[Mpls] Basim Sabri and City Hall (was: Friends)

[Jay Clark]

A few weeks ago I was doing some research, and stumbled across a 2001 
article by the City Pages on Basim Sabri.  As I read the article, I was 
struck by what seemed to me to be flattering and at times even cozy 
comments offered up by minneapolis councilmembers on Basim Sabri - and 
not just by Brian Herron.

A few days ago David Brauer challenged Jim Graham to provide 
documentation that Minneapolis officials have referred to Basim Sabri as 
a "friend."

I went back and re-read the City Pages article.  I admit that I did not 
find any councilmember who is quoted as calling Basim Sabri a "friend."

However, I am going to type out a few of the comments offered by 
councilmembers in this article.  I will let the list members judge if 
these comments are "friendly," or "positive."

Jim Niland: "I know he's controversial, but I've certainly found him to 
be someone I can work with.  He's certainly shown his ability to get 
projects done".

Lisa Goodman: "I have found him to be someone who takes on challenging 
projects and sees them through.  It's not like he picks off the easy 
ones.  He has picked some extremely challenging sites.  I believe that 
he has been a tremendous benefit to these immigrant business owners." 
City Pages writes "Sabri has never done a project in Lisa Goodman's 
Seventh Ward, but the city council member is ready to roll out the red 
carpet.”

A chuckling Brian Herron: "He is not the easiest person to work with, 
but I have established a good working relationship with him."

Lisa McDonald offers a different opinion of Basim Sabri: ""He's an 
intimidator, that's how he operates.”

I was just stunned as I read through this article.  Given Mr. Sabri's 
recent conviction, other list members may also find this article 
enlightening.

The web site address is

http://www.citypages.com/databank/22/1067/article9550.asp

Or you can find it by googling "sabri" and "city pages."

This article quotes several Minneapolis Issues List contributors, 
including David Piehl, Zack Matoyer, and Wizard Marks.  We are even 
treated to a portrait of a radiant, beaming Wizard - can I get an 
autographed copy?

Jay Clark
Cooper


David Brauer wrote:
> 
> Jim, I just did a search of the Star Tribune's archives back to '86 - no 
> hits for "Basim Sabri" and "friend" or "positive."
> 
> City Pages' database turns up Burl Gilyard's 2001 cover story where 
> Basim Sabri identifies a Steve Wash as a "friend," but none where people 
> refer to Basim Sabri as a friend. Another 2001 piece has Selwyn Ortega 
> calling Sabri a friend, but Ortega is not a public official.
> 
> A Google search turns up a lot of posts from Mpls-Issues where people 
> (especially Jim) refer to people referring to Basim Sabri as a friend, 
> but none where elected officials call Sabri a friend.
> 
> So far, this tip seems like a dry hole. In at least one other list post, 
> you allude to unnamed Mpls officials who have referred to Sabri as a 
> friend. Can you provide something more specific - like who you are 
> accusing?
> 
> David Brauer
> Kingfield
>