Streets.mn voter guide: Anne Mavity, candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner, District 3
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Here’s part five in our series of Voter Guides for the open seat in Hennepin County’s 3rd District. Continue Reading
Race, class and Ranked Choice Voting: Why the Jacobs-Miller study is largely irrelevant
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Race and class structurally divide the United States. Economically we live in two nations separate but unequal, with political power and privilege fractured along this divide. Thus it comes as no surprise that Professors Larry Jacobs and Joanne Miller recently found that the use of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) by voters in the 2013 Minneapolis elections largely tracked this class and racial divide. Conceding that their statistics are largely correct, their analysis and conclusions are largely irrelevant to the debate about RCV, voting, or political power in Minneapolis or the United States. Continue Reading
OPINION | Why the 2014 elections matter for education: Vouchers, bargaining, and more
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They may seem like an eternity ago, but the 2010 elections should still cause our adrenaline to spike. Massive conservative victories across the country set the stage for years of obstruction, counter-productive “austerity,” and quality erosion. That memory should be a call to action for progressives in 2014, in education and other areas.
While Franson opponent freaks out over ditch weed, Farm Bill oks hemp research in nine states
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Sue Nelson, the Tea Party member challenging incumbent conservative Republican state representative Mary Franson, continued her holy war against ditch weed on Facebook Tuesday. Along with several other Minnesota Republicans, Franson supports allowing Minnesota farmers to grow hemp for fiber, building materials and other non-recreational purposes. Continue Reading
COMMUNITY VOICES | The right education conversation (on my own letterhead)
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I’m often told I have a thankless job, that I must have thick skin. The truth is I love being an at-large school board member in Minneapolis; I’m grateful and privileged to do this work. That said, it’s not surprising that hardly anyone wants to run for the Minneapolis school board. Lack of a living wage, too time consuming, the cost and complexity of a campaign, and fear of public humiliation often emerge as the discouraging factors. As a target of some who believe there is only one road to education reform, I understand the reluctance.
Dayton picks Tina Smith as running mate
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Gov. Mark Dayton announced chief of staff Tina Smith as his running mate for the 2014 election Tuesday morning.
Streets.mn voter guide: Marion Greene, candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner, District 3
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Here’s part four in our series of Voter Guides for the open seat in Hennepin County’s 3rd District. Continue Reading
Lyndale ESL student profile: Maria Foushee
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I first met Maria in September in our multi-level ESL class. Not long after I had first met her, our class split into two levels and she moved on to the advanced level class; which meant I only got to see her during our class coffee break. Luckily for me, I was fortunate enough to meet with Maria one-one-one over coffee and interview her for this story.
Tuesday is Precinct Caucus night. I guess you should go.
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We’re fresh off of a municipal election that used ranked-choice voting to create a nearly endless ballot that nobody could comprehend. And our statewide elections use what I consider a far superior model: an incomprehensible process that begins way the hell in February that nobody cares about. Candidates can’t even officially file for another three months, and already we’re taking the first steps to decide who gets elected. And since we’re basically a one-party town, the DFL precinct caucuses are where the action is. So unless you want your next round of public officials chosen by a few dozen party activists, you better find your caucus now. Isn’t democracy great? USA! USA! Continue Reading