[Mpls] Kudos to mplsparkwatch

[Mark Hanson]

I was a little taken aback by Council Person Barbara Johnson's comments about the Park Board elections being getting too political. 

'Johnson believes that a self-appointed group of 'watchdogs' has attempted to interject a massive dose of politics into the park elections to serve a narrow agenda based on the personal disagreements of a few misguided and misinformed people'

Crimony, isn't that what is supposed to happen?  This is an elected board that has the power to spend a lot of money. I would hope that the make-up and actions of that board are always a subject of lively debate and intense interest.

On that note, I wanted to say thank you to the people behind www.mplsparkwatch.org<http://www.mplsparkwatch.org/>.  Only recently have I started really paying attention to what's shakin' at the Park Board meetings.  Information posted to this list has been very helpful, and I hope it continues.  When I've flipped past the Park Board meetings on local cable, I've sometimes thought I was watching a badly staged Ionesco play or an Andy Warhol film.  Because of the diligence of people who track the board's activity and report on it, I have a better understanding of what is really happening.  

Whether you agree with the recommendations and actions of mplsparkwatch or not, you have to commend their methodology.  The supporters show up at meetings, report on what's happening, they've recommended a slate of candidates, and they're active in the on-going debate.  If that's 'political', I'm all for it. 


Enjoying a beautiful Saturday in Prospect Park
Mark Hanson