All 9 MPRB seats are up for election this year, and of the 25 people running
for those seats, at least 24 of us are seeking the DFL endorsement. When you
caucus next Tuesday 4/4, please raise your hand to be a delegate to the city
convention and choose a Park Board that actually listens to and fights for the
people of Minneapolis.
The MPRB manages 6,500 acres (14.9% of Minneapolis) and 49 rec centers, which
primarily serve youth from communities of color; employs 2,000 people, of which
at least 75% don't make a living wage (especially the rec employees that watch
your kids!); and oversees 600,000 trees, the only infrastructure to grow in
value over time.
I'm running to represent YOU because I want our parks to take climate action
for racial justice. Let's use the restarted Ecological System Plan to identify
how transition to fossil-fuel free parks and create green collar jobs for both
kids and working adults. Let's cooperate across governments to bring more
outside public money into the system in ways that serve ALL the people that
live here, not just birds and those who can afford trail fees. The list goes
on: http://www.devinforparks.com/devin-parks-agenda
And yet!, your extant Park Board is content to receive the national awards
earned by the generations before us while actively working against the best
interests of our city.
The one at-large incumbent running again told me we have too much affordable
housing in Minneapolis. I personally witnessed another veteran commissioner
running for another (non-consecutive) term yell at and shut down a young Native
American couple for daring to give their feedback at a public meeting. Yet
another incumbent who un-retired from a district seat to challenge me at-large
spends time picking fights on my Facebook wall instead of, I dunno,
legislating. To top it all off, their heir apparent is telling everyone the
only other African American dropped out of the race. Dirty politics, much?
These are your elected officials and their people, folks! And this is just the
At-Large race! Please caucus on April 4th -- especially in the uncontested city
council wards -- to support a Park Board that actually does its job.
Call me with questions - 612-412-1141. My email is <email obscured>.
In solidarity,
Devin Hogan