Support grows for Minneapolis to rethink the way it draws election districts

Author: STEVE BRANDT; STAFF WRITER

Momentum is building at Minneapolis City Hall for devising a fairer process for drawing the ward and other election boundaries that govern for whom voters may vote.

The effort is being led by Cam Gordon, new chair of the City Council's Election Committee, supported by Elizabeth Glidden, that panel's chair for the last four years.

They've asked the Charter Commission to devise a fairer, more transparent process for drawing election lines that could be presented to voters as a charter amendment next fall. The commission agreed last week to establish a subgroup to work on a timeline for doing so. The next redistricting happens in 2012.

"I strongly believe this process could be improved," Gordon told the commission.

Some of the momentum for changing how political lines are drawn comes from a legal challenge by Green Party candidates and others to the boundaries drawn in 2002 by the city's last redistricting commission. That lawsuit alleged that the redistricting group lacked enough minority group or Green members to be representative, and that it treated minority voters unfairly.

A federal judge found the 2002 plan met legal standards. Nevertheless, Charter Commission member Andrea Rubenstein said, the lawsuit raised issues that deserve examination.

Gordon was a Green Party official and plaintiff in the legal challenge. Greens felt particularly aggrieved by the last redistricting because it put both of the party's council incumbents into wards where they were forced to run against DFL incumbents. Both lost.

The charter defines the makeup of the redistricting commission. One member is picked by the council's majority party , another by the rest of the council members, which currently would be Gordon, the council's only non-DFLer. The Charter Commission names two members from each political party that got 5 percent of the vote in the last statewide election -- DFL, Republican and Independence in the 2002 redistricting -- and two more from a minority party or unaffiliated candidates.

Despite the fact that Greens had elected two of 13 council members in 2002 and no party besides the DFL elected any others, Greens got only one redistricting seat to two each for Republican and Independence representatives.

Charter Commissioner Todd Ferrara, who served on the last redistricting panel, called the mapping process contentious and political.

Although some other cities allow their councils to draw political boundaries, there seems to be consensus at City Hall against that approach. St. Paul charges its charter commission with drawing city election lines. Charter commissions in both cities are appointed by the chief judges of their respective district courts.

Glidden said a better solution might not emerge for Minneapolis, but that the amount of criticism of the last process warrants a review. Mayoral policy director Peter Wagenius said that although the mayor plays no formal role in redistricting, "I think it's safe to say there's got to be a better way to go about it."

The drawing of political lines takes on more importance now because the school board will be partially elected from districts starting with this fall's elections. Its initial districts will follow the six Park Board districts, which also are up for revision next year after this year's federal census.

Copyright 2010 Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities

Obama worse than Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Dubya on immigration

Washington raid brings deportations, mixed signals

By MANUEL VALDES (AP) – 8 hours ago

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — First they were arrested and faced deportation under what has proven to be the Obama administration's only workplace raid. Then they were given work permits, and told they could stay in the United States while their employer was being prosecuted.

Now, the more than two dozen undocumented workers arrested during the February raid here at Yamato Engine Specialists Ltd. are again facing deportation.

"Well, what can you do? You can't run, that'd be worse," Gerardo Arreola Gonzalez, one of the 28 workers arrested, said about the raid. "I had to face it. Yes, I felt fear, thinking, 'The dream is over.'"

Gonzalez's unusual journey through the immigration system symbolizes just how much immigration policy has changed under President Barack Obama — and how it's still a work in progress.

The deportations and likely removals are a conclusion to a case that displeased both advocates for illegal immigrants and those who lobby for stricter immigration enforcement.

In this case, the company, the workers, and even the Seattle U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office that conducted the raid came in for some sort of punishment or special scrutiny.

Two days after the raid, ICE officials traded urgent e-mails going over answers to questions sent by an apparently miffed White House, according to e-mails obtained by the Associated Press through a federal records request.

In all, 28 men and women — mostly from Mexico — were arrested that February morning. One man opted to leave the country shortly after the raid. The 27 who remained were given work permits until the case against Yamato ended.

Now, five of the 27 workers have been deported. Seven have been allowed to leave the country voluntarily and 15 await court dates with an immigration judge, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Lorie Dankers.

Dankers declined to comment further on the case.

"We're disappointed. We really did think that things would be different under the Obama administration," said Pramila Jayapal, executive director of OneAmerica, a Seattle-based immigration advocacy group. "It's very mixed signals ... we thought we were getting an administration that was supportive."

Immigration advocates were elated when Obama took office, thinking he'd bring immigrant-friendly enforcement policies. The raid shocked them, and they protested loudly.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano then ordered an internal review of the raid. The workers arrested were given work permits, and the company became the focus of the investigation.

But those who favor strict immigration enforcement saw Napolitano's review as a signal for lax enforcement, and a rebuke to the Bush administration's immigration policy.

For William Gheen, president of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, Obama's approach to targeting involved employers is no better than the Bush administration's targeting of those here illegally. Both are incomplete policies, he said.

"I am for the actual enforcement against all parties involved in illegal immigration," Gheen said. "Obama is an arbitrary enforcer, just like Bush, on immigration."

The Obama administration's approach became clearer in the months after the raid: a focus on employers. Hundreds of audit forms were sent out to businesses nationwide, notifying employers to certify that their workers have valid Social Security numbers and other forms of identification proving eligibility to work in the U.S. The administration has also sought to maintain workable enforcement agreements between ICE and local police agencies, and has sought to improve conditions for immigrants detained by the government.

The government's audits of employment status have led to significant job losses. In Los Angeles, American Apparel fired 1,500 workers in September. In Minneapolis, another 1,200 janitors were cut in November.

In order to level charges against employers who hire illegal immigrants, federal prosecutors need the testimony of those workers, and that requires the arrest, confinement and questioning of employees to obtain evidence.

"The most convincing part of that proof comes from illegal aliens," Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Reno said after the Yamato case. "It's going to be just as disruptive to the illegal aliens. That's not going to change."

That new reality doesn't sit well with either side of the immigration debate.

"How could you trust their testimony if you bribed them for it? These people will say anything you want them to say," Gheen said.

"They're saying they're not actively going after the worker, but the workers are a casualty when they have lost their jobs," Jayapal said.

Meanwhile, ICE officials were heartened by some of the response they received to the raid, according to the e-mails obtained by the AP.

Seattle-based Special Agent in Charge Leigh Winchell forwarded an e-mail to his staff from Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, a vocal immigration enforcement advocate, who said Napolitano's call for a review was "backwards."

"I cannot control the politics that take place with these types of situations, but I can remind you that you are great servants of this country and this agency," Winchell wrote to his troops.

Days after the raid, Winchell told his office to convey that ICE is going after the employer, not the workers, according to the e-mails.

The case against Yamato concluded in September with a $100,000 fine being leveled. Members of the immigrant family that owns the company issued a public apology. Yamoto's owners fled Uganda four decades ago when dictator Idi Amin's regime drove out the country's entrepreneurial Indian minority.

Messages left with Yamato management for this story were not returned.

With the case wrapped up, notices of court appearances for the workers began to appear. ICE agents had warned the workers of it.

Gonzalez, who is from Mexico, had entered the country in 1998 at the age of 19, first living in Arizona, where he started his family. He came to Washington seeking a better job, becoming a welder at Yamato, making $10 an hour. For now, a local lawyer is helping him but he knows he could face deportation.

"If I have to go to my country, I have to go to my country," Gonzalez said. "...it'll be a challenge for (my family)."

At Yamato, under a basket of employment applications, a poster now warns that Yamato is a company that uses E-verify — the federal program that checks a worker's eligibility to work in the United States.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

All Minneapolis council incumbents seeking reelection won.

Author: STEVE BRANDT;

Barbara Johnson has again claimed the Fourth Ward seat on the Minneapolis City Council thanks to second-choice votes, a development that means all 10 incumbents seeking reelection will return to the council.

Johnson hit nearly 53 percent of the vote with second choices made by voters for Grant Cermak and Marcus Harcus, two candidates dropped after trailing in the first round. The hand-counted results of ranked-choice voting were released late Monday by city election officials.

As in the neighboring Fifth Ward, the only other where the incumbent missed gaining a majority of first-choice votes, Johnson won even though the last remaining challenger, Troy Parker, picked up more second-choice votes than Johnson. Parker gained an additional 331 to her 194, but because she tallied nearly 47 percent of first-choice votes, Johnson needed fewer votes to win than Parker, who finished with 38 percent.

Johnson is the current council president, but that didn't keep her from becoming one of the two incumbents to fall short of a majority in the first-choice vote count. The other was Fifth Ward Council Member Don Samuels.

Parker and Harcus portrayed Johnson as out of touch with the changing demographics of her ward. She campaigned on the city's recent drop in crime, water quality improvements and her leadership in holding accountable landlords who rent to disruptive tenants.

"I'm really very pleased, and I just can't say enough to thank the volunteers and the professionals who helped me," said Johnson, who won every precinct.

Johnson has been an opponent of ranked-choice voting, the new balloting system in which voters rank up to three candidates. She said she thinks the election suffered without a primary in which voters could vet candidates. Parker could not be reached for comment.

The results are unofficial until the city's canvassing board meets next month, but other council incumbents haven't needed second-choices to win.

Nine DFLers and one Green Party endorsee, Cam Gordon, will return to the council. Three DFL endorsees for open seats -- Kevin Reich in the First Ward, Meg Tuthill in the 10th Ward and John Quincy in the 11th Ward -- came out on top. Only Reich, who was close to the required majority for election, still awaits the results of hand-counting. A count released Monday showed Tuthill had accumulated 72 percent of first-choice votes to win her seat handily, and Quincy last week had 64 percent in his ward.

The first Park Board race result to be released was in the Cedar-Isles area, where newcomer Anita Tabb won. She was unopposed, but there were 131 write-in votes.

Copyright 2009 Star Tribune

New Broom asks for new leadership in Minneapolis

"A new broom sweeps clean"

New Broom was formed in September 2008 in response to the RNC. Police
state tactics by cops and sheriffs, aided and abetted by Mpls & StPaul
mayors and city councils. Mayors and councils already selling out the
cities and citizens to developers/predators.

New Broom is: Dems, libertarians, Greens, Ron Paul Republicans,
anarchists, Independents, independents, Open Progressives. New Broom
contains several serious policy/ordinance/procedure wonks deep in city
meetings, documents line by line, casting light in dark corners.

New Broom for now concentrates on Mpls, because the mayor and whole city
council are up this November 2009.

New Broom grades the 13 members of the Mpls City Council:

grade ward/incumbent
F 1/Ostrow
C- 2/Gordon
D- 3/Hofstede
F 4/Johnson
F 5/Samuels worst of all
F 6/Lilligren second worst
F 7/Goodman
C- 8/Glidden
C- 9/Schiff
D+ 10/Remington
D- 11/Benson
D- 12/Colvin-Roy
D+ 13/Hodges

Average: D-/D. Mean: D-.
We deserve better. Lots better. B or better.
The lower the grade, the bigger the broom should be.
Ostrow-1, Remington-10 & Benson-11 won't run again.
Gordon's earlier C dropped to C- for endorsing RT (RNC/stadium) Rybak.

New Broom will in the future report on, and in many cases grade,
opposition candidates as they reveal themselves.

Cam Gordon on Minneapolis School Board Accountability

I am encouraging folks to vote for the ABC/Establishment of School Board Election Districts Referendum
The ballot question reads "SCHOOL DISTRICT BALLOT QUESTION 2 – ESTABLISHMENT OF ELECTION DISTRICTS FOR SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1. Shall the Board of Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis Public Schools consist of six members elected by district and three members elected at-large for a total of nine members? Board of education members elected on or prior to November 4, 2008 shall complete their terms. The six districts shall be of equal population and shall initially coincide with the six park board districts for the Minneapolis Park Board. Three districts shall be given even numbers and three districts shall be given odd numbers."

This would create a board with some members elected at large and some from districts assuring that more families and all areas of the City are represented on the Board. Currently, 48% of school districts nationally elect some or all of the Members from districts. Over the last three years the majority of school boards that received awards for their quality of governance, relations with their communities, and progress on closing the achievement gap from the Council of Urban Boards of Education where boards that were elected by districts. Eleven School Boards in Minnesota currently elect their schools board by some sort of District including the state's largest- Anoka-Hennepin.

As a parent, I have had children in the Minneapolis Schools for over 20 years and it has been a persistent problem connecting with and getting effective and responsive representation from the School Board members, however talented and wonderful they may be. The at-large structure appears to make it most likely the board members will listen to staff and listen to each other and less likely that they will spend time attending and listening to residents at PTO, neighborhood association or other community meetings. Additionally, given the large number of schools throughout the City, it has never felt like anyone on the school board had the kind of in depth knowledge about the particular community, neighborhood and schools near where I live that would lead to me to believe that the particular concerns of those schools and neighborhoods were being reflected and represented well on the School Board.

As a City Council Member I know how valuable it is to have Colleagues on the City Council who do understand, and are accountable to, the residents in their particular part of the City. It helps me understand problems better and find solutions to them that serve the interests of the entire City. I also see how having a Park Board member, state legislators and a County Commission from particular parts of the City also helps me be part of a team or teams, who can work together to serve the neighborhoods we represent. There is no one from the School Board, however good they maybe, who I can turn to and work with in the same way. This was particularly clear earlier this year when schools in and near my ward were fighting for survival. Geographic representation has advantages. Don't get me wrong. I also believe that at-large representation can be valuable too and have often wondered how City Council decisions might be improved if we had one, two or three people, besides the mayor, representing the City as a Whole.
They are both valuable and with its blend of geographic and at-large representation I think that the re-structuring offered by this referendum provides the balance we need to make our school system work better for everyone.

At-large plurality elections are known for being the very hardest for minor party, independent and grassroots candidates to win. Running city-wide forces candidates to depend on doing well in the areas of our City where voter turn out is the highest and not to be as concerned with those areas where there are fewer voters. It also means that candidates typically need more money and/or the endorsements of major parties or well funded groups in order to campaign city-wide.

I believe that this amendment (that is endorsed by both the Green and DFL parties) will improve the School Board's responsiveness and accountability to the people of Minneapolis. It will ensure that every part of the city has a representative, which the current at-large election cannot do, and that there would be at least one board member able to develop a deeper understanding about each area of the City that they will be able to bring to the table during important school board policy decisions. Equality of geographic representation will help the public trust that tough decisions that can sometimes pit neighborhoods against each other are being made with equal concern about the fate of all Minneapolis neighborhoods. This new election method will provide more opportunities for diverse cultural and political voices to gain a seat at the table.


Cam Gordon

Seward neighbor and
Minneapolis City Council Member, Ward 2

Republican running against Karen Clark in 61A

Kevin,

Thank you for contacting me. I believe that we as a society must break
free from our addiction to oil as soon as possible. But as you
inferred, I do not have much faith in government to accomplish this
objective. For example (in my opinion), the promotion of ethanol in
Minnesota through subsidies and mandates seems to be more of a favor to
the corn lobby than a viable energy solution. I am convinced that in
the long term, sustainable energy is inherently profitable. For this
reason I think the market will ultimately come up with a solution, but
only if it is left free from government intervention. The entrepreneur
who solves the energy problem will probably become the next billionaire.

Certainly, there are things that government can do to encourage this
process. We must end policies and subsidies that favor "Big Oil" in the
name of lower gas prices, and stop trying to preserve the existing
automobile industry. We must be more creative in designing cities and
communities that don't require everyone to have an automobile to get
around. We must end the moratorium on nuclear power in Minnesota. We
can also work to increase public awareness of the growing energy
problem, and to promote development of alternative energy sources, as
long as no specific strategy is mandated due to lobbyist pressure. And
as gas prices skyrocket while oil supplies run out, we must avoid the
temptation to put political (or other) pressure on other oil-producing
countries to favor the U.S. If we do these things, I believe that the
move to alternative energy sources will be a natural result of the laws
of supply and demand.

I hope this answers your question. I have added positions on a few
other issues to my website.

Thanks again -

- S. Andrew Sheppard

[ Note from Kevin: Andrew lives carfree, as I do. But he does not believe we should end our fossil fuel addiction at all. If we are to have a green and sustainable future, we will need government intervention to make that happen, and can do so without destroying the economy. A carbon tax could be enacted, allowing lower income and corporate taxes by the same amount would make the tax increase neutral. A carbon tax would end our addiction, saving Minnesotans from future oil shocks, and steer the economy to a greener path. Sheppard does not have my support in November. ]

Farheen Hakeem's Political Courage

Voters in south Minneapolis district have the right to know where their candidates stand on the issues. Only Farheen Hakeem has the audacity to stand up for what she believes in and how she will fight for her constituents. This is taken from her Political Courage Test at VoteSmart.org:

Abortion Issues

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.
	a) Abortions should always be illegal.
X	b) Abortions should always be legal.
	c) Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
	d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
	e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
	f) Abortions should be subject to a mandatory waiting period.
	g) Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
	h) Other or expanded principles

Budget and Tax Issues

State Budget: Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.
Slightly Increase	a) Education (Higher)
Greatly Increase	b) Education (K-12)
Maintain Status	c) Emergency preparedness
Greatly Increase	d) Environment
Maintain Status	e) Health care
Slightly Decrease	f) Law enforcement
Maintain Status	g) Transportation and highway infrastructure
Greatly Increase	h) Welfare
Greatly Increase	i) Other or expanded categories
For Health care, I would like to join with other legislators to bring Single Payer Universal Health care to Minnesota.
State Taxes: Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.
Greatly Increase	a) Alcohol taxes
Slightly Increase	b) Cigarette taxes
Greatly Increase	c) Corporate taxes
Slightly Increase	d) Gasoline taxes
Maintain Status	e) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
Slightly Increase	f) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
Greatly Decrease	g) Property taxes
Maintain Status	h) Sales taxes
Slightly Increase	i) Vehicle taxes
	j) Other or expanded categories
Undecided	1) Should state sales taxes be extended to Internet sales?
Yes	2) Should accounts such as a "rainy day" fund be used to balance the state budget?
No	3) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
	4) Other or expanded principles

Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.
Yes	a) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Minnesota governors?
Yes	b) Do you support limiting the number of terms for Minnesota state senators and representatives?
c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?
Yes	1) Individual
Yes	2) PAC
Yes	3) Corporate
Yes	4) Political Parties
Yes	d) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
Yes	e) Do you support imposing spending limits on state-level political campaigns?
No	f) Should Minnesota participate in the federal REAL ID program?
Yes	g) Should Minnesota allow homeowners whose mortgage is in foreclosure a one-year deferment on their primary residence?
h) Other or expanded principles
No Answer

Crime Issues

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.
	a) Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
	b) Establish the death penalty in Minnesota.
X	c) Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
X	d) Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
X	e) Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
	f) Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
	g) Support state and local law enforcement officials enforcing federal immigration laws.
X	h) Support hate crime legislation.
	i) Other or expanded principles

Education Issues

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.
X	a) Support state funding of universal pre-K programs.
	b) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
X	c) Support state education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students.
	d) Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams.
	e) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
	f) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
X	g) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
	h) Support using a merit pay system for teachers.
X	i) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
	j) Support allowing illegal immigrant high school graduates of Minnesota to pay in-state tuition at public universities.
	k) Other or expanded principles
I support J, but I would term it to be "Support allowing undocumented high school graduates of Minnesota to pay in-state tuition at public universities.

Employment Issues

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.
X	a) Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in today's job market.
	b) Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
	c) Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
	d) Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X	e) Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
X	f) Increase the state minimum wage.
X	g) Support laws that prevent employers from dismissing employees at will.
	h) Support financial punishments for those who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
	i) Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
	j) Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
	k) Other or expanded principles

Environment and Energy Issues

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.
X	a) Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
	b) Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil, etc).
	c) Support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops.
X	d) Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
	e) Support funding for improvements to Minnesota's power generating and transmission facilities.
X	f) Support funding for open space preservation.
X	g) Limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases linked to global warming.
X	h) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
	i) Other or expanded principles
I would support increased production of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. I would also support funding for improvements to Minnesota's power generating and transmission facilities if it was to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet.

Gun Issues

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.
Yes	a) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
No	b) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
Yes	c) Should a license be required for gun possession?
Undecided	d) Do you support current levels of enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
Undecided	e) Do you support current state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
	f) Other or expanded principles

Health Issues

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.
	a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
	b) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
	c) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
	d) Allow patients to sue their HMOs.
	e) Require hospitals and labs to release reports on infections that are a risk to public health, while not compromising patient confidentiality.
	f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Minnesota.
	g) Support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
	h) Other or expanded principles
I support single payer universal health care.

Social Issues

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.
Yes	a) Should Minnesota recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
Yes	b) Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?
Yes	c) Should Minnesota provide state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples?
No	d) Do you support a moment of silence in public schools?
Undecided	e) Do you support voluntary prayer in public schools?
Yes	f) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?
No	g) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?
Yes	h) Should the state government consider race and gender in state government contracting and hiring decisions?
Yes	i) Do you support affirmative action in public college admissions?
Yes	j) Should Minnesota continue affirmative action programs?
Yes	k) Do you support state funding of stem cell research?
Yes	l) Do you support state funding of embryonic stem cell research?
No	m) Do you support allowing pharmacists who conscientiously object to emergency contraception to refuse to dispense it?
n) Other or expanded principles
I am confused to what "e) Do you support voluntary prayer in public schools?" Students should have the right to pray in schools if they choose, but the school administrators should not require students to attend prayer. For example, is a student wished to do Friday Prayers, which happen at lunch time, the school should not stop the student, and meet their needs. Yet, a teacher can not require all of the students in the class to pray along with the student.
Legislative Priorities
Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
The big challenge that I see in the Legislature is to balance the 2 billion dollar deficit without cutting programs and services to the poor. As your State Representative, I would advocate that housing, jobs, youth programming, and programs to end poverty are an investment, not an expense. I will fight to secure general funds to sustain programs for education and social services, and work beyond party lines to create solutions to balance the budget, find funding for community programs, and bring landmark legislation to law. [ These taken from VoteSmart.org Farheen's primary opponent has this listed on their site: Mr. Hayden repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff. I consider Mr. Hayden's inaction to be yet another sign of local DFL corruption, ineptitude, and not truly standing for anything but getting elected. - KC ]

Lawsuit seeks $250,000 in damages for police raid

Press Conference:
Friday, October 10, 3pm
Saint Paul City Hall on Kellogg Blvd.

The first lawsuit resulting from the police invasion of a St. Paul home prior to the Republican National Convention will be announced at a press conference October 10. Notice will be served
on the city of Saint Paul that lawyers representing Michael Whalen will seek $250,000 in damages. Whalen’s duplex on Iglehart Avenue was cordoned off by St. Paul police working with the FBI and Homeland Security people. Whalen and his tenants and guests were held at gunpoint for several hours, not allowed to leave – and no one allowed to enter.

It has not been disclosed what prompted the raid. An FBI agent (perhaps Scott Zimmerman) had requested entry an hour earlier. When denied he apparently called the St. Paul authorities
who sent two dozen or so officers into the streets, alleys and entrances of Whalen’s home.

When these officers also were denied entry, they held the premises underarmed guard while police tried to create a legitimate reason for an invasion. After an hour or two, Officer Langfellow
swore that Mr. Whalen had supported Irish Independence some 20 years ago, had co-owned a bookstore for a whole year with Sarah Jane Olsen also 20 years ago, had recently failed to put his address numbers on one half of the duplex and had received heavy boxes by US Mail.

The sworn affidavit, supporting the request for a search warrant, also contained a straight-out falsehood about Whalen’s activities that day. Amazingly, a judge of the District Court
found all this sufficient to issue the warrant – for the wrong address! The items listed in the warrant for seizure did not include Irish literature, letters from Ms Olson, unused address numbers nor the vegan literature in the heavy boxes.

It might be noted that Whalen’s guests included journalists who are part of the growing people’s independent press movement, which documents and web-publishes police abuse around this land of ours. Some of these folks were raided again elsewhere and some were arrested as they documented the new face of St. Paul, formerly the most livable city in America.

Mr. Whalen is represented by attorneys Ted Dooley and Peter Nickitas, both members of the National Lawyers Guild. Dooley will be among the speakers at the press conference.


For further information contact:
Attorney Ted Dooley, 651-292-1515 ; teddooleylaw@winternet.com

Michael Cavlan endorses Farheen Hakeem

I have been incredibly busy, being a Street Medic treating the victims
of police brutality, doing Indy media journalism and telling the stories
that the local and national corporate media refuse to do, exposing our local elected officials complicity in the RNC police abuse etc etc. I have wanted to answer this post and finally get time and the chance.

I will answer as a Trade Union activist, Registered Nurse, having worked organizing with the MNA, proud former member of the Michigan Nurses assoc, ITGWU (Irish Transport and general Workers Union) IVG&ATA (Irish VintnersGrocers & Allied Trades Assoc) and I come a family with a long history of Trade Unionism. I also speak as male feminist and social justice activist.

I proudly and gladly endorse Farheen Hakeem and will be delighted when she becomes my representative. Rest assured, she will in all likelihood win this election.

Recently, the psuedo-progressive organization Take Action Minnesota (formerly
Progressive Minnesota) endorsed, supported and helped Mayor Coleman in his
election. This is the same "progressive" who, along with RT Ryback stood
with the police, giving them the legal authority to brutalize protestors.

This means that those "progressives" in Take Action Minnnesota now have
some serious egg on their faces. Once Farheen Hakeem wins this seat we can
assume that the MNA and Social Workers Union will likewise have egg on their
faces.

Taking this to a deeper level though, there are other questions that must be
asked. The MNA and Social Workers Union both represent professions that are
primarily women. Yet they choose to not endorse Farheen Hakeem, who is a woman.
Can it be that Farheen Hakeem represents people who will not accept the classist,
racist and sexist status quo?

Florence Nightingale was a radical activist for the poor and in opposition to the war of her time, the Krimean War. Farheen Hakeem best represents the spirit of Florence Nightingale in 61B. Sadly, that spirit seems to have been crushed, a long time ago in the Minnesota Nurses Association.

This Nurse, who has walked picket lines during the June 2001 Nurses strike and long time Union activist proudly stands with my sister Farheen Hakeem. She will make history, being the first Green and first Muslim woman elected to the Minnesota House.

The MNA, Social Workers Union and Take Action Minnesota will all be far too busy washing the egg off their faces to notice.

Michael Cavlan RN
Powderhorn

Democrats' Collaboration at Republican National Convention Exposed. Secret meetings authorized excessive use of force.

We know the stories of police abuse, mass arrests, targeting journalists, street medics, use of rubber bullets, plastic bullets, wooden baton rounds, mace, tear gas, tasering and other differently lethal methods of crowd control in St Paul and Minneapolis this week. What is not known is how the local Democratic Party and other so called progressive elected officials collaborated with authorities in the past weeks and months before the RNC Convention in St Paul, giving them legal authority for their excesses and abuses of power.

This is your Independent Journalista's on-the-ground account of what happened and how local elected officials collaborated with the authorities and again abandoned their Oath to Protect and Defend the Constitution from All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic. This is the news that you will not hear from the corporate media, Air America, the Nation magazine or other so called progressive, alternative media outlets. This is true, muckraking journalism that honestly speaks truth to power, no matter how uncomfortable it makes some folks.

Now, before we get to the facts surrounding how our elected officials betrayed us and the Bill of Rights, a truth must be stated. No matter what the local City Councils of St Paul and Minneapolis did, the authorities would have done what they did.

This story is not about that. It is instead about how the local government knowingly collaborated with them, with no input from citizens and finally passed a Resolution granting them legal authority to use rubber and plastic bullets, wooden baton rounds, tasers and chemical weapons that were deployed against peaceful protesters, journalists and street medics treating the victims of their brutality in a secret meeting with no public allowed.

In the months before the Republicans came to town, there had been a flurry of activity. Local activists were keeping a close eye on their local elected officials. Initially, there had been a so called Free Speech Committee set up, supposedly to look at how authorities could allow free speech during the RNC and keep order.

However, local activists immediately developed some serious concerns. We found out that the Free Speech Committee did not allow any members of the public to add our input. Only City Council members on the committee and lawyers were allowed to speak. There was no free speech allowed at the misnamed Free Speech Committee.

Nonetheless, activists followed the Committee's actions closely and were present during each meeting. The City Council of Minneapolis is almost 100% Democratic. In fact the only real opposition in Minneapolis is the Green Party which currently has one Green on the City Council, Cam Gordon, who was a small light in a very dark room. But, we were to discover, even that light was to be extinguished.

The so called Free Speech Committee would change the time and locations of its meetings, in an obvious attempt of loosing the local activists who were closely following their intents and actions. During this time, Councilman Gordon kept the local activist community appraised of when and where these meetings were being held, including last minute changes. There was much talk of using the Washington Model of crowd control versus other Models. The Washington Model was touted as being a little less restrictive.

There was also discussion on protest groups being required to register themselves and even their members, to be "allowed" to protest. At these times, Cam Gordon spoke eloquently on behalf of the community and in opposition to these repressive measures. When he spoke, he drew cheers from the activists present. We also waved our protest signs in agreement each time. We would also boo when the head of the Committee, Paul Ostrow, would make an especially egregious remark. That was the extent of public participation and free speech at the so called Free Speech Committee meetings.

This went on for moths at a time. Then suddenly we found out that the Free Speech Committee had their last meeting, July 16th. The meeting itself was unannounced, unlike the other meetings which at least had a pretense of openness and public inclusion. At the next Minneapolis City Council meeting July 25th, the recommendation of the misnamed Free Speech Committee was announced. The Free Speech Committee Resolution passed unanimously, even by our one small light, Councilman Cam Gordon.

The Minneapolis Police were given "legal" authority to shut down any protest or group of 25 people or greater. They were also authorized to use rubber bullets, mace and the other array of non-lethal weapons on innocent, peaceful demonstrators, practicing our First Amendment Rights. Also violated repeatedly was the Fourth Amendment Right protecting us citizens against illegal search and seizure. Police violated the laws of assault and battery and destruction of evidence of their crimes, as evidenced by their targeting journalists. All talk of the Washington Model was removed.

As this Resolution was passed by the large Democratic majority Minneapolis City Council july 25th, another protest broke out. Local activists presented each member of the Minneapolis City Council, including Mayor RT Ryback with a Statement of Reprobation, condemning them for this betrayal of our most precious right to Free Speech, Assembly and Peaceful Petition of Our Government.

One of the main organizers, Michelle Gross of Communities United Against Police Brutality, presented the Statement of Reprobation to both Councilman Cam Gordon and the head of the Free Speech Committee, Councilman Paul Ostrow. Another was handed to Mayor RT Ryback.

During this presentation, a young man, Jude Ortiz with Coldsnap Legal Collective, read aloud the charges against the Minneapolis City Council. When he did so, he was bundled off the podium by Minneapolis Police and brought to the Hennepin County Jail. He was later released uncharged.

All Minneapolis City Councils are taped and shown on local Public Access TV - all except for this one, which has never seen the light of day. Clearly, the "progressive" City Council had something to hide.

Since then, Michelle Gross was arrested twice, during peaceful protests that were targeted by police.

Many of the examples of excess and police brutality and thuggery were practiced by Minneapolis Police. But, all of these actions and betrayals were mirrored by the 100% Democratic City Council of St Paul. Both Mayor RT Ryback and Mayor Chris Coleman, who laud themselves as "progressive" held a Press Conference, calling the RNC Convention a "success."

Ironically, we now have a number of the very City Councilpersons who gave our rights away, without a fight, now engaging in tough talk and rhetoric. This includes my own Councilwoman Elizabeth Glidden and Councilman Gary Schiff. Covering Your A** with tough talk will not make up for your betrayal of the citizens of our country, Council members and Mayors. Not even close.

I ask the question again. What do we do about it? I leave the answer up to you.

Michael Cavlan , RN, was an Official Green Party Observer for the 2004 Ohio Re-Count. He was the Green Party Candidate for US Senate 2006.

RNC AND OTHER RELATED EVENTS

Darfur: Where is our moral compass? Rally Sept. 3 from 5:30 to 7:00pm.
Interfaith service of prayer and hope, Camp Darfur, and calls for action by
local, state, and national elected officials to end the genocide.
Nonpartisan event. For more information, contact Lynne Holman 612-721-2772
or go online at www.mnchurches.org
Peace Island: A solutions driven national conference held at Concordia
University September 2 and 3 to share visions and ideas for the crisis
facing our world. Nationally known speakers on energy and the environment,
global peace and nonviolence and justice and human rights will inspire you.
Cost for the two day conference is $50. For more info go to
www.peaceisland.us You may make a reservation on line.
Liberty Parade on Nicollet Mall to Loring Park Aug 31, 1:00 pm - come early
and carry a puppet or just enjoy the fun! Sept 1- Peace March at the Capitol
- if you want to help carry puppets, meet at the park behind the capitol.
FUN. FFI: Mina Leierwood at 612-481-3186.
A Minnesota Peace Team is being formed and trained for service during the
RNC and other events. Learn about the techniques that can be used to
de-escalate violence whenever voices of different perspectives seek to be
heard at eight-hour participant training session on August 30. A two-hour
orientation will be conducted before each session. FFI:
minnesotapeaceteam@gmail.com or 612-483-6041.


To 9/1, peace walk from Chicago (Grant Park) to St Paul (Republican National
Convention). Details at http://www.vcnv.org or info@vcnv.org or
773-878-3815 or click on a date at http://www.wnpj.org/event/calendar

Wednesday, 8/27, noon to 3 pm, training on dealing with the police use of
"less-lethal" weapons, including pepper spray, tasers, and batons,
Convergence Center, 627 Smith Ave S, St Paul.
http://twincities.indymedia.org/event/

Wednesday, 8/27, 3 to 6 pm, Psychological First Aid training for activists,
Convergence Space, 627 Smith Ave S, St Paul.
http://northstarhealth.wordpress.com or northstarhealth@gmail.com

Wednesday, 8/27, 5 to 10 pm, sign painting workshop in preparation for the
RNC and the Liberty Parade, Bedlam Theater, 1501 S 6th St, West Bank, Mpls.

Wednesday, 8/27, 6 to 9 pm, Youth Against War and Racism makes puppets for
the protests against the RNC, Bedlam Theater, 1501 S 6th St, West Bank,
Mpls. http://www.yawr.org Puppet workshops are led by Chris Lutter of
Puppet Farm Arts, http://puppetfarm.org/lutter.html Please RSVP
tytymo@gmail so they know how many folks to plan for.

Wednesday, 8/27, 7 to 9 pm, free workshops with Code Pink for those
interested in a creative presence at the RNC, Heart of the Beast Studio,
Plaza Verde, 1516 E Lake St, Mpls. nancy@globalexchange.org

8/27 to 8/30, annual national Veterans for Peace convention "Peace, Liberty
and Justice for All," at the Mall of America Ramada (formerly the
Thunderbird), Bloomington, MN. $200 full program registration. Jim
Steinhagen at 612-722-1112.

8/28 and 8/29, 10 am to 2 pm, join Starhawk and the Upwelling Circle: Court
an Upwelling of Earth Wisdom at the RNC, Coldwater Spring, 1.5 miles south
of Minnehaha Falls, (from highway 55, turn east at 54th St, take immediate
right, continue south on frontage road to Magickal Activist Day Camp at
Sacred Coldwater Spring), Mpls. Wear comfortable outdoor clothes, sturdy
shoes, chair or blanket to sit on, bag lunch and fruit or treat to share.
Bring a water container for sacred spring water.
http://www.friendsofcoldwater.org

Thursday, 8/28, 5 to 7 pm, sign painting workshop in preparation for the RNC
and the Liberty Parade, Bedlam Theater, 1501 S 6th St, West Bank, Mpls.
Then all are invited to White Bear Lake for a pre-convention celebration,
drumming, boating and swimming, hosted by Mary Jane LaVigne (see following
announcement.) Mina at 612-481-3186.

Thursday, 8/28, 7 pm, Drum Boat Hope Float, hosted by Mary Jane LaVigne, 31
Birchwood Lane, St Paul. Bring boats, drums, costumes or swimsuits, food
and drink to share, out-of-town guests, to a party with Mary Jane LaVigne
and Allen Christian, Mina and Greg Leierwood, Barak Obama (via TV) and a
Floating Polar Bear on gorgeous White Bear Lake. Questions? Call Mina at
612-481-3186.

Thursday, 8/28, 6:30 to 8:15 pm, the Seattle Peace Chorus gives concert as
part of Peace Train tour, Presbyterian Church of the Apostles, 701 E 130th
St, Burnsville. 952-890-7877.
Freewill offering. Local musicians wanted to join the chorus.

Thursday, 8/28, 7:30 pm, free film "The Listening Project" about how people
around the world answer the question "What does the world think of America?"
Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave, Mpls. http://walkerart.org

Friday, 8/29, 2 pm, health and safety training to become the best-dressed
activist in the street at the RNC (including what to wear, what to bring,
how to be safe on the streets), Bedlam Theater, 1501 S 6th St, Mpls. (West
Bank near the LRT station.) http://twincities.indymedia.org/event/

Friday, 8/29, 4:15 to 5:30 pm, vigil to end US military/political support of
the Israeli occupation of Palestine, corner Summit and Snelling, St Paul.

8/29 (5 to 7 pm) and 8/30 (9 am to 5 pm), Macalester-Plymouth United
Church, 1658 Lincoln Ave, St Paul, intensive weekend trainings to
participate as peace team members during the Republican National Convention.
$35. Send registrations to minnesotapeaceteam@gmail.com or Minnesota Peace
Team/Wojtan, 13341 Everest Ave, Apple Valley 55124. Questions?
612-483-6041

Friday, 8/29, 11 am to 12:30 pm, NLG sponsors legal observer/videographer
training for RNC, William Mitchel College of Law auditorium, 875 Summit Ave
(at Victoria), St Paul. RSVP genab@visi.com

Friday, 8/29, 12:30 to 2 pm, NLG sponsors legal observer finishing school
for RNC, William Mitchel College of Law auditorium, 875 Summit Ave (at
Victoria), St Paul. RSVP genab@visi.com

Friday, 8/29, 5 to 10 pm, sign painting workshop in preparation for the RNC
and the Liberty Parade, Bedlam Theater, 1501 S 6th St, West Bank, Mpls.

Friday, 8/29, 5 pm, Critical Mass bike ride, from the fountain on the
downtown side of Loring Park near Grant Street, Mpls. (Note: Both last year
in Minneapolis and 4 years ago in New York, the Critical Mass ride was the
scene of massive police sweeps and over-reaction. To avoid this, the editor
suggests you invite your favorite city council member, mayor, state or
federal legislator to go along for the ride. It might just save a few sore
heads and stinging eyes.)

Friday, 8/29, 7 pm (and every Friday until the RNC convention), meditation
and vigil for peace at the RNC at the State Capitol lawn, St Paul.
http://www.rippleeffect08.com or 612-227-1817.

Friday, 8/29, 7:30 pm, MN Vets for Peace sponsors former UN weapons
inspector Scott
Ritter talking about "The Iran Talks," at the Veterans for Peace Convention,
Ramada Mall of America, 2300 E American Blvd, Bloomington. 612-821-9141.

8/29 to 8/31, documentary "Crawford," examining what happens to the 705
Texas residents when W comes to town, Oak St Cinema, 309 Oak St SE, Mpls.
http://www.mnfilmarts.org

Saturday, 8/30, 11 am to 12:30 pm, NLG sponsors legal observer/videographer
training for RNC, William Mitchel College of Law auditorium, 875 Summit Ave
(at Victoria), St Paul. RSVP genab@visi.com

Saturday, 8/30, 1 to 3 pm, free workshops with Code Pink for those
interested in a creative presence at the RNC, Heart of the Beast Studio,
Plaza Verde, 1516 E Lake St, Mpls. nancy@globalexchange.org

Saturday, 8/30, 12:30 to 2 pm, NLG sponsors legal observer finishing school
for RNC, William Mitchel College of Law auditorium, 875 Summit Ave (at
Victoria), St Paul. RSVP genab@visi.com

Saturday, 8/30, 2 pm, St Paul welcomes the Peace Walkers from Chicago, St
Joseph's Church, 1890 Randolph (near St Kate's), St Paul.
nancy@globalexchange.org

Saturday, 8/30, 3 pm, former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter talks about
"The Iran Talks," William Mitchell College of Law, auditorim, 875 Summit
Ave, St Paul. 612-827-5364.

Saturday, 8/30, 6 pm, New Moon Ritual for an Upwelling of Earth Wisdom led
by Starhawk and the local Upwelling Circle, Mounds Park, ancient sacred
burial site above the Mississippi River, St Paul. Walk the labyrinth,
prepare the rite. Directions: follow Mounds boulevard exit off I-94 (east
of downtown St Paul), follow Mounds Blvd up the bluff, park along the road.

Saturday, 8/30, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, The UnConventional Gathering Place opening
reception, with RNC-related interactive performances by Politaoke, Nonsense
Company/Prince Myshkin and unveiling of gallery installations, Intermedia
Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls. http://www.truebluemn.com/calendar.html
(Media installations remain until November 8.)

Saturday, 8/30, 10 to 11 pm, Chris Baker project Urban Echo at Intermedia
Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls Part of Solutions Volume 3,
http://www.solutionstwincities.org or see
http://www.truebluemn.com/calendar.html


Saturday, August 30th Noon - 22nd Annual Tea Party & Hempfest Rally at the Capitol
Cass Gilbert Memorial Park
Sherburne & Cedar - Saint Paul, MN
More info at: http://abnormlmn.org/

Sunday, 8/31, 10 am to 2 pm, veterans Solemn Memorial March on the RNC, in
solidarity with detainees who have been tortured, Minnesota State Capitol,
75 Rev Martin Luther King Boulevard, St Paul. Orange jumpsuits available
for $10. tuvecino@redwing.net or 651-388-3898.

Sunday, 8/31, 11 am to 12:30 pm, NLG sponsors legal observer/videographer
training for RNC, William Mitchel College of Law auditorium, 875 Summit Ave
(at Victoria), St Paul. RSVP genab@visi.com

Sunday, 8/31, 12:30 to 2 pm, NLG sponsors legal observer finishing school
for RNC, William Mitchel College of Law auditorium, 875 Summit Ave (at
Victoria), St Paul. RSVP genab@visi.com

Sunday, 8/31, 12:30 to 4 pm, Darfur documentary "The Devil Came on
Horseback" and panel discussion, University of Minnesota, Tate Hall, room
150, 116 Church St SE, Mpls. http://www.micglobe.org/

Sunday, 8/31, 1 pm, Liberty Parade down Nicollet Mall to Loring Park, with
music, speakers, art displays and activities, all to answer the question
"What does liberty mean to you?" downtown Mpls. http://theunconvention.com
or http://www.libertyparade2008.com/lp/

Sunday, 8/31, 1 to 2:30, meeting of Youth Against War and Racism to plan the
student strike on September 4, YAWR office, 3024 Chicago Ave S, Mpls.
http://yawr.org/strike (Note: meeting may have changed to Bedlam Theater,
due to puppet making.)

Sunday, 8/31, 2 to 5 pm, Youth Against War and Racism makes puppets for the
protests against the RNC, Bedlam Theater, 1501 S 6th St, West Bank, Mpls.
http://www.yawr.org Puppet workshops are led by Chris Lutter of Puppet Farm
Arts, http://puppetfarm.org/lutter.html Please RSVP tytymo@gmail so they
know how many folks to plan for.

Sunday, 8/31, 2 pm, peace marshall and volunteer trainings for the March on
the RNC and to Stop the War on September 1, U of M, Hubert Humphrey
Building, room 30, 301 - 19th Ave S, Mpls. http://www.worldwidewamm.org or
info@marchonrnc.org or 612-379-3584.

Sunday, 8/31, 7 pm, former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter talks about
"Possibility of War with Iran," First Unitarian Society of Mpls, 900 Mount
Curve Ave, Mpls. Suggested $10 donation; no one turned away.
carydberg@comcast.net

Sunday, 8/31, 7 pm, Rabbi Michael Lerner speaks on the Global Marshall Plan
at Shir Tikvah Temple, 50th and Girard, Mpls. $10 (scholarships available).
RSVP at http://www.spiritualprogressives.org or
info@spiritualprogressives.org

Sunday, 8/31 (2 pm) to Monday, 9/1 (2 pm), Veterans for Peace 24-hour fast,
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 840 E 6th St, St Paul. Wayne at 651-774-4008.

9/1 to 9/4, 1 to 9 pm, Translating Politics, a group exhibition featuring
painting, photography, sculpture, digital media and more, 1500 Jackson St
NE, Mpls. http://truebluemn.com/calendar.html

9/1 to 9/4, 8 am to 8 pm, the Twin Cities Community of Ignatian Associates,
working with other , is providing a "Peaceful Presence"--a sanctuary to
which people can come during the RNC, at the Central Presbyterian Church,
500 Cedar Ave, St Paul. Each day will open and close with public prayer led
by members of diverse denominations, with the remainder of the time spent in
quiet, allowing private prayer, contemplation or simply sitting.
http://www.ignatianassociates.org/events/peaceful-presence/

9/1 to 9/4, various times and places during the RNC, the Peace Is Green Bike
Brigades and the Pink Police on Rollerblades will following gas-guzzling
delegate busews and circle their hotels and parties with bikes and
rollerblades, pushing a green agenda and serenading delegates with peace
songs, etc. Bike people contact Desiree@codepinkalert.org and
rollerbladers contact Liz at caterliz@gmail.com

Monday, 9/1, 8 am, bus leaves from Peace Church in Duluth for big RNC march,
returns late the same evening. $35. Contact babylon2911@yahoo.com or
http://www.wnpj.org or 728-9395.

Monday, 9/1, 10:30 am, grandmothers march at the RNC, meet at the corner of
Sherburne and Rice Sts by the Women's Consortium Building, 2 blocks north of
University on Rice, St Paul. Wear all black, bring pots and pans to band
and an enlarged picture of a grandchild or child in a war-torn area.
grandmothers@gmail.com or 612-871-2229 or 612-227-3228.

Monday, 9/1, 11 am, starting from the MN Capital Building, big march on the
Republican National Convention "U.S. Out of Iraq Now!" St Paul.
http://www.marchonrnc.org or 612-379-3584 or 612-234-8774.

Tuesday, 9/2, MN Eyes Wide Open (the famous "boots" memorial) display will
be at the MN capitol Grounds during the 2nd day of the Republican National
Convention. The program from noon to 1 will include American Friends
Service Committee Chicago office director Michael McConnell and former State
Senator Becky Lourey. About 50 volunteers are needed. Volunteers needed at
6 am to set up, then at 1 pm to take down. If you can help, contact Gail
at GDaneker@aol.com or 651-647-5709.

9/2 and 9/3, 10 am to 10 pm, Peace Island: A Solutions-Driven Conference at
Concordia University, 275 Syndicate St N, St Paul. Registration $50 plus
$10 lunch per day. Topics include energy & the environment, global peace &
nonviolence, justice & human rights. Many amazing and famous speakers,
including Starhawk, Lisa Ledwidge, Antonia Juhasz, Leslie Cagan, Kathy
Kelly, Medea Benjamin, Mel Duncan, Coleen Rawley, Ray McGovern, Ann Wright,
and many more. http://www.PeaceIsland.us

Tuesday, 9/2, 12:30 pm, Rally for the Republic by Ron Paul supporters as a
counter-RNC convention, Target Center, downtown Mpls. Tickets $17.76 (I
wonder how they came up with that exact figure).
http://www.campaignforliberty.com

Tuesday, 9/2, 12:30 to 7 pm, Ripple Effect festival for sustainability,
justice and equality, with Michael Franti, Anti-Flag, Dead Prez, Wookie
Foot, Matisyahu, Medea Benjamin, Will Steger and others, Minnesota State
Capitol, 75 Rev ML King Boulevard, St Paul. http://www.rippleeffect08.com

Tuesday, 9/2, 4 pm, Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign sponsors
March for Our Lives, Mears Park, 221 E 5th St, St, St Paul. 612-821-2364 or
http://www.economichumanrights.org

Tuesday, 9/2, 8:30 pm, "Support Our Oil Companies Rally" at a party hosted
by Mississippi governor Haley "Offshore Drilling" Barbour, 510 - 1st Ave N,
Mpls. Support more oil wars, surging gas prices, obscene profits, drilling
and drilling and drilling. http://www.epicmpls.com or
peace@globalexchange.org or 612-332-3742.

Wednesday, 9/3, 8 am (yes, am), join the CEOs of Big Oil in thanking the
Texas Republican Delegates at their hotel, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 11 E Kellogg
Blvd, St Paul. As CEOs of ExxonMobil, Chevron, CopnocoPhillips, Shell and
Hess host a party, celebrate the oily loot with Republican Party clothes,
party hats, "Freedom Flags" (with oil company logos) and yellow "Support Our
Oil Companies" ribbons. Peace@globalexchange.org

Wednesday, 9/3, 5:30 to 7 pm, program "Darfur: Where is our Moral Compass?"
and Camp Darfur interactive exhibit, State Capitol Mall, 75 MLK Blvd, St
Paul. http://www.micglobe.org

Wednesday, 9/3, 7 pm, former UN weapons inspector Scott Ridder talks about
Iran, St Joan of Arc Church, Hospitality Hall, 4537 - 3rd Ave S, Mpls.
http://www.worldwidewamm.org

Thursday, 9/4, 9:30 am to 4 pm, Camp Darfur: interactive exhibit about
genocides, Gustavus Adolphus College, 300 W College Ave, St Peter.
http://www.micglobe.org

Thursday, 9/4, 10 am to 8 pm, "American Politica Sideshow: Weird and Wild,"
a day-long sideshow of speakers, discussions, performances and Art on
Wheels, at the Weisman Museum, 333 E River Rd, East Bank U of M campus,
Mpls. http://theunconvention.com/projects/events-at-the-weisman-art-museum/
or http://www.truebluemn.com/calendar.html

Thursday, 9/4, 1 to 8 pm, Peace Island Picnic, with a human peace sign (6 to
6:30), music (Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, Larry Long, David Rovics, Tuesday's
Robot and others), peace kite flying, MN TrueBlue Jumbotron programming, the
AFSC Costs of War display, a sing-a-long (6;30 to 7), and other UnConvention
events, Harriet Island, St Paul.
http://theunconvention.com/projects/peace-island-picnic

Thursday, 9/4, student strike against the Republican National Convention. 11
am, walkout of class, them bus/carpool/bike/walk to the capitol, finally
noon to 4 antiwar festival, rally and theater. (A permitted protest and
march.) Info at against.war@gmail.com or myspace.com/yawrMN or
651-210-5342.

Thursday, 9/4, 4 pm, stand up to John McCain on the day he is declared
official Republican cendidate for the presidency, rally "No Peace for the
War Makers" at the State Capital, then march to the Xcel Center, St Paul.
http://www.antiwarcommittee.org or 612-379-3899.

Support Sister's Camelot!

I just read a post that Sister's Camelot is one of three finalists competing to receive a MySpace Impact Award. They give away free food in various locations all over Minneapolis - and it's all organic! Seriously a great organization, that I think we should all vote on to ensure they get more attention.


Please vote for Sister's Camelot at: http://www.myspace.com/impactawards

Fairvote joins IRV Lawsuit

FairVote Minnesota to Intervene in Lawsuit against Instant Runoff Voting

Minneapolis, MN (July 31, 2008) - Today, FairVote Minnesota, the organizational anchor of the Saint Paul Better Ballot Campaign, announced that it will seek to intervene as a defendant in an on-going lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of instant runoff voting (IRV). In 2006, Minneapolis voters and its City Council authorized the use of IRV in city elections, with implementation planned for 2009. The lawsuit that FairVote Minnesota seeks to join opposes IRV in Minneapolis and was brought by a small group of activists who support the return of partisan local elections.

"Joining this lawsuit as a co-defendant is the most logical and efficient manner for us to resolve the constitutional question," said FairVote Minnesota Board member and Saint Paul IRV Campaign Coordinator, Ellen Brown. "We will help dismantle the St. Paul City Council's cover for blocking this important reform."

Both the plaintiffs and the City of Minneapolis have indicated that they will support the intervention request.

"Intervention is the right of a third party when it feels it can be of assistance to the court in arriving at a just decision," said former Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi attorney and FairVote Minnesota board chair, Tyrone Bujold. "Our plea will be to expedite the case so a decision can be reached as soon as possible."

On July 2, the St. Paul City Council blocked a certified petition submitted by more than 7,000 voters. The petition would have placed a charter amendment on the ballot this November to authorize use of IRV in future municipal elections. The block was justified in the eyes of the Council leadership based on a city attorney opinion that raised questions of constitutionality. After blocking the initiative, the Council voted unanimously to put the measure on the ballot once the constitutionality of IRV is resolved in the Minneapolis case.

The St. Paul Campaign does not believe the Council may legally block petition initiatives except in cases of "manifest unconstitutionality." "The Council, with the exception of Ward 6 member Russ Stark, had chosen to interpret the muddled attorney opinion as providing legal cover for their action. In doing so, the St. Paul Campaign believes that the Council has overstepped its legal authority," said Brown. The St. Paul Campaign considered suing the City to force a court interpretation of "manifest unconstitutionality" but decided this route was not likely to produce a decision in time to allow for sufficient voter education before the 2008 election, and might not have resulted in a definitive conclusion to the matter.

James Dorsey of the Fredrikson & Byron law firm and Keith Halleland of the Halleland, Lewis, Nilan and Johnson law firm will serve as lead co-counsel in the matter. Assistance will be provided by Jay Benanav, Alan Weinblatt, Weinblatt and Gaylord; Steve Kelley, Humphrey Institute Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy; David Schultz, Hamline University; Tyrone Bujold, FairVote MN chair; Aaron Street, Center for Law and Politics; Gena
Berglund, National Lawyers Guild; Cecily Hines, retired attorney; Andrea Rubenstein, attorney at law; and Teresa Ayling, Mansfield, Tanick and Cohen P.A.; and Jane Prince, attorney at law.


FairVote Minnesota
PO Box 19440
Minneapolis, MN 55419-0440
info@FairVoteMN.org
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Green council member leads on protecting free speech

The Minneapolis City Council on July 19 unanimously approved six guiding principles to protect free speech and association during the 2008 Republican National Convention.

The principles were developed by the Free Speech Work Group, an initiative of City Council Member Cam Gordon ( Green Party - Ward 2 ) in anticipation of the convention. The group includes the Mayor, city council members, representatives from civil liberties organizations, and others.

"There were some concerns with the Republican National Convention coming that there would be threats to people’s right to assemble and to protest," says Gordon. "We established this working group ahead of time to try to influence the security plan that comes down from the national level."

The group’s vision is to ensure that security measures during the convention are "limited to those that are absolutely necessary to protect public safety" and that measures taken are consistent with the state and national constitutions.

Its six guiding principles include securing the right to constitutional association, speech and petition; taking care to differentiate lawful and protected organizing and speech from "terrorist" security concerns; and ensuring respectful treatment of persons exercising their constitutional rights.

The work in Minneapolis inspired the convention's host city of St. Paul, Gordon says. St. Paul established a similar working group shortly after the Minneapolis measure passed.