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

[David Brauer]

On Jan 5, 2005, at 10:24 PM, Jay Clark wrote:

> A few weeks ago I was doing some research, and stumbled across a 2001=20=

> article by the City Pages on Basim Sabri.  As I read the article, I=20
> was struck by what seemed to me to be flattering and at times even=20
> cozy comments offered up by minneapolis councilmembers on Basim Sabri=20=

> - and not just by Brian Herron.
>
> A few days ago David Brauer challenged Jim Graham to provide=20
> documentation that Minneapolis officials have referred to Basim Sabri=20=

> as a "friend."
>
> I went back and re-read the City Pages article.  I admit that I did=20
> not find any councilmember who is quoted as calling Basim Sabri a=20
> "friend."
>
> However, I am going to type out a few of the comments offered by=20
> councilmembers in this article.  I will let the list members judge if=20=

> these comments are "friendly," or "positive."
>
> Jim Niland: "I know he's controversial, but I've certainly found him=20=

> to be someone I can work with.  He's certainly shown his ability to=20
> get projects done".
>
> Lisa Goodman: "I have found him to be someone who takes on challenging=20=

> projects and sees them through.  It's not like he picks off the easy=20=

> ones.  He has picked some extremely challenging sites.  I believe that=20=

> he has been a tremendous benefit to these immigrant business owners."=20=

> City Pages writes "Sabri has never done a project in Lisa Goodman's=20
> Seventh Ward, but the city council member is ready to roll out the red=20=

> carpet.=94

Jay: personal opinion, but I find these quotes substantially different=20=

from Jim Graham's repeated assertion that councilmembers were pals of=20
Sabri's. That implies they were doing things for reasons other than=20
merit; rather, cronyism. As I re-read the quotes you cite, I don't see=20=

any reason to change my view - both quotes seem grounded in the=20
substance of Sabri's projects - so I think Jim's assertion was at least=20=

partly wrong and his implication unfair.

That said, it's hard to argue that both quotes are positive, and that=20
was the second half of Jim's contention. So I defer to Jim and Jay on=20
that point.

Personally, I find it hard to censure either elected official for=20
saying Sabri was effective - does anyone disagree? - or even that his=20
projects benefitted immigrant business owners. While the final point is=20=

highly arguable (as demonstrated on this list), it is not an=20
impeachment offense just because Sabri was later found to have bribed=20
OTHER councilmembers.

David Brauer
Kingfield