing and inspections. I personally believe all rental units in
the city should be inspected, not just each rental building- this currently
is not a part of the city regulatory plan. As a Member of this committee
she did little to change the Inspections Department she is publicly
critical of. (Frenz) She has produced little significant development in
our ward other than the County and Public Schools and No affordable housing
development in the 9th Ward- and if you attended the public forum there is
a question whether she actively opposed affordable development- (she did
not respond to the issue). Cano has authored no resolutions in this
committee despite her clear interest.We need to address gentrification and
balance Development. What is her plan? Reacting is not a plan.
In the Elections & Rules Committee she has an Ethics complaint for publicly
Doxing a constituent who disagreed with her. This is a troubling
development for the committee needing to sanction their own member who
should have known better. Remember, Cano previously worked as a
communications specialist for the Public Schools. (most organizations would
fire an employee doing the same act). Cano has authored no resolutions in
this committee despite her clear interest.
In Health, Environment and Community Engagement- I have concerns of
prostitution and drug dealing and violence on the Lake street corridor.
There are no initiative to combating the rising drug crisis that overlaps
all of these issues. I spent 9 months (Nov-2015-Aug2016)trying to meet with
Cano about these issues, when we finally met with many other neighbors, she
had no plan. The MPLS police stopped prostitution enforcement with the
dismantlement of the CERT team Aug 2015- Aug 2016 . This produced a default
legalization of prostitution in MPLS for that year. This police team is now
up and running are now at a 5 year high of prostitution arrests (1/3 seller
2/3 buyer). Cano has few plans other than highlighting the work of others
through her Community Safely Newsletter. She has not pushed for permanent
cameras in any of the previous Mayors budgets which has been instrumental
in reducing criminal activity through the portable cameras. In the
Corcoran/Powderhorn forum Cano states she gets back to constituents
concerns within 24 hrs and tracks this. This has not been my experience. I
anticipate any public official to get back to me when I contact them with
concerns, ideas and possible solutions. I do not expect officials to agree
with me when I contact them, just acknowledge that I have been heard. I
have not had this experience with Councilwoman Cano. Cano has authored no
resolutions in this committee despite her clear interest.
I will publicly thank Concilwoman Cano to say I am very involved in
neighborhood issues because of her lack of response and inaction.
I respect the work Cano has done but I am surprised at the lack of
information about her committee work and resolutions she has pushed that
her supporters look at. I encourage her supporters to ask her hard
questions for which she often does not give specifics. What resolutions
will your candidate introduce and how with support be garnered to assure
its passage? We all gain from debate at public forums and lose when this is
avoided. I do not know why Cano avoids this public discourse, other than
the incumbent has more to loose from this discourse. I am unable to
continue to support Cano.
Following my meeting with the candidates Cano, Farah, Peterson and Schiff I
am strongly supporting Gary Schiff. I find him by far the most informed,
knowledgeable and has vision and focus. He speaks of detailed changes, not
only generalities. He has a track record of working well with other
councilmembers and neighborhood groups and individuals. I wish you all had
the opportunity to hear them ALL speak and challenged together.
Best Regards,
Greg Leierwood
Rest of post
On Wed, Sep 20, 2017 at 8:03 PM, Gregory Leierwood <<email obscured>> wrote:
> 9th Ward City Councilwoman Cano did not attend a long planned candidate
> forum at Quruxlow Restaurant 6-9 pm Tuesday September 19,2017. At the
> forum it was announced she had canceled the evening prior to the event
> stating a conflict. Councilwoman Cano also did not appear at the DFL 9th
> Ward convention candidate forum. Present at Tuesday's forum were candidates
> Mohamed Farah, Ronald Peterson and Gary Schiff at the Phillips Neighborhood
> sponsored event. Greg Leierwood
>