[Mpls] Republican views of Minneapolis

[mplsgordon2 at aol.com]

David Brauer wrote:

"If Republicans want to make more of an effort  in Minneapolis, I welcome
them. They need to abandon their cartoonish view of  the city, though."

Perhaps it's worthwhile to wonder why Republicans have  a "cartoonish" view 
of the city. Before moving here six years ago, I lived for  14 years in Moorh
ead. I'm pretty well informed,  I read the Fargo newspaper  daily and the 
statewide edition of the Star-Tribune at least once a  week.

But I was really, truly stunned at how bad Minneapolis city  government can 
be. I'm still surprised on a regular basis as I learn more about  how this city 
has spent itself into virtual bankruptcy--and how they constantly  blame the 
state, the feds, and anyone at hand in order to pass the  buck.

The legislators know more than the average well-informed citizen  like me. 
After all, they live here for five or six months a year. I suspect they  
consider this city a black hole when it comes to state funding whether it's for  
schools, housing or infrastucture. 
 
And why should they ride to the rescue? Consider how they're portrayed  here, 
on this list, and in the Star-Tribune, which, deserved or not, is the  
state's leading newspaper. The editorial board of the Strib practically covers  the 
readers in spittle when it comes to invective.
 
Look at how David Jennings was treated. A moderate Republican by all  
standards, he tried to bring sanity and reform to the Minneapolis schools, was  
recommended by his black, female predecessor, lobbied hard and successfully with  
his former colleagues and was villified unmercifully for his efforts.
 
Sometimes you have to let someone you love hit bottom before they'll be  
willing to accept the help they need to recover. I doubt any Republican wants to  
see this city collapse financially, with the resultant costs to the taxpayers  
statewide when they have to step in and put the pieces back together. But  
when you look around and see the will to continue business as usual, a wise  
person might decide that it's better to wait than to continually patch and fill,  
all the while being constantly blamed for not doing enough.
 
M. G. Stinnett
Jordan