Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/category/elections/page/21/)
Since when did the First Amendment become a tool of thuggery to suppress speech rather than enhance it? This is essentially what the Roberts Supreme Court did in the recent McCutcheon v F.E.C. decision striking down aggregate political contribution limits. Continue Reading
Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court gave even more political power to Big Wealth. My in-box was full of talk about what this means for the country. Since I’d be described, correctly, as “leaning Left”, you can guess where my chatter comes from. I often rely on Alan at Just Above Sunset to summarize what the Big People (the pundit class) are saying about what National Stuff means. So, if you’re interested, here’s his overnight post on McCutcheon and what people are saying it means. Continue Reading
The podcast this week is a recording of the recent Hennepin County Commissioner forum co-sponsored by streets.mn, The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, and the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability. We had four of the candidates running to replace Gail Dorfman as the commissioner for district three at the forum: Ben Schweigert, Anne Mavity, Ken Kelash, and Marion Greene. Each of them answered questions on transportation and land use issues, including specific questions on bicycling, health, and equity. The forum was held at Linden hills park, was expertly moderated by Paula Pentel, the coordinator of the Urban Studies program at the University of Minnesota whom you might remember from the Mayoral forum we conducted last year. This time our forum wasn’t quite as big, but we drew about 70 interested folks on a Thursday evening, and that seems pretty good to me. Continue Reading
This spring voters in Hennepin County District 3 will go to the polls and vote in a special election to fill the Hennepin County Commissioner position that was previously held by Gail Dorfman. Dorfman recently resigned to become the Executive Director of St. Stephens Human Services.
Former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak announced his support for Mohamud Noor to represent parts of the University of Minnesota and surrounding neighborhoods in the state Legislature.
The second senate district 64B forum for state representative was far more comfortable than the first forum, with fewer people. Jokes indicated that people had had all the candidate contact that they could wish for during the last 3 months. Mostly the audience was filled with supporters of a particular candidate. A few people told me that they were looking for second choices. Continue Reading
Several candidates are running for the open seat on Hennepin County’s Board of Commissioners, and we want voters to be clear on where the candidates stand. In partnership with the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition and the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, streets.mn is presenting a nonpartisan forum for commissioner candidates to share their views on the future of transportation in our city. Continue Reading
Excitement filled the air as 432 people gathered to resume the Minneapolis precinct caucus that was previously suspended because of a fight. The University of Minnesota’s Coffman Union comfortably hosted the large attendence. Mohamud Noor, a local school board member is challenging Phyllis Kahn for her seat on the House of Representatives. Phyllis Kahn has been the local representative since 1972. Local Somali people were both serious and celebratory, dressing up for the occasion. Continue Reading
Mohamud Noor supporters flooded Coffman Union’s Great Hall with a sea of red badges Wednesday night, dotting a crowd of nearly 750 political activists who came together for the second DFL caucus in less than three weeks.
The events at the Brian Coyle Center, site of the Minneapolis 6th Ward, Precinct 3 caucus, are complex. For those who need a primer, the players are: Mohamud Noor, current Minneapolis school board member, candidate for State House seat 60B; Rep. Phyllis Kahn, 42-year incumbent to the State House, currently running for endorsement for her current seat, 60B; City Council Member (CM) Abdi Warsame, currently the highest ranked Somali elected official in town, but that would change if Noor won the 60B seat (CM Warsame is a vocal supporter of Rep. Kahn); DFL senate district chairs, Greg Oliver and Ilhan Omar (Ms. Omar is also a policy aide to CM Andrew Johnson of Ward 12); Warsame’s policy aide, Abdi Salah; Brian Rice, high profile political lobbyist and friend of Rep. Kahn; the two co-convenors of the precinct caucus, Mohamed Jama, known as MJ, a Kahn supporter, and Zamzam Ali, female and a Noor supporter.I tried to get a statement from CM Warsame through the city web contact form, but his office has not responded. I have contacted both Noor and Oliver but have had no reply. Corey Day, executive director of the MN DFL, who was present at the caucus, was not able to speak with me personally, but referred me to his office staff, who were quite helpful. I have also had some input from park board member Scott Vreeland, who was present as a volunteer, and a few other DFL friends. Continue Reading